She typed: > RECURSIVE ECHO. IMPRINT FAULT TO SPARE.

Elara typed: > OFFLINE ACTIVATION PROTOCOL 7.

The server room hummed, a low, rhythmic pulse that was the heartbeat of the Arctic Pioneer research station. For Dr. Elara Vance, it was a lullaby of normalcy. Then, the screens went red.

The temperature outside was -62°C. Inside, it would match that in four hours.