Outer space is the infinite expanse of stars, galaxies, planets, and moons; beautiful as it may be, Micheal Phillips knew it also had its negatives. Living on the Star Finder taught him never to take air, sound, and weather for granted. A middle-ground perk he learned was weightlessness.
Though currently, he and the entire ship were in quite a predicament. Where he learned too late that some alien species exist that can entire a foreign body and drain it dry.
Michael was the only one alive, sitting alone in the dark corner of his room. He was unsure when it started, but he knew it began when the first person collapsed and then the next.
Those people were sent to the medical wing, where they could not contain this affliction since they had no idea what it was.
While observing the bodies, I noticed they were nothing more than faded leather. Eyes sunken and void of color. This ‘thing’ would slither out of the victims’ mouths.
It was miniature, violet, and made of ooze.
The ooze can turn itself into a haze. It can easily be inhaled in that form, quickly entering the body and beginning its feeding frenzy.
Micheal encountered this firsthand when he came in contact with a crew member who had been infected while checking for survivors. Now, as he looked down at his shriveled legs, he knew soon it would make its way through his main artery.
By leaving this recorded log, anyone who accesses the files will stay clear of this ship and its crew. Space that he initially thought was beautiful now wished it remained a mystery.
“Sir, there has been an update to the Star Finder crew’s database,” a woman with a high bun and glasses said. Swiveling in her chair, she faced a man sitting behind many screens. He looked over at her.
“Go ahead and play the recording,” he pushed himself away from his desk as she clicked on the file. A big screen in the middle of the room showed Michael, who coughed and began talking as he sat in the corner of his room.
“My name is Michael Phillips, and I am a Star Finder recovery division crew member. This ooze infiltrated us.” he paused and moved around as if in pain.
“I-it can change its shape, turning into this…haze. When it enters inside, this thing siphons everything—leaving nothing but a leathery husk. I don’t know where it came from or if it was because of the storm, but please, I beg you. Stay away from the Star Finder! There are no survivors here.”
The footage ended, turning to static. The woman turned to face the man, who sighed and tapped his fingers on his desk.
“Do as he says. There will be no retrieval if another crew goes through the same. We will figure out a way to dispose of the incident,” the man behind the desk told her.
She nodded and warned other crews not to enter the same area as the Star Finder when a call rang out in the room. As she issued the warning, the man behind the screens answered the ringing phone.
“This is base,” the man said, listening to the voice on the other end telling him they had come across the idle Star Finder floating in space. He rose to his feet, slamming a hand onto his desk, panicked.
“Don’t engage! Turn around!” he yelled, startling his female companion.
The voice on the other end went silent before he asked why since they had already sent a team over to investigate. Slumping back into his chair, he frowned, gripping the phone tightly.
“Then there is nothing that I can do for you. I’m sorry,” he told them before returning the phone to the receiver. It was too late to save any of the crew.
Whatever this thing was, they were at its mercy now.