Thellip and I spent ages just converting and storing as much data as we could. Even when we’d exhausted the available data on the moon, we moved on to anything even tangentially linked. I kept a close eye on the passing of time, always aware of that deadline for the beginning of the Gathering, calculating in how long it would take to reaves and any possible delays. All in all, we’d need to leave soon.

Something niggled at the back of my mind, some idea that felt important but I couldn’t quite grasp it as I worked as quickly as I could.

“Thellip, I think we can fit in maybe two more conversions each before we have to leave.” I said, not looking up from storing the DNA I’d just converted back in the chiller and making sure I’d replaced it in the right one. There were so many…

Thellip grunted acknowledgment and continued his own work.

That idea kept niggling and I hesitated to take the next ‘file’ we’d tagged as useful. My hand hovered over it but I found myself pulling back as the niggle slowly came into focus and bloomed into an idea. I turned to a machine and searched the digital catalogue, desperately urging it on in my mind as I felt time slip away. It was a gamble but I hoped it was worth the loss of data I now had no time to retrieve.

“Sierra?” Thellip asked, obviously realising I wasn’t converting the data we’d agreed to try and get.

“Just a hunch Thellip but I think we need something else. I’m looking to geographical data so we can see the chains over time. Maps, satellite imagery, things like that.” I answered, taking not the the ‘file’ numbers and quickly moving to the correct chillers. There weren’t many, I might be able to get them all if I hurried.

“Why? Moon data is more relevant isn’t it?” Thellip pointed out logically as he began the next DNA to digital conversion.

“We already have all the stuff directly related to the moon and the tangential stuff is too vast to get it all. It’s luck and a little reasoning that will determine if it’s helpful. We don’t have the equipment to properly preserve the DNA if we take it with us. Besides, if the ancients really did do something that caused this, they probably did it from Planet so we need an idea of where they worked from so we can find anything that left. If I’m wrong, we’ll just have to come back and get everything we can but that takes time and we’re running out.”

“…” Thellip said nothing as we both worked furiously. I was getting worried that he’d insist on sticking to the plan, until finally he spoke up. “Okay. I trust your judgment and this place was found by you. You probably have a better idea how the ancient thought than most.”

“… Thanks Thellip.”

We worked diligently until that little alarm I’d set in my head blared at me.

“That’s it, we need to finish up. We’ve done all we can, but we need to go now.” I stretched out the tension and kinks in my back, before turning to survey the vault, making sure all the DNA was properly stored and doing a quick equipment check to ensure there were no obvious problems and that everything would keep working until someone could visit again. History showed again and again how easy it was to lose information. Stone eroded, paper disintegrated, equipment failed and electrical data could be wiped. Even DNA denatured, so it was dedicated places like this that gave us valuable glimpses into our past. I’d do whatever I could to preserve it.

Satisfied that we’d done all we could, Thellip and I left the vault, making sure the door was secured and scouting about for any sign of Armoured Lupines or other wildlife. We moved quickly back the the entranced we’d arrived through and ascended into what turned out to be the light of dawn. Both of us enjoyed the natural light that we’d nor see for at least two… three rotations? I wasn’t sure. The sensors I’d put out were still functional and showed no bipedal activity or predator movements. We were safe for the moment.

I quietly packed up the equipment we’d used to secure the area and access the site when Thellips low voice reached me.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“Do you think it will help?”

I paused, a deep anxiety spiking in my chest. Would the data help? Would it be enough? I looked up to see the translucent curve of the moon, disappearing in the dawn light.

“… I hope so.” I whispered, but I knew he’d heard me. Turning to him, I smiled tremulously. “We have to try.” It was almost a question but Thellip nodded, determination glinting in his eyes.

“We fight to the end, for our Planet and our lives.” Thellip spoke calmly but there was a fire in him I rarely saw and it made me grin.

I was tired, both in body and mind, but I wouldn’t give up. As one, we turn to make our way back to the grav-line, the weight of our packs a heavy burden, lightened by the glimpse of a solution. We’d agreed to, very carefully, run searches on the data we’d collected as we travelled the grav-lines. It wasn’t ideal, we’d still have to be constantly aware of any dangers and be very careful because anything that got lost would stay lost, but it might get us a solution or at least clues just that little bit faster.

“Are they all like that, those ancient sites?” Thellip asked, his curiosity leading him to a more talkative state. Thellip and I had known one another for a long, long time and our friendship was often comfortable silence or non-verbal communication, images, sounds, impressions. His verbal repertoire was often efficient. It made me curious what had prompted this recent change in him, but I didn’t like to pry.

“No. These places, as far as I can tell, were specifically designed to endure the rigours of time. That one is the best preserved one I’ve ever seen. Even the one we visited first was in poorer condition, less… stable.” I answered as best I could. “As far as I know there are about ten or so like this. They are… rare.”

“Mmm, but they both have floors, walls, roofs, even functioning technology. It’s like they are a few lifetimes old rather than eons.” Thellip commented. “They’re not all like this, then.”

I smiled a little at the vast difference between a lifetime and an eon. Time was, not irrelevant but more… fluid now than in the past. I preferred it that way, not having every breath monitored by some time keeper, but I did enjoy those old words for long stretches of time that I’d picked up in my life. Decades, centuries, millennia. What would come after millennia anyway? It seems the ancients never went past that, changing terminology and phrasing for the most obscure reasons…

“No. Most ancient sites are ruins, little more that broken structures or buried materials. If you like, after all this is sorted, I’ll show you one that’s more typical.” I offered. It wouldn’t hurt, the few of us interested in such things, did our best to protect them, but we didn’t want to keep the past from those who truly wanted to know.

Thellip smiled a small smile, though that was effusive for him, and nodded happily. Our moods buoyed by the small hope of ‘after this’ and we forged ahead, eager to continue with our mission. The grav-line had just come into sight when Thellip and I both stilled simultaneously, unwilling to take another step. The view ahead of us sparkled in the early light, glinting beautifully but it’s danger was undeniable. Stretching far off to both the left and right beyond sight and blocking our paths to the grav-line by a depth of at least five people tall, was Itbit Dew.

The uniformity of its placement was a dead giveaway that this was deliberate but to what end I couldn’t tell. There had been no signs of Itbit activity on our way in. By the sheer amount of dew laid down, this was either a giant nest or they’d been producing continuously since we’d last passed through.

We had few options. To go around would take time we didn’t have, not knowing how far it stretched and what we could see was already pretty far. Thellip could fly over but I couldn’t and none of my Forms could make that jump. Trees were kept sparse in the vicinity of the grav-line so the nearest one I could climb still wouldn’t be enough, and if I did brush up on one as I leapt, then being on the grav-line without my full faculties was beyond dangerous. The best option would be to apply my protective gel and have Thellip fly above me as I made my way through. Hopefully the gel would remain effective long enough for me to make it to the grav-line but it was a lot of Itbit Dew to get through and it was more powerful as it accumulated.

I caught Thellips eye so I could raise a brow in question but he wasn’t looking at me. I followed his gaze and found that he was looking at an Itbit. It was just sitting there, watching us from about a third of the way into the dew and a question popped into my head. Why had the Itbit laid so much dew and why here? This was a trap, that was now undeniable, but why? I sighed. I needed to find out. This was gonna suck.

“Thellip, I want you to tie me up as best you can and hold me down okay? Don’t let me run off.” I asked, not taking my eyes off the Itbit as I lowered my pack.

“What are you doing? Don’t you have protective gel?” Thellip asked, not moving to do as I’d asked.

“Yes but I’m not going to use it. I have a feeling that whatever we try, we can’t avoid this so we do it as safely as possible.” I reasoned and waited for Thellip to make his decision. I knew he’d agree when he closed his eyes and sighed before piercing me with a look.

“Life is never boring with you Sierra. Sometimes I need a little boring.” He grumbled as he started to truss me up with the ropes in our packs.

I smiled at him and rolled my shoulders, checking how tight the restraints were. “Me too, Thellip. I just never seem to get it.” I indicated my pack with my head and advised, “Use the protective gel. We can’t both be affected.”

Thellip nodded but finished securing me before he rummaged around and found my supplies, applying the perfect layer of protective gel to all his exposed skin. When finished, he turned to me and asked, “Ready?”

“Ready!” I chirped with false brightness and licked my dry lips.

Thellip and I approached the boundary of Itbit Dew, stopping just at the edge within arms reach. We sat down and Thellip wrapped his arms around me, exerting his strength to hold me I place. I knew he wouldn’t let go or even relax his grip until I was completely in control of myself again. Slowly, I reached forward, hesitating briefly before blowing out a rushed breath and touching a single drop of Dew.

There was a beat of silence where I wondered if it would work and then I was dragged under the Dews influence, no control, no escape.

Terror. Mind numbing, petrifying terror.

But this time was different. I felt it but I was somewhat detached from it. This wasn’t a defence or a territorial deterrent. There was no food source, nest or young to protect. This was a message.