###§$==,..                                          ..,==$§###
####§$==,.                                          .,==$§####
###§$==,..                                          ..,==$§###
##§$==,...                                          ...,==$§##
#§$==,....                                          ....,==$§#
##§$==,... GRAY  SKIES, SWIRLING  WITH SOOT.  STONY ...,==$§##
###§$==,.. GROUND  WITH  NO  HINTS  OF  VEGETATION. ..,==$§###
####§$==,.                                          .,==$§####
###§$==,.. BELOW   THE   SURFACE   ARE  THE  MINES, ..,==$§###
##§$==,... SPIRALING DOWN  INTO  THE  CRUST.  SMALL ...,==$§##
#§$==,.... COMPARED TO THE CAVERNS THEY  EVENTUALLY ....,==$§#
##§$==,... REACH AND JOIN  WITH. THE TEMPERATURE IS ...,==$§##
###§$==,.. HIGHER DOWN HERE,  AND  THE VIEW  IS NOT ..,==$§###
####§$==,. AS  MONOCHROME:  A  GREEN  LIGHT BECKONS .,==$§####
###§$==,..                FROM BELOW.               ..,==$§###
##§$==,...                                          ...,==$§##
#§$==,.... LONG AGO, THERE WAS A  LIFEFORM HERE. IN ....,==$§#
##§$==,... THE CENTER  OF THE PLANETOID,  SOMETHING ...,==$§##
###§$==,.. DORMANT,  WAITING  FOR  A COLLISION WITH ..,==$§###
####§$==,. ANOTHER  BODY.   BUT   NO   PLANET   WAS .,==$§####
###§$==,.. REACHED,  AND  OVER  TIME,  THE SEEDLING ..,==$§###
##§$==,...             BECAME A SLUDGE.             ...,==$§##
#§$==,....                                          ....,==$§#
##§$==,... AND  ELVES  CAME  AS   MINERS,  AND  THE ...,==$§##
###§$==,..            SLUDGE WAS BOTTLED.           ..,==$§###
####§$==,.                                          .,==$§####
###§$==,.. ######################################## ..,==$§###
##§$==,... #                                      # ...,==$§##
#§$==,.... # #################################### # ....,==$§#
##§$==,... # #                                  # # ...,==$§##
###§$==,.. # # ####$#$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$#$#### # # ..,==$§###
####§$==,. # # #                              # # # .,==$§####
###§$==,.. # # #   THE CARGO SHIP IS FILLED,  # # # ..,==$§###
##§$==,... § # #      PREPARED FOR LAUNCH,    # # § ...,==$§##
#§$==,.... $ # #   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.               .,==$§####
###§$==,..                                          ..,==$§###
##§$==,...                                          ...,==$§##
#§$==,....                                          ....,==$§#
##§$==,...                                          ...,==$§##
###§$==,..                                          ..,==$§###