NMS: The Next Adventurer

NMS: THE NEXT ADVENTURER

CHAPTER FIFTEEN: THE SPECIALIST

Noma took off in the Radiant Pillar, punching through the cloud layer and heading off into space. Just as ve had suspected, there was something out there. Whatever it was, it was highly reflective. The sun was bouncing rays off it and causing it to shine with a light that was almost dazzling.

Noma suspected it was another space station, but as ve got closer it became apparent that it was not at all like the one that had arrived in orbit around the planet ve had adopted as a base. That station had been shaped like a gigantic pyramid, whereas this object was spherical. It appeared to have been fashioned out of gargantuan sheets of bronze, and this gave it a steampunk look. This impression was only reinforced when the Radiant Pillar got close enough for Noma to see a circular entrance opening up like a clockwork mechanism.

Just like with the space station, Noma had to relinquish control of the Pillar and let automatic docking procedures take over. Ve looked out of the cockpit as, outside, curved walls of bronze ornately decorated slipped silently past. The ship came to rest in a spacious area, illuminated by bright hexagonal lights. Unlike the space station, this place did not buzz with activity. Noma appeared to be alone, and this solitude was only emphasised as ve began to walk and the footsteps on the metallic surface echoed around the curved walls.

Noma headed toward a flight of steps that lead up to another circular door. This one was smaller than the entrance through which the Pillar had flown. In fact, it was so small Noma had to crouch down a bit to pass through. On the other side was a domed room that was dominated something pulsing with light. Noma had no idea what it was, exactly, but considered that it might have something to do with the powering of this space oddity.

Nearby was an alien. It was about the size of a child and clad in a thick environmental suit. However, it wore no helmet and so Noma was able to see its head. It looked almost reptilian, with a scaly beak and eyes that were deep black. The alien was of the Gek species and it was intently focused on indecipherable hieroglyphs scrolling across a tablet it held in its gloved hands.

As Noma approached the little Gek, it noticed vis presence and simultaneously chirruped while emitting a sequence of odours, some pleasant others not so. This only caused confusion for Noma, but when the Gek tapped at some of the strange icons on its tablet, the smells and chirrups that were this alien’s form of communication were translated into something ve could understand.

The Gek introduced itself as ‘Polo’, and explained that it was a fugitive. It had become a fugitive after meeting a robotic priest aboard the very object they were both now inside, and that this encounter had lead to the Gek giving up all material possessions in order to flee into an anomaly outside of space and time. The little alien had sworn to remain in the anomaly, but was very curious about Noma’s travels and where ve planned to go next. There then followed a burst of chirrups and odours that were translated as “could you go out and collect data about the lifeforms you encounter on your travels?”.

This sounded like a mission Noma would gladly take on. As an Traveller, called to explore the stars and unlock the secrets they kept, ve lived to get out and shed light on the unknown. Noma agreed to get out and collect data for Specialist Polo.

Thanks to Hello Games for the images.