Outside the reinforced hull of the ISS Borealis lay the infinite void, an expanse as cold as oblivion, endlessly quiet, serenely indifferent. Cief Engineer Elias Voss's eyes fluttered open, consciousness returning with the unsettling sensation of cryofluid retreating from his skin, an icy caress relinquishing its grip reluctantly.

  His lungs shuddered awake with a sharp gasp, inhaling the sterile air tinged with antiseptic bitterness. Decades of cryosleep left his muscles rigid, frozen like marble statues abandoned by their sculptor. The rhythmic pulse of an alarm filled the air, methodically persistent, worming through the fading dreams and coaxing him back to stark reality.

  He lingered for a moment, caught between the echoing fragments of memory and awakening dread. His vision swam briefly, blurred images of a life long past,the rain-kissed streets of New Oslo, the gentle murmurs of ocean winds, the vibrant tapestry of city lights sprawling like endless constellations beneath his apartment window.

  Home.

  Elias clung to that memory, desperately holding onto the scent of fresh rain and damp stone, the warm glow of the small apartment he once called his own. He remembered clearly the sparkle of joy in his son’s eyes, illuminated by excitement as he unwrapped the model starship,the old Earth design, from the golden age when humanity first dared to dream beyond their solar cradle.

  “Do you like it?” his past self had asked, voice thick with pride.

  His son’s curls bounced vigorously. “Will you help me build it?”

  “Of course,” Elias had promised softly, ruffling his son’s hair. “We have all the time in the world.”

  The memory evaporated like a vapor upon awakening, leaving behind a hollow ache. Time, he realized with grim resignation, had always been an illusion. They never had enough.

  His feet touched the freezing metallic floor, sending jolts of discomfort through his veins, a stark reminder of reality's cold embrace. Elias steadied himself, gripping the cryopod as his senses gradually sharpened. The cryochamber was bathed in dim emergency lighting, casting ghostly shadows that flickered over the inert pods of his crew, each containing a fellow traveler suspended in their own distant dreams.

  Only his pod had opened. Only his sleep had been interrupted.

  His gaze lifted toward the chronometer embedded above the chamber door.

  2412.

  The numbers displayed seemed almost surreal: he had entered cryosleep in 2318, yet now it read far beyond, its digits a cruel joke. A century, perhaps longer,lost to relativistic travel through an endless abyss. He had woken many times, yet this awakening carried a distinct weight, a foreboding urgency that clawed gently at the edges of his mind.

  "HALIA," Elias rasped, his throat raw from disuse, each syllable scraping painfully against dormant vocal cords. "Status report."

  A soft electronic hum preceded the AI’s measured response, precise and calm. "Chief Voss, a faint, anomalous signal has been detected emanating from an uncharted region of space. Preliminary analysis suggests an intelligent origin. Your revival protocol was activated for assessment."

  Elias felt a strange tightening in his chest. “Source localization?”

  The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  "Negative. Current sensor arrays are unable to determine exact coordinates. The signal exhibits irregular properties, atypical to any known natural phenomena or recorded constructs."

  His brow furrowed, and Elias moved toward the central console, the stiffness of sleep dissipating with each careful step. As he studied the data patterns, perplexity grew,the waveform danced unpredictably, defying known logic or reason, a cosmic enigma reaching out through the void.

  “Natural occurrence?” Elias muttered, more to himself than to HALIA.

  "Unlikely," the AI responded smoothly. "While not impossible, characteristics suggest artificial origins,though unprecedented."

  He nodded, fingers tracing along the interface. "Initiate full diagnostic check. I need confirmation."

  "Diagnostics initiated. Estimated completion: two hours."

  Elias exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of unspoken anticipation. He ordered the revival of Lieutenant Commander Aria Chen and Science Officer Malik Roshan, their expertise critical to interpreting this cosmic mystery.

  As he waited, Elias moved toward the vast observation viewport, its transparent alloy providing a panoramic glimpse into the star-flecked expanse beyond. Countless lights twinkled distantly, each a beacon of potential and peril, yet tonight their beauty was overshadowed by the uneasy call resonating deep within his consciousness.

  He felt the strange pulse of the signal, gentle yet insistent, echoing through the chambers of his mind. It tugged at him, whispering promises of discovery intertwined with subtle, unknown dangers. He’d felt such impulses before, during years spent exploring the cosmos,though never this profoundly personal.

  The hiss of decompressing seals announced Aria and Malik's awakening. Aria emerged first, her movements graceful yet cautious, dark eyes rapidly assessing the situation.

  "Sir," she managed hoarsely, her strength evident beneath lingering disorientation. "Situation report?"

  "Unknown signal," Elias explained succinctly. "Potentially intelligent. Immediate assessment required."

  She nodded silently, eyes narrowing in contemplation. Malik stirred beside her, shaking off the last vestiges of cryosleep.

  "A signal?" Malik rasped, his voice layered with curiosity. "From where?"

  "Uncharted," Elias said. "It defies our current understanding."

  Malik glanced at the console, eyebrows knitting. "Fascinating."

  The trio moved swiftly, their combined expertise breathing life into the control deck. As HALIA confirmed the integrity of ship systems, Elias allowed his mind to wander momentarily back to Earth. A world burdened, nearly depleted, its people desperate for hope. The Borealis mission was humanity’s last great gamble,a leap of faith into endless darkness.

  Now that darkness whispered back.

  Soon, the entire crew stirred awake, a collection of humanity’s brightest and bravest, their expressions sober as Elias outlined the situation.

  "Could it be natural?" Dr. Lena Rodriguez asked cautiously, eyes bright with analytical intensity.

  "Doesn't match anything known," Malik replied firmly, glancing toward Elias. "We need further data."

  "Prepare a probe," Elias ordered decisively. "Let’s see what this anomaly holds."

  "Probe launch protocols activated," HALIA confirmed gently.

  As the crew busied themselves, Elias retreated slightly, allowing a brief moment of introspection. He wondered if his son ever found happiness, if he lived fully despite his father’s absence. That thought anchored him, granting purpose even amid uncertainty.

  The stars outside seemed to shimmer knowingly, distant observers of humanity’s audacious journey. The signal persisted,a cry from an uncertain future, reaching across infinite distances.

  "Sir," Aria interrupted softly, sensing his contemplative state. "We're ready."

  Elias squared his shoulders, determination cutting through lingering doubts. "Launch the probe. Let’s meet our mystery head-on."

  As the tiny craft sped silently into the darkness, Elias heard again that internal whisper, clearer now,like an echo through eternity:

  "He wakes from one sleep only to step into another. Time bends around him, reshapes like rivers carving new paths. He is close. Closer than he should be. The stars whisper,but will he listen? Or will he run?"

  He straightened, resolve firm in his heart.

  There would be no running. Not this time.