NMS: The Next Adventurer

NMS: THE NEXT ADVENTURER

SIGNS OF LIFE

The traveller gazed out across the landscape as dawn’s light illuminated the cloudy skies above. Ve had work to do. Resources had to be gathered so a signal booster could be constructed.

The traveller got to work, using the scanner to track down suitable materials and relying on the multi tool to craft the components needed to build the signal booster. By the time the sun had risen high in the sky, the work was complete. Solar panels fed power to the device which, upon activation, sent a beam of pure light up into the heavens.

The traveller scanned for suitable frequencies, and the signal booster provided directions to travel in. And so, the traveller set off, walking across the rugged terrain with its many hills and tall, hardy vegetation, dawn as if by invisible strings toward the source of the signal.

As the traveller made vis way down the slope of yet another hill, its slopes scarred by channels carved by ancient volcanic activity, ve became aware of a presence. Scuttling around the corner came a monstrous sight; a creature, insect-like but scaled up to a giant size. Six legs made a sound like somebody impatiently drumming their fingers on a hard surface as the thing came toward the traveller. Black eyes that contained so sign of emotion fixed their inscrutable gaze on the traveller, and four sets of pincers snapped open and shut.

Overcome with panic, the traveller turned the multi tool toward the approaching monster, aiming just in front of the animal. The device’s mining beam blasted concentrated energy at the ground near the creature’s feet, a small crater forming instantaneously amidst a flash of light and the sound of a small explosion. Again, the thing showed no emotion, but it did stop in its tracks and turned to beat a retreat.

The traveller continued on with the journey, making sure to harvest the materials needed to power the suit, vis only protection against the hazardous environment. While ve walked and harvested the red crystals that could power the suit’s environmental protection systems, ve contemplated the encounter with the insect-like creature. Faced with such a monster, the traveller had felt fear and loathing, and yet despite panicking as the hideous thing drew near, vis instinct had not been to kill it, but to merely scare it away. The traveller’s mind was still foggy with amnesia, but ve felt like this encounter shed a little light on the kind of person ve was. “I am the owner of the Radiant Pillar, and I respect life even when I am scared by the form it takes”, the traveller thought to virself.

For hour after hour the traveller trudged across the rocky land, multi-tool always ready to ward off more of those creatures. The signal was growing ever stronger as its source drew nearer. It was so strong, in fact, that it had to be just over the crest of the next hill. The traveller pushed on, weary now from the journey but with hope that the effort would prove fruitful.

As ve approached the top of the hill, the sun emerged from behind the clouds and the land below was bathed in its light. Something down there was reflecting light with particular intensity. It could only be a metallic structure of some kind; nothing else could reflect light so capably.

The traveller made vis way down the hill, vis mind full of questions. A metallic structure had to have been built by someone. But who, other than the traveller virself, had come to this place?

Now that the traveller had reached the bottom of the hill, ve had a better view of the structure itself. It appeared to be a temporary accommodation. A grey compartment that was probably lowered into place by a far larger craft than the Radiant Pillar. By its side there stood a tall tube-like structure, probably packed with technology that helped sustain life support systems inside the habitat. A ramp led up to the front entrance, and a blue light shining around the door lock indicated that the building still had power.

The traveller approached the structure, wondering what ve would discover inside...

The adventure continued.

Thanks to Hello Games for the images.