On the pedestal was a hologram. It flickered to life as they approached, revealing a tall, androgynous figure with skin the color of twilight and large, liquid eyes. Its voice was melodic, untranslated, but a cascade of images played above its head: a history.
That's when they found the vault.
The planet was a legend among survey crews. Officially designated KOI-9482b, it was nicknamed for the only word its discoverer, Dr. Aris Kay, had screamed before his feed cut to static: "Kays!" – a garbled mix of his own name and a panicked cry. All probes sent to the surface returned with corrupted data: lush forests, impossible ruins, and readings of a stable, breathable atmosphere. Every crew that landed never returned. Cfnm Kays Planet
"Unmade," Oladele finished.
The descent through the lavender-hued atmosphere was smooth. Too smooth. The sensors showed a temperate forest, rivers of pure water, and an energy signature that pulsed like a slow, planetary heartbeat. They landed in a clearing surrounded by colossal, spiraling trees whose bark shimmered like mother-of-pearl. On the pedestal was a hologram
Vance felt a cold knot in her stomach. "So all those crews..." That's when they found the vault
"No," she said quietly. Then louder: "No. We are not gods. We are not executioners."