As Miro's consciousness gradually returned, he struggled to make sense of his surroundings as a wave of disorientation engulfed him. His mouth tasted of copper, and his eyes struggled to adjust to the steel room he was in. His legs and arms had still not regained feeling and he felt a panic that this might be his current state.

            Where am I? he wondered in anguish, his thoughts echoing through the void.

            As his eyes adjusted, the cold metal room was a far cry from the vivid dreams that had held him through the years of hibernation.  Slowly.. ever so slowly, his senses began to return. The taste in his mouth from the sleep that had been extended far being the extended timeframe lingered.

            Remember your training, he thought, forcing his racing heart to calm. You're still in the pod.

            He tried to draw strength into his weak, numb limbs and fought the invisible constraints of the paralysis induced by suspended animation. He strained his aching muscles with effort to pry open the pods lid. He did not wait for the ejection cycle to complete.

            As his pod opened, the cool air from inside hit the warmer air of the ship and created a mist as he emerged.

            Clumsily he staggered from the pod and took in his surroundings.

            "Welcome back, Miro," a synthesized voice greeted him – the ship's AI, programmed to monitor hibernation cycles. "I trust your journey was... pleasant?"

            "Feels like I've been asleep for a lifetime." Miro rasped, his throat raw from disuse.

            "You may wish to take a moment to reacquaint yourself with your senses." The ship replied. “You’re early but the others will be awake soon.”

            He leaned against his now empty pod, taking slow, deep breaths and focusing while the ship’s recycled air filled his lungs. He rubbed his eyes repeatedly as his vision began to adjust. The muted glow of the ships chamber bounced off the mist that swirled around him. This was about as good as his vision would get in the dim light of the ship’s chamber.

            "Better?" the ship asked, its tone almost teasing.

            "Marginally," Miro admitted, forcing a wry smile onto his lips despite the lingering discomfort. "But I'll manage."

            “Good. You will need to make sure your vitals are stable.” The ship said.

            Miro snatched a small metal container from a nearby shelf with unintended force. It held the resurgence pills designed to kick-start the body’s systems after extended periods of hibernation. He popped one into his mouth, and the tasteless capsule dissolved on his tongue almost instantly.

            “Initiate MediBand analysis” the ship said, suddenly sounding less human and more like the machine it actually was. It took control of the slim silver device around Miro’s wrist and the lights began to flash. Minutes passed and Miro watched the lights on his wrist with a slight anxiety.

            "Relax, Miro. Your vitals will normalize soon," the ship said murmured softly, sensing his tension and reverting back to the friendly human tone that it spoke with earlier.

            The lights on the MediBand flashed green and then remained fixed. ”MediBand analysis complete," the ship announced, back to the artificial tone once more. "Your vital signs are within normal limits. Welcome back, Miro."

            The chamber housed rows of identical cryogenic pods which contained members of his crew. Miro looked at the pods, which were identical to his own and lined up in rows upon rows in the huge chamber at the center of the vessel.

            “Ship, how many are awake?" Miro asked.

            "Several pods are beginning their ejection cycle, while others remain sealed. But, like I said before, you are early“ replied the ship.

            “Thank you” he said, not even considering the odd fact that he had been reanimated before anyone else. Instead he was interested in exploring the new planet that awaited outside the ship.

He looked once more at the chamber and the rows upon rows of pods, some of which contained his friends and people that he had met through the years of training prior to their journey.

            “Ship, keep monitoring the crew’s progress,” he said, as if the ship would have done otherwise. “I’ll be out there seeing where we can get started with the initial camp.”

            Miro cautiously stepped off the ship, looking forward to discovering what awaited him outside. The ground beneath his feet was uneven, blanketed in a thick layer of bioluminescent organisms that cast a gentle glow, casting eerie shadows upon the jagged rocks jutting from the surface. Each step required careful negotiation as Miro traversed the unfamiliar terrain. All while the otherworldly light danced around him, imbuing his experience with a surreal quality.

            Utilizing his portable environmental analyzer, Miro began recording data on the planet's atmosphere and surroundings. The device displayed temperature, atmospheric composition, and radiation levels, all crucial factors in determining the habitability of this new world.

            The analyser displayed its readings. Atmosphere composition: 78% Nitrogen, 20% Oxygen, 1% Argon, and traces of other gases. Temperature: 15 degrees Celsius. Radiation levels: slightly above Earth-normal.

            "Breathable air and suitable temperature... That's a relief," Miro said to himself. He put the radiation levels to the back of his mind as a mental note to come back to later.

            Carefully removing his helmet, he allowed the alien air to caress his face for the first time. Taking a deep breath, he felt the air both refreshing and strange, a medley of novel scents and flavors tantalizing his senses. He picked up on the faint aroma of unfamiliar flora, stirring a sense of wonder. However, the scan showed that the radiation levels were slightly elevated, though not dangerously so. Miro still mentally noted the need to closely monitor these levels as they continued their exploration, ensuring their new home would not conceal any hidden perils.

            As Miro's eyes gradually adapted to the peculiar twilight and distinctive glow that enveloped him, his thoughts inevitably turned to Earth. With a heavy sigh, he recognized the importance of establishing communication and reporting their successful arrival. Reaching for the compact device attached to his suit, his fingers fumbled slightly as he activated its interface. The screen flickered to life, but instead of the anticipated connection to Earth, Miro was confronted with a disquieting silence.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

"Come on, damn it," he muttered under his breath, his finger hovering over the call button. "Please, just give me a sign."

            "Is this just a glitch?" he thought, attempting to suppress the mounting unease within him. "Or could it be something worse? No, it must be temporary," he reassured himself. The prospect that something more severe could be at play was too overwhelming to accept in his current state.

            He resolved to inform his crew of the communication issue and try again later, hoping that the connection would be restored and the disconcerting silence would fade away.

Despite his optimism, a persistent thought lingered in the back of his mind. "What if we really are cut off from Earth?" he wondered. The possibility that the absence of communication with Earth might have unforeseen consequences for both himself and the rest of the crew as they ventured further into the unfamiliar environment weighed heavily on him. He couldn't help but hope that answers would soon be found and the unsettling silence would be replaced by the comforting voice of home.

            As Miro explored the area around their landing site, he marveled at the diverse plant life that flourished in this alien world. The flora displayed a stunning range of colors and shapes, with some plants having leaves resembling paper cutouts, exhibiting jagged edges and vibrant colors that contrasted with the subdued tones of the landscape. Miro collected samples of the flora, storing them securely in his backpack for further analysis, while also scanning the area for any signs of water sources or mineral deposits that could benefit their colony.

            As his exploration continued, he noticed subtle indications of the presence of fauna on the planet. Occasional rustling of leaves or distant calls suggested that they were not alone in this new world. Miro proceeded cautiously, hoping to catch a glimpse of the creatures that inhabited the planet while also remaining vigilant against any potential threats. He felt a sense of excitement at the prospect of encountering alien life, even as he understood the risks involved in facing the unknown.

            Miro paused in his observations as an unusual sound filled the air. He looked up just in time to see a passenger craft streaking across the sky. The craft's unique flight method captivated him. It seemed to glide and weave through the air with an almost organic grace, adorned with iridescent patterns that shimmered in the perpetual twilight. A series of thin, flexible wings extended from its sides, fluttering and adjusting to the wind currents with astonishing precision.

"What the hell?" he muttered to himself. The sight of the craft served as a stark realization for Miro that the crew’s initial plans for preparing the planet for colonization would need to be reevaluated. This was not a pristine, untouched world waiting to be discovered. Rather this was a place with an established civilization and advanced technology, different from what had been described before the crew’s departure. This revelation created an even greater sense of urgency regarding communication with Earth, as expectations crumbled and questions flooded his mind like a dam had burst. As the craft disappeared into the distance, Miro's mind raced with concerns about the planet's inhabitants and what challenges they might pose to him and his crew.

            As Miro stood there, grappling with the implications of the sight he had just witnessed, he saw a crew member stepping off the ship. It was Lena, the crew's botanist. Her eyes widened as she took in the strange, bioluminescent landscape surrounding them. She had likely reviewed projection data about the planet's possible flora and fauna, but seeing it all firsthand was an entirely different experience for her as well. In fact, Miro was beginning to realize that a lot of what he was seeing was different to the projection data.

            Adjusting her environmental suit, Lena approached Miro, who was still watching the sky where the passenger craft had vanished.

            "Did you see that?" Miro asked, his voice barely concealing the apprehension he felt.

            "Yeah, I did," Lena replied, her voice filled with wonder. "It's... incredible. It means there's an advanced civilization here. Someone obviously messed up the briefing."

            Miro nodded in agreement, still deep in thought. "This changes everything. Any plans to set up a colony are out the window."

            As he spoke, he noticed that Lena was not paying attention to his response. Instead, her eyes were scanning the alien environment. However, Miro understood and empathized with her distraction, as he, too, was experiencing the same overwhelming sensations in this new world.

            There was not much in the way of conversation in the following hours. As both recovered from their extended hibernation and tried to come to grips with the environment they were experiencing, conversations would often start but not finish, sentences would trail off, or they would suddenly snap back to reality and realize they had been talking to themselves for an extended period of time.

            Despite the disjointed nature of their exchanges, Miro was glad to see Lena as the first one to emerge from the ship. Their overlapping professions had allowed them to bond before the ship's departure. Miro recalled the conversations they had shared about how their collaboration could contribute to the success of the colony. Seeing her familiar face now had put him at ease amidst the overwhelming barrage of sensory input from their new environment.

            As they ventured away from the ship, they noticed a strange glimmering barrier in the air that surrounded them.

            "Look, over there," Lena whispered, pointing to the faint shimmer in the distance. Miro squinted, trying to make out the source. He couldn't resist reaching out to touch it, but he was caught off guard when a sudden surge of energy knocked him back.

            “Shit!” Miro exclaimed, rubbing his arm where the shock had struck him.

            "It looks like some sort of confinement field," Lena deduced, with a look of worry. “We might be trapped."

            “That explains the radiation levels, I guess” Miro said to himself, mentally checking off a box.

            As they stood there, contemplating their predicament, a deep rumble filled the air. They looked up to witness a mysterious aircraft descend from the sky, landing just outside the barrier. The vessel's design was simultaneously alien and familiar. A group of beings emerged from the craft, clad in uniforms and carrying advanced weapons.

            The two exchanged anxious glances, realizing that their situation had become far more complicated. Their original goal of establishing a colony on an uninhabited planet was now a secondary concern, as they urgently needed to understand the intentions of these locals and figure out how to communicate with them.

            Miro and Lena observed the approaching soldiers with great interest, carefully examining their features. Although they had anticipated the possibility of encountering non-intelligent extraterrestrial beings, they were taken aback not only by the fact of an advanced civilisation but also by the striking resemblance between the approaching creatures and themselves. The armor clad bodies and visors which covered the faces of the soldiers gave nothing away, but their body language conveyed a sense of wariness rather than aggression.

"Do you think they could be... like us?" Lena whispered. She didn’t know if this was a stupid question but asked it anyway.

            Miro furrowed his brow, considering the possibility. "I don't know, but they certainly resemble us. What could that mean?"

            Lena nodded, her eyes never leaving the approaching figures. "What if they have some connection to us? Some shared history we're unaware of?" She felt as though she was propagating some debunked conspiracy theory as she suggested this.

            As they pondered the possibilities, one of the soldiers raised a hand in a gesture that seemed to indicate they meant no harm. The Earthlings hesitated for a moment, then cautiously returned the gesture, hoping to convey their own peaceful intentions.

            The soldiers exchanged a few words amongst themselves, their language foreign yet somehow familiar to Miro and Lena's ears. As the conversation unfolded, Miro realized with a start that he was picking up bits and pieces of the language.

            “They are human!” Miro said louder than he expected himself to. “But this technology is completely different to anything we have on Earth.” He went back to whispering.

            As the soldiers lowered their weapons and began to deactivate the containment field, Miro and Lena knew that they were about to embark on a journey of discovery that was completely different to the one they had signed up for before they had departed Earth. While many others uploaded their consciousness into the Central Hub, Miro and his crew were among a small percentage of the population with both the skillset and willingness to embark on an interstellar journey to discover and colonize a new planet. A real planet not a digital creation. Even that was now dashed and a new, even more exciting scenario was just beginning to present itself.