Welcome. I'd like to start by asking a question. What is the Traveler? I'm wondering is there any real proof that the Traveler is, in fact, sentient? I'm more inclined to believe that the Traveler is some ancient machine created by an ancient race of highly advanced people designed to terraform worlds in preparation for their colonization or in case they need to flee from their current system. What if the darkness isn't some "boogie-man" type force, but is actually some form of energy consuming the rest of the universe. The hive is some former species (maybe even our ancient, traveler building, race) that has been mutated and corrupted by the darkness. Think: I Am Legend's monsters who were mutated by a Cancer drug. These are just my ideas. What are yours?