Howling winds battered against us and the vessel. The Antarctic climate would have frozen us solid if not for our thermal suits. Yet I was still frozen, and not because of the temperature. I just couldn’t believe my eyes, even after staring at the thing for what felt like hours. A spaceship! An actual spaceship! Or at least that’s what it looked like considering it was eerily similar to what we’ve seen in movies, tv shows, and comic books that we’ve consumed as children.

The decrepit monolith towered over us, with the sounds of creaking metal echoing from within. We didn’t know how long the spaceship had been here but judging by how frozen-over it was it had to have been at least a year. We didn’t know what it was exactly made of or how and why it crashed here. So many questions but we’re scientists, we’ll answer them eventually…

“Bill!”

I awoke from my stupor.

“I need more samples. Go inside and help Jerry acquire some more.”

“Right. Sorry Hana.”

She caught me spacing again. She always found it annoying.

Walking through the vessel’s giant fissure I could feel it was colder on the inside. The darkness was only held at bay so much by the industrial lights we set up. Every where I looked seemed more…alien(for lack of a better word) than the last. The walls that were more or less intact had organic designs to them, appearing more like muscles and sinew. Severed cables were like blood vessels and nerves. Solid and thick ice enveloped multiple areas and corners, forming icicles large and small. It was not quiet however. Sounds of electric drills, blowtorches, and ice picks bounced off the walls. The crew was painstakingly chipping the ice away, taking apart what they could from the organic walls of the ship. We were like ants slowly picking away at a bird’s carcass.

As I continued walking through the frozen halls I reached into my pocket for my lighter. Placing a cigarette in my mouth I attempted to light it.

*Chkk*, *Chkk*, *Chkk*, *Chkk*

It was an old lighter, it always took a few tries. I would have replaced it sooner if it didn’t have sentimental value to me.

By the fifth *chkk* the flame sprout and I had reached my destination. Jerry was peering over a makeshift table with all the pieces he had collected since this morning. He was enthusiastically examining them one by one while listening to music through his earbuds. He had red, slightly curly hair that blended with his thermal suit’s hood, as well as a long, angular face with a pointy chin. Always the alien conspiracy theorist, he was in his element.

“Better than watching penguins migrate all day, right Bill?”

Jerry didn’t need to look up. He could hear my lighter as I was walking in, and I was the only one of the crew with the habit.

“Heh.” I chuckled, as I drew in the first puff. “We’d probably still be if you didn’t stumble upon this last night. Who knew your wanderlust would pay off. Just remember to send the little green men my way.”

“Yeah, I know. You are the biologist after all. Don’t worry I’ll tell you if I find anything. Plus with all this evidence, I’m sure it would be harder for them to cover it up.”

“Speaking of,” I interrupted while scratching my white beard. “Hana needs more samples. You got anything you’re willing to part with?”

“Oh, right, right. Well, I got some bits and bobs here on this…um…we’ll call it a table, but between you and me, none of these are even half as interesting as what you and I can’t even carry outside. I mean just look at this.”

Jerry motioned me to something at least 2 meters to his left. “This might be a cockpit of some kind. I think this because these are the only windows that we could find on the spaceship. Although it’s not a cockpit I’ve seen before.” He gestured to every lack of detail. “No steering wheel, no buttons, no levers, not even a seat.”

He was right. No distinct features, except for six gaping holes that surrounded us. I crouched down to get a better look. The holes were in a semicircle, each about 15 cm in diameter and around 30 from the floor and apart. 3 holes on each side with something between them and under the windows that appeared to be more of a dead organ than a machine. It jutted out to where we were standing, fused to the walls with “veins” and “sinew”. No light was penetrating the windows, they were in the same state as the interior. Too crusted over with snow and ice.

I wondered if there was more to see. “Weren’t there reports of a door that could lead deeper into the ship?” I asked.

“Yeah, we’re still working on that.” Jerry pointed his thumb behind him. “There’s a massive wall of ice blocking our way. It’s hard as a rock. Might take a day or two before we can get through.”

“Hmm…”I stood up again, still staring at the mass of frozen metal flesh in front of me. Like it wanted me to know it’s purpose.

A couple seconds passed and Jerry spoke again. “How’s Hana, by the way?”

“Hm? Oh she’s uh…she’s fine.” I was merely deflecting. Hana wasn’t fine, not after the break up. I just didn’t want Jerry to worry. Or maybe I just didn’t want him to pry. “She’s more focused on her research now. We both are. You don’t need to worry about us.”

“Bill, you and Hana were happier when you were together, and I’ve known you two for years. I know it’s only been a couple days but eventually it becomes a week, then a month,-“

“I know. I’ll figure something out. Let’s focus on the task at hand-she needs more samples. Help me with this will you?” I turned back to the items splayed out on the so called table behind us. I didn’t like talking about my personal problems, I felt too vulnerable.

Jerry conceded and helped gather the remaining artifacts into the boxes. We were careful not too potentially damage them, gingerly placing them in order of size and weight. The sounds of the crew’s deconstruction in the previous rooms echoed faintly. After the last piece was gathered I was startled by a sharp, distinctly rhythmic tapping. And it was nearby.

“Did you hear that?” I asked.

“What?”

“I heard…skittering?”