"Not interested, thanks," Paradox declared, his voice edged with a hint of annoyance.
Xavier smiled lightly. "Well, you're already here. It'd be a waste not to take you along," he pointed out, resting his chin on his hand, gazing at the line of machinery.
He glanced back at Paradox for a brief moment, before spinning around to the central computer. "We'll do our routine system check-up before heading outside. It should pinpoint the problem."
Paradox, still standing near the doorway, moved closer to the servers. Slouching slightly, he grabbed a laptop and a connection cable from a nearby table.
Starting from the far left, he knelt down, detached the fixed glass screening, and plugged in the laptop.
Information flooded the screen. As a systems administrator, he had access to all system functions, including doors, life support, and communications. He would send dummy data to each system, testing its full operability. After confirmation, he ejected the wire.
"Any issues, Xavier?" Paradox asked, reattaching the glass and moving to the next server. "None so far. You?" "None."
After a few minutes of diagnostics, they discovered one issue: an unresponsive data conduit. From the single error, Paradox and Xavier both concluded it was an upper malfunctioning transponder.
Both stood at the central computer, which currently displayed a 3D image of the Transponder.
"Guess that settles it. Outside we go," Xavier grinned, clearly excited about the opportunity.
Paradox, however, wore a gloomy expression. A gentle sigh escaped his lips as he eyed the floor in defeat. "Going outside with you... woo, what a joy..." The sarcasm was palpable.
Nevertheless, he had no choice.
With a swift turn, Paradox made his way to a metallic cabinet near the doorway. He pressed his communicator against the cabinet door and gently pulled it open, revealing a factory new Transponder unit.
A modest device at first glance, it responded to incoming signals. But its seemingly simple function was crucial, enabling vital data transmission between the dispersed Colony Outposts.
Xavier moved towards the designated airlock in Building A3, and Paradox shortly followed, Transponder in hand, he reached for his specially designed space suit.
Due to his smaller size, Colony 32 had been equipped with a few smaller space suits.
Xavier adjusted his suit, and Paradox did the same. "Okay, short stuff, all systems green?", Paradox passively glanced back at him in disbelief, "Did you just call me short stuff you old fart?" Both stared at each other for a moment before turning their attention to the decontamination unit.
Xavier pressed his communicator against the bolt door, triggering a [WARNING] alert.
Paradox crossed his arms and gazed at the flashing red lights as the decontamination door slid upward, revealing a white interior. They both stepped inside, once inside the interior sensors caused the door to slid shut behind them, sealing them off with a bolting noise.
Xavier punched a large red button on the wall, initiating the [DECONTAMINATION] sequence. The room filled with white smoke and a mixture of chemicals, with spinning red lights providing the only visual distinction.
When the [DECONTAMINATION COMPLETE] announcement sounded, a massive door slid open, and light flooded the room. The white smoke seeped out, revealing the world beyond.
As the smoke settled, there was silence.
The silence being broken only by the rhythmic hum of their life support systems. Clad in their pressurized suits, they moved towards the gaping maw of the Relay, a colossal structure that pierced the Martian sky.
The rusty, orange sands stretched out in every direction, swallowing all but the stark white expanse of Colony 32.
"Just saying you're going up there alone," Paradox informed, his voice transmitted by his interlinked communicator. He squinted up at the towering structure, a mixture of awe and irritation etched on his face.
Xavier, ever the optimist, chuckled slightly. "It doesn't surprise me."
He gently took the Transponder from Paradox and slowly made his way towards the Relay.
Grabbing a roll-down ladder from the side, he pulled it towards himself, causing it to fall. Placing one foot on the ladder and clipping his suit to it as a safety precaution, he began his ascent.
It took some time before he reached the circuit box.
Placing his communicator against its surface, he opened the box, gently unclipped the Transponder from its wires, and pulled it out.
Paradox stood in the dirt, watching this madman scale the Martian tower. It was impressive, really, but Paradox would hate to admit it.
Clipping the new Transponder into place, Xavier paused, his breath catching in his throat. Before him stretched a desolation, marred only by the stark white silhouette of Colony Base 32.
It was a marvel of human ingenuity, a testament to our species' relentless drive to explore.
The base, a gleaming arachnid of steel and glass, clung to the Martian surface, its slender legs reaching out like a protective embrace. The smooth, white exterior, a stark contrast to the rusty terrain, shimmered under the harsh Martian sunlight.
As Xavier gazed upon this beacon of hope, a surge of pride washed over him.
He plugged in the last wire, causing the circuit to lit up green. Xavier smirked and closed the circuit box.
Suddenly, both their attentions were drawn to a distant disturbance.
Before there was sound, there was light.
A massive spark followed by a cloud of rising dust could be seen half a mile away. A wave of pressure and a booming noise pushed the very dirt beneath their feet.
The Relay tower shook under the immense force, causing Xavier's pridely smirk to falter.
Stunned, Paradox looked towards the rising cloud, noticing the condensation trail left by the now verified fallen object - an asteroid, most likely.
A hint of determination began to surface.
Paradox, who's filled his heart and mind with research had an opportunity, an opportunity for a breakthrough like no other.
Blinded by hidden anticipation, Paradox hurried towards the unknown crater.
Xavier, sweating lightly from the sudden development, looked into the distance once more with an easy-going smile. "Really... today is a great day..." As Paradox approached the crash site, Xavier hastily began his descent.