The silvery lights of the Orbitron Station shone out into the void of space like the stars of a new generation. 15-year-old Nina had waited a long time for this day. She had won a competition in which the prize was a week's visit to the most advanced research station in Earth's orbit. She was accompanied by her brother, 13-year-old Kajetan, and friend Rafal, 14. The Orbitron was like a labyrinth - corridors full of transparent doors, laboratories where holographic panels shimmered and windows offered a view of the blue planet below. Every day they were taught something new: generating energy from neutrino stars, tending space plants and programming robotic companions. What intrigued them most, however, was Sector 7G, to which access was strictly forbidden. Whenever they asked why, the adult voices of the station always replied with a mysterious smile: "This is no place for young people". This is what made 7G most tempting. A few days passed. One night, when the whole station was plunged into silence, Kajetan woke Nina and Rafal by showing them a flashing red notification on their tablet: "Non-standard activity detected - sector 7G". Nina's heart beat faster. Confession of her own conscience was momentary - curiosity definitely won out over common sense. Armed with torches and GPS watches, they quietly shuffled through the corridors of the Orbitron. The station's artificial gravity made each step seem a little lighter, and the echo of their whispers came back reflected by the hundreds of metal walls. Finally, they reached door 7G. It was open enough to see a flashing blue light inside. They slipped inside. This part of the station had a completely different atmosphere - you could smell ozone in the air, the walls pulsed with invisible energy. In the very centre of the room stood something resembling a capsule - semi-transparent, two metres high, laced with cables. Inside, something moved. Rafal grabbed Nina's hand, Kajetan intuitively reached for his phone to take a picture, but the light flared violently, blinding them for a moment. When they opened their eyes, they saw that the capsule was opening. Sliding out from within it was a being whose silhouette resembled a human, but was surrounded by shimmering, swirling particles. It looked as surprised by their presence as they were by hers. The air trembled with tension as the being looked at them and spoke quietly in a language they did not understand. For a brief moment, time seemed to stand still. At that moment, the door behind them began to slowly close and the station alarm sounded in the corridors: "Unauthorised access to Sector 7G. Leave the area immediately."