Planet 6768B

NOTE: Cursing is present.

“Commence landing operations…” The intercom sounded in a distinctly female voice as the spacecraft shook in an attempt to land upright. “Extending front and back legs… Twenty meters from surface contact…” It sounded, once more. “Fifteen meters… Ten meters… Five meters…” Then, after a sudden rush of turbulence, the spacecraft made contact with alien soil. “Commander Chase, the spacecraft has landed.” The intercom finally finished, playing an albeit brief but deafening alarm afterward.

Quickly, I jolted awake and slammed the button for the alarm to cease. Even after numerous missions, the sound of the alarm never got comfortable enough to sleep through. “Okay, damn it! I’m awake!” I yelled as I unzipped myself out of my sleeping pod and stepped out.

“Good morning, Commander Chase. I see that even humanity’s best needs his nap time.” The intercom playfully teased.

“Yeah, yeah,” I walked forward, yawning and stretching my arms as I did so. “Why don’t you try being sixty, Alice?”

“Based on the data I’ve collected from you, I believe I could simulate a sixty year old’s existence quite well. Back problems and all.” Alice replied, a sarcastic tone present in her voice. 

“Oh, shut up, you.” I chuckled as I turned my gaze left to an assortment of specialized equipment, sent by Selena HQ, for my mission. “Selena never fails to send me equipment, half of which I never even use!”

“Well, Commander, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.”

“I suppose that’s true.” 

The equipment consisted of a typical spacesuit: a dome-helmet complete with a communication system, a temperature-controlled jumpsuit which is typically layered under the suit, a hard upper-torso with a portable life support system, a heavier set of space pants and boots to account for lower gravity, and finally a collection of more minor equipment such as gloves, a camera, and a flashlight. However, as I continued to look over my equipment, I noticed an unfamiliar piece of technology. It had a long, slender handle with several glowing blue accents and a small circular handle at the bottom. At its end, a trio of metallic tendrils curled out, forming a triangular shape if you looked at it head-on. In the center of the tendrils, a bright, nearly blinding blue core was attached. “Alice? What’s this?” I questioned aloud, picking it up and noticing a lever on the side of the barrel, before setting it down. 

“It’s a state-of-the-art weapon created by Selena and made just for you. It is known as a Photon Projector. It has two-”

“Why’d they send it? I thought there were no reports of flora or fauna on the planet.”

“Well, you see…”

“Is the mission brief that I was given falsified? Don’t lie to me, Alice.”

“I would never lie to you, Commander,” Alice paused, sighing similarly to a human. “You are correct. The mission brief provided to you left out some details.”

“Why?! It’s the third time Selena has done this to me!”

“Allow me to explain, Commander. As you know, you were sent on this planet to investigate a batch of mysterious ruins,”

“Correct…”

“However, I am sure you understand Selena’s recent pledge, committing itself to be transparent to the public about internal operations.”

“And, what of it?! We’re no longer living in the 2000s, Alice! In five-hundred years, we’ve encountered numerous alien species and yet, you expect me to accept I was lied to in an effort to prevent hysteria?!”

“Unfortunately, that’s precisely the reason. But, I urge you to be understanding, just this once.”

“Why should I?”

“The alien species identified on this planet; they have been observed to be especially hostile and territorial. If the public found out, I am sure you can guess-”

“What the hell?! Are the higher-ups smoking during their breaks or some shit?!” I slammed my fist against a nearby wall. “Do they expect me, a single person, even with all my genetic and technological enhancements to make peace with an alien species of the caliber you describe?! It’s a suicide mission!”

“Commander Chase, if any more soldiers were sent, it may have alerted the species. Selena is not requesting you exterminate the aliens – but, rather, observe them.” 

I felt anger and fury flow through my veins for a little while longer before ultimately letting it go. “Whatever, whatever,” I sighed, shaking my head. “It’s not the first time those brats at Selena have screwed me, I’m used to this.”

“I apologize on behalf-”

“No need, Alice. It isn’t your fault.” I reassured her as I shot a warm grin into the camera which acted as Alice's eyes. “They’ll apologize when I return, I’ll make sure of it. For now, could you finish explaining the…”

“Photon Projector!”

“Right! That’s the one.”

“Why, of course, Commander Chase,” Alice began. “As stated before, the Photon Projector is a state-of-the-art weapon. On the left side of the barrel, you will notice a small lever mechanism, which serves to switch between modes of firing. If the lever points upwards, the projector is in its default mode, in which it will expel a highly energized beam of photonic particles. It is recommended that this mode be used for close-range encounters. If the lever is pointing downwards, the projector will fire spheres of plasma of uniform size and geometric shape. It is recommended that this mode be used for mid to long ranger encounters. Finally, according to Selena R&D, the first and second modes are incredibly potent – capable of puncturing and melting graphene.”

“Good god,” I stammered, staring at the weapon for a moment before picking it up once more. “It’s a killing machine, this thing.”

“While it could be used for extermination, Selena advises it only be used for self-defense.” Alice quickly said.

“Yeah, well,” I set it down, walking over to my other equipment to begin to suit up. “If the wrong hands get on it, I don’t think they’ll care about Selena’s recommendations.”

***

After an hour or so, I had finally eaten breakfast, put on my equipment, and found myself ready to leave the spacecraft as I stared out into an unfamiliar world. “Well, I’m off, Alice.” I called out as the airlock before me slowly opened.

“Good luck, Commander, I know you’ll make this mission a success.” Alice warming called back to me. 

“I’ll try my best.” I joked, jumping out of the spacecraft afterwards. 

After a few minutes of getting accustomed to the local gravity, I glanced over at the information module attached to the left arm of my spacesuit. On it, I saw a wealth of important information. However, most importantly, I saw my current coordinates relative to my destination, the ruins. “Quite a hike,” I mumbled to myself as I quickened my pace. As I walked, I marveled at the world around me. Compared to the world which I hailed from, Earth, the world I saw myself staring at was strange, peculiar, and unlike any other planet, I had ever visited. Firstly, despite my spacesuit, I could feel that the air around me was thin but overly moist. One foot after the other, I felt the crunch of the rocky soil beneath my feet and as I looked on, I saw a scarred and desolate landscape. Occasionally, as the winds picked up, I felt some debris kick up from the ground and hit my helmet. 

Eventually, I came to the conclusion that the spacecraft had landed in a sort of small valley. Since, as I trudged on, I began to see jagged mountains, dusty plains, and strange pockets of black liquid resembling lakes or rivers in the distance. 

However, most strange and unfamiliar of all, the skies above, which were full of thick clouds of varying shades of purple and red. The atmosphere had a smokiness to it, which distorted the light coming through from the planet’s parent star. Though, despite this, the parent star still made itself known among a sea of purplish-red as a blinding but misshapen white dot. “Territorial, huh?” I said aloud, half an hour into walking while glancing down at my photon projector which was holstered in my utility belt. “Reminds me of a certain species.” I sighed, coming over a steep hill, and trying not to fall as I walked down it. 

***

After, which according to Earth time had been two hours, I saw the ruins in the distance and phoned the spacecraft. “Alice, I’m closing in on the site, any advice?” I asked.

“While I would normally advise a person to enter with caution – perhaps find a vantage point of some sort before entering, I find it difficult to advise one of humanity’s best.” Alice replied. 

“Difficult? Aren’t you an AI? I thought your kind had all the answers.” I laughed. 

“As you humans say, don’t get it twisted. We do have most of the answers, however,” Alice chuckled before continuing. “I know a few who prefer to carry out their missions their own way.”

“I prefer the way of the professional.” I sarcastically said.

“Right…” Alice trailed off. “Aggressive. Hasty. Foolish. It all sounds so professional.”

“Damn right!” I yelled over the mic as I inched closer and closer to the ruins.

  Eventually, I found myself only a few meters from the site, and despite withdrawing my photon projector from my utility belt as well as staying on my toes, I couldn’t help but feel like a child as I carefully stepped to explore the ruins. After all, they were a sight to behold, a testament to the grandeur and power of a civilization long since passed. They consisted of massive structures – built from native stone and the alien planet’s equivalent of marble. On the structures, I saw intricate carvings and engravings written in a language I could not read. Though, as I looked on, I wondered if the engravings told stories as human ruins did. For a moment, I could imagine sprawling courtyards, grandiose temples, and towering pillars. However now, they were all but reduced to a sea of broken stone and rubble. After some time, I reached the center of the ruins and found myself before a small pillar and a stone plate surrounded by larger pillars. “A religious site? It reminds me of a shrine.” I mumbled to myself as I kneeled down to get a closer look.

Then, suddenly and without warning, I heard a snarl behind me. Shortly after, I felt what looked like a spear rest on my shoulder. “Eeeh eh oum?!” A creature I only guessed to be the aliens yelled. It had a guttural and raspy sound when it spoke its native tongue. 

Knowing better than to retaliate, especially due to my compromised position, I simply stayed still. “I come in peace.” I said, sternly.

“Ah fareeh-ou?!” It yelled again, before grabbing me by the scruff of my neck, and hoisting me into the air before throwing me several feet forward. 

As I flew through the air, I instinctively curled into a ball and landed on my toes. Now, using the distance created by the alien to my advantage, I promptly turned and pointed my photon projector toward it. However, as I locked eyes with the strangely human eyes of the alien, I felt my training and protocol from years prior vanish for a moment as I stared in awe.

It was tall. More than that, it was gigantic, probably standing at around eight or nine feet. However, in contrast to its height, it had a slender body and limbs with delicate, almost ethereal features. Its skin was a shimmering, iridescent blue, and it had large, expressive eyes which seemed to relay the same mix of fear and curiosity that I felt. Furthermore, it had a mane of flowing hair that was deep, sea-blue, and slender fingers which ended in webbed pads that seemed adapted for manipulating small and large objects alike. It wore only a loin cloth to cover its privates and brandished a spear in its hands – which was pointed at me. 

Though, as beautiful as it was, I had grandkids who I wanted to see get married. I wasn’t dying here. “Back!” I yelled, flipping the lever on my photon projector upward, and placing my finger on the trigger. 

In response, the alien hissed towards me, slightly backing away but by no means backing down. It kept its eyes fixated on my weapon – as I did on his. As we regarded one another, I couldn’t help but feel a connection with the creature. An innate, primal connection. “He’s strangely human-like. It’s almost as if we’re similar somehow.” I thought to myself as my mind ran wild with ideas on what to do next. 

Then, for reasons unknown to me, I dropped my photon projector to the ground. I didn’t think about it. It certainly went against any protocol. It just felt right. In response, the alien tilted its head at me and gave a slight grin. “Fa eh oum damat?” It seemed to ask, mockingly shoving its spear in my direction. 

“I cannot understand you, but,” I began, inching forward towards my photon projector. “I do not wish to fight.” I finished, kicking the photon projector to him and raising my hands in surrender. Quickly, the alien picked up my weapon and began to inspect it, all the while I screamed at myself and cursed my naive thinking. Before long, the alien pointed it toward me, the same eerie grin on its lips as I closed my eyes.

“Ka!” The alien screeched, slamming the photon projector onto the floor. Shortly after, it slammed its spear onto my weapon, splintering it, and breaking my photon projector into pieces. 

“Honorable…?” I slowly opened my eyes, eventually staring wide-eyed at the alien. “Do you understand human speech?”

“Gharst?” It seemed to ask once more, raising its arms in a way that emulated a human boxer. 

I frowned for a moment, trying to figure out my best course of action. “K-Ka…” I managed, attempting to match the guttural sounds of the alien while shaking my head and hoping it meant ‘no.’

“Ka?” It tilted its head, lowering its arms.

“Ka.” I repeated, taking a sharp breath of relief after. For a moment, the two of us regarded each other with curiosity and confusion, before I made the first move. “Does your kind eat?” I reached into the side of my backpack. In response, it only tilted its head further, signaling confusion. Before long, I retrieved a handful of freeze-dried apples, and offered it to the alien.

With blinding speed, it snatched them out of my hand and began to sniff them. It would sniff them, stare at me, and sniff them again for a minute or so before finally wolfing down the apples. “Oumai!” It grinned, extending its hand out for more. 

“I guess everyone likes food, no matter the species,” I chuckled, retrieving more and handing it to him. “It doesn’t look like there's much to eat on this planet.” 

The alien offered no response and simply ate the apples. After I ran out of apples, I opted for crackers. After crackers, I opted for stale cereal. Eventually, I found myself running out of food and I feared I would become next on the menu. Then, right as I felt that I had nothing else to give, the alien shoved its palm before me. “Ka na.” It said, before pulling its palm away. 

“No more?” I questioned, trying to deduce the meaning of the alien’s speech. 

Sure enough, I was correct. After backing away and turning the corner, the alien returned, and in its hands: a whole bunch of alien goodies. One by one, the alien carefully dusted them off, before offering them to me. “Eyeh.” It said, each time it handed me an item.

While they didn’t look too appetizing, in an effort of being polite, I took a few and even ate one. It was blueish-black and looked the same size and dimension as an apple. When I picked it up, it was soft but not too hard, like a mango. As I took it into my spacesuit for consumption, I silently hoped I wouldn’t die right then and there. However, to my surprise, the alien snack tasted amazing. “It’s delicious!” I yelled, shooting the alien a grin. 

“Ya!” It cheered, beginning to jump around and celebrate. “Ya! Ya! Ya!”

Eventually, the two of us sat down as the alien introduced many more strange foods, and to my surprise, I enjoyed most of them. However, as the ‘sun’ set on the mysterious world, I had no choice but to take my leave. “Ka.” I said as the alien handed me another treat. 

“Fa?” It asked, tilting its head, reminiscent of a human saying ‘huh.’

“I must go home.” I explained, pointing upwards toward the sky. “I'm not from here.” I gestured, pointing at myself and then the planet followed by a shake of my head. 

“Khaar!” It grinned, making the same gesture back to me. 

“Yes!” I said, my eyes wide with a mix of shock and wonder.

Then, most unexpectedly, the alien reached forward and grasped my hand. “Zarkum, E amn Zarkum!” It said, a grin on his face. 

“I’m Jackson. Jackson Chase.” I replied, slowly beginning to understand the creature. 

With that, the alien scurried away from me and the ruins. And, with the wealth of information I had gathered, I began to head back to my spacecraft. “Zarkum, huh? It’s got a nice ring to it.” I grinned, staring back at the ruins as I left them.

Then, as I boarded my spacecraft and began to leave the planet, I thought to myself:

“We’re not that different from each other.”