Days passed since the discovery of the alien chamber and its mysterious black pillar. The initial excitement that rippled through the colony had dulled, replaced by frustration. Teams had worked tirelessly to clear the chamber of debris, meticulously brushing away layers of dust and rock that had accumulated over eons. The pillar now stood exposed in its entirety, its dark surface unmarred, its crimson veins faintly pulsing with an unyielding energy. Despite their efforts, no new revelations came to light.

Finn paced near the chamber’s entrance, watching as a team of researchers huddled around the pillar, scanning it for the hundredth time. Tessa stood nearby, arms crossed, her brow furrowed in frustration.

“No inscriptions, no identifiable power source, no mechanism, nothing.” Tessa said, her voice tinged with irritation.

“It’s like it’s mocking us.” Claire added, flipping through a series of digital reports on her tablet. “Everything about this thing defies logic. It’s emitting energy, but there’s no heat, no radiation, no sign of decay. It just... exists.”

Finn ran a hand through his hair, his gaze fixed on the pillar. “What if we’re looking at it the wrong way? Maybe it’s not a machine. Maybe it’s... biological? Or something we can’t even categorize yet.”

Tessa shook her head. “Even if that’s true.. we don’t have the tools to analyze it. Hell, we don’t even know where to start.”

The conversation was interrupted by Elias’s sharp voice over the comms.

“Tessa, Claire, Finn. Report to the central hub. The team’s getting restless, and I need you there.”

Tessa sighed, motioning for Finn and Claire to follow her. “Let’s see what the boss has to say about this mess.”

The central hub was alive with activity, its wide meeting room packed with colony workers, engineers, and researchers. The hum of conversations filled the space as people vented their frustrations and traded theories.

“This is a waste of time.” one worker muttered to another. “We’re supposed to be mining, not playing archaeologist.”

“Are you kidding?” another replied. “This could be the discovery of the century. If we figure this thing out, we’re set for life.”

“But what if it’s dangerous? We don’t know what it is or why it’s here.”

The murmurs grew louder as more voices joined in, the room buzzing with speculation.

Elias stood at the head of the table, his presence commanding as always. He raised a hand, silencing the room. “Enough. We’re calling the CEO. If anyone can make a decision about this, it’s her.”

Somewhere Far

Light poured into the sleek, minimalist office from floor-to-ceiling windows. Revealing the sprawling cityscape of Earth’s largest corporate hub. The room was a masterpiece of modern design. White walls, polished steel surfaces, and sparse but tasteful furnishings. At the center of it all sat Marian LeVane, CEO of Leviathan Industries.

Marian’s sharp features and steely gray eyes gave her an air of unyielding authority. Her black hair was tied into a neat bun, and she wore a tailored navy suit that emphasized her commanding presence. She sat behind an expansive desk cluttered with holographic screens, each displaying a different facet of the corporation’s operations.

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

Leviathan Industries was a behemoth, a conglomerate that had its business in everything. From energy production to terra-forming and deep-space mining. Its reach was vast, its power unquestionable, and its reputation... complicated.

Marian leaned back in her chair, reviewing a report on the latest profits from their Martian colonies. That is until, her assistant’s voice interrupted her thoughts.

“Ms. LeVane, you have an incoming call from the Helios-3 colony leader.”

Marian raised an eyebrow. “Helios-3? The mining operation?”

“Yes, ma’am. They’ve marked the call as urgent.”

Marian sighed, straightening in her chair. “Patch it through.”

A moment later, the holographic display in front of her flickered to life, revealing Elias’s stern face. Behind him, the meeting room bustled with activity.

“Ms. LeVane.” Elias began, inclining his head respectfully. “Thank you for taking the time to speak with us.”

“Make it quick, Mr. Crane.” Marian said, her tone brisk. “What’s the situation?”

In the colony’s central hub, workers gathered around the massive screen displaying Marian’s image. For many of them, this was the first time they had seen the woman behind the corporation that governed their lives.

“Is that really her?” one whispered.

“She looks cold.” another murmured.

“Cold? She looks terrifying.” a third added, glancing nervously at the screen.

Rumors spread like wildfire among the crowd.

“I heard Leviathan’s been covering up accidents in their other colonies.” one worker said.

“That’s nothing. I heard they’ve been using illegal AI to undercut competitors.” another whispered.

“Doesn’t matter what you’ve heard.” an older worker muttered. “She’s the reason we’re out here in the first place. Without Leviathan, there wouldn’t be a colony.”

Elias cleared his throat, drawing attention back to the screen. “Ms. LeVane, a few days ago, we uncovered something during our excavation. An alien chamber containing a structure we’ve identified as a pillar. It’s emitting an energy signature, but we’ve been unable to determine its purpose or origin.”

Marian’s expression didn’t waver. “And why are you bringing this to me now?”

“We’ve exhausted our resources.” Elias admitted. “The colony was established for mining operations, not archaeological research. We need guidance on how to proceed.”

Marian considered this for a moment, her fingers steepled under her chin. “Have you assessed the risks? Could this pillar pose a threat to the colony or its operations?”

“There’s no indication of danger.” Tessa interjected. “But we can’t rule it out without further analysis.”

“Understood.” Marian said. “Send me all the data you’ve collected. I’ll review it with my team and make a decision.”

As the call ended, the room erupted into hushed conversations.

“She didn’t seem all that concerned.” someone muttered.

“Probably just sees us as another item in the budget.” another replied.

“You think she’s hiding something?”

“Of course she is. You don’t get to the top of a corporation like Leviathan by being honest.”

Finn remained silent, his gaze distant. He couldn’t shake the unease he felt since the chamber’s discovery. Something about the pillar didn’t just feel alien. It felt.. alive.

Back on Earth, Marian leaned back in her chair, her expression thoughtful. She activated her comms, her voice cutting through the quiet hum of the office.

“Schedule a meeting with the executive board.” she said. “I want everyone in the room within the hour.”

Her assistant’s voice crackled in response. “Yes, ma’am. Shall I prepare the data from Helios-3?”

“Do it.” Marian replied.

She stood, moving to the window and gazing out at the sprawling city below. The discovery on Helios-3 was significant, no doubt about it. But the implications of an active alien artifact were far-reaching and potentially dangerous.

Marian’s thoughts were interrupted by the chirp of her comms. “Ms. LeVane, one of the executives is already on the line.”

“Patch them through.” Marian said, returning to her desk.

The holographic screen flickered, and the face of one of Leviathan’s senior executives appeared.

“Marian.” the man said, his tone cautious. “I heard about the pillar.”

“It’s real.” Marian confirmed. “And it might be more than we bargained for.”

The executive’s expression darkened. “What do you need from us?”

Marian’s gaze hardened. “I need options.”