The Antares Space Station drifted silent and cold, drowning in the glow of distant stars. Here, on the outskirts of the known galaxy, three young researchers were carrying out their first major mission: Lena, a cybernetics specialist; Adam, a pilot and expedition leader; and Taro, an astrobiologist whose dream was to find traces of life beyond Earth. Through the ship's panoramic window, they could see the old, rusting station looming against the swirling nebula - disturbingly quiet, abandoned for years. The readout lights pulsed restlessly as their docked shuttle slowly welded itself to the airlock. Lena checked the communications systems first. "No response...," she reported quietly. Adam nodded. "You remember what we're looking for. We officially came here for energy core samples, but we're logging everything." Taro didn't stop watching his sensors. Something about this space seemed unnatural - the air (even the synthetic air) smelled of ozone and.... something else. "Do you hear that?" Silence. As they crossed the threshold of the station, the door closed behind them with a deafening echo. The corridors were covered in dust and cobwebs of old cables. "Looks like someone left here in a hurry - unfinished food, open cupboards...", Lena whispered. Suddenly, a crackling sound came from the radio. A voice, muffled and full of noise, emerged from the hum of the ether: "...rescue.... this... is not... human..." Adam looked at the others. "It's a recording from years ago. But why are we hearing it now?" At that moment, the door of the main technical room opened automatically. A strange, mesmerising light flashed from inside, pulsing to the rhythm of someone's breathing. Lena took a step forward, Taro pulled out a detector, Adam spread the corridor barrier. In the centre, in the middle of the room, floated an oval, shiny object, seeming to live a rhythm of its own. As if it was just waiting for them....