"Brace yourself. Venus isn't a place that welcomes guests," Cloud said as their ship began breaching the upper clouds.
Noir leaned forward, squinting through the thick golden haze outside the ship's viewport. "You make it sound like the planet has a personality."
"It does. And it doesn't like intruders."
Venus was shrouded in an atmospheric curtain of red-orange clouds, like a planet forever trapped in twilight. The ship rattled briefly, cutting through pressure layers and static pulses. Lightning laced the clouds like veins of white fire. Beneath them, shadowy landscapes emerged.
The closer they got to the surface, the more surreal it became. The ground shimmered like molten glass, and the rock formations twisted like frozen flame. Strange flora grew from obsidian ridges, translucent trees that pulsed gently with heat. The whole planet felt alive, watching.
Noir gulped. "Looks like hell if hell had an art designer."
Cloud chuckled faintly, eyes focused. "This is the planet of adaptation. Keep your wits about you."
They touched down on a naturally formed plateau of glowing white stone. The heat was overwhelming, but tolerable. The air was breathable, if thick and metallic. A strange scent hung in the air—like ozone and bloodroot.
Noir stepped out, boots clicking against the stone. The silence was eerie. No wind, no calls of animals. Just the low hum of heat and pressure.
"I feel like something's waiting to jump out at us."
"It is," Cloud replied. "Just hasn't decided if we're a threat."
They began their trek through Venus's wild terrain. The landscape shifted every few miles. Cracked valleys, shimmering crystal forests, bubbling pits of radiant fluid. Venus wasn't one environment—it was a collage of extremes.
They passed what looked like petrified cities, now half-swallowed by ash. Pillars made of fused bone and steel reached toward the sky, possibly relics of a people long gone or buried deep.
Noir kicked a stone aside. "So, we don't know anyone here? No contact, no allies?"
"No," Cloud said. "Venus doesn't communicate. No broadcasts. No transmissions. Total silence for decades."
Noir frowned. "And we're sure there are people here?"
"Not people. Survivors. Maybe something more."
Hours passed. The heat made time stretch and blur. They stopped to rest by a pool of what looked like silver water, though Cloud warned Noir not to touch it.
As they moved through a narrow canyon, the temperature dropped dramatically. Steam hissed from cracks in the walls, releasing bursts of freezing air. The walls here were etched with strange runes, jagged and pulsing faintly.
Then, a sound. Distant. Soft. Like humming.
Noir froze. "You hear that?"
Cloud nodded. "We're close. Get ready."
The humming grew louder as they followed it to an opening in the canyon. There, carved into the cliffside, was an entrance—an archway grown from the rock itself, glowing faintly green. Guarding it were two figures.
They stepped forward. Armor clung to their bodies like a second skin, made of layered metal and animal hide. Their eyes were sharp, watching. They held no visible weapons, but their presence alone felt dangerous.
The taller of the two spoke first. "State your origin."
Cloud didn't hesitate. "Travelers. Seeking knowledge."
"You carry no Venusian markings."
"We weren't born here. But we wish to learn."
The shorter figure tilted their head. "And if you bring harm?"
Noir raised his hands. "We'll leave. Peacefully. We're not here to fight."
There was a long silence. Then the taller one nodded.
"Follow. Slowly."
As they entered the cavernous tunnel, Noir leaned toward Cloud. "Think they know who we are?"
Cloud shook his head. "They're just cautious. That's Venus for you. You survive by not assuming anything."
The tunnel led them into a hidden sanctuary. A subterranean village bathed in soft light from bioluminescent fungi and molten streams. Structures carved from stone spiraled upward, homes stacked upon one another in natural formations. People moved quietly, some with mechanical limbs, others covered in protective wrappings.
They were met by two individuals who walked with a quiet authority.
"I am Joma," said the woman, dressed in layered robes and light armor.
"Yureth," said the man beside her, his skin rough like cooled magma.
Cloud inclined his head respectfully. "We thank you for not killing us."
Joma raised an eyebrow. "Most who arrive here either beg for shelter or try to conquer. You did neither. That makes you interesting."
Yureth stepped forward. "We do not trust easily. Venus does not forgive."
Cloud replied calmly. "Then we will earn that trust, or leave quietly."
A beat of silence. Then Joma gestured for them to follow.
"You may stay. But understand, if you bring danger to our doors, Venus itself will bury you."
Noir looked around at the glowing walls, the quiet people, the weight of the air. This wasn't just a planet. This was a test.
And they had only just begun.