Phobos Surface

Under the muted glow of Phobos, Captain Thorn and Lieutenant Marlow traversed the lunar expanse, their footsteps creating transient echoes against the barren terrain. As the silence hung between them, Marlow broke it with a soft chuckle.

Marlow: “You know, Captain, not everyone gets to be a scientist and a lieutenant at the same time.” said Marlow with a smile trying to break the silence with a relaxed conversation, before the probably stressful mission.

Thorn: “Yeah? Well, not everyone gets to be a captain. Took me a fair share of orbital stations, a handful of close calls, and more paperwork than I care to admit.” Said the Captain with a smile adorning his face under the helmet as he shared a glance with the gal.

They exchanged laughter, the lunar horizon stretching before them as a vast canvas of stories untold. The abandoned facility loomed in the distance, but they ignored that fact and kept their conversation flowing.

Marlow: (Curious) “But Seriously, how did you end up there, Captain? I mean, apart from the usual ranks and missions.” asked Marlow curious about the captain's past life.

Captain Thorn: (Reflecting) “It's a long story. I've been through a lot of sectors, faced challenges, and earned my stripes. Guess you could say Mars’ space military has been my home.”

They continued sharing anecdotes, navigating the lunar landscape with a shared sense of camaraderie. Yet, as laughter faded for a moment leaving both team mates in silence. Thorn decides to break the silence this time.

Thorn: (Thoughtful) “Why did you tell me to stop back at the Mi'ro facility?” ask the captain, thoughtful. 

Marlow: “What are you talking about?” Responded Marlow perplexed.

Thorn: “When Tanaka, Kuznetsov and I were checking on the life signals, you screamed, "Captain, wait!"

Marlow's expression shifted, confusion clouding her features.

Marlow: “I never said anything, Captain. I was focused on analyzing the test tubes.”

Thorn: (Puzzled) “I could swear I heard your voice. Clear as day.”

They exchanged glances, the silence taking on an added layer of mystery. Marlow, still wearing a confused expression, responded with uncertainty.

Marlow: (Confused) “Whatever happened, it wasn't me. I have no idea why you heard that.”

With those words that kept the team mates in doubts, both Thorn And Marlow kept themselves quiet for the rest of the walk.

***

Phobos Geography Research Lab

Before them stood the relic of human ambition, the abandoned Phobos scientific building. Its worn exterior bore the scars of time, the metallic surfaces weathered by the harsh lunar environment. Some broken windows, and the lunar dust had claimed its dominion over the once pristine structure.

Thorn: “Quite a piece of history, isn't it?” joked the captain while surveying the building. 

Marlow: (Analyzing with high-tech eyeglasses) “A relic, indeed.”responded the Lieutenant to the captain's sarcastic comment with the same humor.

As they approached, Captain Thorn lifted the device Tanaka had provided, its screen flickering to life. Showed no signs of life whatsoever. 

Thorn:  “All clear on my side.” notifies the captain, waiting for a response from Marlow’s side.

Lieutenant Marlow: “Same here.” responded Marlow.

With weapons at the ready, they moved forward.

Thorn: (Leading the way) “Let's go.” Ordered the captain as they advanced to the building doors. 

Marlow follows close, keeping her guard up as her eyes travel to everything in their vicinity. At the door, the captain nodded as if asking if Marlow was ready and she responded with another nod. The Captain tried to open the front door but it was locked.

Thorn: “Well, I guess we'll have to find another way in.”, said the captain, a bit disappointed. 

Marlow: “Maybe we should try a window.” suggested Marlow. 

Thorn: “Good thinking. Let's go.”  

The Captain kept leading the way, this time to the left side of the building where they discovered a fully broken window. Both decide to approach cautiously. Once there, crouching the captain pulls a holographic screen from the bracelet Tanaka provided, and scans for life signals.

Thorn: “There's nothing inside. We should be fine.” Notifies Thorn as he shuts the holographic screen. “How do you want to do it? Want to go first or should I go first?” Asked the Captain.

Marlow: “Are you scared?” asked the Lieutenant with a hint of playful banter, as she stood up preparing to go in first.

Thorn: “I just wanted to be nice.”said the Captain, smiling. 

Marlow: “Well, thank you. I'll go in first.” 

Thorn: “OK then. Let's try to be more focused, ok?” ordered the captain.

Marlow: “I've been focused all this time. What about you?”responded Anya as she started to climb through the window.

Marlow approached the small window, its edges coated with a fine layer of dust and neglect. Clad in a fitted red lycra space suit that hugged her form, Marlow surveyed the window with a mix of determination and curiosity. With a combination of strength and flexibility, Marlow approached the broken window with confidence. She placed her hands on the window frame, showcasing a lithe athleticism. Using her arms to propel herself upward, she smoothly lifted her torso through the opening, the legs hanging on the outside of the window, accentuating her assets left the Captain perplexed.

Marlow: “Ahem!” Marlow cleared her throat trying to catch the captain’s attention. 

Thorn: “Uhh, Sorry.” responded the captain and looked somewhere else.

Marlow: “Captain, Don’t you see I need help?!” said the Lieutenant, still hanging on the window.

Thorn: “Ohhh! Sorry.” The captain apologizes as he helps Marlow to get inside the building.

When she landed on the inside of the building, she looked around the room, gun in hand pointing as her gaze traveled around the room. The Captain climbed the window without any inconvenience. Now both in the room advanced to the dimly lit corridors of the abandoned facility, Captain Thorn led the way with caution, his weapon poised to counter any potential threat. The faint echo of their footsteps resonated through the desolate halls as they explored room after room, searching for the server room.

As they reached a room with a bunch of terminals, Marlow halted and retrieved a small device from her pocket. With a swift motion, she attached the device to the terminal.

Thorn: “What’s that?” asked the captain, curious by the little artifact.

Marlow: “Is a Universal Storage & Battery, some people call it USB for short.” explains the Lieutenant as she keeps investigating the terminal,”It provides energy to everything it is connected to. I brought one expecting the terminals to be not functioning due to lack of electric service.” explaining its purpose to the captain. 

Thorn: “Interesting.” responded the captain.

The room flickered to life as Marlow runs the terminal, bringing an air of technological vitality to the once dormant space. The ambient hum of the reawakened machinery filled the room as Marlow navigated the terminal with precision. The lights cast eerie shadows on the walls, emphasizing the abandoned nature of the facility.

Captain Thorn, ever watchful, maintained a vigilant stance, his flashlight cutting through the darkness. 

Thorn: “Are you able to store all the information from that server to that thing?” ask the captain, breaking the silence once more.

Marlow: “Well, if I’m correct this facility is pretty old. If it was used to research Mars Geography, it means that this facility existed around the time humans colonized Mars. Which also means the data in this terminal is pretty old, WHICH means the file size is small. So, yes I’m able to do that.” said Marlow as she navigated through the terminal.

Thorn: “You could’ve answered with a simple yes.” said the captain, turning around to keep an eye for threats.

Marlow: “Well, since you seemed eager to break the silence, I provided you with a long, annoying explanation.” countered Marlow smiling to herself.

Thorn: “I’m sorry. But anyways, just download everything to that SUV thing and let’s get out of here.” ordered the captain.

Marlow: “Is USB and yes Captain, I’m on it.” responded Marlow to the captain’s orders.

The rhythmic sound of keyboard taps and terminal responses echoed in the corridors as Marlow worked her technical expertise. As the terminal displayed a myriad of data, information about the facility's research, previous experiments, and, most importantly, the missing Sun particle began to unfold on the holographic interface. 

Thorn: “Stop there!” ordered the captain the moment he saw a list on the holographic interface.

Marlow stopped the search and stopped at the list. The screen was displaying a list of eight code mission names, two of them were crossed out, and another one was blank. Each code name was linked to a planet in the solar system. That’s when the captain notices the name H.E.A.T in the interface next to Mars.

Thorn: “I KNEW IT!” exclaimed Thorn. “Tanaka was right, but he was right about the wrong thing.”

Marlow: “What’s going on Captain?” Marlow asked, confused.

Thorn: “When Tanaka deciphered the encrypted files he found on the Mi’ro Science Facility he said there were more sun particles. But he thought the particles were the test tubes, but no.” the captain stops to point with his finger the code H.E.A.T and then shows her the name Mars next to it. “The name there is not the squad’s name, it is the name of the particle. The particle we are looking for.”

Marlow: “So, you are telling me that there are more creatures like the one on the video wandering the planets?”

Thorn: “Before I explain, keep downloading all that data.” suggested Thorn

Marlow: “Right.” said Marlow and with a couple clicks the data started downloading to the USB. “Now explain to me what's really going on.” demanded Marlow.

Thorn: “In the Mi’ro facility I encountered H.E.A.T.”

Marlow: “Wait! When?!” interrupted Marlow.

Thorn: “Please, let me explain.” demanded the Captain this time.

Marlow: “Sorry.” responded the confused lieutenant and added, “Please continue.”

Thorn: “Before the blinding light happened, I saw a creature, pretty similar to the one in the video, but the one I saw had a female body. After the blinding light she was gone, I guess she was the one behind the light, she probably teleported or something.” explained the Captain, amazed, scared but curious about what's happening behind the curtains. What does the Headquarters are hiding?

Marlow: “So these creatures can also teleport?” asked Marlow in disbelief.

Thorn: “Well, if the one in the video was able to do what he did, nothing else surprises me.” responded the Captain.

Marlow: “That’s true.” said Marlow before adding, “You think H.E.A.T was responsible for the Mi’ro incident?”

Thorn: “Probably. But the real question is “why?” and also, "why not kill us?” responded Captain Thorn in deep thought.

Marlow: “Everything is downloaded, we can leave and explain everything to the–” Marlow was interrupted when the device Tanaka provided started beeping.

The Captain pulled a holographic screen as quick as he could and saw a life signal approaching. 

Thorn: “Quick we gotta leave, something is approaching.” said the captain as he turned off the flashlight on his firearm.

Marlow: “Roger.”responded the Lieutenant as she pulled the USB out of the terminal making everything go completely dark.

The Captain was leading the way, aiming to go out the same way they came in. Marlow follows closely, keeping herself vigilant, pointing her gun as her eyes travel around the rooms. 

“Hey, Marlow.” 

Marlow: “What?” asked Marlow as she faced the silhouette behind her. 

Thorn: “What’s wrong? I Haven’t said anything.”mentions the captain who was leading the way.