Chapter One

Horror.

All thoughts of home, memories of friends and family, and the sweet feeling of relief instantly froze in both of the men as they could do nothing but watch the unbelievable scene in front of them.

What was seconds ago the lovely sight of planet Earth and its fellow moon became a nightmare as the Brethren Moons suddenly materialized and surrounded the planet. The one emerging from behind the Earth was the first noticed by Isaac Clarke and Sgt. John Carver from their position in the ship's cockpit. Their mouths hung agape as their minds seemed too slow to process what was happening, and to their horror another alien moon suddenly rose directly in front of their vessel. It completely blocked their vision of Earth from the ship's large windshield.

Then the torture began.

Nothing but a deafening and unearthly screech rang in the two men's ears. It then became accompanied with sporadic images of veins and blood, lights glowing in sinister red and orange hues, and a Marker centered between the chaos.

Words could not explain the visions, more so mental trauma. The screeching became unbearable and paralyzing as the Sergeant collapsed to his knees and gripped his head between his hands, screwing his eyes shut and pulling his short hair as the pain took over his body. Next to him sat Isaac in the pilot's seat, similarly groaning in agony as he pressed the heels of his palms into his eyes, hunching over the dashboard and gritting his teeth.

Red flashes, roaring flames, Markers, maniacal whispers and screams.

Hell.

The Sergeant suddenly had trickles of blood falling from his nose and forming in his ears, but he did not notice as he could do nothing but sink lower onto all fours and cry out in pain. A metallic taste filled his mouth and he spat, the more he reacted the more the pain grew. Then out of nowhere for the two of them, a sudden blackness took over their vision and all became quiet.

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Isaac awoke with a jolt. Out of reflex he lifted his head from the dashboard and then instantly regretted it, because a searing ache rang out in his head. He moaned and closed his eyes. The aching was followed suit by a deep, sickening nausea as the Engineer hunched over the dashboard again and held his head. He forced himself to open his eyes and raise his head (slowly this time) to the scene laying out in front of him. His vision blurred and doubled as he saw all of these dim lights shining in the distance, they were small and seemed to buzz. He squinted to get a better look, orbs?

That theory was quickly diminished as he slowly realized the obvious display,

Stars.

Reality quickly washed over him as the memories came flooding back. He wanted to barricade them, and not revisit them, not accept them.

No... It can't be.

The mesmerizing sight of their home planet, suddenly conquered by the massive alien moons as they surrounded the small sphere. Then the visions, oh God the visions.

This was too much for Isaac to take in, he could only feel his body gradually succumb to a cold numbness. He became paralyzed again, in shock this time. It was as if every thought in him came to a halt, and a dominating stiffness took over his spine and neck, his limbs tingled as he felt his heart drop inside of him.

For minutes his mind didn't register any information and he sat there still as a statue, eyes wide and unfocused as he could only notice the stars ahead of him.

Carver.

Isaac snapped out of his daze and turned to his right side. If it was possible of his heart to drop even further, it did as he gazed down to the Sergeant, who was on the floor of the cockpit unconscious and laying on his side, faced away from Isaac. The meter along his backside glowed a faint red. The Engineer slowly stood, wary at the chance of doubling over, and made the short and daring steps towards the other man. The numbing stiffness was still in control, and Isaac could not do a thing as his knees buckled and he shakily lowered down to the Sergeant. He placed a hand on the man's armored shoulder and while holding his breath, turned him over.

Carver didn't phase, he remained unconscious. Unable to check for a pulse because of the metal plates covering the arms, Isaac checked for breathing from the nose and mouth, and felt a sigh of relief flood through him as he felt the short breaths. He felt concerned of the sickening amount of dried blood covering the man's face, but he dismissed that worry because he was happy enough to know that the other survivor, his friend, was still with him.

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