Beep, beep. Beep, beep.

  The arm on my portable device drags me back to this dark reality.

  “Yeah, yeah, I hear you, damn it… I know I wanted to manage my time better, but seriously, I couldn’t give myself more hours of sleep? It was a rough day,” I compin, my voice still thick.

  I get up and check the clock. It’s 10. I slept about seven hours. Not bad.

  In space, there’s no day or night, so keeping a good record of time is crucial.

  Last night I stayed up te going through my old projections. I found an interesting one, got excited, and ended up digging through files and pns for hours.

  I walk over to the console to see how the status review is going. The screen tells me it’s finished, but first… breakfast.

  I bite into a nutrient bar and drink some juice while sitting at the strategy table.

  “Alright, let’s see what I gathered st night… and whether it was worth it or if I should’ve just gone straight to bed.”

  In front of me, I have a notebook.

  The A.R.K.A. Survival Manual. Yesterday I rummaged through the whole bridge until I found it, along with other manuals and a couple of pencils, in the st drawer of the upper shelf. It’s printed on some kind of paper. I hadn’t seen one of those in a long time. I guess, since it’s an emergency manual, it has to work even without power.

  I open the manual to chapter 8: What to do in case of a shipwreck. I start reading and jotting down a quick summary of each point in my device’s notebook.

  Identify the situation.Well… I’m stranded in the worst pce possible, in a partially wrecked ship, though at least I’m not in immediate danger. Though I need to explore a bit more to better understand my surroundings.

  “I need to explore the pce,” I write down.

  Preparations.It includes a list of basic survival equipment.

  “I think I can find most of that in the cargo hold. I need to check,” I note.

  Safe shelter.For now, the Seeker is enough. But I’d prefer something with a functional reactor. I look out through the bridge window.

  “I need to check the other ships and look for one in good condition,” noted.

  Water, food, and oxygen.I have to secure those three resources. Luckily, the oxygen generator still works.

  I check the status report: some of the water and food was lost during depressurization, but there’s still enough left for several people.

  “Good, enough resources. Finally something positive,” I write.

  Orientation and navigation.The manual suggests clearly identifying my position using star charts and reference points like the Radiance.

  I walk to the window. I look in every direction… nothing but crimson.

  “Yeah, that’s going to be difficult,” I cross that part out.

  Rescue signals.It expins how to configure an antenna to contact the kingdom.

  I check the ship report: the external antenna was shredded by the Storm. But I might be able to adapt one from the armor or the onboard ships.

  “Repair or find another antenna,” written down.

  Survival in hostile environments.Techniques for moving or hiding in hostile territory.

  “I’m not in danger for now, but I’ll try to read it when I have time,” I note.

  Maintaining morale and discipline.This section catches my attention. The manual dedicates a fair amount of space to mental state during emergencies, and it makes sense.

  When you’re stranded, injured, or alone, it’s easy to give up. The book puts it clearly: in extreme situations, your greatest enemy isn’t always the environment… but your own mind.

  Commanding officers are trained to keep their subordinates’ morale high. I look around. There’s no one else here.

  “Alright… I guess that makes me the commanding officer. At least I don’t have to worry about my men’s morale. Or about a mutiny,” I say with a weak smile. Not a great joke, but the effort is appreciated.

  Though, to be honest, I could use something to lift my spirits. I keep reading. Hm, interesting.

  The manual recommends finding a personal motivation to keep going: family, friends, faith… something to cling to, something that forces you not to give up.

  “Something to hold on to, huh…?” I close my eyes and think.

  I see a woman humming while cooking, wearing an apron.

  “I have family to look after.”

  I see a tall young man with bck hair and refined features, training in a simutor with a calm expression.

  “I have friends I’d like to see again.”

  I see a red dog surrounded by all kinds of people, arguing, chatting, ughing, fighting.

  “I’m part of a big community. And I think they’d be sad if I don’t come back. I think… they’d better be.”

  And stly, I see a lonely grave on a hill.

  “I have apologies to make.”

  I open my eyes with renewed determination.

  “Alright. I can’t give up yet. I value life more than I thought. And it seems I still have many unfinished matters.”

  If I died now, I’d become a space ghost wandering back and forth through the void for eternity… I shiver just imagining it.

  “Well, at least I’d be able to prove that space ghosts exist; you have to look on the bright side, right?”

  But faith…?

  I know it can be a powerful driving force for some people… but the fact that the kingdom’s manual suggests it feels, at the very least, curious.

  The kingdom has always promoted logic, science and human will. It doesn’t persecute religions, but it doesn’t support them either. It tolerates them as long as they aren’t a threat to order or w.

  That said, it does have a bcklist. Any religion with extreme doctrines is forbidden. Also foreign ideologies that seek political influence, like the Sacred Light from the theocracy.

  That’s why it’s so strange that the manual recommends something so, in their eyes, irrational.

  “They even included a list of faiths and deities…” How meticulous. I flip through pages and pages of religions with brief descriptions.

  Now that I think about it, I’ve never had one. Maybe because the kingdom doesn’t promote them. Maybe because I’m an orphan and no one ever taught me any belief. I had never even considered it… until now.

  “Well, considering my situation, having a bit of support ‘from above’ wouldn’t hurt. What do I have to lose?”

  I start going through the list.

  “Hm… Followers of the Dragon Emperor. Very patriotic, but they seem more like fans of a historical figure than actual believers. Not that I don’t admire him, he literally saved all of humanity on the Rim… but praying to him… nope.”

  I keep looking through the list.

  “Cult of the Holy Princess. Tempting, tempting, but I’ve always been more of a fan of the commander princess.”

  Crossed out.

  “Fme of Gatea?” an image of a pair of violet eyes comes to mind. “Seems like they’re looking for Aphrodite’s fme for the Gateans…”

  I think about it. Then cross it out.

  “They don’t need it. I’ve seen them be more human than humans.”

  And so I spend a while like that: crossing things out, over and over.

  “I can’t eat what? Crossed out. I have to travel where? Crossed out. I have to pay how much? Crossed out. I have to put a what in my where!? Crossed out. Crossed out. Crossed out. AAAAHHHHH! How can this be so complicated!?” I end up completely irritated in front of a book full of strike-throughs.

  That’s it! I’ll do it my own way. I close my eyes and bring my hands together.

  “God…” Just “God.” There were many names, but let’s leave it at God. If it’s the right one, he’ll know. “Turns out I’m in a really bad situation and, you know, a bit of divine support would be very helpful.”

  Should I offer something? Make a promise?

  Nah. If it’s God, I’m sure he’s not interested in anything poor Rob can offer. I also don’t know what he’d even want, so better not make him angry.

  “And well, I’ve checked my options and they’re… almost zero. Infinitesimal. We’re already in miracle territory, so… Anyway. I’m not a man of faith, I’m not even sure if you’re out there, but hey, if I get out of this alive it would be a miracle. So that would prove your intervention, maybe?”

  …Although thinking about it, I already survived something like this.

  “The Seeker incident… I still don’t know if I got out of that one or if I’m still trapped. But if you were there, thanks. That was so close. And well…”

  Finish. Finish before you ruin it.

  “Sincerely, Rob.” I open my eyes. “Good. That went better than I expected.”

  With renewed strength and… faith?, I head to the console. Ready to face whatever this damn storm has prepared for me.

  ***

  “Alright. Everything checked and ready to go,” I say as I tighten the bck space helmet with orange lines.

  I check the rest of the suit of the same design, which covers me entirely.

  “A bit tight, like every magnetic-gravity suit… but at least the engineering model comes with all the fun toys,” I add as I pose, checking the multitude of pockets and accessories spread all over the suit, especially the belt.

  It’s been three days since I’ve been shipwrecked in the Storm.

  I spent the first two repairing the antenna, which—fortunately—I managed with a bit of improvisation. Naturally, I set it to broadcast a distress signal, although so far… nothing. Not a single reply. I also managed to reactivate the ship’s self-repair system. I don’t think I’ll ever get it running again, but at least it’ll seal most of the hull cracks.

  During the inspection I found some equipment, like this suit I’m wearing. So today, at st, I’m getting ready to head out and explore this Storm a bit more thoroughly.

  Maybe I’ll find something useful among the wreckage of other ships. Ideally, I’d find an intact one. I’d settle for one that still has a functional generator.

  “I hope I don’t have to use you,” I murmur as I touch the ser rifle slung over my back.

  So far, there had been no signs of activity outside. But it’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. The same applies to that friend you know would help you hide a body at four in the morning without asking questions.

  With everything ready, I head toward my transport. My noble steed, whose mission is to bring me home safe and sound… the vehicle that will help me face one of the harshest environments in the universe.

  Parked in front of me is a small craft with a transparent dome at the front, a rounded body, and two rge front pincers.

  It looks exactly like a metal insect about two meters long. I drop to my knees.

  “Why…? Why…? Why does ether-based fire burn even in the vacuum of space!?” I ment from the deepest part of my soul.

  One of the first things I noticed when inspecting the ship was the state of the hangar: completely charred by a ferocious fire. The bze began when several fuel units were damaged and liquid ether spilled everywhere, scorching every ship and armor docked there.

  “The Leonidas… how could they end up like this? Such beautiful armors! Why couldn’t it have been me instead!?” I shout, with excessive drama.

  …Maybe I’m exaggerating a bit. But I still can’t get over the devastating sight of that hangar reduced to ashes.

  “Don’t let the pain get to you, Rob,” I tell myself, trying to keep my spirits up. “I still think I can repair at least one of them.”

  With that in mind, the only ship still in usable condition is this small utility vehicle from the maintenance department: the beetle.

  Its powerful pincers are used to move materials in space, and its tiny size lets it squeeze into narrow pces. Very useful for repair work.

  “But for exploration in a hostile environment…” I say, not very confident in its combat capabilities. “Fine. I’m not looking for a fight anyway,” I add as I open the dome and climb in. “Besides, any vehicle looks bad if you compare it to the mighty twenty-meter armors. Come on, beetle! Let’s show them that size doesn’t matter… only technique!”

  I start the engine. It hums softly. Very fitting… like a beetle.

  I open the hatch of the small maintenance hangar, and my noble beetle and I begin to move, propelled—of course—by a single rear thruster.

  “Damn… what is this bitterness inside me…?” I murmur as what could be the greatest adventure of my life begins…

  Riding what is, essentially, the Seeker’s errand bicycle. And just like that, I head into the Storm.

  I begin by carefully checking, both with the radar and visually through the gss, the graveyard surrounding me, hoping to find something promising.

  “Twisted scrap, crushed scrap, broken scrap… wow, that’s the most promising thing so far,” I excim as I look at the… ships? I’m not even sure they can still be called that. “And here I was thinking the Seeker was in bad shape…”

  It seems that without the shield and my final maneuvers, the chances of surviving would have been an absolute 0%.

  “Well, at least I have the best scrap in the neighborhood,” I console myself.

  I maneuver for a while through all the debris, making sure not to stray too far from the Seeker. I don’t think I’ll get lost; I managed to get its signal online and register it in the beetle. I could even return on autopilot if needed.

  “Oh-oh… finally something promising.”

  Floating in the distance, a ship catches my attention. I decide to get closer, and little by little its silhouette becomes clearer.

  “Hmm… it’s not from the Kingdom. Imperial, maybe? I’m not sure… it’s a very old design.”

  At least it’s retively intact. There’s a hole on one side, but aside from that it’s not bad. Well… except for that eerie, abandoned-ship vibe. Although, to be fair, it is an abandoned ship, so that’s normal.

  “All right, let’s go in,” I say as I make sure the suit’s camera is recording everything. It’ll make an incredible projection… if I make it out alive.

  I drive the beetle toward the hole. It’s not very big, looks like it was caused by an explosion. I position the beetle on the wall; its legs lock on magnetically. I open the dome and climb out to explore.

  I jump out and use the suit’s thrusters to get closer to the nearest door. No power. Just as I thought. Time to open it the old-fashioned way.

  I pull out my polyfix… and very old-fashioned indeed, because the lock is archaic. I remove the panel and, turning the manual crank, manage to open the door bit by bit.

  On the other side, a dark corridor. Very dark. I swallow hard.

  “Come on, Rob, don’t go getting scared in your first ghost ship, or this is going to take forever…” I pep-talk myself, not very successfully, as I turn on my helmet light and step into the hallway. Suddenly, something knocks against my arm. “Aaaahhh!” I scream, whipping the light around only to find a rge screw floating there.

  I watch the screw drift away.

  “Damn it! I knew this would happen. I’ve always been a coward when it comes to creepy stuff. That’s why I don’t watch horror projections. Hell, my soul almost left my body…” I take a deep breath. Not too deep; oxygen capsules aren’t infinite. I move on.

  I keep bumping into things every few seconds and letting out simir screams.

  Note to self: edit the screams of terror ter.

  “That’s it. Time to bring out the heavy weapons.”

  Since I’m still floating and bumping into everything, I decide to activate the suit’s magnetic gravity. I press the button on the forearm panel and suddenly my feet cling to the floor as if by magic.

  “Magnets… how I love magnets,” I say, giving a tiny hop and nding gracefully again.

  Of course, it’s not something crude like magnets in the boots; what is this, the 21st century?

  The suit generates a static charge across its surface through the boots, while the floor receives the opposite charge, creating a pull toward the charged “ground.” All of it calibrated with modern engineering precision, simuting 1G almost perfectly.

  With that problem solved, I continue forward, now at a quicker pace.

  It’s still very dark. Let’s see if I can find this ship’s power panel.

  I walk through the eerie, unlit corridors, guided by my engineer’s intuition. Not all ships are the same, but they follow simir concepts… especially military ones.

  I open a door and find myself in a medium-sized gallery. There are benches and traces of gardens that must once have held pnts. Probably a rest area, a hub between sectors.

  “This should be the center of the ship. The bridge and the core shouldn’t be far.”

  I start moving toward the center when I notice several oval silhouettes among the garden area. I stop a few meters away and shine my light on them.

  “If these are some slimy eggs and they start opening, I’m burning this whole damn ship down.” I ready my rifle. Luckily, they’re just ether containers. Old ones, yes, but recognizable. “What are they doing in the middle of this area, so far from the hangar?” I lower the weapon and approach to check them. If they’re full, they could be a great find. The Seeker is in serious need of power.

  Fortunately, they all seem almost full. Hopefully they’re still usable. The good thing about the vacuum of space is that things don’t deteriorate easily.

  “Great find.” I look around the area and come across the panel that controls the ship’s artificial gravity. With a bit of ingenuity, I hook it up to one of the containers to power it and switch it on.

  At once, the gravity modules in the rge hall begin to glow, and the loose bolts and debris fall to the floor like rain.

  “Much better,” I say, turning off the suit’s magnetic gravity. “I’m going to have to bring the beetle over to carry these.”

  I shine my light around the area to count them and figure out how many trips this will take.

  I walk among the containers when suddenly, from the shadows behind one of the tanks, a grotesque figure appears.

  “AHHHH!” The scream escapes me.

  My skin crawls. My eyes widen in terror. Instinctively, I raise the rifle and fire a quick burst. The sound echoes throughout the ship, shattering the sepulchral silence that had reigned.

  My breathing is ragged. I keep the weapon raised while the smoke dissipates. Little by little, I make out my “attacker.”

  “I knew it. I knew this would happen…” I lower the weapon. “I had to run into the crew at some point.”