Page 8 of Alien's Eternal Mate
“Indeed. We may find a clue as to the moon’s origins.”
I sighed in resignation.
“It is indeed a potential revolution in both science and galactic history. With your leave, I would traverse to the next lower level to see if this phenomenon is consistent throughout the facility.”
Buzos shook his head, cybernetics gleaming in the bright lights of overhead drones.
“No, it is too dangerous. We will finish our readings on this level, and then move down to the next as a team.”
I glanced over at our Vakutan guards. Riel spotted me and grinned, pointing his fingers at his eyes and then pointing them at me.
“I hear he requested this assignment especially.”
Buzo’s voice held a note of worry that surprised me.
“If I were you, Doctor, I would avoid being in his vicinity while no one else is about.”
I felt a twinge of fear, which I desperately tried to tamp down.
“I suppose I dug my own grave with him, pun fully intended.”
Buzos didn’t reply, not with words. His gaze spoke volumes, however. He found my assessment to be most accurate.
I took more readings while waiting for the others to finish up. My findings proved consistent throughout. The very structure of the facility generated its own power supply, and there appeared to be no central nexus.
After an hour or so, we finally gathered at the mining lift and made our way to the next level. More green, glittering metal greeted my gaze.
“How did the builders of this facility move from one level to the next?” Caraway asked. “There don’t appear to be any elevators, or even stairs.”
“Perhaps they sealed up the routes of ingress when they abandoned this facility. Or maybe they had means of transit that we can’t perceive based upon their artifacts.”
Surprised stares turned my way. I don’t think anyone expected me to speak, much less with such enthusiasm.
“Indeed,” Caraway said, a slight smile forming on his face. “This is why it helps to have a specialist in Xeno technology on the team.”
He looked pointedly at Dr. Kight when he said so. Kight snorted ruefully. The elevator settled into place on the next level. My eyes widened as I beheld the vast subterranean chamber.
“The ceiling must be a hundred feet high,” I marveled.
“A hundred and fifty,” Caraway replied.
Towers roughly thick as an elder elm tree broke up the floor of the vast chamber, almost creating a maze of sorts. Each tower bore conical ‘fruit’ in the form of metal pods. I touched one of the pods and found it eerily cold compared to the rest of the facility.
“What is the purpose of these?”
I thumped the side for emphasis. Buzos shook his head.
“We are uncertain. They have been ruled to be harmless and inert, however. Unlike the other parts of the facility, they appear to have no power generation properties.”
“Yes, but why? Why create them if they serve no purpose?”
I checked the readout on my compad and my jaw fell open.
“There are traces of organic compounds within these strange fruit.”
“Yes, that was determined as well. There are many species which mix organic and technological components together.” Dr. Kight chuckled at my expense. “It’s not the revelation you seem to think it is.”
“Could these be stasis pods?”