Jonah, Vanessa, and Ariana stood at the bottom of Nomad's ramp. They were staring at a space so big that their ship looked so small. The bay spread out in every direction, and its walls high up until they were lost in the dark.
"Is anyone else having trouble processing this?" Vanessa asked quietly.
"Yes," Ariana said. "My people have legends of the Artificers. Stories passed down through generations. But I never thought..."
She trailed off, because what do you say when mythology becomes real?
WHOOSH.
They heard a sound similar to the wind, though there was no air moving. The light in the bay changed, becoming a bright point in front of them. The point expanded, becoming a pillar, and then something else entirely.
A holographic figure appeared. It looked mostly human, but was not truly human. Its face was plain with no features except the two blue dots of light where eyes would normally be.
When it spoke, the voice came from everywhere at once.
