,.=†=§####                                          ####§=†=.,
,,.=†=§###                                          ###§=†=.,,
,,,.=†=§##                                          ##§=†=.,,,
,,,,.=†=§#                                          #§=†=.,,,,
,,,,,.=†=§                                          §=†=.,,,,,
,,,,.=†=§# 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.              ###§=†=.,,
,,,.=†=§##                                          ##§=†=.,,,
,,,,.=†=§#                                          #§=†=.,,,,
,,,,,.=†=§                                          §=†=.,,,,,
,,,,.=†=§#                                          #§=†=.,,,,
,,,.=†=§##                                          ##§=†=.,,,