Susan awoke to darkness.  Not unusual, but something must’ve awakened her.  Something niggled her mind, as if calling to her.

“Lights,” she commanded.  Her room was quiet.  Sensing something, she closed her eyes, and concentrated on her inner space.  There.  In her mind.  A SILENT SCREAM of pain and terror.

Something was wrong.

Susan exited her quarters and ran towards the bridge.  Inside, shock halted her headlong rush.  Outside the window a spider-like shadow hung in the void, blocking the stars.

She instinctively knew that the heart of that shadow was a telepathic mind begging for the release of death.