Astrophysical (completed)

Chapter 3

The ship was abuzz with excitement. The crew was in celebration. In just a matter of hours they would be in port on a planet they all seemed to be familiar with. The men were all excited to do their favourite activities, but they all included alcohol, sex, and getting high. This didn't seem any different from the activities she could find on Earth, but as Ash had explained to her, the actual details were. He had however skipped the details on how different species mated with humans, which she was grateful for because she hoped she never would have to learn about them. Johnson told her that this would be where they would pick up supplies too. Still, nothing seemed to hold too much of an interest for her. The whole crew kept telling her stories they had had on the planet, but she didn't see the thrill in going to a port with a bunch of outlaws.

To view the planet, Cassie found herself yet again in the observatory, curled up next to the window. From the miles outside the atmosphere, the planet looked like a swirling gas of brown and red smoke. The scenery didn't change all that much, except to show small traces of blue which she assumed were water sources. They prepped to enter soon and as she braced herself against the window the ship began to pick up speed.

The rush into the planet's inner atmosphere was intense and somewhat exhilarating. Once inside the airspace, the ship levelled out to the sensation of being on an airplane back on Earth. Cassie looked out past the large amounts of clouds and smog swirling past the ship to see many structures and buildings. They reminded her of skyscrapers, except they didn't seem tied down to the ground.

She watched as other vehicles flew here and there, dodging past the larger ship towards other destinations. She couldn't see any people except a couple of suited beings exiting and entering ships. Part of the warnings she got was this was going to be the first time she would be seeing aliens. This was exciting since she was after all she was in space, but because she was so familiar with the human crew here, it also terrified her.

"Prepare for landing," came Matt's voice from over the communication lines.

The large spaceship glided onto a larger platform. With only a soft thud, the ship rested, and she listened as a large amount of steam released from it. She gazed for a little while longer out her trusted window before standing up and walking out of the room.

There were cheering and shouts coming from the atrium. As Cassie proceeded nearer to it, she could hear a large groaning sound. As she hit the stairs, she saw for the first time, that part of the wall was a doorway. A wave of hot air brushed against her skin for the first time, and she took a deep breath of the outside air. There was a hint of smoke and smog along with fresh air now in her lungs.

Cassie climbed down the stairs and walked towards the door with long cautious steps before she felt a tug on her arm. She turned and saw one of the men she had grown to become a friend of.

"Doctor Beckett," she said nodding. "Something wrong?"

The man who was around his early thirties but had a baby face full of blonde hair and glasses smiled in a friendly manner. "No, nothing's wrong, but if you want to go out, you'll need this."

He pushed back strands of her hair and then pressed a tube up against her neck. Cassie felt a soft pinch and he released her, but she began to rub the place he just shot at. It was smooth, but there was a small bump. "What did you just do?"

"I gave you a small translation chip. This way while you are off the ship, it will translate anything anyone says for you. It's only temporary and as soon as we leave again, I will take it back off." He smiled again and then picked up his bag from his side. "And with that, I hope you enjoy yourself, but I have some supplies to go and gather."