Astrophysical (completed)

Chapter 20

Four days later, they arrived on a small planet located close to the asteroid field, which made it difficult to navigate through, but it was one of those times where having a smaller ship and an android was good for her. They never quite caught up to the Keimei, but considering they were going full speed, she assumed Ash was too. They burst through the deep red atmosphere and a slightly blinding light forced Cassie to look away, but then it dulled, and the planet was revealed.

There didn't seem to be much to it. All around were craters and small plateaus in the same burnt reddish colour. Following the air trails, they were led to a larger crater surrounded by looming rocks that seemed to curl inwards towards the small metal structure. The structure itself was large and back though it reflected the red structures off its sides. You could see from the inside that very powerful yellow lights were shining through the windows, but not much else could be discerned.

The Keimei had landed a bit roughly close to the entrance of the structure and another ship that was dark purple, very thin, and long was parked near an actual launch pad. SA and Cassie opted to park just on the outside of the rock circle and head in from there. The eeriness of the planet's atmosphere bothered Cassie as they walked. There was a soft humming sound, and it was a higher frequency pitch that rang in her eardrums. While it annoyed her, she could see how much trouble it caused SA. He had to do his best walking while many sounds and lights kept flashing.

"Would it be easier for you to stay on the ship?" she asked him.

"N-N-No-No," he replied. "G-get-get inside-side."

Cassie nodded and hurried towards the door. Once they arrived though they saw the doors were barred shut. She quickly looked around and then saw a small hole above the door where a ledge reached. She took SA and led him to one of the sides of the building. There were a small series of bricks that they could climb to get to that ledge. She had to be careful though guiding her companion up seeing that he was having a hard time navigating the footfalls.

When they got up there and back around to the front though, SA touched her arm and Cassie looked back at him. His eyes were scrolling badly in all directions and his glasses were nearly falling off his face.

"T-trap?" he asked.

She looked towards the hallway they were about to enter and then back towards the Keimei. "Even if it is, then at least I am in the same boat he is. That's better."

Cassie then ducked down and began to crawl on her elbows through the hallway towards the bright light at the end. SA followed behind her and she could hear some random sounds coming from him until they got about halfway. They then stopped and so did some of the flashing lights, so she hoped that maybe he was in fact better. She certainly was as far as the humming sound was concerned, but then a knot was settling into her stomach knowing this was dangerous.

After passing through the small hallway, they now stood in a large entry way. The room had large onyx-coloured columns and dark green floors against the floor to ceiling off white glass. Surrounding the top were a set of large lights pointed towards the windows that would reflect against the silver walls. There was a doorway to the left and right and in front but only one small bridge led towards the centre room. Cassie carefully made her way over to it see that there was no easy way to get down and since they were at least twenty feet up, she would rather not risk falling. SA followed behind her quietly as they made their way across the small metal bridge. They then crawled again through another small opening and into another room.

This room was a large audience chamber filled with nothing but a simple metal chair sitting in a balcony directly opposite from the pair. They stood on a small balcony covered by black curtains that at least they could see through. Being careful still they only raised their heads above the railing to look down at the marbleized floor. Here the walls were all onyx and the lights glared off the sides.