In the desolate, windy plain and massive cannons, a massive ship descended gracefully. Jagged terrashards, sharp-edged formations resembling colossal needles, protruded from the ground. Despite being several feet long and extremely sturdy mineral formation. The formations crumbled as they failed to scratch the ship's sturdy frame upon landing. The vessel touched down without a scratch, and its lower section behind the landing limbs opened like a door. A stairway emerged, connecting the ship to the solid ground. From within emerged individuals clad in black and red high-tech suits. These heavily armored figures swiftly fanned out, assuming strategic positions as they scanned the surroundings.

 

A commanding sound echoed from one of the armored suits, immediately capturing everyone's attention. It resonated with authority, and Gobo's voice cut through the air.

 

"Listen up, everyone. Alex entered the eye of the storm nearly 5 hours ago. The storm turned a red rating at its fiercest, and we're now dead center. Alex's signal vanished completely, like a ghost."

 

The revelation sent shockwaves through the group. Urgency filled the air as most rushed to assist, heeding Gobo's call and absorbing the gravity of the news. Speculations and hushed discussions buzzed among those in the armored suits. The history of Zep-7 had no record of a planetary storm abruptly dissipating, and the fact that Alex's fate was intertwined with the event only intensified the unease.

 

Gobo picked up on the undercurrent of fear and speculation. His emotions surged on behalf of Alex, his pride and joy. The whispers reached his ears, further stoking his anger.

 

"What's the muttering about?" Gobo's voice pierced the tension as he gestured toward the crowd. His tone dripped with frustration, amplified by the howling wind.

 

"Do you truly suspect Alex of this? Just because he's human? Our Alex?" His voice swelled, resonating with power as he recalled their shared history. "The one to whom you owe your lives?" Gobo's voice reverberated, the urgency of the moment lending force to his words. Time was of the essence, and Gobo had no intention of engaging in a futile argument. They had all chosen to be here, and if they wished to leave, the ship provided an avenue of escape. Most of all gobo thoughts were clear on this matter.

 

I don’t trust them in the least. Not with this matter. 

 

"Those who wish to depart are free to do so." Gobo's finger indicated the waiting ship. "Stay aboard and await us. I won't hold you responsible. As for those who are willing to stay and help save Alex, follow me." With a determined pivot, Gobo shifted his attention to the landscape, his gaze sweeping the surroundings.

 

Hesitation marked a few, but most adhered to Gobo's lead. Out of the original 23, now only 7 stood in solidarity with him. Gobo acknowledged them, then turned his attention to the terrain. A scanner attached to his right suit arm emitted beams of light, probing for any signs of Alex.

 

The imposters were among them. They are tagging along huh?

 

Gobo was skeptical of the group that joined him. Beside Gobo stood Rody, a steadfast ally. A few others followed those who had earned Gobo's trust over the years. But he led them to believe that. Gobo was well aware that since a decade ago, some of Alex's recruits had been questionable. The predicament was complex. He couldn't make a move without knowing the identity and intentions of those in question. If they were operatives of the Frontier Federation, his actions could be jeopardized. Observing Alex had been their modus operandi, a stance Gobo mirrored. He observed their observation, preparing for the inevitable confrontation.

 

Some things are best left undisclosed. Alex, if aware, would have inadvertently alerted them, leading to their capture.

Gobo grappled with this truth.

 

I can bear everything, yet I can’t see my adopted son being a victim of his past that he has no connections to. 

 

"I need to act now. Things will spiral out of control at this rate" Gobo muttered under his breath. A sequence of beeps broke the silence, drawing everyone's focus to the rear. One member had detected traces of Alex's bits of blood and flesh. The scanner's calculations pointed in a general direction, igniting a sense of purpose within the group. Without hesitation, they embarked on the trail, guided by the faint remnants of Alex's presence.

 

---

 

In a huge cavern, the soft glow from glowing minerals lit up the place. Alex's eyes blinked open, a coughing fit pulling him back to reality. He jolted upright, one hand clutching his throat as he fought for breath. The pain that ripped through him was like nothing he'd ever felt. His eyes twitched from the agony, and amid this torment, he hurled up a weird goo in convulsive bursts. It went on until he thought he couldn't take it any longer. Agony shot through his lungs and throat, his muscles going haywire.

 

When the pain finally ebbed away, bone-deep exhaustion took over Alex's body, leaving him totally wiped out. Nausea and dizziness swirled around, and with a pounding headache, he collapsed on the rocky ground, facing his own vomit puddle, and drifted off into unconsciousness.

 

This pain is on a whole other level. I feel so worn out as if I've been working non-stop in a minefield for weeks. I've emptied out everything inside me. What the heck just went down?

 

His mind grappled with the weird events. Just a short while ago, he'd been eaten up by some weird creature that turned to liquid, and now he seemed fine. It felt like a struggle to even open or close his eyes, scared that if he did, he'd just never wake up again. Fear of a pointless death and a stubborn determination to stay alive were the only things holding him together. He was having none of this, not in such a dumb way.

 

Time stretched out as sunlight filtered through the opening where the cone thing had been.

 

"Alex, you've got some insane resilience. Most pass out after going through what you did. Obviously, I did the procedure so…." a voice echoed inside his head, like a distant sound blending with his thoughts. For a moment, he wondered if he'd totally lost his marbles.

 

"Now I'm even hearing stuff. What's next, hallucinations?" he mumbled. It was the standard gig in movies he saw. The development was obvious.

 

Alex was never the kind to mull over the consequences of his situation. Survival was his main game, and he'd roll with anything to make it. His vibe was oddly chill and accepting, given the crazy stuff that had just gone down. Maybe he'd been a bit nuts all along. These thoughts swirled around as the voices in his head got clearer.

 

Even though he wasn't expecting much, he decided to hang in there and wait for help. Realistically, he knew no one would come charging into the middle of a storm to rescue him in some far-off spot in a deep tunnel.

 

Nah, that's just bonkers... wait—

 

Flat on the ground, Alex picked up on strange sounds like creaks and metallic noises, nothing like anything natural. Echoes of metal and machinery reached him. It was a sign that this was his chance to get noticed. Hope was faint, but he grabbed onto it. It could be a miner that found him by chance? It was a possibility. Making a struggling scream.

 

“Help!” screamed with as much strength as he could muster but what he caught the attention of was not something he planned for. His eyes met with the creature that emerged from the dark tunnel leading to the exit. It appeared to be an amalgamation of technology and organic parts – razor-sharp metallic teeth and eyes enhanced with superior syonic technology. The creature had the body shape of a terrestrial mammal resembling the native species of Zep-7.

 

At first glance, it is undoubtedly a Crystalith, a silicon-based lifeform known for feeding on terrashards.

 

Caught off guard, Alex was astounded by the advanced level of technology integrated into this creature's victim. With two decades of experience as a mechanic, he could instantly discern the impressive enhancements the creature possessed and after looking at them for a moment he was taken back. 

 

Syonic-enhancements? Looks like lv5-lv6 tech. fuck!

 

Alex knew it was something that was very dangerous if it was anything above lv4. The creature's chest and abdomen seemed to be of organic origin, yet intertwined with exposed machinery, including a beating heart confined within a cage of metal. It was clearly in a stage of rapid evolution.

 

Alex was sure of one thing. This was the most unexpected encounter he didn’t want. A thing that existed on all planets and regions regardless of habitats or not. A danger to society and any intelligent life. It was a pest that everyone had to deal with and its origins date back even before the first species became a multi-planet species.

 

A Techno-Chronophage. Judging by its appearance, it was certainly not in a preliminary stage. Looks like I'm on the menu tonight. However, I've heard that once they fuse with a host, they lose interest in normal organic matter. They're only after technology.

 

Amidst the chaos, Alex's mind raced, attempting to process the situation. Even if he stripped himself of all the gadgets and tech he carried, there was no way a Techno-Chronophage would spare him. Survival was paramount. His mind raced during those fleeting moments of encounter, though time wasn't on his side. Rallying his inner voice, he attempted to inspire himself.

 

"Get the hell up! You're a damn starship mechanic, born to chart through the ' cosmos. Don't you dare give in now, you son of a bitch! Get the hell up! This isn’t where it's gonna end!

 

Alex's legs trembled, not in the grip of fear, but under the weight of exhaustion that engulfed him after he had emptied his stomach. The desire to rise was fierce within him. Battling heavy breaths and relentless nausea, he pushed himself upright with sheer willpower, his balance precarious, stumbling intermittently. The alternative—being consumed like a helpless feast—was unthinkable. He'd sooner rip his own heart out and crush it with his bare hands. Gobo himself, he mused, would come back from the beyond just to wallop him for such a pathetic demise. A twisted smile tugged at his lips as he contemplated his absurd predicament.

 

"Will Gobo forgive me for this level of stupidity? No damn way. I'm not letting it end like this."

 

The declaration was as much for himself as it was a challenge hurled at fate. His voice, though ragged, carried a defiant determination. His fingers clenched into fists, nails biting into his palms. His heart pounded not just from exertion but from the surge of emotion that coursed through him. With a bitter chuckle, he muttered aloud,

"I want to ask Gobo that myself."

 

There were just two things he had inherited from Gobo, two things that had etched their influence into his very being – their unwavering pride and self-confidence. With a determined fire igniting within him, he fought his way to his feet, activating his prime tool. The creature sensed his resurgence, poised to strike. Ignoring the tension in his muscles and the waves of nausea, Alex's fingers tapped the screen and took out the one thing that he thought was of use. Materializing a massive wrench a tool he rarely used due to its weight and sheer size that was half the height of his 6.2 ft, now his lifeline.

 

"Bite down hard, because I'm turning your teeth into damn souvenirs!" His voice edged with defiance, shattered the silence. Clamping onto the wrench's handle, he swung it with all his might. The battle for survival had begun, and he met it head-on, a resolute grin on his face. He hadn't entered this nightmare to be devoured. No, he had a life waiting for him, a father to return to.