Days turned into a routine of exploration, documentation, and adapting to the rhythm of the alien forest. Ella diligently chronicled the myriad creatures that inhabited this unique ecosystem, her journal filling with sketches, descriptions, and insights. From colossal grubs dragging hollow tree trunks to curious monkey-like creatures standing around 3 feet tall with four arms and eyes.
As time flowed by we grew more skilled at navigating our surroundings, learning to distinguish between the benign and the potentially hazardous. On the fourth day, we embarked on a new venture—testing the berries we had discovered for potential sustenance. Careful experimentation led us to a type of berry that, based on the QuadraSimians' interest, seemed safe to eat.
Amidst our explorations, we stumbled upon one of the forest's inhabitants—the QuadraSimians. Ella's enthusiasm for documenting these creatures clashed with my practical approach to naming them. "QuadraSimian" sounded too elaborate to me, so I opted for the simpler "4 arms monkey."
"Anyway, how should we approach this? Should I just pluck one from the tree?" Henry inquired, eyeing a cluster of fruits.
"I guess, but let's be cautious. We don't know if they're protective of their food," Owen cautioned, his concern evident.
"I'll probably be fine," Henry reassured, reaching for the nearest fruit. However, before he could grasp it, a QuadraSimian lunged at him, baring its teeth and sinking them into his arm.
"Oh, you little..." Henry hissed in pain, but before the creature could inflict more harm, I intervened, swiftly dispatching it with a well-placed stab to the head.
"Note to self: don't touch the fruit when monkeys are around," Henry quipped, though his wince betrayed the seriousness of the situation.
Benjamin stepped forward, examining the bite. "We need to clean that wound thoroughly and keep a close eye on it. Infections can be a real threat out here."
While Henry received attention for his injury, Owen took charge, his expression a mix of concern and urgency. "We need to scan the area for more of these creatures. Who knows what else lurks in these woods?"
Amelia nodded in agreement, her eyes scanning the dense foliage. "We can't afford to let our guard down. Owen, Emily, scout the area and report back if you spot anything else."
Owen and Emily nodded, quickly disappearing into the underbrush as they set off on their reconnaissance mission.
Meanwhile, Benjamin began tending to Henry's wound, his movements methodical and precise. "Hold still, Henry," he instructed, his voice calm despite the urgency of the situation. "I need to clean this thoroughly to prevent any potential infections."
Henry gritted his teeth as Benjamin worked, the sting of antiseptic washing over the bite wound. "Sorry about this, Henry," Benjamin said, offering a reassuring smile. "But we need to make sure we take every precaution."
As Benjamin continued his ministrations, Ella approached with a concerned frown. "What do you think provoked the monkey? They're not usually aggressive unless they feel threatened."
Henry winced as the doctor applied a bandage to his arm. "I might have gotten a little too close to its territory," he admitted sheepishly. "I didn't realize it would react like that."
Amelia placed a comforting hand on Henry's shoulder. "Don't blame yourself. We're all still learning how to navigate this environment. The important thing is that we learn from this mistake."
As we gathered around Henry, Ella's analytical mind kicked into gear. "And speaking of the unknown, analyzing the creature's physiology could offer valuable insights into the ecosystem we're dealing with. Also we could use the meat"
Amelia nodded in agreement. "That's a great idea, Ella."
The agreement led to a somber task—the dissection of the fallen QuadraSimian. Ella's scientific curiosity burned brightly as she examined the creature's anatomy, her meticulous study revealing unexpected complexities. However, the most puzzling discovery came when she reached the creature's chest cavity.
As the incisions were made, Ella's hands encountered something that defied explanation—a dark green orb nestled where the creature's heart should have been. She carefully extracted it, her eyes wide with fascination and confusion.
"I've never seen anything like this," Ella murmured, her mind racing with questions. "It's not a heart, but it seems to be a vital organ of some kind."
I leaned in for a closer look, my brow furrowed. "What could it be?"
Ella's gaze met mine. "I'll need time to study it. It could be a form of biological energy storage or some kind of sensory organ. "
With the QuadraSimian dissected and our findings recorded, We returned to our camp, the campfire casting flickering shadows on the trees around us. As we settled in for the night, Ella carefully stored the green orb, her determination to unlock its secrets evident in her eyes.
I took my turn on watch, my thoughts a whirlwind of uncertainty and anticipation. As I gazed out into the forest, as the hours passed my mind wandered to the Ares Voyager, to our original mission and the missing Colony Alpha.
A sudden yell jolted me from my dazed observation, propelling me through the darkness toward the source. There, I discovered Benjamin and Amelia huddled around a heavily breathing Henry. My heart skipped a beat as I beheld black blood vessels protruding from his skin, crawling up his arm. Henry was barely conscious, writhing in agony, covered in sweat.
"What happened?" I frantically inquired.
"It's poison," Benjamin declared with a grave expression. "Poison from that monkey."
"Poison?" I exclaimed. "How would the monkey have poison?"
"Yes, Altas, it's poison!. Hurry and get Ella. Bring her here; I don't have anything to treat him, but she might be able to help."
I dashed off to where Ella was sleeping, finding her already awake and rubbing her eyes. "What's wrong?" Emily asked from the side.
"Henry is poisoned; we need you fast, Ella," I urgently conveyed. With that, her eyes shot open, and she rushed up, following me to where Henry was.
Upon reaching Henry, Ella swiftly moved to his side, examining his wound. "When did you notice this happening?" she asked.
"About five minutes ago when I was awakened by Henry groaning in pain," Benjamin explained.
"So, I take it you don't have any of your medical supplies with you?" Ella questioned.
"No, I only have what I had in my small bag—bandages, stitches, and some disinfectant supplies. All that's stopping the poison from spreading is the tourniquet," Benjamin explained urgently.
"How bad is it?" Emily asked, approaching. "Oh, great, Emily, you're here. Go grab my bag; I might have something to help," Ella said as Emily followed her instructions, swiftly running to retrieve the bag.
"We might need to cut it off if we have no other option," I grimly suggested, my eyes fixed on the pulsing black veins.
A bit later, Emily returned with the bag, with Owen in tow, asking, "What's happening?" Amelia quickly informed him as Ella grabbed her bag and began to rummage through it. Ella froze as a green light emanated from her bag, casting a surreal glow upon her. Slowly, she extracted the green orb from the QuadraSimian, its light pulsating. We all stood there, mesmerized, until Owen yelled, “Focus Ella!” shaking us back to reality.
"Oh, yes," Ella said, placing the orb down and rummaging through her bag. As she did, the orb rolled towards Henry, growing in intensity and lighting up the surroundings with its green glow. Before it touched Henry, Amelia grabbed it warily. Ella, however, was shaken, letting loose a string of curses as she shut her bag.
"I swear I had it," she said, looking around.
"He's getting worse," Owen said, pointing to the top of Henry's arm where the black veins breached the tourniquet. "We need to cut it now!" I yelled. "The risk of infection is very high. I can't guarantee he won't get sick from infection, but you're right. I don't see any other option," Benjamin said.
With that, I grabbed my knife, but Ella stopped me. "Wait, I think that orb has something to do with the poison. It's reacting with Henry. We might as well see what happens if it makes contact with his arm."
"Okay, but if I see the black veins grow higher, I'm cutting it off," I declared.
"Okay, but we have to try at least," Ella said as Amelia handed her the core. "Let's see what we have here." Without hesitation, Ella placed the core against the wound, and a startling transformation began.
The core turned into a liquid, seeping into Henry's body. It moved with an almost purposeful grace, following a path from the wound to his heart. We held our breath, our eyes fixed on the unprecedented occurrence. The forest seemed to hold its breath as well, with the green light illuminating the surrounding area, the leaves rustling softly in the breeze.
The core's glow intensified as it completed its journey, and then, in a heartbeat, the light faded. The forest returned to the light of the moon, but an eerie silence enveloped us. Seconds stretched into moments as we waited for a sign.
Henry stirred, his eyes fluttering open. Confusion crossed his features, and his voice broke the silence. "What... what just happened?"
As he spoke, we noticed a subtle change—a soft, ambient glow beneath his skin. Henry himself seemed bewildered, murmuring, "I'm... seeing something."
His words piqued our interest, and Henry's gaze met ours with a mixture of astonishment and realization. "I can see... a window. Like in a video game. There are... levels, stats, and skills."
We exchanged incredulous glances, our collective surprise evident. Henry continued, his voice growing more confident. "My stat screen says... Name: Henry Williams. Race: Human. Level: 1 Strength: 5, Health: 4, Speed: 4, Stamina: 4, Intelligence: 7, Dexterity: 3."
Emily’s voice held a mix of disbelief and fascination. "Skills? What Are the skills"
Henry's gaze shifted to the display only he could see. "Common Poison, rank 1, Common Poison resistance Rank 1. And... Unique Skills: Multilingual, rank 1 and Titles: None.
As we absorbed the implications of this discovery, we turned our attention back to Henry. He had been transformed, with the black veins completely gone, and his injury healed.
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