Kl_ss_rb1 — 001.jpg

Before he could flag the find to his supervisor, the file began to delete itself. Then his screen went dark. In the reflection of the glass, Elias saw his own terrified face, and behind him, a faint violet glow beginning to fill the room.

The notification blinked on Elias’s terminal at 3:14 AM: . Kl_SS_RB1 001.jpg

As Elias zoomed in, he saw small, etched markings on the hull of the craft. They weren't human. They were mathematical constants, pulsing in sync with the violet light. Before he could flag the find to his