Zara took off her backpack and placed it on the ground, made fine like flour by the red stones that had crumbled over centuries. The bag she had carried on her back throughout the journey felt heavier with each step, and the space suit she was wearing felt more uncomfortable than ever.
Calix called out,
- "Zara, is there a problem?"
After a few seconds of silence, Zara wanted to explain that she had caught a signal and needed to take out the signal booster from her bag to investigate it, but it was going to be a considerable effort. Drained by fatigue, she simply said,
- "One moment," without feeling the need to elaborate.
The vast mountains surrounding them on the plateau made walking difficult with the large and small rocks they had to pass through within this landscape. The sides of the rocks facing the light source greeted the duo, as they progressed within the order brought about by the chaos. Small tornadoes appeared on the road they followed, and their journey was also hindered by the increasing wind. Tired eyes looking at the red soil no longer saw anything red; rather, they resembled the thought structure of a mechanism aimlessly moving forward like a fully autonomous robot.
- "I'm getting a strong signal," said Zara. Calix knelt on one knee next to her.
Struggling to see the screen in front of her due to the slight fogging of his helmet's glass, the discomfort of his suit was also reminded to him. Small cramps in his stomach and cold shivers running around his neck like tiny electrically charged worms had put him in a more stressful mood than usual. He knew he should not think about it as he fought against a rising claustrophobia. Taking a deep breath, he said,
- "It seems to be coming from the north."
Zara turned towards him with a roll of her eyes and said sarcastically,
- "I'm really lucky to have a companion like you. Which way is north, then? If you show me that, maybe our luck will change."
Calix nudged Zara with his elbow and said with a smile,
- "As you command, master."
Despite the device catching the signal emitting intermittent beeps, the sound was swallowed up by a noise resembling the tearing of metal plates in their environment and lost in the intimidating noise. They knew they were moving away from their vehicle, and this dangerous mission might be their last chance.
The crew usually sent the least experienced for anomalies. Experienced explorers at the main base were used for more skilled tasks, thus preserving the extensive knowledge of the crew’s authorities from risks. While lives were cheap in Vionara, living was expensive. Rather than losing an experienced person, a young intern could easily be sacrificed for these missions.
The base's primary energy source was obtained from the pure noble gases in Vionara's atmosphere. Immediately after the sighting of the comet, they had sent the entry-level explorers Zara and Calrix to the Tertiz plateau to be sure.
Calrix asked,
- "Zara, do you really think there are others out there? And if so, why would they come here?"
He was partly trying to change the subject to relieve his discomfort.
Instead of answering, Zara focused on her task, though she briefly recalled the war legends she had heard since childhood. With so many legends passed down through generations, she was about to question why she hadn’t seen anything in 18 years when she saw the signal strengthen on her screen.
- "The signal is coming from about a mile ahead. We should keep going. Where did you get that idea anyway? You can go back to the base if you want, Calrix," said Zara.
Without waiting for his response, she slung her bag over her shoulder and started walking. Calrix, feeling helpless, reluctantly followed the path led by her.
As they climbed the hill whose colors shifted in a gradient under the angle of the sunlight, they were very close to its highest point. As they approached their target, the adrenaline made them think and feel nothing. This thought and feeling were shattered from time to time as they checked on each other, seeing their reflections in the mirrored glass of their helmets, further alienating them from themselves.
When they crested the hill, a strong wind greeted them. This fierce wind, sweeping the dark side of the hill's soil, slapped them harshly, making it difficult to stand and causing them reflexively to bring their hands towards their faces. However, the potential value of what they might find had turned this perilous journey into an opportunity. They were prepared to give everything for a clue that might prove other life forms existed, perhaps centuries later.
Zara's eyes widened suddenly. Although she made a move to run down the hill, she lost her balance due to her leg sinking into the deep sand and started to roll down.
- "Zara!!" Calrix shouted as he began descending the hill more cautiously.
Perhaps rolling down the hill had allowed Zara to descend quickly, but this movement, prohibited by protocol, had unnerved her the most. As soon as she could stand, she continued running, not allowing Calrix to catch up.
- "Zara!! We need to check your space suit!" Calrix shouted as he tried to catch up.
Zara couldn’t hear anything. She stopped in front of the anomaly. After a long look, Calrix had also reached her side.
- "Ah, another comet," said Calrix. "I'm tired of these meteors," he said.
Zara then added, smiling at Calrix,
- "I hope next time we see it in the sky and our wish comes true."