The secluded canyon offered a respite, a temporary sanctuary from the relentless pursuit of Shade and his forces. But the respite was fragile, a thin veil of peace stretched over a landscape teeming with danger. Kaelen and Flicker knew they couldn't stay there forever. They needed to recover, to plan, and to find a way to turn the tables on their pursuers.
Exhaustion claimed them first. They collapsed against the cool canyon walls, their bodies aching, their minds racing. Sleep came quickly, a deep, dreamless slumber that offered a brief escape from the harsh realities of their situation.
When they awoke, the sun was high in the sky, casting long shadows across the canyon floor. They were stiff and sore, but their minds were clear, their determination renewed. They ate the meager rations they had salvaged from the transport mech, sharing the meager provisions in silence.
After they ate, Kaelen and Flicker turned to the task of assessing their situation. They were stranded in the Crimson Zone, with limited resources, no transport, and a price on their heads. Their only allies were each other.
"We need to find a way to contact Gunner and Torque," Flicker said, her brow furrowing. "They're our only hope of getting out of here."
"Shade will be expecting that," Kaelen replied, his voice thoughtful. "He'll have the comm channels monitored, any signal will be intercepted."
Flicker sighed. "Then we're stuck here. Unless…"
She trailed off, her eyes scanning the canyon walls. Kaelen followed her gaze, his curiosity piqued.
"What is it?" he asked.
"I've been here before," Flicker replied, her voice low. "Years ago, when I was just starting out as a scavenger. I remember seeing something… strange. Carvings, on one of the canyon walls. They were ancient, unlike anything I'd ever seen before."
Kaelen's eyes widened. Ancient carvings could mean one thing: a hidden history, a forgotten secret. It could also mean a way out, or perhaps even a weapon to use against Shade.
"Show me," Kaelen said, his voice eager.
Flicker led him to a narrow alcove hidden behind a cluster of jagged rocks. The alcove was dark and damp, the air thick with the smell of dust and decay. On the back wall, etched into the rock, were a series of intricate carvings.
The carvings were unlike anything Kaelen had ever seen before. They depicted strange symbols, geometric patterns, and stylized figures. The figures appeared to be human, but their proportions were distorted, their features exaggerated. They were dressed in elaborate robes and adorned with strange ornaments.
"What are these?" Kaelen asked, his voice filled with awe.
"I don't know," Flicker replied, her eyes wide with wonder. "But they're old. Older than the Dominion, older than the Scar Lands. I think… I think they were here before the war."
Kaelen activated the System, focusing its sensors on the carvings. The System whirred and clicked, analyzing the patterns, scanning the symbols, searching its vast database for any information.
After a few tense moments, the System returned its findings. The results were astonishing.
"The carvings are ancient," the System announced, its voice echoing through the alcove. "They are a record of a civilization that predates the Iron Dominion. A civilization that possessed advanced technology, a deep understanding of energy, and a profound connection to the Titan-Fall."
Kaelen's heart pounded in his chest. He had stumbled upon a piece of the Titan-Fall's history, a forgotten chapter in the Dominion's past.
"What else can you tell me?" Kaelen asked, his voice trembling with excitement.
The System continued its analysis, decoding the symbols, translating the patterns, piecing together the fragments of the lost civilization's history.
The carvings revealed that the civilization had discovered a way to tap into the power of the Titan-Fall, to harness its energy, and to use it to create advanced technology. They had built cities powered by the Titan-Fall, weapons that could destroy armies, and machines that could manipulate the very fabric of reality.
But their ambition had been their undoing. They had pushed the boundaries of their technology too far, tampering with forces they didn't understand. They had unleashed a cataclysm that had destroyed their civilization and left the Crimson Zone scarred and corrupted.
"They tried to do too much, too fast," the System announced. "They lost control, and they paid the price."
Kaelen felt a shiver run down his spine. The story of the lost civilization was a warning, a reminder of the dangers of unchecked ambition and the fragility of power.
The System then focused on one specific carving that resembled a map. It had different symbols and words that was translated to show a possible power source.
As Kaelen and Flicker looked at the map, the System spoke. "It seems that they created these pathways to get here and they created a way to travel here safely."
Kaelen thought to himself what did he want to do with this and asked Flicker what her opinion was on this discovery. "We could hide here and find a new source to increase our energy and be safe, or we can use this to lure Shade in with the Dominion to destroy them"
Flicker was deep in thought when she responded, "Well, destroying the Dominion would be a difficult feat but we could use Shade's weakness and lure him in. However, this pathway is older, so the creatures will most likely be stronger. Which do you value more, being safe, or gaining more power?"
Kaelen had to think about the implications of the discovery they've made. Power can corrupt or allow them to succeed in stopping the Dominion. He thought to himself, "If we take the power that they discovered so long ago, then we can go and win"
He took her hand and kissed her, "Alright let's do it. I trust you and we will do this together."
He looked back at the System. "How can we access the power source?"