Strange Sci-fi Tales - An Eerily Normal Man [#193]

~~~~

Research File #8X0******

Subject: [Name Redacted] “That Lucky *******”

Status: Alive and Contained [Tentatively]

Threat: Minimal to Extreme [Depends on circumstance]

Hostility: None

           Subject is a 20 something Caucasian male with short blonde hair and blue eyes. He possesses an average build, height, and weight, and no particularly unique features. By all accounts, he is the embodiment of the stereotype of an average man. Subject’s mental faculties are similarly average. Academic records dating back to his elementary school days fall exactly in line with the class average. No preference is shown for any one subject.

           Psychiatric evaluation has also displayed generic results. Subject shows no strong feelings towards any topic in particular. When asked, subject has no strong preference for anything, no political affiliation, no favorite movie, book, or game, not even a specific romantic interest. Subject insists he enjoys all the above topics, but cannot bring himself to choose a favorite. Observable evidence supports his statement; he has voted in every major political election in his country he was eligible, regularly attends movies and local sports games, and has been romantically involved with several partners.

           Regular interviews with the subject have shed more light on his personality, or in several of the researcher’s terms, “lack thereof.” His speech pattern, descriptions of his life, and overall manner have been collectively described as “generic.” According to the subject, he began his life as part of a standard nuclear family growing up in the suburbs of [Location Redacted]. He would frequently reminisce about his white fence, the family dog, and playing sports with local children. However, when asked to describe topics such as his best friend, favorite sport as a child, and similar questions, he would seemingly dodge the question. Repeated attempts to inquire for more information would result in him repeating the same general answers with different phrasing.

           Subject was first encountered during the “Arkwave Incident” in the Spring of [Date Redacted]. Despite the mass panic occurring in [Location Redacted], the subject was completely unaware of the proceedings and going about his day as usual. Despite the fact 77% of all civilians moving about unprotected in the city would be [Redacted], the subject moved through entirely unscathed. Whether that meant driving to work, visiting a local coffee shop for lunch, or even stopping at a gas station less than a mile from the incident’s epicenter. Eyewitness reports noted that the [Redacted]’s movement patterns would change erratically based on his location. Either consciously or unconsciously, avoiding him at all costs.

           Following this observation, several attempts were made to detain the subject for further investigation. The first attempt was a simple detainment where three agents disguised as police officers would arrest him and take him to a nearby facility for questioning. However, the chosen vehicle, which had recently undergone a thorough inspection, suffered repeated malfunctions whenever they approached him. Attempts to track him on foot similarly failed, as sudden crowds would form, causing the agents to lose track of him. The attempt was terminated when the three agents were accused of impersonating officers by a belligerent civilian, and local law enforcement began to approach the scene. Later investigations revealed that said civilian had no history of such acts, and was in fact, a very quiet and introverted person.

           Future attempts suffered from the same issues, sudden equipment failure, civilians going through sudden personality shifts, law enforcement, up to the federal level, appearing, etc. Even attempts to detain utilizing psychics, teleporters, and dimension shifters failed because of sudden, unprecedented circumstances. The subject was noted to gain a temporary resistance to all psychic attacks. Teleporters suffered horrible electrical feedback. Lastly, the dimension shifters could not shift anywhere within his presence.

           Finally, Head Researcher Dr. [Name Redacted] proposed a simple solution. By the end of that day, the subject was hired onto one of our shell companies as a “pencil pusher” in the subject’s own words. The subject was hesitant to the offer at first; however, a simple offer of two hundred dollars (USD) upfront immediately changed his attitude. Since then, the subject has been safely contained to the shell company’s premises. However, attempts to secure his employment through legally binding contracts have proven difficult. Either because the subject refuses or because attempts through legal loopholes have resulted in the paperwork being mysteriously lost.

 

Note #1: Attempts to force the subject to interact with other anomalous objects have resulted in “unideal” outcomes. Future research concerning this subject’s interaction with anomalies is hereby indefinitely suspended.

Note #2: The “Coffee Incident,” as it has become known, must not be repeated. As a precaution, a month’s supply of instant coffee is required to be on the shell company’s premises at all times.

~~~~ 

They say there's no such thing as normal, let's hope they're right.

Until next time, Read, Comment and Enjoy 

~~~~ 

Support me on Patreon: [link]

Enigmatic Fantasies - Zelnator, (Former) Dark Lord of Evil [#192]

~~~~

           Zelnator, Dark Lord of Evil, was the greatest villain to ever terrorize the earth. Few could stand against his might, just saying his name would strike fear into the hearts of men. He was the villain all villains dreamed of being, keyword ‘was.’ Nowadays, no one even gives him a second glance.

           Zelnator sat upon his “mighty throne,” as he called it, which had a lovely view of a filth covered brick wall and a dumpster. He leaned back into his “throne” of torn fabric and stained polyester and sighed. The former dark lord clutched onto his “dark staff of power.” However, it was nothing more than a broken piece of rebar with a shiny rock tied to the top. His imagination raced with images of the fine, silk robes and ebony black armors he used to wear. Now all he had were torn jeans, a ratty, oversized fur coat, a crumbling shirt, and mismatched socks. The back alley he resided in was mostly empty, save for the occasional rat or stray cat. Zelnator had long since scared off anyone else who dared to encroach upon his “kingdom.”

           The former dark lord scratched at his mangled, dirty beard, pondering where it all went wrong. “One day, I’ll have my revenge against that Johnny Commando and his color-coded friends,” Zelnator exclaimed to no one in particular. “Then I will rule this world,” he broke out into an evil laugh, which was interrupted by a coughing fit.

           Unknown to him, just around the corner peaking from another alley was a little girl, no older than nine. She watched the crazy old man on the chair with interest but hadn’t dared to approach yet. When Zelnator finished coughing and appeared to doze off, the girl made her move. She sneaked as close as she could to the crazy old man, trying to get a better look at him.

           “What do you want?” Zelnator asked without even turning to face her.

           “What ya doing?” The little girl asked.        

           “Plotting my conquest of the world, now go away,” the former dark lord shooed her away.

           “Why?” She asked.

           “Do you know who I am?” Zelnator turned halfway to glare at her.

           “No,” the girl admitted.

           “I am Zelnator, Dark Lord of Evil,” he announced, “all that is good fears my presence.”

           “Never heard of you,” the little girl replied.

           “I fought Johnny Commando and his goodie good friends back in the day. Our battles shook the world and tore apart cities! Don’t they teach anything to the little brats these days?” Zelnator grumbled.

           “Dunno,” the girl shrugged.

           “Don’t you have school or something?” The crazy old man tried to wave her away again.

           “It’s summer,” the little girl replied.

           “Of course it is,” Zelnator grumbled. “Just go away, I need my thinking space.”

           “Why?”

           “To take over the world, of course.”

           “Why?”         

           “Because I’m an evil overlord, that’s what I do.”

           “Why?”

           “No more questions!” Zelnator snapped. “Go find your parents or whatever, I don’t need someone to see us and call the cops on me again.”

           “Why?”

           “Alright, that’s it,” Zelnator stood up from his “throne” and pointed his staff at the girl. “Face the wrath of the mighty Zelnator!” The evil overlord called upon all the dark power at his fingertips. The skies clouded, the shadows danced, and a mass of energy formed around the staff. The gathered energy was released all at once and had all the might and terror of a wet fart. “Rotten thing is on the fritz again,” the former dark lord slapped his staff.

           “You’re strange, mister,” the little girl chuckled.

           “I don’t have time to deal with this,” Zelnator sighed and walked away. However, the little girl followed him and bombarded him with further questions, much to his chagrin. So continues the story of Zelnator, Dark Lord of Evil, he’d get back at his enemies one of these days, supposedly.

~~~~

You can dream of the glory days all you want, but that won't change your present situation.

Until next time, Read, Comment and Enjoy

~~~~

Support me on Patreon: [link]

Eclectic Narratives - The Last Moments Before Something New [#191]

~~~~

The hours count down, the days slip away, that once distant time is no longer far away.

You waited for this moment, prepped for this time, where you are, you cannot stay.

It is a drastic change to the life you lead before, you don’t know if you’re ready.

However, the time to second-guess yourself is over, all you can do now is remain steady.

Despite all that will change, you know, in the end, you’ll still be you.

Your pastimes, your friends, your family will not be changed, that you know to be true.

You can still find solace in your many comforts, you can always find pride in your personal work.

There will simply be a new layer to your life, one you cannot simply shirk.

There’s no need to be afraid, no need to worry or fret.

Do not concern yourself with opinions and dispositions of people you haven’t even met.

Find your peace, find your strength to push ahead.

While it seems difficult now, once it is done, it is done, and you can discard all that dread.

Remember this in the days to come, hold it tight, and let it be your power.

If you do that much, soon you’ll realize there is no need to cower.

Now take a deep breath and prepare again for the days to come.

Find yourself excited for the world of opportunity before you, and forget about being glum.

~~~~

Sometimes you need to remind yourself that change isn't a bad thing.

Until next time, Read, Comment and Enjoy 

~~~~

Support me on Patreon: [link]

Legends #6 - The Planet of Beasts Part 2

Part 1 [link]

~~~~

           Previously on Legends: The world’s most brilliant scientist Dr. Isaac Calu and his close friend George Richardson, aka Gira, were flung across the galaxy by a mysterious cosmic event. After Gira acquired a magic sword and the two commandeered a new space ship from a band of space pirates, the duo began their long journey home. During their travels, they rescued an alien girl from an abandoned space station filled with monsters. However, as they left the station, they discovered the girl had come down with a horrible affliction turning her into one of the monsters.

           After leaving the alien girl in the care of the nearest space-faring hospital, the duo set out to the planet of Miron. The only place to acquire the necessary ingredients to create a cure for her affliction. However, Gira has been having visions of a world of gigantic creatures, which matches the description of Miron exactly. After quickly acquiring most of the ingredients, Gira set out on his own to acquire the last plant. A bright red flower, only found in a mountainous region of volatile weather and colossal animals.

~--~

           “Are you sure you don’t want my help.” Dr. Calu asked his friend as their ship approached the edge of the safe zone. “Once you cross the boundary into that region, I can’t follow you with the ship. Communications will be spotty at best.”

          “I’ll be fine,” Gira shook his head while checking over his refurbished space suit one last time. “Besides Doc, you’d be eaten alive out there, I at least have a chance to succeed.”

           “If you say so,” Dr. Calu sighed and pulled their space ship into a decent. “Alright, this is as close as I can go,” the scientist turned the ship around and opened up the cargo doors. “I’ll try to stay around this area, keep in contact whenever you can.”

           “Roger,” Gira nodded a leaped out of the ship, he fell several meters and landed on the ground with a thud. Most humans would feel some pain from such a jump, yet Gira didn’t feel a thing. “I guess I am getting stronger,” the black-haired man nodded to himself and marched forward.

           “Please, George, don’t do anything stupid,” Dr. Calu muttered to himself as he pulled the ship away.

~--~

           Gira raced straight ahead, he felt compelled to run faster and faster towards his goal. He was on a time limit, yet as he continued into the mountainous jungle, that fact became more distant in his mind. There was something ahead, something Gira knew he needed to see. Those visions that had beset him for the past few days, he had to know if they were real or not. As the swordsman passed through the tree line and found himself atop a cliff, he got his answer.

           A massive valley was before him, surrounded by endless mountain ranges on all sides, and filled with a jungle of building-sized trees. However, the most striking aspect was the massive creatures that populated the lands. Just like in Gira’s dreams, he saw massive birds with wingspans in the dozens of meters, colossal apes, mountain-sized bulls, and so much more. It was a picture-perfect recreation of his visions, except for one detail.

           “Where is that lion?” Gira wondered aloud. “Wait, no, I have a job to do,” he snapped himself out of it, “I need to find that flower.” The black-haired man quickly began his descent down the cliff face. Luckily for him, it wasn’t a steep incline, and there were plenty of handholds and places to rest. “This is almost too easy,” Gira realized.

           As if on cue, the weather changed at the drop of a hat. A full-blown thunderstorm started out of nowhere. Torrential rain pelted the swordsman, while bolts of lightning began to assault the valley. Gira desperately searched for a cave of similar shelter. The swordsman quickly realized there was no such formation for him to hide in.

           “When they said it was volatile, I didn’t think it would be this bad,” Gira tried in vain to shield himself from the rain. “It was bright and sunny literally a minute ago, I didn't even see the storm clouds form.” However, just as he began to complain, the storm stopped, the clouds parted, and it was sunny again. Gira merely sighed and continued his descent.

           After about an hour, the black-haired man finished his descent and found himself inside the valley. The trees and rocks towered over him, like skyscrapers in a major city. The forest floor was quite dark as the thick canopy only let in a few beams of sunlight. Gira scanned the area for any potential predators but found none. Relieved, he activated the communicator in his spacesuit to contact Dr. Calu. However, he was met with only static.

           “So much for keeping in touch,” Gira sighed as he checked his map. “Another two-hour trek across the valley should take me to the mountain range where the flowers grow. Let’s hope I don’t run into any company along the way.” The ground began to shake. “I just had to say it.”

           Nearby, a skyscraper-sized gorilla stomped through the jungle, each step was like a miniature earthquake to Gira. The swordsman stumbled as the ground shook more and more violently. Gira had no idea how to handle such an unprecedented problem. He could only come to the obvious conclusion he should avoid getting crushed.

           “Damn it, I have no choice but to run,” Gira grit his teeth, and he sprinted away, desperately trying to keep his balance. However, at every turn, he encountered a new problem. The flapping wings of a giant bird nearly knocked him off his feet. Then the charge of a colossal rhino reshaped the very landscape he stood on. It seemed the actions of whatever massive beast he was unfortunate enough to come across slowed his progress every step of the way.

           After three grueling hours, an exhausted and dizzy Gira had made it across the valley to the mountain range where the flower resided. The black-haired man spotted no examples of the plant close to the ground. Thus, he steeled himself for another climb. With his enhanced strength and the help of his magic sword, Gira pulled himself up the mountainside with relative ease. Then suddenly, a wave of déjà vu ran through him.

           “What is it now?” Gira exclaimed as a lion roared in the distance. “Could it be?” Gira scrambled faster up the cliffs, hardly paying attention to his path. “Maybe I can...Oh, no,” the black-haired man spotted the giant rhino again, which was about to ram into the mountain he was climbing. The beast would make contact a few kilometers away. However, Gira knew the shockwaves would cause the whole range to shudder. “Will I even have time to brace myself?” The swordsman wondered before briefly looking up, searching for any safe vantage. Instead, he locked eyes with the gigantic lion he was seeking.

           The massive feline was perched at the top of the mountain. It looked down at the man with the same stare he saw in his dreams. For a brief moment, Gira forgot about the oncoming danger. He felt a strange connection pulling him closer to the lion. The black-haired man reached out for the beast until the rhino made contact with the mountainside. The shockwave triggered a landslide that threw Gira off his perch and down below. Before his vision went dark, the last thing Gira saw was the lion also falling from the mountain.

~--~

           Gira awoke, sore but alive, he frantically checked his body for any severe injuries but found none. He quickly realized he was sitting in the shadow of something massive and looked up to see the giant lion. Its fiery mane had extinguished, and the beast was moaning in pain, having taken the full brunt of the landslide. Gira looked forward and noticed its right front leg was trapped in the rubble.

           “Whether you meant it or not, you saved me,” Gira struggled to his feet, blood dripping from several places. He had taken no fatal injuries, but he still banged up and needed medical attention. However, the swordsman cared little for this fact and marched forward. “Let me see if I can help you.” Gira drew his blade and tried to use its lightning attack to free the animal. While he managed to destroy some of the rocks, the beast was still trapped.

          The lion let out a soft roar, acknowledging his attempt to help, but admitting there was little he could do. The black-haired man looked up at the massive beast and found himself smiling unconsciously. Gira tightened the grip on his blade and tried again.

           “I know I might be out of my depth,” Gira admitted between deep breaths. “But, I’m not one to leave someone who helped me in the lurch.” The swordsman broke away the rocks bit by bit, making slow but steady progress.

           The lion remained silent at his declaration and eyed him meaningfully. Suddenly, its mane ignited, and it pulled on its right leg with all its might. The creature managed to partially free itself, giving Gira the chance to smash the last few large rocks in the way. In mere moments the giant lion was freed and let out a victorious roar.

           “Good, that takes care of that,” Gira wiped the sweat off his brow. “Forgot how much that lightning attack takes out of me, got to-” The swordsman muttered before falling over. “Need to find that flower...” The massive lion looked down at the man again, moved its head down, and picked Gira up.

~--~

           In his next moment of consciousness, Gira felt himself rise high into the air, the ground beneath him felt coarse and hot. When he opened his eyes, he realized he was perched on the lion’s head. The swordsman looked forward to see the whole mountain range he had spent the last few hours approaching take up his view.

           “Well, I guess I owe you again,” Gira chuckled as he scanned the mountainside for the flower. “There, that’s what I’m looking for,” the swordsman pointed towards a bright, red flower, growing on one of the mountain’s peaks. The lion put its head just close enough that Gira could snag the plant without getting up from his spot. “Finally, that takes care of...” Gira began to fade again, the last thing he felt was the lion moving away, with himself still perched on its head.

~--~

           The next time Gira opened his eyes, he was in a circular bed in a clean white room. He quickly recognized it as one of the patient rooms from the space station hospital. The swordsman briefly wondered what had happened until he noticed Dr. Calu smiling at his side.

           “Morning champ, you’ve been out for a couple of days,” the scientist explained.

           “What happened?” Gira mumbled.

           “Well, after you hadn’t contacted me for several hours, I had gotten worried,” Dr. Calu recounted. “Then you came back riding that giant lion. You were pretty banged up, but when the lion saw me approaching, it dumped your unconscious body on the ground. You had that flower we needed clutched in your hand.”

           “What about the alien girl? Did they make a cure?” Gira asked.

           “They’re synthesizing it right now,” Dr. Calu nodded, “should be ready just in time to save her. They were pretty impressed you survived, actually. So much so they accepted the notes and documents I recovered from the expedition site as payment.”

           “That’s good,” Gira rested his head on the bed. He turned towards the wall to see his sword, the Starbringer, leaning against it. For the first time, he noticed there was a carving in the red jewel placed in the blade's hilt. It seemed to resemble a lion, one with a great fiery mane. As the black-haired man closed his eyes again, he saw visions of the giant lion again. Something told him that he’d see the beast again, and he smiled at the thought.

~~~~

Whether big or little, those acts of kindness and selflessness will always pay off in the end.

Until next time, Read, Comment and Enjoy

~~~~

Support me on Patreon: [link]

Legends #5 - The Planet of Beasts Part 1 [#190]

~~~~

           Previously on Legends: The world’s most brilliant scientist Dr. Isaac Calu and his close friend George Richardson, aka Gira, were flung across the galaxy by a mysterious cosmic event. After Gira acquired a magic sword and the two commandeered a space ship from a band of space pirates, the duo began their long journey home. During their travels, they followed a distress signal leading to an abandoned space station. They encountered a variety of terrible monsters who had invaded the station. Thankfully, they managed to escape while rescuing the last survivor, a mysterious alien girl. However, as they left the station, they discovered the girl had come down with a horrible affliction turning her into one of the monsters. Gira had only one thought on his mind, they needed to help this poor girl before it was too late.

~--~

           Gira’s vision was filled with a view of a massive, mountainous jungle. The trees seemed to stretch on forever, their trucks as thick as buildings. The plant life was lush and colorful, filled with exotic fruits the size of people, and flowers the size of cars. It would be almost impossible for an average person to navigate this environment unaided. Not only because the environment was massive, but it was also home to some magnificent, colossal creatures.

           Gira could see them, gigantic animals that resembled ones he was familiar with. Yet, they lacked fur and feather and instead possessed rock-like hides. Grand birds with wingspans measured in dozens of meters. Apes that towered over the treeline. A pack of wolves that could bound over mountains. Bulls large enough to stampede through mountains. Yet, despite their size and strength, Gira was not afraid of the creatures. Something about them felt comfortable and safe.

           Finally, the black-haired man’s focus shifted to one of the creatures, in particular, one that resembled a lion. It was just as colossal as the other creatures, yet it stood out from the rest. Its mane was made of flame, its body a mixture of red and orange hues. The beast posed proudly on a mountain top, a sun rising behind it. It looked ahead, it’s eyes staring right into Gira’s and Gira looking back into its own. A familiar sensation moved through Gira, something he couldn’t quite put his finger on. However, as the déjà vu reached its height, he was snapped back to reality.

~--~

           “Gira, wake up,” Dr. Calu shook his friend.

           “What a weird dream,” the black-haired man rubbed his eyes. “Where are we?” Gira observed the unfamiliar surroundings, a stark, white hallway. He looked down to notice he had fallen asleep in an oddly shaped plastic chair that wasn’t quite the right size for him. The sword-wielding hero rubbed his back as he realized how sore his whole body was.

           “Well, in short, a hospital,” Dr. Calu revealed, “in long, a space station that happens to be a hospital. Thankfully, it was on the edge of the same solar system as the previous, far less hospitable space station. I don’t blame you for forgetting, you weren’t exactly conscious for most of our trip.”

           “Did one of the doctor’s patch me up?” Gira checked over himself, recalling the injuries he sustained from the mysterious beasts.

           “No, you just sort of healed on your own,” Dr. Calu explained. “The medical science here blows our own out of the water, but even they were shocked by how fast you healed. Must be that sword again.”

           “I guess,” Gira felt the sword still buckled to his side until he remembered why they came in the first place. “Wait, what about the alien girl?”

           “She’s with the doctors now, but,” Dr. Calu hesitated, “I think you should see for yourself.”

~--~

           The setup of the alien hospital room certainly reminded Gira of those back on Earth, but only partially. The bed was circular, and the medical machinery seemed to cover each and every nook and cranny of the room. However, their only view into the room were hexagonal windows. The alien girl was strapped to the center of the bed, with dozens of tubes sticking out of her. Her body was still mid-transformation, her arms resembled those of the mysterious beasts that did this to her. It appeared the rest of her body was following suit.

           The doctor seemed to be a male of the same species, with a slightly darker shade of blue skin and full-sized horns sticking out of his head. The alien spoke to Gira and Dr. Calu, however since he lacked the translation probes, Gira couldn’t glean much from the conversation. The black-haired man’s heart raced as he waited for Calu to tell him what was going on.

           “Basically, Gira,” the scientist began, “the doctor says there is only so much they can do. This is a rare disease that has only been successfully cured a few times, and usually at a much earlier stage. It would be costly to get the materials needed to synthesize the cure, and that’s if they’re available.”

           “Is there nothing we can do?” Gira asked. Dr. Calu relayed the question to the doctor, who quickly replied.

           “The doctor says there might be one way,” Calu relayed the information. “The disease comes from a planet called Miron, it’s on the same side of the solar system as the other space station.”

           “Miron?” The name resonated with Gira, but he couldn’t figure out why.

           “The station had probably sent an expedition to the planet. When they returned home, they must have brought the disease back with them,” the scientist continued. “Apparently, the cure can be created with a variety of plants found on the planet. They'll also need a blood sample from one of the native creatures who spread the disease. If we could acquire them, then saving her becomes a lot more feasible.”

           “Then what are we waiting for?” Gira stated. “Get a list, and some pictures of those plants, and let's head there right now,” the sword-wielding hero turned and walked away.

           “Huh, same old George,” Calu shrugged before turning back to the doctor and explaining his friend’s plan.

~--~

           As Gira sat in the back of their spaceship, he drifted in and out of consciousness. Every time he closed his eyes, he could see that same jungle planet and its giant animals again. With each passing moment, Gira felt himself drawn more and more towards that giant lion with a mane of fire. He was so enraptured by these visions he could barely here Dr. Calu talking to him.  

           “You still with me?” The scientist asked.

           “Sorry, I’m still a little tired,” Gira apologized.

           “Don’t worry, we still have a few hours before we get there,” Dr. Calu assured, “take a nap if you need it.”

           “Thanks,” Gira leaned back into his seat. “The doctors say anything about this Miron planet?”

           “Only that it was filled with massive, dense jungles. Hundreds of continent-spanning mountains. In addition to the most volatile weather in the system,” Dr. Calu answered. “Or at least, that’s what I gleaned in between them, begging us not to go.”

           “Not surprising,” the black-haired man yawned. “Anything else?”

           “Only that those infectious beasts we encountered on the space station would be the least of our worries,” the scientist continued. “Apparently, the planet is filled with giant animals the size of buildings.”

           “Giant animals?” Gira recalled his visions. “You learn anything about them?”

           “Not much,” Calu shook his head, “they would only warn me about them. Never got a chance to get any more details between preparing to leave and them pleading with us to stay.”

           “I guess it’ll have to be a surprise then,” Gira sighed and closed his eyes.

           “So, why are you going so far out your way to help this girl you’ve only just met?” Dr. Calu asked his friend.

           “Because it’s the right thing to do. Do I need a reason beyond that?” Gira stated without opening his eyes. “Besides, she helped us send that last beast out of the airlock. I’d say saving her life is the least we could do.”

           “Never change, my friend,” Dr. Calu chuckled. Gira drifted back to sleep and into more visions of the planet of giant animals.

~--~

           The duo landed on the planet Miron several hours later. Having traced a signal, which led them to an abandoned expedition base. Just like they were warned, the planet was filled with massive jungles and seemingly endless mountain ranges. The weather had changed from sunny to storming and back again within ten minutes. They hadn't encountered any giant animals or the beast from before, but the two remained on guard regardless.

           “So they were right, there was an expedition,” Gira noted as they walked into the base. To the aliens who built it, it was likely a modest setup, but to the earthlings, it was a wonder of technology. It was a series of octagon-shaped structures of a module nature, with one central octagon linked to smaller ones by hexagon-shaped corridors. However, the building was also heavily damaged.

           Windows were shattered, and one of the corridors was ripped in half. One of the octagons had even completely collapsed in on itself. The base also appeared to have been abandoned in a hurry. Several doors were left wide open, and supplies were left scattered haphazardly. Yet, despite the fact it was likely abandoned no more than a week or two ago, the vegetation had already begun to overtake it.

           “Alright, let’s-” Dr. Calu began to say before Gira held him back.

           “Hold on, it’s too quiet,” Gira stated as he gripped the hilt of his sword. “Give me a second,” the swordsman stepped forward, ready to strike. “Don’t think I can’t see you back there,” Gira exclaimed as he chucked a rock through one of the open doors.

           Suddenly, a familiar-looking alien beast burst out from the base. With claws outstretched, it leaped in an arc, flying right over Gira, who ducked and swiftly cut the creature in a single motion. The alien creature crumbled to the ground, while Dr. Calu looked forward in awe.       

           “Amazing, Gira,” the scientist complimented.

           “Don’t be amazed, I made a serious error,” Gira sighed. “It wasn’t going for me, it was aiming for you. It probably realized I wasn’t easy prey, so it charged me expecting me to dodge, so it could get to you and ‘recruit’ some help. What it didn’t count on was my speed.”

           “I’ll say, I didn’t even see you swing your sword,” Dr. Calu replied, “but thanks for saving my skin again.”

           “Don’t mention it,” the black-haired man smiled.

~--~

           The duo explored the abandoned expedition base for a while, salvaging whatever they could. They regrouped inside the remains of one of the secondary octagons, which was filled with maps, charts, and other data. Dr. Calu diligently poured through the information inside the room. The further he went, the more ecstatic the blonde man became.

           “Such rich and detailed explanation of this ecosystem,” the scientist gushed. “I’d have loved to be part of this expedition, at least until the monsters showed up.”      

           “What about your dreams of building better spaceships?” Gira joked.

           “My friend, I am a doctor of science, my dream is to master all pursuits,” Dr. Calu beamed with pride. “Just call me a modern-day renaissance man.”

           “Sure, sure,” Gira shook his head, “but what have you found?”

           “We hit the jackpot,” Dr. Calu exclaimed. “They already have most of the plants we’re looking for inside this base. And, thanks to you, we already have a blood sample of one of the beasts. Now there’s only one plant, a rare flower, left to find, and they have a map pointing out where it commonly grows.” The scientist clicked a few buttons on a nearby computer, which printed out said map. “Let’s see, it’s a bright red flower, about the size of your hand. It only grows along the mountainside, and it’s in a region several kilometers north of here.”

           “Good, then we’ll hop on the ship and grab it quickly,” Gira nodded.

           “Uh, oh,” Calu double-checked the map, “that might be an issue.”

           “What is it?” The swordsman was concerned.

           “Looks like that region is host to most of the volatile weather we heard about,” the scientist explained. “There’s a warning here to not fly spaceships around there. Something about the magnetic fields screwing with instruments, worse yet, it looks like there are plenty of giant animal sightings in the region. Birds, apes, bulls, and even a lion.”

           “Lion?” Gira muttered to himself, “could it be?”

           “You say something,” his friend asked.

           “Looks like I’ll just have to set out on foot then,” Gira declared, “fly me in as close as you can, and I’ll brave the dangers.”

           “By yourself, are you insane?” Dr. Calu was shocked. “Based on the information I read here, it’d be suicide to go in there with a small army, let alone by yourself. Give me some time, I’ll build something up to make this easier.”

           “Doc, we don’t have the time or the resources to do that,” Gira argued. “Trust me,” he patted the sword at his side, “this is the only way we can save that poor girl.”

           “Fine, if that’s your decision,” Dr. Calu sighed. “Come with me, I’ll spruce up your old space suit to protect you from the environment.” The duo set out for their ship, knowing there was a long day ahead of them both.

To Be Continued...

~~~~

Sometimes you must go out of your way to do the right thing, because it is the right thing to do.

Until next time, Read, Comment and Enjoy

~~~~

Support me on Patreon: [link]