N, Uzi, V, and J had been wandering through the less-traveled parts of Copper 9, far from their usual side of the city where the Worker drone bunker loomed. The air still carried the tension of recent events, but for now, they walked in quiet relief. The streets were eerily calm, littered with the remnants of battles past, yet the group seemed to move with something close to freedom—at least compared to the chaos that had just subsided. Uzi had dubbed it the “Awesome As Hell Victory Walk,” grinning as they dodged debris and picked their way over cracked pavement.

The farther they went, the stranger the cityscape became. Rusted machinery jutted from the walls, half-buried under dust and grime. Broken Worker drone parts littered the ground, reminders of conflicts that still lingered like ghosts. That’s when they saw it—a landing pod, incongruously intact amidst the wreckage. It hadn’t been there before. Its surface was scorched and dented, as if it had crash-landed long ago, yet something about it made the group pause.

And then came the eyes. From within the pod, a pair of glowing shapes watched them. Not friendly, not familiar—just watching.

Uzi: "Whhaaaattt is that…?"

N: grinning, eyes wide "I dunno :D"

V: "We are NOT going over there."

J: "..I agree with V."

Uzi tilted their head, curiosity mixed with caution, a spark of excitement flickering despite the unease. N seemed unfazed, bouncing on the balls of their feet, their usual goofy optimism barely shaken. V planted themselves firmly, refusing to take another step toward the strange, abandoned pod. J, meanwhile, crossed their arms and shot a sharp, skeptical glance at the sudden presence in front of them, clearly irritated by the unexpected addition to their stroll.

For a moment, the city seemed to hold its breath. Broken metal, silent streets, the stench of past conflicts, and the quiet hum of the pod combined to create a tension that was almost tangible. Whatever was inside, it was awake—and waiting.