Austin thought bringing his daughter on a routine mission would be a chance to reconnect after years apart. But their deep-space expedition to the uncharted planet Paphos is anything but routine. Buried within the planet's forests lies a sprawling, crumbling alien compound—and they are not alone. A creature capable of seizing control of any host stalks them, turning their expedition into a desperate fight for survival. With their escape pods sabotaged and radios destroyed, hunted by an intelligence that hides among them, Austin must forsake all others to keep his daughter safe. The only way home is forward—deeper into the facility, deeper into the unknown. Perfect for fans of sci-fi thrillers, this pulse-pounding novel explores the limits of survival, the mysteries of first contact, and the unbreakable bond between a father and his daughter.