Beneath the sands of this perilous wasteland lied a ginormous construct stretching far ahead. It was as if this place was carved into the very foundation of the planet’s surface. Intricate buildings with paths and stairways covered by shade. Further ahead the foundation narrows into a large temple with seven mechanized arms protruding and a humanoid statue from the waist up with long arms hanging over a shadowed gateway. The entire foundation was infested with red tendrils and sinew strung about the walls and floors. Similar to the Rot, it resembled that of the same material I see protruding from the grounds of the planet’s own surface. Now that we were descending closer, I actually saw a few statues buried in the sands around the construct but couldn’t quite make them out from this high up.

  The Captain begins to bring the airship down. There was enough room in the rocky crevices of the construct to safely lower our altitude. I took a glimpse at the nearest sand-covered statue. Only the head and top-half of the torso stuck out. Humanoid in design with shoulder pads and wings mostly buried in the ground. Its eyes were pitch black holes. It bore an ominous smirk. How… peculiar.

  Half of the airship was deep in this crevice looming just over the construct’s grounds. The Captain works their fingers to place the airship into a hibernation state. Steel shutters emerge to shield the windows. A deep yawn bellowed from above us. The blood flow from the tank inside the room slows.

  The Captain then looks to me. They point out the shuttered front windows and tilt their head. I point out there and nod. I want to explore while we’re stationed here. I try to discern to the Captain that this is the first place we’ve discovered outside the valley of Carnis Machina so it’s worth it to take the time and look around. The Captain nods, following my hand and body gestures. They worm their way over to the lounge where the other two slugs reside. They use body and hand language to tell them that I’ll be heading out. They both nod and gesture by holding their thumbs up. I nod to them and return the gesture.

  I gather my gear. My belt held the bladed instrument, blood-filled syringes and pouches for ammunition. I sling the long-barreled firearm over my shoulder to my back. I go to activate the bridge for docking but with a different switch sequence. The bridge starts to extend before it shifts into a ladder that extends down below the gondola. Once I hear it hit the rocky floor below, I climb down.

  When I look to the walls of this construct, their size matches about half that of the towering heights of the valley walls where Carnis Machina lies. Metal beams and grates line the stone walls. I remember what the term is… Terraforming. It looks artificial. As if this massive chunk of the surface was extracted to create this place. Was this the doing of civilization or perhaps a natural formation? To my sides were stairways leading to elevated walkways that led to small buildings. Ahead I see dual staircases ever so taller that lead to a large gated doorway beneath the shadow of the looming monument. I walk towards it. The sheer size of the statue’s dangling arms alone gave me a sense of scale. I was so small in comparison. A pebble in a cavern.

  I ascend the leftmost staircase. Each step required me to lift my leg about as high as possible. Why so steep were these steps? I reach the top and approach the gateway. An extra layer of security for the doors behind them perhaps? I try to pull on the gate but to no avail. On the right-side wall is a device. Thin steel tubing connects it to the ends of the gates. Upon a close examination; the device is circular with a small dim red light bulb above the panel and a single keyhole embedded into the flesh pocket. It’s just as I suspected. I push the plate under my fingers to activate the Key device attached to my wrist. No luck with the current key type I carry. If I apply the knowledge gained from my time traversing Carnis Machina and the logic of how that place functioned; I could ascertain the possibility that acquiring the proper key for this gate may be obtained from within this construct.

  While the winds of the sandstorm raged above, I am covered in the shadow of the airship and the tall platforms built over some of these walkways. My breathing was a bit strained in this harsh air tainted by the blowing winds of the sandstorm. But I press on. There are six structures in total. Two small single-story and four large two-story structures. I should start with one of the small structures first.

  There was no door. I just walk in. A set of four folded cloths on the floor surround a small table with a flame burning in the center. I peek underneath to see a gas combustion device igniting the flame. Along the walls are small steam pipes connecting to thin tanks on either side of the entrance. The windows are just square-shaped holes in the walls peering outside the structure. Nothing of value in here.

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  I continue on with this first building to my left. From what I see, each of these four large buildings are exactly alike in design and form right down to the specific odd patterning in the steel walls and doors. The door slides open with the turn of the handle. Looks like a standard residency with a steam oven, a table and chairs. A generator sits at the center but isn’t running. Stairs led up to the second-floor room. I pass the square door in the wall. I see a tank containing blood on the wall with dangling cords. A bed. A storage container. I look around but find nothing of note. Just worthless junk.

  Would it even be worth it to look into all of these structures? No… I don’t think so. I had to think constructively here. I must have been missing something important. What lies beyond that gate and inside that temple is of significance judging by the design of this mysterious construct.

  Instead of choosing to wander aimlessly, I instead leave the house to ascend the stairs back up to the central pathway. I walk to the second of the platforms with shade. I stood at the center and looked around. Was I missing something? Two waist-high stone pillars. I studied one of them to see a small, rusty handle hidden inside a half-cut sphere. I pull the handle. The moving of stone echoes below. Huh? I go to the other pillar and pull on the handle. I hear more stone moving. I look behind my back and head towards the walkway. Looking below, I see nothing has changed. Did I miss pillars in the first platform? Were there even pillars inside? I carefully walk ahead toward the shaded platform I initially passed through on my way over here. Sure enough; Two more waist-high pillars covered by the shade I really did miss before. I repeat the process from before. The platform began to shake and rumble.

  The walkway divides into two, sliding into the platforms. From below, a giant rectangular stone pillar rises from the sand. At the center it’s hollowed out. It soon stops right where the walkway had split. I carefully approach it, hearing the distant cranking of gears turning. Right as I step inside the hollowed-out center of this pillar, the floor opens up at the center. A wide pillar erects upwards. On it is a cylindrical glass tank with a steel top and bottom. The tank is connected by wires to a small terminal device with a screen and buttons. Inside the tank wriggles a curious, deformed worm floating in the dirty green liquid. I peer closer at it to see no eyes but a tiny round mouth with rows of jagged teeth. Pulsating pores dotted around its body release spurts of pale-yellow mucus. I tap the single button on the monitor and the screen flashes on displaying a series of words:

  THE HOLY WORM. OUR MOST SACRED TREASURE BIRTHED FROM THE FLESH OF GOD.

  ONLY PRIESTS OR THE HIGH PRIEST THEMSELVES IS VERIFIED FOR THE HOLY LARVA’S ACCESS INTO THE SANCTUM. PRESENT SACRED KEY.

  ONLY WITH THE HIGH PRIEST’S BLESSING IS ENTRY INTO THE CEREBRAL CORTEX ALLOWED FOR ENLIGHTENMENT. MAY THE WORM AWAKEN THE MIND.

  RETURN THE WORM FOR CONTAINMENT OR FACE PUNISHMENT.

  OPTIONS:

  -RELEASE

  -CONTAIN

  I look at the keys. I see one marked with a particular letter and press it. A quiet click emanates from the tank. I go to grab the top of the tank to turn it. A puff of steam escapes the tank when I remove the lid. The worm inside wriggles ferociously. I reach in to grab it. I wasn’t too fond of the idea of having this tiny creature enter my skull. Reading ‘sacred key’ made something in my mind click. I place the larva back into the tank.

  My feet carry me far as I scramble to look around for any tools I can utilize. I return to the building I had previously explored. What I failed initially to check for was the small square door in the wall on the second floor. It was nestled at the top of the stairs just outside the room. I push the lock and open it up. Inside are small tools. Must be used for maintaining the generator and blood tank in the room. I grab the tools then leave the building.

  I return to the central pillar. I rest my arm on what little room there is of the small pillar inside. Taking the tools, I start to disassemble the top of the Key device on my right wrist. I twist some bolts. Pull out a couple small wires. The top panel comes off. Inside the device is a pulsing mass of muscle and tissue wrapped around a corkscrew connected to a tiny motor. I reach into the device and pull on the flesh. I toss the wet globs of flesh onto the floor, staining it with blood. I dig out all that I can, leaving only small bits of tissue leftover. With careful balancing, I step over to the tank and reach for the worm. It’s grimy body wriggles in my grip. I place it into the Key and reseal the panel until the device is fully refurbished. I turn around to glare at the locked gate in the distance… And start walking.