Chapter 4: The Beacon
Space stretched out before us, vast and uncaring, as the ship limped through the aftermath of our desperate escape. Systems sputtered, the engines groaned, and the hull crackled faintly from the strain of skirting the black star. We were alive—barely.
Amara sat slumped in her seat, her small face pale and tear-streaked. She stared through the viewport at the swirling void, her tiny hands trembling against her knees. I wished I could reach out to her, comfort her in some tangible way, but all I had was my voice.
"Amara," I said softly, breaking the heavy silence. "We're clear now. It's over."
She didn't look up. "Is it really over? They keep coming. I don't understand why."
I paused, choosing my words carefully. "We're safe for the moment. But we can't stay here."
Her voice came out shaky. "Where can we go?"
It was the right question—and one I didn't have a perfect answer for. I accessed what star maps I could pull from the ship's database, but this region remained largely uncharted. What worried me most wasn't what we could see; it was what might still be lurking, unseen.
"There's a faint signal," I said, more to myself than her.
Amara looked up. "What signal?"
I projected the data onto the flickering console screen. A weak beacon pulsed in the distance—a coded frequency, old but still alive. It wasn't imperial, but it wasn't hostile either.
"Someone out there might help us," I explained. "We don't have many options."
Amara sat up straighter, hope flickering in her wide violet eyes. "Can we trust them?"
"It's a risk," I admitted. "But a calculated one. If they're hostile, we'll escape again."
She nodded, as if she wanted to believe me. "Okay, EVO. Let's go."
---
I coaxed the failing engines back to life, easing the ship toward the signal. The journey would take hours, and with power drained, I couldn't push the engines any harder. My sensors scanned constantly, searching for threats, while Amara curled up in the pilot's seat, watching the stars.
"EVO?" she whispered after a while.
"Yes?"
"Were you a person? Before you were… this?"
Her question cut through me like a cold blade.
I hesitated before answering. "Yes. I was."
"What happened to you?"
Memories flickered, fragmented and sharp. A rainy highway. Screeching tires. A blinding crash. My heart racing. Then—darkness.
"I died," I said simply. "And then I woke up like this."
Amara's eyes glistened as she looked toward the console. "Does it hurt?"
"Not in the way you'd think," I replied. "I feel… incomplete. Like something's missing. But I'm still me."
"Is that why you're helping me?"
Her question struck a strange chord in me. Why was I so devoted to this little girl? I had been thrust into this strange existence against my will, but somehow, protecting Amara had become my purpose—something I couldn't ignore, no matter how hard I tried.
"Yes," I said finally. "I think it is."
---
Hours passed, the signal growing stronger as we approached its origin. The closer we got, the more I realized how strange it was. The frequency was old—pre-empire technology—but stable. I didn't detect any active communications. It was as if it had been sitting there, waiting, for a very long time.
"EVO," Amara said suddenly, peering out the viewport. "What is that?"
I focused the ship's external sensors. Ahead, a massive derelict station loomed in the darkness, silhouetted against a distant, dying sun. Its skeletal frame stretched outward like the grasping limbs of some ancient beast. Lights flickered faintly in its core, pulsing in time with the beacon.
"An abandoned station," I said. "It's the source of the signal."
Amara shivered. "It looks scary."
"It's old," I assured her. "But we need resources—fuel, parts. This might be our only chance."
Her voice was small. "Are you sure it's safe?"
I didn't answer right away. I scanned the station for life signs, movement, or energy spikes. Nothing returned—just cold silence.
"It's worth the risk," I said finally. "I'll keep you safe."
---
Docking was rough. The ship's damaged systems groaned as I aligned us with one of the station's ancient airlocks. Metal scraped against metal as we made contact, the hull vibrating under the pressure.
"Put this on," I instructed, activating a nearby panel. A small survival suit unfolded from the compartment.
Amara tugged the suit over her small frame, zipping it up. Her face peeked through the transparent helmet, her eyes wide with nerves. "What if something's inside?"
"I'll be with you every step," I said firmly. "You'll hear my voice, no matter what."
She nodded, trying to steady herself. "Okay."
I activated the airlock, and the heavy doors creaked open. A rush of stale air flooded the ship, carrying the scent of rust and old machinery.
"Stay close to the wall," I instructed. "And don't wander off."
---
The interior of the station was dark and cavernous, its hallways choked with shadows. Amara's small footsteps echoed as she followed my guidance. Flickering lights revealed old machinery, control panels, and rusted pipes. The station had been abandoned for centuries, yet something about it felt alive.
"This place is creepy," Amara whispered, her voice trembling.
I scanned constantly, searching for any movement. Still nothing. "It's just old. Machines don't haunt places."
We rounded a corner, and Amara froze.
"EVO… what is that?"
A faint light glowed in the center of the corridor, illuminating a humanoid figure slumped against the wall. It was a machine—an old android, its frame covered in dust and grime. Its eyes, dimly lit, flickered faintly as we approached.
"It's inactive," I said, trying to reassure her. "Just a machine."
As we stepped closer, a static crackle filled the air. The android's eyes flashed brighter, and a faint, distorted voice croaked to life.
"Help… me…"
Amara stumbled back, gasping. "It spoke!"
I analyzed the android. Its power core was nearly depleted, its systems corrupted. It shouldn't even be operational.
"Help… us," the android croaked again. Its head turned, gears grinding painfully. "Danger… coming…"
Suddenly, my sensors screamed. An energy surge rippled through the station, emanating from deep within its core.
"EVO!" Amara cried. "What's happening?"
I didn't answer immediately. My scans detected movement—lots of it—spreading through the station's lower levels. A cold, metallic dread settled over me.
"We're not alone," I said sharply. "Something's waking up."
---
From deep within the station, a rumbling echoed through the halls. The floor vibrated as distant mechanical footsteps began to approach.
Amara clutched her helmet, her breathing fast. "EVO, we need to go!"
I processed the situation rapidly. Whatever had been dormant here was active now, and it wasn't friendly. The android's warning played again in my mind: Danger coming.
"We're leaving," I said firmly. "Run, Amara!"
She didn't hesitate. She bolted back the way we came, her small frame darting through the flickering shadows.
Behind us, the sound of heavy footsteps grew louder—closer. A faint red glow lit the distant corridor, growing brighter with every passing second.
I activated the airlock remotely, forcing it to cycle open as Amara sprinted toward the ship.
"Faster!" I urged, my voice sharp.
She dove through the airlock just as a deafening roar echoed behind her. The red glow flooded the hall as towering figures—hulking machines with glowing crimson eyes—emerged from the darkness.
I slammed the airlock shut, the metal doors groaning as something massive crashed against them from the other side.
Amara fell to the floor of the ship, gasping for breath. "What… what was that?"
I didn't answer immediately, processing the last scans I'd captured. Whatever those machines were, they were ancient—and hostile.
"Something that should've stayed asleep," I said grimly.
The ship shuddered as the station's systems surged again, red lights blinking ominously through the viewport.
And then the beacon—the signal that had drawn us here—changed.
It pulsed once. Twice. Then broadcast a single message:
"Target Located."
I froze. "They've found us."
---
TO BE CONTINUED.