Insufficient data , it said. Then, after a pause that felt too long for a machine: But the pattern resembles linguistic syntax. Archaic. Approximately 10,000 years old relative to human baseline.
“What question?”
The voice returned, softer this time.
Far away, on a cold ship orbiting the outer rim, Mira’s screen lit up with a message. She wouldn’t understand it for years. But it ended with the same five words, repeated three times: magnus 10
“Oracle,” I choked out. “Emergency ascent. Cut the drill. Now.” Insufficient data , it said
And I made my choice.