Whispers from the Radio Telescope
Working the graveyard shift at the deep-space listening post, Dr. Alistair monitored the usual background radiation of the cosmos. Suddenly, the automated systems flagged an ultra-narrow signal originating from a sector of space known to be completely devoid of stars. Donning his heavy headphones, he amplified the audio feed, expecting to hear the rhythmic pulsar beats of a distant neutron star. Instead, a dry, whispering voice began reciting names, starting with astronauts who had perished decades ago, and ending with his own full name. Alistair scrambled to cut the power feed, but the console lights remained stubbornly on, and the heavy steel door to the control room slowly locked itself from the outside.
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