The group moves forward, their footsteps echoing in the cramped, dark corridors. The silence is eerie, punctuated only by the hiss of their breathing and the soft scuff of their shoes against the metallic floor. They come to a crossroads, the passageway branching off in two directions. Gallagher stops, eyeing both paths carefully. The choice isn't clear, both passages leading into the darkness, with no hint as to which is the better option. Gallagher turns to the group, his voice a hushed whisper.
Gallagher: "Which way, now? Both paths seem to lead in the same direction, but one of them could be a shortcut or a trap..."
The group exchanges glances, the weight of the decision palpable. They know that their choice could mean the difference between walking into a trap or reaching their destination faster. After a moment of silence, Jingliu steps forward, her gaze fixed on one of the passages.
Jingliu: "This way."
Her voice is firm, her gaze unwavering. The others look at her for a moment, then at each other. There's a silent understanding; they respect Jingliu's instincts. With a nod, they fall in step behind Jingliu, their footsteps echoing in the cramped space as they move into the darkness of the chosen tunnel. Gallagher follows, his face betraying slight scepticism but he trusts the group's collective instincts. The tunnel seems to go on endlessly, the metallic walls pressing in from all sides. The only light comes from the lumum stones, casting eerie shadows that flicker and dance across the group. The atmosphere is tense, the silence almost stifling. The silence is broken by a sudden, faint beeping sound that seems to come from all around them. The group stops in their tracks, their eyes darting around, their ears cocked in anticipation. The beeping grows louder and more insistent, as if whatever is making the sound is getting closer. Gallagher's eyes widen with recognition.
Gallagher: "Sensor alarm. Someone... or something, is close. Be ready for a possible fight."
The group immediately tenses, their hands gripping their weapons tighter in anticipation. The beeping seems to echo around them, the sound bouncing off the metallic walls and making it difficult to pinpoint the direction it's coming from. They move with even greater caution now, rounding a corner slowly and carefully. The beeping is constant, the sound like a metallic heartbeat, growing stronger and more frenzied by the second. As they round the corner, the source of the beeping comes into view. There, a short distance away, is a cyborg. Unlike the more sophisticated ones they've encountered previously, this one is more primitive. Its limbs are clunky, its head featureless, and it moves with a jerky, robotic motion. The group stops their weapons at the ready. The cyborg, its eyes fixed on the group, slowly lurches forward. It's programmed to attack any intruders. The beeping is louder now, the metallic sound echoing through the cramped space.
March 7th, her eyes narrowed with determination, steps forward.
March 7th: "Let's deal with this thing quick. I don't think it's programmed for much of a fight."
The others nod, their eyes fixed on the cyborg. The metallic creature, though primitive, still moves with a menacing intent. Jingliu, her voice calm, takes a step forward.
Jingliu: "On my mark..."
They all hold their breath, the tension in the air almost palpable. The cyborg, too, seems to sense the impending attack. It shuffles forward, its limbs whirring and clanking, the beeping louder now, almost frenzied. As the group battles the primitive cyborg, they're suddenly interrupted by another sound. A faint, distant clash of metal, echoed through the tunnel. The group pauses for a moment, exchanging glances.
March 7th, her voice a hushed whisper, speaks up.
March 7th: "Do you hear that? It sounds like... another fight?"
Gallagher nods, his eyes narrowing in concentration.
Gallagher: "It does. And given what we know of Kafka's tactics, it might be one of our companions."
They hesitate, torn between continuing the fight against the primitive cyborg and going to help whoever is battling farther down the tunnel. Jingliu is the first to speak up.
Jingliu: "We can't leave a comrade in danger. We need to check it out."
YOU ARE READING
Man On The Moon
Fantasy"Vettel Baskerville has been a loyal member of the legendary Astral Express, a spacefaring train that travels across the universe in search of truth and knowledge. However, when he is betrayed by the Stellaron Hunters, a notorious group of space bri...
