Nighthawk22 - Isolation Midi -

The retrieval team found him sitting cross-legged in the town square, surrounded by a perfect circle of smiling bodies. He was holding the black box in his lap. His eyes were open. His face was serene.

The researcher’s words echoed in his mind. The silence has started listening to us.

His leg gave out.

Kael’s lips moved, but no sound came out. The officer leaned closer.

Behind him, the ship’s AI, AION, chirped a final, sterile warning. “Atmospheric composition: unbreathable. Biological signature scan: negative for seventeen kilometers. Time to next transport window: seventy-two hours. Good luck, Recovery Agent Kael.” nighthawk22 - isolation midi

The lead retrieval officer leaned close, frowning. “Kael? What happened?”

He checked his geo-scanner. A blinking dot pulsed two klicks east. He started walking. The retrieval team found him sitting cross-legged in

And it was the most beautiful, terrible song he had ever heard.