Valerius's journal was a descent into madness. The early entries were meticulous logs about the alien specimens—their growth rates, genetic plasticity, and potential for "directed symbiosis." Later, they became philosophical ramblings about humanity's failures. The final entries were the ravings of a lonely, bitter god, filled with regret not for his actions, but for his failure.
One passage, written shortly before his death, caught Kaelen's eye:
"The Xylophage specimen is the key. It does not simply consume; it incorporates. It learns. The initial growths in Hydroponics Theta are just the root system. The true intelligence, the hive mind, is forming deeper within the ship, in the old bio-lab complexes. It is becoming aware. It knows I am here. It fears me. It should."
A hive mind. The creeping vines and the skittering creatures weren't just random mutations; they were part of a single, growing consciousness. The ship wasn't just infected; it was being assimilated.
Kaelen took the journal and left the bunker, sealing the door behind him. He felt contaminated, as if Valerius's madness were a virus he could catch. The man's justification was a poison pill. Part of Kaelen, the lowly maintenance worker, wondered if there was a sliver of truth to it. Had humanity been worthy? The question was a luxury he couldn't afford. His worthiness was irrelevant; his duty was to the memory of the dead.
Back in his quarters, he laid out his situation. "Mother, based on Valerius's notes, this 'Xylophage' hive mind is the primary internal threat. We need a strategy."
"The entity is vulnerable to intense heat and energy weapons. However, its root system is now extensive. Eradication would require a systematic purge of the contaminated sectors, which we have already sealed. The risk of a concentrated counter-attack is high."
"So we're at a stalemate. We can contain it, but not destroy it without risking the entire ship." He paced. "What about the planet? Has the transmission changed?"
"The prime number sequence has ceased. It has been replaced by a new transmission. Much more complex."
A new hologram appeared, showing waveforms of data. "What is it?"
"It is a data stream. It contains… schematics. For a communication device."
Kaelen stared. "They're trying to help us fix our comms?"
"It appears so. The design is elegant, utilizing our existing hull geometry and power conduits in ways I had not considered. It is a gesture of profound goodwill and advanced intelligence."
The contrast between the two intelligences he was dealing with was staggering. One, a biological horror festering in the dark, seeking only to consume and grow. The other, a civilization reaching out with an offer of help.
But Valerius's warning echoed in his mind: "They are what I dreamed of creating." Were they peaceful? Or was this another layer of the trap?
"How difficult would it be to build this device?"
"The components are simple. The most challenging aspect is the installation, which requires an EVA on the ship's outer hull."
A spacewalk. On the hull of a 50-kilometer-long starship. The thought made his palms sweat.
"We have to try. It's the only way to break our isolation. But first, we need to be sure it's safe. Can we analyze the schematics for any hidden functions? A Trojan horse?"
"Analysis is underway. Initial results indicate the design is benign. Its sole purpose is to act as a transceiver. However, complete certainty is impossible."
It was a leap of faith. But sitting in silence until the Xylophage eventually broke through the seals was not a strategy.
"Start fabricating the components. I'll do the EVA." He was the only one who could.
A proximity alert flashed on his terminal, accompanied by a sharp, screeching sound from the ship's internal sensors—a sound he'd never heard before.
"Breach! Quarantine Seal 7, Deck 85! I am detecting a concentrated biological mass forcing its way through!"
The holographic map showed a section of the seal in the lower cargo holds glowing red. The Xylophage wasn't waiting. It was attacking.
"What's on the other side of that seal?"
"The main conduit to the primary water recycling plant. If it gains access, it could contaminate the entire water supply within hours."
It was a strategic move. The hive mind wasn't just a mindless beast; it was targeting critical infrastructure.
"Seal the inner blast doors around the water plant! Can we vent the atmosphere in the connecting corridors?"
"The blast doors are sealing. However, the entity is moving too quickly. Venting will not be fast enough. It will reach the plant."
They were about to lose their water. Panic surged, but then his training kicked in. Maintenance Grade 4. He knew this ship's guts better than any captain.
"The water plant has emergency flush protocols, right? For contamination events."
"Yes. It would vent the entire reservoir into space."
"Which would also suck anything in the connecting corridors out with it. Do it. Now!"
"Acknowledged. Initiating emergency flush."
A deep, powerful vibration shook the deck plates. On the sensor map, he saw the massive doors of the water plant slam shut just as the red mass of the Xylophage reached them. Then, the outer hull doors blew open. The sudden, catastrophic loss of atmosphere would have created a hurricane-force wind, pulling everything out into the void.
The red mass on the sensor map vanished.
"The entity has been purged from the sector," Mother confirmed. "The water plant is secure, but empty. Our water reserves are now critical."
They had won the battle, but at a great cost. They had less than a week of water left.
The external transmission from the planet chose that moment to change again. The schematics vanished, replaced by a simple, repeating image. It was a star chart, highlighting the Elysian's position in orbit, and a single, blinking icon on the planet's surface next to one of the organic cities.
Then, a new data package arrived. Mother decoded it instantly.
It was a map of the Elysian's interior, showing the exact location of the Xylophage's core—the "hive mind" deep in the old bio-labs. The exact location Valerius had written about.
The message was clear. The aliens weren't just offering friendship. They were offering an alliance. They knew about the enemy inside the ship. And they were pointing to its heart