Full of life, and a mystery

As you got under the canopy the light of the local star was blocked by the dense leaves, it managed to trickle through in some places but you were reduced to using night vision occasionally just to be able to get the full picture of the world around you. Already you had collected fifteen distinct plants, having been out for only thirty minutes so far that was quite an accomplishment. Jessie was constantly scanning the area with a wide range of modes, she'd already prevented you from getting pounced on several times by the local ambush predators residing in the trees, in one case shooting one down before it could jump you. You'd considered taking its corpse back for research but had decided against it, the giant hole through its middle would have made it an incomplete research subject.

As the two of you continued further into the woods the various sounds of the jungle faded into the background. The only reason you noticed them again was when they stopped. All at once. The trees still creaked around you but the calls and rustles of the unseen wildlife were gone. Replaced by an eerie silence. Jessie took notice at the same moment you did and raised her weapon, indicating for you to draw yours as well. Your hand was shaking slightly as you pulled it out, Jessie led you over to a boulder to take cover as you waited to observe whatever was going on.

As the seconds turned to minutes and nothing happened Jessie turned to you. As she looked at you she tilted her head as if awaiting a response. She'd obviously said something that hadn't gone through. You pulled out a small tablet meant for taking notes and held it out to her, relieved that it was working.

'Lost communications don't risk externals. Let's move back.' She quickly typed out looking away even as she did to see if whatever was causing this would materialize. It had been only four minutes since this had started, another six and a search would be sent out looking for you. You indicated your agreement with a hand signal and the two of you cautiously got up. Slowly making your way back the path you came you could suddenly hear again.

"Alpha-2 respond. I repeat Alpha-2 respond." You could hear the voice you recognized as your contact in Central. They obviously forgot to release the talk command as you heard them speak with someone beside them. "Nothing Lieutenant, Squad 2 is already suited up want me to put them on-" The voice cut off. "Alpha-2 are you there?" Your signal had obviously returned to their monitor.

"Central this is Alpha-2, we've got a dead zone just a few meters from our position. Cause unknown but natural unlikely. Over" Jessie replied, the second part of her statement sent a small shiver down your spine.

"Roger that, immediately return to base. The IAA is considering contesting. They'd be about three months out if they did but I wouldn't put it passed them to have a scouting party. Over." Central replied

"Returning to base but negative on IAA. Cutting off communications in a Lethal Authorized world is a direct violation of the Code, not to mention utterly stupid. If the IAA were willing to do it despite the first reason they certainly wouldn't have for the second." Your knowledge of military law was sketchy but Jessie seemed to know what she was talking about. "I caught some unusual heat signatures inside the zone as well. Over" She hadn't mentioned that to you yet and you looked over at the area you came from with a skeptical eye. Every horror movie you'd ever seen suddenly coming back to haunt you.

Central didn't respond right away, possibly because they were looking up the rule Jessie had just cited. "Understood, I'll get some of the scientists working on what might be causing that. I'm shortening your time to search interval to five minutes as well. Get back here quick. Out." Central cut off.

Jessie turned to you, "Lets get back quick, its like a freaking horror movie out here, glad you aren't a slut." She said, moving quickly but alertly as she led you back through the foliage. You welcomed the sounds of the forest, sometimes interrupted by Jessie raising her weapon and killing something in your path. Unlike on the way out you weren't going to waste any time on just avoiding the predators. The scientists back at base would be a bit annoyed but they hadn't just been through a patch of ground where the only living sounds had been the trees and their own breathing.

Fortunately whatever it had been didn't decide to follow you and as you finally emerged from the trees and made your way home to make a full report and catalog your gathered specimens you were glad that Jessie was with you.