text: A solemn breeze haunts the infinite corridor that stretches for miles underneath the scorching sands of the Red Dunes. Regardless of its proximity to the sea of fire above, the air in the seemingly endless tunnel is cool and damp, and the bolts and nuts that have kept the structure together for thousands of years rust in peace. The only light source in these hallowed grounds comes from the fluorescent alloy and its light reacting to every step Null takes on the way to the core of the buried giant. “We are getting closer, Ninez,” he says. The words echo ceremoniously through the hallway before him like a hymn of sorts. Ninez, who hovers closely behind, inspects the runes etched on the metal frames of the tunnel before replying. “The runes confirm it! This should be the last core, Null.” The small synth hovers ahead for once, too far ahead this time, temporarily deactivating in mid-air. Null is quick to hasten his stride, bringing the synth back online before it hits the ground. “I’ve got no more spare parts for you, buddy. Mind sticking within the field’s range?” Ninez hovers back to his side like a wounded bird. “I’ve seen you manipulate the Flux at longer distances. Why do I have to stick so damn close. I’m beginning to smell you.” Null kneels abruptly and passes his hand across the dusty metal plate before him. “I’ve already told you. This place is full of things meant to keep us away. If I’m not careful...” His hand presses on a rune etched on the ground, which disables a previously invisible array of fluorescent beams lined up along the walls of the winding corridor. He takes a beacon attached to his belt and throws it at one of the dissipating rays. At first it appears undisturbed, but when it falls on the ground, it splits cleanly in two. “Did you have to destroy something to make a point?” “Better it, than you,” Null replies, continuing his path through the infinite hallway. “At least now you’ll stick close.” Ninez was a small synth. Around a ten centimeter diameter hunk of gray metal, subtly adorned by hints of crimson that Null had tagged when he’d put Ninez back together. For a machine, it sure could bicker, and the anti-grav module allowed it to float freely around him like an obnoxious fly. Although the recurrent, buzzing commentary could be exhausting, Ninez was his friend. Not to mention his only company for the last five years. “Are we there yet?” Ninez asks, landing on his shoulder. “Feels like we’ve been walking for days. You’d think the Ancients would have a little more sense of decor. Dull, gray endless corridors feel like a brutalist wet dream.” The small synth flickers like a broken lightbulb, before powering down its anti-grav module. “It’s a relay station, Ninez. What’d you expect? Everything here serves a purpose.” “Don’t think I’ll ever get used to it,” Ninez replies. “You think the others ever did?” Null remains quiet for a beat, as he usually does when Ninez speaks of the rest of the crew. “We knew what we signed up for. And we will get used to it being our new home. Now quiet. I need to concentrate.” A metal door stands before them, ten meter high, radiating a faint light from its hinges which seems to intensify every step they take towards it. Null places his hand on the structure as if to caress a sleeping beast. His hand spurs a series of glyphs to life along the frames of the hulking entryway, as the doorway opens with a seamless swoosh that sends sand and dust flying everywhere. A pile of bones lines the entrance, some roll towards Null’s feet as the door opens fully. Null can feel Ninez shift its weight uncomfortably on his shoulder. “This place is a tomb, Ninez.” Null steps over the pile of remains, some crack under the weight of his feet. Others just dissolve like sand structures that had barely kept their shape only to be disturbed by a rising tide. “What happened to them?” “The Ancients relied on (g)oldworld tech. Doors must’ve sealed shut right after the Flux. No tech to operate the hatches.” Null steps through the arch and the door closes halfway behind them, mechanically stuck on some of the Ancient remains that rolled over when it first opened. “They just starve to death?” Ninez hovers down, gliding a few inches above the ancient burial site. “You would think that--I mean they did, eventually,” he replies, turning to face the door. “But I suspect much of what happened ‘out there’ after the Flux, happened here at an accelerated rate. See the markings on the hatch?” Ninez inspects the scratch marks on the lower section of the metal door. “They tried to claw their way out, didn’t they?” Ninez floats back towards Null who’s starting to walk away towards the darkened corridor. “They probably turned on each other when the food started running thin. Eventually they trimmed the weakest to conserve supplies--war amongst them, likely disease, until even the victors ran out of food too.” “Remind me, again, why would you want to disturb a place like this, let alone stay in it ad infinitum. Even the Relic Hunter guilds consider this place tainted.” “You know exactly why. If we can activate the core--” Null stops abruptly. “Do you hear that?” The screeching sound of metal on metal fills the chamber as a wall of alloy drops from the ceiling, cutting them from the path behind as it seals off with a metallic grunt. “Is this you being careful?” Ninez asks. “Not me. Must be some sort of mechanical trigger--old school tech. Hold on!” The second wall drops ahead, too quickly for Null to roll underneath it. Its drop makes the structure shake as the second lock engages. They’re trapped.