Deep Thoughts

As Captain Thorn turned around the corner, a celestial being was there—a being of radiant sky-blue, a humanoid composed of stars. The faceless entity, resembling a female silhouette, dazzled the room with a constellation of brilliance. In an instant, a blinding light took over the chamber, similar as if you were staring directly into the sun. As the radiance subsided, the room regained visibility, but the celestial being vanished, leaving only a burning mark—an ethereal trace of its existence.

Stunned by the enigmatic encounter, Captain Thorn asked both Tanaka, and Kuznetsov, 

Thorn: “You guys saw the same thing?”

Tanaka shook his head and proceeded to add, 

Tanaka: “I was focused on the scanner, sorry.”

Kuznetsov: “I only saw the light.” said Kuznetzov lost in thoughts. 

Thorn, now confused about what he saw, stood on the spot analyzing the remnants left by whatever that thing was. 

Tanaka: “Captain, you ok?” Tanaka asked, worried. 

Thorn: “Yes, sorry, let’s go back with the others.” Said the captain with a hurrying pace. 

Kuznetzov followed and Tanaka took a second to take a picture of the burning mark before joining the others. 

On the opposite side of the room, a bizarre turn of events unfolded. The heart, untouched moments ago on the Monoka’s body, had disappeared. Dr. Simmons, grappling with the bewildering turn of events, muttered in disbelief.

Simmons: "It was there a second ago... how could it just disappear?"

The officers, burdened by the strange occurrences, turned away, unable to comprehend the inexplicable nature of the event.

Captain Thorn, shaken by everything that has happened, declared, 

Thorn: “I guess this is the end of this mission, we failed both tasks, finding the particle and saving Dr. Monoka.” with a deep sigh he continued, “ Let’s go back, this doesn't seem to be a safe place to be at this point. Officers report what happened here to your superiors and this is not me trying to be an asshole, but next time ask your supervisors to double check orders before sending you guys where you are not supposed to be. Hopefully they learned from this.” said Thorn in a tired but compassionate tone. 

Dr. Simmons began the solemn task of packing her equipment, and the team, shrouded in a mix of confusion and frustration, filed out of the basement. Tatsuki and Tanaka lingered, staring at the now-empty space where the heart had rested.

As Dr. Simmons completed her preparations, she left a beacon and a transparent protective shell covering the body—a signal for the forensic team who will take possession of Monoka’s lifeless body. Tatsuki, still fixated on the empty space where the heart once lay, felt Tanaka's reassuring hand on his shoulder.

Tanaka: "It's okay, Tatsuki. Let's go." Said Tanaka and both  left the room behind.

***

Outside the Mi’ro’s Facility

Captain Thorn contacted their commander, suggesting the arrival of a forensic team to take charge of the situation. The captain detailed what happened, the deceased scientist and the mysterious test tubes. The commander acknowledged the situation and confirmed the dispatchment of a forensic and advanced science team to the location. 

The officers, already gone, and part of the team boarded the vehicle waiting for the final members to join. Captain Thorn turned around and Dr. Simmons, Tanaka, and Tatsuki emerged from the facility. The captain reassured them, acknowledging the challenges they faced.

Thorn: "We did what we could. Don't blame yourselves."

"Thanks, Captain," replied Dr. Simmons as the team settled into the vehicle. Before Captain Thorn joined them, he cast one last contemplative glance at the facility, pondering the mysteries that remained elusive within the Martian research facility.

***

Sar’ka Base of Operations Meeting Room

In the meeting room inside the headquarters building, Commander Keiko Mori, a woman of Japanese descent, commanded attention with her authoritative presence. Her jet-black hair, neatly pulled back into a professional bun, framed a face adorned with sharp features. Piercing dark eyes reflected a no-nonsense demeanor, and her military uniform, crisply pressed, displayed commendations that spoke volumes about her service. 

As Captain Thorn explained the incident, Commander Mori's expression remained unwavering, embodying a calm authority that defined her leadership style. Despite the tension in the room, her posture exuded control and resilience, emphasizing the resolute figure she cut in the face of cosmic mysteries and unforeseen challenges on Mars.

Thorn: "After looking for clues in the Server Room, we heard a hum coming from a room, we found some Mi’ro Police Officers in the room. At that moment I knew something was off, since you never mentioned the facility being occupied. Then another officer appeared mentioning the disappearance of Dr. Monoka and by default I prioritized the disappearance of a civil over the main mission an—"

The gravity of the situation hung in the air, but as Captain Thorn attempted to steer the mission toward a potential rescue, the commander halted him with unwavering resolve.

Mori: (interrupting) "By default?! Changing the mission’s priority?! That people were not supposed to be there in the first place. Their poor choices and lack of communication with the headquarters led them to their own doom BY DEFAULT! Changing the mission was not an option regardless of who or what stands in the way. Was I not cleared the first time? Our priorities remain unchanged and that's that"

Undeterred, Captain Thorn pressed on, emphasizing the life at risk talking about the disappearance of the scientist. Yet, his words met the commander's unyielding stance.

Thorn: (excusing himself) "With all due respect, a life was at risk. I can't stand by—"

Mori: “I said—!” promptly Dr. Wakame stepped in and defused the escalating tension.

Wakame: "Commander, allow me to provide context.” Said the scientist telling the commander to sit down waving her hand as she continues, “Captain, the mission has restrictions, and the complexities of our objectives demand unwavering adherence."

As Dr. Wakame took charge of the conversation, she explained the complexity that governed their mission's rigid structure. The captain, recognizing the limits imposed by command, excused himself with a heavy heart.

Thorn: "I understand, but now we're dealing with something unknown, something that could pose a threat beyond our mission parameters."

Despite the plea, the commander remained steadfast. Dr. Wakame, composed yet empathetic, gave the Captain a somewhat ultimatum.

Wakame: "Captain, will you be able to execute the mission accordingly or not?."

Thorn gave up his pleas and answered with an emotionless, “Yes ma'am.”

Wakame: “Good. Now continue with your report.”

The captain continued his report, mentioning every single detail to both the commander and the scientist. As he explained, the scientist and him exchange words about some of the things the team discovered while in the facility. The commander (Somewhat moody about the recent situation) listened closely on a side of the long desk to the report. Amazed and confused about so many things, she decides to keep questions to herself until the meeting is over. When the captain starts to describe what he saw, Dr. Wakame interrupts, 

Wakame: “Mori, you can go now. Everything you’ve heard so far is classified. You know the drill. Keep it to yourself. I will send you a copy of this report via e-mai—”Mori tries to interrupt the scientist lead,

Mori: “But Docto—” she fails, 

Wakame: “Mori!” Said the Scientist with a plain demanding voice. “Leave.”

As everyone stays quiet in the room, the commander stands up and walks toward the door. When she opens the door she turns her head back now staring at Wakame, 

Mori: “I’ll be waiting in your office.” said with a plain voice before she steps outside the room and closes the door. 

Wakame: “Now, Captain Thorn. Continue your report.”Said the Scientist. This time with a curious but really serious expression.

***

Outside the Sar’ka’s Meeting Room

When Captain Thorn left the room Dr. Marlow was waiting outside.

Thorn: “Marlow, what are you doing here?” said the captain, surprised.

Marlow: ”We’ve been waiting for you.”said the lieutenant, making a pause before continuing,  “We would like to discuss some things… Together… as a team. Some discoveries and curiosities that you might find intriguing.” finish Marlow while she holds some paperwork on top of her chest and begins walking towards the barracks.

Thorn: “O…... .Kay?” responded confused. He sighs and stares at his watch. The time 8:38PM [Martian Time], “Can this day be over already?” said the captain to himself.

Marlow: “Captain Thorn, Hurry up!” said the Lieutenant, stopping after realizing the captain stood behind.

Thorn: “Yeh, Yeh, I'm coming.” said the Captain as he started jogging towards Marlow.

***

Sar’ka’s Barracks

In the private barracks, the team gathered around a table cluttered with files, data pads and equipment. Captain Thorn's entrance prompted expectant looks from Kuznetsov, Tanaka, and Simmons.

Thorn: "What did I miss?"

Marlow: "So, we've been looking through the data. There's something strange about those test tubes."

Tanaka: "Indeed. They contain components that defy known science. It's like the scientist was attempting to capture the essence of the cosmos itself."

Kuznetzov: “Oh please. Keep the exaggerations to yourself kid.” Said Kuz while slapping lightly on Tanaka's head.

Tanaka: “Hey!” Tanaka responded while pushing the blond beast. 

Marlow: “We'll know if that exaggeration is true, the moment we decide to experiment on this.” said Marlow while reaching for her scientific coat pocket, second later she extends her hand with a vial, a test tube, “This is the one Monoka was holding.”

Thorn: “Wait. How do you manage to get a hold of that?” asked the captain worried, concerned but also amazed. 

Marlow: “After you left in search of the other life signal Simmons handed it to me and I decided to keep it.” Confirmed the scientist with a fake smile, “Also, it is important to mention that Monoka was off the day of the incident, I found in some of the records that she was the lead scientist in charge of the team researching the test tubes.”

Thorn: “So It WAS A Setup.” says the captain, now intrigued.

Kuznetsov: “She was supposed to be part of the victims the day of the incident. After realizing that the scientist was not there, “they” sent a fake “mission” to finish the job they started?”

Thorn: “Who are “they”?” Ask the Captain lost with the situation.

Simmons: "That's…That's what we don't know…”Said the doctor while shrinking her shoulders. After a short pause she continued, “But hey, Tanaka, are you gonna say anything about what you found in the server room? It might answer that question of yours…Or maybe will give you more questions.”

Tanaka: “Oh! Right!” said the teenager while pulling a holographic screen from his watch, “In the server room, encrypted files hinted at more than just scientific data. Remember “Project Sol”? While diving into it I realized that it had tons of cryptic messages."

As the Captain exchanged a intrigued glance, Tanaka leaned forward.

Tanaka: "I decipher them, and the Particle we are looking for… is not the only one, there's tons of them. We are guessing  they are part of the components in those test tubes we found. Maybe the research team managed to divide the components of one of them, but it went missing and Monoka took advantage of the fake mission to acquire some samples for future research. I also found a video that could explain a little bit more about this hypothesis. Some facility was experimenting on some substance, I guess is the same substance inside the vials, but something weird appears."Tanaka swiped the screen and displayed what seemed to be a video of another scientific facility.

In the video, the name of the facility was displayed as “Mercury Scientific Headquarters' ', the video continues showing an experiment on a bright viscous substance similar to the ones found in the Mi’ro Facility. As the people in the video try to divide a microscopic part of the substance, a male humanoid being, brighter than the particle, appeared out of nowhere in the middle of the research room. The entity rose one hand and a suction hole similar to a black hole but as tiny as a tennis ball appeared on the palm of its hand, everything in the room started being suctioned by it. As people try to run for their lives and fail trying so, the bright substance levitates in front of the creature, the entity opens a mouth and swallows the substance. A second after the tiny black hole power increases and the video stops.

Thorn: “Guys… I gotta tell you something. This gotta stay between us. But…The particle we are looking for… Is not the substance. . . Is that thing” said the captain pointing to the entity displayed on the screen.

Simmons:“What?!”

The barrack’s door knob turns and Tanaka quickly closes the holographic display. At the door appears Commander Mori staring curious with a file on her hand, she extends the hand towards the captain and says, “I need your squad ready for departure in five hours. I suggest taking a small rest, this time the trip will be long. We found where the particle might be located. Phobos.”

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