As I moved deeper into the forest, the strange encounter still lingered in my mind. The resistance shown by that alien had sparked even more curiosity about its species. Despite being weak and untrained, its will was strong. Something inside me told me this being was not ordinary. It had a warrior spirit, and with a little training, it could truly reach its potential. I would certainly want to be claw - tail with someone like that. As we traveled, questions about it kept spinning in my head. I felt what I would learn about it could be important.When I arrived at the camp, the others had already brought the science officer they retrieved from the wreckage to the medics. The officer was in a critical condition, but there was a chance he would survive. I set down the "cargo" and took a short breath. The team around me was well aware of their duties, moving quickly. They took the cargo and headed toward the Rynor-class ship.
Captain Kireal walked toward me, with a look of satisfaction in his eyes. "Good job, Lynx," he said. "We need to figure out what this thing is. The injured Serynox might recognize this cargo. Once Serynox is stabilized, we might learn more about this new species."
"Understood, Captain," I said, standing with the satisfaction of completing my mission, though there was still a restlessness inside me. I knew I wouldn't be at ease until I learned more about this new alien species.
Captain Kireal continued, "We'll take it to the ship now. The interrogation and analysis will be conducted at Storm Claw Outpost. Now, get on the ship. Kyrion (Regional Commander) wants to see you too."
I gave a formal salute and replied, "Yes, sir." After receiving Captain Kireal's orders, I quickly pulled myself together. The fatigue was replaced with a mix of adrenaline and excitement. The fact that Kyrion wanted to see me was significant. Our region's commander rarely met directly with a soldier. I had no idea what this meeting meant, but it was certainly important.
As I quickened my steps toward the Rynor-class ship, my eyes searched for the alien. Inside the ship, I soon spotted it, lying on a stretcher as the ship's doctors attended to it. I found a quiet spot within view and sat down, listening in on their conversation. Even as they treated it, the unease inside me didn't fade.
Doctor 1 stood by the stretcher, reviewing the report. "What should we do about the sedative? The wrong dose could kill it, but if we don't give enough and it wakes up, I don't know what might happen. They said this being could be dangerous."
Doctor 2, glancing over the X-ray results, nodded. "Yes, I agree. Its organs and structure are similar to ours, but we can't be sure how it will react. Its heart rate and blood pressure are at very different levels. Let's administer a low dose for now and monitor closely. If it seems like it's waking up, we'll give more."
Doctor 1, carefully preparing the syringe, said, "Alright, but if I get in trouble because of this strange thing, you'll be the first I find." He cautiously injected the sedative.
Doctor 2 monitored the vital signs on the screen. "Trust me, nothing's going to happen. As long as we don't let it come to harm, we'll be fine. They said it's important cargo," he added.
When the ship shook slightly, I woke up. I hadn't realized I had dozed off where I was sitting. Looking over at the alien, I saw a doctor standing by, monitoring its vitals on a screen. It was still unconscious, under the effects of the sedative.
The sound of the ship's door opening caught my attention. I started moving toward the exit. I spotted Kireal near the entrance, signaling me to come. I quickly approached him and gave a formal salute, saying, "Yes, sir."
Kireal looked at me carefully, then glanced around to ensure no one was watching. In a low voice, he said, "Don't leave my side."
I nodded and replied, "Understood." Together, we proceeded toward the exit. Outside, we were met by Kyrion and other high-ranking officers. We swiftly gave a formal salute and waited.
