The storm pressed around the Galileo like a living thing. Ion clouds churned, bending light until the viewscreen looked more like a sea than space. Keller fought the static dancing across her console.

“Captain,” she said, “signal’s shifting again. That rhythm—it’s stabilizing. The alien is reacting to us.”

AJ stepped to the center of the bridge. “Massi, status?”

Beckett answered instead: “Alive. But every time the storm flares, their vitals go with it. If the storm could relax for five minutes, I’d appreciate it.”

Parker muttered, “Tell the storm.”

AJ ignored the quip, eyes fixed on the viewscreen. “Whatever they are, they’re tied to this place.”

Delar nodded. “Or the Expanse is tied to them.”

Before AJ could respond, Keller stiffened. “Another surge. Structured this time.”

“From our guest?”

“No. External.”

Massi entered just in time to hear the last word. She swallowed. “Something heard them.”

“A second mind?” AJ asked.

“I felt recognition. Like our patient reached, and someone familiar reached back.”

A flash of green light swept the viewscreen. Parker froze. “That wasn’t the storm.”

Keller whispered, “Romulan power bleed. Masked by ion density.”

The bridge fell silent.

“Source?” AJ asked.

Keller swallowed. “Ion interference is masking sensors, but something’s out there.”

Delar folded his arms. “A warbird could hide in this.”

“Or burn in it,” Parker muttered.

Another flash, Massi held her breath. “The alien reacts to it. Strongly.”

“Fear?” AJ asked.

She shook her head. “Recognition.”

Keller’s console chirped violently. “Captain, the storm reflection just gave me a silhouette, Romulan configuration. If they’ve been hiding in the storm, they’ve been shadowing us for some time.”

AJ stared into the storm, jaw tight. “And they’re shadowing us.”

“Matching our vector,” Keller confirmed. “Whatever they want… they’re waiting.”

The ship trembled as a surge rolled through the hull. Parker wrestled the helm.

“Shields at seventy-nine percent. Storm’s not easing.”

Keller’s display flickered, “Captain, the alien’s vitals just spiked again. Something external is echoing with them.”

Massi pressed a hand to her chest. “It’s calling to them.”

The storm opened suddenly, a green flare illuminating a silhouette.

Keller gasped. “Captain, Warbird emerging!”

The Romulans moved into partial visibility, half-masked by distortion, half-revealed by lightning. No weapons. No hail. Just there.

Massi whispered, “They’re here for it.”

AJ exhaled, “Red alert. Bring us about.” The Galileo pivoted. The Warbird loomed.

“Open a channel,” AJ said.