Chapter-8

Emerging from the ship, Aiden immediately dove into his designated tasks. He commenced gathering the samples assigned to him with efficiency.

First, soil—then rocks. He then stumbled upon a pair of vibrant, yet unfamiliar, purple-hued flowers.

"Only three more to go... Water, tree leaves, and tree bark. Soon, I'll have those 175,000 gems. Haha... Easy money," Aiden quipped to himself, surveying his surroundings in search of a suitable tree.

He soon spotted an oddity—a purple tree adorned with blue leaves.

"Why the purple hue and blue leaves?" Aiden pondered briefly before dismissing the thought; his job was to collect, not to question.

Utilizing a scalpel from his equipment bag, he deftly procured a sample of the bark and a handful of leaves.

'Now, just water remains.'

With time to spare, Aiden observed his companions, each engrossed in their respective tasks.

Scientists analyzed crushed grass; engineers debated the land's potential for housing. Mercenaries patrolled, setting motion sensors at intervals to alert them to any nearby movement.

Among them was Zara, diligently collecting her own samples.

'She's cute... I've never really thought about having a girlfriend. Maybe I should ask her out after this mission?'

"Time to search for a water source." Aiden made up his mind, pacing away from the group.

"Hey, where are you going?" a mercenary questioned, halting Aiden in his tracks.

"I need to find water and collect samples."

"Why in that direction? Is there water within the forest?" the mercenary queried.

"Yes, I spotted a lake from space, the nearest one to this location. It's somewhere within the forest," Aiden responded.

"Wait, I'll join you."

"It's not necessary," Aiden declined.

"It's my job to protect you. Let's go," the mercenary insisted.

"Alright then, your call," Aiden relented.

Together, they ventured forth.

As they departed, the rest of the group remained unaware that distant eyes were observing them.

"So, is this your first time?" the mercenary, Dex, inquired.

"Yes. And you?" Aiden reciprocated.

"I've been doing this for three years. Visiting unexciting planets, exploring them alongside uninteresting scientists," Dex revealed.

"Well, at least we're getting paid for it," Aiden quipped.

Walking further, Aiden detected the sound of water nearby.

"Seems we've arrived," Dex commented.

"Indeed, the sound's coming from that direction." Aiden pointed.

Navigating through the trees, they reached a sizable pond. The water was pristine, allowing visibility right down to the bottom.

"I'll collect some water, then we can head back," Aiden suggested, producing a test tube from his gear.

"Call me Dex. You?" the mercenary introduced himself.

"Aiden. Nice to meet you, Dex." Aiden began collecting the water sample.

Chik

Abruptly, something stirred within the water. Aiden jerked back, retracting his hand instinctively.

"What happened?" Dex approached the pond.

"I saw movement... Something in the water," Aiden explained.

"But the pond's empty," Dex reassured, inching closer.

"I'm sure I saw something move," Aiden insisted, trusting his instincts despite the disbelief.

"Pass me the test tube; I'll collect the sample," Dex volunteered, extending his hand.

"Here." Aiden handed over the container.

Dex moved toward the pond, bending to retrieve the water.

Filling the test tube, he capped it. "See? Nothing to worry about."

"Yeah, I think—"

Chik Chik Chik

Before Aiden could complete his thought, high-pressure jets of water shot forth from the pond. The torrents pierced Dex's helmet and bulletproof vest, extinguishing his life in an instant.

Dex's lifeless form plummeted into the water.

"No, no, no... Fuck!" Aiden was paralyzed, his limbs unresponsive as darkness clouded his vision and his body succumbed to despair.

[Warning: Host's blood pressure dangerously low. Administer medication.]

A notification appeared on Aiden's smartwatch, but his auditory perception was dulled, rendering the warning inaudible.

'He's dead... I must do something! I have to run! Why can't I move? What do I do?'

Emerging from the pond, a massive creature lumbered forth—a turtle-like being adorned with a glittering, spiky shell and an array of green eyes.

Fixated on Aiden, the creature drew closer, its intent unclear.

'Come on! You can move! Run, damn it, run!' Aiden's inner voice screamed.

Summoning the last of his strength, Aiden lurched upright, his legs propelling him forward. Yet, his progress was brief—tripped by a tree root, he crashed to the ground.

"Ouch, ouch, ouch... My leg... I must get back to the team, quickly," Aiden muttered, struggling to his feet and limping onward.

"Grrrr..." An eerie growl echoed through the forest, interrupting his desperate flight.