With Kevin looking through everything you would want looked through in the ship's logs to try to find out what happened, and the ship landed in such an intentional way, you decided it would be best to explore the nearby area.

"It seems Charlie's miracles continue, the planet's atmosphere will be just fine for us." David mused, leaning against a wall and staring out the window.

"That's right." Charlie added, handing you a radio with a knowing grin, "I suspect you'll want one of these, Captain."

"And one of these." David tossed you a rifle.

Your attention shifted to the airlock as you heard it open and saw a familiar face already returning from a short jaunt outside. "Just getting some early bio samples." Amy explained, carrying a few containers to her lab.

You all did a quick radio check, and a few hisses later left you all outside the ship. The foliage was thick, making every step a battle of machetes and vines. But so far, despite that, there were no signs of bugs or any other non-plant life.

"Maybe they're too small to see." David reasoned, sensing that your thoughts would likely correlate in that regard.

"Or too big." Charlie shuddered, looking up through the canopy.

David chuckled "Uncharacteristically lacking in optimism now that you're out of the ship, huh?"

"I just didn't expect the place to be so damn..thick. No room to move, it's just covered in plants everywhere." Charlie explained, slashing violently at a particularly stubborn vine.

"I hear ya. I'm not a fan either. Do either of you see anything interesting? If not I say we head back soon to pick a different direction." David reasoned.

"Nothing." You responded, and Charlie said the same and looked at you. You both turned around only to stop. The plants you'd all stomped and slashed through were still and pristine as they had been before you went through. All cut branches were restored, all broken twigs combined.

You and David raised your rifles and crouched a little, Charlie soon following suit and getting behind you both. "Well the ones we've just cut haven't been repaired, so I guess they won't regrow through us."

"They were completely silent...what does that mean?" David kept his rifle raised and scanned the foliage for any sign of movement.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

"Thankfully the ship is still in sight, all we have to do is head back. Charlie, watch behind us while we cut ahead, alright? Tell us what you see." You command.

"Will do."

You and David began to cut your way back to the ship, the sound of metal slicing through life echoing through the alien jungle. After a few minutes, you turned to check on Charlie and saw the way completely regrown, Charlie nowhere in sight.

"Charlie?" You shouted, but to no response. You shouted it louder, but the forest remained as quiet and serene as ever. You looked back to where David had been and saw nothing but the foliage you had just watched him cut.

You quickly cut your way to where he had been and saw his rifle and machete on the ground where he had been standing. Your breathing quickened and you sheathed your own machete and ran as quickly as you could through the thicket, bearing the cuts and scratches to get back as quickly as possible. You opened the door in a panic, stepping in and closing it as fast as possible, catching your breath as the airlock opened the inner door.

Your heart dropped as you saw them, David and Charlie, looking at you with worried expressions.

"What took you so long? And where did you..find...that..." Charlie's question faded as he recognized the weapon.

You looked at the gun rack and saw an identical copy of the rifle you were holding. One who's model you distinctly remember being unique on the ship.

"I saw you two disappear out there, what happened?" You asked.

David's brow furrowed, "We didn't go out there. You insisted on going alone, in case anything dangerous was out there."

You shook your head. "I wouldn't do that, it wouldn't make sense, on average it would be better to deal with those kind of situations together, at the very least you all know I wouldn't.."

They looked at you with increasingly troubled expressions. "Uhh...captain?"

David suddenly grabbed a gun off the rack and pointed it at you. "I don't know if it's actually you and you're deluded or what, but you'd better drop that gun."

You took a deep breath and set it down. "Get into the..well..do you know where?" Charlie asked.

"Yeah, the brig is down that hall." you pointed confidently, recalling all the times you thought you'd never need something so-

"N-no, actually, t-the brig is.." Charlie stepped back and grabbed a gun as well. "W-what are you?"

"Step away from the gun." David commanded, pointing his rifle up at your chest more confidently and you complied, stepping back slowly. "What the fuck. Our captain went out there an hour ago, what did you do to him?"

"If I'd done anything, you could have seen it on the...cameras..." You hesitantly reasoned, realizing they might not have the cameras you recall.

"Shit..it can't be reasoned with. We have no idea what it wants or what it can do." David placed his finger on the trigger and took a deep breath. "You're going to get the fuck off this ship. If you come back without the captain, we will kill you. I don't care if you understand or not."

Charlie just watched with fearful eyes, keeping his weapon aimed at you.

"What about...Amy...Kevin..."

"Get. Off."

You slowly stepped back until you were in the airlock and David carefully approached and quickly pressed the button to close the inner door and open the outer one.