The Last Signal

Captain Elara Drake stood alone on the bridge of the Intrepid, staring out at the glowing anomaly ahead. It was the first time humanity had encountered it, a strange rift in space that pulsed with unnatural energy. The coordinates had been transmitted from deep space, and no one had known exactly what they would find.

“Approaching the anomaly, Captain,” Commander Soren’s voice broke the silence. “Shall we prepare to enter?”

Elara’s gaze remained fixed on the swirling rift, its colors shifting from bright blues to deep purples, like a cosmic wound tearing through the fabric of space. The tension was palpable. The last few expeditions to similar anomalies had ended in disaster, with no survivors.

“Proceed,” she finally said. “But keep all systems on high alert.”

The ship slowly edged toward the rift, its engines humming quietly. Elara could feel the pressure building, like they were being drawn into the very heart of the universe’s secrets.

As they entered the anomaly, the ship’s sensors went wild. Lights flickered, and the hum of the engines became erratic. A shiver ran down Elara’s spine.

“Status report,” she demanded, her voice steady despite the chaos.

“We’ve lost contact with the fleet,” Soren said, his tone grim. “Our communications are blocked. The sensors are… glitching. The anomaly’s influence is growing stronger.”

“Divert all power to the shields,” Elara ordered. “We can’t afford to lose the ship now.”

But the rift didn’t seem to want to let them go. The ship lurched violently as the view outside shifted. Stars warped and twisted, disappearing into darkness. The anomaly seemed to bend reality itself, distorting time and space.

And then—silence.

The shaking stopped. The hum of the ship’s systems fell to a faint buzz. Elara looked at the crew, their faces pale and uncertain. The starfield outside had vanished, replaced by an endless void. The ship was no longer in any known part of the galaxy.

“Where are we?” Lieutenant Harrow whispered, his voice shaky.

“I don’t know,” Elara replied, her stomach tight with anxiety. “But we’re not where we were.”

Suddenly, a faint signal cut through the dead silence, crackling on the communication channel. It was weak, almost indistinguishable, but it was there.

“Is anyone out there?” the voice said, static distorting the words. “This is the Endurance… we… we’ve found something… it’s… we can’t leave. Help…”

Elara’s heart skipped a beat. The Endurance was a ship that had disappeared years ago during an expedition to explore a similar anomaly. There had been no survivors, and their final distress signal had been lost.

“Captain,” Soren said, his voice filled with disbelief. “That… it’s impossible. The Endurance was lost over five years ago.”

The signal repeated, weaker this time, but it was clear. “We can’t… leave… it’s too late….”

Elara turned sharply to Soren. “Set a course for the signal. Now.”

“We can’t just—” Soren began to protest.

“Set the course!” Elara snapped, her eyes hard. “I’m not leaving them stranded in whatever this place is.”

The Intrepid powered toward the source of the signal, the crew silent and tense. As they approached the coordinates, a faint outline of a ship appeared in the distance—an old, battered version of the Endurance, its hull marked by years of decay.

“Captain,” Harrow said quietly, “I don’t think we’re dealing with a time anomaly. This ship… it shouldn’t be here. It’s… too far gone.”

Elara didn’t respond. The Endurance was their only lead. If it held answers, she had to know what they were.

They docked with the ship, and Elara led the crew into the darkened halls of the Endurance. The air was thick with the smell of rust and decay. The silence was unnerving, broken only by the distant hum of the Intrepid‘s engines. The lights flickered above them, casting eerie shadows across the abandoned corridors.

“Captain,” Soren said, his voice echoing in the silence. “This place… it’s like no one’s been here for years.”

“Keep moving,” Elara urged, trying to steady her breathing. “We need to find the source of the signal.”

They finally reached the bridge of the Endurance, but the room was empty. The monitors blinked weakly, as though struggling to function. Elara approached the main console, but there was no sign of the crew, no sign of life. Only the faint hum of the ship’s systems.

Then, another transmission came through—this time, clearer, almost like a whisper. “Captain… Elara… it’s too late…”

The voice was unmistakable. It was her own.

Elara’s heart froze. “What is this?” she muttered, backing away from the console.

“It’s… you, Captain,” Soren said quietly, his eyes wide with fear. “But it can’t be. You—”

“Shut up!” Elara snapped, her voice breaking. “This isn’t happening.”

The voice on the speaker continued, growing louder. “We tried to escape… we tried to leave, but the anomaly… it’s endless. Time is broken here. There is no escape. We are… all of us… trapped…”

Suddenly, the lights in the Endurance flickered one last time, and then went dark.

Elara’s blood ran cold as the truth hit her. The Endurance hadn’t disappeared. It had come here, to this void, just like they had. And the crew wasn’t dead.

They were waiting.

“Captain, we need to go!” Soren yelled, grabbing her arm. “We can’t stay here! This place… it’s a trap!”

But Elara wasn’t listening. She couldn’t leave now, not after hearing that voice. It was her own. But it wasn’t.

“We’ve got to leave,” Harrow said, his voice trembling. “Before it’s too late.”

Elara turned away from the console, looking into the dark expanse outside the Endurance’s windows. Somewhere, within the void, her own future was waiting.

And in that moment, she realized: the signal wasn’t a distress call. It was a warning.

It was too late for them.

But it might not be too late for her.