Carpathia IV: Episode 2 - The Quest for Glue
Unnamed Planet
Amenaru: Captain, this might be a clue to what we're looking for.
Adell looked up from his scanner, as it was detecting nothing of importance from the tree he was examining. Amenaru had his own scanner pointed at strange rock formation, the likes of which dotted the thinly-forested landscape all over. Tucking his own scanner away into his pocket, Adell trotted to Amenaru, who was now scanning the rock formation more closely.
Adell: What did you find, Ensign?
Amenaru paused and checked his readings before showing Adell.
Amenaru: This isn't rock. In fact, this compound is very similar to what we detected from orbit.
Amenaru turned his scanner display toward Adell, who leaned in closely to check the readings. Satisfied, Adell's eyes traveled up the formation which towered high above his head.
Adell: We're looking for a liquid. Maybe this is what it looks like when it turns solid.
Before either of them could consider the unusual formation any further, a splash and an anguished growl emanated from behind them. Both turned to see Teren shaking mud from his foot.
Teren: Meyrow! I stepped in a hole and got mud on my tail!
Adell smirked and rolled his eyes while Teren tried to brush the muddy bits off his tail, only managing to smear it into his fur even further.
Adell: I'm sure you'll be fine, Lieutenant. Just keep watching out for potential threats.
Teren held his tail aloft, keeping it away from his muddy shoes and pant legs as he returned to his scanner.
Teren: Yes, Captain. Still nothing unusual to report.
Just before Adell returned his attention to the formation, he could hear Teren grumbling under his breath.
Teren: I just spent half an hour brushing this.
Smirking, Adell turned back to the formation and studied it closely, knocking on it a few times with his fist and scratching at it with his fingernails.
Adell: It sure does feel like rock, but your readings indeed show otherwise. These readings are a bit strange, though.
Amenaru looked upon Adell with eyebrow raised.
Amenaru: The computer can't seem to decide whether this is an artificial or natural formation.
Adell's eyes darted to Amenaru and back to the formation.
Adell: Very odd, isn't it? Anyway, good find. Where's Kit?
Both Adell and Amenaru started looking around until Amenaru pointed.
Amenaru: Over there.
Adell followed Amenaru's finger to where he was pointing and spied Kit not too far away taking pictures of another nearby formation.
Adell: Ensign Savea!
Kit jumped, nearly dropping his camera, and hastily gathered his belongings before coming to Adell.
Kit: Yes, Captain?
Adell reached into his bag and pulled out a small container.
Adell: Take some samples of this formation. The on-board scientists would like to study this.
Kit took the container and then reached into his own bag and pulled out a chisel.
Kit: How much do you need?
Adell: A few small chunks should do for now.
While kit got to work collecting samples, Adell stepped back and surveyed the formations around him. There were many scattered seemingly haphazardly around the area.
Amenaru: All this trouble over a compound.
Adell shrugged as he looked around for something else to scan.
Adell: The chemists on board seem to think that the compound we detected from orbit would make an incredibly strong glue. Unfortunately, they couldn't synthesize it in their labs. We need to find it in its natural state so that we can figure out how it's made. If we can't find any in liquid form, hopefully these dried samples will help.
Amenaru grimaced and swayed his head from side to side.
Amenaru: I can't wait to write my parents and tell them I was on an amazing adventure to find glue.
Adell chuckled, always appreciative of a good dose of sarcasm.
Adell: Ha! It can't be all excitement all the time. Just remember, adventure isn't always a load of fun like you see in books and movies. Take in the sounds, sights, and smells. Remember that you're going to be amongst the first sentient beings to set foot on new planets. Never forget that you're building a foundation for others to follow. Maybe this planet will be the next one that Carpathia colonizes if we manage to figure out why it's completely surrounded by asteroids.
Adell glanced up at the sky, which was speckled with rocks barely big enough to see, though he knew were much larger and more numerous than it appeared on the surface. Amenaru, however, smiled as he continuously swept the ground with his scanner.
Amenaru: Sounds pretty good when you put it like that.
Adell averted his eyes from the sky just before a particularly large rock passed in front of the sun, momentarily shading everyone.
Adell: Every day you can live in peace is a good day.
Kit approached from behind, container of dried glue in his hands.
Kit: Will this be enough, Captain?
Adell took the container from Kit and examined it.
Adell: This will be fine. Go ahead and put this in your pack.
Adell handed the container back to Kit and he placed it in his backpack.
Teren: Captain, something's moving underground.
Right away, the ground around them started pulsating, especially around the mud puddle that Teren had stepped in earlier. Insinctively, everyone snatched up their backpacks in case they had to make a fast getaway. While they carefully eyeballed the ground, Kit pulled out his own scanner.
Adell: Lava?
Teren: Unlikely. There's no extreme heat and the movements do not follow any natural pattern. This is likely a life form.
Adell: Let's start making our way back to the shuttle, slow and steady. Hopefully, that way, we won't antagonize anything.
Everyone huddled together and started moving away from the still-pulsating ground, which was now heaving more than ever and they could hear strange squirty noises emanating from below. Soon they discovered that either what was under the ground was following them, or it was everywhere, for no matter how far away they moved, the ground was always moving. Finally, through one of the holes, a blue mass began to emerge, small at first, but rapidly expanding as more of it breached the surface.
The group watched in rapt attention, still moving away, as the blue mass finally squirted entirely out of the hole, revealing some sort of bouncy blob monster. It was more or less round and also firm, able to bounce and roll around, which it did with great enthusiasm. In the center of the mass was something that resembled a rudimentary face, possibly eyeballs and a mouth of some sort, though the features were vague and ill-defined, making it difficult to determine.
Teren: More are coming.
The others, focused as they were on the blue jelly in front of them, did not notice that there were more, at least a dozen, also emerging from the ground. Kit still scanned, moving with the group, and all watched and worried as the blobs rapidly surrounded the group. As they bounced and rolled merrily around them, they emitted many strange sloshy, squirty and farty noises.
Adell: Slow and steady isn't working. Teren, your opinion. Should we run?
Teren was ready to answer in the affirmative, but did not have the chance, as one of the creatures suddenly stopped bouncing and sucked in its face, as though it were taking a deep breath.
Teren: Look out!
Kit looked up from his scanner just in time to see the creature suddenly fire a large, boogery projectile directly at him. He only had just enough time to cover his face when Teren leaped in front of him, taking the full shot, and a few more, directly in the face. Teren flopped to the ground, attempting to pull the sticky substance from his face while Amenaru pulled out a weapon. Adell immediately pushed Amenaru's arm down.
Adell: No! Do not fire unless absolutely necessary. For now, run!
Adell scooped Teren into his arms and hoisted him on his shoulders and they all darted off in the direction of the shuttle.
Commissioned art in this episode from:
Jenova87
Zelbunnii
Thatwildmary
All city pictures from SimCity 4
