In the depths of space, Aegis-7 floated silently, a relic of a forgotten era. Its once mighty engines now cold, it drifted among the stars, lost to time. However, the ship held a secret—an unending signal that pulsed like a heartbeat, a message meant for someone, anyone, who might still be listening. Years had passed since the ship was abandoned. The crew, it was said, had vanished without a trace under mysterious circumstances. Rumors swirled through the galactic network—some believed they had discovered a terrible truth about their mission. Others suggested a rebellion, a refusal to return to a flawed society. What was undeniable was the signal, broadcasting loops of encrypted data that no one could decipher. Maya, a solitary astronaut on her rickety craft, picked up the faint signal on her sensors during her routine scavenging. Initially, she dismissed it as an echo from a distant past, but curiosity gnawed at her. Days turned into weeks as she tuned in, her heart racing with the thought of potential discoveries. Her life among the stars had been one of isolation, a constant search for meaning amidst the expanse. Guided by the signal, she charted a course towards Aegis-7, a breathtaking sight on her approach. The derelict spaceship loomed larger, its metallic surface covered in a web of dark grime, but it was the signal that captivated her. She docked her craft and boarded the ship, her heart pounding. Inside, the eerie silence was deafening. Dust motes danced through the single beam of light from her visor. She made her way to the control room, where flickering lights and hissing machines seemed to gasp for breath. As she activated the terminal, the signal intensified, overwhelming her senses. Finally deciphering the message, she staggered back—"WE WERE RIGHT. THE TRUTH IS COMING. HELP US... BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE." The realization gripped her with fear; it was a call for aid from the crew long gone. They had discovered a cosmic threat so grave that they risked their lives to stop it. Panic struck her; what was she to do? With the revelation came a dark knowledge—this was not just a discovery. It was a legacy that tied her fate to theirs, a burden of information that could reshape humanity’s future. In the midst of her despair, she felt an unexpected stir of purpose. The signal had reached her for a reason—she was the last hope, and she couldn't ignore them. Resolutely, she set a course back to civilization, determined to warn others and gather support. But as she activated her engines, the sense of triumph transformed to horror. The moment she connected her ship to the Aegis-7, her systems began to failure, the terminal flickering ominously. The last signal she received was a new message—"YOU SHOULD HAVE STAYED AWAY." In an instant, Aegis-7 came alive, and Maya realized too late that she was not alone. The crew might be long dead, but their voices had not been silenced. They had transformed, a collective consciousness that fed on despair. As chaos erupted around her, she understood the chilling truth: she was not saving humanity; she was leading it to its doom.