First Contact

Dense white clouds drifted lazily across the azure sky while a blazing sun beat down on a dry tropical forest that stretched into the dusty plains beyond.

The only sounds were the soft rustle of the wind and the loud chirping of unseen insects.

FWOOOOM!

A deafening blast shook the plain as a brilliant bluish flash erupted high above the ground.

The outline of a metallic apparatus took shape inside it, before the unnatural storm died as abruptly as it had begun.

The next instant it crashed down.

With a shriek of metal, the machine skidded across the dry ground, gouging a furrow through the dusty earth before finally coming to a halt at the gnarled edge of the forest.

The chirping stopped.

Flung from the wreck during the crash, the badly wounded soldier lay motionless in the shimmering heat.

The other man staggered out of the dented machine and spotted his leather bag several feet away.

He limped over, snatched it up, and glanced around.

“Where… am I?”

Beyond the edge of the woods, only scattered shrubs grew out of the dry, sandy soil.

“Could be Africa. But what year?”

He broke off, hurried back to the machine, and stared at the date dial.

“00.00.0000?” he muttered. “Looks like the gauge is broken...“

The chirping began again as he looked around.

“Maybe I got lucky, and this is one of the colonies. Still… I need to get out of here. As fast as possible.“

He was just considering which direction to head when a rough, rasping cough came from behind him.

The man turned, looking at the blood-soaked soldier.

“You’re still alive?” he said dryly, studying him for a moment. “I could give you a mercy shot, y’know? But after what you’ve done… I’d rather let you rot here in agony. Serves you right.”

With that he turned away and headed toward the trees.

“At least there’s some shade in there…”

The deeper he stepped between the trees, the softer the ground became beneath his boots. 

Finally, he stopped.

The chirping intensified.

“Is this some kind of swamp? That’s weird.”

He wrinkled his nose in disgust.

“And where is that horrible stench coming from? Absolutely disgusting…”

As he pulled a handkerchief from his coat and pressed it over his mouth, he didn’t notice the muddy soil around him slowly giving way...

***

The dying soldier still lay in the blazing sun.

With great effort he reached up and removed his helmet.

Damp strands of blonde hair clung to his forehead as his gray eyes slowly opened, staring blankly into the blue sky above.

When he lifted his hand from his stomach, blood dripped from his fingers.

He watched it silently for a moment before letting his hand fall back down with a sigh.

So this is how it ends…

Just as he was about to surrender to his fate, the crack of gunshots echoed from the forest.

BANG. BANG. BANG.

Panicked screams followed.

Surprised, the soldier turned his head.

A sudden snap. Another scream. Something tore.

Moments later, hurried footsteps crashed through the rustling thicket as the man burst from the forest.

Only then did the soldier realize he was missing an arm, his clothes hanging in blood-soaked tatters.

“What the...“

He staggered to the machine, climbed unsteadily onto the platform, and began yanking frantically at levers and switches with his remaining arm.

But nothing happened.

“Start up, you piece of junk!”

Something moved in the thicket.

He spun around and screamed, as from a hollow in the forest floor, something crawled into view.

Its body was long and segmented, covered in dark, gleaming chitin that shimmered in the sunlight. Dozens of legs probed forward, their tips clicking as they pierced the dusty ground.

Its broad head hung low. Twitching antennae protruded from it, while several small eyes glimmered with a reddish light as they fixed on the man.

Then the creature lunged and drove one of its claws into his leg.

“AAAGHHH!!”

Behind the monstrous creature, more shapes were now crawling from the undergrowth, smaller specimens that looked restless and hungry.

They hesitated only for a heartbeat before they swarmed him.

The man’s screams ended abruptly as they crawled into his gaping mouth.

Meanwhile, the dying soldier watched the scene in silent horror, unable to utter even a single word.

Am I dead already? Is this... hell?

While the smaller creatures devoured their victim, the large one slowly raised its head.

Its antennae twitched toward the soldier, as if it had caught the scent of blood.

Seconds later it approached him, its many legs clattering across the dust.

“Angel in heaven, my guardian dear… “

The soldier’s voice was weak and raspy.

“...Be my keeper… and my guide…”

Black fluid dripped from the creature’s maw onto his uniform, as it loomed above him.

“…stand by me… throughout the night… until…”

Its head shot downward, teeth flashing.

He snapped his eyes shut.

...

But nothing happened.

Instead a shrill, furious hiss rang out.

The soldier’s eyes flew open again.

He stared in surprise as a beam of multicolored light struck the creature.

What in God's name...?

While the creature writhed and shrieked in the dust, a deep, vibrating hum reached him.

Distant at first.

Then closer.

And finally right beside him.

The soldier lifted his head, stunned by what he saw.

A pair of heavy boots stood on a floating disc, hovering at his side.

Above them rose two slender legs, but his vision failed beyond the knees.

“Until what?” a bright voice drifted down.

“Huh…?” he croaked weakly, unable to make out a face.

“The words you were saying. How do they end? I want to know.”

As they spoke, they hurled more energy balls at the hissing creature.

“Hurry up, this only buys us some time.“

But the soldier no longer had the strength to answer, as darkness closed in around him.

“Hey! Don’t die yet, I asked you a question!”

The voice sounded more distant now.

Then it vanished.