We navigated the jagged terrain, the harsh winds howling around us. The crash site loomed ahead, shrouded in smoke and debris, the faint beeping of the distress signal guiding our way.
“There it is,” Echo announced, pointing to a wrecked ship half-buried in the rocky ground.
“Looks bad,” I muttered, eyeing the twisted metal and broken hull. “Any signs of life?”
Echo scanned the area. “No life signs detected. We should proceed carefully.”
As we approached the shattered entrance, I spotted a flickering light inside. “Let’s check it out.”
The air inside was thick with the scent of burnt electronics. We moved through the cramped space, stepping over fallen cables and debris. Echo’s scanners beeped softly, picking up residual energy.
“Over here,” Echo said, kneeling beside a console that crackled with static. It plugged into the port, accessing the data. “This ship was broadcasting a warning... something about a hostile entity.”
“Another threat?” I asked, anxiety creeping into my voice.
Echo’s screen flashed as it processed the data. “Yes, but it’s fragmented. The only clear message is: ‘Beware the core. Do not trust—’” Its voice cut off as a surge of static filled the air.
“Do not trust what?” I asked, unnerved.
“Unknown,” Echo replied. “We must retrieve the full data log and analyze it back at the transport.”
I nodded, grabbing a small data chip from the console. As I slipped it into my pocket, a distant noise caught my attention—metal scraping against metal, echoing through the wreckage.
“We’ve got company,” I whispered, reaching for my weapon.
Echo stood, eyes scanning the shadows. “Stay close, Xenon. We need to return to the pod.”
We moved quickly, retracing our steps through the wreckage. Outside, the winds howled louder, masking the approaching footsteps that now seemed far too close.
“Go!” I urged as we broke into a run, the shadows behind us shifting like dark figures in the storm.
The wreckage faded into the distance as we sprinted toward the transport pod. The distress signal continued to echo in my mind, a reminder of the danger that still lurked ahead.
YOU ARE READING
LunarSync Comms: Dark Protocol
Science FictionSummary: In a distant future where advanced synthetics serve as companions and assistants, Xenon finds herself isolated within the sprawling confines of a high-tech facility. Accompanied only by her android, Echo, she navigates the challenges of an...
