One Planet, One People, Infinite Possibilities!
OPERATION BLACK SAPPHIRE – 11. Sep – Angriffe koordiniert.
There are things you always find out too late. Such as what “Operation Black Sapphire” was supposed to be. On that day, the whole solar system and also the known part of the galaxy learned: coordinated attacks with hijacked spaceships took place. And one name hung above everything: The Tiger! He was responsible for the planning and coordination of it all. But where was he now? The worlds were in shock. There were hostiles on the hills…
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| Photo by Javardh on Unsplash |
Jarmo Dorak gazed at the barren wasteland of Mercury from the cockpit of his spacecraft, the Wotan. His eyes flickered over the rocky terrain, observing the craters and jagged mountains that dotted the planet’s surface. He felt a familiar thrill of excitement course through him as he considered what secrets lay hidden beneath the ground.
Over the time, he had traveled to all the planets of the solar system in search of lost relics and forgotten technologies. He had braved countless dangers and faced many challenges, but his thirst for discovery had never waned.
This time, Jarmo had returned to Mercury to explore the abandoned city of Pvallas. The city had been built by a long-dead civilization, and Jarmo believed that there were valuable artifacts hidden within its ruins. He had spent weeks preparing for this expedition, studying the planet’s history and geography to pinpoint the most promising areas to search.
As he landed his spacecraft near the outskirts of the city, Jarmo couldn’t shake the feeling that he was being followed. He dismissed it as paranoia and began his exploration. The ancient buildings of Pvallas loomed above him, their smooth surfaces shimmering in the heat. The air was thin and oppressive, but Jarmo pressed on, his eyes scanning the landscape for any signs of treasure.
He had been exploring for hours when he heard a faint rustling sound behind him. He spun around, his hand instinctively reaching for his laser pistol. But there was nothing there, just the endless expanse of the city’s ruins.
Jarmo continued his search, but the feeling of being watched persisted. He quickened his pace, moving deeper into the heart of Pvallas. He ducked into an alleyway, hoping to lose whoever was following him, but the rustling sound grew louder.
Suddenly, a figure stepped out from behind a ruined building, its features obscured by the shadows. Jarmo aimed his laser pistol at the figure, ready to defend himself if necessary.
“Who are you?” he demanded.
The figure stepped forward, revealing herself to be a young woman with short, curly hair and bright blue eyes. She was wearing a suit similar to Jarmo’s, with the emblem of ASTROCOHORS CLUB emblazoned on her chest.
“My name is Leonore Wagner,” she said. “I was sent by the ASTROCOHORS CLUB to find you. We haven’t heard from you in weeks, and we feared you might be dead.”
Jarmo lowered his pistol, his eyes narrowing. “I’m not dead,” he said. “I’ve been busy.”
“Doing what?” Leonore asked.
“Searching for artifacts,” Jarmo said. “This is a crucial find, Leonore. I can’t just abandon it.”
“I understand that,” Leonore said. “But you should have informed the club of your whereabouts. We were worried sick.”
Jarmo sighed. “I’m sorry, Leonore. I’ve been so focused on my work that I didn’t think about the consequences.” It was a lie – he was mourning his relationship. But whatever.
“It’s all right,” Leonore said, smiling. “I’m just glad you’re safe.”
They spent the next few minutes introducing themselves to each other. Leonore was a recent graduate of the ASTROCOHORS CLUB’s training program, and she was eager to prove herself as an adventurer and explorer. Jarmo admired her enthusiasm, and he sensed a kindred spirit in her.
“Listen, Jarmo,” Leonore said. “I know you’re busy with your search, but I’d like to help you. I want to learn from you, to experience the thrill of discovery.”
Jarmo studied Leonore for a moment, weighing the pros and cons of allowing her to join him. On the one hand, she was inexperienced and could be a liability in dangerous situations. On the other hand, he could use a partner to watch his back and assist him in his search.
Finally, he nodded. “All right, Leonore. You can join me. But you need to follow my lead and do exactly as I say. This is no place for amateurs.”
Leonore beamed with excitement. “Thank you, Jarmo! I won’t let you down, I promise.”
Together, they resumed their exploration of the city, moving deeper into the ruins. The sun beat down on them relentlessly, making every step a challenge. But they pressed on, driven by the lure of discovery.
As they explored, Jarmo and Leonore encountered numerous obstacles, from collapsed buildings to hidden traps. But they worked together, using their skills and equipment to overcome each challenge. Jarmo was impressed by Leonore’s resourcefulness and her willingness to learn from him.
Finally, they came across a massive structure at the heart of the city. It was a towering edifice, made of some unknown material that glowed with an otherworldly light. Jarmo’s heart raced with excitement, and he knew that this was the artifact he had been seeking.
“We’ve found it, Leonore,” he said, his voice trembling with awe. “This is it.”
Together, they approached the structure, but their excitement was short-lived. Suddenly, a horde of strange, insect-like creatures emerged from the shadows, screeching and chittering in an alien tongue. Jarmo and Leonore drew their weapons, ready to defend themselves. The creatures were fast and agile, darting around them and attacking from all angles. Jarmo fired his laser pistol, but the creatures were too numerous and too fast. Leonore fought bravely, slashing at them with a laser machete, but she was quickly overwhelmed.
Jarmo realized that they were outnumbered and outmatched – again. He made a split-second decision and activated a device on his wrist, emitting a bright flash of light. The creatures recoiled, shrieking in pain, and Jarmo seized the opportunity to grab Leonore and make a run for it.
They fled through the ruins, the creatures hot on their heels. Jarmo led the way, his senses on high alert, searching for an escape route. They dodged through alleys and side streets, but the creatures were relentless, pursuing them relentlessly.
Finally, they burst out of the city and back into the open air. Jarmo looked around, searching for any sign of their spacecraft. He spotted it in the distance and grabbed Leonore’s hand, pulling her along behind him.
They ran as fast as they could. Jarmo was a seasoned explorer, and he knew how to navigate difficult terrain. He led them through a narrow canyon, using the steep walls to shield them from the creatures’ attacks.
Finally, they reached their spacecraft, and Jarmo quickly opened the hatch, shoving Leonore inside. He followed her, sealing the hatch shut and starting the engines. The creatures pounded on the hull, screeching and chittering in frustration.
Jarmo breathed a sigh of relief as they blasted off into space, leaving the creatures behind. He turned to Leonore, his heart racing with adrenaline.
“You all right?” he asked, panting.
Leonore nodded, her eyes wide with excitement. “That was amazing, Jarmo. I’ve never experienced anything like it.”
Jarmo smiled. “Welcome to the life of an adventurer. It’s never dull, that’s for sure.”
Leonore grinned back at him. “I can’t wait to see what we find next.”
Jarmo chuckled. “Well, let’s take a breather first. We need to regroup and plan our next move.”
They settled into their seats, with Jarmo piloting the spacecraft back towards Earth. They discussed their encounter with the alien creatures, trying to piece together what they had learned.
“They were definitely intelligent,” Jarmo mused. “They were using tactics and working together. And they seemed to be guarding that structure we found.”
Leonore nodded. “It makes you wonder what’s inside that thing. And why it’s so important to them.”
Jarmo stroked his chin, lost in thought. “I don’t know. But I intend to find out.”
They spent the rest of the journey back to Earth planning their next move. They decided to report their findings to the ASTROCOHORS CLUB, but to keep the exact location of the artifact secret. They knew that there were likely other adventurers and treasure hunters out there, and they didn’t want to risk anyone else getting hurt.
When they arrived back on Earth, they headed straight to the ASTROCOHORS CLUB headquarters to report their findings. Jarmo explained the importance of the artifact, and the potential danger posed by the alien creatures guarding it.
The club members were skeptical at first, but Jarmo’s reputation as a seasoned explorer and artifact hunter gave him credibility. They agreed to fund a follow-up mission to study the alien creatures and learn more about the artifact. Jarmo and Leonore were thrilled. They were given a team of scientists and technicians to assist them, and they set out once again towards Mercury.
This time, they were better prepared. They had brought more advanced weaponry and equipment, and they had a team of experts to help them navigate the ruins of Pvallas and study the alien creatures.
As they approached the city, Jarmo felt a familiar sense of excitement and trepidation. But this time, he had a sense of purpose and direction. He and Leonore were working towards a common goal, and he knew that they could accomplish great things together.
They landed their spacecraft on the outskirts of the city and set up a base camp. They spent several days exploring the ruins, taking readings and measurements, and studying the alien creatures from a safe distance.
Finally, they decided to make their move. Jarmo and Leonore led a team of scientists towards the artifact, using their weapons to fend off the creatures that swarmed around them.
They approached the structure cautiously, studying it from every angle. They found a hidden entrance, and Jarmo used his knowledge of ancient languages to decipher the inscription above the door.
“It says ‘Enter at your own risk’,” he said, frowning.
Leonore smiled. “Sounds like an invitation to me.”
Jarmo nodded, his heart racing with excitement. They stepped through the door and into a vast, dark chamber. The walls glowed with an otherworldly light, casting strange shadows across the floor. In the center of the chamber stood the artifact. It was a massive crystal, pulsing with an otherworldly energy. Jarmo approached it cautiously, his hands shaking with excitement. As he reached out to touch the crystal, there was a blinding flash of light. Jarmo was thrown backwards, his body wracked with pain. He cried out, but the sound was drowned out by a deafening roar.
When he opened his eyes, he was no longer in the chamber. He was surrounded by a swirling vortex of light and sound, hurtling through space at incredible speeds. He tried to call out to Leonore, but his voice was lost in the chaos around him. He felt a sense of panic rising within him as he spun out of control, not knowing where he was or what was happening to him.
But then, just as suddenly as it had started, the vortex vanished. Jarmo found himself standing on a rocky planet, surrounded by strange, alien foliage. He looked around, trying to get his bearings, but everything was unfamiliar.
“Jarmo!” a voice called out, and he turned to see Leonore running towards him. “Are you okay?”
Jarmo shook his head, still trying to make sense of what had just happened. “I don’t know what happened. I touched the crystal, and then… everything went crazy.”
Leonore frowned. “We need to find out where we are. Let’s see if we can get a signal to our spacecraft and figure out what happened.”
They made their way through the alien landscape, scanning the skies for any sign of their spacecraft. But there was nothing, just a desolate, rocky wasteland stretching out as far as the eye could see. As they walked, Jarmo felt a growing sense of unease. Everything around him seemed alien and hostile. But he knew that he couldn’t give in to fear. He had to stay focused and figure out what was going on.
They finally managed to get a signal to their spacecraft, and Jarmo was able to access the ship’s logs. He quickly found the record of their journey, and his heart sank as he read what had happened.
“We were transported through some kind of wormhole,” he said, showing the logs to Leonore. “It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before. And there’s no way to go back.”
Leonore looked at him, her face full of concern. “What do we do now?”
Jarmo thought for a moment, weighing their options. “We explore. We gather data. We try to find a way home. And we stay alive.”
They spent the next few days exploring the alien planet, gathering samples and data. They encountered strange creatures and bizarre landscapes, and every day brought new challenges and dangers. But they also discovered things that filled them with wonder and awe. They found ancient ruins, full of strange technologies and alien artifacts. They witnessed a supernova, blazing across the sky in a display of otherworldly beauty.
As they explored, Jarmo and Leonore grew closer. They relied on each other for support and comfort, sharing the experience of being lost in a strange and alien world. And as they worked together, they began to develop a plan for getting back home.
They used the data they had gathered to try to locate the wormhole that had transported them to this strange new world. They scoured the planet, scanning for any sign of the anomaly that had brought them there.
And finally, after weeks of searching, they found it. Just like that. A massive, swirling vortex of light and energy, just like the one that had taken them from Mercury. Jarmo and Leonore stood at the edge of the vortex, looking out at the unknown expanse beyond. They knew that there was no guarantee that they would make it back home, but they also knew that they had to try.
Jarmo took Leonore’s hand, and together they stepped through the vortex. They felt a sense of weightlessness, a dizzying sense of motion as they hurtled through space and time. And then, suddenly, they were back on Mercury. Everything seemed to be “just like that”. They stumbled out of the structure, dazed and disoriented. They were met by a team of ASTROCOHORS CLUB members, who rushed to their side.
“What happened?” one of them asked, looking at Jarmo and Leonore with concern.
Jarmo took a deep breath, trying to process everything that had happened. “We found something incredible,” he said, holding up a small, glowing crystal. “It’s a piece of technology from an ancient civilization, far beyond anything we’ve ever seen before.”
The ASTROCOHORS CLUB members looked at the crystal with wonder and amazement, and Jarmo could see the excitement in their eyes. “We have to study this,” one of them said. “We have to figure out what it is and how it works.”
Jarmo nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. He had completed his mission, and he had survived an incredible journey to an alien world. And now, he had a new partner in Leonore, someone he could trust and rely on in even the most dire circumstances.
As they left the site, Jarmo and Leonore walked side by side, looking out at the night sky. “It’s incredible, isn’t it?” Leonore said, pointing up at the stars.
Jarmo smiled, feeling a sense of wonder and awe. “It’s a big universe out there,” he said. “And we’ve only just scratched the surface.”
They walked on, their minds filled with the endless possibilities of what lay beyond. Together, they would continue their quest to explore the mysteries of the universe, knowing that whatever dangers they might face, they had each other to rely on.
Jarmo Dorak let out a sigh and with that sigh, a realization slipped through the room: it could be over so quickly. A moment ago the future was still bright – and then it became dark. It had only been a month since he and Tashana had been locked in the spa and used the time to talk about various things. About their feelings for each other. That they wanted to go towards the future together.
And suddenly Tashana found that she wasn’t happy. That she and Jarmo were too different. At least in their opinion. Jarmo didn’t think so. Yes, they were different in many ways, but that was also what made the relationship so appealing. Tashana didn’t appreciate that. From one day to the next it was over and she was gone.
Jarmo flew towards earth in the spaceship. After Tashana said goodbye, he had been flying aimlessly through space. Before there was a goal, but that was all gone now. The Temple of the Wind Harp? Was there any point in finding it if he wouldn’t be able to rejoice it with Tashana? Jarmo hadn’t contacted the organization either. Probably ASTROCOHORS had tried the opposite. But he didn’t care about that either.
The earth was right in front of him now. A thought crossed his mind. Should he let his grief overcome him? Should he let his life be ruled by a woman in whose life he no longer played a role? No! She’d sent him a message from Neptune, saying something that she’d met a guy from Mercury and she was going to move in with him…why was she telling him that? Jarmo guessed she was convincing herself everything was fine. She and he were just friends now, and friends are what you tell what’s going on in life. But it wasn’t okay.
Jarmo reprogrammed his spaceship’s controls. The ASTROCOHORS CLUB would probably miss him. At least someone who missed him at all. But in that moment, Jarmo decided that he would continue. Alone.
He wondered if it was the conversation. Such a conversation was like a bad omen, he realized. At least that’s how it was in every relationship he’d had up until now. Just when both of them knew how they wanted the future to be, that future shattered. Maybe it would be better to just live from day to day.
The spaceship made a turn, away from Earth, into space. Jarmo was searching again.
Jarmo and Tashana were finally taking a break from their demanding work schedules. They had been on the go for months, working on various missions, and their bodies and minds were in need of a break. After the last holiday on Uranus had been rudely interrupted, they tried again to find some peace. So, they decided to take a much-needed vacation to a small, picturesque village on the outskirts of Saturn. It was a beautiful place, with crystal clear waters and stunning views.
On this particular evening, the two decided to treat themselves to something special. They had heard about a unique feature in the village called “the turret.” It was a tall, cylindrical building that housed luxurious spa rooms. Jarmo and Tashana booked a room for themselves, which had a hot tub.
The room was everything they had hoped for and more. The hot tub was large enough for the two of them to soak in comfortably, and the room had a panoramic view of the sea. They had brought a bottle of champagne with them, and they sat in the tub, sipping on the bubbly liquid, and enjoying the breathtaking view.
As they relaxed, they lost track of time, and before they knew it, it was late in the night. When they tried to leave the room, they realized that the door was locked, and they were trapped. They searched for a way out, but there was none.
At first, they were both flustered, but they soon calmed down and tried to make the best of the situation. Jarmo suggested that they continue to enjoy the spa and the beautiful view. So, they continued to soak in the hot tub and enjoy each other’s company.
Tashana looked at Jarmo, and a soft smile spread across her face. “This is nice, isn’t it?” she said, taking a sip of the champagne.
Jarmo smiled back at her. “Yeah, it is. It’s nice to finally have some time to ourselves,” he replied.
Tashana nodded in agreement. “It’s been a while since we’ve been able to just relax and not think about work.”
As Jarmo and Tashana lay in the hot tub, enjoying the warmth of the water and the soft glow of the stars above, they knew that something special was happening between them. Jarmo took Tashana’s hand and looked into her eyes.
“Tashana, there’s something I need to tell you,” he said softly. “I’ve been searching for the Temple of the Windharp for a long time now. It’s a sacred place, said to hold great power and wisdom. And I always thought that finding it was my greatest dream.”
“But being here with you now, I realize that there’s something even more important to me than that,” Jarmo continued. “It’s you, Tashana. I never knew that I could feel this way about someone. I never knew that love could be so powerful.”
Tashana smiled at him, her eyes shining with emotion. “Jarmo, I feel the same way. You are the most amazing person I have ever met. And I have to tell you about my adventures in the oceans of Neptun.”
Tashana then told Jarmo about the wonders of the underwater world, the strange and beautiful creatures she had encountered, and the mysteries of the deep. Jarmo listened with rapt attention, marveling at her tales.
“And do you know what the best part is, Jarmo?” Tashana asked, her voice soft and tender. “The best part is being here with you now, sharing this moment. I never imagined that I could feel so complete, so happy.”
Jarmo smiled at her, feeling his heart swell with love. “Tashana, I want you to know that I will always be here for you. No matter what happens, no matter where our paths may lead, I will always love you.”
And with that, Jarmo leaned in and kissed Tashana. The kiss was soft and gentle at first, but soon grew more passionate as they lost themselves in each other. As they pulled away, they knew that this was just the beginning of something special.
“I dream of a future with you, Tashana,” Jarmo said, his voice full of hope. “A future where we can explore the wonders of the universe together, where we can face any challenge side by side.”
“I share that dream, Jarmo,” Tashana replied, her eyes shining with love. “And I know that no matter what comes our way, we will face it together. Because that’s what love is all about.”
As they lay back in the hot tub, watching the stars above, Jarmo and Tashana knew that they had found something special in each other. They knew that their love was like the universe itself, vast and infinite, and that no matter where their paths may lead, they would always find their way back to each other.
As the night wore on, Jarmo and Tashana talked about their hopes and dreams, sharing their deepest thoughts and feelings with each other. They talked about their fears and their insecurities, but also about the strength they found in each other’s love.
Tashana spoke of her past, of the struggles she had faced as an amphibinoid trying to find her place in the world. She told Jarmo about the discrimination she had faced from some humans, but also about the kindness and acceptance she had found in others.
Jarmo listened attentively, holding her hand and stroking her hair. He could feel the pain and the joy in her words, and he knew that he loved her even more for sharing them with him.
They continued talking about the adventures they would have together, the places they would go, and the people they would meet. They talked about building a life together, about growing old together, and about the love that would carry them through it all.
As the night drew to a close, they both realized that being trapped in the turret had been a blessing in disguise. It had allowed them to open up to each other and finally confess their feelings. They fell asleep in each other’s arms, the warm water lulling them into a peaceful slumber.
The next morning, they were woken up by the sound of the door unlocking. They got dressed and stepped out of the room, feeling rejuvenated and refreshed. They knew that their lives were going to change from that moment on, but they were excited about the future and all the possibilities that it held.
Together, they left the turret and walked out into the bright light of day, ready to face whatever the future had in store for them. But they knew that no matter what happened, they had each other, and that was all that mattered.
As Jarmo and Tashana stepped out of the turret, they were met with the refreshing sea breeze of Saturn’s beautiful vacation village. They decided to take a stroll along the beach and enjoy the rest of their day, hand in hand.
As they walked along the shoreline, Jarmo couldn’t help but reflect on how much their relationship had grown since they first met. He had never felt this way about anyone before, and he knew that he would do anything to make Tashana happy.
Tashana, on the other hand, couldn’t help but feel grateful for Jarmo’s unwavering love and support. She had faced many challenges in her life, but with Jarmo by her side, she knew that she could overcome anything.
As they walked, they noticed a commotion near the water. They hurried towards the crowd and found a group of scientists who had made a fascinating discovery: a new species of sea creature that had never been seen before.
Tashana’s eyes lit up with excitement as she looked at the creature, her amphibinoid instincts kicking in. She spoke to the scientists and offered to help them study the creature, drawing on her expertise as an amphibinoid.
Jarmo watched in amazement as Tashana effortlessly communicated with the creature, her body language and vocalizations causing it to respond. He had always known that Tashana was unique, but seeing her in her element was truly a sight to behold.
After spending the day with the scientists, Jarmo and Tashana retired to their cozy cottage by the sea. They cuddled up together, watching the waves crash against the shore, and talked about their day.
Tashana was still buzzing with excitement about the sea creature, and Jarmo could see the passion in her eyes. “You know,” he said, “I’ve never seen anyone so alive as you are when you’re in the water.”
Tashana smiled at him, snuggling closer. “I’ve always felt most at home in the water,” she said. “It’s where I feel most connected to the world.”
Jarmo stroked her hair, his heart swelling with love. “And I’ve always felt most at home with you,” he said. “You make me feel alive, Tashana. You make me feel like anything is possible.”
They lay there in silence for a while, just enjoying each other’s company. And as the night wore on, they both knew that they had found what they had been searching for all along: love, acceptance, and the promise of a bright future together.
Over the next few days, Jarmo and Tashana explored the rest of the village and its surroundings. They went on nature walks, tried local foods, and even took a tour of Saturn’s famous rings.
As they sat on the observation deck, looking out at the breathtaking expanse of space, Jarmo couldn’t help but feel a sense of longing. “You know,” he said, “there’s still so much out there that we haven’t seen. So much we haven’t experienced.”
Tashana turned to him, a soft smile on her face. “And yet, we’ve experienced so much already,” she said. “Together.”
Jarmo took her hand, feeling a rush of emotion. “I know,” he said. “And I wouldn’t trade a single moment of it.”
They sat in silence for a while, lost in thought. But then Tashana spoke up, her voice soft but determined. “You know, Jarmo, there’s something I’ve been thinking about lately.”
“What’s that?” Jarmo asked, curious.
“I’ve been thinking about the future,” Tashana said. “About what we want to do with our lives. Where we want to go. What we want to see.”
Jarmo nodded, intrigued. “And what have you come up with?”
Tashana smiled. “I want to explore more of the oceans of Neptun,” she said. “There’s so much we still don’t know about the creatures that live there. And I think I could make a real difference, with my knowledge and experience.”
Jarmo’s heart swelled with pride. “I have no doubt you could,” he said. “And what about me? What do you see for my future?”
Tashana turned to him, her eyes sparkling. “I see you finding the Temple of the Windharp,” she said. “I see you unlocking its secrets, and bringing its music to the rest of the galaxy.”
Jarmo felt a thrill of excitement at her words. “And what about us?” he asked. “What do you see for us?”
Tashana leaned in, her lips hovering over his. “I see us traveling the galaxy together,” she whispered. “Exploring new worlds, discovering new cultures, and falling even more deeply in love with each other every day.”
And with that, they shared another kiss, lost in the promise of a future filled with adventure and love.
As their lips parted, Jarmo felt a sense of clarity wash over him. “You know, Tashana,” he said, “I think I finally understand what you’ve been telling me all along.”
“What do you mean?” Tashana asked, curiosity piqued.
“I mean that the journey is just as important as the destination,” Jarmo said. “I’ve been so focused on finding the Temple of the Windharp that I’ve forgotten to appreciate the experiences and moments that lead me there.”
Tashana nodded, understanding in her eyes. “It’s easy to get lost in the pursuit of a goal,” she said. “But it’s the journey that shapes us and makes us who we are.”
Jarmo smiled, feeling a sense of gratitude for Tashana and their conversations. “Thank you for reminding me of that,” he said. “And for always being there to support me.”
Tashana smiled back, her eyes shining. “Of course, Jarmo. That’s what partners do. We support each other, and help each other grow.”
They sat in silence for a while, lost in thought. But then Jarmo spoke up, a new idea forming in his mind. “You know, Tashana, I think I have an idea for our next adventure.”
“What’s that?” Tashana asked, curiosity piqued.
“Well,” Jarmo said, “what if we went on a journey together, with no real destination in mind? We could travel from planet to planet, explore new worlds, and see where the journey takes us.”
Tashana’s eyes widened with excitement. “I love that idea,” she said. “It’s like a true adventure, with no set path or expectations. Just the two of us, exploring the galaxy.”
Jarmo grinned, feeling a sense of excitement and freedom wash over him. “Then it’s settled,” he said. “Our next adventure will be a journey of discovery, with no set destination.”
And with that, they both leaned in for another kiss, feeling the thrill of anticipation for the journey ahead.
Jarmo Dorak and Tashana Oyan had been through a lot since they first met during the Tournament of Death. They had fought together in various battles, faced many dangerous situations, and had become more than just friends. They had become a couple, and now they were taking some time off to relax and enjoy each other’s company.
They had chosen Uranus as their vacation destination, a planet known for its breathtaking scenery and peaceful atmosphere. They had rented a small cottage close to a beautiful lake and were spending their days swimming, hiking, and exploring the area. They had never been happier.
But their peace was short-lived. One day, while they were enjoying a romantic picnic by the lake, they noticed some strange-looking people approaching them. They were humanoid, but their skin was a sickly shade of green, and their eyes were yellow and slitted like those of a cat. Jarmo and Tashana were immediately on guard, but the strangers seemed friendly enough.
“Hello there,” one of them said, smiling. “I hope we’re not disturbing you. We’re new to the area and were just looking for some friendly faces.”
Jarmo and Tashana exchanged a look. They had been in enough dangerous situations to know that things were never as simple as they seemed. Still, they didn’t want to be rude, so they invited the strangers to join them for lunch.
As they chatted, Jarmo and Tashana couldn’t help but notice that the strangers seemed to be sizing them up. They were asking a lot of questions about the area, the local security, and even about Jarmo’s and Tashana’s combat abilities. Jarmo and Tashana started to feel uneasy, and they decided to cut the lunch short and return to their cottage.
That night, they heard strange noises outside. They went to investigate and found that their cottage was being raided by the same group of strangers they had met earlier. They were not friendly anymore; they were armed and dangerous.
Jarmo and Tashana didn’t hesitate. They grabbed their weapons and prepared to fight. They managed to hold off the attackers for a while, but there were too many of them. They were outnumbered and outgunned.
Just as they were about to be overwhelmed, they heard a voice calling out orders to the attackers. It was a deep, menacing voice, and it seemed to be coming from a communicator.
“Stop!” the voice commanded. “Stand down. I want to see these two.”
The attackers hesitated for a moment but then backed off, leaving Jarmo and Tashana standing in the middle of the ruined cottage, weapons at the ready.
And then he appeared. The Tiger. He was tall and muscular, with a mane of red hair and a prominent scar running down his left cheek. He was dressed in black leather, and he had a cold, calculating look in his eyes.
“Well, well, well,” he said, looking at Jarmo and Tashana. “You two put up quite a fight. I’m impressed.”
“What do you want?” Jarmo demanded, keeping his weapon trained on the Tiger.
“I want you, of course,” the Tiger said with a grin. “You’re the only ones on this planet who tried to stop me, and I can’t have that. So, I’m giving you a choice. Join me, or die.”
Jarmo and Tashana exchanged a look. They knew what the right choice was, but they also knew that it would be a tough road ahead.
“We’ll never join you,” Tashana said, her voice firm.
“Very well,” the Tiger said with a shrug. “You leave me no choice.”
The Tiger signaled to his henchmen, and they charged towards Jarmo and Tashana. The couple didn’t flinch, and they stood their ground, ready for a fight. Jarmo drew his energy sword, while Tashana pulled out her plasma rifle.
The fight was intense. Jarmo and Tashana fought with all their might, taking down henchmen one by one. The Tiger was watching the fight from a distance, studying their moves, and planning his next move.
Jarmo noticed that the henchmen were fighting more aggressively than usual. They seemed to be enhanced with some kind of cybernetic implants. It made them faster, stronger, and more durable than normal human beings. Jarmo and Tashana had to be more careful and precise in their attacks, but they were still holding their ground.
The Tiger was impressed with their fighting skills. He had seen many warriors in his time, but none like Jarmo and Tashana. He knew that he had to take them seriously if he wanted to defeat them.
The fight went on for several minutes, and Jarmo and Tashana were starting to tire. They had taken down many henchmen, but there were still more to go. Suddenly, the Tiger stepped forward, drawing his own sword.
“Now, it’s my turn,” he said with a grin.
Jarmo and Tashana braced themselves for the fight of their lives. The Tiger charged towards them, swinging his sword with incredible force. Jarmo and Tashana dodged his attacks, but they could tell that he was a formidable opponent. He was fast, agile, and his attacks were deadly.
The three of them fought in a fierce battle, clashing their swords against each other’s. Jarmo and Tashana had to use all their skills and experience to keep up with the Tiger. He was a worthy adversary, and they could tell that he had been trained in combat since he was a child.
The fight went on for what seemed like hours, but in reality, it was only a few minutes. Jarmo and Tashana were tiring, and they could tell that the Tiger was still going strong. Suddenly, the Tiger made a fatal mistake. He left himself open, and Jarmo seized the opportunity. He charged towards the Tiger, thrusting his sword towards his chest.
The Tiger was quick, and he dodged Jarmo’s attack. But he didn’t see Tashana coming from behind. She fired her plasma rifle, hitting the Tiger in the back. The Tiger roared in pain, but he didn’t go down. He turned around, facing Tashana, and charged towards her.
Tashana fired her plasma rifle again, but it was too late. The Tiger was upon her, swinging his sword towards her head. Jarmo saw what was happening, and he leaped towards the Tiger, intercepting his attack. The two swords clashed together, and there was a blinding flash of light.
When the light cleared, the Tiger was lying on the ground, his sword broken in two. Jarmo and Tashana were standing over him, their swords drawn and ready for the final blow. The Tiger looked up at them, his eyes filled with respect.
“You are worthy opponents,” he said with a smile. “I respect you, but I still can’t let you live. I have too much at stake.”
Jarmo and Tashana exchanged a look. They knew what they had to do. They raised their swords, ready to strike the final blow. But then, they heard a voice calling out to them.
“Stop!” the voice said. “Don’t do it.”
Jarmo and Tashana turned around, their swords still at the ready. They saw a figure approaching them from the shadows. It was a tall, lean man, dressed in a long, black coat. He had a face that was covered by a hood, and his eyes glinted with a strange light.
“Who are you?” Jarmo asked, lowering his sword slightly.
“I am the Oracle,” the man said. “I have been watching your fight, and I know what you are capable of.”
“The Oracle?” Tashana repeated. “What do you want?”
“I want to offer you a choice,” the Oracle said. “You can kill the Tiger and his men, and leave this planet. Or you can spare their lives and bring them to justice.”
“Why should we listen to you?” Jarmo asked. “Who are you to make such a decision?”
“I am the one who sees all,” the Oracle said. “I have been gifted with the power of foresight, and I know what will happen if you kill the Tiger. It will lead to a chain of events that will have dire consequences for the entire universe.”
“What kind of consequences?” Tashana asked.
“The Tiger is not just a mere gangster,” the Oracle said. “He is part of a larger organization, one that seeks to overthrow the Solar Council and take control of the planets. If you kill him, it will only serve to strengthen their resolve.”
Jarmo and Tashana looked at each other. They knew that the Oracle was telling the truth, somehow. They had seen the evidence of the Tiger’s connection to a larger organization, and they knew that it would be a mistake to underestimate their power.
“What do you suggest we do?” Jarmo asked.
“You must spare the Tiger’s life and capture him and his men,” the Oracle said. “You must bring them to the Council and let justice be served.”
“And what about you?” Tashana asked. “What’s in it for you?”
“I have no stake in this matter,” the Oracle said. “I am merely an observer, a guardian of the universe. It is my duty to ensure that the balance is maintained.”
Jarmo and Tashana looked at each other. They knew that the Oracle was right. They had to spare the Tiger’s life and bring him to justice. They lowered their swords and approached the Tiger, who was still lying on the ground, wounded and defeated.
“We spare your life,” Jarmo said. “But you must come with us to face the Council and stand trial for your crimes.”
The Tiger looked up at them, his eyes filled with hatred and defiance. But he knew that he had been defeated, and he had no choice but to comply.
“Very well,” he said. “I will go with you. But mark my words, Jarmo and Tashana. This is not over. You have made a powerful enemy today, and I will not forget this.”
Jarmo and Tashana didn’t flinch. They knew that they had done the right thing, and they were prepared to face the consequences of their actions.
The Oracle watched them as they left the scene, the Tiger and his men in tow. He knew that their journey was far from over, and that they would face many challenges and obstacles in the future. But he also knew that they were strong and resilient, and that they would prevail in the end.
The Oracle disappeared into the shadows, his job done. He had fulfilled his duty as a guardian of the universe, and he knew that he would be called upon again in the future. But for now, he was content to watch and wait, knowing that the fate of the universe was in good hands.
Jarmo and Tashana, two explorers of the ancient cultures of the Solar System, had been on a roll lately. They had just defeated a Fire Dragon on Mars and acquired a valuable artifact. Their thirst for adventure and knowledge was still unquenched, and they had set their sights on Pluto, the dwarf planet farthest from the sun.
Pluto was a frozen wasteland, completely covered in ice and snow, just like Antarctica on Earth. But unlike Antarctica, Pluto was devoid of any known life forms. However, Jarmo and Tashana were not looking for life on Pluto. They were in search of an ancient artifact that could shed light on the lost civilizations of the Solar System.
Their journey to Pluto was fraught with dangers, but they had braved them all. The two had arrived on the frozen planet safely and had begun their search. They had been exploring the planet for a week now, but they hadn’t found any significant artifacts yet.
One day, while wandering in a seemingly endless expanse of snow, they saw a glimmer in the distance. It was a faint light, but it was enough to catch their attention. They made their way towards it and found themselves standing in front of a massive structure.
The structure was unlike anything they had ever seen before. It was made of a black material that seemed to absorb light. It was perfectly symmetrical and seemed to have been built by an advanced civilization. The entrance to the structure was a massive doorway that was closed shut.
Jarmo and Tashana were excited at the prospect of exploring the structure, but they knew that it wouldn’t be easy. They had to find a way to open the doorway, and they had to be prepared for any danger that lay inside. They started searching the area for clues and soon found a small inscription on the side of the structure. It was written in a language they couldn’t understand, but Jarmo recognized it as an ancient script from the lost civilization of the Kuiper Belt.
Jarmo and Tashana worked together to decipher the inscription, and it read, “Only those who can see the unseen can enter.” They were puzzled by the message, but they knew that it was a clue to opening the doorway.
They searched the area around the structure and found a strange-looking plant that they had never seen before. The plant was covered in a thick layer of snow, and its leaves were black, almost as black as the structure. They brushed away the snow and examined the plant closely. They soon realized that the plant was not black, but it was transparent.
Jarmo and Tashana were amazed by the discovery. They had never seen a plant that was transparent before. They knew that the plant was the key to opening the doorway, but they didn’t know how to use it.
They spent the next few days studying the plant and trying to figure out how to use it. They soon discovered that the plant had the ability to make objects invisible. They experimented with the plant and soon found out that it could make them invisible as well.
Jarmo and Tashana were amazed by the discovery. They knew that the plant was the key to opening the doorway, but they also knew that it was dangerous. They didn’t know how long the invisibility would last or what other effects it would have on them.
Despite the danger, Jarmo and Tashana decided to use the plant to open the doorway. They knew that it was the only way to explore the structure and find the artifact they were looking for.
They ingested the plant, and within seconds, they disappeared. They walked towards the doorway, and to their amazement, it opened without any resistance. They had entered the structure.
Jarmo and Tashana cautiously stepped into the structure, their bodies still invisible. They walked through a long hallway that was dimly lit. The walls were made of the same black material as the doorway. They couldn’t see anything else, and they relied on their other senses to guide them.
After walking for what felt like an eternity, they came across a room. It was a massive chamber, with high ceilings and walls covered in strange markings. The room was lit up by a dim glow coming from the ceiling. In the center of the room, there was a pedestal with a glowing cylinder.
Jarmo and Tashana were amazed by the sight. They suspected that the cylinder was the artifact they had been looking for. They approached the pedestal, and as they did, the invisibility began to wear off. They could feel their bodies becoming visible again.
They reached for the cylinder, but as soon as they touched it, they were thrown back by an invisible force. They got up, bewildered, and tried to approach the cylinder again, but the same thing happened. They were being kept away from the artifact.
As they tried to get closer to the cylinder, they noticed a strange figure lurking in the shadows. It was humanoid, but its body was made of a black substance that seemed to absorb light. The figure had glowing red eyes that seemed to stare right through Jarmo and Tashana.
The figure spoke, but its voice was not like anything they had ever heard before. It was deep and resonating, and it sent chills down their spines.
“Who are you?” it asked. “What are you doing here?”
Jarmo and Tashana hesitated before responding. They were unsure if they should trust the figure or not.
“We are explorers,” Jarmo said. “We are here to uncover the secrets of this structure.”
The figure seemed to consider their words for a moment before responding.
“You have no right to be here,” it said. “This cylinder belongs to my people. It is not meant for outsiders.”
Jarmo and Tashana realized that they were in a precarious situation. They had come all this way, but they were being prevented from getting the artifact they had been looking for.
“We mean no harm,” Tashana said. “We just want to learn more about your people.”
The figure seemed to relax a little, but it was still cautious.
“If that is the case, then I can show you what you seek,” it said. “But you must be prepared for the unseen peril that lies ahead.”
Jarmo and Tashana nodded in agreement, knowing that they had come too far to turn back now. The figure led them through a door that was hidden in the shadows. They walked through a long hallway that was even darker than the previous one. The walls were covered in strange markings, and the air was thick with an eerie silence.
After walking for what felt like hours, they came across a chamber. It was a massive room, much larger than the previous one. The walls were covered in strange symbols, and the room was lit up by a dim glow coming from the ceiling.
In the center of the room, there was a massive statue. It was humanoid in shape, but it had six arms and two heads. One of the heads was looking towards the ceiling, and the other was looking down at the ground.
The figure walked towards the statue and touched one of the arms. As soon as it did, the room began to shake. The ground beneath their feet started to crack, and Jarmo and Tashana realized that they were in danger.
They tried to make their way back to the entrance, but the door was now blocked by debris. They were trapped. Jarmo and Tashana looked around frantically, searching for a way out. The room continued to shake, and they could hear the sound of crumbling rock and ice all around them.
“We need to find another way out!” Jarmo yelled over the noise.
Tashana nodded in agreement, and they both began to scan the room for any possible exits. As they looked around, Jarmo noticed something strange about the statue.
“Look!” he shouted. “The heads are facing different directions! Maybe we need to turn them both towards the ceiling!”
Tashana quickly caught on and ran to the other side of the statue. They both grabbed onto the heads and pushed with all their might. The statue resisted at first, but as they pushed harder, it began to turn.
As soon as the heads were facing the ceiling, the shaking stopped. The room fell silent, and the debris blocking the entrance began to move on its own, revealing a passageway.
Jarmo and Tashana quickly made their way towards the exit, with the figure following closely behind. As they emerged from the structure, they could see that the snow and ice around them had been disturbed. The ground was cracked, and there were rocks and debris scattered everywhere.
But the most shocking thing was the sky. The once clear and pristine sky was now filled with a thick fog, and strange shapes could be seen moving in the distance.
“What is that?” Tashana asked, pointing towards the shapes.
The figure stepped forward and looked towards the sky. It let out a deep sigh before speaking.
“The unseen peril,” it said. “It is a creature that we have been trying to keep at bay for centuries. But it seems that your presence has awoken it.”
Jarmo and Tashana exchanged worried glances. They had come all this way to find the artifact they were searching for, but they had inadvertently caused a catastrophe.
“What can we do?” Jarmo asked.
“We must act quickly,” the figure said. “The creature will not stop until it has destroyed everything in its path. We need to find a way to contain it.”
Jarmo and Tashana nodded in agreement, and they all set off towards a nearby structure. As they walked, they could hear the sounds of destruction getting closer and closer.
When they reached the structure, the figure led them through a long hallway that was lined with strange devices. The walls were covered in symbols that Jarmo and Tashana couldn’t understand. As they walked, the figure explained that the devices were designed to contain the creature. But they needed to be activated in a specific sequence, or else they would not work.
Jarmo and Tashana quickly set to work, activating the devices one by one. As they worked, they could feel the ground shaking beneath their feet, and they could hear the sound of the creature getting closer.
Finally, they activated the last device, and the ground beneath them began to shake violently. But this time, it was different. They could feel the ground stabilizing, and the sound of destruction began to fade away.
When they emerged from the structure, they could see that the fog had lifted, and the sky was clear once again. The snow and ice around them had been restored, and there was no sign of the creature.
“You did it,” the figure said, smiling at Jarmo and Tashana. “You saved our world.”
Jarmo and Tashana smiled back, feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment. They had come all this way to find an artifact, but they had ended up saving a planet.
As they made their way back to their ship, Jarmo and Tashana couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief. They had faced incredible danger and uncertainty, but they had come out on the other side. They had made a difference, and that was something that they could be proud of.
But their adventure was far from over. They still had to find the artifact they had come for, and they had to do it quickly. The longer they stayed on Pluto, the more danger they would face. The experiences in the cave had been a nice adventure, but probably had nothing to do with the artifact itself. It was always unbelievable how many different mysteries the solar system held ready.
They spent the next few days scouring the planet, searching for any signs of the artifact. They braved treacherous terrain and harsh weather, determined to complete their mission. Finally, they came across a strange structure that stood out from the rest. It was made of a dark, metallic material and was covered in strange symbols.
“This must be it,” Jarmo said, excitement evident in his voice.
They quickly made their way inside, searching for any clues that could lead them to the artifact. They found themselves in a large room, filled with strange devices and machinery.
As they searched, they heard a faint humming sound. They followed the sound to a small alcove in the corner of the room, where they found a strange, glowing orb.
“That must be it,” Tashana said, her eyes wide with excitement.
Jarmo approached the orb, but as he reached out to touch it, he was suddenly knocked back by a blast of energy.
Tashana rushed to his side, helping him up. “Are you okay?” she asked, concern etched on her face.
Jarmo nodded, his eyes fixed on the orb. “We need to find a way to get that thing out of here,” he said.
As they pondered their next move, they suddenly heard a strange noise coming from outside the structure. It sounded like something large was moving in their direction. They quickly realized that they had been followed. The danger they had faced before was nothing compared to what they were about to face.
“Well,” said Jarmo, “so much for the myth that there is no life on Pluto.”
Jarmo and Tashana quickly grabbed the orb effortless this time and made their way towards the exit. As they emerged from the structure, they were met by a massive, towering creature.
It was unlike anything they had ever seen before. Its body was covered in shimmering scales, and it had long, razor-sharp claws. Its eyes glowed with a fierce, fiery intensity, and it let out a deafening roar. Jarmo and Tashana stood frozen, unsure of what to do. They had never faced anything like this before.
But then, they remembered the lessons they had learned on their previous adventures. They remembered the strength and courage they had found within themselves. And they knew that they could not give up.
They stood their ground, ready to face whatever came their way. The creature charged towards them, its claws poised to strike.
Jarmo and Tashana braced themselves for impact, but at the last moment, the creature was knocked back by a blast of energy. The figure they had met earlier had arrived, and it was wielding a powerful weapon.
Together, the three of them fought the creature with all their might. They dodged its attacks, and they struck back with all their strength.
The battle was long and grueling, but in the end, they emerged victorious. The creature lay defeated, and Jarmo and Tashana stood panting, their bodies aching from the exertion.
The figure approached them, smiling. “You have done well,” it said. “You have proven yourselves to be true adventurers and heroes. So you shall receive the orb as a gift.”
Jarmo and Tashana smiled back, feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment. They had faced incredible danger and uncertainty, but they had come out on top. They had found the artifact they were searching for, and they had saved a planet in the process.
As they made their way back to their ship, Jarmo and Tashana couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction. They had accomplished their mission and had discovered something that would help shed light on the ancient cultures of the Solar System.
As they traveled through space, they couldn’t stop talking about their adventure on Pluto. They discussed the dangers they had faced, the creatures they had encountered, and the thrill of the battle. And they finally had discovered yet another artifact!
One month had passed since Jarmo Dorak and Tashana Oyan had fought for their lives in the Tournament of Death. They had emerged victorious and had become instant heroes, but they had no time to celebrate their triumph as they had other pressing matters to attend to. Jarmo had his birthday coming up, and Tashana had promised him a well-deserved break, a chance to relax and rejuvenate after the grueling tournament. She had arranged for them to take a vacation on the shore of the ocean on Planet Mars, a place Jarmo had visited several months ago.
As they arrived on the planet, they were taken aback by the stunning beauty of the ocean. It was vast and deep, and the waves were calm and soothing. They set up a small tent on the beach where they would stay for the next few days. Jarmo was thrilled at the prospect of being away from his work as a special agent for the ASTROCOHORS CLUB, and he looked forward to spending some quality time with Tashana.
The first few days of their vacation were peaceful and relaxing. They spent their time exploring the surroundings, walking on the beach, and swimming in the ocean. Jarmo was grateful for the respite and felt recharged with energy. However, on the morning of his birthday, their vacation took an unexpected turn.
Jarmo woke up to the sound of something roaring in the distance. He got up from his bed and went out to investigate, with Tashana following close behind. As they walked along the beach, they saw a massive fire dragon, soaring high in the sky, and breathing flames that scorched everything in their path. It was headed straight for their tent.
Jarmo and Tashana quickly realized that their vacation had taken an unwelcome turn, and they needed to act fast to save themselves. Tashana remembered that the planet Mars had a history of frequent dragon sightings, and she had come prepared. She had brought along a special weapon, a particle thrower that could extinguish the fire dragon’s flames.
Jarmo grabbed the particle thrower from Tashana and aimed it at the fire dragon. He pulled the trigger, and the particles coming from the weapon engulfed the dragon, extinguishing the fire that it breathed. However, the dragon was not going down without a fight. It swooped down towards Jarmo and Tashana, its massive claws aimed straight at them.
Jarmo and Tashana were skilled fighters, and they knew how to protect themselves. They dodged the dragon’s attacks and counter-attacked with their weapons, striking the dragon in its weak spots. However, the dragon was persistent, and it kept coming back, determined to defeat them.
Jarmo and Tashana realized that they were not going to win this battle alone, and they needed help. They called for backup, and within minutes, a team of ASTROCOHORS agents arrived on the scene. They brought along a more powerful weapon, a laser gun, capable of piercing the dragon’s tough scales.
Jarmo and Tashana fought alongside the agents, taking turns to attack the dragon and defend themselves against its attacks. They coordinated their efforts, each one covering the other’s back. The dragon was fierce, but they were relentless, and they kept fighting, determined not to let it defeat them.
As the battle waged on, Jarmo and Tashana’s bond grew stronger. They trusted each other implicitly, knowing that they could count on each other in times of need. They fought as a team, each one relying on the other’s skills and expertise. They were united in their goal, to defeat the fire dragon and save themselves.
Finally, after what seemed like hours of intense fighting, the fire dragon began to weaken. Its attacks became less frequent and less powerful, and its flames started to flicker and die out. Jarmo, Tashana, and the agents took advantage of the dragon’s weakness and intensified their attacks, using their weapons to pierce its scales and strike it in its vital spots.
The dragon let out a final roar before collapsing on the ground, defeated. Jarmo, Tashana, and the agents cautiously approached it, ready to defend themselves against any last-ditch attacks. But the dragon was truly defeated, its breathing shallow, and its flames extinguished.
Jarmo and Tashana breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that they had triumphed against all odds. They turned to each other, and in that moment, they both knew that their bond had grown even stronger. They had fought side by side, facing danger together, and they had emerged victorious. Now the agents would take over and take care of the dragon’s body.
As they made their way back to their tent, Jarmo and Tashana were just happy to be alive and to have each other. The rest of their vacation was uneventful, and they spent their time recuperating from the battle with the fire dragon. They swam in the ocean, watched the sunset, and talked about their future together. Jarmo realized that he had developed deep feelings for Tashana, feelings that went beyond friendship or camaraderie. He knew that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, facing whatever dangers or adventures lay ahead.
On their last night on the planet Mars, Jarmo took Tashana out for a walk on the beach. The stars were shining bright in the sky, and the waves lapped gently at their feet. Jarmo turned to Tashana and said, “Tashana, I know we’ve been through a lot together, and I know that we’re both fighters. But there’s something else I want to fight for. I want to fight for you. I want to be with you, always, no matter what.”
Tashana looked at Jarmo, and her heart skipped a beat. She had always felt a deep connection with Jarmo, a connection that went beyond mere friendship. She realized, in that moment, that she too had fallen in love with him. She took his hand in hers and said, “Jarmo, I don’t want to fight for anything else, but I want to fight for you too. I want to be with you, always, no matter what.”
They embraced each other, their hearts filled with love and hope. They knew that the road ahead would be long and treacherous, but they also knew that they could face anything together. They walked back to their tent, hand in hand, ready to face whatever the future held, together.
Jarmo Dorak and Tashana Oyan sat in a dark cell, deep in the heart of the X’tarec city on Venus. It had been one month since they discovered the sunken palace on Neptune, but they had no idea how they ended up here. Tashana was an amphibionid, a race of beings that lived in the depths of the oceans on various planets, including Neptune, but Jarmo was just an ordinary human.
Jarmo could hear the sounds of the jungle outside the cell. It was a strange world with strange creatures. The X’tarec were humanoid, but they were also alien. They looked like humans, but their skin was scaly, and their eyes were a bright green.
Suddenly, the door to the cell opened, and two X’tarec guards entered. They ordered Jarmo and Tashana to follow them. They took them through a maze of corridors until they reached a large courtroom.
The courtroom was filled with X’tarec dignitaries, including the Great Ruler himself. They were all dressed in elaborate robes and headdresses. In the center of the room was a raised platform, and on it stood a High Priest of the X’tarec.
The High Priest looked at Jarmo and Tashana with disdain. “You have been accused of helping thieves steal treasures from the Sunken Palace on Neptune,” he said in a deep voice. “What do you have to say for yourselves?”
Jarmo stood up and tried to explain why they were searching through the palace, but the High Priest was not interested in his explanations. “Silence!” he boomed. “You will be judged in the Tournament of Death.”
Jarmo and Tashana looked at each other in horror. The Tournament of Death was a brutal competition where teams played a game called Ulohmy, a ball sport, where the losing team would be sentenced to death. The X’tarec had adapted the game to their own culture, making it more violent and dangerous. Jarmo and Tashana had no choice but to participate.
They were separated into different teams, and Jarmo found himself playing against Tashana. The game was played on a field surrounded by a high wall, and the ball was made of a heavy but also bouncy material.
Jarmo’s team quickly took the lead, but Tashana’s team fought back fiercely. The game was brutal, with players tackling each other to get the ball. Jarmo was a good player, but he was no match for Tashana. She was fast and agile, and she moved like she was underwater. Jarmo watched in amazement as she scored goal after goal for her team.
The game was neck and neck, but in the end, Tashana scored the winning point, securing her team’s victory. The X’tarec spectators cheered and applauded.
The Great Ruler himself came down from his throne to congratulate Tashana. “You have earned my respect,” he said. “And the respect of my people. That’s why we’re doing something that we never do otherwise: You and your companion are free to go.”
Jarmo and Tashana left the X’tarec city, relieved to be alive. They had learned a valuable lesson about exploring strange planets and cultures. They knew that they had to be careful in the future and that they could never let their guard down.
As they walked back to their ship, Jarmo couldn’t help but feel a sense of gratitude towards Tashana. He had never met anyone like her, and he knew that he could trust her with his life. They may have been from different worlds, but they were united in their love of exploration and discovery. And that was all that mattered to them.
As they lifted off from Venus, Tashana turned to Jarmo and said, “That was close. I’m glad we made it out alive.”
“Me too,” Jarmo replied. “But I have to admit, you were amazing out there. I had no idea you were such a great athlete.”
Tashana grinned. “It’s in my blood. Amphibionids have always been known for our agility and speed. We can swim like fish and run like cheetahs.”
“I can see that now,” Jarmo said with a chuckle.
They flew back to one of the island on Neptune and spent the next few days on their ship, resting and recuperating from their ordeal. Jarmo spent a lot of time studying the data they had collected from the sunken palace. He was fascinated by the technology and architecture of the ancient civilization that had built it. They had come to Venus because there was a hint to a jungle planet and the cultures of Venus and Neptune overlapped. Jarmo had assumed that the beings who built Oogramosh’s Palace were somehow related to the X’tarec. That was probably not the case.
Tashana, on the other hand, spent her time exploring the depths of the nearby oceans. She would disappear for hours at a time, using her amphibious abilities to swim and explore the underwater world.
One day, while Tashana was out exploring, Jarmo received a message from an unknown source. It was an invitation to visit a planet called Tarsus. The message was vague and mysterious, but Jarmo had a feeling that it was important. He decided to take the risk and accept the invitation. He knew that Tashana would be hesitant, but he also knew that she trusted him. He would have to convince her to go along with him.
When Tashana returned to the ship, Jarmo told her about the message he had received. She was understandably wary. “Who sent this message?” she asked.
“I don’t know,” Jarmo admitted. “But I have a feeling it’s important. We have to go.”
Tashana thought about it for a moment. She knew that Jarmo was a skilled explorer and that he had a knack for discovering new and exciting things. She trusted him, but she was also cautious. “Okay,” she said finally. “But we need to be careful. We don’t know what we’re walking into.”
Jarmo nodded in agreement. They set a course for Tarsus, a planet that was known for its lush forests and exotic wildlife. As they flew closer, they could see that the planet was covered in a thick layer of mist. It was eerie and foreboding, but Jarmo was determined to press on. As they landed their ship on the surface, they were greeted by a group of beings that looked like giant insects. They were friendly and welcoming, and they led Jarmo and Tashana to a large temple.
Inside the temple, they were met by a group of scholars who were studying an ancient artifact. It was a glowing crystal that pulsed with energy. Jarmo was immediately intrigued. He had never seen anything like it before. The scholars explained that the crystal was a key to an ancient technology that had been lost for centuries. They believed that Jarmo and Tashana were the ones who could unlock its secrets.
Jarmo and Tashana spent the next few days studying the crystal and deciphering its code. They worked tirelessly, trying to unravel its secrets.
Finally, after days of work, they were able to unlock the crystal’s power. The scholars were ecstatic. They thanked Jarmo and Tashana for their help and rewarded them with a small token of their appreciation.
As they left the temple and headed back to their ship, Jarmo couldn’t help but feel a sense of accomplishment. He had discovered something new and exciting.
Together, they boarded their ship and took off from Tarsus. Jarmo couldn’t wait to explore the secrets of the crystal. He knew that their work would revolutionize the way people thought about ancient technology.
As they traveled through space, Tashana turned to Jarmo and said, “I’m glad we came here. It was risky, but it was worth it.”
Jarmo smiled. “I agree. It’s always worth taking a risk when there’s a chance for discovery.”
Jarmo Dorak had survived the strange experiences and the escape from the strange organization injured. Marion had delivered him to an ASTROCOHORS hospital in good time. He was able to recover, but as soon as he felt better, he became restless. Marion had been called to another mission. And he was still searching for the Temple of the Wind Harp. He had a new lead he was dying to pursue.
Jarmo had been on the planet Neptun for three weeks now. His mission was to find a space ship that had crashed on the planet two years ago. The ship carried a slab with a map that lead to the sunken palace of Oogramosh, located somewhere in the depth of the oceans of Neptun. It was said that the palace contained treasures beyond anyone’s imagination – and a hint to the Temple of the Wind Harp, the slab with the map. Jarmo, being an adventurer at heart, hoped that the temple was finally at hand.
Neptun was a water planet with only small islands dotting its vast ocean. Jarmo had to use dive gear to breathe under water, which made his search for the sunken space ship even more difficult. He had been diving for days, covering a large area of the ocean floor, but he had yet to find any trace of the ship.
On the fourth day, as Jarmo was diving near a small island, he saw a figure swimming towards him. It was a woman, about his age, with long blonde hair and green eyes. She looked human, but something about her was different. As she approached, Jarmo noticed that her skin was slightly shimmering, almost like it was coated with a thin layer of water.
“Hello,” she said in a soft voice as she came closer. “My name is Tashana Oyan. Are you lost?”
Jarmo was surprised by her sudden appearance, but he was glad to see another person on this desolate planet. “No, I’m not lost,” he replied, trying to sound friendly. “I’m looking for a sunken space ship. Have you seen anything like that around here?”
Tashana nodded. “Yes, I have. I can help you find it, but you have to promise me something in return.”
Jarmo raised an eyebrow. “What do you want?”
“I want to come with you,” Tashana said with a smile. “I’ve been watching you. You are very goal oriented. Something drives you. You want to find something that you have been looking for for a long time. And believe me, I also know these longings. So, will you take me with you?”
Jarmo thought about it for a moment. He didn’t know much about Tashana (he knew nothing about her, to be exact), but he could use all the help he could get in finding the ship. “Okay,” he finally agreed. “You can come with me. But be warned, it’s going to be a dangerous journey.”
Tashana smiled. “I can handle danger. I’m an amphibionid, which means I can breathe under water. Can you?”
Jarmo shook his head. “No, I have to use dive gear. But let’s not waste any more time. Show me where you saw the ship.”
Tashana led the way, swimming effortlessly through the water. Jarmo followed closely behind, feeling a little envious of her ability to move so gracefully. They swam for hours, until they finally came across a small group of looters who were trying to pry open the door of the sunken space ship.
Jarmo and Tashana quickly swam towards them, their dive gear making a loud hissing noise as they moved through the water. The looters turned around, startled by their sudden appearance.T hey also wore scuba gear. Jarmo could see that their helmets were equipped with a communications unit and he wondered if he would be able to talk to them.
“What do you want?” one of them growled, brandishing a harpoon. Jarmo could hear his voice clearly in his comm unit. So he was hooked into their system.
“We’re here to find a simple slab,” Jarmo said, trying to sound confident. “We don’t want any trouble.”
The looters looked at each other, unsure of what to do. But before they could make a move, a large water creature appeared out of nowhere and attacked them. Jarmo and Tashana watched in horror as the creature devoured the looters one by one, leaving only scraps of flesh and torn pieces of cloth floating in the water.
Jarmo and Tashana quickly swam away, not wanting to become the next meal for the creature. They swam for a while longer, until they found the entrance to the sunken space ship. It was partially buried in the sand, and the door was almost completely covered. Jarmo and Tashana used their strength to push the sand away, revealing the door.
Jarmo opened the door, and they swam inside. The ship was dark and damp, with water dripping from the ceiling. Jarmo turned on his flashlight, illuminating the interior of the ship. They searched through the debris, trying to find the slab with the map. After a few minutes of searching, Tashana finally found it. It was lying on the floor, covered in dust and sand. She picked it up, and they both swam back to the surface.
“Now that we have the map, we can finally find the target – the sunken palace,” Jarmo said, looking at Tashana. “Are you still up for the adventure?”
“Of course,” Tashana replied, her eyes gleaming with excitement. “Lead the way.”
Jarmo placed the slab in the sand and studied it for a few minutes. The map was carved into its surface. It was written in a language he didn’t understand, but there were some symbols that he recognized. He pointed to one of the symbols, which looked like a seashell that was native to Neptune. “I think this is where we need to go,” he said.
Jarmo got new scuba tanks and they both went back into the water. They swam towards the region that was marked on the map with the seashell symbol, which led them deeper into the ocean. As they swam, they saw more and more strange creatures, some of which were bigger than they were. Jarmo and Tashana had to be careful not to disturb them, as they didn’t want to get attacked.
Finally, after a few hours of swimming, they saw something in the distance. It was a large structure, made of white marble and adorned with intricate carvings. Jarmo and Tashana swam towards it, their hearts beating fast with excitement.
As they got closer, they saw that the structure was indeed a palace, and it was completely submerged in water. But what was even more amazing was that there were lights shining from inside the palace. It seemed that someone was still living there.
Jarmo and Tashana swam towards the entrance of the palace, which was guarded by two large creatures that looked like sea serpents. Jarmo pulled out his harpoon, ready to defend himself. But the creatures didn’t attack them. Instead, they simply watched as Jarmo and Tashana swam inside the palace.
The interior of the palace was just as magnificent as the exterior. There were marble pillars lining the walls, and the floor was made of polished white stone. But what really caught their attention were the treasures scattered throughout the palace. There were jewels, gold coins, and precious artifacts, all of which were worth a fortune.
As they were admiring the treasures, they heard a noise coming from one of the rooms. Jarmo and Tashana cautiously swam towards the room, their harpoons at the ready. They entered the room, and saw a figure sitting on a throne. It was a woman, with long dark hair and piercing blue eyes. She was dressed in a white robe, and had a regal bearing that made Jarmo and Tashana feel small and insignificant. Apparently she too was an amphibionid. When she spoke, her voice could be heard through the water.
“Who are you?” the woman asked in a commanding voice.
Jarmo stepped forward. “My name is Jarmo Dorak. I’m an adventurer, and I’ve come to explore this palace.”
The woman raised an eyebrow. “And who is your companion?”
“This is Tashana Oyan,” Jarmo said, gesturing towards Tashana.
The woman studied Tashana for a moment, her piercing blue eyes scanning over her features. Tashana felt a chill run down her spine as the woman’s gaze lingered on her for a moment longer than necessary.
“What brings you here?” the woman asked, her voice still cold and commanding.
“We’re searching for something,” Jarmo said, taking out the slab with the map. “This map led us here.”
The woman’s eyes widened slightly as she saw the map. “I see,” she said. “And what is it that you’re looking for?”
Jarmo hesitated for a moment, not sure if he should reveal his true intentions. But then he decided that he had come too far to back down now. “We’re looking for the sunken treasure of Oogramosh,” he said. “Legend has it that it’s hidden somewhere in these waters.”
The woman’s expression changed at the mention of Oogramosh. Her eyes became distant, and she seemed lost in thought for a moment.
“Oogramosh,” she repeated. “I haven’t heard that name in a long time.”
“What do you know about Oogramosh?” Jarmo asked, getting a little bit closer to the woman.
The woman looked up at him, her eyes filled with a mix of sadness and determination. “I know more than you can imagine,” she said. “But before I can help you, I need to know that you’re worthy of this knowledge.”
“What do you mean?” Tashana asked, confused.
“I mean that you must prove your worthiness,” the woman said, swimming towards them. “If you want to learn the secrets of Oogramosh, you must complete a task for me.”
Jarmo and Tashana exchanged a glance, both of them unsure of what the woman was asking for. But they were determined to find the treasure of Oogramosh, no matter what it took.
“What kind of task?” Jarmo asked.
“I need you to retrieve a necklace for me,” the woman said, gesturing towards a chest at the other end of the room. “It was stolen from me many years ago, and I’ve been searching for it ever since. It was brought back to me in this chest, but there’s a magical curse on it. So far no one was able to take the necklace out of the chest. If you can retrieve it for me, then I’ll help you find the treasure of Oogramosh. Perhaps you are worthy.”
Jarmo and Tashana swam towards the chest, their hearts beating fast with anticipation. Jarmo opened the chest, and inside he found a beautiful necklace made of pearls and gold. As he reached out to grab the necklace, he heard a noise behind him. He turned around, and saw that the woman had disappeared. In her place was a group of armed guards, their weapons pointed at Jarmo and Tashana.
“What’s going on?” Jarmo demanded, his harpoon at the ready.
“You have stolen from the queen,” one of the guards said, his voice cold and emotionless. “You will be punished for your crime.”
Jarmo and Tashana backed away, realizing that they were outnumbered and outmatched. And they have been tricked. But then Jarmo had an idea. He took out the slab with the map, and showed it to the guards.
“We’re not thieves,” he said. “We’re explorers, searching for the treasure of Oogramosh. The queen promised to help us if we completed this task for her.”
The guards looked at the map, their eyes widening as they realized what it was. “The map of Oogramosh,” one of them said in awe. “It’s real.”
Jarmo and Tashana saw their chance. While the guards were distracted, they swam towards the entrance of the palace, determined to make their escape. They swam as fast as they could, their hearts racing with adrenaline as they dodged the guards’ attacks. Tashana led the way, using her amphibionid abilities to navigate the underwater terrain with ease.
Finally, they made it to the surface, gasping for breath as they emerged from the water. They looked back towards the palace, seeing the guards still standing at the entrance, their weapons raised in anger.
“That was a weird experience,” Jarmo said, grabbing Tashana’s hand. “We have the map, but we still need to find the treasure.”
Tashana nodded, her eyes filled with determination. “Maybe we try if there’s another entrance to the palace,” she said. “Let’s go!”
They swam back towards the location marked on the map, navigating through the treacherous waters with caution. The sunken palace of Oogramosh was a sight to behold. It was located deep in the ocean’s abyss, surrounded by shimmering schools of fish and brightly colored coral reefs. Jarmo and Tashana swam around the palace, their hearts racing with excitement. No guards were in sight. What was all this about? They found a small hole in the wall.
As they entered the palace, they saw that it was filled with treasure beyond their wildest dreams. There were gold coins and jewels scattered everywhere, along with ancient artifacts and valuable works of art. So was the encounter they had before just a distraction? Strange things were going on here.
Andthe true treasure of Oogramosh was something else entirely. It was a scroll in a sealed bottle, written in an ancient language that neither Jarmo nor Tashana could read. But they knew that it was important, and that it held the key to unlocking the secrets that Jarmo wanted to find.
They took the bottle, along with some of the other treasures, and swam back to the surface. As they emerged from the water, they saw that the sun was starting to set, casting a golden glow across the sky.
“We did it,” Tashana said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “We found the treasure of Oogramosh.”
Jarmo nodded, a smile spreading across his face. “And we have the scroll,” he said. “Who knows what kind of knowledge it holds.”
They hugged each other, their hearts filled with a sense of accomplishment and adventure. They knew that their journey was far from over, and that there were many more mysteries waiting to be discovered. But for now, they were content to bask in the glory of their victory, and to dream of the wonders that lay ahead.
Marion Alsy slowly opened her eyes and blinked, trying to adjust to the dim light of her prison cell. She groaned as she tried to sit up, feeling a sharp pain in her head. Memories of what had happened flooded back to her, and she realized with a jolt that she was alone.
“Jarmo?” she called out, her voice hoarse. There was no answer. She got up and walked over to the door, but it was firmly locked. She looked around the cell, trying to find anything that could help her escape.
The cell was small and bare, with only a narrow bed and a toilet in the corner. The walls were made of a smooth metal that seemed impenetrable. Marion sighed, feeling a sense of hopelessness wash over her. She knew she had to stay strong and keep trying to escape.
She sat down on the bed and closed her eyes, trying to think of a plan. She remembered something she had learned during her training as a BUREAU 07 agent – always look for weaknesses in your environment. She got up and examined the walls again, running her hands over the smooth surface. Suddenly, her fingers brushed against a small bump. She pressed it, and a hidden panel slid open, revealing a control panel.
Marion grinned triumphantly and quickly scanned the panel, trying to find a way to unlock the door. But the controls were written in a language she didn’t understand, and she cursed under her breath. She had to find someone who could help her.
She walked over to the toilet and knelt down, peering into the bowl. To her surprise, she saw a small camera mounted on the rim. She realized that whoever had captured her was watching her every move. She decided to use that to her advantage.
“Hey, whoever’s watching this, I need your help!” she shouted, hoping someone would hear her. “I need to get out of here and find my friend. I promise I won’t cause any trouble.”
There was no response. Marion sighed and leaned back against the wall, feeling frustrated. She wondered where Jarmo was and what the sinister group wanted from them. She had to find a way to escape and get back to BUREAU 07.
Suddenly, the door to her cell slid open, and two burly guards stepped inside, their weapons trained on her. Marion quickly got up, ready to fight, but one of the guards shot her with a stun gun, and she collapsed to the ground.
She woke up later in a different cell, feeling disoriented. She got up and looked around, but it was the same as the previous one. She realized with a sinking feeling that her escape attempt had failed. She shook her head, trying to clear the cobwebs, and got up to examine her surroundings. This cell was similar to the last one, with smooth metal walls and a narrow bed. But there was one key difference – the toilet wasn’t mounted to the floor, and she realized with a spark of hope that it could be used as a makeshift weapon.
She took a deep breath and tried to stay calm, focusing on her training. She remembered something her instructor had once told her – always keep your enemies off balance. She decided to try that tactic.
She waited for a few minutes, trying to listen for any sounds outside her cell. When she didn’t hear anything, she lifted the toilet and positioned herself near the door, holding it like a club. Then, she started to make as much noise as possible, banging the toilet against the walls and shouting.
It worked. A few moments later, the door to her cell slid open, and a guard stepped inside, his weapon at the ready. Marion swung the toilet with all her strength, hitting the guard in the face. He stumbled back, dazed, and she took advantage of the moment to grab his weapon and shoot him. She knew it wasn’t a permanent solution, but she had to keep moving.
She ran down the corridor, looking for any signs of Jarmo or a way out. She heard footsteps behind her and knew she had to act fast. She saw a door ahead of her and ran towards it, hoping it would lead to the ship’s bridge.
When she burst into the room, she was surprised to see that it was empty. But then, she noticed a window at the far end of the room, and she ran towards it. When she looked outside, she gasped in shock.
The space ship was hovering near the corona of the sun, its surface gleaming with heat. Marion realized that the sinister group had been using the sun’s energy as a power source for their ship. She knew she had to escape before it was too late.
She looked around the room, searching for any kind of escape route. That’s when she saw a spacesuit hanging on the wall. She quickly put it on, taking a deep breath as she opened the window and stepped outside.
The heat was intense, and Marion felt her suit heating up rapidly. She knew she had to move quickly before the suit failed. She saw a hatch on the ship’s surface and ran towards it, praying it would lead to an escape pod.
When she reached the hatch, she pressed a button on her suit’s wristband, and it opened with a hiss. She climbed inside, her heart pounding as she activated the pod’s engines. The ship started to shrink in the distance, and Marion felt a sense of relief and triumph.
She had escaped the sinister group and saved herself from the sun’s deadly embrace. But she knew she had to keep moving, to find Jarmo and get back to BUREAU 07. She smiled grimly, feeling ready for whatever came next. She couldn’t believe that she had managed to escape the sinister group’s clutches and survive being so close to the sun. She knew that she had to keep moving and find Jarmo.
As she flew through space, she noticed that her communications system was picking up a faint signal. She tried to boost the signal and heard Jarmo’s voice come through, crackling with static.
“Marion, are you there?” Jarmo asked.
“I’m here, Jarmo,” Marion said, feeling a wave of relief wash over her.
“Thank goodness,” Jarmo said. “I managed to escape from my cell as well. But we’re not out of danger yet. The sinister group has a powerful weapon on their ship, and they’re heading towards Earth.”
Marion’s heart sank at the news. She knew that if the sinister group reached Earth, it could mean the end of everything they knew and loved. She had to find a way to stop them.
“Jarmo, I’m on an escape pod,” Marion said. “I’m not far from your location. We need to come up with a plan.”
“Agreed,” Jarmo said. “I’ve been analyzing the ship’s schematics. There’s a way to disable their weapon from the inside, but it’s a risky move. We’ll have to work together and use all of our skills to make it happen.”
Marion nodded, feeling a sense of determination wash over her. She knew that they had a slim chance of success, but she also knew that they had to try.
She piloted the escape pod towards Jarmo’s location, and when she arrived, they quickly devised a plan. They would sneak onto the sinister group’s ship, make their way to the weapon’s control center, and disable it from the inside. It was a dangerous mission, but they knew that it was the only way to save Earth.
They donned their spacesuits and climbed into an airlock, making their way towards the sinister group’s ship. They managed to evade the guards and sneak onto the ship, making their way through the corridors towards the control center.
As they approached the control center, they heard the ominous hum of the weapon charging up. They knew they had to act fast.
They burst into the control center, surprising the guards inside. Marion fired her weapon, taking out the guards as Jarmo quickly went to work disabling the weapon’s controls.
As he worked, Marion held off the remaining guards, fighting with everything she had. She knew that they couldn’t let the sinister group succeed, no matter the cost.
Finally, Jarmo succeeded in disabling the weapon. The hum stopped, and the room fell silent. Marion and Jarmo breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that they had saved the day.
As they made their way back to their escape pod, they knew that they had done the impossible. They had survived the sun’s deadly embrace, escaped the sinister group, and saved Earth from destruction.
At least that’s what Marion thought. Her heart started pounding as Jarmo pointed his gun at her. She couldn’t believe that the person she had trusted with her life was not who he seemed to be.
“What’s going on, Jarmo?” she asked, her voice trembling.
“I’m not Jarmo,” the imposter said, grinning at her. “I’m a member of the group. And now that we have you back on our ship, we can finally get what we came for.”
Marion’s mind raced as she tried to think of a way out of the situation. She knew that she had to keep her wits about her if she wanted to survive. The imposter motioned for her to come with him, and she reluctantly followed him back to the bridge of the ship. The leader of the group, a sinister figure in a black cloak, stood waiting for her.
“Well, well, well,” the leader said, sneering at Marion. “It seems that you’re not as clever as we thought. We have your friend Jarmo, and now we have you. We’ll stop at nothing to get the artifacts that you found on Mercury.”
Marion glared at the leader, feeling a surge of anger and defiance. She knew that she would never give up the artifacts without a fight. The leader motioned for her to be taken back to her cell, and as she was led away, she quickly formulated a plan. She feigned exhaustion, pretending to be too tired to fight back as her guard led her through the corridors of the ship.
But as they reached a dark corner, she struck out, kicking the guard and knocking him to the ground. She sprinted down the corridor, her heart racing as she heard the sound of footsteps chasing after her. She ducked and weaved, dodging past guards and sliding around corners as she made her way towards the shuttle hangar. She knew that her only hope was to steal a shuttle and escape once more.
Finally, she arrived at the hangar, panting and out of breath. She quickly found a shuttle and climbed aboard, frantically punching in the launch codes.
The shuttle lifted off, and Marion breathed a sigh of relief as she soared away from the sinister group’s ship. She knew that she had narrowly escaped death, but she also knew that the fight was far from over.
As she piloted the shuttle towards safety, she knew that she would never rest until she found Jarmo and the artifacts were safe. She vowed to take down the group, no matter what the cost. They were a force to be reckoned with.
Marion’s hands shook as she piloted the shuttle through space. She knew that she had to find Jarmo quickly, but she had no idea where to start. She needed a clue, a piece of information that could help her track him down.
As she scanned the data logs of the shuttle’s computer, something caught her eye. It was a coded transmission, sent from the sinister group’s ship just before she had escaped. She quickly decrypted the message and began to read.
The message was from the leader of the group, and it contained coordinates. Marion’s heart leapt as she realized what they meant. The group was hiding Jarmo in the asteroid belt, just somewhere. The asteroid belt of the solar system was huge. But Marion wasn’t one to give up easily. She knew that she had to get to Jarmo before the group could extract the artifacts from him. She quickly plotted a course to the asteroid belt, her mind racing as she tried to work out a plan.
As she approached the belt, she began to scan the asteroids, looking for any sign of the group’s ship. It took hours of searching, but finally, she spotted it, lurking behind a large asteroid.
Marion grinned to herself as she approached the ship. She knew that she had the element of surprise on her side. She piloted the shuttle into position and prepared to board the ship.
As she disembarked from the shuttle, she could feel her heart racing. She knew that she was walking into danger, but she was determined to save Jarmo and the artifacts. She moved stealthily through the corridors of the ship, avoiding the guards and keeping to the shadows. She could hear voices up ahead, and she knew that she was getting closer.
As she rounded a corner, she came face to face with the leader of the group. He sneered at her, brandishing a weapon.
“Well, well, well,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Look who decided to come back. You’re too late, though. We already have what we came for.”
Marion didn’t hesitate. She leapt forward, her fists flying as she attacked the leader. They exchanged blows, each one determined to come out on top.
Finally, Marion got the upper hand. She knocked the leader to the ground and pinned him there, her gun trained on him.
“Where is Jarmo?” she demanded, her voice fierce.
The leader laughed, spitting blood from his mouth. “He’s long gone, my dear. You’ll never catch up to him.”
Marion’s heart sank as she realized that she had failed. But she wasn’t one to give up easily. She knew that she would find Jarmo, no matter what it took.
She bound the leader and left him there, making her way back to the shuttle. She piloted the ship away from the asteroid belt, her mind racing as she tried to come up with a new plan.
She knew that Jarmo was out there somewhere, and she would stop at nothing to find him. She set a new course for the outer reaches of the solar system. She had seen other coordinates in the shuttle’s database, but discarded them as they were far out, near the Oort cloud. Who should establish a base there? Of course, a criminal organization would do that!
Marion’s shuttle soared through the darkness of space, headed towards the location she had discovered in the database. She felt a mix of adrenaline and anxiety as she approached, knowing that Jarmo’s life was in danger and that the mission was far from over.
As she neared the coordinates, she could see a large asteroid looming ahead of her. She maneuvered her shuttle carefully, hiding it behind the asteroid’s rocky surface as she surveyed the area with her instruments. She could see several small ships docked at the asteroid’s surface, and she knew that Jarmo could be on any one of them.
Marion took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. She knew that she had to act fast and decisively if she was going to save Jarmo and retrieve the artifacts. She activated the shuttle’s cloaking device and began to slowly move towards the closest docked ship.
As she approached, she could see that the ship was heavily guarded, with several armed individuals patrolling the area. She knew that a frontal assault would be suicide, so she began to think of a different approach.
She reviewed the ship’s schematics that she had downloaded from the database, looking for any weaknesses or vulnerabilities. Suddenly, she noticed a small air vent on the side of the ship that led directly to the ship’s cargo hold.
Marion smiled to herself, feeling a surge of excitement. She maneuvered her shuttle towards the vent and managed to land it on the side of the ship. She climbed out of the shuttle and made her way towards the vent, using her tools to pry it open.
The inside of the vent was dark and cramped, but Marion crawled through it with determination. She emerged in the cargo hold, which was filled with crates and containers. She began to search through them, looking for any sign of Jarmo or the artifacts.
After several tense minutes, she finally found what she was looking for. Jarmo was lying on the ground, unconscious but alive, and the artifacts were in a nearby crate. Marion quickly gathered them up and checked Jarmo’s vitals. He was stable, but she knew they had to get off the ship as quickly as possible.
Marion made her way back to her shuttle, keeping a low profile and avoiding detection. This wasn’t easy as she couldn’t wake up Jarmo completely. He was more unconscious than conscious, stumbling, falling. She was more or less dragging him. Then she loaded Jarmo and the artifacts into the shuttle and set the course for Earth.
As the shuttle sped through space, Marion felt a sense of relief wash over her. They had made it out alive, but she knew that they would have to be careful. This organization was still out there, and they would stop at nothing to get their hands on the artifacts.
Marion set her jaw and gripped the controls of the shuttle, determined to finish what she had started.
Jarmo Dorak and Marion Alsy stepped out of their spacecraft onto the surface of Mercury, the closest planet to the sun. The heat was oppressive, and they both struggled to adjust to the extreme temperature. They had come a long way in their quest for the Temple of the Wind Harp, and they were eager to find the next signpost that would lead them to the Cube of Knowledge.
As they approached the temple, they were struck by its ancient beauty. The structure was made of a strange, shimmering material that seemed to change color depending on the angle of the sun’s rays. The carvings on the walls were intricate and mysterious, depicting scenes from an unknown culture. Jarmo, being a culture specialist, was particularly fascinated by the carvings. He studied them carefully, trying to decipher their meaning. Marion, meanwhile, kept watch for any signs of danger.
As they made their way deeper into the temple, they came across a large room that seemed to be the central hub of the structure. In the center of the room was a pedestal, upon which sat a strange, box-shaped object. Jarmo immediately thought that this was the second signpost they had been searching for. Excitedly, he approached the pedestal, eager to examine the signpost more closely. But as he reached out to touch it, a loud rumbling noise echoed through the temple.
Startled, Marion drew her weapon and scanned the room for any signs of danger. Jarmo, meanwhile, realized that the signpost was connected to a mechanism that had triggered the noise. He quickly scanned the carvings on the walls, looking for any clues as to what was happening. And then he saw it – a depiction of a massive stone door, sealed shut by a complex locking mechanism. The stone door itself was in the opposite wall. And yes, it was locked.
Jarmo knew that they needed to find the key to unlock the door if they were to make any further progress in their quest. He and Marion searched the temple, examining every nook and cranny for any sign of the key. As they searched, they came across more carvings that shed light on the ancient culture that had built the temple. They learned of a powerful ruler who had commissioned the construction of the temple and had used its secrets to gain dominion over his rivals. In one of the pictures, the ruler could be seen looking at a large, black cube.
“The Black Cube of Knowledge!” Jarmo exclaimed.
The two looked more closely at the picture. The ruler had raised one hand and was pointing to the image of a small statuette. In addition to the statuette, three other objects were depicted. One item appeared to be the crystal Jarmo, Marion, and Aisha found on Mars. The other two items could not be seen. At this point the relief was too weathered.
“Look!” Jarmo explained. “The four signposts. And it looks like we’ll have to look for this… small statuette here. Whatever it’s supposed to represent.”
Marion nodded. “Then we shouldn’t waste any time.”
Finally, after what seemed like hours of searching, Jarmo and Marion found a hidden chamber deep within the temple. But before they could enter, they were interrupted by a loud noise from outside.
Marion immediately went into high alert, but Jarmo knew that they needed to press on with their quest. He and Marion stepped through the doorway, into the unknown depths of the Ruy’i Koolian caves.
Jarmo and Marion stepped into the first room of the Ruy’i Koolian caves, and their eyes widened as they took in their surroundings. The walls were covered in carvings similar to those in the temple above, but these were even more intricate, depicting scenes of battles, sacrifices, and other strange things.
Jarmo quickly began to search the room, while Marion still kept a lookout for any signs of danger. As they moved deeper into the caves, they encountered strange creatures they had never seen before – small, winged creatures that buzzed around their heads, and slimy, slug-like creatures that crawled across the walls.
The deeper they went, the more humid the cave became, and they soon realized that there must be a source of water somewhere nearby. Jarmo began to speculate that the ancient culture that had built the temple and the caves must have found a way to tap into the planet’s resources to survive in such a harsh environment.
As they made their way through the first few rooms, Jarmo and Marion talked about their thoughts on the environment and their situation. They speculated about the creatures they encountered and marveled at the carvings on the walls, wondering what secrets they held.
But as they entered the fourth room, they suddenly heard a loud noise, like the sound of rushing water. They quickly realized that they had stumbled upon the source of the humidity – a massive underground river that flowed through the caves.
Jarmo and Marion stood in awe as they gazed upon the river, marveling at its power and beauty, watching as the water flowed swiftly past them. The water was clear and blue, and they could see fish swimming beneath the surface.
“Wow,” Jarmo said in amazement. “I’ve never seen anything like this before. The power of this river must be incredible.”
Marion nodded in agreement, taking in the sight before her. “Yes, it’s amazing,” she said. “But we need to keep moving if we want to find that statuette.”
They both fell into a moment of silence, considering their options. Jarmo spoke up after a while, “How far into the caves do you think we should go?”
Marion looked thoughtful. “Well, we know that the statuette isn’t in this room, so we have to keep exploring. But we also need to be careful. We don’t know what other dangers lie ahead.”
Jarmo nodded, “You’re right. Maybe we should stick to the edges of the river for now and see if we can spot anything.”
Marion looked at the river, “Actually, examining the river might also yield a clue to the small statuette. But since only I can breathe underwater, I should explore it.”
Jarmo looked at Marion, “Are you sure you want to do that alone?”
Marion smiled confidently, “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. Besides, if I find anything, I’ll come back and let you know.”
With that, Marion quickly took off her uniform. Much to Jarmo’s amazement, she was wearing what appeared to be swimwear underneath. Was she always ready to go in the water? She couldn’t have expected that here, in the middle of the desert. Before Jarmo could have asked her, Marion dove into the water. She felt the cool rush of water against her skin as she descended into the depths, the light from the cave entrance fading behind her.
As she swam, she marveled at the underwater landscape. She saw schools of colorful fish darting around her and strange, slimy creatures clinging to the rocks. She dove deeper, feeling the pressure build in her ears, until she saw something glinting on the riverbed. It was a small pendant, about the size of her palm, lying on the riverbed. She picked it up and examined it closely, marveling at its intricate design. As she made her way back to Jarmo, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement. They had found a clue!
Jarmo waited anxiously on the bank of the underground river, his mind wandering as he thought about the past few months. He couldn’t help but recall the days when he and Aisha were so in love and how it all began just a few months ago on the beach. It also went well when they later along with Marion were searching for clues to the Temple of the Wind Harp in the library of Aresium on Mars. Aisha was with them until her mother fell ill, forcing her to return to Earth to take care of her. They kept in touch for a while, but as the weeks passed, their communication became less frequent until it finally stopped altogether. Jarmo feared that he had lost Aisha forever, but he knew he had to focus on the task at hand.
Lost in his thoughts, Jarmo didn’t notice Marion emerging from the river until she was standing right in front of him, dripping wet. He looked up at her, relief washing over him as she held out the small pendant she had found in the river.
“Jarmo, I found it!” Marion exclaimed, holding out the small pendant.
Jarmo let out a sigh of relief and a smile spread across his face. “Good job, Marion,” he said, taking the pendant from her.
They both sat down on the bank of the river, catching their breath and taking a moment to rest. Jarmo couldn’t help but ask Marion about her experience in the water.
“What did you see down there?” he asked.
Marion smiled, “It was amazing. The water was so clear, and I saw fish and other creatures I had never seen before. It was like a whole other world down there.”
Jarmo smiled, “Sounds incredible.”
Marion nodded, “It was. But I’m just glad I found this.”
They both sat in silence for a moment, reflecting on the challenges they had faced and the ones that lay ahead. Jarmo couldn’t help but think about Aisha again and the pain of her absence. But for now, he was grateful to have Marion by his side.
As Jarmo and Marion entered the next cave, following the rive, they were awestruck by the artistic design on the walls. The reliefs depicted an ancient god of Planet Mercury, the God of a Thousand Doors, in various poses. Jarmo took a closer look at one of the reliefs and noticed that the god was holding a small object in his hand.
“Look at this,” Jarmo said to Marion, pointing at the relief. “The god is holding something. It could be the small statuette we’re looking for.”
Marion nodded in agreement and they continued to explore the cave. They reached a dead end, with two stone doors in front of them. The river flowed into a hole in the wall, and they could hear the sound of rushing water.
Jarmo looked closely at the doors and saw that there were inscriptions carved into the stone. He read them aloud: “Two doors stand before you, one leads to the end, the other to the beginning. Choose wisely and the path will open.”
He turned to Marion. “This must be a riddle. We have to choose the right door to continue.”
Marion nodded and they both looked at the doors. They were identical and there were no markings on them. They tried pushing and pulling them, but nothing happened.
“We need a clue,” Jarmo said, looking around the cave.
He spotted another carving of the god holding the object again, but this time the object was glowing.
“Look at that,” he said excitedly. “The object is glowing. Maybe that’s the clue.”
Marion took the pendant she found in the river. She held it up to the doors and the pendant began to glow brightly.
“That’s it,” Jarmo said. “Let’s get closer to the doors!”
Marion held the pendant first to the left, then to the right door. The one on the right began to glow. They pushed it, it opened and it lead to the next cave. As they entered, they heard a faint clicking sound and realized that the door had locked behind them. They exchanged a worried look but continue on their quest.
The room was dimly lit, some sort of crystals on the walls providing a faint glow. In the center of the room stood a pedestal with a stone statue of a god holding out its hand.
Jarmo and Marion approached the statue and saw that there was an inscription on the pedestal. The inscription read:
“Speak my name and I shall reveal the path. But beware, for with each incorrect guess, the room will unleash its wrath.”
Jarmo looked at Marion, and they both knew that they had to be careful with their guesses. He examined the statue closely. It was again one of the gods of the planet Mercury. He wore a crown and had strange markings on his chest. Jarmo had an idea of the name of this god. He had studied the gods of Mercury in the library on Mars. Now he just hoped he got the pronunciation of that name right. Jarmo took a deep breath and said, “Is your name Atzi Nechi?”
There was no response, and the room shook slightly. They heard a grinding noise, and a section of the wall slid open to reveal a second statue.
Marion approached the second statue and read the inscription on its pedestal:
“The more you take, the more you leave behind. What am I?”
Marion looked at Jarmo and said, “Footsteps. The answer is footsteps.”
The room shook again, and they heard a grinding noise. Another section of the wall slid open, revealing a third statue.
The third statue held a large book in its hands, and Jarmo and Marion could see that there was an inscription on its pages.
“If you seek knowledge, then answer me this: I am not alive, but I grow. I don’t have lungs, but I need air. I don’t have a mouth, but water kills me. What am I?”
Jarmo thought for a moment and said, “Fire. The answer is fire.”
There was a moment of silence, and then the room shook violently. They heard a grinding noise, and a section of the wall slid open, revealing a door.
Jarmo and Marion breathed a sigh of relief and walked through the door, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. Then they heard a loud noise coming from the room they had just left. They realized that they had to move fast.
The next room was pitch black, and they could hardly see anything. They could hear water dripping and the sound of footsteps. Jarmo and Marion exchanged a worried glance. They knew that this room could be dangerous, and they had to be careful.
As they walked through the dark, they stumbled upon a small, glowing object. Jarmo picked it up, and they saw that it was a small lantern. Jarmo lit the lantern, and they could see that they were in a narrow tunnel. They walked down the tunnel and saw that the walls were covered in ancient carvings. The carvings depicted the history of the ancient civilization that had built the temple. Jarmo and Marion were amazed by the intricate details of the carvings.
Suddenly, they heard a noise coming from behind them. They turned around and saw a group of small creatures, no taller than their knees, running towards them. Jarmo and Marion were startled, but they quickly realized that the creatures were harmless. They seemed to be carrying something, and they ran past Jarmo and Marion and disappeared into the darkness.
They continued to delve deeper into the underground labyrinth. The air grew more humid, and strange creatures lurked in the shadows. As they entered a new chamber, they were greeted by the sound of rushing water. The walls of the cavern were lined with crystals, which glimmered in the dim light of their headlamps. In the center of the room was a pool of water, fed by a waterfall cascading down from above. Jarmo and Marion carefully made their way around the edge of the pool, searching. Suddenly, Marion’s foot slipped on a mossy rock, and she fell into the pool with a splash.
Jarmo rushed to her side, but she was already standing up, dripping wet. “I’m okay,” she said with a grin. “But I think I found something.” She held up a small shard of pottery, decorated with intricate carvings.
Jarmo examined the shard closely, trying to decipher its meaning. “This pottery looks like it could be from the same culture as the temple above,” he said thoughtfully. “I’ll take it with me, and we should take a closer look at it. Maybe it tells us something.”
Marion nodded in agreement. “We should keep searching,” she said. “There must be more clues down here.”
As they entered the next chamber, they were once again met with the sound of rushing water. They saw a vast underground lake that seemed to stretch out as far as the eye could see. They were on the bank of the lake and could see nothing but darkness ahead of them.
Jarmo looked around and saw an inscription on the wall. He read it aloud, “I am the beginning of the end, the end of every place. I am the beginning of eternity, the end of time and space. What am I?”
Marion thought for a moment and then exclaimed, “Water! It’s water. It starts and ends everything, and it flows eternally.”
Jarmo nodded, “That must be it. But how does this relate to the clue to move forward?”
Marion looked out at the lake and said, “Perhaps we need to cross the lake. It could be the only way to move forward.”
Jarmo was hesitant, “But how can we cross the lake? We don’t have a boat or any equipment to do so.”
Marion thought for a moment and said, “Maybe I could swim across the lake and see if there’s anything on the other side that will help us move forward.”
Jarmo agreed, and Marion dove into the water. The water was icy cold, and as she swam deeper, she realized the lake was much deeper than she initially thought. She kept her focus and continued to swim until she finally reached the other side.
She looked around and saw a small tunnel leading out of the chamber. She signaled to Jarmo, who had been watching from the bank, to follow her. He did, although the water was really cold, and together they crawled through the tunnel, which led them to the next chamber.
They both caught their breath, relieved to have made it through. The chamber was filled with a strange, otherworldly light, illuminating a statue in the center of the room. They approached it, and Jarmo recognized it as the statue they had been looking for all along. It was a small figurine of the ancient god of the planet Mercury, the “God of a Thousand Doors.”
Jarmo and Marion shared a look, feeling a sense of accomplishment. They had come so far and overcome so many obstacles to find this statue. It was an almost celebratory moment when Jarmo picked up the statuette. But then something unexpected happened: There was a loud, hissing noise and the two saw that a jet was shooting out of an opening in one of the walls. It hit the opposite wall, where the stone began to glow red.
“Damn it!” Jarmo shouted. “Of course, a protective mechanism!”
“We have to get out!” Marion replied.
The two crawled back through the tunnel they had come in. But it was not yet over. Now they were being attacked by the small creatures from earlier. The creatures were quick and nimble, darting in and out of the shadows as they tried to swarm the two explorers. Jarmo and Marion tried to fend them off with their weapons, but there were too many of them.
“We have to get out of here!” shouted Marion, her voice barely audible over the screeching of the creatures.
Jarmo nodded in agreement and they started to run, dodging the creatures as best they could. They could see the entrance to the cave up ahead, but it was still some distance away. As they ran, Jarmo realized that they were heading straight for the lake.
“We can’t go in the water,” he shouted to Marion. “We don’t know what’s in there!”
“We don’t have a choice,” she replied, gesturing to the creatures that were closing in on them.
Without hesitation, Jarmo and Marion plunged into the icy water. They could feel the creatures nipping at their heels, but the water slowed them down enough for the two to get away. They swam towards the entrance of the next cave, their hearts racing with fear.
Jarmo and Marion struggled to catch their breath as they emerged from the water, their clothes and hair dripping wet. They quickly scanned the new cave, but this time, there was no visible riddle or clue. Instead, the cave was filled with large, craggy rocks and a thick, dense mist.
Jarmo rubbed his hands together to warm them up and tried to peer through the mist. “What do we do now? I don’t see anything that could help us move on,” he said with a sigh.
Marion thought for a moment and then looked up. “Look! There’s a small opening up there, in the ceiling. It looks artificial. If we could examine it, we might find a way forward,” she said, pointing to the narrow hole.
Jarmo studied the opening and nodded, “But how can we reach it? The walls are too steep to climb up.”
Marion’s eyes brightened up, “Hey, you’re still in your uniform! Remember the gear I got us through BUREAU 07? The cable with the hook hidden in your belt buckle? Maybe we can use that to reach the opening. It should be strong enough to carry both of us.”
Jarmo nodded in agreement. He quickly retrieved the cable and grappling hook from his belt buckle. But he found that she was more skilled, so he gave it to Marion and she began to throw the hook up towards the opening. After several attempts, the hook finally caught onto the edge of the opening.
With a firm grip on the cable, Marion climbed up to the opening and peered inside. “I can see a mechanism. It looks like we need to turn some wheels to unblock the passage.”
Jarmo quickly scrambled up the cable and joined Marion. Together they located the wheels and began to turn them. Suddenly, the ground beneath them shook, and the mist swirled around them violently.
Jarmo and Marion clung to the wall for dear life, but soon the shaking stopped, and the mist cleared. They had opened up a new passage.
“Quick, let’s go!” Jarmo shouted. Both let go and fell into the water.
The river flowed into this new passage, carrying them along with it. The passage twisted and turned, and the water was choppy, making it hard to keep their heads above the water. As they rounded a corner, they saw something glinting in the water ahead of them. It was a small, golden key, floating in the water. Jarmo quickly snatched it out of the water and examined it closely.
“A key,” he said with a grin. “A real key. Maybe this one will open the door in the temple above.”
With renewed energy, they continued down the passage, following the river as it flowed towards the next chamber. The water was getting colder and the current was getting stronger, making it harder for them to stay afloat. Finally, they entered the next chamber of the cave, and the river abruptly stopped flowing.
The room was completely dark, but they could hear the sound of rushing water coming from somewhere. Jarmo and Marion swam around, feeling along the walls, trying to find the source of the sound. After a few minutes, they found a small waterfall on one side of the chamber, but it was blocked by a large boulder.
“We need to move that rock,” Jarmo said, pointing to the boulder.
Marion nodded in agreement. “But how are we going to do that? We can’t push it, it’s too heavy.”
Jarmo thought for a moment. “Maybe there’s a lever or something we can use to move it. Let’s look around.”
They swam around the chamber, feeling along the walls and floor for anything that could help them move the boulder. Finally, Marion felt something protruding from the wall, and when she pulled on it, a section of the wall moved aside to reveal a small room.
Inside the room, they found a lever that looked like it could move the boulder. But when they tried to pull it, nothing happened.
“It’s stuck,” Jarmo said, frustrated.
Marion looked around the room and noticed something written on the wall. “Hey, look at this,” she said, pointing to the inscription. “It says ‘the lever can only be moved by the power of two’.”
“What does that mean?” Jarmo asked.
“I don’t know, but there are two of us. Maybe we need to do something together to activate the lever.”
They looked at each other, unsure of what to do next. Suddenly, they heard a loud noise coming from the waterfall. The boulder was starting to move, and water was beginning to flow through the small opening.
“We did it!” Marion exclaimed, relieved. “But how?”
They swam through the opening and followed the river into the next chamber. As they exit the river, they were surprised to find themselves in a massive underground cavern. The chamber was filled with stalactites and stalagmites, forming a natural maze of sorts.
As they made their way through the cavern, Jarmo and Marion stumbled upon another small underground lake. The water was again crystal clear. On the other side of the lake was a massive stone door, with strange markings etched onto its surface. Jarmo and Marion examined the markings, trying to decipher their meaning. Suddenly, they heard a loud rumbling sound coming from behind them. Turning around, they saw that the water level in the lake had risen significantly, and the lake was now overflowing into the surrounding area.
Panic set in as they realized they were about to be swept away by the flood. Jarmo grabbed Marion’s hand and they ran towards the stone door, hoping to find shelter from the water. As they approached the door, they saw that the markings had changed and were now glowing a bright blue color.
Without hesitation, Jarmo placed his hand onto the markings and the door began to move, opening slowly to reveal a small room beyond. They ran inside and the door slamed shut behind them, cutting off the sound of the rushing water.
Panting heavily, Jarmo and Marion looked around the room, trying to catch their breath. The room was small, with a single pedestal in the center. On top of the pedestal was a small statuette, similar to the one they found earlier.
As they approached the pedestal, they noticed that the statuette emitted a soft, blue glow. Jarmo picked up the statuette, and suddenly the room begins to shake violently.
“You had to do this, right? Quick, we need to get out of here!” shouted Marion.
They ran towards the door. As they exited the room, they found themselves back in the underground cavern. The water level had receded, and the natural maze had shifted, forming a new path for them to follow. Heart pounding, Jarmo lead the way, with Marion close behind. Finally they emerged from the underground river into a large chamber. The walls were adorned with intricate carvings, depicting scenes of ancient Mercurian mythology. In the center of the chamber stood a pedestal, and upon it sat a small, ornately decorated box.
Jarmo and Marion approached the pedestal, and Jarmo carefully lifted the box from its resting place. As he did, the walls of the chamber began to shake and rumble, and a deep, ominous voice boomed out from all around them.
“Who dares to disturb the sacred chamber of the Mercurian gods?” the voice asked.
Jarmo and Marion exchanged nervous glances, but they knew they had come too far to turn back now.
“We seek the Temple of the Wind Harp,” Jarmo said, his voice shaking slightly. “We mean no disrespect to the Mercurian gods.”
There was a long moment of silence, and then the voice spoke again.
“Very well,” it said. “If you truly seek the Temple of the Wind Harp, you must prove your worthiness. Solve the riddle before you, and the way to the temple will be made clear.”
Jarmo and Marion looked around, but they saw no riddle anywhere in the chamber. Then, Jarmo noticed a small inscription on the bottom of the box he held.
He read it aloud:
“In this room, there are three doors,
Each with a different symbol, you must explore.
The first door has a crescent moon,
The second door has a sun at noon,
The third door has a starry night,
Choose the right one, and the way is bright.
But beware, behind two lies a trap,
Choose the wrong one, and you’ll take a nasty slap.
So think carefully, and make your choice,
For one door leads to the next room and a joyful rejoice.”
Both looked at each other in astonishment. As they examined the walls more closely, they recognized the doors mentioned in the riddle in the carvings. However, they looked as if they were part of the relief. Probably another trick to hide the exit. But what was the riddle supposed to mean?
“I’m not an expert,” Marion said, “but what if the riddle is meant literally?”
“Literally?” Jarmo asked back. “What do you mean by that?”
“It says we should choose ‘the right door’. We understood that in the sense of ‘the correct door’ as opposed to the wrong one. But what if it literally means ‘the right door’, i.e. the door which is on the right?”
Jarmo read the riddle again. Finally he shrugged. “I can’t think of anything better,” he admitted.
The two walked across the room and to the door on the right. It was decorated with a few stars.
“Hey!” said Marion. “I even know that! That is the star constellation of the God of a Thousand Doors, which can only be seen in this form from Mercury.”
The sign consisted of 20 stars, matching the God of a Thousand Doors. Marion took a closer look. Finally she pointed to a star in the center of the constellation.
“Take a look at this!”, she asked Jarmo.
He moved closer to the stone. The star was carved out of the stone, about two inches tall, and had seven points. At first Jarmo didn’t see it, but then he realized what Marion had meant. In the middle of the star was a slit that was almost impossible to see.
“The star is called Rulan, it belongs to the Soaron Cluster,” said Marion.
“How… how do you know that?”
“Does the name GOOD HOPE ring a bell?”
Jarmo thought. Wait, GOOD HOPE! Yes, he had heard of this spaceship before. It was considered lost. Their final mission was… mapping the Soaron Cluster!
“You mostly ‘the’ GOOD HOPE?” he asked.
“Yes. I have…” She stopped herself. One could see she was struggling with herself. “Can you keep a secret?” She finally asked Jarmo.
“Yeah, sure. What’s that secret?”
“You know I belong to BUREAU 07,” she began. “Twice a year we have a gathering. Old files are called up with unsolved cases. Last year there was a file on the GOOD HOPE. The Soaron Cluster is in a poorly mapped part of the galaxy, almost on the edge of the ORION arm.”
Jarmo frowned. “But that’s no secret,” he stated. “I heard that too. The tragedy of the GOOD HOPE. Lost in space, near the barrier.”
“I didn’t mean that!” Marion said firmly. “With the files was the last report that Fleet Headquarters had received from the GOOD HOPE. The Captain reported an attack by an unknown force. They were able to route the enemy, but the ship was damaged. The Captain had decided to to look for a planet to land on and then carry out necessary repair work. After that, nothing was heard from the ship.”
Dorak took a deep breath. “And they wanted to keep that a secret so nobody would panic because of the unknown force that attacked the GOOD HOPE?” he asked.
“Correct.”
“Does that have anything to do with the riddle here?”
“No. But you wanted to know how I know the name of this star. And I answered that for you.”
Jarmo nodded. “Right. That’s what I asked.”
“I know even more. The Rulan system has already been mapped by the GOOD HOPE. It has seven planets, Rulan Piemi, Rulan Feri, Rulan Cati, Rulan Fua, Rulan Itra, Rulan Ume, and Rulan Erse.”
“Wow. But my question again: does that have anything to do with the riddle here?”
“No, not yet. But I have a suspicion about the door. You found that key, didn’t you?”
Jarmo put down the two statuettes he had been holding. He reached into his uniform pocket and pulled out a small key. Marion took the key from his hand and inserted it into the slot they had found in the surface of the carved star Rulan. A click was heard.
Marion breathed in audibly. “Now we will soon find out whether I was right.” She turned the key. With a crunch, the door moved to the side. The passage was free. Jarmo picked up the statuettes again. They went through the passage.
Much to their surprise, they found themselves in the first room of the temple on the surface.
“Look!” Marion said suddenly. “The door! We were on the other side of the door we saw at the very beginning.”
She looked directly at Jarmo. His face showed a pained expression, but also looked kind of surprised. Marion had to laugh out loud. It lasted a moment, then Jarmo laughed with her. After all, despite all the obstacles, the mission had been a success. With the statuette they had found the second signpost to the Temple of the Wind Harp. And they were a little closer to the temple.
Aisha and Jarmo sat on the cold metal floor of their cell, the only light coming from a small crack in the door. They had been here for almost a month now and every day was the same routine. They would receive a bowl of fish soup, then be allowed to exercise for an hour in the small courtyard, before being locked back in their cell.
“It seems like STAR COMMAND doesn’t even care about us,” Aisha said, frustration clear in her voice.
Jarmo shook his head, “They do care, Aisha. They just have to be careful. The Shark Men are a powerful force on this planet.”
Aisha sighed, “I know, but it’s just frustrating being stuck here. I miss the sunshine and fresh air.”
Jarmo put his arm around her, “I miss it too, Aisha. But at least we have each other.”
As they sat in silence, they suddenly heard a loud bang from outside the door. A figure quickly slipped through the crack and closed the door behind her. It was a woman, about 30 years old, with brown hair and a determined look in her eyes.
“I’m Marion Alsy, from BUREAU 07,” she whispered, “I’m here to get you out.”
Jarmo and Aisha stared at her in disbelief, unsure if they could trust her. But they knew they had no other choice. Marion pulled out a small device and placed it on the door. It beeped twice and the door slid open. “Quickly, we have to go now,” she said, leading the way.
Marion brought with her advanced underwater technology, including special breathing apparatuses that allowed Aisha and Jarmo to breathe underwater for an extended period of time. Aisha and Jarmo should quickly find out why. For not the entire city of the Chardadon was filled with air like the cell in which the two had been held captive. Some parts of the cave system in which the city was built were submerged. That was only logical, since the Chardadon were amphibians.
With Marion’s help, Aisha and Jarmo managed to escape their cell undetected. Then something strange happened: Marion put the breathing gear on the two before they were supposed to climb down into a tunnel that was flooded with water. Only Marion didn’t put on any equipment. Jarmo wondered if she could hold her breath that long, but then he realized it was different: she was breathing underwater! How was that possible? But now was no time to think about such details. They swam through the maze of tunnels and caverns that made up the underwater city, careful to avoid the Shark Men’s patrols.
As they swam through the dark, murky waters, they could see the glowing lights of the city growing smaller and smaller behind them. They knew they had to move quickly if they wanted to escape before the Shark Men realized they were missing.
Marion led the way, using her knowledge of the city’s layout to navigate through the twisting tunnels. Aisha and Jarmo followed closely behind, their hearts pounding with fear and anticipation.
As they swam, they could hear the sounds of alarms ringing out across the city, signaling that their escape had been discovered. They could also hear the sounds of the Shark Men’s weapons firing, echoing through the water.
Marion led them to a small, hidden chamber, where she had stashed a small underwater vehicle. They quickly climbed aboard and Marion piloted the craft out of the city and into the open sea.
As they sped away from the city, they could see the Shark Men’s submarines in hot pursuit. The chase was on.
Marion expertly maneuvered the small craft through the twisting underwater canyons, using the terrain to her advantage to stay one step ahead of the pursuing Shark Men.
Aisha and Jarmo manned the vehicle’s weapons, firing back at the Shark Men’s pursuing craft. The water exploded around them as the two sides exchanged fire.
Finally, after what felt like hours of intense fighting and heart-pumping action, Marion managed to outmaneuver the Shark Men and lose them in the maze of underwater canyons.
Exhausted and exhilarated, Aisha and Jarmo collapsed onto the floor of the small craft, their hearts still pounding with adrenaline.
“That was close,” Aisha said, looking over at Marion. “You’re a mircale.”
Marion smiled, “Don’t thank me too early,” she said, “We’re not yet at our destination.”
With that, they set course for the surface, leaving the underwater city of the Shark Men far behind them. Aisha and Jarmo were amazed when they looked out through the submarine’s portholes and saw countless jellyfish. Wasn’t that the case before? But it had already been a month since her trip to the city of the Chardadon. Finally they surfaced in a small cove and Marion turned to Aisha and Jarmo, “I’m sorry it took so long for BUREAU 07 to find you. We had to wait until we had a safe opportunity to get you out.”
In the cove a small, sleek submarine was waiting for them. “This is our final ride out of here,” Marion said with a grin.
The trio climbed aboard the sub and Marion set the coordinates for a nearby STAR COMMAND base. As they began their journey, Aisha and Jarmo couldn’t help but express their gratitude to Marion for rescuing them.
“Thank you so much for coming to our rescue,” Aisha said. “We thought we were goners.”
Marion smiled at them. “It’s all part of the job,” she replied. “I’m just glad I was able to get to you in time.”
Aisha McClure, Jarmo Dorak, and Marion Alsy had finally made their way back to the beach where they had found the slate with the map to the Temple of the Wind Harp. They were exhausted and battered, but they knew that they had to press on with their mission.
As they sat on the beach catching their breath, they noticed something moving in the water. At first, they thought it might be a school of fish, but as the creature came closer, they realized it was something far larger and more dangerous.
It was a sea beast, a giant creature with multiple tentacles that reached out from its massive body. The creature was heading straight for the beach, and it was clear that it was not going to stop until it had caught them.
Marion quickly sprang into action, grabbing her laser gun from her bag and firing a shot at the creature. The blast hit the creature, causing it to thrash and writhe in the water, but it didn’t slow down.
Jarmo and Aisha also drew their weapons, ready to fight off the beast. Aisha fired her blaster, but the creature’s thick skin absorbed the blast, leaving no visible damage.
Jarmo quickly realized that the creature was impervious to their laser guns and decided to try a different approach. He grabbed a nearby piece of driftwood and charged toward the creature, hoping to use it to block the tentacles.
As the creature got closer, Jarmo jumped into the water, holding the driftwood out in front of him. The tentacles wrapped around the wood, and Jarmo tried to push them away, but the creature was too strong.
Marion quickly realized that Jarmo was in trouble and fired another shot at the creature, hitting it in one of its eyes. The creature roared in pain and released its grip on the driftwood, giving Jarmo a chance to swim back to shore.
As the Sea Beast let out a deafening roar, Aisha, Jarmo, and Marion tried to dodge its incoming tentacles. Aisha and Marion took cover behind a large rock, while Jarmo tried to keep the creature distracted by firing his blaster at it. But it seemed that their efforts were in vain, as the Sea Beast kept coming at them with a relentless fury.
Suddenly, Marion had an idea. She remembered that she had a special device in her backpack that could temporarily stun the Sea Beast. She quickly retrieved it and activated it, aiming it directly at the creature’s eyes. The device emitted a bright flash of light, causing the Sea Beast to writhe in pain and confusion.
Seizing the opportunity, Jarmo fired his blaster again, aiming for the creature’s vulnerable spot. This time, the shot hit its mark, and the Sea Beast let out a blood-curdling scream before collapsing into the sand.
Panting and exhausted, Aisha, Jarmo, and Marion looked at each other in disbelief. They had just battled a Sea Beast and emerged victorious. But their victory was short-lived, as they realized that they had attracted the attention of the Shark Men, who were now approaching the beach in their submarines.
Without hesitation, the trio started running towards the nearby jungle. They knew that they had to find a place to hide and come up with a plan to continue their journey to the Temple of the Wind Harp.
As they ran, Aisha noticed that Marion was struggling to keep up. She had sustained an injury during their fight with the Sea Beast and was limping. Without a second thought, Aisha went back to help her, while Jarmo continued ahead to scout the area.
Aisha and Marion found a small cave that they could use as a hiding place. They quickly made a fire and tended to Marion’s wound. As they waited for Jarmo to return, they talked about their past experiences and how they had ended up on this planet.
Marion explained that she was a member of Bureau 07, a secret service within… well, that came up as a surprise to Jarmo and Aisha. They expected that Marion would say “Star Command”, but she said “ASTROCOHORS”.
“No, really!” Jarmo exclaimed. “They really did it?”
“That was to be expected,” Marion replied firmly. “After all the problems the space agency has had, this had to happen. This will be the case from next year. So starting tomorrow.”
“Wait,” Aisha interjected, “does that mean the organization has changed its name?”
“Yes, because of all the problems that have been going on lately,” Marion explained. “Besides, it has long been felt that STAR COMMAND sounds too terran for an interplanetary organization. ASTROCOHORS simply fits better.”
“At least literally,” said Jarmo. “Otherwise nothing changes. ‘ASTROCOHORS’ simply means ‘Starfleet’, just in GalStan.”
Aisha looked at him with mock severity. “Hey! Who’s the linguist here?” And to Marion she added: “And this Bureau 07 is what exactly again?”
“Bureau 07” was not known to everyone, but at some point the space organization had to recognize that it needed a secret service. A secret service that dealt with high-risk missions. Marion went on to explain that she had been sent to rescue Aisha and Jarmo after they went missing.
Aisha and Jarmo shared their stories as well. The Temple of the Wind Harp and all that. But they had never expected to end up in a situation like this.
As they sat in the cave, listening to the sounds of the jungle and the approaching Shark Men, Aisha, Jarmo, and Marion knew that they had to work together if they wanted to survive. They had battled a Sea Beast and escaped the Shark Men’s city, but their journey was far from over. They had to continue their search for the Temple of the Wind Harp, and they had to do it quickly before the Shark Men caught up to them.
As the Shark Men’s footsteps grew closer, the three braced themselves for the worst. Marion was still in severe pain from the sea beast’s attack, and they knew that they couldn’t outrun the Shark Men.
Jarmo frantically searched the cave for any possible escape route, but it seemed like they were trapped. Aisha tried to come up with a plan, but her mind was clouded with fear and uncertainty.
Just as the Shark Men were about to enter the cave, a sudden rumble shook the ground beneath them. The Shark Men looked startled and quickly retreated back to the ocean.
“What just happened?” Aisha asked, her heart racing.
“I don’t know,” Jarmo said, looking around in confusion.
Marion’s eyes widened in realization. “The Temple of the Wind Harp,” she said weakly. “The legends say that it has the power to control the elements. We must have awakened it with our presence.”
Aisha and Jarmo exchanged a look of disbelief, but they knew that they couldn’t waste any more time. They quickly helped Marion to her feet and made their way out of the cave. They could see it then. The beach where Aisha and Jarmo had found the stone tablet with the map had changed. A hole had formed, as if the sand had simply disappeared inside the planet. The walls of the hole sloped downwards. There was some kind of building there, a rectangular structure with an Obelisk on top.
“Look!” Aisha shouted, “The top of the obelisk!”
Jarmo took a closer look. Yes! The top of the obelisk was the slab of lyranium they had discovered and excavated. They hadn’t been able to lift it and assumed it was just too heavy. But that made it clear, they hadn’t just found a plaque, they had found this building. Was that really the Temple of the Wind Harp?
As they approached the temple, they saw that it was surrounded by a powerful energy field. Aisha reached out to touch it, but the field repelled her with a force that knocked her to the ground.
“We can’t get through,” Jarmo said, helping Aisha up.
Marion nodded. “We need to find a way to bypass the energy field. The temple must have another entrance.”
They searched the surrounding area, but they couldn’t find any other entrance. Just as they were about to give up, they heard a faint humming sound coming from a nearby cliff. They cautiously approached the cliff and found a hidden cave entrance. As they made their way inside, they saw a glowing crystal that emitted a soft blue light.
“This must be the source of the energy field,” Marion said, pointing to the crystal.
Jarmo examined it closely and saw that it was connected to a series of wires that led to the temple. “I think I can disconnect it,” he said.
Aisha and Marion stood guard as Jarmo carefully removed the wires. As soon as the last wire was disconnected, the energy field surrounding the temple disappeared.
They rushed inside and saw the ancient Wind Harp, a massive instrument made of crystal and metal. Aisha touched one of the strings, and the harp emitted a beautiful melody that echoed throughout the temple.
“We did it,” Marion said, her eyes filled with awe.
Suddenly the melody changed. She formed words that the three of them couldn’t understand at first.
“Uyu! Uyu!” the voice sang. “La! La! La! La! Hear what the voice has to say. Traveler who seeks the Wind Harp Temple, let me tell you that your search is not over yet, for this is not it. But much you have achieved by finding this place. So don’t give up! This place is a signpost. Four signposts point to the Temple of the Wind Harp. You have to find them all and then you will find the temple. Four signposts on four planets. Through the You can find signposts from planet to planet, and when you have all four, they will show you the passage to the temple.”
Aisha could hear Jarmo taking a deep breath. At that moment a compartment opened in the harp they had taken for the wind harp. A red crystal became visible.
“This is the first signpost,” the voice continued. “You will find the second on the planet that gets so much love from the mother star that life is hardly possible on it, and yet it exists. In a temple like this in the caves of Ruy’i Koolyan you will find the next signpost.”
Aisha took the red crystal from the compartment. It seemed to glow by itself. Marion looked around uneasily. She had expected that once the crystal was taken out, the temple would collapse. But that didn’t happen. The three were able to leave the temple.
They were even able to exit the hole where the temple lay. Only then did the ground tremble and, as if by magic, the sand rose and buried the temple beneath it.
“So the search goes on,” stated Jarmo Dorak.
Aisha gave him a silent nod and smiled.
“Hey,” Marion said, “do you still need help? Maybe my supervisor will let me go after what’s happened here. You could use a bodyguard. Well, at least if my leg is okay again.”
“Hm,” said Jarmo. “What are you thinking, Aisha?”
“Without her, we’d still be stuck with the Chardadon,” Aisha pointed out. “She is right.”
“Well then.” Jarmo turned directly to Marion: “By the time your leg is okay again, we may have found out what exactly the mysterious voice meant with these caves of Ruy’i Koolyan.”
They heard a noise and spun around. But this time it wasn’t an enemy trying to attack them, it was a small spaceship approaching.
“My friends,” Marion said, “our cab away from this place is here!”
Aisha couldn’t believe it, but it was almost a month now that she and Jarmo had built the camp on that beach. The beach was a true treasure trove. Not only had they found a stone tablet with a map, but other artifacts as well. Jarmo wondered why they hadn’t found them sooner, but Aisha explained that it was definitely due to the Mag’a cult. To the Mag’a cult, anything not written in their holy book was evil sorcery and blasphemy. Since the Temple of the Wind Harp supposedly held the key to much wisdom in the universe, but according to the cultists only the holy book held the key to wisdom, all references to the temple were also blasphemy.
That morning, as always, the two had woken up together. Jarmo smiled. He had never felt such a close connection as with Aisha. The two had clearly sought and found each other. Aisha got up and looked around. She always did, every morning. Perhaps their experiences had made them overly cautious. But in this area, especially on Mars, you couldn’t be too careful. And like every morning, she went to her backpack and pulled out her sword to have it ready.
When Aisha had shown him the sword for the first time, he had been very surprised, but Jarmo had to admit that she was very skilled with it. At least what he had seen from their exercises. In fact, there were some areas on the planets of the solar system that still used such or similar weapons. There was definitely an advantage in melee combat.
Now that everything was prepared, Aisha went to Jarmo and kissed him tenderly. “Morning swim?” she asked.
He nodded. This had become their daily routine. Wake up. Prepare. Swim. Breakfast.
After breakfast, Aisha and Jarmo examined the tablet further, trying to decipher the clues that would lead them to the Temple of the Windharp. As they worked, they heard a strange noise coming from the water.
Jarmo looked up, his eyes widening in alarm. “Aisha, look!” he said, pointing towards the ocean.
Aisha turned to look, and her heart sank as she saw several dark figures emerging from the water. “Shark Men,” she whispered, her voice filled with fear.
The Shark Men were a vicious species that lived in the depths of the ocean, known for their deadly attacks on unsuspecting prey. They were tall, muscular creatures with razor-sharp teeth and powerful jaws. Jarmo and Aisha knew they had to act fast. They quickly gathered their weapons and prepared for battle. The Shark Men charged towards them, their powerful legs propelling them forward with incredible speed. Jarmo fired his laser gun, hitting one of the creatures in the chest, but it barely flinched.
Aisha swung her sword, slicing through the air with deadly precision. She managed to cut off the arm of one of the Shark Men, but it kept coming, its eyes blazing with fury. The battle raged on, with Aisha and Jarmo fighting for their lives. They managed to fend off several attacks, but the Shark Men were relentless, their strength and speed proving to be a formidable challenge.
Suddenly, one of the Shark Men grabbed Aisha by the arm, pulling her towards the water. Jarmo tried to intervene, but he was quickly overpowered by the other creatures. Aisha struggled against her captor, kicking and screaming, but it was no use. The Shark Men were too strong.
They dragged Aisha and Jarmo into the water, pulling them towards a waiting submarine. Aisha and Jarmo continued to fight, their hearts pounding with fear and adrenaline. As they were dragged into the submarine, Aisha and Jarmo felt a sudden rush of panic. They were being pulled towards an airlock on the side of the submarine.
But just as they were about to be thrown into the airlock, Aisha and Jarmo managed to break free. They fought their way back to the surface, gasping for air as they emerged from the water.
The Shark Men swam away, their angry eyes fixed on Aisha and Jarmo as they disappeared into the depths of the ocean. Aisha and Jarmo looked at each other, their bodies shaking with fear and exhaustion. But they were alive.
A day had passed since the first attack, and Aisha and Jarmo were still hard at work, determined to find the Temple of the Windharp. But as they were searching the beach, they heard a familiar sound – the Shark Men were back.
Before they could react, the creatures charged towards them, their massive bodies cutting through the water with incredible speed. Aisha and Jarmo fought back with all their might, but there were too many of them. Within minutes, they were overpowered and dragged down into the depths of the ocean.
Underwater, the fight continued, with Aisha and Jarmo struggling against the Shark Men. Aisha swung her sword, slashing through the water with deadly accuracy, while Jarmo fired his laser gun, hitting several of the creatures in the chest.
But this time the Shark Men were too powerful, and soon Aisha and Jarmo found themselves being dragged towards the waiting submarine. They fought back with all their might, but it was no use – they were thrown into the submarine and locked in a small, dark cell.
Hours passed, and Aisha and Jarmo sat in their cell, their minds racing with fear and uncertainty. Suddenly, the door to their cell opened, and a group of Shark Men entered.
“We have orders to take you to the Kingdom of the Chardadon,” said one of the creatures, its voice deep and guttural.
Aisha and Jarmo exchanged a worried glance, unsure of what lay ahead. But they knew that they had to stay strong, no matter what. Their journey took about one hour, then the submarine arrived at a cave. The cave was sealed with a gate that slowly opened as they approached it. Aisha and Jarmo were led out of their cell and out of the sub. Now they saw for the first time where they had arrived: In a large cave with a kind of harbor where the submarine had docked. The Shark Men led them and down a long, winding corridor. As they walked, Aisha and Jarmo could feel the weight of their situation bearing down on them.
Finally, they reached the throne room of the Shark Men’s King. The room was vast, with high ceilings and ornate decorations. On the throne sat the King of the Shark Men, a towering figure with piercing eyes and a sharp-toothed grin.
“We have captured these two humans, Your Majesty,” said one of the Shark Men, bowing before the King.
The King nodded, his eyes fixed on Aisha and Jarmo. “So, you are the ones who have been causing us so much trouble,” he said, his voice deep and menacing.
Aisha and Jarmo exchanged a worried glance, unsure of what to do next. They knew that they had to stay strong, no matter what lay ahead. But as they looked around the throne room, they couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread creeping over them.
They were officially prisoners of the Kingdom of these people, and they had no idea how they were going to escape. Aisha had heard stories about these creatures, and “shark people” was an attempt to somehow name their appearance and habitat. They were amphibians. They lived in one of the few seas on Mars. They called themselves Chardadon and wanted nothing to do with the “ground people”, as they called the non-amphibious life forms. This had to do with their history, they had been oppressed for a long time by an emperor who belonged to the “ground people”. But what did they want from Aisha and Jarmo? Did they want to prevent the two from looking further? Or was the beach some kind of sacred ground that the two had desecrated?
The Chardadon king was apparently unwilling to answer the question. “Take them away!” he ordered. Guards grabbed Jarmo and Aisha and took them to another cell. Jarmo had tried to memorize as many details of the environment as possible for a possible escape on the way there. But it was just too much. The city was very impressive. The passages were carved into the rock. The walls were decorated with reliefs. Now and then there were doors.
The cell they were taken to, on the other hand, was pretty bare. Four walls. A solid metal door. And a porthole that looked out at the ocean.
“We have to be relatively deep under water,” Jarmo stated.
“How do you know that?” Aisha asked.
“See the surroundings glowing that weird blue hue out there? The light from the sun is made up of many colors of different wavelengths. When it’s sent through water, it loses one color at a time, depending on how deep the water is . In the end, all that’s left is blue. So we’re pretty deep.”
Aisha looked at him in shock. “But that means,” she stated, “even if we got out of this cell, we wouldn’t have a chance of escaping the city! We can’t hold our breath that long.”
“No,” confirmed Jarmo. “We’ll have to wait and see what the Chardadon intend for us.”
The only hope they had was that when regular reports stopped coming in, STAR COMMAND would be looking for them. But how long would that take?
Jarmo and Aisha emerged from the Tunnel of Terror gasping for air, their hearts racing. They had faced one danger after another, but they had made it through alive. The hovercraft they’d taken through Mount Konomara made a few protesting noises, but it was still working.
“One thing I know,” said Aisha. “It wasn’t a good idea to take a vehicle that didn’t have a roof!”
“I guess I have to take my responsibility”, Dorak replied.
It had been about two weeks since they met in such an adventurous way. They had escaped the enemy city with the help of a few friendly Martians. Aisha was a linguist and was completely blown away when Jarmo told her why he had come to this place. She had heard of the legend of the Temple of the Wind Harp. She also knew that the temple obviously really existed, or maybe had existed. She was taking time off from her time as a Fleet officer, so she offered to accompany Jarmo. Maybe he would need someone who could translate languages. They worked closely together for the past two weeks. Even if the time had actually been short, a kind of intimacy had developed between the two. Maybe that came from the special circumstances of their meeting. In any case, they found that they worked well together. Almost as if they had known her not just for two weeks, but for several years. On several occasions, Aisha looked at Jarmo and was reminded of a friend she had known since she was a Fleet cadet. Then she smiled quietly to herself.
She had been able to prove her talent right away. Jarmo had photographed a stone slab in the museum in the city of Aresium. It hadn’t been easy, because the damn Mag’a cult had them hidden in the basement of the museum. To the Mag’a, the inscriptions of the ancient Martians were blasphemy. Luckily they hadn’t scratched the drawings and inscriptions out of the stone. Jarmo had seen that too, beautiful old works of art destroyed by blind faith.
The inscription on the stone slab dealt with the old myth about the so-called “Tunnel of Terror”. And that’s what it really had become, because according to what Jarmo had seen on the maps, it led through a mountain range and left the domed city at a point below ground. However, it would lead somewhere into a valley, and from there the search for clues would continue.
But, Jarmo Aisha had to agree, maybe they should have taken something other than a hovercraft. Or at least a hovercraft with a cockpit. They had indeed found the entrance to the Tunnel of Terror. And they had crossed it. They just got through.
As they stood at the entrance to the tunnel, catching their breath, they looked out at the vast ocean that stretched before them. The shore was rocky and treacherous, but they could see a path leading to a small cove where they could land their hovercraft. Jarmo quickly took out his scanner and began scanning the area for any signs of the Wind Harp. He had been searching for the ancient artifact for years, and he was determined to find it no matter what. The inscription on the stone tablet in the museum had contained a clue: a certain material, a kind of dark rock called lyranium, would show the way and the destination. Luckily, the stone tablet had a piece of lyranium embedded in it, so Jarmo could sample it. His scanner was tuned to the result of the sample and would show him the lyranium if any were nearby.
Aisha walked over to the edge of the water and dipped her toe in. The water was crystal clear and cool against her skin. She smiled, took off her top and pants, and waded out further into the water, beckoning for Jarmo to join her. He also took off his outerwear and followed her. For a few minutes, they forgot about their quest and swam and splashed in the lake, laughing and playing like children. But their fun was short-lived, as a loud rumbling sound interrupted their playtime.
They both looked up to see a massive boulder rolling down the hill, heading straight for them. Jarmo grabbed Aisha’s hand and they ran as fast as they could towards the tunnel.
The boulder narrowly missed them and crashed into the water, sending a wave of water and rocks in their direction. They were knocked off their feet and swept up in the current.
As they tumbled downstream, they struggled to regain their footing, but the current was too strong. Suddenly, they were caught in a whirlpool, and Jarmo could see the entrance to the tunnel disappearing from view.
He knew they had to get out of the whirlpool fast, or they would be sucked under. With all his might, he grabbed Aisha and they swam towards the edge of the whirlpool, using all their strength to break free.
Finally, they made it to the edge, exhausted and out of breath. Jarmo looked at Aisha, and they both nodded, silently agreeing that they had to keep going. They had come too far to turn back now. But the hovercraft was no longer of any use to them, so they had to get their backpacks and started walking. The scanner showed a direction that went along the edge of the mountain, always along the water.
Jarmo looked out at the vast expanse of water, and he knew they had a long way to go. But he was determined to find the Wind Harp, no matter what dangers lay ahead. He turned to Aisha and smiled, grateful to have her by his side.
“Let’s go,” he said, and they set off towards the horizon, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
The path ahead was treacherous, but they were determined to keep going. They climbed over boulders, crossed rickety bridges, and navigated through narrow tunnels. They had to dodge falling rocks and debris.
Finally they arrived at a wide expanse, an almost picturesque beach. They put down their backpacks. The sun was already low and created an almost romantic mood. Jarmo checked his scanner.
“We seem to be right,” he stated. “Somewhere on this beach there must be lyranium. But I think it’s too late for today.”
The two set up their camp. The sun was almost down now. But there was still light.
Jarmo and Aisha decided to take a short walk along the beach, the waves lapping at their feet. The sun had almost set, and the sky was a riot of orange and pink hues. Then, Aisha sat down on the sand, and Jarmo joined her, sitting close. They both looked out at the ocean, lost in thought.
“You know,” Aisha said, breaking the silence. “I’ve been alone for a long time.”
Jarmo turned to her, his eyes searching hers. “What do you mean?”
“I mean that I’ve spent most of my life searching for something,” Aisha said, her voice soft. “And in doing so, I’ve neglected other parts of my life.”
Jarmo nodded, understanding what she meant. “I know what you mean. I’ve been so focused on finding things that I’ve forgotten what it means to truly live.”
Aisha smiled, turning to look at him. “You know, when I first met you, I thought you were just another adventurer looking for treasure.”
Jarmo grinned, shaking his head. “I’m not looking for treasure. I’m looking for something more.”
“Like what?” Aisha asked, curiosity piqued.
Jarmo hesitated for a moment before speaking. “I’m looking for a purpose. Something that will give my life meaning.”
Aisha’s heart swelled with emotion, and she reached out to touch his hand. “You know, I think you’ve already found it.”
Jarmo looked at her, confusion etched on his face. “What do you mean?”
“I mean us,” Aisha said, her voice barely above a whisper. “We’ve been through so much together in this short time, and we’ve come so far. Maybe that’s what we were both searching for all along.”
Jarmo’s heart raced, and he looked into Aisha’s eyes, seeing the truth in her words. He leaned in closer to her, and without thinking, he kissed her. The kiss was soft and gentle at first, but it quickly grew more passionate as they both realized their feelings for each other.
As they pulled away from the kiss, they looked at each other, their hearts full of love and hope. They knew that they still had a long way to go in their search for the Wind Harp, but now they had each other.
Hand in hand, they walked back to their campsite, their hearts full of love and happiness.
The next morning, Jarmo and Aisha woke up in their small campsite, the sun already up in the sky. They lay in their sleeping bags, looking at each other with a deep sense of contentment.
“Good morning,” Jarmo said, his voice filled with love.
“Good morning to you too,” Aisha replied, a smile spreading across her face.
Jarmo leaned in and kissed her gently, feeling a surge of warmth and happiness spread through his body. “I had the best sleep last night,” he said, looking at Aisha with an expression of pure joy.
“Me too,” Aisha said, her voice soft and tender. “It’s amazing how much difference a good night’s sleep can make.” She emphasized the word “sleep” in a very special way. Jarmo grinned, he understood her perfectly.
He nodded, then got up from his sleeping bag, grabbing his scanner. “I’m going to scan the beach again, see if we can find any more traces of lyranium.”
Aisha watched him go, feeling a deep sense of admiration and affection for him. She picked up her notebook and pen, then set about translating the inscription they had found the previous day. Breakfast? Later!
As she worked, Jarmo came back, his face lit up with excitement. “I found something!” he exclaimed, holding up the scanner. “It’s about 200 meters to the east of here.”
Aisha’s heart raced with anticipation as she followed Jarmo to the location where the scanner had indicated. They started digging in the sand, and after a few minutes, they found a small stone tablet with an inscription.
Aisha examined the tablet, her eyes moving quickly over the ancient symbols. “It’s a map,” she said, her voice filled with excitement. “It shows the location of the Temple of the Windharp. I have to do some more work, but…”
Jarmo looked at her, a huge grin spreading across his face. “That’s incredible! We’re one step closer to finding it!”
Aisha nodded, feeling a deep sense of gratitude for Jarmo’s companionship and support. “I’m glad I went on this adventure with you,” she said, looking at him with love in her eyes.
Jarmo leaned in and kissed her, his heart filled with joy and happiness. “I’m just glad I get to share this journey with you,” he said, his voice filled with emotion.
As they sat on the beach, basking in the glow of their love, they knew that the road ahead would be long and challenging. But they also knew that they had each other, and that was all they needed to face whatever lay ahead. But now it was really time for breakfast.
