SpaceHunter

Ellervok

It was a perfect morning on planet Ellervok. Most people would find waking up in a small cottage in the middle of a fog-covered forest unpleasant, but for Claire, this was paradise, and also her home now. It was quite cold, but this didn't bother her. In fact, she loved the cold. When there was cold, there was silence, and Claire would give anything for silence. 

That morning, this silence was disrupted by the high-pitched rumbling of the engine of a small T-16 cruiser ship that was hovering over Claire's cottage. Upon hearing this, she sprang up from her bed and picked up her gun, She peaked outside through a small gap in the curtains to see that the ship was now landing outside her cottage. The whole house vibrated as the ship touched down. The engine was finally switched off, and there was silence again. With the loaded gun in hand, Claire slowly stepped outside, ready to shoot anything that moved. Even though the fog was dense, she could see just fine.

The door of the ship opened, but no one came out.

"Whoever's in there, come out with your hands where I can see them" shouted Claire.

There was silence.

"I don't want any funny business, I will not hesitate to pull the trigger, and I don't miss"

"Calm down Claire, it's me" 

said a voice from inside the ship.

A voice Claire instantly recognized.

"Mcguire?" she said.

"Yes, now please put your gun down and I'll come out"

"No, you show yourself first"

"You haven't changed a bit, have you" 

A tall man, with his hands above his head, exited the ship. He looked like he was in his late twenties and had two very noticeable scars across both his cheeks, but even with them, he looked pretty handsome. This was Elhart Mcguire.

"Are you happy now?" he said.

Claire finally lowered her weapon.

"Who else is in the ship?" she asked.

"Remember Jonathan, he was like five when you left, well he's all grown up now, and a pilot too"

"I thought you knew how to fly"

"I do, but it's good to have company, and I knew finding you was going to take a long fucking journey"

"How did you find me, I mean I'm not exactly hiding, but this planet is still way off the grid"

"It doesn't matter how we found you, what matters is that we need you to come with us"

"I'm not going anywhere" said Claire, and then started walking back towards her cottage.

"Celene has gone missing"

Claire stopped.

"It happened a couple of months ago" 

"Come in and tell me everything" 

She walked inside. Elhart motioned towards the ship for Jonathan to come too, and then followed her inside. 

Inside, there were two small rooms and a kitchen in the corner. Although Claire preferred it cold, she had warmed up the house for the guests, who now sat across each other in the living room.

"You've changed a lot" said Claire, looking at Jonathan.

Jonathan was pale and had curly hair, he wore glasses that were too big for his narrow face. 

"You've changed too, princess" he said.

"You call me princess one more time, you're dead"  Claire snapped.

"Anyway, about Celene" said Elhart. Claire nodded. 

"Two months ago, Celene went for a school trip to the Coraloid region of planet Holiday, basically where all the water sport activities take place. She and everyone from her school were staying at the Sandyshell hotel, which is right by the shore and a part of it is underwater too. The morning they were supposed to head back, her room was found empty."

"Was no one sharing the room with her?" asked Claire.

Elhart exchanged a quick glance with Jonathan, and then said 

"I can't tell you any more details unless you agree to come with us. We've told you what you need to know, Celene is missing, and you need to help us find her"

Claire leaned back in her chair.

"You know very well that I'm not leaving this place, I can help you from here but I'm not going"

"It's your sister we're talking about here Claire"

"Half-sister" Claire corrected.

Elhart sighed.

"You haven't changed a bit. You're still as selfish and arrogant, but I really think younger Claire would've been more concerned about her sister, so maybe you've gotten worse"

"You're right, I am the one who's selfish, and you think I'm not concerned, I'm probably more concerned than my entire family"

"Everyone's concerned Claire, that's why they sent us to find you"

"Dad literally has all the money in the universe, he could just hire every detective in the galaxy to look for Celene, why the fuck do you guys need me"

"You're the best and you know it" argued Elhart.

"Elhart, I do want to find Celene, but I'm done with that life, and you know very well why"

He nodded.

"I understand that you've been through a lot, but you're our best chance of finding her. Do it for Celene, please, come with us"

She stared at the floor for a while, and then stood up.

"I'll do it, but only for Celene, not for my family, and definitely NOT for my dad"