"Approximately thirty-five meters away. Based on the blueprint, it could be... an independent subsystem of the Communications Center, or perhaps a well-shielded safe room?" Lia analyzed the signal signature.
A functioning device? Here, where everything else had been transformed and consumed?
"We check that first," Kael immediately changed the decision. A potential source of information was far more important than blindly pressing forward, especially in this environment.
The team turned into the left corridor. The crystalline growth here seemed somewhat less dense, but the unsettling signs of transformation still covered the walls and floor. They advanced cautiously, trying to make as little noise as possible.
The corridor ended at a heavy security door, marked with a red radiation symbol and the words "COMMUNICATIONS CENTER - AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY." The door was slightly ajar, revealing darkness within. The regular pulse signal emanated from the crack.
Rex used his power claw against the door seam, slowly pushing it open. The hinges groaned with a dry, grating sound, horribly loud in the silence.
The scene inside was somewhat different from elsewhere. The Communications Center was also coated in the gray film, its console screens shattered, equipment pierced by twisted crystals. But in one corner, a standalone server rack appeared partially protected by some kind of emergency barrier. The barrier's energy was very weak, flickering intermittently, but it had seemingly shielded the rack from complete encroachment by the external crystals. The regular pulse signal originated from this rack.
"An independent archive server. Likely has physical isolation and backup power," Lia judged immediately, moving quickly to inspect the rack's interfaces.
"Can you access it? Extract log records!" Kael commanded, while he and Rex took up positions guarding the doorway, left and right, vigilantly watching the corridor outside. With the door open, the rustling from outside seemed to grow more distinct.
"Interface compatible. Attempting access... need to bypass damaged external nodes..." Lia's arm extended its data interface again, plugging into a still-intact port on the rack. The data streams in her eyes accelerated once more.
Several minutes of silence passed, broken only by the faint hum of the server's internal fans and the nearly inaudible high-frequency whine of Lia's processor running at full capacity.
"Extracted partial log fragments, primarily text records. Some surveillance footage from the final time period might also be stored in the local cache..." Lia reported swiftly. "Decrypting... transmitting to your helmet display and personal terminal, Commander."
Text logs immediately began scrolling across Kael's helmet display, while a small window started playing a blurry, violently shaking surveillance video.
---
**[Text Log - Dr. Elara Vance - Standard Year 4235 - Day 298]**
"...The survey team discovered an impact crater in Sector 7-B, containing non-local metallic fragments. Preliminary assessment suggests a small meteor or probe wreckage. A team has been dispatched for recovery. Hope it's not just space junk; we could use a new discovery to boost morale..."
**[Text Log - Dr. Elara Vance - Day 299]**
"...Incredible. What they recovered wasn't fragments, but a complete, strangely structured small container! Non-standard alloy, unidentifiable manufacturing technique. It's almost perfectly intact, and there seems to be an energy reaction inside... We've moved it to the Level-3 Isolation Lab. Everyone is excited; this could be the find of the century!"
**[Text Log - Technician Lin Ma - Day 300]**
"...Container successfully opened. No biological samples inside, no devices... just a gem? Or some kind of unseen crystal? It's so beautiful... emits a soft light. Looking at it feels... peaceful. Dr. Vance is already captivated; he's barely eating or sleeping, just watching it..."
**[Text Log - Security Officer Dax - Day 301]**
...I don't like that thing. Lab sensors are detecting anomalous energy emissions. Faint, but the pattern is strange. Raised the warning with the Doctor, but he reprimanded me for hindering scientific progress. My shift on the main corridor tonight. Hope everything's normal...
**[Text Log - Security Officer Dax - Day 302 - Timestamp Corrupted]**
...Something's wrong. Lights flickering. Hearing strange sounds, like... whispers? Coming from the lab direction. No response from the lab hails. Hailing Dr. Vance... comms are just distorted static and... laughter? I have to go check...
**[Surveillance Footage - Main Corridor - Camera CH-07 - Timestamp: Day 302 - 04:17]**
The video quality is poor, full of noise, constantly shaking. Security Officer Dax can be seen, holding an energy pistol, backing away nervously towards the camera (i.e., away from the lab direction). He seems to be shouting desperately into his comms, but the audio is only broken static and a distorted, inhuman shrieking.
Suddenly, the wall behind him—the alloy wall—begins to "melt." A gray, viscous substance seeps through, rapidly coalescing into sharp crystalline clusters that directly pierce his calf! Dax screams (the footage is silent, but his face contorts), collapsing and struggling.