Bleak barren wastes lay bare before me. I knew coming to this planet would be depressing but seeing it in person makes my stomach sick. Steel-blue clouds curl, wrapping around a hazy golden orb in the distance. The day was already mostly over.

  “How are you doing, Laura?” a distorted, squeaky voice interrupts from my earpiece. Hugh had a high pitched voice, and the radio only served to increase the squeakiness.

  I slide the Khostran off of my mouth and nose. Now that the toxic clouds have passed by, I didn’t need it filtering the air around me. Its tentacles reach around the back of my head trying to pull itself back over my face. I slap it down gently. It stops and settles, perched in its usual spot on my shoulder.

  “Good. I have most of the area leading to the woods mapped out. No signs of life or any artifacts yet. It's eerie out here. It feels like a grim reminder of our ancestors' mistakes.”

  A slight breeze drifts by, blowing through the hive holes that litter my left arm. Hundreds of Thephins inside my arm quiver uncomfortably. I rub my left arm gently, caressing and calming the creatures inside.

  “Okay, you should reach the woods any minute. We don’t know what to expect. It could only contain light flora, or it could be more packed with creatures than a rainforest. Just be ready, and above all, stay safe.”

  “You got it boss,” I outrank him by two ranks, but I can’t help but tease him.

  Close to an hour later, I arrive at the gateway of the forest. Yellow-leaved trees arch overhead creating a natural pathway for me to walk. Small brown birds dart across the limbs, scared of the mechanical invaders. A lizard scurries into some brush.

  I smirk. It's good to see that life has held on through the plethora of extinction events that have plagued Earth, “Well I see plenty of birds and other small creatures in the area. Have you detected any radiation?”

  “That's amazing. Nothing in harmful amounts yet. Do you see any signs of intelligent civilization?”

  “No. It's still extremely unlikely that anyone survived the nuclear war of ‘93. The only reason I could think that people could be here was if they made illegal trips here the past fifty or so years. Maybe set up an illegal off grid homestead or hideout from authorities.”

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  “How could someone land on the planet without the EMA surveillance team finding out?”

  “Trust me there are-”

  A large crash from my right distracts me from the thought. I dive to the side, dodging a massive tree falling. I look over to its base and see a hulking mass of fur and teeth barreling towards me. My right hand instinctively raises up, shielding my face. Thick teeth gnaw on my forearm. My barkskin barely holds against the creature's immense teeth. I push against the mountain, but it refuses to budge. Splinters explode from my skin.

  My left arm rattles and buzzes as the swarm comes out. The Therafins are awake. Hundreds of winged insects sting and bite the creature's face. It roars, rattling the world. The giant bear rears back, tossing and turning, trying to avoid the paralyzing Therafins.

  Their venom is already taking effect. The bear's movement becomes sluggish. I pull out the Aurontus on my hip and aim carefully. An exhale escapes my lips as I pull the fleshy trigger. A single silent shot blasts, hitting its head. The Aurontus burps as it reloads another acidic bullet.

  The creature falls with a heavy thump, dead.

  “Well I just got attacked by some sort of giant mutant monster.”

  “Are you okay? I can be there in a few minutes if you need me?”

  “No, I'm okay. Just a little shaken up.”

  The Therafins flood back into my arm, full after feasting on the beast. Something moves from beyond the treeline.

  “Boss, I think we have another one. Prepare for emergency evac.”

  Two shadows separate and inch closer. My hand is still holding tight to the Aurontus, but I keep it lowered. For now.

  I steel my voice, “I can see you. Show yourself!”

  The shadows emerge from the trees, and step into the daylight. They look humanoid, but hoods hide their faces. On the left one is wearing a tattered, forest-green robe and leans heavily against a metal walking stick. The stick is covered in gears, wires, and springs but they seem to be more of a decoration than anything practical. The other one holds something similar to an Aurontus, but made of metal or rock. A nonliving abomination.

  The walking stick figure removes her hood.

  It is all I can do not to vomit immediately. Wires are fused together under skin stretched to its breaking point. The eyes that meet mine resemble lenses more than anything else. A small antenna sticks out from the back of her head.

  “You barbaric murderer. You killed the bear for nothing.”

  “It attacked me. I defended myself.

  “You could have run. You’ll probably just leave that body to rot.

  “How dare you try to lecture me about the living. You're more machine than human. You're less alive than the trees around us.”

  “We live in harmony with the world you genetic challenged monster. Leave and never return. That's the only way this doesn't end in bloodshed.”

  “Go back to your mud holes. You know nothing of symbiosis with the natural world,” the creatures littering my body squeeze gently, reassuring me.

  I turn and leave the forest.

  Once at the treeline, I radio “Boss, it's a bust here just like we thought. There are no signs of human life.”