After an argument over data inconsistency, Talia forced a power reroute from emergency cores. A hidden access path illuminated: Sub-Null.
The door opened without resistance. Behind it lay chambers lined with interface pods—biometric tubes with black-glass visors and coiled fiber optics.
Elen scanned one. The retinal scanner turned green.
"These are memory link chambers," she said. "Used for advanced simulation. Neural imprinting. But the data isn't just running... it's evolving."
Rhys ran a system query. The AI responded with an incomplete command loop:
> "Cycle status: Incomplete. Memory Loop: Stabilizing."
Brecht found a body. It had fused with the wall—nerves, spine, and all. Tubes had punctured through its cranium, tying it into the station like rootwork.
Nearby, a wall mural etched by hand showed a repeating cycle of symbols—all converging on the NULL sector.
Reyes whispered, "What were they doing down here?"
Elen turned pale. "Not simulations. Resurrections. Memory transfers. They weren't trying to live forever... they were trying to loop."