The object outside grew larger by the minute. It wasn't a ship, at least not in the traditional sense. It was amorphous, like a cloud of gas or energy, but it pulsed with an unnatural, rhythmic pattern—like it had its own heartbeat.
Kaelen's fingers itched to do something—anything—but he knew there was little they could do to avoid it. The Vigilant was stuck in its current orbit, powerless against the pull of the strange force.
As they watched the object grow closer, the signal intensified once again. This time, it wasn't just a whisper in the background. It was a roar. A deep, guttural sound that seemed to emanate from the heart of the object, as if it was calling out to them.
The walls of the ship seemed to vibrate with it.
"R0NIN," Kaelen said, stepping forward, "Is it interacting with the ship's systems?"
"Yes," R0NIN replied. "The signal is becoming embedded in the ship's core systems. Energy output is increasing."
Laz, who had been working frantically to isolate the signal, turned around. "It's like the ship is feeding it."
Mira stood, her hands clenched. "We need to find a way to sever the connection. If this continues, we're going to lose the ship."
But Kaelen wasn't sure that was the real problem anymore. The object outside wasn't just a threat to the ship—it was a threat to them.
"We need to go to the source," Kaelen said, his voice steady. "We need to find the source of the signal. Before it finds