.--=*%##@#                                          #@##%*=--.
..--=*%##@                                          @##%*=--..
...--=*%##                                          ##%*=--...
....--=*%#                                          #%*=--....
.....--=*%                                          %*=--.....
......--=* GRAY SKIES,  SWIRLING WITH  SOOT.  STONY *=--......
.......--= GROUND  WITH  NO  HINTS  OF  VEGETATION. =--.......
......--=*                                          *=--......
.....--=*% BELOW   THE  SURFACE   ARE  THE   MINES, %*=--.....
....--=*%# SPIRALING  DOWN  INTO  THE  CRUST. SMALL #%*=--....
...--=*%## COMPARED TO THE CAVERNS  THEY EVENTUALLY ##%*=--...
..--=*%##@ REACH AND JOIN WITH. THE  TEMPERATURE IS @##%*=--..
.--=*%##@# HIGHER  DOWN  HERE, AND  THE VIEW IS NOT #@##%*=--.
..--=*%##@ AS  MONOCHROME: A  GREEN  LIGHT  BECKONS @##%*=--..
...--=*%##               FROM BELOW.                ##%*=--...
....--=*%#                                          #%*=--....
.....--=*% LONG AGO, THERE WAS A LIFEFORM  HERE. IN %*=--.....
......--=* THE CENTER  OF THE PLANETOID,  SOMETHING *=--......
.......--= DORMANT, WAITING  FOR  A COLLISION  WITH =--.......
......--=* ANOTHER   BODY.   BUT  NO   PLANET   WAS *=--......
.....--=*% REACHED,  AND  OVER  TIME,  THE SEEDLING %*=--.....
....--=*%#             BECAME A SLUDGE.             #%*=--....
...--=*%##                                          ##%*=--...
..--=*%##@ AND  ELVES  CAME  AS  MINERS,  AND   THE @##%*=--..
.--=*%##@#           SLUDGE WAS BOTTLED.            #@##%*=--.
..--=*%##@                                          @##%*=--..
...--=*%## ######################################## ##%*=--...
....--=*%# #                                      # #%*=--....
.....--=*% # #@#@@@#@####################@#@@@#@# # %*=--.....
......--=* # @                                  @ # *=--......
.......--= @ @ @###*#********************#*###@ @ @ =--.......
......--=* # @ @                              @ @ # *=--......
.....--=*% # @ @   THE CARGO SHIP IS FILLED,  @ @ # %*=--.....
....--=*%# % @ #      PREPARED FOR LAUNCH,    # @ % #%*=--....
...--=*%## * # #   IGNITION SEQUENCE STARTED  # # * ##%*=--...
..--=*%##@ = # #    HOURS AGO. ELVES IN THE   # # = @##%*=--..
.--=*%##@# = * #   PASSENGER CABIN, NOT YET   # * = #@##%*=--.
..--=*%##@ - = #   SEATED. BUT SOMETHING IS   # = - @##%*=--..
...--=*%## - - %   WRONG. THERE IS SOMETHING  % - - ##%*=--...
....--=*%# - - *   GREEN AROUND THEIR MOUTHS. * - - #%*=--....
.....--=*% - - = THE SLUDGE HAS BEEN SAMPLED, = - - %*=--.....
......--=* - - -     ENTERTAINED, AND THEN    - - - *=--......
.......--= - - -      FINALLY BINGED ON.      - - - =--.......
......--=* . . .                              . . . *=--......
.....--=*% . . . THE ENGINES ARE BURNING HOT, . . . %*=--.....
....--=*%#         AND THE SHIP ACCELERATES         #%*=--....
...--=*%##           AWAY. THE ELVES HAVE           ##%*=--...
..--=*%##@        STRAPPED THEMSELVES IN, AND       @##%*=--..
.--=*%##@#        ARE LYING COMPLETELY STILL,       #@##%*=--.
..--=*%##@              LIKE CORPSES.               @##%*=--..
...--=*%##                                          ##%*=--...
....--=*%#                                          #%*=--....
.....--=*%                                          %*=--.....
......--=*                                          *=--......
.......--=                                          =--.......