Close to the Sun, on the way to the ailing station, the rescue ship.

  — The hull temperature is dropping. Rebooting the protection system, — Emma’s voice is calm, but the tension in her tone betrays her. — Everything’s normal. Minor damage, but I’m fixing it. How’s everyone feeling?

  — Like we’ve been roasted on low heat, — Maria jokes, leaning back in her seat. — Nine on the flare scale. I thought we weren’t going to make it.

  — I take back my words, — Pietro laughs hoarsely, throwing a glance at the captain. — I remember us complaining about all the money you pumped into the shields. Now I’d pay extra for another upgrade.

  — Experience is the best teacher, — Manuel replies coolly, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes. — Next time, when funding is on the table, you won’t argue as much.

  — Absolutely, Captain, — Maria agrees, rubbing her temples. — At least let me treat you to an energy cocktail to celebrate our survival.

  — Later, — Manuel says, focusing intently on the holographic screen. — We’ve arrived. The station is within scanning range.

  The image smoothly transitions to the three-dimensional display. The massive structure hangs in the void, ominously dark, with no signs of activity.

  — It’s silent, — Manuel observes, narrowing his eyes. — Everyone, stay alert. Prepare for docking.

  The ship gently presses against the airlock. A light jolt, a vibration — the docking is complete.

  — The docking was successful, — Manuel reports to his team as he rises from his seat. — Pietro, you stay on the ship. Maria and I are heading to the station.

  — Understood, — Pietro replies, his fingers quickly skimming over the control panel.

  — Activate the drones, — Manuel commands, his voice firm, tinged with caution.

  In the same instant, small devices, the size of dragonflies, slip through the open airlock like tiny ghosts and streak through the station’s dark corridors, glowing with faint lights. Each one gathers data, penetrating every corner.

  — Nothing, — Manuel summarizes with a hint of frustration, analyzing the data on the screens. The information from the drones is displayed in a 3D projection, but there’s nothing of significance, only emptiness. — Suspicious compartment at the end of the eastern section. It’s blocked.

  — What does that mean? — Maria’s voice is filled with concern, though she tries to stay composed.

  — It means we’re going there, and we’ll figure it out, — Manuel answers coldly. His command is as confident as always, but his eyes betray some unease. He taps the microphone built into his ear. — Activate weapons.

  As if on command, a swarm of drones surrounds Manuel and Maria. A protective energy field, like an invisible shield, envelops them in a mesh, ready to defend against any threat.

  — What’s going on here? — Manuel’s voice is tense as they continue toward the blocked compartment. He knows anything could be hiding aboard the station. His face isn’t exactly scared, but there’s a deep, palpable tension, as though he senses something dangerous is near.

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  Reaching the doors, Manuel touches the sensor button.

  — Locked. We’ll have to work on this.

  Maria steps up to the lock, her hands quickly drawing out a bypass tool. She’s focused, her face set in determination. Every movement is precise and confident. A minute passes, and the doors slide open. They step inside.

  What they find causes their hearts to freeze. The compartment has been utterly destroyed by an explosion, scarred by thermal grenades. Piles of ash cover the floor where the station’s crew members may have once been.

  — They’re all dead… This is horrific, — Maria’s voice cracks as she trembles, unable to hide her emotions. Her breath becomes heavy, as if she could feel the pain of the victims.

  Manuel, fury consuming him, sweeps the room with a deadly gaze.

  — Inquisitors, damn you all, — he snarls, grinding his teeth, his voice hoarse. — Only they could have done this. I warned the station owner that he needed to find a compromise with the corporation. But now it’s too late. Let’s move on.

  The team, protected by the drones, continues their inspection. Manuel transmits a command via the communication system:

  — Pietro. Activate weapons on the ship. They might attack at any moment.

  — Who are "they"? — Pietro’s voice conveys a slight confusion.

  — The Inquisitors, — Manuel answers with disgust, his eyes flashing with fury.

  Pietro follows the order. The drones on the perimeter turn aggressive. The energy field surrounds the ship like an invisible armor. Every action is calculated with precision.

  Maria, feeling an unrelenting fear, involuntarily glances around as though even the shadows might be hiding an enemy.

  — Maria, check the hangar, — Manuel commands, looking at his assistant. — Be careful, they could be close. I’ll head to the station owner’s quarters.

  Maria immediately heads to the hangar. But her scanning gaze, moving over the scene of destruction, stops at a small mound in the ash. She cautiously approaches, brushes away the ashes, and finds a small box.

  — What’s this? — she whispers to herself before hiding the find. — I’ll examine it on the ship.

  Meanwhile, Manuel finds the station owner’s quarters. On the shelf are several books, their scent of old paper evoking memories of forgotten times. He smirks to himself as he realizes that the Inquisitors didn’t take them. Then his gaze falls on a box, outwardly resembling a book. Inside, he finds two amulets adorned with mysterious symbols.

  He reaches out and lifts the box. Scanning the find, he can hardly believe his eyes.

  — What is this? The material... it’s undetectable, — Manuel thinks to himself, astonished. — It seems like these amulets are safe. Odd. I’ll take them with me.

  At that moment, his communicator comes to life, and Maria’s voice sounds in his ear:

  — I’m at the hangar. It’s empty.

  — Let’s get out of this dead station, — Manuel orders, gripping the amulets in his hands. — There’s no one to save here. It’s too late.

  He heads back to the ship, and Maria follows, eager to leave the ominous world behind. Once aboard, Manuel immediately turns to Pietro, wasting no time.

  — Detach. We’re leaving this place immediately, — Manuel commands as the ship breaks away from the dead station. At that moment, all three of them, still seated in their chairs, turn to each other. Maria, as always, shows curiosity.

  — Look what I found on the station, — she proudly presents the small box to her friends. — The scanner confirmed it’s a container designed for extreme conditions.

  — What could be inside? — Pietro asks, his eyes lighting up with interest. His hands tremble slightly from the excitement.

  Maria opens the container. Inside, they find a memory block. The scanner struggles but eventually extracts all the data.

  — Coordinates and access codes, — Manuel exclaims with joy, as though he’d just hit the jackpot. — Bingo!

  Maria, unable to contain her excitement, hugs her teammates. She feels both relief and a rush of exhilaration. This is a step forward.

  — Forward! To our destination. Set course for the coordinates.