"Mistral," Laurel asked, her voice weary inside the lifepod, "has there been any reply to our emergency beacon?"
The journey hadn't taken long—less than two hours there and back—but it had drained her more than she expected. Every step had felt heavier than the last.
[Negative. There has been no incoming transmission.]
"What?" Lexus snapped upright. "Look again! Are you sure there's nothing? Stop lying!" His voice cracked with frustration. "We've been here for twelve hours! A border guard should've answered us within minutes!"
Laurel didn't respond because Lexus was right.
Any patrol ship. Any traffic lane. Even a civilian freighter passing within range should have acknowledged an emergency beacon by now. Silence this long meant only one thing.
They weren't supposed to be here.
Even after four centuries of exploration, humanity had barely reached fifty light-years from Earth—and none of those systems held worlds like this. Not lush. Not alive. Not waiting.
[Manual inbox verification is available via the control panel. Access is located beneath the inbox application.]
Shingo stepped forward and opened the interface, fingers moving quickly as he ran another diagnostic. The screen refreshed.
No replies. No automated acknowledgments. No noise at all.
"…After we rest, we'll explore the other direction," Laurel said finally, lowering herself into a chair. The words felt heavier leaving her mouth than she intended.
Lazarus quietly passed around bottles of water while they caught their breath.
"Say," Lexus said after a moment, forcing a grin, "isn't this kind of late? Staying up in the dark feels… exciting, doesn't it?"
"It's morning," Shingo replied flatly. "Just because it's dark doesn't mean it's night. The clock says five a.m."
"Geh—what?" Lexus gaped. "But sunset was just a few hours ago!"
"Not all planets rotate on a twenty-four-hour cycle," Lazarus said gently. "The colony's sky was artificial—10 hours for noon, ten hours for night and 2 hours for twilight. Our clock is a leftover from Earth."
"Mars has a twenty-four-hour day too! I saw it from the viewing deck—with my butlers!" Lexus shot back.
"There are plenty of planets with different rotation periods, Lexus," Laurel replied, sighing. She didn't have the energy to argue anymore.
Her body ached for a rest. Worse than that, the weight of realization pressed down on her chest—no help was coming. The truth settled onto her shoulders, heavy and suffocating, draining the last of her strength.
As her thoughts unraveled, exhaustion finally won.
Inside the cramped lifepod, the low hum of the systems blended with the gentle rhythm of the waves outside. The sound wrapped around her like a cocoon, fragile but comforting against the vast unknown beyond the thin metal walls.
Within minutes, Laurel's eyes fluttered shut.
"Laurel… do you want to come? We're heading toward the north side." Lazarus's voice whispered. Laurel stirred as Lazarus gently nudged her shoulder.
"Oh—yes." Laurel blinked, pulling herself back from sleep. "I'll come. Let's go."
Shingo approached Bob and handed him the computer. "Maybe I should leave Mistral here next time," he said quietly.
Bob accepted it with care and nodded. "Maybe you should. We can survive without Mistral for a few hours."
Outside, the path was swallowed by darkness. Laurel would have called off the exploration outright if not for Bob's flashlight, its steady beam cutting through the gloom like a fragile promise.
The forest glowed with eerie fluorescent hues, blues and reds pulsing softly between the trees. In contrast, the beach beside it was almost entirely black. Leaves rustled, their movement echoing like whispers. Purple amoebas clung to the trunks, writhing slowly in the glow—like restless spirits trapped within the forest, waiting for something foolish enough to wander close.
"What's that?" The group froze.
Bob's flashlight swept across the shoreline—and stopped. There, half-submerged in the water, lay a creature resting at the edge of the sea.
Its body was armored in slick, obsidian scales, each plate catching the flashlight's beam and throwing back shards of black light. Four thick legs dug into the sand beneath it, while a long tail dragged behind, edged with thin, translucent fins that fluttered in the breeze—glimmering like torn glass.
From its neck extended four clawed tendrils. They flexed slowly, deliberately, opening and closing like petals testing the air. Between them sat an elongated snout, ringed with teeth, pale eyes set above it—unblinking, hollow. The shape was wrong. Less like an animal, more like a grotesque flower built for killing, its "pistil" a mouth full of blades.
A wave of primal fear washed over the group. The shine of its teeth. The curve of its claws. The way its gaze seemed to measure them.
Something ancient stirred in their chests—an instinct older than language.
"S–say…" Lazarus whispered, forcing the words past a tight throat. "Just because it looks dangerous doesn't mean it is, right? It could be… friendly. Like the Cloud Strider…"
Her hope rang hollow even to her own ears.
"There's no way something like that is friendly!" Lexus hissed, backing away. "Are you blind? It's coming!"
"Run!" Laurel shouted. The creature lurched forward.
It was nearly the size of a crocodile, its bulk unmistakably aquatic—but it moved with terrifying speed. Its stubby legs hammered the sand as it charged, each impact sending up wet spray. Despite its shape, it closed the distance fast—far too fast.
The ground trembled beneath it.
"Kyaa!"
Anna's foot slipped on the slick sand. She went down hard, tumbling forward with a cry, palms scraping as the world spun.
"Anna!"
Lazarus skidded to a halt and spun back. She grabbed Anna by the arm and yanked her upright—but before they could take a single step, a massive shadow swallowed them.
Lazarus grit her teeth and pulled Anna close, turning her body sideways to shield her as a blast of cold, briny breath washed over them.
The creature lunged.
Its four forelegs crashed down like falling pillars, slamming them both into the sand. Wet grit sprayed everywhere as they struggled beneath its crushing weight.
Like a monstrous mantis, the creature's raptorial legs pressed them into the ground. Three claws on each limb dug in mercilessly, locking them in place. Pain exploded through Lazarus's shoulders as the claws tightened. Her heart shuddered when a low growl vibrated through the beast's elongated snout.
Its tongue slithered across Anna's cheek, tasting its next meal.
"Lazarus!"
Laurel's voice cracked. She refused—refused—to let anyone die here. She whirled back with the others close behind.
Laurel scooped up handfuls of wet sand and seashells and hurled them at the creature in desperation. The shells struck its obsidian hide and bounced off uselessly.
Bob and Xiaolang charged forward, hearts hammering as the monster loomed over the girls.
Bob roared and drove his fist straight into the creature's snout.
The impact sounded like a blow against a heavy punching bag. The beast recoiled, its legs tearing deep furrows through the sand as its grip loosened. Its pale eyes flared with rage and snapped onto Bob—the prey that dared to strike back.
Xiaolang attacked from the side.
His blade flashed once, then buried itself deep. A shrill, guttural scream ripped from the creature's throat. It thrashed wildly, rolling and bucking as it tried to shake him off. Xiaolang was flung aside, tumbling hard across the sand. His knife flew free, its edge slick with dark, viscous blood.
The creature staggered. For a moment, it glared at them—hate burning in its pale eyes.
Then it turned.
With a furious hiss, it bolted toward the ocean, galloping into the surf. Its body became half-submerged, then vanished beneath the waves, swallowed by the black water.
"Are you okay?" Laurel rushed to Lazarus and Anna, her voice trembling between fear and relief.
"Yes… I'm okay." Lazarus pushed herself up, brushing sand from her knees. "Thank you, Laurel. Bob. Xiaolang." She turned quickly to Anna. "Anna—can you stand?"
"Uwaa!!"
Anna broke down completely, throwing her arms around Laurel. The hug was desperate—warm, shaking, clinging. She had been a breath away from death, and now that it was over, her body finally caught up with the terror her mind had been holding back.
"Let's save the crying for later," Shingo said gently but firmly as he retrieved the computer Bob had dropped in the sand. "We need to move."
"Yes… you're right," Laurel murmured, tightening her arms around Anna one last time. "Let's go back to the lifepod."
Even after they returned, Anna's sobbing didn't stop. The sound filled the cramped interior, weaving into the low hum of the pod's systems. No one spoke. They ate their ration bars in silence, chewing mechanically, the taste of fear still clinging thickly to their throats.
"Lazarus, Anna—let's check your wounds," Laurel said at last, breaking the suffocating quiet. She then turned to the boys. "Please go to the food and storage room."
"Huh? Why don't you go there? It's cramped!" Lexus snorted—but the others were already moving.
"Go," Laurel said sharply, her tone cutting off any further protest.
"Tch! What discrimination," Lexus muttered as he stomped away.
Once the boys were gone, Lazarus carefully unbuttoned her blazer and shirt. The once-expensive fabric was smeared with sand and sweat, its edges frayed where alien claws had crushed and twisted it. But there was no blood.
No torn flesh.
"Does it hurt anywhere?" Laurel asked quietly.
Both girls shook their heads. "No."
"Good." Laurel exhaled slowly, some of the tension finally draining from her shoulders.
She turned toward the partition. "Alright, boys—you can come back."
Her gaze settled immediately on Bob and Xiaolang. "Bob, Xiaolang, what about you? Are you hurt?"
"No, I'm fine," Bob said, lifting the hand he'd used to strike the creature. His knuckles were red and scraped raw, but his fingers remained steady. Xiaolang nodded beside him, still gripping his knife. Dark, viscous blood streaked the blade, catching faint reflections from the pod's lights.
"Good," Laurel said, exhaustion seeping into her voice. "We were lucky. Let's stay here for the night."
"Bob! Xiaolang! Thank you"
Anna suddenly broke down again, tears spilling as she threw her arms around them both. Her body shook as she clung to them, words tumbling out between sobs. She thanked them again and again—aloud, and silently in her heart. She knew she could never repay them. She wasn't strong. She wasn't clever.
All she could offer was gratitude.
"You're welcome," Bob said gently, patting her back with his broad, calloused hand.
"Hey—stop crying already," Xiaolang grumbled, awkwardly trying to pry her hands away. "A simple thank-you is enough."
Despite himself, a faint blush crept across his cheeks.
"Thank you, Bob. Xiaolang." Lazarus bowed deeply to them both. "May God return your kindness in kind. I won't forget this."
"That's enough adventure for today," Laurel said. "Let's rest."
Her voice was steady—but her thoughts were not. Now that the danger had receded, her mind returned to what truly frightened her: the shrinking water supply. She prayed daylight would bring no more monsters—or, if fate was kind, a nearby river.
As the long night dragged on, the air inside the lifepod grew colder. The chill seeped through the metal hull, creeping into their bones until even sleep became uneasy and shallow.
"Oi! Mistral!" Lexus shouted, teeth chattering. "Turn on the heater! I'm freezing!"
There was no response. Only silence.
"Huh?" Lexus pushed himself up. "Mistral? Hey—Shingo!" Panic crept into his voice. "Mistral's offline!"
"Yes," Shingo mumbled drowsily. "I turned him off… to save energy." He yawned and curled in on himself, pulling his knees to his chest. "Life support too."
"…Energy?" Laurel murmured, half-asleep. The word barely registered—until its meaning slammed into her. Her eyes flew open.
"Wait," she said sharply. "Are we out of power?" She sat upright, heart pounding. "What about the emergency beacon?"
"Last I checked, we're down to fifteen percent," Shingo replied. His voice was calm but frayed at the edges, the sound of someone running on fumes. He tried not to sound annoyed at being woken. "That'll last maybe thirty hours—if we keep everything else off. Power sockets. Heating. Even life support systems that regulate air and temperature."
"I see…" Laurel exhaled slowly, forcing her racing thoughts into order. "But what about a reply?"
"We'll check again when the sun's up," Shingo said. "Once we get the spare solar panel running."
It was a reasonable answer. There had to be a reply if the emergency beacon had gone through. No civilian ship. No patrol craft. No military vessel would ever ignore a distress signal.
Laurel curled into her seat, drawing her arms close to her body to trap what little warmth she could. Hunger gnawed at her. Thirst too. She knew the others felt it as well—but those were problems for the morning.
"But I'm freezing!" Lexus groaned, folding himself tighter as his breath clouded in the cold air.
"I don't want to shut Mistral down either," Shingo snapped, irritation finally breaking through. "But the battery's almost dead! What happens if the emergency beacon shuts off too?" He rubbed his face and sighed. "Just sleep. I'm exhausted. We need to work tomorrow."
"Tch… I can't sleep in this cold," Lexus muttered, curling in on himself.
"Bear with it, Lexus," Laurel said softly. "Shingo—thank you. You did the right thing."
"…" Anna hugged her knees and stayed silent. The cold bit into her skin, but she was just grateful to be alive.
In the corner, Bob and Xiaolang exchanged a look and sighed quietly. The chill crept through their clothes, keeping sleep at bay. Still, neither complained. They both knew Shingo's decision was the right one.
Only Lazarus slept soundly. Compared to the orphanage's broken heaters, this was nothing new.
"…This is the worst," Lexus muttered one last time.
Eventually, exhaustion claimed him. His pride gave way, and he drifted off, breath fogging softly in the frigid air.
The long night passed. And with dawn came light—thin, fragile, but real. And with it, the resolve to face the forest waiting beyond the shore.
Money is power. With money, you can buy anything you want. Without money, no one will follow you. You need money for everything. Skill and knowledge? You can just ask Mistral to teach you. ~ Lexus