Futuristic Into the Dark

[Alite]

He barely saw it going, much faster than normal things. Pain, anger, surprise, it all went through his mind at one time. He runs out, not bothering to put out his clothes, and saw the beast. "Humanoid being. Chitin... Crab". He looks and sees Sebastian, and runs to him. Adalric shoves back Sebastian and yells "GET OUT OF HERE". He runs at the being, he needs to defend the civilians.

 

[Lenchan]

Sebastian gave the order as she’d fear. She held his gaze and tightened her grip on his hand momentarily, a small, sad smile spreading across her face. "We'll see you back, soon." She released her grip and turned away from him, holding back her emotion as best she could. Her weakness was not what he needed to give him strength for whatever it was he planned to face. However she did steal a glance at his back as her turned away from her and disappeared from sight. She turned and continued quickly up the ladder and from her periphery catching and glimpse of what she swore was a monster engulfed in flame. She willed herself not to look back. The best chance anyone had now was exactly as she feared, and Sebastian had confirmed.





"Arthur, get everyone to the med bay. Get every large object out of that room and secure yourselves as best you can. I'm landing the ship immediately." She sprinted past all the horrified faces, her eyes full of conviction and directive.

 

[Lenchan]

Upon reaching the flight deck Islia immediately went to work. There was no time to fully work through the calculations and she had no idea how to program the ship. She knew what this meant and her mind raged in protest. If anyone is going to survive it will be me! She ignored the selfish desires of a selfish being. All she’d ever known was how to survive and she was throwing it away on a chance that they all didn’t explode in a fiery blaze or burn up on entry. If anyone were sure to not survive, it was definitely her. She didn't even muse at the thought, her dark humor even silenced.


Quickly, an idea flashed in her head and she sprinted to the navigator’s workstation. At the very least, they’d have calculated the atmospheric output of the planet for purposes of cartography. She found what she was looking for and celebrated for a split second, eyeballing physics and punching her educated guess into the system. She groaned loudly in frustration at the countless mistakes wasting time, fueled by her anxiety and lack of knowledge on ship’s operation. Finally she got the coordinates set and the ship jerked forward in response. She hoped a silent prayer for them all as the dispersion of gas from the atmospheric drag reflected in a stream of flame along the sides of the ship. The hull began to shake in protest and alarms warning against continued descent and shield failure but she ignored it, sitting back and strapping herself into what was sure to be her tomb.


The shields finally failed and sent the ship in a dead drop. Immediately, the outer shell bagan to burn up, shards of metal flaking off and incinerating into space. The flight deck screeched and screamed in protest, it’s metal hull slowly turning a wonderful red. Another alarm blared warning engine failure, fuel intake malfunction; a breech in the hull of the lower level. “C’mon baby. Just keep it together for me a little longer…”

 

[Jarkov Malachai]

What might have been.

This Monster, this beast Loomed over Sebastian like the reaper, firelight flickering over its armor giving it an eerie appearance. It cocked its head as the Terran approached, red eyes narrowed but it didn't do anything to him, it seemed to be making its mind up about something when Adalric rushed forward yelling. The Creature didn't even look at Adalric as he charged it, well one of its eyes caught him rushing it but two of its four arms deflected the blade held out at it with a precise ease and the other two arms rush forward, grabs Adalric by the throat and leg then its torso pivots and uses Adalric like a baseball bat and SLAMS him into Sebastian. The force knocks the poor man turned baseball out like a light whilst simply throwing Sebastian down the hallway with his friend landing out cold on top of him. By the time Sebastian recovers... The creature is long gone.


The Dredge, for that's what its unofficial name was, the name the ignorant gave it, ghosted down the hall ways, it moved with such an ethereal grace that those that glimpsed it rushing silently throughout the corridors didn't even register it in their minds. Those that did had to do a double take. One old man however was unlucky enough to come across the creature whilst it was in flight. His eyes widen, all he managed to say was "Our father, how art in heave-" before the creature's hand flashed out, grabbed the old man by the face and formed its second fist into a spear and punctured right through the old ones rib cage, his still beating heart speared there on the tip of its talons. Still running, the alien tossed the old mans dead body aside like it was trash but stopped when it heard a rather loud whimper.


Whirling around, all four arms ready to decimate whoever was unlucky enough to chanced upon it, eyes Blaring like hellfire, arcs of fire flickering underneath its biological chitin like it was a creature from hell but the froze when it caught sight of a small little child, a girl there hiding in the shadows, blood flecked along her face. Her horrified little face showed that she had just witnessed it killing the old man who had most likely just told her to stay in hiding. Her face was utterly terrified, it was amazing a girl of her years hadn't started screaming and or wetted herself but maybe it was because she was to scared to actually do anything.


The creature took a tentative step forward, the girl didn't move, she couldn't. The creature took another one. The Little girl didn't move, just stood there terrified out of her mind. Soon the massive monster stood directly before the small child, towering over her, peering down at her from over its chest with those horrendous red eyes. They stared at eachother for a few minutes before The Alien's eyes flickered, changing from that terrible red to Storm cloud Grey. It made up its mind.


it bore down on the little girl, the sudden movement of that alien body coming at her so quickly finally made the girl open her mouth to scream . . . she never did.


A few minutes later the little child walked out from that alley way, over the old mans dead body, whimpering, blood dripped down her dress. She felt so.... off, not right, heavy yet so light. A multitude of other sensations. All she knew is that she had to find her Dad. She had to tell him about the scary Monster like from the book but a little voice in the back of her mind said no that's a bad idea. She wondered why.

 

[iTrinity]

Sebastian lets out a loud grunt of pain as he's thrown back with the force of his friend. He growls at his now unconsious buddy, "You'd be better use to me dead, asshole,". Despite these words, he can't help but grin. A soft cough escapes his lips. Huh. A rib broke. Intriguing. He looks down at his stomach where Adalric had smashed into him. A dent is visible in his normally smooth abdomen. A rib had broken and quite possibly punctured, if not cut a lung. "Thanks.." Sebastian holds his side, slowly pulling his friend onto his shoulder in a fireman's carry.


"Here we go again, old friend.."


Sebastian rises with a loud cry of pain, nearly faltering and falling to his knees. However, he manages to pull through and begin staggering at a brisk pace down the hall. As he reaches the stairs, he shakes his head. "I fucking hate you," He mumbles to the man on his shoulder, laughing weakly again as smoke and wreckage falls around him.


Eventually, however, he gets to the medical bay. He looks around frantically, dropping Adalric in front of Caitlyn, who'd presumably be helping the wounded. Sebastian looks around. Most of the crew was there, but one was missing.. The girl with the blue hair. "Where's Islia?" Sebastian demands in a loud tone, glaring around the room at him. He'd begin to wobble as the ship shakes and starts breaking up. Someone from the crowd gathered within the medical bay shouts, "I saw her running to the flight deck!". Sebastian groans loudly, turning back to the door. An older man rises, "Sebastian! What are you doing! You're going to get 'yerself killed!".


The young captain turns, blood seeping from the corner of his lips. "I'd rather die finding that damned woman than hiding like a coward, knowing I could have helped her. Sit down, friend,". With this, he stumbles out the doorway, managing a half-sprint through the hallway.


The doors to the flight deck hiss open, Sebastian's loud wheezing becoming audible. "The fuck are you doing?!" He yells, the shaking getting much more violent. He begins staggering toward the chair she sits in. He spins himself around so his back is to the quickly approaching planet and he faces her, kneeling in front of her chair. "Islia, listen! You're their leader! You're the one they need! I know you can do better than me!" He puts his hands on her arms, "You're not dying here. It's my time, not yours,".


With this he rises a bit more, essentially shielding her with his own tall, slim figure. As debris from the roofing begin to fall, Sebastian winces. Cuts start digging into his back, though this doesn't cause him to move or falter. He simply hangs on, and tries his best to keep her safe.
​

@Lenchan

 

[Floodwater31]

...


...


...


*beep beep beep beep* (alarms)


... Turn it off ...


...


Alarms?! Alex's eye's shot open, causing Alex to immediately shut them again. When did everything get so bright, and loud for that matter? Alex also became aware of a pounding in his skull, which caused him to feel his forehead, wet? Alex opened his eyes again and looked down at his hand, red. Was I hit, what happened, come on think... I was looking at the eng- no oxygen recyclers.. and they called me to... whatever.. what's more important was it was urgent... What hit me, it was dark and I- It was that moment that Alex looked directly in front of where he lay. You have to be fucking kidding me. A fucking WALL!

...

​

Once Alex could bear the current circumstances, he realized something big was happening, the alarms he'd noticed first should have tipped him off. He pulled out his communicator, "Alex here, what's happening?", ... nothing. Alex tried again, "Please copy", still nothing. "Will someo-", it was then that Alex noticed that the screen of his communicator was black. What the hell, I'm running blind with a possible concussion during a unknown disaster, I seriously doubt this can get worse.

 

[Ironrot]

Arthur helped Sebastian to push the limp Adalric up the stairs. He was about to suggest that he could carry the man instead of their clearly injured leader when some re-entry turbulence hit the ship. Arthur was lifted just an inch off the ground. He landed with his toes on the to step, his weight still carrying him backwards. Teetered on the step's edge for just a moment before falling backwards, Arthur's elbow struck the railing and he tumbled downwards. The man lay at the bottom of the stairs, dazed.


Sally





She was the only thought in his mind. He ran back in the direction of the cargo bay, skipping a little on his left foot. The fall had hurt his ankle and knee as well as deadening his right shoulder. He found Sally standing perfectly still in the cargo bay, alone and staring into space. He had no idea where everyone else was, he hadn't told them to move tot he infirmary. He limped over to her, falling into a kneeling pose. He checked her over. She had blood splash on her face and dress and was in some kind of catatonic state, but seemed unharmed.


"C'mon, Baby. C'mon. Koneko" He said, lift her up. He painfully limped to the food locker, stumping as the ship shifted below his feet."We're going to be okay. Everything going to be okay" He whisper to his child, though it was as much his is benefit as hers. He unlocked the food locker, then replaced the padlock on the inside. He had the only key.


"We are going to be Okay"


Arthur swept tins and packets out from under the steel shelves on the fore side.





"We are going to be OKAY"





He pulled himself and Sally under the shelf





"Just hold on to me..."





He curled around her, Stroking her hair.





"We are going to be okay"





Alone in the dark, the hull screaming at them, he believed it.

 

[Lenchan]

As if the ship was answering her coo, it reared up, breaking free of the worst of it. Somehow they’d managed to make it into the lower atmosphere. Just a few fires here, a hull breach there. Islia exhaled out in a sharp, painful huff. Still they were far from freedom. The system continued to blare warnings, signaling imminent failure of the ship, taking several engines with it. Islia didn’t bother to assess the damage – no matter what it was, the ship was lost. “Sorry we never got to play old friend.. Perhaps another time…” As her voice solidified her resolve to her fate, the doors to the flight deck whirred open. Was this it? Whatever they were up against had made it past Sebastian. Sebastian… Adalric… Everyone. “And now, Estorl,” she gently released her hold on the controls and tilted her head back, waiting for fate to find her. She sighed softly, feeling the weight of letting go lift all others away. The pain in her leg and ankle, the pounding in her chest and head, the deafening ache in her heart. Softly she continued, “A hug, if you’d be so kind as to give it, old man. I’ve longed for it.”





However the sound was familiar and though sharp, it revitalized her in ways she’d never expected, already resolved to die the death of a crashed ship and then even worse still, by the hands of the thing that had surely slain her comrades. But it was a voice of familiarity calling out to her. She was so overjoyed to hear it she didn’t even process what he’d said. She whirled around in her seat, forgetting the controls for a second, and jerking forward to do whatever instinct would have her do, but the restraints of the seat held her in place. “Sebastian! You’re alive… Is-“ The system started pinging violently, alerting them of its swift descent, warning them to slow, and she complied instinctively, now a new fire for survival rekindled. The young man continued on hautily, taking a step in front of her and kneeing before her. Her eyes darted from the controls to his. He looked horridly abused, but still as calming as ever. How? Finally the noises from his parted lips translated into words she could understand. He was asking her to let him bare this task. To let the captain go down with the ship. It was his right as captain afterall, she reasoned.


As the ugly thought passed, the ship howled in protest, the flight deck finally giving to the wind in swift succession on both sides. Islia released the controls and wrapped her arms forcefully around the man, pulling him down into her lap and against her. She turned the chair away from the window as it shattered, glass spilling over them and glistening like diamonds and rubies, reflecting the light of the planet’s sun and the lights of the ship in a beautiful display. The ship skidded and something collided under the hull, sending the shards flying about. Islia shut her eyes and braced herself and Sebastian the best she could. They’d made contact with the surface and were skating along the top. Somehow fortune was favoring the brave. If they lived through this, maybe she’d believe in a higher power after all. Either way, it'd be over soon.

 

[iTrinity]

-----

The Last Dawn had fallen out of the heavens and down onto the planet below. The angle at which the ship came down at was obtuse enough that the old machinery didn't simply crumble and shatter. Thousands of explosions and sreeches sound as the very metal is torn to shreds, sending shrapnel everywhere on the planet they had crashed into. The Medical bay is the first section of the ship to be torn away from the rest of the ship, as it was the heaviest due to reinforcement. Next came the cargo-hold and flight deck. These two pieces somehow managed to slide just in between a waterfall and an opposing cliff after many miles of sliding destruction. The ship was an absolute mess, and had no hopes of running again.


-----


Sebastian had stayed as a protective cover over Islia throughout the entire freefall. For every piece of debris that would have slammed into her or cut her, instead, the young doctor had taken the hits. He lays motionless a good distance away from Islia in the remains of what used to be the flight deck. His back, or what seems to be his back, faces her. Covered in crimson red lines, dotting with various metals and glass, he lays there. Luckily it seems as though his body wasn't torn to shreds, at the very least. The only thing that would have been able to kill Islia would be the sheer impact, but hopefully that isn't the case.


The doctor stays laying there. Motionless.


Get up.


A voice rings in his head.


Get up.


There it was again. In this seemingly lifeless body, thoughts course through its brain.


Life is about how much you can get hit and keep moving forward. Get up. And don't you dare fall back down.


A loud, ragged gasp escapes his lips. Adrenaline, pain, worry, fear, all course through him at one moment. Sebastian erupts into a fit of coughing, blood spurting from his lips with each sharp breath.

@Jarkov Malachai @Lenchan @Floodwater31 @Ironrot @Alite
​

 

[Lenchan]

Islia’s body hung limp from the seat, half of it still bound by the remains of straps holding her secure. Aside from a few scratches, one looking from the surface with untrained eyes would notice no fatal damage. Yet the manner in which her body hung, unnatural and twisted, was a most foreboding sight to behold. Everything was blank; her mind, its thoughts; her body; its beating. Slowly a small yet steady stream of blood snaked its way around her neck and along her collarbone, pooling then dripping onto her limp fingers below.


Suddenly her body jerked, the stem of her brain remained intact and functioning and the fresh adrenaline resting in her body did some service. For now, her chest rose and fell silently, slowly pumping oxygen back into her bloodstream and saving her from complete death. Her brow furrowed and a low groan attempted to break from her lips, but still her consciousness refused to return. Giving up on it’s struggle, her face relaxed, her body limp again; unresponsive.

 

[iTrinity]

The doctor slowly pushes his palms against the stone, letting out another loud scream of pain. It wouldn't be shrill, though it would be long, low and be almost painful to hear. It's the sound of someone who's in a true amount of agony. Sebastian turns his head slowly toward Islia. "I...Islia..." He murmurs quietly, coughing again. Blood spurts out now onto the metal of the ship. He slowly begins crawling his way toward her, shaking and growling loudly. He's mad at the world. If there was a higher power, he would be pissed at it. He wanted to scream again. He wanted to scream until he died. He knew that would come soon, however, if he didn't fix himself up soon. But Islia was his first priority. He grabs a rogue branch that had come down into the wreckage, using it to prop himself up. Bits of glass and metal fall from his skin and back as he rises, a suppressed scream emanating from his throat.


As he looks at Islia, he shakes his head with a small grin. "At least you made it," He murmurs quietly, seeing she's not too bashed up. He goes over to where she hangs, pulling her down onto the ground. Well, he really drops her, falling to the ground with her atop him. He slowly slides her off and to his side, sitting up with a grunt. He puts his fingers beneath her jaw softly. She's alive. Somehow. He sighs and falls onto his back again. He was unable to give a further diagnosis at this time.

@Lenchan
​

 

[Lenchan]

After another several moments of silence, something stirred in Islia’s mind. It scratched along the surface, trying to pry its way into the deeper recesses. Life. Her mind was willing her awake, preparing all the necessary information to deliver once she was again capable of processing it. Her limbs started to test themselves, spasms twisting along her muscle fibers sending fresh ways of pain through her nervous system to dance around the bed of her brain. Finally she woke in a gasp, though weakness kept her reaction modest. Everything hurt but, she assessed herself tentatively, keeping her eyes closed. She wasn’t ready to face the world that hung around her, whatever state it may be. But I’m alive…





Sharply, her head alerted her that all was not well, throbbing and threatening to fade off into nothing again. She fought against the dizzying fog and slid her hand across her face. She was still flesh. Perhaps the afterlife doesn’t want me at all, Estorl. For all I care, you can keep it, rotten old man. She didn’t have a chance to smile at her own joke, her hand landing on a foreign object resting near her neck. The soft, fleshy hand wasn’t hard to identify as a hand. It had all the features of a hand; appendages, the nails attached, warm, thick liquid coating them. Wait. Her heart fluttered in response. Had she lost her hand in… And it came to her, peeling her eyes open in clarity, overwhelming her head with memories. She’d just crash landed on an unknown planet and “Sebastian!” her ragged voice crack and pained. She touched the front of her throat on instinct and felt the blood coat her own finger tips. Her eyes looked down in horror then at Sebastian’s limp form under hers.


She reached to touch him, her body trembling and weak. He was covered in so much blood. Her hands clammy and cold, she reached out again. There was still a heartbeat. “Oh thank god.” She sighed absently, forcing her body to move away from his despite its protest. He looked in very bad shape and she wasn’t sure if he’d remain alive for long. She cursed him for being the one in need of medical attention. He’d do a much better job at saving her. Still, she had mended a wound or two of her own. She would save this man, no matter how stubborn he may be. Taking his jaw gently between her hand, her thumbwiping away the coagulating blood from the corner of his mouth, she hissed “You’d better hold on, you idiot bastard. I would like to bruise that pretty face of yours myself.”





She released his head and began assessing his body, noticing a small pool of blood forming underneath him and groaning audibly. Flipping him over, her suspicions were confirmed. This numbskull… But she had to admit she was grateful to him for taking the blunt of the blow the planet dealt to their intrusion. All of this metal and glass would be in her chest if not for his back. Taking out her sodor, she cut away his shirt and began removing the shards with the tweezers. From what she could tell there was no heavy damage, though the sheer number of wounds had cost him a lot of blood. Some of them were particularly deep and she hesitated in removing them, afraid of creating a fresh hole for more blood to gush forth and flourish. Tentatively she looked around the area. At least there was air on this planet, and something that resembled plantlife as well. But nothing sterile she could use to trying and stop his bleeding. Islia took off the top layer of shirts and swore under her breath – her undershirt was matted against her skin with sweat and little blots of blood as well. It was just no good. She sighed softly and touched his shoulder. “Sorry pretty boy, but this will leave a scar or two.”


She stood with great effort, screaming out in a low, ragged cry as her body warned her against further movement. Something was very wrong in her abdomen and upon looking it over, her foot was swollen to hell. She looked away immediately, unconcerned about the damage her body had taken. None of it was worse than dying limp and unconscious in a pool of your own blood. Islia stole a brief glance back at Sebastian. Still breathing… Now where do you keep the fucking first aid kit?? She tore angrily at the broken metal of the flight deck in frantic search until she happened upon an ancient relic of a thing, cracked open at the lid and covered in grime she suspected had accumulated long before the crash. Scanning the room once more, Islia determined it was the best chance. Quickly and painfully she returned and collapsed at Sebastian’s side and opened the kit. Pathetic - staring back at her was the most basic pile of useless shit: around 5 medium-sized bandaids, adhesive tape, an ace bandage, ointment, a few sealed gauzes, and a handful of tiny alcohol wipes. “This really is from the dark ages!” she emptied the contents next to her and chucked the plastic container violently away from her. Taking a piece of his shirt into her hand, she parted his lips and stuffed it between his teeth. If he woke up in shock, the last thing she needed was for him to bite off his tongue. She stared at the cloth momentarily then shivered at the image of him choking. Better on a shirt than further damage I simply can’t repair. Using half the semi-dried alcohol swabs, she patted at his wounds. The bleeding persisted, slow and taunting and she quickened her place, dissatisfied with the half-ass sterilization but intent on starting quickly.


She pushed her mind clear and pulled him into her lap, cringing and biting back the fresh surge of pain, making sure his heart was as low as she could muster. Her legs trembled violently under his weight and there was no amount of willpower that could stop them. She settled them back down and turned her attention to her work: turning the laser of the sodor on low, she picked up a piece of metal beside her and holding it just above the side of the stream, careful not to melt it, but heating it white hot. She pondered how many times she’d sighed in this moment, adding another for good measure, and waited for the metal to cool a bit, looking down at his grievous wounds and truly hoping that there truly was no fatal damage. The blood from his lips didn’t look promising but she had to try. If Caitlyn were anywhere nearby, she suspected she’d be saving someone else’s life. Sebastian would have to count on her to save his. She took another breath, her heart fluttering violently beneath her chest, and rested her left hand on the back of his neck; there was no way to secure him in place if he woke up. She hoped he would, as it would be a most ominous sign for him to remain unresponsive to having his skin seared closed. She expelled again, heavily, and lowered the metal to his flesh.

 

[Alite]

Adalric groans. What the hell happened, and now what. Assess the situation. "Patrick? Thought you were dead, or am I the one who is dead". Adalric laughs. Where are you injured. "Three or four broken ribs, and a few cuts. What happened though". Get up and stop being a wimp. Adalric opens his eyes. "Well now that is a pretty big mess". He was on the ground, and the few medical supplies all over on the floor. "Did we land"? Go look. Now Adalric understood. "Patrick isn't here". He was still dead. He was leading himself by thinking of what Patrick would say. Something he always did when the situation seemed dire. Adalric finally got a whole view of the situation. Everyone in here must have been being treated. Get up. "Even in death you are pushy". Using the wall as a support he finally manged to get up. Stumbling, he managed to get out of the room. Where is your sword? "No clue. Shut up". The flight deck. Whoever crashed the ship might not have gotten off as well as he did.

 

[iTrinity]

Sebastian's body lies dormant for a moment as he's cradled by Islia. The stench of burning flesh begins to waft through the air as his wounds are cauterized. It was a good idea, though would it be enough?


The method seems to work for a good minute or two. His heartrate quickens, though it doesn't peak high enough to qualify as going into shock. However, things take a turn for the worse as his eyes jolt open, his entire body beginning to tense up and shake. Blood begins spurting from his lips at a faster rate as his breaths become rapid and ragged, his lungs starting to fail as he demands more oxygen. He'd cling onto the woman holding him for dear life, his eyes wide and full of absolute terror.


He didn't want to die. He didn't want this to be the end of him. Sebastian could hardly think, but all he wanted to do was continue to live. Memories flashed through his eyesight as delusion sets in. Sights of bodies and wreckage piled up within the major cities on Earth haunt him. The memory of when his sister was pried from his arms. The moment he saw his parents slaughtered in the very ship he just destroyed.





"I'm.. not.... r-...r..." He tries to speak to Islia, though the continuing spurts of dark red prevent him from doing so. It's a very grim situation, and if he wasn't forced to calm soon, it could turn fatal.
​

 

[Jarkov Malachai]

Sing out Earth and Sky

The little girl sally and her father were out cold like the rest of the crew who managed to live through that brutal landing, curled up underneath food locker which had most likely saved them from the tortured twisted metal warping and flying around as everything burned in the atmosphere around them. Not too long after the crashed, a third party awoke from its slumber. If one peered closely at Sally, they would have seen on her cheek, what appeared to be a tattoo of a creature that looked oh so startlingly exact to the monster which had nearly killed a fourth of the survivors earlier. Just sitting there on her cheek, Silvery grey eyes staring out into the word… The eyes blinked, changing from that beautiful grey to a sickening blood red then back again.


It began moving, sliding along or just under, it was hard to tell which, her skin ever so slowly to stare at the girls father then recede back to its original position before slowly going back down underneath her clothes.


Nothing else happened for a few moments before the tattoo’s head slides onto the back of her neck… and then pushed up.


Have you ever seen a Cicada or dragonfly coming out of its cocoon? Well that’s what this looked like, except this thing just parted through that small little spot of flesh on the girl and slowly came out, the head coming free first, then the shoulders, the arms cam next then the other set. Shooting out from where they were held against its chest, hovering there in the air almost before the rest of it came sliding off and out of its host. The movements were well oiled, flawless and carefully controlled as the alien stretched its new and improved body. Muscles gleamed underneath its Chitin armor, tendons sliding and bulging just awaiting to be used. It stretched its body out lazily, reminiscent of a cat waking up after a long nap in the sun before one of its multitude of eyes glanced back at the girl and her father.


The girl showed no sign the creature had ever been there save that she was totally uninjured whilst her father was not. It snorted, an odd motion that threw its head up in the air in a haughty manner before slipping off into the surrounding area.


A few minutes later it had climbed to the top of the wrecked ship to get a better view of the surrounding area and paused there, listening to the waterfall, breathing in the fresh scent of dirt, not the harsh smell of metal, relishing in a wide open space at last. Ohhh it had been so long since it had seen dirt. The Air was only slightly hard to breathe, its lungs were expanding to remedy the problem and soon it wasn’t even an issue. It sat there, perched like a hawk on the semi smoking wreck, where any one could have seen it should they have simply looked up but the odds of that happening were slim for the moment. People would be to worried about themselves and others to stare up and wonder at the sky.

 

[Lenchan]

“Fuck, Sebastian!” She spat back at him, more in frustration at her own ineptness than his fear. She tossed the bloodied metal aside and quickly turned him on his side, making quick work of the rest of his shirt and tossing it aside, too. “Calm down, doctor. You appear to have a punctured lung. And I’m going to help you breath again.” Looking over his torso, it wasn’t hard to determine which area of ribcage had been damaged. This was probably the cause of the puncture and this was way beyond her knowledge. She lifted her hand briefly to rest on her forehead and breathed steadily, trying to calm her heart’s onslaught against her own ribcage. She looked down to him, taking his hand tightly. “Trust me, I’m mechanic. I fix things for a living.”


Islia lowered the young man’s hand into her lap and returned to her quick fix, tearing and adhering tape around a discard piece of alcohol swab’s containing paper. Her fingers trembled in uncertain, swift movements but her eyes remained focused, driven towards performance. She pressed her hand as gently as she possibly could, locating the space between his third and fourth ribcage and pressing the adhesive down on one side. Her vision blurred and she felt a strange lightheadedness overwhelm her. She inhaled deeply squeezing her eyes momentarily before fluttering them open and gazing upon him with a serious expression. As quickly as her eyes met his, she looked away to the makeshift seal. With the laser turned to its lowest setting, she seared and small sliver between his ribs and immediately drove a small pin that she’d pulled from the bottom of the sodor into the hole.


She leaned down and inhaled through the small cylindrical tube, spiting out the blood that filled his lungs onto the floor beside her. The blood that’d been snaking its way down her neck was finally remembered as it dripped and slid down his torso and side. She ignored it, continuing until the contents that entered her mouth were mostly air.





“Cough Sebastian! Breathe.” She urged him, assessing the effectiveness of her best guess. She didn’t wait for his response, before leaning back down and slowly sucking through the tube again to aid his lungs reinflate

 

[iTrinity]

His breaths become shallow and sharp, though for the most part he's been stabalized a bit. Sebastian looks down at her through tired eyes, another small cough coming from his lips. Though he'd been through immense pain from his makeshift surgery, he didn't have the energy to display it anymore.





"Th...ank you.." He manages to wheeze, leaning his head back slowly. The hand she'd moved into her lap twitches slightly, his fingers curling around the air. His gaze shifts to the canopy far above them.


The air was fresh, seemingly even more enriched with oxygen than Earth's. Trees loomed high overhead, prospering in the rich soil that seemed to stretch like an endless blanket over the planet. Squawks, similar to the avian of Earth rang out through the tall red-woods they sat in. The waterfall behind the ship was glimmering brightly, clear as glass. This planet had to be uninhabited. If an intelligent race did reside upon it, they surely would have consumed this brilliant symphony of resources.


The doctor then shifts his gaze back at Islia, "You can stop.. But you need to cauterize the wound as soon as you do.." He wheezes out softly. "The blood's been drained, you just need to stem the source,". Sebastian nods at her softly, "I owe you everything,".

 

[Lenchan]

Ignoring his gratitude, Islia immediately does as instructed, removing the tube and searing the wound closed and cleansing it with one of the remaining swabs. “I’m going to turn you back around and clean the wounds on your back. Endure a bit longer.” She didn’t wait for him to respond, rolling him tenderly on to his side. She tore open the remainder, wiping down his wounds with alcohol then ointment. After finishing, she folded the shirt she’d taken off previously and tucked it under his head, moving from under him.


Islia’s eyes closed momentarily as she tilted her head back and took in a few ragged breaths of her own. The stress weighed heavy on her body and now that Sebastian was on the mend, she needed to focus on her own body. No… her eyes shot open in a fresh wave of urgency. She stood swiftly, collapsing immediately and pulling herself up again. The others. The rest of the surviviors. Where was everyone? She collapsed again at the controls and picked up a comm system sitting next to it and began to radio.


“This is Islia Bulvardo of The Last Dawn.” She paused, considering adding Sebastian. She didn’t know who’d be listening, so she erred on caution’s side. “If any one else is out there. If anyone survived, please respond.” She repeated the distress call, feeling her mind fogging again. Her head was splitting and fading in and out. She touched her neck and followed the thick warm stream up to its base. There was something sticking in the back of her head. She touched it gently, wincing. A shard of glass or metal. She tugged gingerly at it and hissed loudly in protest, leaning forward dispite the immense pain it caused and rest her forehead on her knees.





Just let me die here afterall. She sighed heavily and lowered her hand for the time being. The blood loss wasn’t life threatening yet, though it should be stopped soon. She tried the comm again and waited for the other end.

 

[iTrinity]

The Comm system returns nothing. It doesn't even register her voice, nor does the system turn on. The communicator is busted. Perhaps, in a better state, Islia could fix it.


Sebastian holds the wound she had cauterized. His lungs were weak, but they were operational for now. He rises up slowly, beginning to drag himself toward the waterfall. Upon reaching it, he gently sticks his hand into the rushing waters. The blood that stained his fair skin washes away. Senses are returned to him, instead of the constant, dull pain. His hair was matted down with sweat and dirt. He sighs heavily, looking down at his feet as he simply begins to think in silence. A rather peaceful aura is cast around him, one of comfort, per usual.

 

[Lenchan]

Islia lifted her head silently and sighed, looking over the device and assessing its damage. It was well within her skill to repair. She pushed off the debris littering the control panel with her arm, ignoring the shards of glass that pricked and cut little slits into it. Before she continued, she needed to do something about her head. Her honey eyes considered Sebastian, watching him revel in their luck. He was in no condition to assist her; doctor or not, he was human beneath it all.


Islia let her head fall back, feeling the rays of the planet’s sun fall on her face. Noting it’s position in the sky, she pondered just how much sunlight they had left. She hadn’t had a chance to look at any information on their new home, so she was completely building a new schema. The planet was definitely inhabitable, but evolution dictated that it probably would be inhabited with more than just the bird-like creatures they’d heard earlier. They needed to set up a base camp and good distance from the ship, but not so far that they couldn’t find their way back, and they’d need to find the other portions of the wreckage. Hopefully there were survivors in better shape than the two of them. Maybe they were already searching. Maybe there were none at all.


After a few more moments of silent contemplation, Islia sat upright, put the soldering iron between her teeth and closing her eyes. In a single, silent moment, she gripped the metal shard and yanked it from the slit in her skin. The bloodflow increased, staining her shirt as her body struggled to bear the pang in composure. Once the water pooling in her vision cleared, she opened her cut hand and examined the object. It didn’t appear to have gone very deep. Once she stopped the blood she’d be fine. She staggered back to the bloodied mess of medical supplies on the floor were Sebastians body once lay. She ignored the stressful memory and and picked up the gauze, applying it immediately to her wound.

 

[iTrinity]

Sebastian picks up the stick he had used to prop himself up with earlier. Pulling himself back toward his cobalt-haired friend, he coughs every now and then. "Islia," He speaks softly, "We need to set up camp. I'll salvage the wreckage, you go find somewhere you deem fit.." He begins poking at piles of debris with the wood-like log that he has now claimed as a walking stick, occasionally bending over and scooping up any materials he thinks will come in handy later. He places them within various pockets, carrying some of them on his shoulders.


His expression stays locked at a calm smile, though inside, he's screaming in pain. He wanted to be relaxed now, for Islia's sake. He knew she could handle a bit of stress, though he hoped that he didn't subject her to any more.

 

[Lenchan]

“Affirmative captain.” Islia inhaled and exhaled slowly, preparing her body to stand once more. Find a camp and then rest will come, she reasoned with her limbs. They refused to listen, remaining planted in the seat. She closed her eyes and forced herself to stand. The pain rushing up through her leg and torso was not the worse she’d experienced – far from it – but it was nothing to scoff at, which is exactly what she did, convincing herself that her selfish actions were childish and foolhearty. The personal attack motivated her and she took a labored step forward, then another, testing the physical limits of her strength. She looked off to the side, avoiding drawing attention to herself and mouthed. “Be careful.” Leaving the thought there to dangle in the canopy, she gripped the side of the ship and holstered herself above it before clutching onto the branches beside the waterfall and making a slow, careful ascent up the side of the rocky wall.


*******


The climb was painstakingly slow. Her limbs screamed and burned and tensed in rebellion, urging her to stop if she valued her life. The branches and leaves glistened like glorious crystals in the sun. She'd have admired their beauty if they weren't doing everything in their collective power to send her falling to her death below. Daring a glance, she took it. Indeed it was a long way down. She sighed heavily in exasperation and pulled herself up just a bit higher, her fingers finding purchase on a narrow ledge about 50 yards above the wreck. She pulled herself up and weakly collapsed against the cold wet rock, panting heavily. Tilting her head to the side she determined she wasn't high enough to get a decent look at their environment. She leaned out and looked up searching for the next level for her to take a break. It looked further than she could manage, but she stood anyway, and launched herself up with all the force she could muster, gripping tightly to lessen slippage. Once her body stopped its descent, she exhaled and the proceeded to climb again.

 

[iTrinity]

"You're the one who needs to be careful," He murmurs softly, watching her climb the rock for a few moment. After he sees her get onto the ledge, he lets out a half-hearted chuckle. He continues to gather things like bits of cloth that once lined the chairs. Some boxes of clothing were stored in the flight deck as well, some blankets were there in case Sebastian needed to pull an all nighter. Somehow they made it and he fashioned a small sack out of the cloth. He packs the sack with things to make shelter with, scraps of food, etc.

 

[Jarkov Malachai]

Intellect Rises

No not here. Not here, not there, not him, not that one. The Alien threw another rather hefty piece of machinery to the side like it had been made of bubble wrap, the metallic component crashed into a wall, teetered to its side then rolled down the incline this particular bit of the ship was resting on.


One of the survivors lay underneath it, wheezing weekly, trying to crawl away and call for help, to get away from the monster which towered over it. A clawed paw closed around the humans neck, cutting off its cries for help quite effectively as the creature crushed its windpipe without even realizing it. The Terrans were just so… squishy.


The Survivor was quickly brought eye level to the creature who peered at the Humans face with its six eyes, two of which were surveying the area for danger. Not… not the one of which it sought, worthless. But… maybe not, it was oh so hungry after waking up and saving that little girl from the shrapnel which had pierced her chest during the fall.


The survivor watched horrified as the monsters lower jaw opened up, distended, cracked, dislocated to reveal a maw of which looked it was the portal to hell… but the worst was yet to come, the lower jaw then split right down the middle, continuing on down the throat to mid chest where said parts opened up to reveal a mouth that definitely was from hell or at least belonged to a denizen of the nightmare realm. The rib bones of the alien creature rattled excitedly, as they functioned as teeth in their own right, the fangs lining the inside of its throat as it had split open as well. The man managed a whimper before he was bitten clean in two.


The mouth enveloped the man and ripped his lower body clean from his torso in one fell bite and tug. Its throat bulged as it dined on the man, unnaturally large portions going down that oh so slender throat. When it was done there was barely a blood stain on the ground to mark where the poor survivor had been.


Licking its lips with a long, slender tongue which had hundreds of small frayed,slender little tentacles branching off of it, wiping off all the gore which remained on its muzzle.


Now then… where oh where could Sebastian be? The memories it had ripped from the little girl stated that while Daddy was apparently the center of the universe, Sebastian,, the one called such, was in charge as well as a doctor. The only doctors the creature had ever known were ones that caused pain. This one… Sebastian would know the info of which it sought.


A rumble in the stomach. Oh dear… Hunger seems not to have abated . . . hmm… how to remedy this I wonder?

 

[Alite]

Adalric winced as he climbed the stairs. When he finally got to the top he saw something surprising. "This ship had almost lost a whole floor. Seriously the worst landing I have ever seen". Wherected is the monster. "Most likely amongst us, but no clue. There's a higher chance that he was on the lower floors, but we can't worry about it right now". What is your next step. "Reorganization. See who is missing. We also need to assess supplies. After that explore the surrounding area". You make it sound like you plan on staying a while. "You make it sound like we have a choice".