Returning to camp

The new camp set up was already looking to be a vast improvement over the first one. Captain Alice had managed to get the lifeboat up the incline and nestled in between the collection of rock formations, while the others had set up tents and containers in such a way that they formed a protective inner layer. One of the boulders was large enough that it even provided a measure of shelter from the elements, and looked sturdy enough that with a little work Sam could use it to fashion a decent enough lookout point.

Sam intended on doing as much work as he could to shore up the defences in light of their recent discovery. Humanity had colonised worlds in dozens of systems and encountered numerous alien lifeforms, but never had they encountered another species that was truly sentient. Whoever or whatever made those hieroglyphics at least had intelligence enough to pass on some kind of story and message, and the whole thing left Sam feeling anxious. From the moment he had arrived on the planet he felt something off and the revelation had only further tested him.

Things were not improved by Yuri’s behaviour either. During the trek back to camp Sam had noticed little things off about the man. He watched Sam with a curious look, and walked uncomfortably close for much of the journey, his strange smile never once fading.

Miguel was the first to spot them and waved them over excitedly. The man was quick to point out the new set up of camp and discuss a few ideas with his plans for the future. Sam indulged him for a time, but eventually excused himself and made a beeline to the Captain, who was checking something in the life boat. She grinned at Sam as he entered.

“No space bears to worry about?”

Sam looked over his shoulder at the camp, and then closed the hatch to give them some privacy. “Things May have gotten more complicated.”

“Oh?” Alice set her blue eyes on him. “Now you’ve gotten my attention. What did you find?”

“There were markings in those caves,” he told her gravely, “ and whoever made them...they were sentient. There’s intelligent life on this planet.”

Alice’s eyes widened for a moment, her mouth opened and shut as she turned the information over in her mind. “There hasn’t been anything like that in over twenty colonised worlds,” she chewed her lip, “are you absolutely certain?”

“There was a genuine pattern of hieroglyphics carved into the side of the cave, telling a story that seemed very clearly to be of a humanoid,” He shook his head, trying to rid himself of his fears, “and I think...Yuri might have activated some kind of trap.”

“But Miguel said you guys both came in alright.”

Sam rubbed his face, trying to rid himself of exhaustion. “He pressed against some carving in the stone and got black shit squirted in his face,” he gave her a level look, “I don’t know what that shit was, but it was set like a pressurised trap. He seems ok, but there’s still something off...and I think we should get work setting up more defences before night falls.”

The Captain ran the information over once again, nodded, and then looked at him with approval. “Alright, whatever you think is best, I’ll back you on. We need to conserve fuel and this thing only has so much for land travel, so it’s better that we make this place as safe as we can.” She frowned, “As for Yuri...well, we’ll keep an eye on him.”

Sam nodded his thanks and then returned to camp. He was able to rig a couple of small, motion detecting alarms just outside the camp’s perimeter, and had Miguel help him move a few of the cargo crates in the outer gaps between boulders, more or less ensuring that there was only one path in and out of the camp, which ANDY would be monitoring all night. Tents were rearranged so that all of them were closer and positioned against either the lifeboat or the largest rock pillar.

“I’m thinking that we might need some firewood,” He told Alice, “so that we’re not burning through our reserves. The trees back there look suitable.”

“Ok,” Alice said, checking ANDY’s diagnostics, “take someone with you and be careful. I don’t want anyone out here before night falls, got it?”

Sam grunted his response, picked up his pistol and took out one of the axes that had been stowed on the lifeboat and made to leave. He was stopped by Yuri, who smiled up at him with that same strange grin. “Need some help?”

He really would have preferred not to, but he figured that in this instance he could at least keep an eye on Yuri rather than leaving him to his own devices at camp. Likewise, Sam figured that he could he probably handle the younger man if he acted out. “Fine,” he grunted, “but I won’t be gone long, just to get collect a little firewood.”

That smile deepened and he happily followed Sam down the incline and into the edge of the treeline.