Planet of the Dead

Chapter Two

Ender ran to the main control deck with Gavryn close behind. Natlia was at the controls trying to take readings and keep the craft steady. She was actually not doing a bad job.

Ender sat in the chair next to her and took control of the craft, slowing the descent and leveling it with the ground. Natlia slumped in her seat, looking relieved. "I got all the readings I needed," she said, blowing a stray strand of hair out of her face. Elyot came in, his face slightly pink, and breathing heavily.

"I hope you didn't set off any of those compact shelters," Ender said, noticing Elyot's discoloration.

"Seeing as the craft is still in one piece," Gavryn commented. Elyot nodded.

"It's fine," he said. "One really wanted to, but it didn't." Ender breathed a sigh of relief.

"Nat?" he started. "Can you go find Ly. She's probably too engrossed in those manuals to have noticed the atmosphere impact." Natlia smiled and went in search of the biologist.

Gavryn studied the approaching planet. The grey had different shades and mountains were starting to be visible to the south of the landing zone. They planned to try and land near a body of water, so they were descending next to an ocean, a bay next to the expected landing sight, a lake further inland. As they got closer, Gavryn noticed something about the lighter shades.

"Are those trees?" he asked, pointing to a cluster of light grey. Ender and Elyot leaned forward and squinted at the view.

"I don't know," Ender said after a moment. "We'll have to get a good look at that once we land."

"I'm here!" Lylah called as she ran into the room, followed close behind by Natlia.

"Excellent!" Ender exclaimed. "Get ready for landing. Everyone remember the procedures?" They nodded. "Stations!" 

The group scrambled to their seats and fastened their seat belts. Ender and Elyot up front with the controls and Natlia and Lylah to Gavryn's right. The ground rushed towards them as gravity took hold of the craft. "Turn on the thrusters," Natlia said from behind Elyot.

"Backseat driver much?" Gavryn heard Elyot mumble as he turned on the thrusters.

"Nope. Just don't feel like having death by gravity right now," Natlia answered.

"Could you hit that button for the impact cushions while you're at it?" Ender asked Elyot. He turned to the button in question and literally hit it with his fist. Lylah face-palmed. Ender pushed another button and the descent slowed as a parachute unfolded. Gavryn jerked forward, as did the others.

"Can we have a warning next time?" Gavryn asked.

"Sure," Ender said mischievously. "Gav, impact in three."

"WHAT!" Gavryn, Lylah, and Natlia practically screamed at Ender.

"Two."

"Grab hold of something," Elyot advised, grabbing a railing along the wall, Ender doing the same. Gavryn grabbed the back of Ender's chair, Natlia taking the back of Elyot's. Lylah was left clutching a strap hanging from the ceiling.

"Impact!" The craft jerked as it came to a sudden stop. Gavryn slammed into Ender's chair. Ender was thrown against the console in front of him, thankfully not hitting any important buttons or breaking anything. A similar story could be said for Elyot and Natlia. Lylah swung forward, but was probably the least bumped around of the five.

"We're here." Gavryn said, looking at the kicked up dust created by the impact.

---

AN:

Sorry for being really bad at dialogue. Also sorry for not giving Gavryn more of a role. Sorry for the sorry's, too. 

Gavryn will get a larger role as the story progresses and it hopefully will get more interesting. Thanks for braving my probably awful writing.