[◘][✲][⚿] The sky keeps getting dimmer each day. Maybe he knows something.

[⚿: This signifies our third collaborative endeavor with the esteemed [Sugarplum]. One might readily ascertain the anticipated outcomes pertaining to this character when these two aforementioned individuals are involved.]

[✲: We handled the 'lion'. It's a colab, but we agreed not to make it a complete 1:1 so the story can stand on it's own. Still, please visit their page for additional context.]

PERSONAL LOGS OF ISRA PYE – SHIP CORE ARCHIVE

(encrypted / voice-recorded entries)

ENTRY #1

[static crackle]

"That’s... not my husband. His pupils don’t dilate right. His laugh is too sharp. And he keeps licking the nutrient paste off his claws. Uto hated that texture. I’m running a full bio-scan. Maybe it’s a parasite. Maybe-"

[recording cuts]

ENTRY #2

[muffled thumping, distorted]

"It ate all the rations. Gorged until the recyclers choked. The scanner shows no foreign organisms, just his body, but wrong. Cells are... rearranging? It’s not a parasite. It’s him, but not him. Like something peeled him open and stuffed itself inside. I’m locking the navigation console."

ENTRY #3

[hissing, erratic breath]

"Oh god. It-it knows me. Called me ‘sunspot’ (his nickname, his). It’s using his memories. Uto has to be in there somewhere. If I can just-[metal clang]-no, NO, it smiled when I said his name. It told me-[static burst]-'He’s dead. Stop looking.' Liar. Liar."

ENTRY #4

[synthetic chime] "Happy anniversary, my love. Six years today. You brought me that terrible spiced wine from Kepler-23b. I pretended to hate it. [mechanical whirring] ..I miss you. The thing wearing your face is asleep right now. I keep replaying your last message. ‘Isra, hold on-' I should’ve fixed the life support faster. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry."

ENTRY #5

[whisper, distorted]

"Uto. Will you forgive me if I crash our ship? The asteroid belt’s coming up. I can override the thrusters. If I can’t have you back, then neither can it. [pause, shuddering breath] I love y-[alarm blares]- shit, it’s awake-END LOG."