| Day –11 / 2025-04-13 22:10 |
The Ark’s hull smelled like hot copper tonight. I pressed my palm against it and imagined the ten thousand ghosts counting on me. My heart pounds so loud I’m surprised it doesn’t crack my ribs. |
| Day –5 / 2025-04-19 05:55 |
Selection nightmares. I see faces melting away—those I saved and those I refused. Hatred curls in my chest for an algorithm that judged life and death. |
| Day –1 / 2025-04-23 20:30 |
Sleepless whisper #44: the vents breathe like a stranger in the dark. I envy Isaac’s honesty; I keep my doubts buried beneath tactician’s calm. |
| Cycle 0 / 2025-04-24 10:57 |
Liftoff launched me into paralyzing awe. I fought tears to maintain composure. Isaac’s hand shook when he braced himself—I wanted to wrap my arms around him but dared not. |
| Cycle 2 / 2025-04-25 18:20 |
I oversaw the cryo-pod seals today. The embryos gurgled in their suspension—hope and horror in equal measure. Markus caught my eye and gave me a nod of solidarity; my pulse spiked at how safe I felt in his presence. |
| Cycle 4 / 2025-04-27 07:45 |
Drift anomaly in Blind Sector Φ jolted me awake. I barked orders before coffee. My stomach lurched, but I refused to admit fear. Isaac watched me, concern blazing in his eyes; I swallowed hard and carried on. |
| Cycle 7 / 2025-05-01 06:30 |
Lena’s exhaustion peaked. I insisted she rest for two hours—a battle I nearly lost. I hate having to mother my crew, but hate worse the thought of losing her brilliance to burnout. |
| Cycle 9 / 2025-05-04 03:00 |
The ventilation “heartbeat” dropped to thirty-one seconds. Spacy reported resonance in power grids. I felt adrenaline thrill through me—like the ship is alive, whispering secrets it dares me to decode. |
| Cycle 12 / 2025-05-07 22:15 |
The hydroponics wing smelled of rot tonight. Ava’s basil half-mutated isles. I ordered quarantine—my voice harder than I feel. I caught her staring at me; guilt and something warmer flickered in her eyes. |
| Cycle 15 / 2025-05-10 14:40 |
Markus volunteered for the spore trial. I admired his courage—in that mask he looked like a god. But I hated that I wanted to kiss him for surviving when I felt so weak inside. |
| Cycle 17 / 2025-05-12 11:25 |
The second-gen inhibitor held for forty-eight hours. I allowed myself a brief smile. Isaac leaned close and murmured, “We’re a team.” My chest squeezed—I dared to hope we might be more. |
| Cycle 19 / 2025-05-14 23:50 |
I found Shale’s glyph in my cabin—spiral-within-spiral scratched on my desk. Fear blossomed in my throat. I threw it away, but the spiral lives in my nightmares now, urging me to follow where he vanished. |
| Cycle 22 / 2025-05-18 20:05 |
Mirrorglass Station shimmered in the viewport like a wounded star. I felt my pulse hitch; I hate that I’m drawn to it, as if answering a siren’s call. Isaac’s hand brushed mine—solid reassurance in the void. |
| Cycle 25 / 2025-05-21 18:00 |
Re-entry flames roared. I gripped the console until my knuckles turned white. When we broke the sky, tears leaked beneath my helmet. I stared at Isaac, who grinned through the roar—my anchor in chaos. |
| Cycle 26 / 2025-05-22 06:50 |
First steps on Zild: gravity heavier, air scented of acid and promise. I tasted tears, not air. Markus caught my arm—steadying touch—and I realized I’d cling to his strength for all my days. |
