The Fifteenth Entry

The shuttle jolted when we arrived at the planet I had seen in my vision. It was a desert world, pale against the backdrop of nightly space, and bore no orbital scars. The pilot took us into orbit, and then down to the surface. Spires and squares of the tops of buildings sprouted in the pale desert like plants – remains of perhaps a city world.

Looking upon the face of the pale desert world I was reminded of the silver crystal world I had annihilated, its scars buried deep beneath the sands and its demise shrouded – a mercy that I had not shown. The only history remaining of the silver world now encapsulated by the dark horrors of the Obelisk.

The shuttle thudded as the pilot found a safe landing location atop the remains of one of the buildings, and I stood from my seat. The ramp lowered to stifling air, the sun above beaming heavily upon the white sands, and I walked onto the “platform”. My suit rattled and compressed air shot out through vents as it cooled itself against the blistering sun.

I scanned the horizon, a messy distant unintelligible thing, and expanded my own senses. There must be something here – the clue had directed me.

As if answering, a slender shade appeared out on one of the dunes and I descended from the building to investigate. The sand parted only slightly beneath my armor as I traveled towards the shade, which was easier travel than I had anticipated.

As I approached the shade I became more aware of its appearance, dark metallic on the surface, but of humanoid shape - an android. Bits and pieces of the android had fallen out giving it a scrap like appearance. Atop the brow of the android was a large metal hat in the shape of an umbrella, which cast a long shadow.

The android said nothing, before suddenly it jolted to life and jumped at the sight of me. It composed itself, fidgeting slightly and looked upon me with bright orange eyes.

“Oh! Hello!” It said cheerfully.

It waited, appearing to expect a greeting, but then continued.

“Sorry, I was just napping. Are you the distant traveler?” The android asked.

“Distant traveler?” I asked.

“Ah! Yes, my mother is expecting you inside! She sent me here to watch for your arrival – though you are much later than expected.” The android said with glee in response.

“Take me to this mother.” I said.

“Yes, yes! I will lead you to her! She will be so excited to meet you finally!” The android said.

It led me through the sands, prattling in glee about its own curiousness. The Son was what I had begun to call the android, and it was indeed as curious as it had stated. Traveling together we came upon a large, angled building pushing through the sands, the entirety of the upper section completely unburied.

“Inside, and down we will go! Mother awaits!” The Son shouted gleefully.

We stepped inside the hulking corpse of the building; the darkness illuminated only by the sun outside. The Son clanked toward a set of moving stairs that burrowed deeper into the structure. The Son stepped upon the stairs first, and I after it.