Tinman, Chapter 17 Sam zipped the last pocket of his rugged backpack, securing the array of geological tools within—hammers, chisels, and a compact spectrometer. His fingers brushed over the smooth casing of the survey drone, its sleek form lying dormant on the makeshift workbench. Cass, arms crossed, hovered nearby, her gaze fixed on the gadget with a mix of longing and frustration. "Remember, Cass, it's not about what you're ready for," Sam said without looking up, "it's about understanding the risks out here." He hefted the backpack onto his shoulders, feeling its familiar weight settle against his back. "Being cooped up in that boat isn't exactly safe, either," Cass retorted, her voice tinged with the defiance of youth. Her eyes, bright as emeralds, conveyed a silent challenge. "An electric fence is hardly a match for a rampaging behemoth." "Still, it's a barrier—one more layer between you and the unknown." Sam moved towards the door, but paused, turning to meet her stare. "Set it up, please. It's not much, but it's something." Cass let out a sigh, the air escaping like the hiss of a deflating balloon, yet her nod was one of reluctant obedience. She understood the unspoken plea in her step-father's request. Outside, the open expanse of Ares awaited. Sam reached down and activated the drone with a gentle press. The device sprang to life, anti-gravity pads emitting a soft glow as they engaged, lifting it into the air where it bobbed slightly before finding equilibrium. "Drone," Sam called out, tilting his head to acknowledge the machine. "Establish connection." "Roger Dodger, connection established," The drone’s voice echoed from the onboard speakers. "Draco, the drone is not programed to say, Roger Dodger. Get out of the drone, you’re not going,” Sam said. “I need you on the boat watching over Cass.” “I can do both,” Draco said. “It’s not hard.” “Draco!” Sam replied sternly. “Fine, I’m not in the drone anymore,” Draco said with a sulky tone. “I told you he’d catch you, dummy,” Cass’ voice came over the speaker. “He’s here with me at the comm-link throwing a temper tantrum, Dad.” Sam smiled, Cass and Draco were acting more like siblings every day. Soon nobody would suspect that Draco had begun life as a digital game AI. “Good, now you two behave, I’ll only be gone a few days.” "Drone, are you ready?” Sam asked. “Affirmative, Dr. Ryan.” “Cass?” “That was the drone,” Cass replied. “I can tell when Draco is connecting with the drone personally, he gets that far-away look in his eyes.” “Let's make history then," Sam announced with a quiet confidence as he stepped forward, leaving tracks in the soft soil, the drone trailing above like a faithful sentinel embarking on a journey through the untamed wilderness of Ares. “Drone-record log entry: This is Dr. Ryan. I am departing on my first expedition into the Ares Frontier. My goal is to survey the surrounding area and locate the original dike to the magma chamber for the volcano that formed Cass Lake. I believe the presence of the tectonic plates has pushed mineral and gem deposits to the surface from the lower mantle. End-recording.” “Aww, you named that lake after me,” Cass said over the speakers. “I registered the name last night, now get off the comm-link, Cass, I’m working, and go set up that electric fence,” Sam replied. Sam's boots sank into the verdant carpet of Ares, each step imprinting a legacy upon the untamed land. His gaze swept the horizon, eyes glinting with the fervor of a child glimpsing the sea for the first time. Every inhale brought the scent of ancient flora, its potent freshness a silent testament to a world untouched by human ambition. This was the raw canvas of exploration he had yearned for, each heartbeat syncing with the possibilities that lay hidden beneath layers of history. The forest loomed, an assembly of towering verdure whispering secrets of the ages. As Sam delved deeper, the drone—his sole companion—hovered above, a guardian angel draped in technology's embrace. Branches clutched at him like curious fingers, their leaves rustling sonnets of the primeval dance. The air thickened, heavy with the musk of damp earth and moss-clad stones. A stream, clear as the skies of Ares, sliced through his path. Sam paused, analyzing its capricious flow before finding the shallowest point, where pebbles played above the water's surface. He stepped lightly, crossing the liquid barrier with a geologist’s precision, mindful of the slippery underfoot and the deceptive currents. He knelt on the other side of the stream and picked up a stone. He smiled and tossed the stone aside–Iron pyrite, Fool’s Gold. However, iron pyrite did have legitimate purposes. “Drone, mark this position as an iron pyrite deposit.” “Roger Dodger,” replied the Drone. “Draco!” “That wasn’t Draco, Dad,” Cass said. “I told you he threw a temper tantrum. He reprogrammed the Drone to say Roger Dodger, and maybe a few other things.” Sam sighed, but decided not to pursue the issue. If Draco had evolved enough to rebel against orders and throw a temper tantrum, it was further proof he had truly evolved sentience. Though, how he had formed a living body and ascended to the real world was still a mystery. The terrain shifted like moods of the sky; rocky outcroppings emerged, defiant sentinels of stone. Sam maneuvered around them with deliberate grace, his hands tracing the rugged textures as if reading braille etched by the planet itself. Each boulder, a puzzle piece; each crevice, a story awaiting his interpretation. With the sun casting elongated shadows, Sam pressed on, his spirit undeterred by the physical demands of this alien landscape. The drone floated dutifully behind, a silent witness to the symphony of discovery orchestrated with each step Sam took into the heart of Ares. Sam crouched, his gaze anchored to a vein of quartz that threaded through the bedrock—a ghostly white line against the grey. With meticulous care, he chipped away at the edge with his rock hammer, flakes of stone yielding to each precise strike. The sound of metal on mineral punctuated the stillness, an ode to human curiosity and determination. "Quite the tapestry," he murmured, his voice scarcely louder than a whisper, as he scrutinized the freshly exposed surface. His fingers danced over the patterns, tracing the natural architecture with reverence. "Igneous intrusion... perhaps a sign of precious metals deeper within." The drone hovered above, a silent sentinel scanning the surroundings. It was not equipped for complex geological analysis, but its presence offered Sam a semblance of companionship in the vast expanse of wilderness. He placed a fragment of the extracted rock into a clear bag, labeling it with methodical strokes of a permanent marker. This small token was the tangible result of his expertise, the first step in unraveling the story of Ares' fiery past. As Sam packed away his tools, a sudden crackle in the underbrush seized his attention. He froze, senses heightened, scanning the semi-darkness where daylight struggled to pierce the dense canopy. There, between two ancient trees, two orbs glowed like molten copper—eyes, watching him. His heart faltered, then found its rhythm in the silent stand-off. "Drone," Sam whispered into his wrist communicator, keeping his eyes locked on the mysterious creature. "Visual scan, 10 meters northwest from my position." The drone whirred softly, repositioning itself to execute Sam's command. The creature remained motionless, its gaze never waning. Sam took a slow, deliberate breath, recalling catalogues of wildlife native to Ares; none matched this enigmatic being, though it was familiar looking. "Stay calm," he coached himself, maintaining the fragile connection. His hand subtly reached for the flare gun strapped to his belt—a precaution, should curiosity turn to confrontation. "Scan complete, Daddy-O," The drone’s mechanical voice broke the silence. "Unidentified life form. Resembles an extinct Earth mammal–genus Lynx. Caution advised." "Understood," Sam replied, his eyes flicking up to the drone–Draco’s temper tantrum had certainly been creative. The glowing eyes began to recede, backing into the veiled depths of the forest. Sam watched, holding his stance until the last ember of light vanished into the shadows. "Resume mission," he commanded, both to himself and to the drone. Yet, as he continued his trek, the encounter imprinted itself upon his mind, a vivid reminder of the untamed spirit of Ares that lay beyond every rock and tree. Sam's fingers tapped a staccato rhythm against the lightweight fabric of his backpack as he waited for the drone to steady itself above him. The survey drone, a marvel of anti-gravity and sensor technology, hovered like a silent guardian, its lenses and scanners dissecting the landscape with methodical precision. "Drone," he called out, voice clear in the stillness of the Ares wilderness. "Sweep the northern quadrant. Look for any outcrops or anomalies." "Scanning," came the crisp reply from the drone's speakers. Sam observed the machine's movements, each turn deliberate, serving a singular purpose—to chart the uncharted, to reveal secrets held tight by this alien world. Minutes passed, each one filled with the soft whir of rotors and the occasional chirp of an unseen creature. Then, a ping echoed through Sam's earpiece. "Anomaly detected. Mineral composition indicates potential deposits." "Drone," he continued, "status check on the boat. How are things?" "Boat status is oakey-dokey," the Drone replied. "The electric fence has been deployed, and the brats are setting up the wet-sluice." "Excellent news," Sam said, allowing a small smile to breach his lips. Cass’ temper tantrums were always like a tornado sweeping through the house, but Draco’s was pure creative mischief. "Keep me posted on any changes," he instructed. “And tell Draco he better have the Drone reprogrammed back to baseline in ten minutes or he’s grounded for a week.” “Oh no, you’ll send him out to the frontier wilderness to sit on a boring boat for a week,” the drone responded. “Alright, that’s enough, young man, I know that one was you, fix my drone,” Sam replied. Sam’s gaze lingered on the forest ahead, dense with untold stories and unwavering in its mystery. With the drone maintaining its vigil overhead, Sam pressed on. His boots sank slightly into the moist ground, each step a testament to his resolve. Around him, towering ferns and twisted vines formed a labyrinth that would daunt less seasoned explorers. Fatigue clawed at his muscles, a silent adversary that grew bolder with every passing hour. But Sam pushed through it, driven by an insatiable hunger for discovery that no amount of physical weariness could quell. The untamed wilderness of Ares was unforgiving, its air heavy with moisture and the cries of unseen creatures echoing in the distance. He paused momentarily, wiping beads of sweat from his brow, his breath coming in measured gasps. The drone hovered nearby, its sensors a constant beacon of technological prowess amidst the primitive landscape. Sam's fingers danced over his device, recalibrating the drone's path to scout ahead. "Drone," he murmured into the device's communicator, "send me the latest terrain scan." "Uploading now," came the crisp reply, and a map bloomed across the screen, topography lines weaving an intricate dance of potential paths and pitfalls. "Keep an eye out for any movement," Sam instructed, his voice steady despite the exhaustion that threatened to overtake him. He knew the importance of vigilance in this uncharted world where danger lurked behind every verdant curtain. "Movement detected. Logging coordinates," the drone responded with no hint of Draco’s influence. "Good," Sam said. "We can't be too careful." Determined steps carried him forward, each one bringing him deeper into the heart of Ares. His eyes scanned the environment, noting signs of erosion on rocks that spoke of ancient waterways, their whispers of history fueling his drive. The drone circled back to him, a silent guardian against the encroaching wilds. Sam checked the device again, confirming the data before setting off toward the next waypoint, his mission clear and his resolve unshaken. No matter what Ares threw at him, Sam Ryan would persevere. For Cass, for discovery, for the unyielding call of the unknown that resonated deep within his bones. He trudged through a thicket of ferns, their fronds as large as sails, casting dappled shadows upon the ground. With each step, his boots sank into the soft, rich soil of Ares, leaving behind a testament to his passage—a lone human amidst a world untamed and undiscovered. The survey drone floated ahead, its sensors scanning the wilderness like the eyes of Argus. Pausing to catch his breath, Sam leaned against the gnarled trunk of a tree whose lineage was lost to time. He closed his eyes briefly, allowing himself a moment of reflection amid the solitude. His heart raced with the excitement of exploration, and yet, there was an undercurrent of solemnity. Here he stood at the precipice of discovery, understanding that each rock formation and fossilized imprint could redefine history. This was a place where the past whispered secrets—secrets that could alter the future of humanity itself. The drone emitted a soft chime, drawing Sam from his reverie. Wiping sweat from his brow, he approached the device which now hovered over a peculiar outcropping. The rocks before him bore the unmistakable signs of volcanic activity; layers of igneous deposits lay folded into one another, telling a story of fiery eruptions and turbulent upheavals that once sculpted the landscape. "Drone," Sam called out, examining the formation closely, "zoom in on this section." "Affirmative," the drone replied, its voice a beacon of modernity in the prehistoric quietude. On his handheld screen, Sam watched as the image sharpened, revealing the intricate striations of the rock. "Take samples, analyze composition," he instructed, his tone betraying a hint of anticipation. If his hunch was correct, these rocks might contain more than just geological insights. As the drone busied itself with the task, Sam pressed on, guided by a map etched not only on his device but also in his mind. He sought the mouth of a cave system, one that ancient lava flows might have carved into existence. Here, the promise of unclaimed riches beckoned—a geologist's dream. Hours turned to minutes, or so it seemed, when the foliage abruptly gave way to a clearing. In the heart of this opening, partially shrouded by vines, stood the jagged maw of a cave. It yawned wide, beckoning him closer with the allure of its darkened depths. Sam approached, his pulse quickening. The entrance aligned perfectly with the volcanic ridges mapped in his research, suggesting that the cave might extend deep into the bowels of the planet. "Drone," he whispered, almost afraid to break the silence, "document everything." "Commencing documentation," the drone affirmed, its lights casting eerie glows upon the cave's threshold. As Sam stepped closer, his eyes adjusted to the dim light, and he spotted something that drew a sharp intake of breath. There, half-buried in the mud at the cave's entrance, glistened an object unlike any stone or pebble he had seen on Ares. It was angular, clear, and reflected even the faintest light with a brilliance that seemed impossible. Kneeling down, Sam brushed away the mud with trembling fingers. A diamond, pristine and untouched, lay nestled in the alien soil. His heart hammered in his chest as he realized the magnitude of his find—a gemstone from the core of the planet, waiting for eons to be unearthed by human hands. The implications were staggering, and for a moment, he could do nothing but stare in awe. "Drone, are you capturing this?" Sam managed to say, his voice barely above a whisper. "Recording is in progress," came the calm response. Cradling the diamond in his palm—this was why he had come to Ares. And this was only the beginning. Thunder cracked the sky, the sound as sharp as a whip's snap. Sam looked up, his hazel eyes mirroring the sudden tension that gripped him. Dark clouds, like an army of brooding titans, roiled above the Ares forest, and the air turned electric with the promise of a storm. "Drone," Sam called out, his voice steady against the growing howl of the wind. "Prepare for inclement weather data collection." "Affirmative, Dr. Ryan," the drone replied, its mechanical tone betraying no concern for the impending chaos. Within minutes, rain pelted down in heavy sheets, drenching Sam to the bone. He squinted against the onslaught, his lean frame bracing as he navigated the slippery terrain. Then it happened—a low rumble grew into a deafening roar as the earth itself seemed to rebel. A mudslide, thick and relentless, cascaded down the hillside with a voracious hunger. Sam lunged sideways, narrowly avoiding the deluge. His breath came fast and ragged, his heart pounding with the close call. Muddy water surged around him, threatening to drag him into its murky depths. "Drone, call the kids, tell them to get away from the creek–flash flood warning," he gasped, clutching at a sturdy tree. The drone hovered overhead, impervious to the elements, its sensors whirring as it transmitted the alert. "No contact, they are not responding," the drone’s words crackled through the speakers, almost lost in the tumult. "Keep calling, they might be outside," Sam thoughts flickering to Cass in the path of a flash flood. “Activate the boat’s horns, short steady bursts.” With each step, his boots sank into the mud, but he used his geological knowledge to find firmer ground, charting a course where the underbrush held the soil together more tenaciously. His senses were attuned to the subtle shifts in the landscape, allowing him to predict where the ground would hold and where it might betray him. "Drone, scan for erosion patterns. We need a path out of this," Sam instructed, his keen intellect focusing on survival. "Scanning. Suggest a 15-degree detour to your right, following the natural incline," the drone offered, its lights cutting through the dimness. "Good call," he muttered, adjusting his route with calculated precision. Sam moved with purpose, driven by the primal will to endure and the intellectual challenge that the wilds of Ares presented. Each step was a testament to his perseverance and a silent oath to the daughter waiting for him to return. Sam's boots squelched against the yielding mud as he trudged forward, his gaze fixed on the geological anomaly before him. The deluge had subsided to a drizzle, beads of water glistening on the dense foliage that framed his view. There, at the base of a steep embankment, lay a newly revealed aperture in the earth—a cave mouth agape with silent invitation. "Drone," he said, catching his breath, "look at this." "Analyzing," the drone replied, its sensors casting an ethereal glow over the gaping maw. The cave, an unintended gift from the violent mudslide, bore the signature formations Sam had theorized about: igneous rock, layered and twisted, speaking volumes of volcanic activity from an age when dinosaurs roamed unfettered, and maybe still did. Excitement bubbled within him, merging with a sense of vindication. This was it; here lay the mysteries he sought—secrets enshrined in stone. "Formation confirmed. This is consistent with your predictions, Dr. Ryan," the drone’s voice resonated, confirming what Sam's own eyes told him. "Excellent," Sam whispered, more to himself than to the drone. His fingers traced the contours of the exposed strata, reading its history like braille under his touch. As he approached the cave entrance, his steps cautious amidst the treacherous terrain, something caught the corner of his eye—a sparkle, unassuming yet insistent. It beckoned him, and he knelt, the mud clinging to his knees, anchoring him momentarily to the spot. There, half-buried in the sludge, lay a gemstone the size of a robin's egg. Its facets, though dulled by the earth that clung to it, could not obscure the unmistakable clarity and cut of a diamond. A breath hitched in his throat as he gently freed it from its muddy shroud, rainwater washing over it, lending it a temporary brilliance. "Drone, can you believe this?" Sam couldn't keep the tremor of awe from his voice as he held up the diamond for the drone's cameras to capture. "Documented, Dr. Ryan. “This is it, I knew it was here," Sam murmured, pocketing the treasure securely. The fatigue that had dogged his steps seemed to evaporate, replaced by a newfound vigor. Here was proof that the risks, the sleepless nights poring over maps and data, all led to this moment of triumph. He cast one last glance at the cave, knowing it promised even greater discoveries within its shadowed depths. But those secrets would have to wait. Now, it was time to return to Cass with this tangible piece of hope gleaming in his possession. The journey back would be grueling, but the weight of the diamond in his pocket anchored him to the promise of tomorrow. Suddenly, Cass’ voice came through the drone’s speaker. “DAD, I CAN’T FIND DRACO!”