Chapter 3: The Missing Engineer

Captain Amelia Larkin's brow furrowed in concern as Lieutenant Jack Turner informed her of the missing crew member. The shattered landscape of the glass planet suddenly felt more treacherous, and the fragile hope they had found moments ago began to fade.

"Are you certain, Lieutenant?" Captain Larkin asked, her voice tinged with a mix of worry and urgency. "Check again, make sure no one has strayed far from the crash site. Could Bree have gotten separated during the crash or wandered off unknowingly? We can't afford to lose anyone in this unforgiving environment."

Lieutenant Turner nodded, his eyes scanning the crew manifest once more. He retraced his steps mentally, recalling the chaotic moments after the crash and the subsequent gathering of survivors. With a sinking feeling, he confirmed his initial suspicion.

"I've checked twice Captain. Bree P. Orin, an engineer from our crew, is indeed missing," Lieutenant Turner confirmed, his voice tinged with a sense of responsibility. He shook his head, a sense of urgency etched on his face. "I did a thorough search of the crash site, and there was no sign of Bree. It's as if she vanished."

"We must locate them as soon as possible."

Dr. Emily Carter, who had been examining a peculiar cluster of glass flowers nearby, turned her attention to the conversation. Concern etched across her features as she grasped the gravity of the situation.

"We can't leave anyone behind," Dr. Carter chimed in, her voice resolute. "We need to find Bree and ensure their safety. The shattered landscape and sharp plant life pose significant risks. Bree could be in immediate danger. The glass planet is an unforgiving place, and we must act swiftly."

Captain Larkin nodded, her mind racing with potential scenarios and the dangers that lay ahead. "Gather a search party, Lieutenant," she commanded. "We'll comb the crash site and its immediate surroundings. Bree can't have gone far, but we must find them quickly."

The crew members, already on high alert, rallied together, preparing themselves for the search and rescue mission. The gravity of the situation weighed heavily on their faces, a mixture of determination and worry. They equipped themselves with essential survival gear and communication devices to stay connected during the operation.

Captain Larkin addressed the group, her voice projecting strength and unity. "We have a missing crew member, Bree Orin. We will conduct a thorough search and rescue operation to locate her. Stay vigilant and prioritize safety. We cannot afford any more casualties."

As they ventured into the shattered landscape, their steps cautious and purposeful, the crew couldn't help but feel the weight of the glass planet's mysteries pressing upon them. The sharp blades of purple grass rustled in the wind, their whispering voices a constant reminder of the potential dangers that lurked in every corner.

One crew member joked, “Mirror’s can’t eat us, right?” The fear and fatigue finding its way into the man as the grass snapped under his metal boots.

His friend looked over, “What Mirrors?”

“You know, I can see my reflection in the grass like a mirror.”

Time seemed to stretch as the search party scoured the crash site, calling out Bree's name and checking every nook and cranny for any signs of their missing comrade. The shattered wreckage of the Vanguard loomed in the distance, a stark reminder of the challenges they faced.

Suddenly, a faint voice carried through the air. "Over here! I'm here!" A crackling voice pierced through the silence. "Captain... I'm here!"

The crew turned their heads, their gazes converging on a figure emerging from behind a jagged outcrop of glass. The search party followed the sound, their hearts pounding with a mix of relief and anticipation. As they neared the source of the voice, it was Bree P. Orin, disheveled and coated in a fine layer of dust, bruised and disheveled but alive.

Relief washed over the search party as they rushed to Bree's side, helping them to their feet. Captain Larkin's voice held a mix of gratitude and concern as she spoke. "Bree, thank goodness you're safe. What happened?"

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Bree's face lit up with a mix of gratitude and exhaustion as her crewmates reached her. Her's voice trembled slightly as they recounted their ordeal. "I... I got disoriented during the crash, Captain. I wandered off in a daze, but I managed to find this spot. I stumbled upon a small cavern hidden amidst the shattered glass. I took shelter there, hoping to regroup with the others. I thought I was lost for good."

Captain Larkin placed a comforting hand on Bree's shoulder, her voice filled with reassurance. "You did well to find shelter, Bree. We're a team, and we'll look out for each other in this unforgiving place. Let's get you back to the crash site and tend to your injuries."

The crew, their spirits lifted by Bree's safe return. They breathed a collective sigh of relief regrouped and made their way back to the wreckage. They knew that their journey on the glass planet would continue to test them, but with every challenge faced and conquered, their bond grew stronger.

As the rest of the search party started the walk back, the command officers hoovered together in the cave.

“Do you believe her story, Turner?” Captain Larkin’s voice carried a tone of skepticism.

“No, she was counted on our list, so how can she all of a sudden become dazed and walking off?”

That was when Dr. Carter cut in, worry plastered on her face, “Jack, Amelia, look.” Amelia and Jack exchanged concerned glances as Dr. Emily Carter pointed out the peculiar discovery in the cave. There was a strange sort of grass covered area, and under the dying plant life was something else. “Is that eggshells?”

They all exchanged puzzled glances. The presence of eggshells amidst the dying plant life raised a multitude of questions, adding an air of intrigue to the already mysterious glass planet.

Approaching cautiously, the command officers examined the peculiar finding. However, curiosity piqued, Captain Larkin cautiously approached the grass-covered area, kneeling to get a closer look. She brushed aside the withered plant life, revealing a cluster of fragmented eggshells scattered on the cave floor. The eggshells, cracked and weathered, hinted at the presence of something that had hatched within the confines of the cave.

"These are definitely eggshells," Captain Larkin confirmed, her voice hushed with a mix of intrigue and apprehension. "But what kind of eggs are these? And what does it have to do with Bree's sudden disappearance?"

It was an unexpected development, and their skepticism regarding Bree's disappearance deepened.

Lieutenant Turner crouched down beside Captain Larkin, his gaze fixed on the eggshells. "Could there be native life forms on this glass planet? Perhaps Bree stumbled upon something unexpected."

"Could these eggshells be related to Bree's sudden dazed state and wandering off?" Captain Larkin pondered aloud, her eyes darting between the remnants of the shells and the cave's surroundings.

Lieutenant Turner, always pragmatic, spoke with a hint of concern. "If Bree encountered something here that affected her state of mind, it could pose a significant threat to all of us. We need to proceed with caution. Let's not jump to conclusions just yet," he cautioned. "We need to gather more evidence and analyze these shells back on the ship. It's too early to determine what exactly we're dealing with."

Dr. Carter, her scientific mind buzzing with possibilities, interjected. "We need to collect samples and analyze these eggshells back on the ship. It might shed light on the origin and nature of the creatures that laid them."

Captain Larkin nodded, her voice firm with determination. "Agreed. Our priority is still getting back to the crash site and ensuring the safety of the entire crew. But we can't ignore this discovery. Let's gather what samples we can and continue our investigation once we've secured our base of operations."

Dr. Carter, ever the scientist, voiced her thoughts, as if she didn’t hear the captain’s words. "These eggshells seem to indicate the presence of a life form, perhaps one that hatches and influences the behavior of its surroundings. It's a fascinating possibility." Dr. Carter knelt and pulled out a scanner, studying the eggshells with a scientific curiosity that outweighed her unease. "The shape and size of these shells... They don't match any known species we've encountered before," she remarked, her voice laced with both excitement and concern. "We may have stumbled upon an entirely new form of life."

Jack looked the other command officers in the eyes and spoke in a cold, military officer voice that he rarely used, "We have stumbled upon a mystery within this glass planet. The eggshells found in the cave may hold the key to Bree's disappearance and the unique challenges we face here. We must remain vigilant and work together to uncover the truth."

Captain Larkin nodded, her voice firm with determination. "Agreed, Jack. Our priority is still getting back to the crash site and ensuring the safety of the entire crew. But we can't ignore this discovery. Let's gather what samples we can and continue our investigation once we've secured our base of operations." Her mind racing with possibilities. "You're right, Jack. We can't afford to make assumptions.”

The command officers carefully gathered a few fragments of the eggshells, placing them in a secure container. They marked the location of the cave, ensuring they could return later for a more thorough examination. As they made their way back to the crash site, the weight of their findings hung heavy in the air. The crew, still recovering from the crash and celebrating the safe return of their missing member, was unaware of the enigma unfolding in the depths of the cave.