Intergalactic conquest with an AI

After some effort, the campsite was finally complete, a harmonious mix of futuristic technology and traditional camping vibes. Hover lanterns floated above, casting a soft, warm glow across the clearing.

At the center of the camp was a holographic fire pit, a brilliant piece of tech that projected flickering flames while doubling as a heat source.

Though it lacked the smoky aroma of a real fire, Cleo had insisted on adding authentic crackling sounds for ambiance, programming it herself to replicate the soothing noise of burning wood.

Due to the planet's unique ecosystem, burning the native wood was strictly forbidden, not to mention dangerous, as it could release toxic fumes. To preserve the camping experience as much as possible, the provided holo-fire pit and other camping gear were state-of-the-art, creating the perfect blend of nature and comfort.

Carlos stretched his arms as he sat back on one of the collapsible chairs, admiring their handiwork. "Alright, everything's set up. This place looks perfect," he said, clearly proud of the teamwork that went into building their little temporary home.

Rex flopped onto the ground, propping his head up on a nearby rock. "Okay, now what? We've got everything ready, and we're here for three nights. What are we even supposed to do to kill the time? Anyone got any ideas?"

Sharon, who had been gently brushing dirt off her outfit, looked around thoughtfully. "Hmm, I have to admit, this is my first time camping like this. I'm not sure what people usually do in these situations," she said, her feline ears twitching as she scanned the forest.

Ys perked up, her green eyes gleaming with excitement. "What if we go hunting? The native species on this planet must be fascinating, and I'd love to bag a few trophies!" She rubbed her hands together, clearly thrilled at the idea.

Cleo immediately shot her a sharp glare. "We can't," she said firmly. "This is a protected world. Hunting is strictly forbidden." She crossed her arms and added with a cutting edge to her tone, "But I guess a princess like you wouldn't care about rules, would you? Or the delicate balance of ecosystems, for that matter."

She rolled her eyes and smirked. "Oh, come on, Cleo. Don't pretend you're worried about the ecosystem. You're just scared I'd catch something cooler than anything you've ever done."

Cleo raised an eyebrow, her expression unreadable. "No, I'm worried you'd destroy half the forest while trying to catch it. You race have a reputation, after all."

The tension between the two women crackled like an actual fire, but Rex decided to nip it in the bud by ignoring them entirely. Turning to Carlos, he said, "What about you, Carlos? Got any brilliant ideas for how to pass the time?"

Carlos rubbed his chin deep in thought before a mischievous grin spread across his face. "How about we tell some stories? I mean, it's nighttime, we've got a fire... well, sort of, and it's the perfect setting for some spooky tales. What better way to spend the evening?"

Rex's eyes lit up at the suggestion. "Damn, that's actually a solid idea! I'm in!" He quickly sat up and moved to sit closer to the holo-fire pit, patting the ground next to him.

"I think that sounds fascinating," Sharon said as she gracefully sat down next to Carlos. Her green eyes sparkled with curiosity. "I've never told campfire stories before. I'd love to hear some."

"Me too, darling," Ys said, plopping down on Rex's other side with a sly grin.

Cleo silently joined the group, taking her seat with her usual air of composure.

"Alright," Carlos said, clapping his hands together. "Who's going first?"

Rex smirked, leaning back. "You brought up the idea, so you should go first. It's only fair."

Carlos groaned. "Fine, but I'm warning you, I stink at telling stories. Don't blame me if it's not scary."

"Don't worry," Cleo interjected, pulling out a small, round device from her pack. "I have just the thing to help. This is an audio-holo projector. You describe the story, and it'll generate visuals based on what you're saying. Think of it as a way to bring your story to life."

Carlos leaned forward, intrigued. "Oh? That sounds awesome. How does it work?"

Cleo activated the device, and a soft hum filled the air as a faint holographic mist emerged from it. She began narrating an example story, describing a magical forest filled with fantastical creatures.

The projector instantly created a vivid 4D image, displaying glowing trees, mythical beasts, and even a light drizzle that seemed to hang in the air around them.

"Wow…" Sharon said, her mouth slightly open as she watched the holographic forest shimmer and shift before her. "This is incredible! Where did you get it? I need one of these in my life."

Cleo smiled faintly, her inner saleswoman shining through. "It's still in its beta phase and not available for public purchase yet. But if you'd like, I can order one for you as a gift. All I'd ask is that you help us promote it. A recommendation from someone like you would go a long way."

Sharon beamed. "You've got yourself a deal! Let me add you to my contacts, little Cleo."

As the two exchanged contact information, Rex couldn't help but grin. "Well, it looks like Cleo's already making business deals during our camping trip. Classic."

Carlos cleared his throat, standing up and cracking his knuckles. "Alright, fine. Let's see what this thing can do. I'll try my best to scare the pants off you guys."

The group settled in closer to the fire, their anticipation growing as the night deepened and the strange, alien forest around them seemed to close in. The twin moons above bathed the clearing in an eerie glow, setting the perfect stage for Carlos's first attempt at a campfire tale.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Alright," Carlos began, his voice lowering dramatically. "This is the story of the haunted mining ship Eclipse."

The projector hummed softly, the mist swirling as it began forming shapes in response to Carlos's words.

Rex smirked, leaning forward with a grin. "This better be good, Carlos. Don't embarrass yourself."

Carlos rolled his eyes. "Shut up and let me work my magic."

Carlos leaned closer to the holo-fire pit, his face lit up by the flickering glow of the holographic flames as he began his story. His voice dropped an octave, carrying a mix of drama and tension that immediately caught everyone's attention.

"This mission took place not long after I became the boss of the Thunderblades," he began, his tone heavy with foreboding.

"The request seemed simple enough: head to a crashed trading ship, secure the cargo, and deliver it to the ship's owner back in the city. Easy, right? That's what I thought too. Everything looked straightforward, until we got there."

Carlos paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. The small holo-projector Cleo had set up responded to his voice, creating a 4D hologram of a large, smoking wreckage surrounded by an eerie wasteland.

"So," he continued, leaning back slightly, "I put together a team and headed out to the crash site. By the time we arrived, the wreck had already been sitting there for three days."

"There were no fires left, just the scorched husk of the ship smoldering in the distance. But with the risk of radiation hanging in the air, we didn't take any chances; we suited up in power armor before we even got close."

The hologram shifted, showing a group of armored figures approaching the wreckage. The forest around them was quiet now, everyone drawn into the vivid imagery of Carlos's tale.

"The ship's interior was exactly what you'd expect after a crash like that, burned-out walls, twisted metal, debris everywhere. It looked like a damn oven in there, the heat from the crash cooking everything. But as we moved deeper into the ship, things started to get... weird."

Carlos leaned forward, lowering his voice for effect. "At first, it was the bodies. Crew members or what was left of them, anyway, lying all over the place, burned so badly their skin had turned to charcoal. Most of us were used to seeing bad stuff on missions, but this... He shook his head, letting the memory hang in the air.

The projector shifted, creating ghostly images of charred bodies strewn across the floor of the wreck.

"Then one of my men pointed something out, something we'd missed at first." Carlos's voice dropped to a whisper, and the campfire flickered as if reacting to his tone.

"The bodies weren't complete. Arms, legs, even parts of their torsos… gone. It wasn't just the crash that tore them apart. There were bite marks all over them."

"Bite marks?" Sharon asked, her feline ears twitching as she hugged her knees to her chest.

Carlos nodded grimly. "Yeah. Even with their skin burned to coal, you could still see the bite marks, deep, jagged, and deliberate. Like something had been... eating them."

The group shivered slightly as the holo-projector displayed a burned body with unsettlingly clear bite marks etched into its flesh.

Carlos gave them a moment before continuing. "While we were busy checking the bodies, none of us noticed something was wrong until we heard the sound of metal echoing through the wreck."

The projector recreated the sound, a sickening metallic clang followed by a heavy thud.

"One of my men collapsed onto the floor right behind us. At first, we thought maybe he'd tripped or passed out from the heat. But when we turned him over... " Carlos paused for dramatic effect, his voice heavy with dread.

"He was already dead. And just like the crew, his chest had been ripped open, his heart and lungs were gone."

The hologram showed a shadowy figure lying in a pool of blood, his chest cavity disturbingly hollow.

"That was when everything went to hell," Carlos said, shaking his head.

"Some of my men panicked. One of them bolted, screaming something about how we were all going to die. I yelled after him to stop and come back, but he didn't listen. Seconds later, we heard the sound of gunfire, then his screams... then silence."