The Fading Pulse

Chapter 2:

The Fading Pulse

**Today, Year 2046**

The ruins of Solara Prime loomed ahead, their jagged spires piercing the blood-red sky. Radon adjusted the settings on his arm, feeling the familiar hum of power coursing through him. Karys walked beside him, her expression unreadable but her movements tense.

The signal was close now, its pulse resonating deep within his chest. It was a beacon of hope, or perhaps a trap. Either way, there was no turning back.

“Ready?” Karys asked, her voice steady despite the weight of their mission.

Radon nodded, his mechanical joints whirring softly. “Let’s find out what’s waiting for us.”

Together, they stepped into the shadows of Solara Prime, their fates intertwined with the crumbling world around them.

The Signal in The Arm

The faint beep resonated in the stillness of the dimly lit room, a steady rhythm that pulsed through Radon’s bionic jelly-infused watch system. The device, a seamless integration of electric water circuitry and computational gel, flickered with a pale blue glow beneath the translucent cover on his forearm. It had been silent for months, an idle accessory in a decaying body. Now, it called to him, urgent and alive.

Radon flipped the cover with a practiced swerve of his hand. The system flared to life, its holographic interface casting ghostly patterns on his gaunt face. The coordinates displayed were unfamiliar—deep within the heart of Solara Prime, a city long abandoned to ruin. His voice was low, gravelly, as he activated the system.

“Trace the signal source. Priority override: Alpha.”

The AI, a faintly feminine voice with a mechanical cadence, responded instantly. “Signal origin detected. Classified as pre-war frequency. Security protocols compromised. Threat level: unknown.”

Radon stared at the display, his mechanical hand flexing involuntarily. The signal was no random glitch. It was calling for him.

“Radon?”

He turned sharply to see Karys, leaning against the doorway with her arms crossed. Her expression was a mix of curiosity and concern. The faint light caught the intricate lines of her bionic augmentations, delicate yet functional enhancements that stretched from her neck to her forearms.

“It’s nothing,” he muttered, flipping the cover shut.

She stepped closer, her movements fluid and deliberate. “Nothing doesn’t make your arm light up like a damn Christmas tree.”

Radon sighed, his shoulders slumping. “A signal. Coming from Solara Prime.”

Karys frowned. “That place is a death trap. Why would anyone send a signal from there?”

“I don’t know,” he admitted. “But it feels… intentional. Like it was meant for me.”

She studied him for a moment, her gaze piercing. “You’re not going alone. If this is a trap, you’ll need someone to cover your ass. Again.”

Despite the tension, a faint smile tugged at his lips. “And here I thought you were just here for my sparkling personality.”

Karys rolled her eyes. “Don’t flatter yourself. You’re lucky I like a good mystery.”

The Red Sun’s Curse

Later that night, Radon sat alone, his back against the cold steel of his quarters. He flexed his bionic arm, watching as the once-vibrant circuitry sputtered and dimmed. His body was failing him, faster than he had anticipated.

The Red Sun, hanging ominously in the sky, was the unrelenting source of his decay. Its radiation, once manageable with proper shielding, had intensified over the years, corroding his biomechanical components from the inside out. His processor, a mix of outdated tech and emergency repairs, was barely holding him together.

Karys entered the room silently, her presence a quiet comfort. She sat beside him, close but not invasive.

“You’re not sleeping,” she said softly.

“Neither are you,” he countered, his voice tired.

She hesitated before speaking. “I know why you’re scared.”

Radon looked at her, surprised.

“You’re not just afraid of dying,” she continued. “You’re afraid of losing what’s left of you. The part that’s still… human.”

Her words cut deep, and he didn’t reply immediately. Instead, he stared at his arm, the dim light reflecting off the damaged plating.

“This tech was supposed to save me,” he said finally. “Now it’s killing me.”

Karys placed a hand on his shoulder. “We’ll find a way to fix this. Solara Prime might have what you need. If there’s even a chance, it’s worth the risk.”

He met her gaze, grateful for her unwavering support. “Why do you stick around, Karys? You could’ve left years ago.”

She smirked, her bionic eye glinting faintly. “Someone has to keep you alive, tin man. Besides, you’re the only one stubborn enough to make me feel normal.”

The Signal’s Origin

The day before their planned departure, Radon couldn’t shake the feeling that the signal wasn’t a coincidence. He pored over the data, searching for any clue that might explain its origin.

The AI chimed again. “Historical data indicates Solara Prime was a hub for Eidolon prototypes during the pre-war era. Signal frequency matches experimental communications devices used by advanced Biomeka units.”

Radon’s stomach churned. Advanced Biomeka units meant the Eidolon Rite—the ruling machine race responsible for countless deaths, including those of his comrades.

Karys entered the room, glancing at the display. “That doesn’t look good.”

“It’s worse than I thought,” he admitted. “If the Eidolon left something behind in Solara Prime, it could be the key to saving me. Or it could kill us both.”

Karys shrugged. “Wouldn’t be the first time we’ve walked into a death trap.”

He chuckled dryly. “You’ve got a strange way of comforting people.”

“Better get used to it,” she said with a grin. “We’ve got a long journey ahead.”

As they prepared their gear, Radon couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that the signal was more than just a call for help. It was a test—a gauntlet designed to push him to his limits. And if he failed, it wouldn’t just be his life on the line.

Standing at the edge of their quarters, he glanced back at Karys. “You ready for this?”

She smirked, adjusting the straps on her gear. “Always.”

With a nod, they stepped into the night, the looming ruins of Solara Prime awaiting them like a specter in the distance. The signal pulsed steadily in Radon’s arm, a haunting reminder of the unknown dangers ahead.