In the conference room, Captain Maruu was conducting a meeting with the senior staff. Commander K'Lara was sitting there fidgeting, worried about Commander Lataro who had just spent the night on the planet's surface. The rest of the staff were mulling over how to get him back.
"Okay. I need options," Maruu finally said. "I have lost one First Officer, I'll be damned if I am going to lose another. This time to something that we can fix."
"Sir," Lt. Valdago said. "The planet is a class N planet capable of supporting life. We have seen through sensor readings multiple life signs, all carbon-based."
"Yes, Sir," M'Terrn said interrupting the Senior Ops Officer. "The orbit that this planet has around its sun is one relative to Earth's. However it is slightly closer giving it regular temperatures of 115 degrees Fahrenheit. At night, though, it gets down to about 55. Also the sensor readings are showing massive amounts of water suggesting that the life signs we are reading are aquatic or even amphibious."
"Any intelligent life down there?" Maruu asked stippling his fingers.
"Indeterminate, Sir, by that information," Lt. Tara said. "However, Sir, I have been picking up communication of sorts through the atmospheric disturbances."
"That is my next question, what is causing these disturbances?"
"Sir, let me explain," M'Terrn said getting up and activating the monitor. "The sun of this system puts out massive amounts of radiation that is somehow interacting with methane gases put out on the surface. It is creating a sort of 'hot belt' that deflects both communication waves and transporter waves. This belt also keeps in the moisture that is let off by the normal evaporation processes similar to that of Earth creating a lush temperate zone. The only way to get to the surface is by shuttle."
"Okay. So we take a shuttle in there and get him out," K'Lara said.
"It is not that easy. It is almost like flying into a gas giant. That hot pocket pressure is one million isotons per square meters. The ship would have to withstand tremendous pressures. If not, it would crush like an aluminum can," M'Terrn said.
"Well, we built the Lambda Flier to withstand those types of pressures," Lt. Loran said.
"Hold that though, Lieutenant," Maruu said.
"Conceivable. But we wouldn't even know where to start looking," Valdago said.
"Commander K'Lara. Plot a projected trajectory that the shuttle could have taken barring atmospheric disturbances. Then plot one with it. The mean should give you an approximate impact site," Maruu said with a smile. He knew what Jon meant to K'Lara and made sure that she was actively involved in finding him.
"Yes, Sir."
"There is one more thing," Tara interjected. "That alien ship originated somewhere in this system. We can't be staying put for long, especially while we are searching for Commander Lataro."
"Understood. So what do you plan for us to do?" Valdago said.
"Tactical sensors have been picking up something actually flying within the hot belt. I don't know what, but it could be another ship, obviously not as big as the last one, but comparable to our size. I recommend enhancing the sensors to filter out the methane particles. By doing so we may be able to get a clearer reading."
"Outstanding. Lt. Tara. Go ahead and begin enhancements. Lt. Loran begin the Lambda Flier's preparation for extraction. I want a status report by 1800. Dismissed," Maruu said as he got up and looked out the view port. Commander K'Lara approached him as the other officers dispersed.
"Captain, I want to be on board the Flier when it goes in," she said sincerely.
"K'Lara," he began. Maruu turned to look at her and she could see the concern in his eyes. "I understand how you must feel, but you in your condition cannot be risking yourself on this type of mission. The Lambda Flier will run into a lot of turbulence and even problems in the hot belt that will be endangering you or your unborn child and I can't risk that."
"But, Captain. I am the best damn pilot you have. I can fly the Virgo through a hail storm without one hitting her, so you know I can fly the Flier too," she said angrily.
"Commander!" Maruu said sternly. "I understand your passion, but I will not endanger you or your unborn child. First of all, Jon is my friend and I know that he wouldn't allow you to be jeopardizing yourself like this either. Second, I am entrusted in protecting the crew of this ship from harm as much as possible and the last time I checked you are a member of this crew. So as it stands, the answer is no. Dismissed."
K'Lara was now mad. She wanted to go on this mission, but in a way she knew he was right. But, unknowingly, her eye flashed red that in turn received a look from the captain which startled her. She turned around and stormed off. I will be on that ship.
On the planet surface, Commander Lataro had come to a small clearing. He heard talking in a voice unlike Marsung's from within the clearing. He crept up behind a tree and crouched down out of sight. The vegetation fortunately thinned out a bit, but still the massive humidity was there and he was sweating profusely now, especially after the journey he just made. The sun's rays that made it though the hot belt were burning Lataro's skin, so he had put back on the top of the jumpsuit to protect him. His face though was burning for he had nothing to protect that. So he stayed in the shade as much as possible.
In the clearing he saw what looked to be a woman about five feet tall. Her skin was dark more of a tanned color but covered in what seem to be scales. Her hair was fine, but full that draped her shoulders. Occasionally she would turn, and Lataro noticed that her eyes were a dark color. She had a small nose and slit for mouth. As she spoke to another woman who looked identical to her, her mouth didn't move, but sound came from it. Her voice was soft not harsh which amazed him at seeing it come from her. He thought about revealing himself but remembered. Remembered a time long ago as when he was younger...
..."Hello!" a man's voice said. The sun had just gone down, and little Jonny who now had been living on this planet for almost a year was surprised. Jonny got up and ran out side armed with a phaser he found in the storage compartment.
"Who are you?" he said pointing the phaser. The phaser was not set and even if he wanted to, Jonny wouldn't have been able to fire it.
"Whoa, Fella. I am Xylia. I come in peace," the young man said. He was the equivalent to 18 years old, though bigger than Jonny. Dressed in rags and scraggly, Jonny identified him as a lost soul as himself.
"Where did you come from?" Jonny said hesitantly. He had been alone for so long and had survived barely, his social skills were irrelevant now. Jonny was just concerned with surviving.
"From over there," Xylia said pointing across the desert. "I brought some food. If you would like some. I really do come in peace. I have been stranded on this planet for about six ules and I just have been wandering seeing what is out here."
"Ules?"
"Yes, 'ules'. You know when that thing that rises and sets is full six times," Xylia said pointing to one of the suns that was just setting.
Jonny smiled. "Months."
"If that is what you call it. Can I come in?"
Jonny lowered his phaser. "Well, I guess."
"So you this is your place?" Xylia said as he entered the pod. He sat down across from Jonny.
"Yeah."
"Interesting. Well look I am hungry. I brought some food. Would you like some?"
Jonny was starving. His hare meals had depleted and he now survived on things he found out in the wild, puyote, plants, even the slithering serpents he found, he had been eating them. It wasn't good, but it kept him alive. So when Xylia offered him the food that he had, Jonny accepted graciously. He devoured it not pausing to say thank you. Xylia just smiled.
"You're not going to eat?" Jonny asked.
"No, I am not hungry right now," he responded with a gentle smile. "So how long have you been here?"
"A little more than 12 ules."
"By yourself?" Xylia asked.
"Yeah."
Xylia smiled, almost a devilish smile. After Jonny devoured the final remains of the few fruits and vegetables which he didn't recognize, Xylia began to describe how he got to the planet. He told of his tale as a lone voyager who found his way to a uncharted star and when he instruments went dead ended up crash landing on this planet. Jonny started to feel lightheaded and almost incoherent as Xylia continued. Now Xylia's words sounded like blah, blah, blah, as things around Jonny began to spin in his mind. However, Jonny did hear something clearly.
"... and so I have been searching the planet for food. Now that you have stuffed yourself, now I can eat."
A mental fog crept upon Jonny, and the vision of the man who sat across from disappeared. Now a bipedal creature with a long snout and sharp teeth sat there smiling peering at little Lataro with haunting yellow eyes. Then all went black.
Searing heat woke Jonny who was stretched over red hot coals. The creature who was Xylia, seemed to piling rocks up in what seemed to an alter of some sort. Miniature bone carvings of symbols that Jonny couldn't recognize were placed on top. Jonny looked around and saw that his stick that which he used as a weapon to protect himself was now an instrument in his own destruction. He moved and struggled but to no avail. His bindings held tight.
"It is of no use to resist. You have eaten and now it is time for me to eat," Xylia said noticing Jonny's struggle. "Now that you are indisposed. I am going to be back. I would like to see what you have in your little shack." A indignant smile formed on the long snout.
Jonny started to moan as the heat started to well up on his skin. It hurt, but Jonny refused to scream or cry out. Instead he looked around quickly to see his predicament. His stick was attached to two rocks that held it in place. Jonny noticed that the stick was weak for he heard it creaking as he moved around. Maybe if I just... Jonny began to arch his back and pull downward with all his weight and again he heard cracking. "Yes!" he whispered. He began doing it harder and faster then finally it broke and his knee fell into the coal. A singeing smell and searing pain welled up in his knee, but anger overpowered him as he rolled off the coals. Screaming out was not an option.
Xylia didn't see this as he rummaged through the ship waiting for his meal to cook. Jonny scurried away behind a rock and went to work on the ropes with his teeth gnawing and biting trying to free himself. Finally he was free, and Xylia came out of the pod. He noticed that he was gone as he did. Startled by the disappearance he ran to the coals and looked around. "NO!" he yelled in anger. "Okay, loip (a word he used to describe his prey), come out. There is no where to run." Secretly, Xylia pulled a knife, jagged and about eight inches long.
Jonny looked around to see what he could use as a weapon, but he flinched as he moved for the heat of the coals had burned his epidermal layer like a first degree sunburn. But he was more concern with the being wanting to have him for dinner. Feeling around he found a rock the size of a softball. Then he realized that the tattered sleeve that he sported as protection for his arm would make an interesting weapon. He pulled off the sleeve.
"I can make this easy for you, or hard. It really doesn't matter to me," Xylia said trying to lure him out. Suddenly Jonny popped out from behind the rock about five feet from him. "Ah good. Come here and I will make your death painless."
Jonny slowly approached him with his hands behind his back. As he approached Xylia within three feet, he swung the rock laden sleeve around his head. Catching Xylia of guard the rock end hit him square in the side of his head and he was forced down, his knife dropping. "Argh!" Xylia screamed. Again Jonny swung the makeshift weapon around his head and lowered the rock into Xylia's torso. "Oomph!" Realizing the rock had done not enough damage, Jonny grabbed the knife and raised it over his head.
The yellow, haunting eyes of Xylia were now wide in astonishment as his hand came up to hopefully fend off Jonny, but the swift downward motion plunged the knife deep within his chest. With a sudden spasm then nothing, Xylia was dead with his own knife protruding from his chest. Jonny said nothing but spat on him. "Choke on that!"
...The two women sat talking, food was placed on a what looked like a blanket. Commander Lataro saw this. All these years of not trusting came to a head. Finally, he learned to trust a few people and only a few, K'Lara and Captain Maruu. They were the only ones he trusted. That incident with Xylia had haunted him for years, but now the pangs of hunger that rumbled his stomach were forcing him to hopefully think that these women might be friends. He revealed himself weapon at the ready. "Hello, ladies."