The morning sun cast a harsh glare over the desert as Roman, Neato, Kael, and Nayan trudged through the endless sands. The heat was oppressive, and sweat glistened on their brows.
"Are we there yet?" Neato whined, his voice filled with irritation.
Roman remained silent, his expression as stoic as ever. Hours passed as they continued their journey, the monotony of the desert broken only by the occasional gust of wind.
Finally, they arrived at their destination—a small capsule half-buried in the sand. The capsule was white with orange stripes, and the words "Dorius H2" were emblazoned on its side.
"We're here," Roman announced, his voice steady.
Nayan's eyes widened in amazement. "Oh my word!"
"Wow, what's inside?" Neato asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Shut up," Roman snapped, his tone brooking no argument.
They all entered the capsule, the interior dimly lit and filled with a sense of eerie stillness. Documents and papers were scattered everywhere, and in the corner lay a skeleton wearing a spacesuit with the name "Dorius" etched on the chest.
Neato and Nayan immediately began to touch and examine everything within reach. Neato started to undress the skeleton, eventually slipping into the spacesuit himself. Nayan, with a morbid fascination, played with the skeleton's bones.
Kael, uninterested in the commotion, sat down near the door, his gaze distant.
Roman, meanwhile, began searching for any intact video files among the piles of papers and old equipment. He was focused, methodically going through the clutter.
As Nayan was toying with the skeleton, he accidentally pressed a hidden button. A soft hum filled the room, and a video began to play on a nearby computer screen.
The screen flickered to life, revealing a man in a spacesuit identical to the one Neato now wore. The man was gaunt, his eyes hollow with fatigue and despair. The name "Dorius" was stitched onto his suit.
"This is my last message," the man began, his voice weak but resolute. The video, filled with static and flickers, captured everyone's attention. The gravity of the moment hung heavy in the air, and the room fell silent.
And with that, the chapter ended, leaving them all frozen in place, the weight of the past pressing down upon them.
END OF CHAPTER 22