the return

Log Entry: Cycle 88, Sol -. Approaching Terrapin Station.

More jumps again. Less nauseating. My stomach has mostly adjusted.

The Lacuna shimmers. Terrapin Station hangs before us. A decaying silhouette. A homecoming to a house that isn’t yours anymore. I’m not the same person who left.

A real story. A chance to make a difference, be known. It feels… too easy. Finding Roberts. The ship. The neat package of data recovered from the void. A flicker of a thought. A cold feeling. Something’s not right. I shake it off. Paranoia. Just the Wires trying to get in my head. The Lacuna’s convulsive travels.

Roberts turns. His eyes hold mine. Echo speaks, its flat voice.

“Wilkins has the scramblers. Essential for the Ganymede relays. You need to get them.”

A final step before we start the ripple.

I push off towards the airlock. My hand cold. My notebook clutched tight. The words that will shine a light on the Wires. The truth. My truth.

“I’ll be quick.” My voice betraying my confidence.