Cherris Elson lay atop a small mound, her elbows propped onto the loose dirt, gazing through a pair of electro binoculars. A few hundred meters ahead, she watched with awed fascination as native animals – large, round and lucid beings – floated through the air, as if carried by currents. A grin spread across her face, "Magnificent." She whispered, zooming in on the strange creatures.
"They look like balloons to me." Aeron Sloan, a tall, dark and very handsome young man, stated as he knelt down beside his partner.
Cherris chuckled and nodded, "A little bit." She agreed, clipping the binoculars back onto her belt, "I guess we should head back to camp. We've collected enough samples for one day."
"Animals, plants and dirt. The adventurous lives of botanists." Aeron sighed melodramatically, as he swung his backpack over his shoulder and got back to his feet, "Lead the way, Lieutenant."
They clambered back down the mound, dirt and small rocks sliding behind in their wake.
The team had landed on a large planet far out on the Outer Rim. According to sources unknown to Cherris, it was an uninhabited planet, suited for humanoid needs; a planet taken under consideration for colonization.
The animal and plant life still needed to be examined most thoroughly before Cherris would give an okay to her superiors. It could take months, perhaps even years, before everything was catalogued the way she wanted it and she already knew that this would not be enough for the Command structure.
They wanted fast results she knew she wouldn't be able to give.
She pushed the thought to the back of her mind as she descended a sandy hill back towards their camp. The planet was more desert than anything else but the heat was bearable. A golden sun hung above them in the beautiful light blue sky, bathing them in warmth.
Cherris stopped for a moment, closing her eyes and lifting her head towards the sun. She smiled and took a deep, cool breath, trying to take in everything her senses would let her. She heard unknown wildlife all around her, birds and small insects and occasionally a scuffling somewhere beneath her feet.
It was a fascinating experience, one she was bound never to forget.
"What in the Gods names are they doing?" Aeron suddenly exclaimed, one hand shading his dark eyes, the other pointing upwards towards a wad of black smoke.
A sickening feeling settled into the pit of Cherris' stomach as she rummaged through her pack for her com link. "Elson to base, please come in."
Static was her response. "Elson to base, please come in." she said again, changing the frequency. There was no answer. Coldness spread up her spine as she suddenly made out a low rumbling sound coming from above.
Even though she was only a scientist , she knew the sound of a ship's propulsion system.
Cherris shifted her gaze to the blue sky, suddenly not so beautiful anymore, as a pair of one manned fighters flew by in low orbit. The sonic boom was almost deafening and she shielded her ears as she began to run.
There was no where to hide, being in the middle of the desert but she remembered a cave system they had found on their last excursion one or two kilometers west from their position.
They ran as fast as they could, more fighters coming into view. Cherris had the feeling they'd never make it but a flicker of hope made her run a bit faster as she caught sight of the first large boulders; the beginning of the stone desert.
"We're almost there!" Cherris called over the noise, hoping that her smile was a reassuring one.
There was a sudden loud bang and Cherris was hauled from her feet. It seemed like minutes until she finally hit the ground with a painful crash.
Lying on her stomach she could see Aeron bleeding from mouth and nose. His eyes were still open, a look of shock forever etched onto his face.
Cherris groaned and slowly got to her feet. Her ears were ringing and she felt a stinging in her left leg. Trying to ignore the growing pain, she hurried on catching sight of the cave entrance she had examined only a day before.
A few more steps, she thought, only a few more steps and you can rest.
The fighters were gone once she reached the entrance, seemingly giving up on her. But then again, they might come back later, she thought to herself as she leaned against the cool, damp wall within the cave.
There was a light dripping sound coming from deep within the darkness and a cool, moist breeze danced with her hair.
Cherris closed her eyes and tried taking deep, steadying breaths. Aeron's lifeless form was burned into her memory. She decided to retrieve his body once it got dark outside, hoping that whoever had attacked would be long gone by then.
She sat down on the wet ground, her entire body shaking.
I'm still alive, she thought, and I have to tell Aeron's wife that he died on a mission.
She shook her head and covered her eyes with dirtied hands. "How?" she whispered into the dark, tears wanting to break free.
Cherris tensed as she heard something from within the cave. At first she hoped it was her imagination playing tricks on her but again there was a definite sound of heavy footsteps coming her way.
"Oh, rotten luck." She murmured getting to her feet.
For a moment she stood rooted; she didn't have much promising choices. Either take her chance with the attackers outside or wait and see who or what came out of the dark.
At least outside I can see who wants to kill me, she thought and moved back towards the desert.
But a hand reached out and grabbed her shoulder, flinging her to the cold ground and darkness grabbed her.