The Endeavour in Sector H

Chapter 9

Preparations took several hours as they were racing to get to the location before a new storm started. Their prediction was that they had maybe 12 hours before it hits in full force.

The plan was to land with a spaceship near Neda's possible location and then search for her with a land rover.

As they were descending to the target location, the first effects of the storm rattled the spaceship as if it was a can. They for sure didn't want to be here when the storm reaches its full strength.

Jad was on the bridge, he was twisting his fingers and thinking how to break news to his friend. She was a private person who wanted to be left alone. Men let her down on numerous occasions, as she told him once, and she stayed in contact with him because he wasn't a prying kind and would sell her necessities she needed. Now everything will change. What will she think of me?

They landed in the second try as the winds kept pushing them towards the nearby hill. Getting shattered on some rocks wasn't on todays to-do list.

5 of them got in the rover and Jad navigated them to the caves. Their guess was that she lives there. The caves had a smaller overground part but they mostly extended underground. Their rover could barely find a cover in the entrance of it. Weather outside seemed to subside a bit.

Jad noticed the hopes on their faces that the storm might pass them.

"No, don't think it's over. It's always like this, it weakens and then gets back with even more fury. We have a little time before that happens. We should hurry." - Jad advised them.

They were all in battle suits so their descent was slow, but it gave them the ability to talk via the intercom system and it protected them from the storm. It took them more than half an hour to reach the bottom. It was still dark and no traces of someone living here.

"Are you sure she's here? - Ghir asked.

"This is my best guess. I never visited her at home. We always met outside."

"Let's explore some more." - Falin pushed forward. He was a quiet giant, bigger than most and for sure the most quiet member of the crew.

He lit the way discovering a big underground chamber, a soft sound of water drops could be heard in the distance. Others kept a distance from him, as they were monitoring for any signs of possible attackers. They didn't know how friendly she was or if she was really alone or not.

Falin stopped.

"What is it?"

"I'm stuck."

"What do you mean?"

"I can't move my legs. I walked into some gooey thing."

They all stopped, checking their legs.

"Ana, analysis."

She moved towards Falin. "It's..."

And then she was gone, the ground beneath her opened, swallowing Fallin and her whole. A huge reptilian surfaced, an acidic roar rippled the air around them.

"What the fuck is Kisel doing here???" Lnar ran to its left side, firing from his arm. The laser grazed Kisel's skin, pissing him off. It had no eyes, only an incredible sense of smell and direction. It was one of the rarest creatures in the galaxy and encountering him meant a sure death.

"Ghir, distract him on the other side."

"Ana, Falin, are you still with us?"

"Yes. We're trying to cut him from the inside but it seems hard as his outside skin." - Ana answered.

"You don't have long. Try to get out as you have come in." In the creature's digestive environment they had several minutes at most.

Lnar's full attention back on Kisel and the fight. Ghir and Jad were attacking him opposite of him. They were successful as a beginner attacking his instructor. No effect.

Only one thing can hurt him and if applied at the right spot.

"Ghir, keep distracting him."

Ghir and Jad were currently scrambling on the floor, trying to move out of Kisel's way. He was firing poison darts at them and spitting the acid.

Lnar could see that Ana and Falin were almost at his mouth, but their armor was failing them fast. They all could see the status of each team member.

Shit.

The armor on his left leg opened, revealing a short sword. It was his family's most precious weapon possession. A Ks'an'der sword, made of alloy so rare that only the royal families possessed it in the form of daggers. This was his family's secret. They hadn't just a dagger but also a short sword. It was said that Ks'an'der alloy could cut through the neutron star.

Lnar run into Kisel, jumping on his back. Kisel's attention was still on Ghir and Jad, trying to stomp them to death.

Lnar's indicators showed he had only 25 minutes before his suit melts under the influence of the acid. Let's try this, baby.

He took a powerful swing with both hands, sinking the sword in Kisel's back. The creature roared, spitting out two figures. Lnar cut off the communication with Falin, the man was screaming in pain. Falin's indicators showed that armor on his left arm was breached.

Kisel surged up, trying to shake him off his back. Lnar was now hanging on the sword, which under the Lnar's mass and small gravity of the moon was cutting downward through Kisel's back. The huge creature was roaring from pain, throwing himself on his back to crush Lnar to his death. Lnar let go of the sword, jumping on the side. He assessed the situation. Jad was helping Falin. Ana and Ghir were in battle positions.

"Ana, I need my sword back."

Kisel seemed still preoccupied with getting the sword out of his back but in the process succeeding the opposite, the sword was getting lodged deeper in his body.

"Lnar, do we distract him while Ana gets it back?"

"No, you distract him, I'll attack."

Lnar could sense a Ghir's eyebrow raising. You still have a lot to learn about being a royal.

A Ks'an'der dagger slid from the armor of his left hand, dropping into his palm. He was more familiar with this one, it won't be the first time he's using it.

He said a silent prayer. Ada, keep me safe.