“Is that the planet?” Rein staring at a small terrestrial planet.

Kincade began descending their ship into the atmosphere. Leaving the cloud, they were above the ocean, the sky was turning red.

“Go west from here..” Sierra checking the computer “It’s last coordinate given by the beacon.”

“Okay,” Kincade turned their ship and followed the coordinate.

Rein watched the sun slowly disappearing below the horizon, this is the real sunset.. he thought so beautiful..

“Uhmm.. what is that?” Eleanor pointing at something in front of them.

“A black cloud?” Rose asked.

“It appeared on the radar,” said Garland.

“Cade, i think we should go around it..” said Rein.

As they flew closer to the black cloud, there's a loud ear piercing shriek.

“Where’s that coming from?” Sierra closing her ears.

“Ow.. my ears hurt..” Dianna winched.

Fabian stood from his seat and began treating them.

“Cade! steer away!” Garland shouted “that isn't a cloud!”

But it was too late, their ship shook as pairs of claws grabbed them. The clouds was a huge flying creature fully covered with black fluffy hair. An ear piercing sound as it claws scratched the hull.

“Cade! Full thrust!” Rein shrilled.

The creature opening it toothless mouth and something gooey splattered on their ship windows. It began sizzling, an alarm blared throughout the bridge. Asha informing them she has activated the ship shielding, the substances was corroding their hull.

“My ship!” Sierra wailed “i'll make you pay for this!”

Kincade pushed their thrusts, shaking off the creature from their ship. It made another loud shriek.

“Did we lose it?” Eleanor sighed in relief.

“No! It’s following us!” Garland looking at the radar.

The creature flapping it’s large wings, creating a shock wave as it chased after them. The creature was fast and quickly gaining on them. Rein told Kincade to increased the thrusters power.

“Turn this ship around!” Sierra shouted.

“What!?” Rein shocked.

“Just turn it around!” she repeated.

Kincade was hesitant but seeing Sierra glaring at him, he turned their ship around, facing the creature who was charging at full speed. Sierra told Asha to fire the shock cannon. Bright lights shoot out from their ship, making a loud booming sound as it collided with the creature. It fell into the water in a huge splash.

Kincade awed “I didn’t know this ship have that kind of weapon.”

Sierra smugly said “It should strong enough to knocked it for few-.”

To their horror the creature began resurfacing from the water. It unleashed another shriek and started flapping it wings. Rein noticed something bright slowly appeared under the water, behind the cloud creature. Light illuminating tentacles pierced through the water, latching onto the cloud creature. A huge transparent creature rose from the ocean. The cloud creature shrieked as it getting dragged back underwater.

“Ho- shit!” Kincade’s jaw dropped.

“Cade! lower the ship, i want tor record it,” said Garland excited.

“Are you crazy!” Sierra appalled.

“We should go now, and quickly find the missing team..” Rose shrilled.

“I agree.. this planet is dangerous..” said Rein.

Kincade steered their ship away to the coordinate, leaving the two creatures battling underwater; Garland groaned in frustration before telling Asha to sent a drone to recorded the creatures.

 

“We should be above it..” said Sierra.

“There!” Eleanor pointed at the wreckage below them.

Kincade landed the ship not far from it; Rein told Asha to scoured the area with the drones. They went outside to searched for the survivors. After calling for them repeatedly, it seemed they were not around. They went to examined the ship, there’s a huge hole on the ship. They found the distress beacon nearby, it’s already run out of energy.

“Where are they?” asked Fabian.

"I hope they are fine.." Eleanor worried.

Rose said "They must be, right? we didn't find any remains of them.."

“That cloud creature must be the one who get them,” Kincade seeing the sign of corrosion on the hole.

Sierra scanned the wreckage "It's a voyage class,"

"Voyage?" said Rein "isn't that the second gen ship?"

"It's a relic," Kincade awed "i only seen it at the museum."

"Can't you repair it?" Garland asked.

"You kidding!?" Sierra glanced at him “the front half is gone!”

“Rein! I found footprints,” Fabian waving at them.

“Is it them?” Rein approaching him.

“No, it’s too small for human,” he said.

They examined the footprints, it was rather rounded but walked on two.

“The locals?” asked Eleanor.

“Let’s follow it!” said Rose.

"Wait, we should bring our guns," said Kincade "just in case.."

Rein nodded. They went back to their ship to retrieved their guns. Following it, they stumbled upon a cave, the footprints went inside. Kincade and Laylah went to checked the entrance before waving at them the coast was clear. Rein told Asha to mapped the cave. The drones began unleashing smokes, covering the whole cave. A while later, it’s finally done.

"It seems no one is there.." said Sierra.

“There’s an exit, if we follow this path,” Rein checking the map.

Lighting their watch, they went inside the cave, guided by their map.

 

Deep inside the cave, they found old carved wood and stone equipment, there’s also painting on the wall.

“It’s made minerals..” Sierra checking a stone bowl with remains of blue and white pigment.

“This round creature carrying a stick..” Garland looking at the painting “Maybe the locals.”

“Rein..” Dianna waving at them “This painting..”

“A huge bird like creature carrying humanoid being, could it be the missing team?” said Rose.

“It seemed the place was abandoned..” Kincade rubbing his chin "Not long ago.."

“Did something happened to them?” asked Eleanor.

“Let’s continue to the exit.. we might find more clues of their whereabouts,” said Rein.

They continued heading to the end of the cave. Finding more equipment, although fortunately there were no remains of the locals or the missing team. As they were nearing the exit.

“Did you hear that?” said Garland.

“Hear what?” Dianna tilting her head.

“Sshh..” Rose motioned her hand.

“I hear it too..” said Rein “it’s-”

Life is full of the unknown

"A song?" said Fabian.

when you are in the darkness and sorrow

remember to look at the stars

"Could it be?" Eleanor beamed.

it will fills us with joy and wonder

just look above

the stars will always be with you

to shine away your darkness and sorrow

“Let’s go!” Rein waved at his friends.

They exited the cave. Not far, they saw a small village near the beach. A girl sat near the fire pit with two small hairy creatures on her laps. She stopped singing when she saw them, her eyes beamed with joy.