The mars landing

Previously

…And within that beam, coalescing from the very air, was a form. It was not solid, not entirely. It shimmered and shifted, an intricate tapestry of light and energy, taking on a vaguely humanoid shape, yet with proportions that defied earthly biology. It was undeniably intelligent. It was undeniably aware. And it was looking directly at me. The hum of the chamber seemed to hold its breath. The ancient structure, the beacon, had served its purpose. It had drawn me here, to this moment, to this encounter. I was no longer alone on Mars. And the adventure, I knew with a chilling certainty, had only just begun.