BEHOLDER
STARDATE 07.29.26
OLDE KINGDOM
INVERSE SPACE
Six lights appeared on Planet Grave (as it was now known). The landing party immediately felt the inhospitable weather as heavy rain and high winds pummeled them mercilessly. Luckily, the landing party was prepared, having taken precautionary measures by wearing environmental suits. The landing party consisted of Teko, the Beholder’s Science Officer and First Officer, Mabel, the Beholder’s Communications Officer, Eyug, the Beholder’s mute Navigator who communicates through psionic pictures, and Crewmen Silvia, Torres, and Hampton.
The shock of staring at graves all around them was jarring to say the least. Several members of the landing party almost lost their balance, feeling faint and nausceous. There was something unnatural about the planet that went far beyond the unending tombstones.
“Everyone spread out. Remember our orders. Survey and collect data, but do not disturb anything. The Captain was very explicit. Keep in constant contact with the rest of the landing party. Eyug, you’re with me.”
The mute Navigator nodded as everyone else slowly walked away in a different direction. A psionic image formed in front of Teko of equipment. “Yes, Eyug,” Teko said. “That is our task while everyone else is exploring.”
After a few minutes, Crewman Silvia motioned for Crewman Torres to come to her location. She quickly showed her a small Crystal Skull the size of a fist. It was sitting on a pedestal in front of a large mausoleum. The Crystal Skull almost seemed to be staring back at Silvia and Torres.
Teko flipped open his Communicator. “That’s affirmative, Captain. The aerial drones, the land rover robots, the recording cameras, the Keeper Territory Transmitter…none of them are working. They just go haywire in this environment and will not respond in the standard manner. This place is…preventing…them from working.”
“Understood, Teko. Continue the manual search and then get everyone back up to the Beholder. Bring the equipment back so we can examine them in detail up here.”
“Yes, Captain. Landing party out.”
Crewman Silvia reached out to grab the Crystal Skull. Crewman Torres stopped her.
“What do you think you’re doing? Teko said to leave everything alone! I would think that includes creepy clear skulls the size of a fist!”
“Oh c’mon! Are you really going to pass this once in a lifetime opportunity up? Here we are in deep space, in the furthest place from Keeper Space, investigating what happened to the Yurei, and you’re not going to take home a souvenir? Can you image what everyone will say back home when they see this!”
Crewman Silvia grabbed the Crystal Skull and put it a pocket in her environmental suit. Crewman Torres frowned. Not only had her friend disobeyed direct orders but now she was forced to keep her secret as well.
The landing party gathered back together. They gathered all the equipment and prepared to be beamed back up to the Beholder. Six flashes of light took them, leaving the desolate wind swept world to its solitary existence once more.
AND INSIDE OF CREWMAN SILVIA’S POCKET, THE CRYSTAL SKULL GRINNED.
