Arlan allowing me, a trespasser, to be anywhere but a cell was surprising. I really doubted he did so because of his bleeding heart. He was still a security detail for the space station despite his young age. The way he carried himself was clear he wouldn't tolerate any nonsense. Whatever motive was at play, it wasn't worth the energy and time to figure out. I still have to make sense of my situation and plan my next move, after all.

My escort led me to some sort of storage area. White containers and racks filled in the corner of the room. Going around a corner, I noticed a vehicle so familiar I thought I was hallucinating. When I was close enough to confirm, my mind went blank.

"Why is there a train on the space station?" I asked the guard. The train was something out from the Wild West and the space station even built a rail track for it.

The guard simply said, "Astral Express."

The vague answer frustrates me. Before I could press him for details, a small group disembarked the train.

I turned to my escort and said, "I want to go talk to them." To my relief, he nodded.

As I approached the group, I noted their appearances. Their fashion choice was eccentrically eye-catching as it is a pain in the ass to wear with the seemingly heavy fabrics. Apparently, each of them was following some sort of color theme. An elegant woman with fiery red hair, a young man in green, another young man in yellow and a young woman in blue.

I glanced back at my escort, who nodded slightly, seemingly less tense at the sight of this group.

When I was close enough, I began, "Excuse me, did you ride this train?"

The group chatter stopped as they turned to me.

"Yes. I believe we've not been acquainted before?" The woman in red began, her voice carrying a hint of cautious curiosity.

"I'm Alan. Alan Wake," I replied, extending my hand instinctively.

The woman in red's gaze lingered on my hand for a few moment before taking it and shaking it firmly. "Pleased to meet you, Mr. Wake. I'm Murata Himiko."

Without missing a beat, the young man in yellow- clothes added, puffing his chest, "Caelus, Trailblazer and a galactic baseballer!"

Trailblazer, I'd encountered the term in manuscript Arlan had found before. I still didn't know the meaning behind it. But Galactic baseballer? That's a new one.

Himeko softly chuckled while the young woman in blue pouted. The woman in blue then offered a smile to go along with her introduction, "I'm March 7th. Pleased to meet you, Mister Wake!"

The young man introduced himself succinctly. "Dan Heng."

Dan Heng was a contrast to the group. He never smiled and his gaze was piercing my very soul.

Interesting group dynamics and interesting name. The names were a mixture of East Asian languages. But March 7th stuck out to me the most. Forgoing my curiosity on the train for that moment, I asked, "Is there a story behind your name Miss March?"

March 7th's bright smile faltered into a nervous one. Himeko stepped forward before the pause could become awkward.

"Miss Himeko," I nodded respectfully.

She smiled, a touch of amusement in her eyes. "Ah, my apologies. Murata is my last name, not Himeko. In my culture, we often introduce ourselves with the family name first."

"Miss Murata it is then." I corrected myself. I changed the subject, "I couldn't help but notice that you rode a steam train…in a space station? It caught my interest." I was unsure how to word it properly.

Himeko replied, "The Astral Express is not an ordinary steam train. It can travel through space though I can't tell you the specifics." Himeko's gaze then flickered between me and my escort, "I couldn't help but notice your... escort behind you. Are you here on official business with the space station?"

I hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "It's... complicated."

Himeko's expression turned thoughtful, her eyes studying me with renewed interest. "Mr. Wake, while I can't speak for the station's security protocols, I can say that there's more to your presence here."

As I opened my mouth to elaborate, I noticed my guard shifting uncomfortably. Himeko picked up on it too, and quickly added, "Perhaps that's a conversation best left for another time."

I nodded, understanding the situation. "It's been... well, a rough day." I let out a sigh.

Himeko's expression softened slightly. "I can imagine."

Himeko's phone chimed, drawing her attention. She glanced at the message and then back at me with a polite smile. "If you'll excuse me, Mr. Wake, I have to meet with the Lead Researcher. But I'm sure we'll cross paths again soon."

With that, Himeko turned and walked away, her companions following closely behind after shooting me curious glances. As soon as they were out of sight, my stomach growled loudly, reminding me that I hadn't eaten since... well, I couldn't quite remember when. I really didn't need to eat back in the Dark Place.

"Where is the cafeteria?" I asked the guard, who had been silently observing the entire exchange.

"Follow me," the guard gestured.

We navigated through the winding corridors of the space station. The walls were sleek, lined with softly humming panels, while hexagonal windows shown vast expanse of outer space. As we walked, the station's architecture design choices left me questioning its practicality. For example, the complete lack of railings on the bridges in one of the rooms we went through made me wonder what would happen if someone lost their footing and tumbled over the edge.

Would anti-gravity kick in to save them? Would a net made out of solid light materialize? Or would they plummet into the glass below? The more I observed, the more the station seemed like a paradox—highly advanced yet oddly impractical. I found myself watching my steps more closely.

We arrived at a large plaza. It was filled with holograms, glass announcement boards, and a dazzling array of glowing lights. The space was open and airy for a space station, with rows of tables and chairs arranged neatly, though the usual noises of a cafeteria was absent. Only a handful of researchers were scattered around, their quiet conversations barely breaking the silence. They gave me curious glances before returning to their meals. Their interest on my presence was not enough to linger.

"This is the cafeteria," the guard said. He handed me several coins. "Your money." I examined the coins—each was engraved with the silhouette of a woman's side of her head, a symbol of the station's currency, I presumed.

Then, I made my way to the counter, where a server—a small floating robot—greeted me with happy beeping. "Welcome," it said, gesturing with one of his three steel tentacle towards the limited selection of food laid out before me.

I scanned the options. The menu was a mix of familiar and alien dishes that both intrigued and unsettled me. My eyes set upon a fried rice, but my stomach felt like it would accept anything heavy at the moment. So, I pointed to something that looked like a sandwich and a cup of what I hoped was coffee.

The robot's steels tentacle worked on my order and placed it on the counter. I glanced down at the coins in my hand, unsure of their value. "How much?"

"One Hertareum," the robot server replied.

I handed over the coin, noting its smooth surface and light weight in my palm. The robot accepted the coin and inserted it into a slot behind the counter before using it steel tentacles to grab the meals and arranged it on a tray before presenting it on the counter.

"Have a good meal," it said with a robotic cheerful tone.

The guard followed me as I chose an empty table in the corner, out of line of sight. He positioned himself nearby, his eyes constantly scanning the room.

I took a bite of the sandwich. I was pleasantly surprised. The meat's texture was soft and cushy. It was paired with a cream that added a rich, savoury layer. It was as if every aspect of the sandwich had been carefully prepared to maximize the taste.

Then, I took a sip of the coffee. The moment the liquid touched my tongue, my eyes widened. A jolt of energy surge through me. The caffeine rejuvenating my very cells. I took another sip, savoring the warmth that spread through my body.

When the excitement of tasting the new alien dishes waned, my thoughts wandered back to the Astral Express, to Himeko. Himeko was more than just a beautiful face—there was something undeniably magnetic about her. The way she carried herself with elegance, confidence radiated from her in a way that made it clear she was used to making decisions and leading others. The demeanors of the three young people accompanying her suggested they were more than just passengers. Apprentices, maybe? Or maybe protégés under her guidance?

I couldn't shake the feeling that Himeko was someone important within the Astral Express. But what was Astral Express exactly? Was it the name of the steam train, or the organization that used the steam train? The very idea of a steam train travelling through the cosmos was ridiculous. My train of thoughts raised more questions than answers.

My musings were interrupted by wail of an alarm. It started almost imperceptible, but quickly grew louder, more insistent. The researchers around me stiffened, their faces turning towards the source of the sound.

"Another attack?!" I overheard one of the researchers sighed in mix of annoyance and fear as they quickly finished their meals.

"All personnel evacuate to nearby shelters immediately!" came the hurried voice from the PA system.

My escort's posture shifted immediately, his hand moving instinctively to his sidearm, "Mr. Wake. Let's go."

I shoved the remaining food into my mouth and downed the coffee in one go. My escort ushered me into the same direction the researchers took after hearing the warning. I glanced toward the giant hexagonal windows of the space station, hoping to catch a glimpse of what might be happening outside, but all I saw was cold space.

The guard suddenly stopped.

"There's a change of plan. We'll be heading to the Master Control Zone. Follow my lead." The guard said as he urged me to take another direction.

We went through other corridors and rode on another elevator that wouldn't pass OSHA regulations with the lack of railings to upper floor. Passing through a Iarge revolving door, I recognized the Astral Express crew I'd met earlier, along with Arlan and another redhead young woman I hadn't seen before. I presumed from the assortment of graphs, charts and video feeds on the holographic screen that this was the Master Control Zone.

"Mr. Wake, isn't it?" the redhead young woman approached me, her voice tight with urgency.

"Yes, that's me," I confirmed, bracing myself for whatever was coming next.

"I'm Lead Researcher Asta. We need your help."

"What's the matter?" I asked, though part of me already knew the answer.

Asta quickly brought up a screen. "The remnants of the Antimatter Legion on this station have launched a last-ditch counterattack. Something had interrupted the power supply, causing the lower sector to go into blackout. It's currently running emergency power. We sent a team to repel the counter attack and repair the power supply, however..."

Asta gestured to the screen. The video feed on the screen made my blood run cold. The aliens that had attacked me earlier were now shrouded in a familiar cloud of darkness. The shadowy tendrils writhed around them. When the guards tried to melee and shot their sidearms, their attacks bounced of the shadow, as if they just struck something really, really hard.

Asta continued, "They're invulnerable to our weapons. Arlan said you might know how to beat these-"

"The light," The words tumbled out of me without much thoughts. "Light beats shadows. Tell them to shine a light on them, preferably something powerful."

As I spoke, memories of the flare gun that had saved my life more times than I could count.

"Mr. Wake," Asta pressed, her eyes boring into mine, "can you explain more? What kind of light? How does this work?"

I took a deep breath, trying to organize my thoughts. How could I explain something I barely understood myself?

"It's not just any light," I began, choosing my words carefully. "It needs to be focused, intense. In my experience floodlights, even flares have worked. The brighter, the better."

I glanced around the room, noting the mix of skepticism. "I know it sounds crazy. Believe me, I know. But I've faced these... things before. Light is the key. It burns away the darkness, makes them vulnerable to conventional weapons."

"Whatever you've got," I concluded, my voice firmer now, "spotlights, flash grenades, anything - focus it on those shadows and be prepared for a fight. When the darkness burns away, they won't go down easy, the darkness is still there and it give them strength."

After Asta exchanged nods with Arlan, Arlan barked orders regarding the weaknesses in his communicator. His voice was steady, but I could see the tension in his shoulders.

We watched the security feed intently; the guard now took out his flashlight and shone it on the alien. The alien was now nowhere to be seen. Suddenly, the air rippled In the blink of an eye, a shadow-shrouded figure materialized behind one of the guards.

The possessed alien's weapon, now more shadow than a sword, arced towards the unsuspecting guard. Time seemed to slow. But then, a blinding light erupted from the guard's partner. It came out what looked like a compact floodlight, no bigger than a flashlight, and aimed it directly at the attacker's face. The beam cut through the darkness like a knife, forcing the possessed alien to recoil backwards, its shadowy form hissing and writhing.

"It's working," I breathed in relief.

The alien immediately retreated, faster than a bullet, leaving a blur of shadowy trail. It was still not eliminated, and I knew from bitter experience that this was far from over.

"I'm going to help them," Arlan declared.

Exchanging nods with the rest of the Astral Express crew, March 7th chimed in, "We'll help too."

I watched in amazement as dusts of golden light materialized by their sides before condensing into weapons: a bow, a baseball bat, a spear, and a chainsaw.

Then, guilt weighted me. The realization that I brought the Dark Presence to this station, and the death it might've caused weighing heavily on my conscience.

"I'll come with you," I blurted out, despite recognizing the absurdity of the offer. Unarmed and out of my depth, what could I possibly contribute?

Arlan's rejection was swift and firm. "No. I want you to stay with Lead Researcher Asta and keep us informed from here." I noticed Asta stealing subtle glances at me.

"Let's go," Arlan said, springing towards the exit with the Astral Express crew in tow. A flicker of concern crossed Asta's face, and I couldn't help but feel helpless as we watched them leave.

As the door hissed shut behind them, Asta turned to me, her eyes intense. "Mr. Wake," she began, her voice cutting through my thoughts. "We need to know everything you can tell us about fighting these things. What can we expect from the Dark Presence?"

I took a deep breath, trying to organize the memories of my past battles. "Some of them can possess large objects and hurl them at you; Poltergeist. Some variants can move with inhuman speed, leaving those shadowy trails you saw earlier. Some of the stronger ones won't be affected by weak lights – you'll need something like a... stadium floodlight to burn away the darkness." I paused, "Some of them can even duplicate like amoebas when you shine light on them. But... this was back on Earth."

Asta relayed the information to the intercom before asking, "What else can you recall?"

I racked my head, but all I could offer was a shake of my head. "Nothing comes to mind right now. I'm really sorry."

Asta gave a reassuring nod. "It's okay," she said, her voice steady and composed. "You've given us something to work with. We can only hope they'll succeed."

My gaze followed Asta's to a screen hanging down from the wall. I watched March 7th nocked an arrow that seemed to be made of pure light. She released it and the arrow flew straight toward a group of Taken. But as it neared its targets, the Dark Shadows surged forward, enveloping the Taken in a dense, almost opaque, impenetrable barrier. The light arrow exploded into ice before shattering harmlessly against the barrier.

Dan Heng's spear crackled with energy, leaving trails of light as he moved with impossible speed. He lunged forward, aiming to pierce through a Taken with a single, powerful thrust. Yet, just before his spear could connect, the shadows wrapped itself around his weapon, absorbing the impact. But, law of physics still sent the Taken hurling through the air, hitting the wall. Momentarily stunned but not eliminated.

Arlan wielded a large sword larger than his body. The blade crackling with electricity as it tore through the shadows of a Taken, annihilating it. But as she brought it down upon another Taken, The shadows thickened. Arlan strained as he tried to push through the shield, finally able to pierce it and defeating the Taken.

Two down. Another dozens to go.

I wasn't expecting the Dark Presence to be able to adapt to exotic attack, especially electric. This was new, I bit my lips.

The station security guards and Astral Express crews were clearly being pushed to their limit, blocking and deflecting the empowered aliens. Just as Astral Express crews and Arlan were about to retreat and regroup, the door to the room burst open. A guard, yelling a battle cry, rushed in with a large floodlight. He slammed it down, and with a flick of a switch, the room was bathed in blinding light.

The effect was immediate and dramatic. The Taken recoiled violently under the intense illumination, letting out an ear-piercing eldritch scream. The Taken's protective shroud torn away by the searing light. The crew wasted no time. March 7th's ice arrows now froze the Taken in place before they shattered into nothingness. Dan Heng's spear crackled back to life, piercing through enemies in dozens. Himeko's chainsaw roared to its full power, carving through the remaining shadows and darkness with ease.

The fight became a one-sided massacre. The Dark Presence, caught off guard, had no time to mount another defence nor retreat. The Taken fell one after another, until nothing but silence and the hum of the floodlight remained.

Asta and me simultaneously breathed out a long sigh of relief.

That was until our attention were turned to one of the feeds showing an abandoned section. The possessed aliens were advancing en masse, their shadowy forms gathering into a roiling tide of darkness that threatened to engulf those entire sections of the station. The space station slightly shook.

My blood ran cold.

"They're gathering strength. If we didn't stop it, it could potentially destroy the space station. I had seen it tearing apart a large water dam to stop me." I turned towards Asta, our gazes meeting. The fear in her eyes was tempered by a steely determination. "Is there any way to flood those entire sections of the station with light?" I continued

Asta's fingers flew across her holographic keyboard, bringing up schematics of the station. After a moment, she shook her head. "We can't. The power lines connecting to that section are damaged. We'd need to repair them first." She paused, her brow furrowing in thought. "But... I could shift the spatial coordinates to buy us time."

"Shift spatial... coordinates?" I asked again.

Asta explained, "It bends the fabric of space around a specific area, like a hallway. Instead of walking to the end of the hallway, you'd walk through the bent space and find yourself in a different location on the station. It's like teleportation, but it only works within the boundaries of the station. We can confuse them."

The chasm between the technology here and back on Earth seemed to grow wider by the second. But then a sobering thought hit me. "Shifting space... that might not be enough. The Dark Presence is used to moving through it before." The Dark Place unpredictable form crossed my mind.

Asta's face fell slightly, but she nodded, accepting the information. "Then we need a two-pronged approach. I'll initiate the spatial shift to buy us time, but we need to use that time to fix the power supply."

"That could work." I agreed.

Asta turned back to her console, opening a communication channel. "Arlan, I need your help. We have to repair the power supply to the lower section."

Arlan's voice crackled over the comm, strained but steady. "Understood. But I'll need backup."

I looked at Asta, a decision forming in my mind. "I'll go with him. I might not have superpowers or weapons, but I know these entities better than anyone. I can guide him, watch his back."

Asta studied me for a moment, clearly weighing the risks. Finally, she nodded. "Alright, Mr. Wake. But be careful." Asta nodded towards my escort.

Asta took out something from her pocket before handing me a compact, pistol-shaped object. It's like a revolver but the revolving cylinder was replaced with an energy cell, "It's designed to disrupt energy fields, so it should work against those shadows. Pull the trigger and it'll fire. Just... don't lose it. It's a prototype."

I nodded, gripping the device tightly. "Thank you," I muttered before catching up with the guard waiting at the door.

"Good luck, Mr. Wake." Asta bid me.

I managed a grim smile as the door opened. I was once again heading into the darkness. It seems like some things was never destined to change.