.##..####.                                          ###.##.##.
#.#.#.###.                                          .##..#..#.
#.#.#..##.                                          #.#.##.##.
#.#.#.#.#.                                          #.#..#..#.
#.#.#.#.#.                                          #.#.##.##.
#.#.#.#.#. 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.               #.#..#..#.
#.#.#.#.#.                                          #.#.##.##.
#.#.#.#.#.                                          #.#..#..#.
#.#.#.#.#.                                          #.#.##.##.
#.#.#.#.#.                                          #.#..#..#.
#.#.#.#.#.                                          #.#.##.##.