The gateway shimmered, then solidified, revealing a world bathed in an unnatural twilight. Two colossal, metallic suns hung low in the sky, casting long, ominous shadows across a landscape of towering, rusting megastructures. The air hung heavy with the stench of pollution and the faint hum of distant machinery.
Anya crackled to life within Alex's mind, her voice laced with apprehension. "Advanced technology signature… but malfunctioning, causing environmental degradation. This world seems on the brink of collapse."
Echo, ever the pragmatist, adjusted his visor, scanning for signs of life. "Looks like a techno-utopia gone wrong. Where are the inhabitants?"
The melody within them, a discordant electric guitar now, resonated with a sense of unease. This world felt sterile, devoid of the natural beauty they had witnessed on previous planets.
