Chapter 7 - Search

After Jason left the cabin, an aircraft descended from the sky, its powerful engines kicking up a whirlwind of dust and debris as it landed in front of the massive crater. The hatch opened with a hiss, and soldiers streamed out in disciplined formation, weapons ready.

They were followed by two men—one in a military uniform adorned with medals and insignia, clearly a high-ranking general, and the other in a sharp, formal suit.

The soldiers fanned out, securing the perimeter with swift, practiced efficiency. The general and the man in the suit made their way toward the crater, their boots crunching on the disturbed earth. As they reached the edge, they peered down into the gaping hole. The soldiers stood guard, their eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of movement.

At the bottom of the crater lay a mysterious stone, its surface glinting eerily in the fading light. The general frowned, his brow furrowing with concern. "What is that?" he asked, his voice filled with both curiosity and suspicion.

The man in the suit crouched beside the stone, examining it closely. He ran his fingers over its surface, feeling the strange, almost otherworldly texture. "This appears to be more than we expected," he said, his voice thoughtful, staring at the opened stone sphere. "But it seems like it was opened."

As he spoke, his eyes caught sight of something else. He pointed to the ground, where a series of footprints led away from the stone. The general noticed them too, his gaze following the trail.

"Someone's been here," the suited man continued, standing up and dusting off his hands. "And I think they opened the stone."

The general turned to his men, his voice commanding and resolute. "Search the area," he ordered. "Find out who was here."

The soldiers moved swiftly, following the footprints through the forest. It wasn't long before they discovered the cabin Jason had left behind, as well as a wrecked car nearby. The general approached the vehicle, inspecting the damage.

"Find out who owns this car," he commanded, his tone brooking no argument. "We need answers, and we need them now."

The soldiers nodded and set to work, their training kicking in as they began their investigation.

The general and the man in the suit exchanged a look, both aware that whatever they were dealing with was far from ordinary.