First night

Jed bent down and tried to shake David awake but nothing happened. He noticed that David's shirt had suddenly got tighter around the stomach.

"Ask your chip for ideas," Jed told Seo Jin.

"Chip 001, what should we do if someone swallows poisonous berries?" Seo Jin said and paused before speaking. "Apparently maroon berries are deadly if the person isn't treated within three days. They cause stomach swelling. We have to move him to a comfortable place and wait. Swelling will reduce in a few hours and host will be able to move. However, he'll not recover until he gets the antidote which is found in the towns. This means we will have to get to the nearest town in less than three days, or he'll die."

"What the hell!" Miles said. "I feel like cutting off his hands. This guy is going to get us into trouble because of his unhealthy appetite. I wonder how he got so lucky he doesn't gain weight. I eat one burger and turn into the hulk."

Seo Jin rolled her eyes. "Where are we going to take this fool now?"

"I think there's a cave under this cliff," Andres called out from the top. The three suddenly forgot all about their ailing colleague and ran up the hill.

The view was majestic. All around them was desert land but it got greener near the town, which could be seen at a distance. From the view point, the town's ancient buildings looked like small toy structures.

"Looks so close but still too far," Miles remarked.

"It doesn't close at all," Andres countered, "let's get moving."

"In case you haven't noticed, David is practically dying. We're not going anywhere until he feels strong enough to move."

"Let's take him to the cave," Andres said. "You'll stay with him and I'll proceed."

"No, you're not leaving us." Jed told him. "We're moving as a team."

Andres glowered at Jed. Jed looked down. It was the first time he'd confronted the workaholic. He was not usually confrontational because of his shy nature. Andres started moving down the hill.

"Don't take it personally." Seo Jin told him. It was the warmest thing he'd heard her say. They started descending the cliff. They found a cave on the side. It was dry but cold with some mud on the upper side. The main room was large, with small inner compartments. After studying the cave and telling the system to scan it for any hidden animals, they were assured of its safety.

They left their bags at the entry way and went around the cliff to bring David's body. They carried it up to the hilltop before dragging it down to the other side. Because of the sand, David got seem minor bruises. Jed did not like the inhumane method they had to use but nothing could be done. David's stomach had swelled so big, making him very heavy to carry.

The group placed David on top of a large rock with a flat table like surface. Andrew turned away, sulking off to the inner compartments. Jed was feeling too tired to do any exploration so he sat down. His body stiffened when he felt Seo Jin sitting next to him. His heart started pounding. He wanted to ask why she sat next to him but she spoke first.

"What's up, lover boy?"

Jed felt himself blushing. "Hi," was all he said.

"Do you miss her?"

What kind of question was that? "Of course."

"It'll get better with time," she told him. Jed glanced at the pretty woman. Seo Jin usually maintained a cold demeanour but she seemed to be full of warmth on the inside. She was very beautiful and had an innocent look. Jed could tell there was more to her than the toughness she exuded.

She was the only one who'd bothered to inquire about his wellbeing, given the circumstances surrounding their departure from earth. He glanced at the others and figured Seo Jin was the one person he was most likely to get closest to.

While Miles and Andres went looking for something to eat, he and Seo Jin conversed. The other two returned an hour later, bearing bright red berries and a small dead animal that looked like a squirrel.

"We'll all eat the berries, and you two will go look for firewood." Andres said as he placed the dead animal on a large rock. Miles smiled at Seo Jin as he handed her a cluster of berries.

"You won't get anywhere with that one, pretty boy." Andres said. "She already has her eyes set on someone else."

Jed was shocked that the serious Andres had told a joke. He glanced at Seo Jin, thinking she'd go off on him but instead Seo Jin smiled bashfully. Thankfully, Andres quickly changed the subject and started talking about all the things he had learnt about the planet with the help of his system.

Apparently, they were in the eastern side of the planet at the extreme end. "We have to pass through four or five towns to reach the capital."

After eating the berries, Jed and Seo Jin went off to find some firewood. Since the cave surface was a bit dump, there were a lot of green plants along the side of the cliff. Jed and Seo Jin made their way under the creepers, pulling out all the dry wood they could find. An hour later, both of them had sizable bundles. They carried them by their sides.

As night fell over the land, Andres skinned the animal while Seo Jin started a fire. Jed was surprised. It seemed like there was nothing Seo Jin couldn't do. He was starting to get fascinated by the young woman. Although he didn't have any inappropriate thoughts, he felt like he was somehow betrayed Serena.

When the meat was ready, they all gathered by the fire while Andres cut it up with a knife from his backpack. They had dragged David towards the fire so he could feel some warmth. Seo Jin fed a weakening David. The group laughed when David kept chomping up the meat as if he was not extremely ill. The food seemed to revive him.

After supper, they dragged him to one of the inner compartments. Jed and Seo Jin decided to stay with David while Andres and Miles crossed to a less roomy compartment. They laid the small inflatable sleeping bags on the ground and lay on them. Jed couldn't sleep. He kept thinking about Serena.

Some hours later, David whimpered, making Jed sit up to check on him. Suddenly, Jed heard a growl. His body froze.

"Did you hear that?" Seo Jin's soft voice pierced the cold night air.

"Yes," Jed admitted, his heart beating fast. He heard some shuffling and nearly screamed when Seo Jin settled right next to him, wrapping her hands around his body.

He could feel her body shaking like a leaf.