While Max was hiding, the tremors grew stronger, and some houses collapsed from the shaking.
In the distance, what looked like a crowd turned out to be a bipedal race with green scales.
They had large tails and faces resembling snakes, though flatter.
They were dressed in simple clothing made from what looked like leaves and vines.
And some weapons made of stone, like spears.
It seemed they were searching for something around the landing crater.
Their language was unfamiliar. The chip began to analyze and translate what they were saying.
"A giant fireball fell here," said one of them, who looked slimmer and was better dressed.
"Everyone spread out and search," said a taller, stronger man.
They began to spread out.
Max hadn't seen any danger so far; they seemed like a simple race that didn't even use iron yet, but their level of organization intrigued him.
He used the chip to send their language directly into his mind.
Max stepped out of the house and introduced himself.
"Hello, I'm Max Lavier. I mean no harm to your people."
They were startled.
And some spoke up.
"What kind of creature is this?"
"Just like in the books."
Several raised their weapons and took up positions, waiting only for their leader's command.
The leader stepped forward; he was tall, with green scales streaked with dark blue, and a strong build, but a calm, refined gaze.
He looked at him and said, "My name is Sak, of the Anaki people. You must have questions, but now is not the time. Let's get out of here for now." He glanced at a slimmer Anaki and started to leave.
The Anaki said, "Let's get out of here first. The noise you made will attract something. We'll talk later."
The crowd began to leave quickly.
Max, still unsure, began to follow along.
"Halfway there," the slender Anaki said. "I'm Sankito; you can call me San."
Max looked at him and asked, "What's going on?"
San said, "We have records of this place's past and of what lies beyond this land. Your questions will be answered once we reach a safe place."
And he fell silent.
After several kilometers.
They arrived at a mountain that had a metal gate as large as a two-story house.
The gate opened, but strangely, there was no sound.
Max looked at it in doubt, as it seemed beyond what the natives would have access to.
When he entered the place, he saw the Anaki people, though they were better dressed in metal clothing and lived in fortified houses, with the efficient details of an advanced civilization.
When the Anakis entered, they began to change their clothes.
Anaki One
"We're finally here. I hate these disguises."
Anaki Two
"You can say that again. It's all so uncomfortable."
The leader, Sak, changed his clothes and said, "Follow me to our chief."
Max asked, "Who are you?"
As they walked along the roads,
The Anakis looked at Max with curiosity.
Sak spoke.
"We are one of the peoples trapped in this world. Here, energy is drained; any ship that arrives here is shot down and loses all its energy."
"There are some sentinels out there who hate technological advancement."
"And some people have already forgotten where they came from."
Max was processing this when they arrived at a large, well-built house with a rustic style.
Upon entering and going to the main hall, a well-built Anaki, with red skin unlike the others, a regal appearance, and a wise gaze, was seated.
He spoke in a voice as deep as thunder
"Welcome, traveler. I am Naviel Seki Ankiro, leader of the fifteenth colonization fleet of the Anaki people."
Max introduced himself
"Pleased to meet you. I am Max Lavier, an explorer of the Star Race."
Naviel stood up and, with a weary smile, said.
"May I ask what brings you here, Max?"
Max looked at him and said
"What danger lies out there, and do you have any idea how to get out of this place?"
Naviel grew serious, looked into the distance, and said
"This land acts like a net that sucks up all energy."
"However, it seems to hate the progress of civilization; any race that shows anything beyond the Stone Age is hunted down."
"And since we have no access to energy, we're helpless—and we have to follow that rule."
"We're the newest race on this planet; most have already degenerated into a primitive civilization."
"We've been here for forty years, and the only way forward would be to use a huge amount of energy to satisfy this planet, but it prevents us from using any technology."
Max thought for a moment and said, "My ship didn't crash; it's still in orbit, and my chip seems to be working."
Naviel was surprised by this revelation; it seemed he had found a way out.
"Have you managed to get to the ship yet?" he asked anxiously.
Max shook his head: "I wouldn't know without trying, but with this planet needing energy, I believe we could try another approach. What is the sentinels' attack level?"
Naviel thought for a moment and said, "They aren't strong—they're only equipped with a few firearms. Even with a few units of soldiers, we could take one down, but there would be heavy casualties."
"Can you still use any weapons?"
Max thought for a moment and said, "I think my body's system is blocking the energy from flowing out."
Max shook his bracelet, but it didn't move, and he remarked, "Nothing external works."
Naviel looked at him and said regretfully, "If it were another division, or if we'd brought some modified soldiers, what a shame."
Max spoke up! Are you sure there aren't any other civilizations that have survived?
Naviel said, "That's unlikely to happen; most of those who crash don't survive, and a civilization's ship usually isn't the one that crashes."
"Like you, they manage, after a while, to leave this planet."
"They leave some records on how to leave, but our ship was damaged before we reached this place, so we couldn't prevent our crash."
"The indigenous people of this land are said to be descendants of travelers whose ships crashed here over the years and who settled here."
Max said, "I'm going to try something."