Having been moving directly toward the tip of the structure, the asteroid pod now drifted past the glowing beacon, which was easily as large as Westward itself, and was apparently a single curved piece of glass or crystal-like material set in the shape of four almond-shaped leaves—a symmetrical cross or “X,” depending on one’s orientation to it. In the center of the shape was a subtle dark circle of a reddish color, and the shifting geometric patterns inside the light seemed to radiate outward from this. The exploration party craned their necks to look down at the beacon as it passed beneath their feet until it was behind them. The asteroid pod followed the curve of the dome before tracing its way down the length of the tower. Its roving spotlights gleamed dully off the metallic surface.
Lamont could now see where Spratt was taking them. Roughly halfway between the tip of the tower and the part with the spherical projections, the regularity of the surface was broken by a pattern of what looked like seams, punctuated by small but noticeable regularly spaced projections.
“I don’t recognize most of the spectrographic signatures we’re seeing,” Abigail noted behind them. “But there’s definitely a difference in composition in the section we’re heading toward.”
“I’m going to take us right up close to it and see if we can’t get some kind of sample,” Spratt said.
“Is that safe?” Clifford asked.
“If she were hostile, surely she would have done something about us by now.” That observation came from Arthur Covington, who had finally emerged from inside the cargo bay and was leaning with his arms folded against the threshold of the cockpit.
“I’m engaging just a smidgen of counter-thrust to keep us steady,” Ed explained, punching a few buttons. “Bishop, keep an eye out for any changes. Townsend, scoot over.”
The technician unstrapped his harness and leaned over to where Lamont was seated, his lips tightening in concentration as he attempted to manipulate the controls in front of Lamont’s knees from that awkward angle.
“Ed…” Lamont said uneasily.
“Take it easy, I’ve got it,” Spratt assured him. From somewhere beneath his feet, Lamont could see a slender robotic arm extending outside the viewport and moving slowly toward the metal surface of the tower. Ed’s eyes were fixed on a small indicator in the center console.
“Ed!” Abigail suddenly exclaimed from behind them. “Sir, there are changes!”
“What kind of changes?” Spratt asked, his tone tinged with annoyance.
“There’s a surge in electrical activity,” Bishop stammered. “Something is happening beneath the surface. It’s—”
“I see it,” Rosemary said, her voice hardly above a whisper. “It’s opening.”