The air inside the dome hissed as Kael adjusted his visor, the faint scent of ozone mingling with the sterile recirculation of recycled breath. Outside, the horizon stretched in jagged ridges of obsidian stone, bisected by the pale glow of twin suns. The colony’s perimeter lights flickered erratically, casting long shadows across the dust-choked plains. Kael’s boots crunched over gravel as he approached the central hub, his pulse steady despite the static crackle in his earpiece. “Status report,” he said, his voice clipped. “Systems are down. No idea why,” came the reply, sharp with frustration. Kael glanced at the data pad in his gloved hand, its screen dark. The colony’s power grid had failed three hours ago, and the engineers had yet to locate the source. A gust of wind howled through the gap in the dome’s outer shell, sending a plume of dust spiraling into the air. Kael exhaled, watching it dissipate. Something was wrong—too quiet. The usual hum of machinery, the distant chatter of workers, even the low drone of the atmospheric processors had vanished. He turned toward the command center, his boots scuffing the metal floor. Inside, the lights were off, but the emergency panels glowed faintly. A figure stood in the dimness, back to him. “You’re late,” the voice said. Kael froze. It was Mira, her dark hair tied back, her suit streaked with dust. She didn’t turn. “The grid’s offline. No power to the reactors.” “Any idea why?” “Not yet. But the sensors are picking up something… strange.” She finally faced him, her eyes narrowed. “A pulse. Low-frequency, but it’s coming from the north.” Kael stepped closer, his boots echoing. “You’re saying it’s not a malfunction?” “I’m saying we need to find out before the next cycle.” The air felt heavier now, as if the silence itself had thickened. Kael nodded, already moving toward the exit. “Get the team ready. We’re heading out.” Mira hesitated, then followed. The wind outside howled again, louder this time, carrying with it a low, resonant hum that vibrated in Kael’s bones. He didn’t look back.
