Writer's Updated Note: Slate is a character I made up for this story. I don't own Shadow Raiders and what-not. Enjoy.

Ghost Planet - Chapter 1

Noise

Graveheart jumped down from the transport ship and slammed his feet onto something like half hardened concrete.

"Not much oxygen here, I think my flames going to go out... maybe I shouldn't be on this mission." Pyrus said shuddering.

The flame-headed prince was clearly showing signs he was uncomfortable. His flame was starting to dim and his charcoal face was turning a pale blue.

"Here Pyrus... I've been working on this device to help you adapt to extreme environments."

Tekla handed the prince a small device, not unlike the force field generator she created before.

"Hey thanks."

He clipped it to his waist and pressed the center button. A glowing wave engulfed the prince and soon faded, as it turned invisible.

Pyrus breathed in heavily and let out his breath with relief and satisfaction.

"Ahhh that's better..."

Graveheart lifted an intrigued brow at Tekla's new invention. "Let's get moving. We've got a world engine to find." He looked at his wrist and fumbled with the buttons on the suit. "Everyone check your communications; don't want anyone getting lost in this fog."

"Coms are good to go here." Slate answered. His eyes looked over his body suit making sure everything else was good to go. Is there a reason I have to be here? Shouldn't I be commanding a battalion of troops or something? This place is creeping the hell outa me.

Graveheart noticed Slate was muttering under his breath.

He's nervous.

It was Jade who threw this newly appointed commander of the guard at his feet. And for what? To break him into away missions? Annoy the hell outa me with blundering questions? She's probably on her throne smiling about it right now.

Either way, he was his responsibility and Graveheart never took that lightly.

"Okay people, let's split into two groups," Graveheart shouted, "Tekla and Pyrus will head north through the forest. The commander and I will head east towards the mountains."

"So... what exactly are we looking for?" The question came from Slate who felt a bit stupid for asking after everyone turned and stared at him blankly. "Ahem... uh I mean... these world engines; they're at the core of the planet right? What do these teleport machines look like?"

Graveheart held back a sigh and beckoned the commander with his hand, "I'll tell you on the way."

...

The frequent snapping of branches in every direction made Slate shift his head nervously side to side. Nightfall was glooming down over them and the discoloured moons did not reflect the distant sun very well.

"Hey, take it easy." Graveheart said heartily as he looked back. His twitchy companion was extremely wide-eyed and paranoid. An amused smile lit up Graveheart's face, which seemed to calm the commander as he rubbed the back of his helmet and smiled back.

They came across the foot of a mountain which looked strangely different than the land they were walking on. It looked tiled with elaborately curved seams. Graveheart knelt and pointed his light to examine the unexpected find more closely.

"It's a path through the mountains." Graveheart said curiously.

"A man-made path? But the ship's scanners didn't pick up any humanoid life signs or energy signatures." Or a world engine for that matter.

"It's possible the civilization was destroyed many years ago. How exactly is-"

"Not our concern. We should be focusing on what we came here to do; find the world engines, if they even exist."

Graveheart frowned and Slate knew what was coming. "We just stumbled upon a lost civilization and you want to toss it aside like it's a climate report?" Their eyes met but there was no real will to gain dominance or authority over the other. Slate knew he was acting out of self interest or rather cowardice and arguing would only damage the ground he stood.

There was a hiss behind them and Slate spun around. He lifted up his flashlight but the fog was too thick for the light to penetrate very far. Graveheart remained crouched and Slate stood uncomfortably still. They paused peering into the grey abyss.

Slate let out a breath that seemed to tingle the muscles all over his body. Sweat started to bead under his suit. It's gone.

"The sooner we finish this damned mission the better sir."

"No argument here commander."

Graveheart gazed at Slate with concern. He watched as his comrade yanked off his helmet and wiped the sweat from his forehead. His blue crystalized hair, which was wet, shined brightly through the darkness. Graveheart admired his composure, perhaps not one of a general's but likely someone who was aware of himself and others; aware of what needed to be done when the time was right.

...

Pyrus blurted a sound of irritation, "We've been walking for hours and your sensors still can't detect the world engine. Why are we still here?"

She looked at him intently. He usually was level headed (for a hothead), but Tekla could see something stirring within his eyes. There was anger and frustration but something else too; held back. It was... it was definitely... fear.

She smiled warmly and turned back to the scanning device she held.

"I think the question we should be asking is..." Tekla put a hand on her hip and started tapping the scanner to her chin, "why is this planet the only one with no world engine?"

She stared into the sky above. Her eyes wandered from moon to moon as she studied the lines and craters that scarred each one.

"Five moons." The words echoed softly in Pyrus' mind as he said them. He tried to recall a memory or experience... anything that might hint an answer to Tekla's question.

The calm silence was suddenly shattered when a loud hissing sound pierced the fog from all sides. What at first resembled the noise of a snake soon turned into something entirely different as it changed pitch and got louder.

Both stood with arms jutted out in alarm. Their heads swerved in every direction. The sound was deafening; pulsating with immense terror.

Pyrus' mouth was quivering. He was trying to say something but Tekla's mind was too overwhelmed to focus. The noise penetrated her head and shrieked through her entire body. She desperately dropped to her knees, closed her eyes and slapped her hands to the sides of her head to stop the unbearable rattling.

Like a noisy spacecraft flying overhead, it started to fade. The hissing soon ceased altogether, but Tekla remained huddled. Her head was ringing and she continued to shake uncontrollably.

She forced her eyes open and saw the dark ground in front of her. There was a loud, sparkling crack and she turned her head to see Voxx motionless on the ground. Its circuit lights blinked excitedly for a brief moment then stopped.

She straightened herself upright and slowly looked around. There was no sign of Pyrus. She walked around cautiously, hands stretched outward in the fog, calling his name.

No response.

She felt around for her scanner and com device only to realize both were powerless.

She stood motionless; crippled. She could feel the fog around her shrouding her mind as it ate at her soul. Her world began to shrink into nothingness. Father. Why did you make me go? I... I'm...

Cold memories crawled around her mind spinning tangled webs of despair. Again she was...

Alone.