Amber Skye — Unknown Relay Chapter 1: The Signal That Shouldn't Exist

Amber Skye — Unknown Relay

Chapter 1: The Signal That Shouldn't Exist

The universe was quieter than most people imagined.

That was the first thing Amber Skye learned.

Not every planet had roaring storms or giant creatures waiting around every corner. Not every star system had ancient ruins or lost civilizations hiding beneath the surface.

Most of space was silence.

Beautiful, endless silence.

Amber floated upside down in the observation bubble of the Skye Voyager, watching a field of distant stars drift past the ship.

"Agie?"

A soft blue light near the control panel pulsed.

"Yes, Amber?"

The voice was calm. Smooth. Almost like a person speaking from another room.

"Do you ever get tired of seeing the same stars?"

A pause.

"Technically, the stars are not the same."

Amber smiled.

"That is such an Agie answer."

"Accurate answers are my primary function."

"Being fun is also a function."

"I do not have a fun setting."

Amber flipped upright and grabbed the edge of the console.

"I think you do. You just refuse to admit it."

"I will record that statement as an unsupported observation."

"See? That's exactly what a fun robot would say."

A small mechanical orb drifted past her shoulder. Its surface shifted slightly as its camera adjusted.

Agie.

Not a robot with arms or legs. Not a machine built for battles.

Just a small floating companion responsible for navigation, life support, exploration records, and making sure Amber survived her own curiosity.

Which was a full-time job.

"Mission report is ready," Agie said.

Amber sighed dramatically.

"Already?"

"The report was scheduled."

"You know, most people would take a break after traveling across three uncharted sectors."

"Most people are not currently responsible for documenting three uncharted sectors."

Amber grinned.

"Fine. Let's make it interesting."

"Reports should contain accurate information."

"They can contain accurate information and be interesting."

"Historical evidence does not support that conclusion."

"You're impossible."

"Statement accepted."

Amber laughed.

That was the closest thing Agie had to a victory.

---

The Skye Voyager looked strange compared to most exploration ships.

At first glance, it looked almost like a small futuristic travel trailer. Rounded silver walls, wide windows, and a curved body designed for comfort.

People often joked that it looked like someone attached engines to a luxury camper.

They weren't completely wrong.

Amber liked it that way.

Exploration wasn't about looking intimidating.

It was about seeing things no one else had seen.

The ship's engines hummed softly as it moved beyond the mapped routes of the Alliance.

Beyond the normal relay network.

Beyond the places where explorers usually traveled.

"Agie," Amber said, looking at the navigation display.

"Yes?"

"When was the last confirmed relay contact?"

"Thirty-seven days ago."

"And the next one?"

"Estimated: unavailable."

Amber raised an eyebrow.

"Unavailable?"

"Correct."

"That's a fancy way of saying we don't know."

"Correct."

Amber looked out at the stars.

The farther they traveled, the fewer signals they received.

No messages.

No updates.

No voices from home.

Just silence.

"Send the report anyway," Amber said.

Agie's orb rotated slightly.

"Relay connection probability is low."

"Low isn't zero."

"That phrase has caused several previous complications."

"And those complications led to discoveries."

"Also true."

Amber smiled.

"Send it."

---

The report began normally.

Explorer identification.

Ship status.

Location data.

Environmental readings.

Then came Amber's favorite part.

The message.

Not because it was required.

Because it reminded her that somewhere, someday, someone might hear it.

"Exploration log begins," Amber said.

Agie's recording system activated.

"Explorer Amber Skye. Vessel designation: Skye Voyager. Mission status: active."

She looked toward the camera.

"Today we traveled farther than any previous route marker. We haven't found anything impossible yet..."

She glanced at Agie.

"Yet."

"Your use of the word indicates expectation."

"It indicates hope."

"Noted."

Amber continued.

"Every new place starts as somewhere unknown. Every discovery starts as a question."

She smiled.

"So we're asking questions."

Agie processed the transmission.

"Report complete."

"Send it."

"Searching for relay."

A few seconds passed.

Then—

A small tone.

A notification.

Amber froze.

"Agie?"

"Yes."

"Did we find one?"

The orb went still.

"Unknown relay detected."

Amber slowly smiled.

"Really?"

"Relay identification unavailable."

"Can you connect?"

"Attempting."

The ship became quiet.

The stars outside continued moving.

Then another tone.

Connection established.

Amber stared.

"That worked?"

"Confirmed."

"How?"

"Unknown."

Amber laughed softly.

"You don't know?"

"Correct."

"That's new."

"Agreed."

The transmission began sending.

Amber watched the progress bar move.

For the first time in weeks, they weren't completely alone.

---

Far away...

A signal appeared.

A weak signal.

A signal that should never have reached where it did.

It passed through systems that weren't designed for it.

It bounced across equipment that wasn't meant to listen.

And somewhere, someone pressed play.

---

Inside the Skye Voyager, Agie watched the transmission finish.

"Report delivered."

Amber smiled.

"Think anyone heard it?"

"Probability cannot be determined."

"That's not a no."

"Correct."

Amber looked out at the stars.

"Maybe someday we'll find out."

Agie recorded the statement.

"Maybe."

It was a strange word.

One Agie did not normally use.

And somewhere beyond the reach of their maps...

The signal continued traveling.