Chapter 1

It’s only been a week or so since I landed on this planet. The committee wanted to deploy the global force to these worlds, thankfully the institution stepped in and convinced them that the human race would fare better if we would send in people with expertise on certain aspects of a world. For the next twenty years, we had been sending cartographers, topographers, geologists and more in groups. It was incredible that we could study these worlds before they were plagued by the destruction of our greed. My uncle had been the head of the institute since that day, the day where we were able to convince the imperialistic force that polluted our race. I had just turned twenty-five and had been working under the brilliant minds we could produce. I didn’t receive any favoritism from my uncle and I feel like that made me grow into a better person while studying under him and the others. Right before I was heading to my room my uncle had sent me a message to meet him in the library. Still in a good mood from our celebration, we had managed to send our group to three habitable moons that had been orbiting one massive terrestrial planet. The library still had a few people, mostly the elders who still had their minds racing from the books that sparked their drive. I had seen a glow from a light source coming from one of the study rooms and continued there. There he was, sitting at the head of the table with a book sitting in front as he sipped his usual black coffee, his eyes seeing me before I could see him as he used his foot to slightly kick the chair out as to signal to me to sit. His smile was always warm and he was always caring to me and to those who shared his love for learning, “Janus, I hope you enjoyed the party and thank you for meeting with me on short notice.” Eager to sit, “Are you kidding me uncle? I always hope for our meetings. The party was good but you know that I’m not one for such things. My mind always races to the next discovery.” With a reassured smirk he set aside the pleasantries “You are well aware that my small team is the one to pick out the worlds to the committee and how we always get funding for our explorations, we have many worlds that we agreed to hide from them so as to not ruin them.” As I listen, I nod in agreement “I figured that was being done, you don’t want the colonizations to destroy what was once beautiful. I understand, you know my thinking is similar to yours.”.

The silence soon filled the room as he sipped his coffee and then locked his eyes to me, they were filled with wonder, hope and curiosity. “The reason why I bring up that topic is because ... I have been doing as much research as I can on a terrestrial world much like what Earth used to be. A vast ocean hugging two massive continents on each side of the planet.” His finger taps the book, “I’m giving you my journal, inside is everything that I have been able to detail, however, it will only help with the knowledge you already have.”. I lean back and give a confused look “Why are you telling me this? This sounds like a world that you wanted to hide but now you’re telling me that we are going to send a mission there?” Leaning in towards me, resting his face on his loose fist and his eyes looking up as he usually does when he ponders until he finds what he wants to say. “No, I want to send you there. You will be the first human to experience these paradisiacal terrains. I am far too old and I won’t be able to go and have my absence go unnoticed.” His head tilted as if he was awaiting a response, “Uncle I haven’t gone on an exploration yet and ... and...” the weight of his hand resting on my shoulder “I know you’re nervous, but it’s because I have known exactly the kind of person you are and I want it to be you to be the one to explore this in person as my mind has been while I can only see it from afar.” A deep breath escapes my lips, I feel such approval and my recognition of character feels like I have been living a life as a good person. “I-I’ll do it. Frankly I am beyond excited and can’t wait to bring you back everything I could find.” He gave me a smile, but something seemed off, I wasn’t sure. “Good ... enjoy these days as they go, you’ll be leaving in a month.”.

That should’ve been the moment that I understood what he meant. The smooth whistling of the leaves and the crackling of the fire of the camp behind me. My eyes are lost as they become engulfed in the view of this beautiful ocean and as I turn to the side, the branches of trees shift in the wind. “He really picked out a gorgeous lush planet.”, finishing my hot tea and standing from a rock that I had decreed my seat. Turning around and walking back to my little camp area, my dome of a tent, it seems like it fits the area as I go inside and prepare for the night. Deep into this night I’m unable to sleep, feeling a bit hot and bothered as I roll around in my padded sleeping area. “Fuck, this might be the only negative being here is that I’m the only man here and of course I’m feeling aroused...”, my thoughts interrupted as I see a humanoid silhouette behind the mesh of my doorway. My heart racing and breath rapidly changing as I’m the only human here, so this has to ... no this must be a native to this planet. I slowly start to stand out of my bed, so thankful that it makes no creaks as to alert them. In my worry, a soft feeling rushes over me as I continue to slowly walk over to my spear, so glad that it was standard issue to give spears for exploration. I can see what seems to be a finger in the silhouette trace and touch the mesh entry way, my mind fighting to be between fear and tranquility and it makes me confused in this predicament. Lowering myself to the zipper at the bottom and quietly grabbing hold of it, a deep breath as this may be a fight for my life as I brace myself. In one swift motion I zip open the entry and yell out as I move my spear to an offensive position. My eyes were looking for a grand threat but maybe the moonlight made it seem bigger than what it was.