Collection of SciFi Stories.

Dragon Stream

"Let's make history," I said as the ship descended. The white gas stream became denser with dark blue wisps following a southerly direction around Jupiter.

My fingers drummed the blinking cockpit in an effort to contain my excitement. The beautiful Jovian Jet stream beckoned on my first exploratory mission and I itched to know its intimate secrets.

"Systems holding steady Captain," Chief Engineer Olivia assured me.

I nodded. "Cut engine one. Pulse thrusters." Thick white gas clouds engulfed my ship.

We're the first inside the Jovian Jet Stream.

My eyes hungrily swept among the viewports. Suddenly the ship jerked to a halt. I braced before jumping out of my command chair. "Status!"

"Everything reads normal ma'am!" Olivia reported.

"Then why aren't we moving?" I demanded. The ship groaned in response.

"Can we get better visibility?" I asked. Negative.

Dark blue streaks drifted past the viewports while I paced. "Scan for life forms. Carbon based, nitrogen based. Anything to explain why the engines are unresponsive and we're floating along this gas stream."

The crew hurried into action. A loud thud rocked the ship sending everyone stumbling to their knees. Metal screeched. I grimaced. "Damage report?"

"Minor to the exterior hull," Olivia replied, "Its probably Jupiters intense gravitational pull." She did not look convinced.

"Captain! Main viewport!"

I whirled around. A dark blurry outline crept into view. It moved closer until it pressed against thick, pressure-resistant glass. The creature solidified. Everyone gasped.

It bore the size and shape of a Komodo dragon. Its smooth navy blue skin glistened wetly in the ship's lights. Its small head lacked eyes and nose. A long, four-pronged purple tongue flicked rapidly out of its wide mouth, licking the ship.

All breath left my body. There's life on Jupiter. We found life on Jupiter!

"Congratulations Captain,' Olivia laughed. My crew cheered.

"Record new lifeform," I breathed, feeling like Christmas morning.

Another dark blue shadow floated nearby. My brain clicked. "Magnify cameras on those shapes," I ordered, "record everything."

The screens showed dozens of the same type of lizard-like creatures gliding along the jet streams. Some jumped off onto the planet's surface while others leapt on. "They're using the gas stream to travel across Jupiter," I breathed, "Amazing."

This historic discovery drugged us with such excitement that no one noticed the creature on the ship swaying its heavy tail until it was too late. I caught the movement just as its pointed tail flicked at the main viewport.

The glass cracked.

A sudden hush fell inside the control room. Horrified, I watched as the creature slammed its tail again. The spider web patterns spread.

"Fire weapons!" I screamed.

My team scrambled to obey but it was useless. More creatures jumped onto the viewport and shattered the glass under their weight. The dense clouds blinded me instantly. My lungs seized as it filled with toxic gas. I fell to the floor just as the blood-curling shrieks began.

Something strong and wet squeezed my throat. I succumbed to the darkness.