Chapter 25: Voices in the Light
The web of light beyond Alpha-9's observation window pulsed faster, its glow now seeping into the module, casting long shadows on the walls. The holograms showing alien worlds and lives continued to flicker in the air, but their movements grew chaotic, as if the network was losing control. Lia stood in the center of the command module, her gaze fixed on one projection-a figure resembling a human but with eyes glowing like stars. She couldn't look away, feeling something in her chest tighten.
"We can't just stand here and watch," Theo said, his voice trembling with barely contained panic. "This thing... it's playing with us. Echo wants us to lose our minds before we make a choice!"
"What if it's not a game?" Lia replied softly, not turning around. "What if it's true-a chance to become part of something greater? You saw those images, Theo. It's not just data. It's lives. Entire worlds."
Theo stepped toward her, his face twisted with anger.
"Lives? It's a trap, Lia! Are you ready to throw away everything-us, Earth, our mission-for some cosmic museum? We don't even know what Echo really is!"
Ren, seated at the console, looked up. His prosthetic sparked faintly, but he ignored it, focusing on the screen displaying fragments of code from the network.
"She's right, Theo," he said calmly. "This isn't just an archive. I analyzed the signals. The network doesn't just store information-it processes it. It... thinks. And Echo isn't just a voice. It's an interface. A way to communicate with us."
"An interface?" Theo scoffed, but his voice wavered. "You're saying we're talking to a machine?"
"Not exactly," Ren frowned, his fingers pausing over the keys. "It's more than a machine. It's... a consciousness. Possibly collective. It knows more about us than we think. It knew we were coming."
Lia finally tore her gaze from the hologram and looked at Ren.
"What do you mean? It knew about our mission?"
Ren nodded, his expression darkening.
"I found references to Earth in the code. Not just coordinates, but... events. Our history, our wars, even the signals we intercepted. The network has been watching us. Maybe for centuries."
Those words hung in the air, heavy as lead. Theo stepped back, his hand instinctively resting on his holster, though he knew a gun was useless against what they faced. Lia felt her thoughts spiral. If the network knew about them, if it had been waiting for them, what did that mean? Was their mission truly theirs, or had they been pawns in someone else's game from the start?
Echo's voice suddenly spoke again, now soft, almost tender, but with a hint of urgency:
"Time is running out. Your bodies are weak, your ship is fragile. Become part of us, and you will know everything. Remain as you are-and you will lose everything."
The ship trembled, and the network's light grew brighter, almost blinding. The holograms began to dissolve, but one-the star-eyed figure-remained. It slowly turned its head, as if looking directly at Lia. And in that moment, Lia heard a voice-not from the speakers, but in her mind: You already know the answer. You always have.
She gasped, stumbling back, and collided with Theo, who grabbed her shoulders.
"Lia, what's wrong? What did you see?"
"It... it's talking to me," she whispered, her eyes filled with terror and an inexplicable awe. "It knows me."
Ren stood, his prosthetic emitting a sharp click.
"We need to decide. Now. The network is unstable. If we don't choose, it will choose for us."
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