Phobos Geography Research Lab

Marlow is jolted by the sound of the captain's voice, calling her from behind. She swiftly turns around, expecting Thorn to relay some urgent information. However, her gaze meets an unexpected sight – a shadowy figure resembling the captain stands before her. The dim lighting cloaks the silhouette in obscurity, leaving Marlow unable to discern any features.

Confused and slightly unnerved, Marlow queries, 

Marlow: "What?"

 The response comes from behind her, from the real Captain Thorn who was leading the way, asserting, 

Thorn: “What's wrong? I haven't said anything.”

This revelation heightens Marlow's unease as she realizes the mysterious silhouette is not the captain she knows.

The room remains cast in shadows, but as Marlow continues to stare, the silhouette begins to radiate with an ethereal glow. The celestial being takes form, revealing an otherworldly appearance—an eight-foot-tall figure adorned with the splendor of a cosmic constellation. Its luminous body emanates a soft glow, captivating Marlow and leaving her frozen in fearful anticipation.

The entity crouches to Marlow's eye level, its presence both daunting and mesmerizing. The starry brilliance seems to be an integral part of its celestial form. The being fixes its gaze on Marlow, the cosmic hum resonates, creating an otherworldly ambiance that engulfs the room as a big mouth opening starts showing from the faceless being.

The Captain, now aware of the situation, shoots a plasma shot to the being expecting to hurt it, but it was futile. After realizing the ineffectiveness of the plasma shot, the celestial being, undeterred by the captain's attempt, rose to its full height, its luminous form intensifying.

Sensing the imminent danger, Captain Thorn  urgency cut through the eerie silence, commanding Marlow.

Thorn: “RUN!” Ordered the captain.

Marlow, jolted into action, stands up and starts running towards the Captain. The room, now aglow with the celestial being's brilliance, revealed Marlow's fear-stricken face. Her steps were uncertain, and her body trembled as she navigated the illuminated space. Once together, the captain, his senses sharp, sprinted alongside her, determined to lead the way.

As they exit the server room, the celestial being manifests a blinding light on the room left behind by the duet, its form appearing in front of them, acting like an ethereal barrier. 

Reacting swiftly, Captain Thorn instinctively veered to the left, guiding Marlow through another corridor. The lieutenant, her fear transformed into determination, managed to fire a useless plasma shot at the being while she kept running.

Their footsteps echoed in the corridor as they sprinted, desperately seeking the broken window that offered their only means of escape. The celestial being, now engaged in pursuit, added an otherworldly glow to the gloom of the facility's passages as they raced against time to reach the safety of Phobos' surface.

As they approached a familiar intersection, Marlow glimpsed the shattered window in the distance. 

Marlow: “There!” 

Hope sparked within her, but the celestial being's luminescent presence grew brighter, indicating its proximity. The captain, maintaining his focus, urged Marlow to keep moving, his own determination matching the urgency of their escape.

When the duo reached the room with the shattered window, their breaths heavy and hearts pounding, the device beeped again. A blinding light appeared before their eyes.

Another entity, female this time, with a blue sky brilliance standing in front of them offered no way out. Captain Thorn And Marlow standing now between the two beings, got nowhere to go.

The Captain quickly proceeds to pull a holographic screen from Tanaka's device and press a command, when he does, instantly two orbs appear next to the blue sky entity. The being, blocking the window, kept her fearless posture in the way, and seconds later the orbs produced a loud humming sound. As the creatures stand there confused, the orbs display a holographic sphere around the blue sky entity.

Thorn: “That’s H.E.A.T.” 

Whispered the captain to Marlow as she proceeded to turn around, giving her back to the eight foot creature in front of her.

The holographic sphere around H.E.A.T starts spinning and her body starts trembling, as she falls on her knees. The Captain saw her faceless head deep in agony. 

Thorn: (“But How?”) he thought. (How am I able to know the feelings of this faceless creature?) 

In just a mere moment of her agony, the tall entity appears in front of the sphere, and with a touch of his hand the sphere vanishes and once free, H.E.A.T casts a blinding light and disappears. The tall creature stands this time in front of the window, staring at the floor where H.E.A.T was agonizing, he turns his head to face the duet who stands in the middle of the room, guns at ready, pointing at him, shakes his head in disappointment and with a blinding light he also vanish.

Both Captain Thorn and Marlow, stand in the now empty room in disbelief after the encounter as silence takes over the facility once again. Thorn turns his head to face Marlow who was staring at the empty space that was occupied by H.E.A.T. 

Thorn: “You ok?”, proceed to ask the captain, breaking the silence.

Anya Marlow nods.

Captain Thorn and Lieutenant Marlow clambered through the window, landing on the dusty surface of Phobos. As they began to walk towards the crash landing location, the captain took the opportunity to address the flaw in Tanaka's device.

Thorn: “I think Tanaka’s device is not suited for the mission.” started the captain, before adding, “We are supposed to capture the particle, not to kill it.”

Marlow: “I know how dangerous this particle can be, but I'm happy it escaped.” said the lieutenant with a bland expression.

Thorn: “I agree. If it wasn’t for the other creature, it would've died.” mentions the captain as he walks facing the lunar surface.

Marlow: “I wonder who was the other being?” asked Marlow in deep thought.

Thorn: “It has to be another particle.” suggested the captain.

Marlow: “From another planet? Here?” countered the Lieutenant in disbelief.

Thorn: “It could be possible. Didn’t you see how it freed H.E.A.T after we “captured” her?” said the captain explaining his suggestion.

Marlow: “So they are freeing themselves?” questioned Marlow tired of the many doubts filling her head. 

Thorn: “Maybe.” answered Thorn.

Marlow: “Then. Why stay? If they only want to free their kind, why would they stay in the place they were imprisoned?” questions Marlow once again frustrated about the mission.

Thorn: “That, I don’t know.” admitted the captain.

Marlow: “I’m almost certain, Headquarters are hiding something from us.” said Marlow with a serious semblance.

Thorn: “I don’t blame you for thinking that way. We are here taking hits blindly without any sort of explanation of what’s really happening.” said the captain with his view locked into the horizon.

Marlow: “Let’s do our own investigations.” suggested the lieutenant.

Thorn: “What do you mean?” asked the captain, now fixing his gaze into Marlow’s face.

Marlow: “Let’s lie to HQ about what we found and keep investigating for ourselves. Let’s say we couldn't find any information because of the encounter we had, and then reunite the team and discuss what we found.” explains Marlow as she pulls out the USB, “If they don't want to explain to us what exactly is going on. We should find out for ourselves.”

Thorn: “I agree, lieutenant, but I cannot report so many missions failing. So, I will have to provide a certain amount of information, if we want to keep ourselves in the investigation.” explains the captain.

Marlow: “Sure.” responded.

Thorn: “Also we gotta see what the team thinks about this plan of yours.” added the captain.

Marlow: “Yeah, I understand, captain.” Marlow said with a tired expression.

Thorn: “Anyways, I wanted to thank you for coming with me. I wouldn't be able to do anything if you weren't there.”said the captain trying to elevate their mood.

Marlow: “I know you can’t do anything without me.” joked Marlow as a smirk takes over her expression.

However, their dialogue was abruptly interrupted by a sudden, distorted sound that reverberated through the air. 

Thorn: “What was that?” ask the Captain.

Startled, they turned and witnessed a surreal scene. Half of Phobos had vanished in thin air, leaving a disorienting void in the moon's once-static skyline and the building they had just escaped, was now completely gone.