The Ancient Gate
The trio arrived at the edge of the desert, Tanis landing gracefully and shifting back into her human form. Dani's breath hitched as he spotted the colossal structure standing alone amidst the vast expanse of sand. The "door" was unlike anything he had ever imagined—a massive archway of sleek, silvery metal, adorned with intricate carvings glowing faintly with an otherworldly blue light. Despite its age, it emanated a power so intense that the air seemed to hum with energy.
"What… is this?" Dani whispered, taking cautious steps forward.
Emma's gaze was fixed on the gate, her expression unreadable. "If this is the terminal Arya spoke of, it's beyond anything I imagined," she said softly.
Driven by curiosity, Dani activated Mind's Eye, hoping to unravel the mysteries of the enormous structure.
The moment he focused on the gate, pain shot through his head like a lightning bolt. He staggered backward, clutching his face as searing agony overwhelmed him. His vision blurred, and crimson streaks trickled down from his eyes.
"Dani!" Emma exclaimed, rushing to his side.
Tanis caught him before he collapsed, her voice trembling with concern. "What's happening?!"
Through the blinding pain, a robotic voice filled Dani's mind:
"Warning! Host life in danger. Repeat, host life in danger."
Gasping for breath, Dani heard another notification as his Mind's Eye struggled to process the overwhelming information:
"Analyzing…
Ancient Teleportation Tool.
Purpose: Interplanetary travel.
Last activated: 50,000 years ago.
Material: Unknown.
Creator: Unknown.
Analysis terminated. Insufficient data."
The flow of information abruptly stopped, and Dani collapsed to his knees. Blood dripped from his eyes onto the sand, staining the golden grains a deep red.
Emma knelt beside him, her hands trembling as she wiped the blood from his face. "Dani, talk to me! Are you okay?"
Tanis's usually calm demeanor was replaced by visible worry. "You idiot! Why would you try to use that skill on something so ancient and powerful? Your body can't handle it!"
"I… I didn't know…" Dani managed to whisper, his voice weak. The pain began to subside, leaving him drained and trembling.
Emma gently held his face, her golden eyes full of concern. "You're reckless. Stop pushing yourself like this."
Dani gave a faint smile. "I just… I wanted to understand it."
Tanis shook her head, her tone softening. "You're too important to risk yourself like this. Promise me you won't do something so foolish again."
"I promise," Dani said, his voice barely above a whisper.
As the trio sat in the shadow of the ancient gate, the faint glow of the carvings seemed to pulse in rhythm with their breaths. Dani stared at the structure, his determination unwavering despite the near-death experience.
"This door…" he murmured, "is a gateway to the future I want to create. No matter how dangerous, I have to figure out how to use it."
Emma and Tanis exchanged a look, their expressions shifting from worry to understanding.
"We'll figure it out together," Emma said firmly.
"Just don't get yourself killed in the process," Tanis added, a small smirk returning to her face.
As the desert winds swirled around them, Dani felt a renewed sense of purpose. The ancient teleportation gate was more than just a means of travel—it was a symbol of the endless possibilities waiting for him in the vastness of space.