No one came back from from the Orion mission. Communications fell dead off the research vessel. That’s when the vessel Hassel sent reinforcements.

“I’ve gotta deal with these polarity readings—Rachael, can you take over the helm?” Tacky’s red curls flopped about her green suit as she stood from the helm and headed toward the back of the ship.

Nobs and lights buzzed on and off like old bulbs set to a timer, and at the sound of a beep, Racheal grabbed the helm’s wheel.

“Tacky! let me know before you run off like that!” She quickly hit some buttons and disengaged warping. Her blue suit held the medical insignia, but she was assigned as a science officer.

A few minutes later, Tacky walked back to the front and found a seat next to Rachael. “Take us to impulse… the planet is below. I hope Darling is still alive.”

“Don’t we both. Fern was on the mission with him.”

“Oh! and him, too.”

“You say that now.” Rachael grinned that look you get when you know the other person is putting up a front.

“Go to landing mode. We’ve entered orbit.”

Rachael hit a few buttons and took the ship down to the surface. They landed next to the exploratory vessel. The two ships were identical. A silvery metal coated their exteriors.

“The air is breathable. A nice mix, like on Earth.” Tacky and Rachael stepped outside to a sandy hill near a set of caves.

Rachael set up her mapping detector on a tripod. “Think anyone is still alive?”

“Only one way to find out.”

Rachael held a controller with a screen and hit a big red button. One light showed up all the way to the back. “Someone is alive in the cave.”

Tacky took the stunner from her belt. She turned a knob on the back. “Your armed, right?”

“I’m medical. Off course not.”

“Go get a gun.”

“No. I swore an oath.”

“Set the power low.”

“Do no harm.”

Tacky shook her head and put back her hair with a hair tie on her wrist. “If you get me killed, I’m going to haunt you. Common, we need to see what’s in the cave.”

The cave cracked with the ticking of rolling gravel at the wind. The cave sides played rough down the path The further they walked, the darker it got.

The officers’ suits started to glow all around and the cave illuminated showing rocky steps.

Down the steps, they found Fern’s body facedown. His suit was dark. His skin dried up like a raisin.

Rachael took readings with a medical scanner. “That doesn’t look good for Darling.”

“Don’t say that.” Tacky’s face turned to a stare with a crumpled brow. “Common, let that be you.”

The two followed the path down until they saw what seemed to be Darling. He stood in the dark. His back was to them.

“Darling?” Tacky pulled out her stunner. “Is that you, dear? Is everything okay?”

Darling turned around, his eyes glowing red.

“Dear, what happened to your eyes?”

Darling started: “It’s mine. Mine… all mine. You can’t make me give it back! Fern tried to make me give it back! But we can’t let you stop us. We are stronger together! Stronger! Stronger together. Maybe—we’ll be stronger with you.”

All at once, his legs picked up in full stride and he ran at her. It caught her by surprise. They fell to the ground. The stunner fell from her hands and landed near Rachael. The two on the ground grappled as Darling seemed to be trying to bite her.

“Help!” Tacky pushed against his neck. “Shoot him!”

Rachael wanted to shoot him, but she hated weapons. She walked over and kicked at the body, but it didn’t respond. “I can’t!”

“I don’t think he’s still alive. Shoot him!”

“He’s moving!”

“I don’t think this is a time for arguing!”

Rachael picked up the stunner. “I can give it to you. Get him off.”

Tacky tried to kick him back, but the body wrestled against her. “Not working! Shoot him before he gets me!”

She lifted the stunner to aim, then froze as she watched Tacky struggle.

“You’re useless!” With a stroke of luck, she kicked free. Her feet found ground fast. She ran, grabbed Rachael’s hand, and pulled saying, “Run!”

They ran back up the stairs and through the cave, the light of outside in the distance. Darling’s body followed them. As they exited the cave, Tacky took back the stunner, turned the setting to obliterate and fired on the beast. The body sizzled and heated to ash as it ran toward the two.

The two went back inside, and while Tacky showered off, Rachael sat down in her bunk and cried.

When she got out of the shower, she caught the medical officer crying over an automatic rifle. “I’m sorry.” She just kept crying.

“No, it’s alright,” said Tacky.

“No, it’s not.” Rachael wiped her face with her sleeve. “I need you to show me how to fire it. I don’t even know how to fire it. I’m useless.”