Year: MG1352
Haunu tore the seal tab from his breakfast gel pouch, squeezing the thick citrus-flavored syrup into his mouth. The sluggish texture crawled down his throat—familiar, unremarkable, a far cry from the work camp buffet slop that had long since conditioned him to see food as fuel, nothing more. He wrung the packet dry, scrunched it into a ball, and lazily tossed it over his shoulder.
Beep!
A dissenting chirp echoed from behind. Haunu turned and saw the crumpled packet lying just shy of the recycling chute, a half-meter miss. The dog-like robot, Omo, nudged the trash with one of his mechanical legs, his large single oculus focused on the offending litter.
“Ah, Omo. Sorry, friend. Did I get you?” Haunu crouched, placing a hand on the flat metal head of his loyal companion.
Omo’s glassy iris dilated as he looked up at Haunu, emitting a soft confirmation beep before pressing his head against Haunu’s palm.
“I know, I know. It’s been time for a while to get your vocalizer fixed, hasn’t it?”
The robot vibrated with excitement, bouncing on his rubberized feet. Haunu smirked—yeah, it really was past time. Omo had been his for years now, ever since that lucky game of Koi-Koi back on Novia Station, before Haunu had staked his claim on the desolate moon of Kishar IV. The three-year voyage from the nearest Jump Gate to the Novia Frontier had been grueling, and out here, replacement parts were as rare as warmth. The Hopper’s high fuel costs meant that trips to Novia Station for supplies were few and far between.
“Coming out today, bud?” Haunu asked, knowing full well the answer. It was their daily ritual, a routine question with an unchanging response. Omo never left his side, not even when Haunu used the lavatory.
Omo responded with a melody of ascending beeps and pranced into the airlock on his light, rubberized feet, eager to start the day.
Haunu inspected his suit’s seals one last time before snapping his visor closed. “I’m coming, I’m coming,” he muttered, detaching the lasdrill from its wall mount and securing the hefty tool to the back plate of his hard suit.
Impatient, Omo scampered back inside the habstation, where the discarded drink packet still lay. From his back, a grabber hand emerged, snatched the trash, and deposited it into a side compartment. The compartment’s light glowed red as the robot incinerated the garbage for energy—one of Haunu’s many custom upgrades to his friend.
Haunu lumbered into the airlock, Omo faithfully at his side. After ensuring his suit was secure, he pressed the button to initiate the airlock cycle. The machinery roared to life, and after the decompression process, the exterior door irised open, revealing the barren, crater-pocked surface of the moon.
Trillions of kilometers away, the binary stars of Novia I and II twined around each other, offering the faintest whisper of light. From the moon’s surface, the distant suns appeared as a single bright star in the scattered sky. Haunu often told Omo that they lived in the darkest corner of the galaxy, and he didn’t mind at all. Though the moon lacked atmosphere, gravity, or light, its active core generated a strong magnetosphere, resulting in stunning auroras sparked by relentless solar winds.
As they stepped into the black, Haunu felt a quiet contentment. This forgotten moon, with its silent skies and dancing lights, was home.
On their journey to his claim, Haunu’s eyes caught a rock—perfect in size and shape, just right to fit snugly in his hand. He bent down, picked it up, and playfully tossed it into the thin air. The gentle gravity of Kishar IV sent the stone arcing lazily upward, a testament to the moon’s light pull, where even a small motion could launch a rock into the void.
As he reached for the rock, Omo’s audio feed crackled to life inside Haunu’s helmet, a chorus of excited chirps and beeps filling his ears. The dog-like robot circled around Haunu, his excitement palpable even through the cold expanse of space.
“I promise not to throw it too far this time,” Haunu said, though the words carried a familiar twinge of guilt that gnawed at him. His mind flashed back to that day, the memory vivid as if it had just happened. He’d been in a playful mood, not thinking much about the consequences, when he lobbed the rock with too much force, watching it sail higher and higher until it broke free of the moon’s weak gravity. He’d stood there, staring in stunned silence as the rock spiraled into orbit, an unintended satellite of this barren world.
Omo had been devastated. The little bot, with all his loyalty and eagerness, had tracked the rock’s arc with hopeful eyes, only to see it slip forever out of his reach. Haunu remembered how Omo had followed the rock’s path, his mechanical head tilting skyward, emitting a series of mournful beeps as the rock became a distant speck. The sight of Omo’s single oculus dimming in disappointment had struck Haunu harder than he’d expected. It was as if the rock had mocked them both, circling endlessly above, a reminder of that one careless moment.
Even now, sometimes Haunu would catch a glimpse of that cursed rock gliding silently across the sky, a tiny dot against the backdrop of stars. Every time it came into view, he could almost hear the plaintive whirr that Omo had emitted, the bot’s unspoken sadness as he watched the rock drift past, always just beyond his grasp.
He sighed, looking down at Omo, who was eagerly awaiting the next toss, his sensors already locked onto the new rock. Haunu couldn’t help but smile, though the guilt lingered like a shadow. “Let’s keep it close,” he muttered to himself, as much a promise to Omo as to his own conscience.
Haunu threw the rock at a downward angle, watching as it landed a few meters ahead on their path. Omo let out a cacophony of beeps and squeals, bounding across the cratered surface in pursuit. The faint light from his sensors cast long shadows over the moon’s surface, illuminating small craters and wadis as he searched.
An ascending arpeggio played in Haunu’s helmet, making him chuckle. “Found it, did you?”
Omo’s grabber hand thrust up out of a small crater, proudly presenting the rock as he emerged, victorious.
“Ladies and gentlefolk! In an incredible upset, Omo is the winner! Keeper of the most valuable rock in the universe! Incredible triumph here today. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s rematch.” Haunu clapped, the sound lost in the void of space.
Still clutching the rock, Omo scampered back to Haunu as they reached the cave entrance, a yawning maw cut into the protruding rim of a massive crater. The entrance led to a network of long-dead lava tubes, a system Haunu had painstakingly excavated over the years. Out of habit, he ducked slightly as he passed through, even though the opening was generous enough to accommodate him and his equipment. The floodlights from his helmet illuminated the descending path, casting a stark light on the jagged walls.
Haunu had expected to find lithium, titanium, maybe even vanadium on this barren rock, but instead, he’d stumbled upon deposits of gold, iron, and zinc—minerals that, while abundant, held little value in the vast markets of the galaxy. Still, it was enough to keep his matter generator operational and his hopper fueled, enough to keep him here, in this quiet corner of the universe.
They ambled down the corridor, the one Haunu had carved with sweat and persistence. He activated the scanner on his wrist terminal, watching as a laser beam swept across the tunnel walls, scanning three meters at a time in beams of golden light. Omo marked each mineral deposit they passed, his oculus laser etching glowing symbols into the rock.
“What do you think, Omo? Should we dig at any of these spots or keep going?” Haunu glanced back at the path, noting the markers left behind—gold, gold, and more gold. He exhaled heavily. Gold wouldn’t get him what he needed, wouldn’t buy the parts to fix Omo’s failing systems.
A message scrolled across his HUD, sent from Omo’s sensors: Higher density materials detected deeper inside the tunnels. Estimation: One hour of human walk time in low gravity.
“You want to go see what that is?” Haunu asked, a grin spreading across his face.
Adventure? Omo’s message flashed back.
“Adventure it is.” Haunu stroked the flat top of Omo’s head, feeling the excitement ripple through the little robot.
As they ventured deeper into the tunnel system, Haunu noticed a subtle shift in the texture of the walls. His stomach tightened, a creeping unease settling in as the roughness of the rock gave way to unnaturally smooth surfaces. Haunu prided himself on his expertise in excavation; by the pattern on the walls alone, he could tell what tools had been used to carve a tunnel. But these walls—they were too straight, too precise. Lava didn’t carve these walls, a voice whispered in the back of his mind.
Haunu had spent a lifetime in the Corporate Colonies, leading survey teams, selecting asteroids, and discovering rich mineral deposits on distant planets. He remembered the noise, the crowds, the violence of life on planets. Hopping rocks, living in the quiet solitude of space—that was the life for him. Life around life, as he called it, was for other people. The Colonies could keep their chaos.
After nearly an hour, Omo stopped by a section of the wall that stood out for its polished surface, scanning it repeatedly. Haunu leaned against the wall, the hum of his air recycler lulling him into a shallow doze.
A cheerful beep from Omo snapped him awake.
“Find something?” Haunu asked, shaking off the remnants of sleep.
Something is blocking my sensors. Dig? Omo’s message appeared, the words flashing across Haunu’s HUD.
Haunu’s grin widened. Anything dense enough to block Omo’s sensors was worth investigating. He reached behind him, detaching the lasdrill from his hard suit and fastening it to his harness. In the low gravity, the drill’s weight was negligible, but the harness kept it securely in place.
With a tap of a button and the pull of a lever, the lasdrill thrummed to life, a cone of laser light projecting from its front. Haunu selected a cutting blade shape, the laser adjusting accordingly. He approached the wall, pushing the lasdrill into the rock with a steady hand. Omo, seeking shelter, hid behind Haunu’s leg as rocks splintered and shot from the wall, a shower of debris propelled into the tunnel.
Whatever lay hidden within the stone, Haunu would find it. He always did.
After an hour of drilling, the tone of the rock slurry shifted—a sudden change that made Haunu’s pulse quicken. The drill punched through, the resistance vanishing as it broke into open air. Haunu stumbled forward, caught off guard by the sudden void where he expected more rock.
“Omo! Found a room!” he called, securing the lasdrill to his back with a snap. His helmet lights switched to flood, casting a broad, bright beam into the newly revealed space.
Omo wasted no time, scuttling into the cave with an excited flurry of beeps. From his back, a ball of light detached, hovering in the air before drifting upwards to illuminate the cavern’s ceiling, a good fifteen meters above. As Haunu’s eyes adjusted, the cavern revealed itself—an expansive terrace overlooking a basin where a massive, slanted boulder lay embedded in the floor and walls. It was darker than anything Haunu had ever seen, a void in the midst of the cave’s dim glow.
Omo let out a triumphant chorus of beeps, scurrying down the rocky scree slope toward the strange rock.
“Omo! Wait! Stop!” Haunu shouted, helpless against the bot’s enthusiasm. With a sigh, he set the lasdrill down by the entrance and cautiously followed.
As he neared the massive, angled rock, Haunu’s curiosity deepened. The surface bore a repeating geometric design, intricate and mesmerizing. Omo was already at the base, scanning the rock repeatedly. Haunu marveled at the sheer darkness of the object—it absorbed every bit of light, reflecting nothing from Omo’s lasers or the glow from Haunu’s helmet.
“We have to be safe, remember?” Haunu muttered, more to himself than to Omo.
He paused, letting his eyes trace the contours of the strange, granite-like structure. “What did you find, Omo?” he asked, though the answer seemed far from simple. The object was enormous, likely longer than his entire habstation, with only a fraction visible above the surface. The thought of what lay hidden beneath sent a shiver down his spine.
Omo emitted a questioning chirp. Haunu shrugged, trying to mask his unease. “Any idea what this is? The material’s profile? Can we chop it up and sell it? Maybe make enough credits for your vocalizer?”
He placed a gloved hand on the surface, dragging it across the rock. How is this surface not reflecting any light? he wondered. With the back of his knuckles, he knocked firmly. A dull thud echoed back, but no light returned. Haunu’s eyes strained to find even the smallest glimmer. For a final test, he pressed his helmet against the rock. As soon as it made contact, a soft hum resonated inside, vibrating through his skull.
Startled, Haunu scrambled backward, his feet tangling as he floated briefly in the low gravity before landing softly with a skid. He sighed in relief, grateful for the lack of injuries.
Danger? Are you okay? What happened? Omo’s message flashed across Haunu’s HUD.
“I’m fine,” Haunu said, brushing off the dust. He approached the strange rock again, more cautiously this time. “Something inside this—thing—is vibrating.”
I sense no vibrations.
“I heard it. No, I felt it, when my helmet touched the surface.”
Omo’s gaze shifted between the rock and Haunu before he cautiously approached the stone. The robot pressed his flat metal head against the surface, only to recoil almost instantly, emitting a dissonant series of beeps.
“I know! I know! I think…” Haunu’s thoughts raced, struggling to make sense of the impossible. The implications of what stood before him twisted his mind in knots.
A message from Omo interrupted his spiraling thoughts: It’s a wing.
“A wing?” Haunu’s voice wavered as he scrutinized the object with renewed intensity.
His stomach churned. If this was a wing, what did that mean for what lay buried beneath? Was the body entombed within the rock, or were there more wings? How did something like this end up inside a dead moon, so far from civilization? It couldn’t be human, that much was certain. But what if it could still fly? And if it could, what else could it do? Could it be armed with weapons? Was there toxic gas inside? Parasites? Unkillable bacteria? His mind became a maelstrom of questions, each one more unsettling than the last.
Omo’s message flashed again: A discovery like this could mean more credits than we could ever dream of. Dig for entrance?
Haunu touched the bottom of his helmet, a reflexive motion that didn’t quite satisfy the itch of contemplation. He closed his eyes, considering the weight of the decision before him. Contacting his former managers at Hoatzin Combine could set off a chain reaction. In six years, this barren, impact-scarred moon could be transformed into a bustling hub, dotted with research domes and orbiting ships shuttling crews back and forth from Kin. Fleets of machines would descend upon the grotto, cutting through rock to reach the heart of this mystery.
He could see it all—the work camps, the orbital stations processing newly uncovered materials, the arrival of security forces to maintain order, the habstations for managers and foremen, the barracks for laborers and bots. The noise, the crowds, the chaos—it would consume his serene, isolated moon.
As his mind conjured the inevitable transformation, the overwhelming sense of dread settled deep in his chest. This moon, this quiet, lonely corner of the galaxy, would be lost forever. A faint smell of ozone and the memory of cramped domes filled his senses. And all for what? More chaos, more noise, more of everything he had left behind.
Every decision Hoatzin Combine made was in the best interest of the company. Haunu knew that well. But was this in his best interest? Was he ready to trade the solitude he cherished for the uncertainty of what lay ahead?
Omo’s gaze remained fixed on him, awaiting his command.
Haunu hesitated, feeling the weight of the unknown pressing down on him. “I don’t know, Omo,” he finally said, his voice barely a whisper. “I just don’t know.”
Memories of that intense Koi-Koi game surged through Haunu’s mind, the high-stakes match that had determined his future. If his manager hadn’t been a gambler with a penchant for risk, Haunu would still be shackled to that fifty-year contract with Hoatzin Combine. The thought of it sent a shiver down his spine. He had spent years setting up mines and digs for the company, fully aware of the inevitable chains that would bind him if he ever resurfaced. Hoatzin would hunt him down, force him to work the remainder of his contract, and slap him with penalties for every year he had dared to escape. The only way out was to disappear completely, to never be found.
His eyes fluttered open, returning to the present. Omo sat beside him, patient and silent, waiting for his decision. Haunu nodded to himself, his brow furrowed as he tried to put his thoughts into words.
“Omo—” His voice wavered.
Beep?
“Omo, I think—I think we should go dig up some of that gold back there,” Haunu said, his voice steadier now. “This… whatever this is, it can be our project. Just you and me. No one else needs to know it’s here. This is just for us.”
Omo lifted his head, his gaze shifting to the wing jutting out of the rock, and he chimed a soft, affirming chord. Haunu patted the robot’s head, feeling a surge of affection. Together, they climbed the scree slope and emerged from the cavern, leaving the strange, dark wing behind.
“You know, Omo,” Haunu said as they made their way back to the surface, “I like it just being you and me out here. Whatever that thing is, people would only use it to cause more suffering. I didn’t move to the farthest corner of the galaxy just to invite everyone I left behind over.” He laughed, the sound echoing in the emptiness around them.
A message from Omo appeared on Haunu’s HUD: What about progress? Fixing things? Making the galaxy safer and better?
Haunu sighed, a heavy weariness settling over him. “I’m afraid I only know people who make things for war, Omo. I’ve had enough of destruction.”
Me too.
They ambled back to the habstation, the silence of the moon a comforting blanket over their retreat. Haunu sat down to lunch, handing the wrappers to Omo for fuel. As he ate, a small smile tugged at his lips, but his thoughts lingered on the potential riches he had just turned his back on. Someday, he knew, someone would find that cavern. Someone would stumble upon the wing and unlock whatever secrets it held. But for now, Haunu would keep his lonely paradise to himself, Omo, and the endless starry expanse above. The riches could wait. Solitude was its own special treasure.