Lucy zipped up her insulated jacket over her pink shirt, the jacket was white with a blue cross and specially engineered to withstand harsh conditions from hypothermia to bullets. She looked around her room at the four walls that had been her home since birth. She pulled her case behind her as she arrived on the ship, Freed, Evergreen and Bickslow were already on deck. Panther lily, Levy, Jet and Droy arrived next. Wendy and Gray then appeared, Gray still rubbing his arm where Wendy had given him his second coarse shots. Jellal was the last on deck after he shook Meledy off his leg.
The ship was going to be piloted by MAV-1S, who was also patched into there wristbands. Lucy took a seat between Gray and Levy and relaxed.
"Gray, your clothes!" She screamed as her shirtless friend. Gray looked down surprised as Bickslow threw his jacket at him.
"Prepare to launch," Jet shouted," We're ready Yukino."
Yukino began the launch sequence from the control centre. The research team strapped in to their seats and prepared for launch.
5…
4…
3…
2…
1…
Launch
The ships lights flickered as they entered the atmosphere.
"Brace for impact, " Mavis warned, "Releasing parachute." The ship jerked as the parachute released.
Levy stroked Lily's fur, calming him down from the thunder like noises. Lily looked up at her gratefully, waiting for the noise to pass. The ship hit the ground and the lights stopped flickering. Mavis released the harnesses.
"Mavis please analyse the outside air for toxins." Jellal asked politely.
"Are you guys ok?" Yukino and Charla's voice sang from the main screen.
"We're ok Yukino." Lucy assured her friend. The analysis results appeared next to Charla and Yukino's face.
"The air is safe," Mavis announced. Gray tuned the third panel into the outside cameras.
"It's…beautiful." Wendy marveled.
"The first humans on Earth in a hundred years." Levy hugged Lily tightly. Mavis opened the hatch, sunlight shone into the ship, the smell of pine and freesias wafted in. Lucy stepped outside onto the ground, followed by the rest of the team.
"Alright guys, Freed set up a perimeter; Droy start analysing the air and plants; Jet, Gray make sure nothing was damaged during the drop." Levy hopped around excitedly scribbling in her journal.
"Evergreen, Bickslow, lets do some exploring." Pantherlily said excitedly as he changed into his large form and put on an insulated jacket.
"Be safe!" Levy called after them, Lily waved back to his childhood friend.
"Wendy do you need help setting up the med centre?" Lucy volunteered.
"Yes please, Droy, can you see if you can find any plants that are medicinal?"
"Levy, do you wanna set up the research lab?" Jellal asked moving some boxes of supplies.
"Sure." Levy closed her journal and followed Jellal into the lab. Her eyes lingering on the forest.
Pantherlily took in the scenery, Evergreen snuck passed him, staring into the distance.
"What is it Ever?" Bickslow asked. She pointed to the river, a doe and fawn sipped water from the lazy river.
"Deer, deer." Bickslows babies echoed, startling the deer.
"Keep those things down!" Ever shouted annoyed.
"We have bigger problems guys." Lily crouched down, pointing at his finding, a foot print.
"So what, its probably one of ours?" Bickslow commented.
"Well it's too small for you or me but it sure doesn't look like Ever's fancy heels." Lily took a photo followed Ever back to camp.
"These are the photos we took," Lily blue toothed the images to Levy's laptop. Wendy squealed with delight as the shot of the deer appeared on screen.
"So Cute! I'm gonna send this to Charla!" Lucy and Gray walked into to the research facility.
"A baby deer? This is amazing." Lily flicked to the next image.
"A footprint?" Gray asked.
"It's not one of ours…"
"I need to analyse this," Levy threw some supplies into her red bag, "Take me there!" Levy walked out the door before anyone could argue. Lucy, Levy and Lily went to the sight next to the river. Levy scanned the prints, recording her findings.
"Any one else feel like their being watched?" Lucy asked.
"Yes, its rather ominous, Levy you nearly done, the sun is setting." Pantherlily urged the blunette. Levy was mumbling and scribbling in her journal.
"Humanoid, it was wearing foot coverings and it walks on two legs. Guys this could mean one of two things, either apes, or survivors…"