Chapter 16: All Of Us

The evening sky over Eden-V was a breathtaking expanse of indigo and violet, with streaks of gold from a setting sun that dipped below the jagged mountain range. Despite the beauty, the crew of the Vanguard felt no comfort. They had spent the afternoon reinforcing their camp, driven by the memory of the creature that had nearly torn them apart.

Scar stood on the ship’s ramp, his gaze sweeping over their makeshift defenses: automated turrets repaired and repositioned, motion sensors scattered in a wide perimeter, and an alert crew ready for whatever came next. Yet, he knew that none of it felt truly secure. Not against something that powerful.

Jefro worked tirelessly on the Vanguard’s engines, his hands covered in oil and grime. He muttered under his breath, pausing only to wipe sweat from his forehead. Nearby, Arlen watched him work, Pip nestled in the boy’s lap. The small blue creature had become a source of comfort for Arlen, though its alien nature kept everyone else wary.

Jefro looked up, noticing Arlen’s nervous gaze. “Hey,” he said, trying to sound reassuring, though exhaustion dulled his voice. “We’ll get out of here. I promise.”

Arlen managed a weak smile. “Do you think we’ll be safe here tonight?” he asked, his voice small.

Jefro paused, his eyes flicking to the surrounding wilderness. “We’ve done everything we can,” he said honestly. “But if that creature comes back… we’ll be ready.”

Scar overheard the exchange and felt his heart tighten. The boy was brave, but he was still just a kid. Scar walked over, kneeling in front of Arlen and Pip. “We’ll protect you,” he said, his voice low but resolute. “All of us.”

Arlen nodded, but Scar could see the fear that lingered in his eyes. Pip let out a soft, melodic chirp, nuzzling against Arlen’s arm, as if offering comfort. Scar couldn’t help but wonder if the small creature’s loyalty was a gift or a danger.

As the last of the sunlight faded, Nova and Cyko returned from another perimeter check. Nova’s expression was grim, and Cyko’s usual humor was nowhere to be found. They joined Scar, who stood near the Vanguard’s entrance.

“No signs of the beast,” Nova reported, her voice barely above a whisper. “But the forest is… different. There’s something out there, something watching us. I can feel it.”

Cyko shivered. “I swear, this planet is alive in ways I don’t want to think about. I keep hearing whispers in the trees, like they’re talking to each other.”

Scar frowned, his instincts prickling. “Whispers?”

Cyko shrugged, though unease darkened his eyes. “Yeah. Maybe I’m just losing it, but it’s creepy as hell.”

Nova’s hand tightened around her blaster. “Whether it’s real or not, we need to be on high alert. This place is full of surprises.”

Scar considered her words, then nodded. “Agreed. We rotate shifts tonight. Nobody sleeps without a guard on duty.”

The hours crept by, and darkness blanketed Eden-V. The stars seemed brighter here, pinpricks of light that shimmered across an endless sky. Scar sat by a small, controlled fire, his rifle resting across his lap. Nova was on first watch, patrolling quietly along the perimeter. The only sounds were the occasional rustle of leaves and the soft hum of the automated defenses.

Arlen had finally fallen asleep inside the Vanguard, curled up in one of the narrow bunks. Pip lay beside him, the little creature’s eyes half-closed but alert. Scar watched them through the viewport, feeling a surge of protectiveness he couldn’t shake.

Suddenly, a low rustling echoed from the edge of the forest. Scar’s muscles tensed, and he signaled to Nova, who immediately trained her blaster on the source of the noise. They waited, every breath held.

A shadow moved, then another. Two figures emerged from the underbrush, but they weren’t the massive, scaled beasts from before. These were humanoid, slender and wrapped in cloaks made from the leaves and vines of the forest. Their skin was a deep, iridescent green, and their eyes glowed faintly with a light that shifted like liquid gold.

Nova’s grip on her weapon tightened. “What the…?”

Scar stood slowly, raising a hand in a gesture of caution. “Hold fire,” he ordered. “Let’s see what they want.”

The figures approached with cautious grace, moving in perfect silence until they stood a few meters from the fire. One of them stepped forward, lowering the hood of its cloak. The face beneath was strikingly human-like, though the eyes and the ethereal glow set them apart.

“You are trespassers,” the being said, its voice like the rustling of leaves in a breeze. “Why have you come to Eden-V, the sanctuary of our ancestors?”

Scar held his ground, his mind racing. He had prepared for beasts, for natural dangers, but not for sentient life. “We didn’t know this planet was inhabited,” he replied carefully. “We came here looking for a safe place to repair our ship.”

The being’s golden eyes narrowed. “Safe?” it echoed, almost mockingly. “There is no safety for outsiders here. You have disturbed the balance, awakened things that slumbered for centuries.”

Nova shifted slightly, her eyes never leaving the newcomers. “The creature that attacked us,” she said. “Is that what you mean?”

The second figure, taller and cloaked in vines, spoke for the first time. “That guardian is one of many,” it said. “It defends the heart of Eden-V, the secrets buried deep within this world. Secrets that are not for outsiders to discover.”

Scar felt a chill run down his spine. “We didn’t mean to disturb anything,” he said. “We just need time to fix our ship and leave.”

The first being tilted its head, the glow in its eyes intensifying. “Time is a luxury this world does not offer,” it said. “You have three cycles of the moon to complete your work. After that, the forest will no longer tolerate your presence. The guardians will come, and we will not intervene.”

Nova stepped closer to Scar, her voice a whisper. “Three cycles… that’s barely enough time.”

Scar knew that arguing wouldn’t help. These beings had given them a chance—however slim—and he wasn’t about to waste it. “We understand,” he said, his voice even. “We’ll be gone before then.”

The beings studied him for a moment longer, then turned and vanished back into the forest as silently as they had come. The rustling leaves stilled, and the clearing was quiet once more.

Cyko let out a low whistle, stepping out from where he had been hidden. “Well, that was… something. Friendly bunch, huh?”

Scar exhaled, his mind working furiously. “They’ve given us a deadline,” he said. “We have three days to get the Vanguard spaceworthy.”

Nova looked at Jefro, who had emerged from the ship, looking pale. “Can you do it?” she asked.

Jefro rubbed his tired eyes. “I’ll work around the clock if I have to,” he said. “But it’s going to be close.”

Scar nodded. “Then we push ourselves. We don’t have a choice.”

Arlen, who had been awakened by the voices, came outside, clutching Pip. He looked at Scar, fear and hope mingling in his young face. “Will we be safe?” he asked.

Scar knelt down, his expression softening. “We’ll do everything we can,” he promised. “But we’ll need your help, Arlen. We’re all in this together.”

The boy nodded, his small hands tightening around Pip. The alien creature chirped softly, as if offering reassurance.