The teleporter at the heart of the colony emitted a steady, almost soothing hum, despite the palpable tension in the air. Mark, hunched over the main interface, manipulated the controls with nervous precision. Beside him, Liza tracked the readings on the screen, her gaze fixed on the energy curves pulsing irregularly. Flickering light filled the room, casting shifting shadows on the metallic walls.
— It's holding stable... for now, Mark muttered, his voice tight. But this system... it's like it's waiting for something.
— Waiting for what? Liza asked, frowning.
— An impulse, maybe. Or an order. It almost feels... alive.
Liza swallowed but had no time to respond. A crackling sound came through the communications network just as Jaxon and Paula entered the control room in a rush.
— Any updates? Jaxon asked, scanning the screens.
— Relatively stable, Mark replied. But there are signals I don't understand. This isn't just a machine. It's... connected to something much bigger.
— Then let's prepare for that "something" to make itself known, Paula said sharply.
Suddenly, the teleporter emitted a sharp, piercing tone. Its light intensified, casting hypnotic, shifting patterns. Nate's holographic form flickered to life beside the console.
— Warning, Nate announced. Anomalous activity detected within the teleporter's quantum field. Unknown energy signatures converging.
All eyes turned toward the device. Liza stepped forward cautiously.
— The Flashing Being?
— Signatures unidentified. No match to previous encounters, Nate replied.
The teleporter's light reached a blinding peak, forcing everyone to shield their eyes. When it finally dimmed, a human figure stood within the glowing circle. A tall woman, her features partially obscured by an eerie shadow, stood still. Her eyes gleamed with an otherworldly silver glow.
— Who are you? Liza asked, her voice wary.
The woman slowly lifted her head, revealing a sharply defined face etched with intensity.
— I am Alira, she said, her voice strange, resonating with a dual-tone echo. And I've come to warn you.
---
Far from the colony, a massive fleet of heavy ships had established a base on Deimos' dusty surface. Pier Benir, surrounded by his advisors and a detachment of soldiers, observed the activity of his forces. Through a wide armored viewport, he scrutinized tactical data on a holographic display.
Pier's arrival on Deimos had not been without effort. The teleporters on the Moon, heavily damaged after the Battle of the Silver Dome, were now inoperable. Forced to rely on his fleet, Benir had overseen a massive transport operation, deploying part of the NHU's armada to the small Martian moon.
An officer approached, handing him a tablet.
— Here are the readings from the energy signature, sir. They match previous activation patterns.
Pier took the tablet, his gaze hardening.
— Maintain surveillance. Wait for my signal before intervening. Let them think they're still in control.
---
— This teleporter is a key, Alira said, gesturing toward the glowing device. A fragment of a network that stretches far beyond your understanding. It doesn't belong to you. And you cannot control it.
— We didn't choose to have it, Mark retorted, his tone sharper than usual. We're just trying to survive.
Alira's silver eyes softened slightly. — I understand. But survival comes at a price. If this device fully activates, it will send out a signal... a beacon. And they will come.
— They? The Flashing Being? Jaxon asked, his tone cutting.
— No, Alira replied, shaking her head slowly. What will come is far worse.
Liza stepped forward, arms crossed defiantly. — We have to activate it. It's our only way back to Earth.
— Then you must choose, Alira insisted. Activate it and risk destruction, or destroy it and remain stranded here.
Paula opened her mouth to respond, but alarms blared before she could speak. Nate reappeared.
— Multiple energy signatures detected. Hostiles inbound.
Through the windows, sleek, dark ships descended toward the colony, their shapes sharp and menacing. The first volley of energy struck the outer defenses, plunging the settlement into chaos.
— The beacon has already been lit, Alira said gravely. You must decide. Now.
Jaxon and Paula exchanged a swift glance, their thoughts aligned without a word. Mark hesitated, his trembling hands hovering over the controls. Finally, it was Liza who took charge.
— We fight. And we'll find another way.
Alira's gleaming eyes narrowed slightly. — Then I will stand with you.
The entire colony plunged into a frenetic battle. Alira, her hands glowing with radiant light, unleashed arcs of energy that disintegrated several attackers. Soldiers defended the barricades as Jaxon directed operations with cold efficiency.
Amid the chaos, Paula found a moment to ask, — Alira, what exactly is the Flashing Being?
Alira responded, her voice heavy with gravity. — It's an anomaly... a fracture in this network you don't understand. Neither machine nor alive, but both. It acts of its own will—independent and... unpredictable. Beware. It has not finished watching you.
Far away, Pier Benir observed the battle from a secure outpost, his face illuminated by the explosions. The teleporter pulsed more intensely with every moment. His time was approaching.
— Soon, he murmured to himself. Very soon.