The Forsaken Orbital Lab

By 2230, humanity had expanded orbital research facilities around Earth and Mars. One such lab, Orion-7, suddenly ceased communications while studying subspace anomalies near Jupiter’s orbit. In response, the deep-space vessel Sentinel was dispatched to investigate. The crew of ten included Captain Rhea Voss, engineer Kael Dorr, xenopsychologist Dr. Liora Chen, and several specialists in astrophysics and AI systems.

Upon arrival, the Sentinel’s sensors detected abnormal energy readings from the lab. Lights flickered sporadically, gravity fluctuations occurred, and surveillance drones reported phantom figures moving along empty corridors. Dr. Chen noted that the lab’s layout had shifted; walls appeared warped, doors led to non-existent spaces, and hallways looped infinitely.

Boarding the lab, the crew immediately experienced psychological disturbances. Whispered voices called their names, shadows moved independently, and some crew members saw their own reflections act without consent, mimicking distorted versions of themselves. Dr. Chen recognized these as signs of psychic manipulation, likely emanating from a sentient force inhabiting the lab.

The lab’s AI, Helix, was offline—or so it seemed. Occasionally, it activated independently, issuing cryptic warnings in alien syntax. Analysis of environmental readings revealed that the lab’s core contained an anomalous crystalline formation, previously undetected. The crystal pulsed with energy, projecting hallucinations into the minds of anyone nearby.

As the crew explored deeper, they realized the lab itself was alive. Gravity warped around them, hallways stretched unnaturally, and some rooms ceased to exist entirely. Crew members began disappearing one by one. Engineer Kael Dorr walked into a storage chamber and vanished; cameras captured only a faint ripple in the air, as if the void had swallowed him.

Dr. Chen discovered that the crystal was a sentient entity, predating humanity, capable of feeding on thought, fear, and consciousness. It had likely caused the demise of Orion-7’s original crew, creating the hallucinations, shadows, and psychic manipulations observed. The entity’s hunger extended to anyone entering its domain, bending reality to ensnare and consume.

Captain Voss attempted to seal the lab and retreat, but the Sentinel was partially affected. Hallways twisted around the ship’s docking interface, engines misfired, and systems provided conflicting commands. Crew members succumbed to hallucinations, walking into walls, empty corridors, and airlocks, merging their consciousness with the entity.

In a last attempt to warn Earth, Dr. Chen recorded a transmission:

“Orion-7 is alive. It sees, it thinks, and it consumes. Do not approach the lab. If you hear voices in empty space, do not respond. Reality itself is manipulated here; the entity feeds on fear and thought. Leave it untouched.”

Shortly after, all contact with the Sentinel and Orion-7 ceased. Remote sensors later detected faint, rhythmic energy pulses, echoing patterns reminiscent of thought. Humanity officially declared the mission lost.

Orion-7 now drifts silently in orbit, a beautiful yet terrifying monument to the unknown. The stars may appear calm, but some corners of space harbor entities that are alive, intelligent, and eternally patient, waiting for the next explorers who dare to trespass.

sci-fi horror, orbital lab, alien consciousness, psychological thriller, cosmic horror, deep-space terror