Chapter 14: The Crew of Alpha-9
The Alpha-9 was a relic, its hull patched with mismatched plates, its corridors smelling of oil and rust. Lyra stood in the command module, studying the crew she'd been assigned. Ren, tinkering with his prosthetic arm, was the only familiar face. Theo, the pilot, was a wiry man with a quick grin and a habit of tapping the controls like a drummer. Kir, the xenobiologist, was quiet, his dark eyes scanning data pads with unnerving focus.
"This ship's a death trap," Theo said, leaning back in the pilot's chair. "But I've flown worse. You sure about this mission, boss?"
"Call me Lyra," she said, ignoring the knot in her chest. "And no, I'm not sure. But the network's spreading. We don't have a choice."
Kir looked up, his voice soft but precise. "The data from Alpha-7 suggests the network alters neural patterns, merging individual consciousness with a collective. It's not infection-it's evolution. Or so it believes."
"Evolution?" Ren snorted, tightening a bolt on his arm. "It turned Avis into a puppet. I'd rather stay human, thanks."
Lyra nodded, but Kir's words echoed the network's promises of eternity. She pushed the thought aside, focusing on the mission brief. The Alpha-9 would follow the signal's coordinates to a dead zone in the Orion Arm, a sector uncharted since the first colonies. The Council suspected the network's core-a massive crystal or hub-lay there, controlling the smaller nodes like the one at Alpha-7.
"Any questions?" Lyra asked, her voice steadier than she felt.
Theo raised a hand. "Yeah. What happens if this thing decides you're more valuable to it than to us? No offense, but you're its golden ticket."
Lyra met his gaze, unflinching. "If it comes to that, you stop me. Whatever it takes."
Ren's eyes widened, but he said nothing. Kir merely nodded, as if the idea didn't surprise him. The weight of leadership settled on Lyra's shoulders, heavier than the signal's hum.
As the crew dispersed to prep the ship, Lyra accessed the Alpha-9's archives, searching for her mother's medallion. The Council had found it in Earth's ruins, based on her instructions, and sent her a digital scan. Its geometric patterns matched the network's symbols, confirming her family's role. But one detail stood out: an inscription in an ancient script, translated as "For the Seed, to Bind or Break."
"Bind or break," Lyra whispered, her fingers tracing the screen. Was she meant to join the network or destroy it? The signal pulsed, offering no answers.
That night, as the Alpha-9 prepared for launch, Lyra dreamed of her mother, standing in a glowing web, her eyes starry voids. "You're ready, Lyra," she said. "But readiness comes with a price."
Lyra woke, her heart pounding. The signal was louder now, calling her to the stars.
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