Previously on NextColony
One could not claim that Jack Steel was particularly attentive after an uneventful week in the increasingly colder air of the beginning winter. Something in the corners of his eyes suddenly caught his attention. Adrenaline washed through his body in the moment of shock.
A bright light rocked poor Jack back and forth till all turned dark with him thumping face flat on the muddy Pi ground. He was helped by another rushing fellow volunteer, shaken and vision a little blurry. While on his four, Jack felt spherical object next to him couple of feet away from the majestic shield generator. Unable see clearly nor any readable signs, he slipped it in his right for later analysis. "He needs medical attention, now", yelled his colleague.
Back in the confines of base, Jack requested permission to review the security logs and footage if any. In hope to reveal the culprit whom gave him the jolt of his life. Maybe some clue on the spherical object he picked up.
Meanwhile, Jack brought it to a so called 'lab' for closer examination. There seems to be a mechanical button in the middle to activate the device, weighing no more than a kilogram at Alpha gravity. 'Click' it opens with a metal cling, but nothing happens. There isn't content within but just a small compartment to house something in suspension but question remains a mystery to this lowly paid colonial miner cum security volunteer.
"Denied! Why the ,in name of 'Gamma', my request rejected?", exclaimed Jack in frustration. Some 'Chi-bye' attempt to block every Iota of his investigation. Mr. Jack Steel ain't giving up, not 'Tau'ing to the perpertrators, started to Theta up and down the corridor trying to connect the dots but he need more information. "I'll schedule the earliest trip in the next 24 hours on site to comb for evidence, if that's what it takes", he murmured.
The next cycle for the day started, Jack woke early, downed three Omega-3 infused space harvest eggs, hopped into the earliest transport to that shield generator where the incident happened. Surprisingly, the transport was empty without a Rho in sight. "Where has everyone gone?", puzzled Jack asked. Upon arrival he quickly approached the spot he picked up the object. It was on the right side of a 15 meters tall tower. As his sighted up to the peak, he saw a shadow mark on the side of the upper wall. Looks like an imprint of a creature no taller than 41 centimeters. "Could this be an inter-dimensional being or native creature?", questioned Jack. He mubbled, "I have never seen anything like this my Omicronian life". A loud thud on the ground, Jack fainted and everything turn dark again. Silence ensued until the next Episilon (ε) part
...to be continue
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