Page 5 of Ancient Rising

She pressed her hand to the centre of the lotus, and a sharp pain stabbed through her palm.At that moment, Harwin wished she had used her left hand, but the carving had the right hand, so she used the right hand.

She pressed inward, and there was a series of thuds, and then a grinding started.

The entry point she was pressing against let the doors swing inward like an automatic door opener.

Kliotten was babbling with excitement, but Harwin kept her focus on her hand and pressed until the door was open.

She heard the team shouting and felt the cool rush of air from within.The panel must have gotten what it needed because the needle left her skin, and she was able to withdraw her hand and turn it toward her to examine the tiny red mark under her skin.It wasn’t bleeding, which was odd.

The excited researchers clumped on the threshold, and Harwin walked up behind them.The room was pristine.The entry hall was a blend of light and colourful tiles, and shadowed hallways led further into the building.

The professor asked, “Harwin, is this what the ruins are like on your home world?”

“No.The ruins on my home world are solid stone with burial chambers going deep into the earth.The chambers have different purposes for different layers of the burial process.There is nothing like this.This is...different.”

The team chattered and debated whether to enter or not, and Harwin looked at the flawless stone, guessing that they had been recently cleaned.Who the hell was inside the building?

* * * *

In the peak of thepyramid a gentle chime began sounding, slow and steady.Mechanisms swung into place, and bots began to attend to the figure lying on the bed.

Chapter Two

Harwin finally hadan entrance and exit to guard.She helped them bring extra lights to the building the next morning and opened the door that had closed at night.She started scanning herself and found she was giving up about fifteen millilitres of blood per opening.

She watched the sky and the sand, occasionally finding a glint in the distance that shouldn’t be there.The glint disappeared, but she remembered the position.She ate her meals in the doorway, watching out for more of those small bright signs.

Sossos called out, “Harwin, come on.It’s time for lunch.”

She gave the sky one more look and turned inside, touching the door closure.The professor said, “What are you doing?”

“Keeping us safe while I turn my back to the door.There is someone in the sky, and as I was forbidden from bringing weapons, I am using what we have.Fourteen-foot doors are going to take the hit.”

The team got nervous.Kliotten asked, “What do you mean?”

“There is a ship coming this way.Directly this way.It will be here within the hour, so find places to hide.”

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