The Guardian Site
17 Jul 2022James Teague
"Eden, please begin a log entry.""Voice pattern recognized, Commander," Eden responded. "Log entry recording, 17 July 3308."
"Thanks." I shifted in my small lounge chair, reaching for a glass of bourbon on ice I had just poured. "Commander James Teague, piloting the ASP Explorer TFS Johnnie Walker. I'm currently on planet 1C of Synuefe GT-H B43, on the site of Guardian ruins. I'm responding to the mission request for Guardian artifacts."
I took a long pull from the bourbon. "The site is quite interesting, providing its share of bounty for the mission, but there's something...off? The buildings appear long deserted, with no visible points of entry. However, it feels alive somehow. I hear noises...strange pings...alien voices...I see shadows where they're not supposed to be. I'm not the first one to publicly believe in the afterlife, but I'm beginning to wonder..."
I shook my head. "Anyway, the artifact collection is going as planned. I'm also picking up blueprints for modules. The site is quite beautiful when all the towers have been activated; it seems to come even more alive with strange hums coming from the towers AND underground. I believe what I can see on the surface is just the top of what probably is a very large, buried structure. I wish I had more equipment here to test my theory...maybe that is something I'll bring up to my government contacts."
I stood up, the leather of my flight jacket creaking softly. It was cold; I kept the ship running at minimum power when on-planet. I love to listen to the 'space noise', or just sit in the quiet. Walking from my cabin to the cockpit, I sat in the pilot's chair, looking over the Guardian site. I continued, "Another ship - a Federal Corvette - had been here not long ago. It was a sight to see as it landed, and the pilot was as surprised to see me as I was him! We exchanged pleasantries, of course, and went about our business." I took another sip of bourbon. "I will finish here on this planet and plot a course for the Bright Sentinel tomorrow. Eden, conclude log entry."
Eden replied, "Log entry concluded and encrypted, Commander."
I went back to my cabin and my bunk, finishing the bourbon along the way. What I hadn't put in my log entry - and what was the most confusing part - was that some of the artifacts seemed to be replenished somehow. It's as if someone - or something - was replacing them! The replacements aren't new - they are just as old and dusty as the ones in my cargo hold - and there are no lift markings, no handprints...I thought to myself that it might be time for a walk planetside...I hadn't had the courage to step out of my Scarab...yet.
"Eden, secure the ship. Disable all external access panels." A soft ping indicated my command was followed.
Doffing the flight suit, I slid into the old-school sleeping bag I kept on my smaller ships. I fell asleep listening to the song of the soft pings and echoes of the ancient ruin just 200 meters from my bow.