NMS: THE NEXT ADVENTURER
CHAPTER 26: RETURN OF THE GUNK
Noma returned to vis home base. The overseer, Deminens, chirruped a welcome when it saw Noma enter. “There you are again, Traveller. I am sure you have required the materials this time?”. Noma handed over the materials ve had gathered, and the Gek accepted them. “Perfect friend”, it chirruped, “just what I need to finish the science terminal plans”. The overseer then explained that it had picked up signals strongly suggestive of something worth investigating.
Noma left the overseer to get on with its work and set off in search of the signal’s origin. The Radiant Pillar flew low over the undulating terrain, passing over hills and red-grass plains as it homed in on the signal’s location.
Eventually, Noma spied a building and headed toward it. The structure was built into a depression surrounded by lush vegetation. And yet, despite the picturesque quality of the surrounding area, the place felt eerily quiet and lifeless. Only the sound of that signal, and Noma’s own breathing, disturbed the unsettling stillness. Feeling some trepidation, Noma approached the building.
Noma stepped inside. The interior had a Spartan feel to it, containing nothing but essential equipment. In the centre of the room lay a terminal, and Noma was taken aback to see that it was covered in that same strange, offensively smelly gunk ve had come across in other abandoned buildings.
Fighting back the urge to retch, Noma approached the terminal. Clearing away the putrid substance was miserable work, as the stuff became even more pungent when broken away. But Noma kept at it, and eventually cleared enough space to be able to use the terminal. Once activated, the device transmitted schematics, which were downloaded to Noma’s personal computer.
With the data safely stored, Noma returned to vis base. Upon vis return, ve saw that more buildings had been erected. The overseer was making good on its promise…
Thanks to Hello Games for the images.