Nebu-9 drifted through The Rift, its systems humming quietly as they passed through the gateway. For a moment, everything seemed perfectly still. Time felt suspended, the usual hum of the ship’s engines repced by an eerie silence. The outside universe, which had been teeming with cosmic energy just moments ago, had fallen into an unnatural stillness.

  The crew remained at their stations, eyes fixed on their dispys as they navigated the unknown space. The stars ahead were unfamiliar, and the deep space map was fragmented. What they saw was not the familiar grid of gaxies or nebue—they were surrounded by bnk voids and strange, geometric formations that seemed to pulse and shift.

  Commander Elias Vance’s eyes narrowed as he scanned the space ahead. The holo-dispy showed a jagged, angur pattern in the distance—a structure, colossal in scale, rising out of the darkness like the bones of an ancient creature. It was unlike anything he had ever seen.

  “Report,” Elias commanded, his voice low and steady, though there was a sense of urgency beneath it.

  Nova, the ship’s AI, answered promptly. “Sensors indicate a rge, COMPLEX STRUCTURE located at the centre of this region. It appears to be both biological and mechanical in nature, emitting a low-frequency hum that resonates with the ship’s systems.”

  Sienna Rell, their pilot, shifted in her seat. “That thing’s massive. It doesn’t look like anything we’ve encountered before. What the hell is it?”

  “I don’t know,” Elias said, his tone grim. “But I intend to find out.”

  Dr. Kieran Locke leaned over the console, his eyes glued to the data as the ship moved closer to the structure. “It’s too symmetrical. Too… perfect. This isn’t something that grew naturally. Someone—or something—built this.”

  Amara Vesquez, the ship’s xenolinguist, stood quietly near the communication console, running her hands through her dark hair. She hadn’t spoken much since they entered The Rift, but now she spoke softly. “There’s something unsettling about it. The hum... it’s like it’s calling to me.”

  Elias gnced at her, noticing the furrowed brow and distant look in her eyes. “Amara?”

  “I’m fine,” she said quickly, as if snapping out of a trance. “Just... strange.”

  “Keep your focus,” Elias instructed. “Everyone, stay alert.”

  WHO ARE THE ARCHITECTS…?

  The crew remained silent as they drew closer to the structure. The ship’s exterior cameras showed jagged spires reaching toward the stars, their surfaces gleaming with an unearthly shine. It was as though the very fabric of space had bent around this pce, and it stood as a monument to something beyond their understanding.

  Elias felt a shiver crawl up his spine as they approached. There was something about the structure that felt... wrong. As though it had been waiting for them. As though it had been built with a purpose.

  “Nova, can you identify the origin of this structure?” Kieran asked, his voice tinged with wonder.

  “Negative,” Nova replied. “There are no records of anything simir in the database. However, cross-referencing with known cosmic phenomena shows simirities to the structures believed to be associated with the ancient beings known as the ARCHITECTS. But the data is inconclusive.”

  “Architects?” Aria Soce raised an eyebrow. “You’re talking about those ancient, theorized civilizations that might have seeded the gaxy?”

  “Exactly,” Kieran confirmed, looking over at Amara. “We’ve only found remnants, but we’ve never come across something like this before.”

  Amara’s eyes widened. “Are you saying this could be one of their creations?”

  Elias turned his attention back to the structure. “I think that’s exactly what we’re looking at. And that means we’re standing on the precipice of something far bigger than we’ve ever imagined.”

  Suddenly, the ship’s systems flickered, and the hull emitted a faint, almost imperceptible vibration. A low hum echoed throughout the entire vessel. It was the same sound they had been hearing since they first crossed the threshold of The Rift, but now it was louder—more insistent.

  “Nova, what’s happening?” Elias asked.

  “I’m unable to pinpoint the source,” Nova replied. “However, the resonance is intensifying. It appears to be coming from the structure itself.”

  THE PROPHECY

  The vibrations grew stronger, a deep thrumming pulse reverberating through the ship. As the hum intensified, the ship’s exterior lights began to flicker, and strange symbols appeared on the holo-dispy, fshing in rapid succession.

  “Are those… symbols?” Sienna asked, her voice edged with curiosity.

  “They’re not from any nguage I’ve encountered,” Amara said, her tone now ced with a mixture of awe and apprehension. “I think they’re... instructions. A form of communication.”

  “Communication?” Kieran echoed. “With us?”

  Amara nodded. “The question is, who—or what—is trying to communicate with us?”

  Before anyone could answer, the ship was rocked by a violent jolt. Arms bred as the Nebu-9’s systems scrambled to stabilize. The holographic dispy fred as Nova fought to regain control.

  “Shit! We’re being pulled in!” Sienna shouted, her fingers flying over the controls as the ship veered toward the massive structure.

  Elias gripped the armrests of his chair. “Steady, Sienna! Maintain control!”

  The ship lurched again, its trajectory bending toward the centre of the structure. There was no way to stop it—Nebu-9 was being dragged in, its systems powerless against the gravitational force emanating from the structure.

  “We’ve lost control!” Sienna shouted. “Brace for impact!”

  Elias’ mind raced. They were caught. They had no choice but to let the ship be pulled in and hope they could survive whatever awaited them.

  The ship’s lights flickered one st time as they crossed the event horizon of the Strange Structure. Time seemed to slow as they were swallowed by the darkness.

  Then, everything stopped.

  The hum ceased. The ship fell into a disorienting silence. The vibrations that had rocked the vessel disappeared, and for a moment, there was nothing but the emptiness of space.

  “Status report,” Elias commanded, his voice calm but strained.

  “We’ve been... absorbed,” Nova responded. “The Structure has enveloped us. External cameras are no longer functioning. However, I am detecting a new signal emanating from within.”

  “What kind of signal?” Elias asked.

  “It’s... familiar,” Nova replied, her voice tinged with an odd, unsettling quality. “It matches the frequencies we’ve encountered before—the ones from The Rift.”

  “The signal is from here,” Amara whispered. “It’s coming from within The Structure.”

  Elias exhaled slowly. “Get us a visual.”

  The holo-dispy flickered, and a new image formed. It was a chamber, vast and infinite in scale. The walls were covered in the same symbols they had seen before—etched into the surface, glowing faintly with an eerie light. In the center of the room stood an enormous object, pulsing with energy, its form unclear but ancient in its design. It seemed to thrum with life, the very essence of the structure.

  “This... this is It,” Kieran murmured, his eyes wide with awe. “This is the heart of THE ARCHITECTS CIVILISATION.”

  “The heart?” Aria asked, her voice filled with disbelief. “You mean this is where they’re from?”

  “This is where they created it all,” Kieran replied, staring at the object. “The Architects didn’t just build civilizations—they created structures like this to store knowledge, power, and maybe even themselves. This could be their cradle.”

  Suddenly, a figure appeared in the center of the chamber. At first, it was a mere outline—then, it solidified into something humanoid, though its features were indistinct, shifting as though made of liquid. It towered over the crew, its form pulsing with an otherworldly light.

  “Do you remember?” the figure asked, its voice not spoken but felt, reverberating through the very core of their being.

  Elias felt a cold shiver run down his spine. “We don’t remember,” he said quietly, “but we want to.”

  The figure’s form flickered, shifting into something even more ethereal. “Then listen. The echoes of the past have awoken. The path you walk will lead you to the truth of what was and what may come.”

  The figure’s voice was gone, but the words lingered in their minds.

  “Prepare yourselves,” the figure said. “The prophecy will unfold.”

  CHAPTER’s NOTE:In this chapter, the crew’s exploration of the strange structure intensifies as they are pulled in by an unknown force. The discovery of the Architects’ ancient artifact marks a pivotal moment in their journey. Themes of memory, prophecy, and fate are introduced, deepening the mystery of the crew’s encounter with the unknown.