Chapter 1: The Relic Beneath the Sand

The relentless sun bore down on the Arizona desert as Thomas Morgan maneuvered his rusted ATV over a dune. His latest contract—a scavenging job at the remains of a defunct military research base—wasn’t promising, but it paid enough to keep his head above water. With his dogged persistence and military background, Thomas had carved out a niche as a freelance salvager, though the work was lonely and uneventful.

Arriving at the base, now half-swallowed by the desert sands, Thomas powered down his ATV and surveyed the desolation. Broken fences, collapsed buildings, and decades of neglect spoke of a place forgotten by history. It suited him. He preferred places no one else wanted to go.

Using a hand-held scanner, Thomas began combing through the rubble. Hours passed with little more than rusted scrap and faded equipment manuals to show for his efforts. Just as he was about to pack up, his scanner beeped, indicating a dense metallic object buried beneath the sand.

Thomas knelt, brushing the sand aside to reveal a smooth, silver orb, cool to the touch despite the heat. It was unlike anything he’d ever seen—no seams, no markings, just a faint, rhythmic glow. Curious, he pocketed the artifact and turned to leave. That’s when it happened.

A voice—not a sound, but a presence—pierced his mind.

“Designated pilot recognized. Initialization sequence activated. Do not be alarmed.”

Thomas staggered, dropping the orb as it pulsed brighter. “What the hell—who’s there?” he barked, scanning the empty desert around him.

“I am Solace,” the voice continued, calm and unyielding. “You have been chosen as the executor of an imperative mission. Humanity’s survival is at stake.”

Thomas stared at the orb, heart pounding. He didn’t believe in destiny or miracles, but something about the voice—its clarity, its certainty—rooted him to the spot.

“What mission? What are you talking about?”

“The Erebus must be awakened. Follow my guidance,” Solace replied. Before Thomas could protest, coordinates flooded into his mind, along with a vivid image of a place he’d never seen. Against his better judgment, Thomas packed up and began the trek, the orb’s glow lighting his path.