THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON, 2000 A.D.

"This appears to be the source of the anomalous energy readings we've been tracking," said of the explorers. A name tag across the right chest plate said KEYNES.

"You still think it's a transmitter of some sort?" a disembodied voice asked.

"I don't know. Could be a beacon. We would have to take a closer look," Keynes replied. With the powerful lights mounted on the top and the sides of the helmet, he was able to look across the face of the inner ridge. "None of the logs from the various missions expeditions and corporate missions mentioned leaving an outpost in this part of the lunar surface."

"All right, Keynes, proceed with caution."

Keynes grinned. "Of course, Hsing."

Keynes and his fellow expeditioner reached the base of the ridge. The entrance into the cave was unusually smooth as if it were hewn by a plasma mining torch. The beams of the explorers' searchlights swung into the darkness of the cave as Keynes and companion traveled several meters into the cave. Further access to the sublunar chamber was prevented by a silvery-black wall about 10 meters wide and 5 meters tall. Keynes relayed his observations to the mobile command and exploratory module outside. His companion flicked an oversized switch on the side of the HPX-77 energy rifle. Near the equally oversized trigger guard, a bright red display lit up with a stream of numbers as Keynes armed companion swung the "barrel" of the blaster rifle towards the ebony barrier.

|| || 22 % CAP || ||

Keynes ventured toward the wall and hesitantly placed his protected palm against the surface of the wall.

|| || || || 37 % CAP || || || ||

# bleep #

Even through the thick fabric and shielding of his glove, Keynes had the impression that the wall was slick - even wet.

|| || || || || 46% CAP || || || || ||

In the middle of the wall was a shallow hole and would have been left unnoticed if Keynes had not panned across the wall with his headlights. He lumbered toward it.

|| || || || || || 64% CAP || || || || || ||

# bleep # # bleep # # bleep #

The cavity was round, and Keynes poked two thick and white fingers and estimated that it was about two inches deep. The armed explorer tightened his fist around the pistol grip of the blaster.

|| || || || || || || || 83% CAP || || || || || || || ||

# bleep # # bleep # # bleep # # bleep # # bleep # # bleep # # bleep # # bleep # # bleep #

The rapid beeping that filled the hi tech fish bowl around Keynes head finally captured his attention. Keynes bowed his head in an exaggerated manner to look at a device strapped to his waist. Keynes took the device and look at the displays. The intensity of the energy readings they had been monitoring had increased logarithmically.

|| || || || || || || || || 94% CAP || || || || || || || || ||

# bleep # # bleep # # bleep # # bleep # # bleep # # bleep # # bleep # # bleep # # bleep #
# bleep # # bleep # # bleep # # bleep # # bleep # # bleep # # bleep # # bleep # # bleep #
# bleep # # bleep # # bleep # # bleep # # bleep # # bleep # # bleep # # bleep # # bleep #

Keynes took a quick look at the cavity and saw three round holes in the middle of the cavity.

[] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] 100% CHARGE [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] []

A bright light erupted outside the cave accompanied a flash of static over the communications channel. Keynes' armed companion swung around quickly and took one Herculean leap towards the mouth of the cave.

[] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] 100% CHARGE [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] []

"The Command Module!!! Marcus! Tshombe!"

[] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] 100% CHARGE [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] []

The command module's transceiver dish hit the dirt near the trooper's foot as he landed. The light outside flickered and faded away and the transceiver dish looked remarkably like an errant hubcap on a freeway. The trooper squeezed the trigger and brilliant lances of energy poured out of the HPX-77 energy rifle towards some unseen enemy on the crater's basin.

Keynes was screaming hysterically "Perez! Hsing! God! Somebody answer me!"

A reply came in the form of searing bolts of green energy that tore into the multiple layers of the trooper's protective suit.

"My God!!!" Keynes yelled at no one in particular as he closed his eyes. As much as he didn't want to see the bubbling and boiling going on before him, Keynes was horrified at the prospect of suffering explosive decompression himself....

Seconds passed... Maybe minutes... But after a while, the sour taste of bile crept up to Keynes's mouth joined his labored breathing and the resounding beat of his heart. Keynes slowly opened his eyes and found himself curled up like a baby on the dusty floor of the lunar cave. He forcibly swallowed to stop himself from vomiting. Keynes stood up - only to find himself falling upon his knees before the sight before him.

"M.. My.. Gh.. Gh.. God...", croaked Keynes.

A dissonant, inhuman voice invaded the now empty comm channel. "I am not your God. But I will reign over your world in perfection. You will serve me -- or be destroyed."

[ I N D E X ]