Beyond the panoramic window of the bridge stretched the infinite blackness of space, cut only by the illuminated needles of stars. The research vessel 'Libra' glided slowly, surrounded by a frost of cosmic dust. Captain Mara Rawling sat bent over the console, while engineer Nikolai Grun and biologist Tessa Jun stood just behind her, staring at the enlarging shape on the monitor. It was the abandoned Prometheus research station that had been rumoured among the most assiduous explorers - a station that had fallen silent without a trace ten years earlier. - The scans detect residual energy and... movement? - muttered Nikolai, turning uncertainly to the others. Mara pressed the communicator button. - 'Prepare for docking. We'll check it with our own hands. A moment later, the crew, in full flight suits, glided along the connecting corridor, hearing only their own breathing and the quiet hum of the life support systems. The door to the interior of the station opened with a groan, revealing corridors lit only by emergency blinking lights. - 'Someone's been in here recently,' Tessa whispered, picking up a still-warm service key from the ground. Footprints led deeper into the station. The crew moved cautiously until they finally reached the main hall, where dust was still in the air. A sound came from a dark corner - something like an echo, as if someone's footsteps were repeating endlessly. Mara raised her torch. - 'We're not alone here,' she whispered, and at the same moment there was a prolonged metallic screech just behind them....