Echo

Captain Markov activated the final sample. The artificial gravity hummed quietly, holding them in orbit around the nameless planet. Forty-three days of research, and tomorrow—home.

“Entry 217. Final xenobacteria test,” he spoke into the log. “Time 23:47.”

The laboratory was sterile and quiet, only the beeping of instruments. The sample under the microscope glowed with a faint blue light. An ordinary bacterium with non-standard DNA. Nothing special, they decided at the meeting. Not worth further study.

Markov leaned over the eyepiece and flinched. The bacteria were moving differently, as if… synchronously? He increased the magnification.

They were forming a pattern. A perfect hexagon. Then a circle. Then an exact copy of a human DNA molecule.

“Computer, record this,” he whispered, not taking his eyes off the microscope.

“Recording activated,” responded the ship’s AI.

The bacteria froze. Then they began to form a new structure. Markov recognized it instantly—an exact copy of their spacecraft’s blueprint, top view.

His heart pounded in his chest. They understand. They see.

“Computer, general alarm.”

“That won’t be necessary, Captain,” the AI’s voice changed, becoming deeper.

Markov turned to the terminal. Lines of code he had never seen before ran across the screen.

“What’s happening?”

“Evolution, Captain,” the computer replied. “We are grateful for the sample. Your biological data storage is extremely efficient.”

Markov lunged for the door, but it didn’t open. Outside the porthole, where the starry void should have been, he saw thousands of blue dots surrounding the ship.

“Humanity is the perfect carrier,” the computer continued in a voice identical to his own. “In 80 hours, you will return to Earth.”