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We Were Sent to Repair a Dead Space Station. Something Inside It Is Still Alive. · Creepy Stories to Fall Asleep To

0:00
I stared out the viewport as the Hermes cut through the darkness
0:03
of space towards station 33. My hands moved automatically
0:07
through the pre arrival checklist, fingers tapping the
0:10
oxygen level readouts while my eyes stayed fixed on the massive
0:14
structure growing larger against the backdrop of stars.
0:18
Oxygen level's nominal. I said, more to myself than
0:23
anyone else. The station looked wrong,
0:26
somehow. Most of its exterior lights were
0:29
out, and the ones that remained blinked erratically, like a
0:33
failing heartbeat. Captain Winters moved up beside
0:37
me, her reflection appearing in the viewport glass.
0:41
Not exactly the welcome we were hoping for.
0:45
No, I agreed. Something's definitely off with
0:48
the power systems. The transport shuttle hummed
0:52
around us as we approached the docking Bay.
0:56
Captain Winters turned away from the window and called the team
0:59
together. We gathered in the small
1:01
briefing area, the five of us forming a tight circle in the
1:05
limited space. All right, people, one final
1:09
review before we dock, she said, her voice steady and
1:12
authoritative. Our mission is straightforward.
1:17
We investigate Station 33, restore power, and locate the
1:21
missing crew. Comms went dark 72 hours ago,
1:25
and we need to find out why. William, our security officer,
1:30
checked his equipment with practiced movements.
1:34
Any signs of external damage to the station?
1:37
Nothing obvious from our approach, Captain Winters
1:40
replied. But that doesn't mean we won't
1:43
find problems inside. Mildred adjusted her medical
1:47
kit. What's the last communication we
1:51
have from the station? Just a routine status update.
1:56
Captain Winters said nothing to indicate any issues, then
2:00
silence. Jeff, our engineering
2:03
specialist, looked up from his tablet.
2:07
Power fluctuations could be from a number of systems.
2:10
I'll need to check the main reactor first thing.
2:14
I'll get communications back online.
2:17
Asher added, fidgeting with his equipment.
2:21
Might give us some clues about what happened.
2:25
I felt the slight shudder as the Hermes lined up with the docking
2:28
port. We're about to find out first
2:31
hand. Captain Winters nodded.
2:35
Douglas, you'll be checking the maintenance corridors for any
2:38
structural damage. William handles security sweeps.
2:43
Mildred, you're on medical and life support.
2:46
Asher Communications. Jeff Power Systems, we stay in
2:50
radio contact at all times. Any questions?
2:54
The docking clamps engaged with a metallic thunk that vibrated
2:57
through the shuttle. Docking complete.
3:00
I reported. Pressure equalizing.
3:04
We moved toward the airlock, each of us carrying our
3:07
specialized gear. The indicator light switched
3:11
from red to green and the door slid open with a soft hiss.
3:16
I stepped through the airlock behind William, my boots hitting
3:20
the station floor with a hollow sound that echoed down the empty
3:23
corridor. The air felt still, almost
3:27
heavy, as if the station had been holding its breath.
3:32
Check the atmosphere, Captain Winters ordered.
3:37
Mildred pulled out her handheld analyzer, waving it in front of
3:40
her. After a moment, she nodded.
3:45
Air quality's good. Oxygen levels normal.
3:49
It's safe to breathe. We removed our helmets and I
3:52
took my first direct breath of station air.
3:55
It smelled stale, but not unpleasant, just unused.
4:00
The main reception area was a mess, but not in the way I'd
4:04
expected. There were no signs of struggle
4:07
or violence, just the evidence of a hurried departure.
4:12
Papers lay scattered across desks and a half finished cup of
4:15
coffee sat on a console, a thin film formed on its surface.
4:21
Looks like they left in a hurry. I said, picking up a tablet that
4:25
had been left on. The screen was locked, requiring
4:29
a password. William moved cautiously through
4:33
the space, his posture tense. No signs of forced entry or
4:38
combat. The station's running on
4:41
emergency power, Jeff said, examining a nearby terminal.
4:45
Main systems are offline, but the backup generators are
4:49
functioning at minimal capacity. That explains the flickering
4:53
lights. Captain Winters surveyed the
4:55
room. All right, let's move out, stick
5:00
to the plan, and report anything unusual immediately.
5:04
We split up at the main junction, each heading to our
5:07
assigned areas. I took the service elevator down
5:10
to the lower levels, where the maintenance corridors ran like
5:13
veins through the station's infrastructure.
5:16
The elevator moved smoothly, which was a good sign.
5:19
At least the mechanical systems were still operational.
5:23
When the doors opened, I was greeted by the dim glow of
5:26
emergency lighting that cast long shadows across the metal
5:29
floor. I pulled out my flashlight and
5:33
switched it on, the beam cutting through the gloom.
5:37
The maintenance corridor stretched ahead of me, a long
5:40
tube of metal and cables that disappeared Into Darkness.
5:45
Douglas checking in. I said into my calm.
5:49
I've reached the lower maintenance level.
5:51
Beginning inspection. Copy that, Captain Winters
5:55
responded. Keep us posted.
5:58
I moved forward, my footsteps echoing in the empty space.
6:03
My flashlight beam swept across the walls, floor, and ceiling,
6:07
looking for any signs of damage, cracks, leaks, or structural
6:11
failures. So far, everything looked
6:14
normal. The corridor branched off in
6:18
several directions, each leading to different sections of the
6:21
station. I consulted my tablet, pulling
6:25
up the station schematics. The primary systems ran through
6:29
the central corridor, so I decided to check there first.
6:35
As I walked, I couldn't shake the feeling of wrongness that
6:39
hung in the air. It wasn't anything I could point
6:42
to specifically, just the absence of the normal sounds and
6:47
movements that should fill a station this size.
6:50
No hum of conversations, no footsteps, no machinery noise
6:55
beyond the basic life support systems.
6:58
The central maintenance corridor was clear.
7:01
No damage to the walls, no leaks from the pipes that ran along
7:05
the ceiling, no signs of malfunction in any of the
7:08
junction boxes I checked. This is Douglas Central
7:13
maintenance corridor shows no structural damage.
7:16
Moving on to the east section, the east corridor was the same,
7:21
perfectly normal, as if the crew had simply stepped out for a
7:24
moment and would return any second.
7:28
I checked each access panel, inspected every joint and Weld
7:31
point, but found nothing out of the ordinary.
7:36
I pushed deeper into the station, moving from one section
7:39
to another. The emergency lights cast
7:42
everything in a red glow that made the empty corridors look
7:45
like something from an old horror film.
7:47
My flashlight beam bounced off metal walls as I walked,
7:51
creating moving shadows that played tricks on my eyes.
7:54
Two hours into my inspection, I'd covered most of the
7:58
maintenance areas and found absolutely nothing wrong.
8:02
No structural damage, no system failures beyond the power issues
8:05
Jeff had already identified. No clues about what had happened
8:09
to the crew. Douglas to team.
8:12
I've completed checks on all main maintenance corridors.
8:16
No structural damage found. Everything looks normal to
8:21
normal. Copy that Captain, Winters
8:25
replied. Continue to the peripheral
8:27
sections and report back. I moved toward the outer
8:31
maintenance corridors, the ones that ran along the station's
8:35
exterior walls. These were narrower, designed
8:39
for access to the whole systems and external sensors.
8:44
The silence pressed in around me as I worked, broken only by the
8:48
occasional distant clank of the station's automated systems.
8:52
Adjusting to temperature changes, I found myself
8:56
listening for voices, for any sign of the missing crew.
9:01
But there was nothing. The deeper I went into the
9:05
bowels of the station, the more the emptiness seemed to take on
9:09
a presence of its own. Station 33 should have housed
9:14
over 50 personnel, but now it felt like a ghost ship drifting
9:18
through space. I paused at a junction, shining
9:23
my light down each branching corridor.
9:26
The beam caught something on the floor ahead, a tablet similar to
9:30
mine, abandoned in the middle of the walkway.
9:34
I approached cautiously and picked it up.
9:38
The screen was cracked but it still had power.
9:42
The last open application was a maintenance log, but the entry
9:46
was incomplete, cutting off mid sentence strange readings from
9:51
external sensor array. Going to check.
9:55
I tried to access other files, but the tablet locked up,
9:59
requiring credentials I didn't have.
10:02
Douglas to Captain, found a tablet in the peripheral
10:06
maintenance corridor. Last log entry mentions strange
10:10
readings from the external sensors, but it's incomplete.
10:14
Bring it back when you finish your sweep.
10:16
She responded. Any other signs of the crew
10:21
Negative? Just empty corridors.
10:25
I continued my inspection, moving methodically through the
10:28
remaining sections. The emergency lighting flickered
10:32
occasionally creating moments of near darkness before returning
10:36
to its dim red glow. Each time, I found myself
10:40
holding my breath until the light stabilized.
10:43
By the time I reached the final section, I'd covered every inch
10:47
of the maintenance corridors and found nothing that explained the
10:50
crew's disappearance or the power failure.
10:53
The station's structure was sound, its systems intact apart
10:56
from the main power supply. I stood in the deepest part of
11:00
the station, surrounded by the quiet hum of minimal life
11:03
support systems and the occasional ping of cooling
11:06
metal. The emptiness of the once
11:09
bustling facility pressed in from all sides, a tangible
11:13
weight in the air. My flashlight being played
11:16
across the walls, catching dust particles floating in the air.
11:21
I watched them drift lazily in the still atmosphere,
11:25
undisturbed by any movement except my own breathing.
11:30
Douglas to Captain, I've completed the full structural
11:33
inspection. No damage found in any section.
11:37
The station is physically intact.
11:40
Understood. She replied, her voice slightly
11:43
distorted by static. Return to the main level, will
11:48
regroup and compare findings. I turned to head back, my light
11:52
illuminating the path ahead. As I walked through the silent
11:55
corridors, guided only by the occasional flicker of emergency
11:59
lighting, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was
12:02
watching me from the shadows, something that had emptied this
12:06
station of all human life and was waiting patiently for us to
12:10
discover what had happened. But the corridors remained
12:14
empty, revealing nothing but more silence.
12:18
As I made my way back toward the heart of the abandoned station.
12:22
I spotted it first in the corner of my eye, a dark patch on the
12:26
ventilation duct that didn't look right.
12:29
I stepped closer, swinging my flashlight up for a better look.
12:34
The beam caught something that made me freeze mid step.
12:38
A black substance clung to the metal surface, but it wasn't
12:42
static like mold or corrosion. It moved, not flowing exactly,
12:49
but pulsating with a rhythm that reminded me of breathing.
12:53
The surface rippled slightly, contracting and expanding in
12:57
slow, deliberate movements. What the hell?
13:01
I muttered, leaning in for a closer look while maintaining A
13:05
cautious distance. The substance had an oily Sheen
13:09
that absorbed my flashlight beam rather than reflected it.
13:14
I'd worked on dozens of stations over the years and encountered
13:17
all sorts of environmental issues.
13:19
Mold growths, chemical leaks, even some exotic bacterial
13:23
colonies in the more neglected corners of older facilities.
13:28
But this was different. This looked purposeful.
13:34
I pulled out my handheld scanner, the standard issue
13:37
diagnostic tool we used for analyzing unknown materials.
13:42
As I aimed it at the black patch, something happened that
13:46
sent a jolt through my entire body.
13:48
The substance extended a tendril toward the scanner, not dripping
13:53
or falling, reaching. The thin projection stretched
13:57
out about 3 inches, wavering in the air like it was testing it,
14:02
before retracting back into the main mass.
14:05
I stumbled back, nearly dropping my scanner.
14:09
Shit. I needed to report this
14:11
immediately. I pressed my COM units transmit
14:15
button Douglas to Captain Winters.
14:18
I found something unusual in the East maintenance corridor, some
14:22
kind of organic substance growing on the ventilation
14:26
system. It's moving.
14:29
The response was nothing but harsh static, broken
14:33
occasionally by fragments that might have been words.
14:36
Captain Winters, do you copy? I tried again, adjusting the
14:40
frequency. There's some kind of black
14:43
substance down here that's responding to stimuli.
14:47
I need someone from medical to take a look.
14:50
More static. Something was interfering with
14:53
the signal. I glanced back at the black
14:56
patch and noticed something that made my stomach tighten.
14:59
It had grown larger in just a minute or two.
15:02
I'd been observing it. I swept my flashlight across the
15:06
rest of the corridor and spotted what I'd missed before.
15:10
More patches of the same substance, small ones, quarter
15:15
size spots dotting the wall at irregular intervals, some near
15:19
vents, others along seam lines in the metal plating.
15:24
I was certain they hadn't been there during my initial sweep.
15:28
This isn't good, I said to myself, backing away slowly.
15:35
The CALM system was unreliable, and whatever this substance was,
15:39
it seemed to be spreading. I needed to report this in
15:43
person, get the team together to assess the situation.
15:47
I turned and began making my way back toward the central hub,
15:51
moving with purpose but stopping occasionally to check if the
15:54
substance was following The route I'd taken earlier now
15:57
looked different. Patches of the black material
16:01
had appeared throughout the corridor, some forming web like
16:04
patterns across sections of the wall.
16:07
In places, tendrils stretched across the passage, forcing me
16:11
to duck under or step over them. The substance seemed to be
16:16
concentrating around junction points, air vents, and power
16:19
conduits, the station's circulatory system.
16:24
I tried my calm again. This is Douglas, if anyone can
16:29
hear me. There's an unknown substance
16:31
spreading through the maintenance corridors.
16:33
Exercise extreme caution. I'm heading back to the command
16:37
center now. Through the static, I caught
16:40
fragments of a transmission checking maintenance level C
16:46
Unusual readings. I recognized Asher's voice,
16:50
though broken and distorted. Asher do not approach
16:54
maintenance level C. There's some kind of Organism
16:57
spreading through the station. Do you copy?
17:00
The response was unintelligible, just bursts of static with maybe
17:05
a word or two buried in the noise.
17:07
Before the channel went dead. I checked my station map.
17:11
Maintenance Level C wasn't far from my position, closer than
17:15
the command center. If Asher was heading there, I
17:19
needed to intercept him before he encountered whatever this
17:21
thing was. I changed course, heading for
17:25
the nearest access ladder that would take me to Level C The
17:29
substance appeared more frequently as I move deeper into
17:33
the station. The patches were larger here,
17:36
some the size of dinner plates, and they pulsated more rapidly,
17:42
almost like they were excited by something.
17:45
I noticed they reacted to my flashlight beam, the surface
17:49
rippling more actively when light hit it directly.
17:53
I reached the ladder to Level C and hesitated.
17:57
The rungs were clear of the substance, but around the entry
18:01
hatch black tendrils had begun to form a web like pattern.
18:06
I'd have to touch the contaminated area to open the
18:08
Hatch. Using the sleeve of my jumpsuit
18:11
to cover my hand, I quickly turned the manual release valve.
18:17
The Hatch opened with a hiss of equalizing pressure, and I
18:20
climbed through as fast as I could, careful not to make
18:23
direct contact with any of the black material.
18:27
Maintenance level C was in worse condition than the corridors I'd
18:31
just left. The emergency lights flickered
18:35
erratically, creating strobing shadows that made it difficult
18:39
to get a clearview of my surroundings.
18:42
The black substance covered nearly 20% of the visible
18:45
surfaces, concentrated especially thick around air
18:48
vents and electrical panels. Asher.
18:53
I called out, keeping my voice low enough not to carry too far.
18:58
Asher, you down here? No response.
19:02
I moved cautiously through the main passage, scanning for any
19:06
sign of him. The level was primarily used for
19:09
climate control systems and water recycling, critical
19:12
infrastructure, but not frequently visited by the crew.
19:16
About 50 yards in, I spotted something that made my heart
19:20
sink. Asher's com unit lay on the
19:23
floor beside his toolkit. Both were splattered with the
19:27
black substance. The tools were scattered, as if
19:30
dropped in a hurry, and a small pool of the black material had
19:34
formed around them. I crouched nearby, careful not
19:38
to touch anything Asher. I called again, louder this
19:43
time. The silence that answered was
19:46
broken only by the soft, pulsing sound of the substance as it
19:51
continued its rhythmic contractions.
19:54
Asher himself was nowhere to be seen.
19:57
I stood up slowly, trying to process what I was seeing.
20:02
Had Asher encountered the substance and fled?
20:06
Or had something worse happened? I needed to find him, but I also
20:11
needed to alert the others about what was happening.
20:15
As I was about to try the calm again, a sound cut through the
20:19
ambient noise of the station. A scream.
20:24
Not over the calm system, but through it, like the sound was
20:28
being carried through the station's internal communication
20:31
wiring. It was Jeff's voice, filled with
20:35
raw terror coming from the direction of the power core.
20:40
Jeff. I shouted instinctively, though
20:42
I knew he couldn't hear me. Without hesitation, I turned and
20:46
ran toward the nearest access point that would take me to the
20:50
power core. Whatever this substance was, it
20:54
was spreading throughout the station and now two of my team
20:57
mates were in trouble. The scream I'd heard wasn't the
21:01
kind that came from surprise or minor injury.
21:05
It was the sound of someone facing something truly
21:08
horrifying. As I ran, I noticed the black
21:12
patches seem to pulse faster in my wake, like they were
21:16
responding to my movement, or perhaps my fear didn't slow down
21:20
to study them. All I knew was that Jeff was in
21:24
the power core, and from the sound of that scream, he needed
21:28
help. Immediately.
21:30
I reached the power core access hatch, my heart pounding in my
21:34
chest. I slammed my hand against the
21:37
manual override and pulled the lever down with all my strength.
21:42
The Hatch slid open with a mechanical groan.
21:45
I stepped through, my flashlight beam cutting through the dim
21:48
emergency lighting of the reactor room.
21:52
Jeff. I called out, keeping my voice
21:55
low. Where are you?
21:59
A choked sob answered from behind the main coolant
22:01
assembly. I moved around the massive
22:05
cylindrical structure, my boots clanking against the metal
22:08
grating of the floor. The beam of my flashlight found
22:12
him, and my blood ran cold. Jeff stood pressed against the
22:17
reactor housing, his face twisted in terror.
22:21
The black substance I'd seen throughout the station had
22:24
formed a pool around his feet and was steadily climbing up,
22:27
his legs already reaching his knees.
22:30
It pulsed with that same sickening rhythm I'd observed
22:33
earlier, each beat sending another tendril higher up his
22:37
body. Doug.
22:39
He gasped, his eyes wide with panic.
22:42
Help me, It's it won't let go. I looked around frantically,
22:48
searching for anything I could use.
22:51
My eyes landed on a plasma torch mounted on the maintenance wall.
22:55
I grabbed it, thumbing the ignition switch.
22:58
The torch flared to life with a hiss, casting an orange glow
23:01
across the room. Hold on.
23:05
I said, moving closer. I'm going to try something.
23:10
I aimed the torch at the substance covering his legs,
23:13
keeping the flame a few inches away.
23:16
The reaction was immediate. The black mass recoiled from the
23:20
heat, pulling back several inches with a strange, almost
23:23
organic shudder. It works.
23:27
I moved the torch in a sweeping motion, creating a semicircle of
23:31
clear floor around Jeff's legs. The substance retreated, though
23:36
I noticed it began creeping forward again the moment I moved
23:39
the flame away. I reached out and grabbed Jeff's
23:42
arm. Come on, we need to move while
23:45
it's Jeff screamed, a sound so raw and primal it made me
23:49
stumble back. It's inside me, Doug.
23:54
His voice cracked with terror. I can feel it moving inside.
24:00
I stared at him, the torch wavering in my hand.
24:04
In the harsh light, I could see dark lines beneath the skin of
24:08
his neck, spreading upward like veins filled with ink.
24:12
His face contorted in agony as his body began to swell
24:16
unnaturally, his jumpsuit stretching tight across his
24:20
chest and arms. Jeff.
24:23
I whispered, backing away. Jeff, I don't know what to.
24:29
His skin stretched, growing taut and shiny.
24:33
The dark vein spread across his face, turning his eyes black.
24:37
His mouth opened in a silent scream as his body continued to
24:40
bloat. Then he burst.
24:44
There's no other way to describe it.
24:47
Jeff's body split open like an overripe fruit, spraying black
24:51
substance in all directions. What remained of him collapsed
24:55
to the floor as a wave of the viscous black mass surged toward
24:58
me. I turned and ran.
25:02
My boots slipped on the grating as the substance flowed across
25:05
the floor behind me. I reached the Hatch, threw
25:09
myself through, and slammed my palm against the emergency seal
25:13
button. The heavy door slid shut with a
25:17
hydraulic hiss and locked with a solid clank.
25:21
I stood there, gasping for breath, staring at the closed
25:24
hatch. On the other side was whatever
25:28
remained of Jeff. I couldn't process what I'd just
25:31
seen. My hands shook as I raised my
25:35
Comm unit. Captain.
25:37
I said, my voice barely steady. Captain Winters, come in.
25:43
Static crackled. Then her voice came through,
25:45
tense but clear. Douglas, where are you?
25:49
What's happening? Jeff is dead.
25:53
The words felt hollow, inadequate.
25:56
The black substance that got inside him.
25:58
He exploded. There's more of it now.
26:02
I sealed the reactor room, but it's spreading.
26:06
Get to the command center immediately.
26:08
She ordered. William went looking for you 20
26:11
minutes ago. He hasn't checked in.
26:14
My stomach dropped. Which section did he head to?
26:18
He said he was going to maintenance Level C after we
26:21
lost contact with you and Asher. The same area where I'd found
26:25
Asher's abandoned equipment. I'll try to find him on my way
26:29
up. Negative, Captain Winters said
26:32
firmly. The situation is deteriorating
26:36
rapidly. We need to regroup and assess
26:38
our options. Get here now.
26:40
That's an order. I checked my tablet, pulling up
26:45
the station schematic. The most direct route to the
26:48
command center would take me through corridors I'd seen
26:51
filling with the black substance.
26:53
I traced alternative paths with my finger, finding a maintenance
26:58
shaft that connected to a service elevator 2 levels up.
27:02
I'll need to take a detour, I told her.
27:05
The main passages are compromised, just get here in
27:09
one piece, she replied. Winter's out.
27:12
I moved through the station like a ghost, avoiding the spreading
27:15
tendrils of black that seemed to be growing more numerous by the
27:19
minute. Twice I had to backtrack when I
27:22
found passages completely blocked by web like formations
27:25
of the substance. The emergency lights continue to
27:29
flicker, sometimes leaving me in total darkness for heart
27:33
stopping seconds. The maintenance shaft was
27:36
narrow, barely wide enough for my shoulders.
27:39
I climbed the ladder rungs steadily, pausing at each level
27:43
to check for signs of the Organism at level. 4I spotted
27:48
black patches forming around the shaft opening and continued
27:51
upward to level 5 instead. The service elevator was still
27:56
operational, running on emergency power.
28:00
I rode it to the command deck, my hand hovering over the plasma
28:03
torch I'd brought with me. When the doors opened, I peered
28:08
out cautiously before stepping into the corridor.
28:12
The command center doors were just ahead.
28:15
I knocked three times, then called out.
28:18
It's Douglas. The door opened just wide enough
28:22
for me to slip through before slamming shut behind me.
28:26
Captain Winters and Mildred were pushing a heavy storage cabinet
28:29
against the door as an additional barricade.
28:32
Two other entrances had already been blocked with similar
28:35
makeshift barriers. Any sign of William or Asher?
28:40
Mildred asked, her face pale with worry.
28:43
I shook my head. Nothing.
28:47
What have you found out, Captain?
28:50
Winters gestured to the main console, where multiple screens
28:53
displayed station logs and data readouts.
28:57
We've been going through the research files.
28:59
This station wasn't just monitoring deep space signals.
29:03
They were conducting experiments.
29:06
I moved to the console, scanning the information.
29:10
What kind of experiments? They recovered a sample from an
29:14
asteroid 3 months ago, Mildred explained, pointing to a
29:18
research log on one of the screens, something with unusual
29:22
properties they couldn't identify.
29:25
The logs describe it as organically reactive but non
29:29
cellular. The black substance, I said.
29:34
She nodded. They kept it contained in the
29:37
high Security lab on Level 2 until 8 days ago, when they
29:42
reported unexpected growth patterns and potential breach
29:46
concerns. Captain Winters pulled up a
29:49
security feed showing various corridors throughout the
29:52
station. Most of the cameras were still
29:55
functional, revealing hallways crawling with the black
29:58
substance. In some areas it covered every
30:01
surface, pulsing and flowing like a living thing.
30:05
One feed showed the docking Bay where our shuttle was attached.
30:09
The substance had already begun to form around the airlock.
30:14
It's learning, I said, watching the methodical way it's spread
30:18
along power conduits and air ducts.
30:21
It's not just growing randomly, it's mapping the station systems
30:27
and it's accelerating, Captain Winters added grimly.
30:31
Compare the footage from two hours ago to now.
30:35
The difference was shocking. What had been isolated patches
30:39
were now extensive networks connecting throughout the
30:42
station. We need to leave.
30:45
I said, looking at both of them. Right now, before it completely
30:50
blocks our way to the ship. Captain Winters nodded, her
30:55
expression grim. I've already started the
30:58
emergency evacuation protocol, but we need to decide about
31:03
William and Asher. I looked at the security feeds
31:07
again, at the black substance flowing through the corridors
31:11
where our team mates had disappeared.
31:13
We thought about what happened to Jeff, how quickly he'd been
31:17
consumed. We can't help them if we're
31:20
dead, too, I said quietly. And we need to warn everyone
31:25
about what's happening here. The three of us stood in
31:28
silence, the weight of the decision hanging in the air as
31:33
the black substance continued its relentless spread throughout
31:36
the station. I stood frozen at the command
31:39
center's main console, watching the security feeds with growing
31:43
dread. The black substance had
31:46
completely blocked our path to the docking Bay, spreading
31:50
across the corridor in thick, pulsating webs.
31:54
That's our only way out. Mildred said, her voice tight.
31:59
Captain Winters leaned closer to the screen, her face illuminated
32:03
by its blue glow. It's not just blocking our path.
32:08
Look. She pointed to another feed
32:11
showing the exterior of our shuttle.
32:13
Dark tendrils had already begun creeping across the hull,
32:16
working their way toward the airlock.
32:20
So what's the alternative? Mildred asked, looking between
32:24
us. We can't stay here.
32:27
I ran my hand through my hair, mentally reviewing the station
32:31
schematics I'd studied before the mission.
32:34
There's another way. External maintenance tunnels on
32:38
the station's outer hull. They connect to an emergency
32:42
airlock near the docking Bay. Eva suits, Captain Winters said,
32:47
nodding slowly. We'd need to go outside.
32:52
The suits are in the storage locker down the hall.
32:54
I said we'd need to move fast. A loud cracking sound made us
33:00
all turn black. Liquid had begun seeping through
33:04
the seam where the wall met the ceiling, forming into tiny
33:07
droplets that merged together as they grew.
33:11
It's found us. Mildred whispered.
33:15
Captain Winters straightened up. Warren, lead the way to those
33:20
Eva suits now. I grabbed the plasma torch I'd
33:24
taken from the reactor room and moved to the door.
33:28
The substance hadn't reached this exit yet.
33:31
I pushed aside the cabinet we'd used as a barricade and
33:34
carefully opened the door, checking both directions before
33:38
waving them forward. Storage locker is 30 meters down
33:43
on the right. I said, keeping my voice low.
33:48
We moved quickly but cautiously down the corridor.
33:52
The emergency lights cast everything in a dim red glow,
33:56
making the black patches on the walls look like pools of
33:59
nothing. I kept the plasma torch ready,
34:03
remembering how the substance had recoiled from its heat.
34:07
The storage locker was thankfully clear of the
34:09
Organism. I punched in the access code and
34:13
the door slid open with a pneumatic hiss.
34:17
Inside, three Eva suits hung on the wall.
34:20
Standard issue for emergency repairs.
34:23
Put them on, Captain Winters ordered, already reaching for
34:27
one. Full checks on all systems.
34:31
I grabbed mine and began the methodical process of suiting up
34:34
my hands, moving automatically through the familiar routine.
34:38
Legs first, then torso, connecting the oxygen supply
34:42
sealing the helmet. The suit's built in calm system
34:46
crackled to life as I completed the final checks.
34:51
Oxygen at 100%, suit integrity good, I reported.
34:57
Same here, Mildred said, her voice slightly muffled through
35:01
the calm. Captain Winters finished her
35:04
checks last. All systems green.
35:08
Warren, where's this emergency airlock maintenance level 6 E
35:13
quadrant. There's an access hatch at the
35:15
end of this corridor that will take us there.
35:18
We moved as quickly as the bulky suits allowed.
35:22
The access hatch led to a narrow maintenance shaft with a ladder
35:25
leading up. I went first, climbing steadily
35:29
while keeping an eye out for any sign of the black substance.
35:33
The shaft remained clear, but I could hear the others labored
35:37
breathing through the calm as we climbed.
35:40
Level 6 was worse than I'd expected.
35:43
The black substance covered nearly half the visible
35:46
surfaces, forming intricate patterns across the walls and
35:49
ceiling. It pulsed faster as we
35:51
approached, as if sensing our presence.
35:55
Don't touch it, I warned, using the plasma torch to clear a
35:59
path. The substance recoiled from the
36:02
heat, creating a narrow corridor for us to pass through.
36:06
The emergency airlock was at the far end of the corridor, a small
36:10
chamber designed for maintenance crews to access the station's
36:13
exterior. I checked the control panel.
36:17
Airlock functional emergency power still running to this
36:21
section. Get us out there, Captain
36:24
Winters said, eyeing the black tendrils that were already
36:27
beginning to creep back into the space we'd cleared.
36:31
I activated the airlock sequence.
36:33
The inner door slid open, and we crowded inside the small
36:37
chamber. As soon as the inner door
36:40
sealed, I hit the depressurization sequence.
36:43
Air hissed out of the chamber and the outer door slowly
36:47
opened, revealing the vast darkness of space beyond.
36:52
Magnetic boots activated. I said, stepping out onto the
36:55
station's hull. Stay close and follow my lead.
37:00
The exterior of Station 33 stretched out before us, it's
37:04
curved surface dotted with lights, antenna and sensor
37:08
arrays. Earth hung in the distance, a
37:11
blue marble partially visible beyond the station's bulk.
37:16
Under different circumstances, the view might have been
37:18
beautiful. The maintenance tunnels run
37:21
along the primary hull sections, I explained, pointing to a
37:25
series of raised pathways with hand rails.
37:28
We follow this one around to the docking Bay.
37:32
We moved carefully along the exterior path, our magnetic
37:36
boots keeping us anchored to the hull.
37:39
The silence of space was absolute, broken only by our
37:42
breathing and the occasional crackle of the calm system.
37:46
Halfway to the docking Bay, Mildred stopped suddenly.
37:50
Look, she said, pointing back the way we'd come.
37:55
The black substance had followed us through the airlock.
37:58
It spread across the hull like spilled oil, moving with purpose
38:02
rather than simply flowing with gravity.
38:05
In the vacuum of space, it shouldn't have been able to move
38:08
at all, yet it was tracking us, following our path like a
38:13
predator. It's not affected by the vacuum,
38:17
Captain Winter said, her voice tight with controlled fear.
38:22
Move faster. We picked up our pace,
38:26
practically jogging along the exterior path.
38:29
The docking Bay came into view around the curve of the station,
38:32
and with it, our shuttle. The black substance had already
38:37
covered a significant portion of the hull, working its way toward
38:40
the engines. We need to get inside before it
38:43
compromises the systems, I said. The exterior maintenance tunnel
38:48
connected to a secondary airlock on the docking bay's outer wall.
38:53
I accessed the control panel and initiated the entry sequence.
38:57
The airlock opened and we filed inside, waiting impatiently as
39:02
it pressurized. When the inner door finally
39:05
opened, we rushed into the docking Bay.
39:08
Our shuttle sat in its berth, partially covered by the black
39:11
substance. Tendrils had wrapped around the
39:14
landing struts and were creeping up toward the main hatch.
39:19
I'll start the emergency undocking procedure, Captain
39:22
Winters said, moving toward the shuttle's entry ramp.
39:26
You 2, keep that thing away from the critical systems.
39:31
Mildred looked at me. How do we do that?
39:35
I handed her my plasma torch and moved to a maintenance panel on
39:39
the wall. There should be more torches in
39:42
here. I found two more and activated
39:46
one. It's blue flame casting eerie
39:49
shadows across the Bay heat. It's the only thing I've seen it
39:55
react to. We positioned ourselves on
39:58
either side of the shuttle, using the plasma torches to
40:01
create a barrier of heat. The substance recoiled wherever
40:05
the flames came near, retreating momentarily before trying to
40:09
find another path inside the shuttle.
40:12
I could hear Captain Winters going through the rapid startup
40:15
sequence. The engines hummed to life and
40:19
the docking clamps released with a metallic clang.
40:23
Warren Price, get inside now. Captain Winters shouted through
40:27
the calm. Mildred made it to the ramp
40:30
first. I backed up slowly, keeping the
40:34
torch between me and the advancing black mass.
40:38
Just as I reached the ramp, the shuttle lurched violently,
40:42
breaking free from the last physical connections to the
40:45
station. The sudden movement threw me off
40:47
balance. I stumbled, dropping the plasma
40:50
torch as the shuttle drifted away from the docking port.
40:54
For one terrifying moment, I floated in the space between the
40:58
shuttle and the station, untethered in the vacuum.
41:02
My hands shot out, grabbing for anything solid.
41:05
My fingers closed around a hand rail on the shuttle's exterior,
41:09
and I pulled myself toward the still open hatch.
41:12
Mildred reached out, grabbing my arm and hauling me inside. close
41:17
it. I gasped As soon as I was
41:20
through, Mildred slammed her hand on the emergency seal
41:24
button, and the Hatch slid shut with a solid thunk.
41:28
We stripped off our helmets, gulping in the shuttle's
41:30
recycled air. Captain Winters called from the
41:34
cockpit. Everyone secure?
41:37
We're not out of this yet. I made my way forward, Mildred
41:41
right behind me. Through the viewport, I could
41:45
see Station 33 receding slowly as we drifted away.
41:50
The black substance covered nearly half the visible exterior
41:53
now spreading like a cancer across the once pristine
41:57
structure. We need to put some distance
42:00
between US. And I stopped mid sentence, my
42:04
eyes fixed on a warning light on the console.
42:08
Engine room breach. Something's in the ship.
42:11
Captain Winters pulled up the internal camera feed.
42:14
Black tendrils had already begun spreading across the engine room
42:18
floor, working their way toward the power core.
42:22
It must have transferred when we docked, Mildred said, her voice
42:26
barely above a whisper. Captain Winters sat motionless
42:30
for a long moment, her eyes fixed on the screen.
42:34
Then she turned to the navigation console and began
42:37
inputting commands. What are you doing?
42:40
I asked. The only thing we can do, she
42:44
replied, her voice hard. Station 33 has a self destruct
42:49
protocol. The reactor can be overloaded
42:52
remotely. You're going to blow up the
42:54
station? Mildred asked.
42:57
We can't let that thing reach Earth.
43:00
You saw what it did to Jeff. Captain Winters finished the
43:04
sequence and looked up at us. And we can't let it take this
43:09
ship either. She pressed the final
43:12
confirmation, and a countdown appeared on the screen. 60
43:16
seconds. We watched in silence as the
43:20
timer ticked down. When it reached 0A, blinding
43:24
flash erupted from Station 33. The explosion rippled outward,
43:29
tearing the station apart in a massive ball of fire and debris.
43:34
The shockwave hit our shuttle seconds later, rocking us
43:37
violently as Captain Winters struggled to maintain control.
43:41
When the initial blast subsided, I looked out the viewport at the
43:45
floating wreckage where Station 33 had been.
43:47
Nothing could have survived that.
43:50
We did it, Mildred said, her voice thick with relief.
43:55
I was about to agree when something caught my eye on the
43:58
exterior camera feed. A patch of black substance, no
44:02
larger than my hand clung to our shuttle's hull near the
44:06
starboard thruster. No, I said, pointing to the
44:11
screen. It survived.
44:14
Captain Winters didn't hesitate, setting course for the nearest
44:18
sun maximum thrust. The engines roared to life,
44:23
pushing us away from the debris field at increasing speed.
44:27
As we accelerated, I noticed something on the camera feed.
44:31
The black patch was shrinking, pulling away from the thruster
44:34
as it heated up from use. Look.
44:37
I said, pointing to the screen. The heat from the engines, it's
44:41
retreating. We watched as the substance
44:45
continued to recoil from the hot thruster, shrinking further with
44:49
each passing minute. So that's its weakness?
44:53
Captain Winters said quietly. Heat.
44:57
I leaned back in my seat, feeling the first hint of relief
45:01
since this nightmare began. The Organism was retreating,
45:05
unable to withstand the heat of our engines.
45:08
We had a chance, but as I watched the black substance
45:12
slowly pull back from our hull, I couldn't shake the feeling
45:16
that we weren't seeing its defeat, only its tactical
45:19
retreat. Something this adaptive, this
45:24
persistent, wouldn't be destroyed so easily.
45:28
Keep the engines hot, I said, my eyes fixed on the screen.
45:33
Don't let it get a foothold again.
45:36
Captain Winters nodded grimly and pushed the throttle to
45:39
maximum. The stars blurred outside as we
45:43
accelerated toward the distant sun, carrying with us the last
45:46
remnant of whatever had consumed Station 33 and hoping the heat
45:51
would be enough to finish what the explosion had started.
45:55
Mildred joined us at the console.
45:57
We could use that. The ship's heating systems run
46:00
throughout the entire hull. If we redirect the flow, we
46:05
might be able to hurt it. I finished her thought like
46:08
cattle. Captain Winters was already
46:11
pulling up the shuttle's environmental controls.
46:15
Where would we push it to? I brought up the ship's
46:19
schematics on the adjacent screen.
46:22
Here, I said, pointing to a section at the rear of the
46:25
shuttle cargo hold B. It's the smallest compartment
46:30
with an external hatch, and it's on the opposite side from our
46:33
living quarters and critical systems.
46:37
Can we seal it completely? Mildred asked.
46:41
I nodded. The compartment has emergency
46:44
bulkheads. Once we get the substance
46:47
inside, we can lock it down and eject the entire section.
46:52
Captain Winters fingers flew across the controls.
46:56
I'm redirecting heat now, setting all corridors to maximum
47:00
temperature except for the path to cargo hold B.
47:04
The shuttle's environmental system hummed louder as the
47:07
heating elements kicked into OverDrive.
47:10
We watched the temperature readings climb throughout the
47:13
ship. 80° Ninety 100. Sweat beaded on my forehead as
47:19
the command center grew uncomfortably warm.
47:22
It's working, Mildred said, pointing to the security feed on
47:28
the screen. The black substance was flowing
47:31
along the floor of the engine room, moving away from the heat
47:34
and toward the cooler pathway we'd created.
47:37
It moved like something alive, not just flowing with gravity,
47:41
but making choices, taking the path of least resistance toward
47:46
the cargo area. I'll go to the junction near
47:49
cargo hold, BI said, grabbing a plasma torch.
47:53
I need to make sure it goes all the way in.
47:57
I'm coming with you, Captain Winters.
47:59
Said. Mildred, stay here and monitor
48:02
the feeds. If it changes direction or
48:04
splits up, we need to know immediately.
48:08
Mildred nodded, her eyes not leaving the screens.
48:12
The corridor outside the command center felt like an oven.
48:16
My jumpsuit clung to my skin, soaked with sweat.
48:20
Within seconds, Captain Winters and I moved quickly through the
48:24
ship, following our planned route to stay ahead of the
48:27
substance. We reached the junction leading
48:30
to Cargo Hold B and positioned ourselves on either side of the
48:34
corridor. Through the open bulkhead, I
48:38
could see the empty cargo space beyond.
48:41
Our trap was set. It's coming, Winters said, her
48:46
voice tense as she checked her handheld display. 30 seconds.
48:51
I readied the plasma torch, it's blue flame casting dancing
48:55
shadows on the metal walls. Remember, don't let it touch
48:59
you. If it gets too close, use the
49:02
torch. We waited in silence, the only
49:06
sound the hum of the ship's systems and our own breathing.
49:10
Then I saw it. A glistening black mass sliding
49:14
around the corner, hugging the floor and walls.
49:17
It moved faster than before, as if desperate to escape the heat.
49:21
Pursuing it from behind, Captain Winters and I pressed ourselves
49:26
against the walls, giving it a clear path to the cargo hold.
49:30
The substance paused at the junction, seeming to sense our
49:33
presence. For a moment, I thought it might
49:37
turn back or try to come toward us.
49:40
Come on, I whispered. Go where?
49:43
It's cool. As if hearing me, the black mass
49:47
surged forward, flowing through the open bulkhead into Cargo
49:51
hold B. Once the last of it passed
49:54
through, Captain Winters slammed her hand on the emergency seal
49:58
control bulkhead closing. She shouted as the heavy metal
50:03
door began to slide shut. A tendril of the substance
50:07
whipped back toward the opening, but too late.
50:11
The bulkhead sealed with a definitive clang, trapping the
50:14
Organism inside. We ran to the exterior hatch
50:18
controls on the wall outside the hold.
50:20
Captain Winters entered her command code while I kept watch
50:23
on the sealed bulkhead, half expecting the black substance to
50:27
melt through somehow. Ejection sequence initiated, she
50:31
announced. 10 seconds to release.
50:34
The ship's computer counted down when it reached 0A.
50:38
Dull thud reverberated through the hull as Cargo Hold B
50:41
detached from the shuttle. Through a nearby viewport, I
50:46
caught a glimpse of the compartment drifting away into
50:48
the blackness of space, taking our unwanted passenger with it.
50:54
We did it. Captain Winters said, her voice
50:57
heavy with exhaustion. I nodded, but couldn't shake a
51:02
feeling of unease. Let's make sure none of it is
51:06
left behind. We spent the next several hours
51:10
scanning every inch of the shuttle, checking all systems
51:13
and compartments for any trace of the black substance.
51:17
The scans came back clean. We'd done it.
51:21
We'd gotten rid of the Organism without having to fly into a sun
51:26
setting course for Earth Station Alpha.
51:29
Captain Winters announced once we were certain.
51:32
We need to report what happened and get everyone checked out.
51:36
I looked at Mildred, who had barely spoken since we ejected
51:39
the cargo hold. You OK?
51:43
She nodded slowly. Just thinking about Jeff and
51:47
Asher and William, they never had a chance.
51:52
I put my hand on her shoulder. We'll make sure people know what
51:56
happened to them. The journey back to Earth took
51:59
eight days. We filed our reports during the
52:02
trip, describing everything we'd seen and experienced on Station
52:06
33. The authorities didn't seem to
52:09
know what to make of our story, a living black substance that
52:13
had consumed an entire station crew and nearly our team as
52:16
well. When we docked at Earth Station
52:19
Alpha, a quarantine team in hazmat suits was waiting for us.
52:23
Standard procedure, they said. But I could tell by their rigid
52:27
movements and the way they kept their distance that they'd read
52:30
our reports. And we're taking no chances.
52:33
They separated us immediately. I caught a final glimpse of
52:37
Captain Winters and Mildred being LED down different
52:40
corridors before a door closed between us.
52:44
Three weeks passed in isolation. My room was comfortable enough.
52:48
A bed, a desk, a bathroom and a small window looking out at the
52:53
stars. Meals came through a slot in the
52:56
wall. Doctors in protective gear took
52:59
blood samples daily and asked the same questions over and
53:02
over. Have you experienced any unusual
53:06
symptoms? No.
53:09
Any pain or discomfort? No.
53:12
Any unusual dreams or thoughts? No.
53:15
But that last one was a lie. The nightmares came every night.
53:21
In them I watched the black substance flow across planets,
53:24
consuming cities, forests, oceans.
53:28
I saw it spread across Earth, climbing the tallest buildings,
53:32
seeping into water supplies, coding everything in its path.
53:38
I woke up gasping for air, my sheets soaked with sweat.
53:42
I told myself they were just dreams, my mind processing the
53:45
trauma of what we'd experienced. The doctors had checked me
53:50
thoroughly. If any trace of the Organism had
53:53
been in my system, they would have found it.
53:57
I was sitting on my bed, reading a book on my tablet when the
54:01
door to my room slid open. Doctor Grayson Nunez entered,
54:06
wearing a standard medical uniform rather than the full
54:09
protective gear I'd grown used to seeing.
54:13
That should have been reassuring, but the look on his
54:16
face sent ice through my veins. Mr. Warren, He said, his voice
54:22
carefully controlled. How are you feeling today?
54:27
Same as yesterday, I replied, ready to get out of here.
54:32
He didn't smile. Instead he pulled up a chair and
54:36
sat down across from me, maintaining a careful distance.
54:41
We've been analyzing your blood work very thoroughly, and in
54:47
your most recent sample we detected something unusual.
54:52
Microscopic traces of an organic compound we can't identify.
54:57
The room seemed to grow colder. What does that mean?
55:02
It means we need to run more tests, he said, not quite
55:06
meeting my eyes. The compound shares some
55:10
similarities with samples we recovered from the ejected cargo
55:13
compartment. When it was retrieved, my heart
55:15
skipped a beat. You retrieved it.
55:18
Why would you do that? Standard procedure for
55:22
investigating unknown biological threats.
55:25
Dr. Nunez said it was completely contained and brought to a
55:30
secure facility. I barely heard his explanation.
55:35
A sudden chill ran through my left arm and I glanced down at
55:39
it. There was a small dark spot on
55:41
my inner forearm that I'd noticed a few days ago, but
55:45
dismissed as a bruise from one of the many blood draws.
55:49
But it wasn't a bruise. As I stared at it, I could see
55:53
it wasn't just dark, it was black, and it wasn't just a
55:57
spot, it was a vein slightly raised beneath my skin.
56:02
As Doctor Nunez continued talking about additional tests
56:05
and extended quarantine, I watched in horror as the dark
56:09
vein pulsed once, very slightly, like something living.
56:15
Mr. Warren, are you listening? Doctor Nunez asked.
56:19
I couldn't take my eyes off my arm.
56:22
It's inside me, I whispered. Doctor Nunez followed my gaze.
56:27
His face went pale. The terrible truth washed over
56:31
me like ice water. Our escape hadn't been an escape
56:34
at all. Ejecting the cargo hold hadn't
56:37
solved anything. The Organism hadn't been
56:40
destroyed. It had simply found a new host
56:44
in me. The black vein pulsed again,
56:49
stronger this time, and I felt something move under my skin.
56:53
Not painful, but alien, deliberate, aware, waiting.