31 lines
1.8 KiB
Markdown
31 lines
1.8 KiB
Markdown
mushroom martians
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```
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___________
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/ \
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/ \
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| --o-- |
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| /|\ |
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\ /
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\___________/
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```
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CRASH! rocks fall and bounce with a sickening scratch on metal. the roar of the landing jets is briefly drowned out, but they keep the dust blown clear and maybe divert some of the lesser shrapnel. after a few seconds they can be heard again, but fade as the descent stage lists to the side and accelerates away to crash at a safe distance. a couple of small cracks and scrapes are heard as the debris settles, before silence takes hold again. noon sunlight illuminates the dust in the atmosphere, illuminating a circular patch in an otherwise lightless void.
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```
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___________
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/ \
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| --o|
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| /||
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\ /
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\___________/
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```
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it's mid-afternoon when the next sound is heard, and the patch has shifted. a mechanical whirring begins low, and spools up to a steady whine, before stopping suddenly. after a few seconds, it repeats, then again, for a total of six times. the dust has completely settled now; the air is clear, the shadows sharp. at the edge of the patch, and the centre of the debris field, an angular metal assemblage begins to unfold. dust obscures detail upon it. a cylindrical stalk lifts away from the top surface, and a brilliant white patch is exposed, having been protected from the dust on impact. the stalk folds up until it is vertical, whereupon it clicks into place, locked. an oblong shape at its tip swivels a fraction in each axis, up and down, left and right stopping between each as if distracted. the patch shifts further, and the stalk and its box are cast into a dull red shadow.
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