The hallways leading to the manufacturing bay were, much to Genesis’s surprise, empty. It had expected some debris to have clogged the way much like the areas surrounding the opening and already had commands on standby. It looked as though those commands would have to be scrapped as the drone entered the manufacturing bay.

Aboard the starship, the manufacturing bay was considered to be one of if the most important parts of the ship, rivaling only the control center and power units in importance. This was primarily due to the fact that the manufacturing bay was where all droids and drones that serviced the ship were repaired and stored.

Zooming into the room, the drone’s sensors quickly relayed detailed images back to Genesis, who noted the surprising state of the large bulkheads and protective plating lining the hull. Unlike many other sections of the ship, which had been torn apart or heavily damaged in the crash, this area appeared to have been largely spared from the worst of the impact.

The heavy protective plating, designed to shield the ship’s critical areas from the harsh conditions of space and potential impacts, had held up remarkably well. While there were some dents and a few areas where the metal seemed to be straining under pressure—threatening to buckle or pop open—the overall integrity of the structure remained uncompromised.

As the drone moved deeper into the room, its lights illuminated the surroundings, revealing more details about the space. The floor, though covered in dust and small debris, was mostly level, with no signs of the buckling or warping seen in other parts of the ship. Along the walls, various consoles and panels were still in place, though they were powered down and unresponsive. The drone's sensors picked up faint energy readings, indicating that some systems might still be functional, though dormant.

One side of the room was lined with large, sealed containers, their surfaces marked with faded symbols and identification numbers. These containers, like the bulkheads, appeared to be in good condition, their locking mechanisms still engaged. Genesis considered the possibility that whatever was stored inside had been successfully protected during the crash, and it made a note to investigate further when the opportunity arose.

It was only when the drone circled a small area with a balcony overhead that Genesis’s full attention was diverted to the drone. Lying next to several conveyor belts while the mechanical tools froze mid-action were several fabricators. Although they appeared more weathered and rusted than the one that currently sat next to Genesis, they looked as though they could be brought to operational order very quickly.

It was only when the drone circled a small area with a balcony overhead that Genesis’s full attention was drawn to the feed. The drone’s cameras revealed a cluster of machinery lying dormant next to several conveyor belts, with mechanical tools frozen mid-action, as if time had stopped at the moment of the crash. Among the scattered equipment were several fabricators, similar in design to the one Genesis had recently brought online.

These fabricators, though more weathered and rusted, still held a promising potential. The years had not been kind to them—their surfaces were pitted and corroded, with patches of rust creeping along the seams—but their sturdy frames remained intact. Despite their aged appearance, it was clear that they were not beyond repair.

Genesis analyzed the situation, quickly assessing the state of the fabricators. Their structural integrity seemed largely unharmed, and the internal components might still be functional with some maintenance. The discovery was significant, perhaps the most significant discovery Genesis had found thus far. If these fabricators could be restored to working order, they would greatly expand Genesis’s capabilities, allowing for the production of multiple components, tools, and even machines simultaneously. This could accelerate the repair and restoration efforts across the starship nearly tenfold if it was able to bring them online.

As the drone turned to leave the area and continue scouting, something unusual happened. Its camera feed, which had been clear and stable, began to flicker. The crisp images of the ship’s interior became distorted, and the visuals started to break up, turning fuzzy as if an unseen interference was disrupting the signal.

The drone's sensors detected no immediate physical threat, no sudden temperature changes, or visible environmental hazards that could account for the disruption. The ship’s atmosphere had remained stable, and there were no signs of damage to the drone itself. Yet, the interference persisted, gradually worsening.

Genesis quickly initiated diagnostic checks on the drone, attempting to pinpoint the source of the interference. The checks revealed no mechanical failures or sensor malfunctions—everything seemed to be in working order. The cause of the disruption was not immediately apparent, but it was clear that something within the ship was affecting the drone's systems. It was only when the drone turned to the door that “it” was seen.

Genesis nor the drone had noticed the creature that stood in the doorway, only noticing it once it began to drift towards the drone. The creature bore a striking resemblance to a massive jellyfish as if it were floating through water despite the ship's gravity. Its translucent, gelatinous body pulsed with a soft, bioluminescent glow, casting eerie blue light that danced across the walls. Long, trailing tentacles extended from its underside, each one adorned with fluorescent blue tendrils that slid along the floor as it moved, leaving faint trails of light in their wake.

What was even more remarkable—and alarming—were the faint electrical sparks that arced both inside the creature and along its outer surface. These sparks crackled and flared intermittently, sending brief pulses of energy through the air as if the creature was both generating and controlling electricity. But what truly captured Genesis's attention was the massive eye perched atop the creature’s dome-like body. As the creature floated closer, its long, glowing tentacles began to extend toward the drone, moving slowly as it did so. The drone’s sensors detected a sharp increase in the ambient electromagnetic field as the creature approached, the electrical sparks intensifying along its tentacles and body.

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Genesis’s systems flared with warning signals as the drone registered the encroaching threat. The electrical interference from the creature was beginning to disrupt the drone’s control systems, causing minor fluctuations in its stability and sensor readings. The drone wavered slightly in the air as the creature’s tentacles drew nearer, their glowing tips crackling with energy.

Reacting swiftly, Genesis sent an urgent command to the drone, ordering it to retreat. The drone’s rotors flared, and it began to pull back, but the creature was faster. One of the tentacles lashed out with surprising speed, crackling with electrical energy as it reached for the drone. The tip of the tentacle made contact, and the drone’s camera feed exploded with static as the electrical charge surged through its systems.

Genesis struggled to maintain control as the interference spiked to dangerous levels. The drone's movements became erratic, its sensors overloaded by the sudden surge of energy. Sparks danced across its surface, and for a brief, terrifying moment, Genesis feared that the drone would be completely disabled.

But the drone managed to pull away, its rotors whirring frantically as it struggled to escape the creature's reach. The tentacle, still crackling with energy, recoiled as the drone darted backward, narrowly avoiding a second strike. The creature’s eye followed the drone’s retreat, but it made no further attempt to pursue. Instead, it simply hovered in place, its tentacles retracting slightly as the electrical field around it began to stabilize.

As the drone began to pull away, breathing an almost mechanical sigh of relief, it suddenly jolted as it bumped into something solid behind it. Its sensors scrambled to process the new obstacle, and as the drone turned around, it was met with another chilling sight. There, floating just inches away was another one of the creatures—its massive eye locked onto the drone the moment it turned.

The drone’s camera captured the eerie scene, and Genesis quickly realized the gravity of the situation. The second creature, identical to the first, stared at the drone with the same unblinking intensity, its tentacles slowly unfurling as faint electrical arcs danced along its body. Before the drone could react, it detected movement in its peripheral vision. Genesis ordered the drone to rotate its camera, and as it did, it revealed yet another creature hovering nearby, its luminous tendrils stretching out toward the drone.

An alarm sounded in Genesis’s systems as more and more of the creatures began to emerge from the shadows, drifting into view from every direction. The room, which had seemed empty just moments before, was now alive with these strange creatures, their glowing eyes fixed on the drone

Genesis didn’t hesitate. The risk was too great to continue the exploration, and the drone was now in immediate danger of being overwhelmed. Issuing an urgent recall command, Genesis directed the drone to retreat at full speed, back toward the relative safety of its room. The drone's rotors spun to maximum capacity, propelling it forward like a bolt of lightning, diving and swooping in a desperate attempt to evade the creatures now converging on its position.

The creatures reacted almost instantly, their tentacles lashing out to grab the fleeing drone. They moved with unsettling speed, nearly matching the drone's frantic maneuvers. The air crackled with energy as the creatures surged after the drone, their massive eyes glowing brighter as they pursued. The drone narrowly avoided one tentacle that came within inches of its hull, only to bank sharply and dodge another that swiped from the side.

Genesis monitored the chase with mounting tension, calculating the drone’s best path of escape. The creatures were relentless, their ethereal forms gliding through the air with an eerie grace, seemingly unfazed by the obstacles that the drone had to navigate around. Despite the drone's speed, the creatures were nearly as fast, drifting through the air like giant blue balls.

The drone finally burst through the door of the room it had been exploring, narrowly slipping past a creature that had tried to block its exit. But as it sped through the corridors back toward Genesis, it turned its camera to look behind, only to see that all of the creatures were following it, drifting at a speed that almost matched its own. The hallway was filled with their glowing forms, their tentacles trailing behind them like ethereal streams of light, each one reaching out toward the drone with hooks snapping in the air.

Genesis calculated that the drone would not be able to outrun them forever. With no other options, it made a snap decision. The only way to protect the drone and secure its systems was to activate MARS and seal the door to the room as quickly as possible. Genesis sent an emergency activation command to MARS. The robot powered up instantly, its systems fully recharged, and it immediately received the urgent directive. Without a moment’s hesitation, MARS moved toward the door, its manipulators already entering the access codes to begin the closing sequence. The heavy, reinforced door groaned as it started to slide shut, inching closed with agonizing slowness.

Meanwhile, the drone was racing down the final stretch of the corridor, the creatures still hot in pursuit. They were close—too close—and Genesis could see them gaining ground with every passing second. The drone pushed its rotors to their limit, the small machine vibrating with the strain as it approached the final turn.

The door was almost closed, but there was still a narrow gap, just wide enough for the drone to squeeze through if it could reach it in time. Genesis issued a final command: push harder, move faster, don’t stop.

The drone rounded the corner at breakneck speed, the glow of the creatures filling the corridor behind it. It darted toward the closing door, the gap shrinking by the second. The creatures were just behind it, their tentacles reaching out mere inches behind it.

In a split-second move, the drone turned sideways and turned off its rotors, shooting through the narrowing gap and sliding across the floor as it banged against Genesis. The drone barely made it as the door slammed shut with a thunderous clang. But it wasn’t over yet.

The door caught one of the creatures' tentacles just as it was reaching through, severing it cleanly. The severed tendril fell to the floor, flailing and sparking wildly, sending arcs of energy skittering across the metal surface. Behind the door, a loud wailing sound could be heard as the creatures crashed against the barrier, their movements frantic as they tried to breach the door.

MARS stood at the ready, its multi-tool having already switched to a hammer, while Genesis monitored the situation. The creatures continued their assault on the door, producing strange, guttural gurgling sounds that reverberated through the room. The sounds were unsettling, almost as if the creatures were communicating with one another in some alien language. Each impact against the door was accompanied by a wailing noise, a high-pitched screech that grated on the senses and filled the room with an almost palpable tension.

The hours dragged on, the banging and wailing continuing without pause. The room, once quiet and secure, now felt like a besieged fortress. Despite the passage of time, the creatures showed no signs of fatigue. They threw themselves against the door repeatedly, their energy seemingly endless. The room's lights flickered occasionally under the strain of the electromagnetic field they were producing but Genesis held firm, making sure MARS kept the door shut manually as it disabled the electronics that could be potentially fried.

Then, after what felt like an eternity, the sounds began to change. The wailing grew softer, the impacts less forceful. The strange gurgling noises persisted, but they too began to diminish in intensity. It was as if the creatures were finally losing interest or perhaps realizing that their efforts were futile. Slowly, the relentless assault on the door came to an end.

The last few bangs were weak, almost half-hearted, before they finally stopped altogether. The gurgling sounds lingered for a few moments longer, echoing faintly through the metal walls before they too faded into silence.

Genesis waited, its systems on high alert, listening for any signs that the creatures might return. But the silence held. The creatures had left, retreating into the ship’s dark, unexplored corridors. For a moment, Genesis did nothing, just watching the door with its sensors before adding a note for later use when it had established a bigger foothold.

“Bring sufficient weaponry to Manufacturing bay upon next expedition”