SSP/Douglasthedog Habitica August-3-2020

Mark had just been unfrozen after 1,000 years of being in a biological freezing chamber on a spaceship. He landed on a strange planet, that was filled with all sorts of strange vegetation. He was on a search with his team for intelligent life, when he heard a strange noise. He looked behind him and saw nothing.

They were formed up single file and spread five yards apart, chopping their way through what they would have called a jungle on the old planet. Mark was at the back, Lucas was in front of him, then Johnny, and at the head of the line was Bad Matt. Bad Matt always went first.

"I think I heard something," Mark said.

He only expected Lucas to hear him, the other men were too far ahead. Lucas didn't answer.

"I said I think I heard something," he said again, a little louder this time.

Lucas stopped and dropped his machete to his side. He was a muscular man, mid-thirties if you didn't count all the ice cube time. He had a thick mop of blonde hair and he had his fingers in it a lot.

"What do you mean you heard something? What kind of something?" asked Lucas.

"A noise. A clicking noise."

"We've been beating this jungle up five days now. Not one sign of life here. Nothing in the air, nothing on the ground, nothing in this ugly vegetation, nothing, man. There's nothing here."

"Well I heard something."

Lucas double-timed it back to his spot behind Johnny. Mark stood and looked behind. He listened. He waited. Nothing. The jungle was quiet. He hurried back to his place in line.



They continued cutting their way through the jungle, searching for anything that might be useful. So far they were unsuccessful. Half an hour passed and Bad Matt called for a break. They spent a few minutes carving a resting spot into the thick vegetation then sat down to relax.

"Where's Mark?" Lucas asked.

Bad Matt sat on the ground, his dark skin beaded with sweat. He drank from a large black canteen. Johnny stood next to him.

"Went to take a leak," Johnny said.

"He said he heard something out there."

That got both of the veteran men's attention.

"There's nothing here," Said Johnny.

"That's what I told him. He's pretty convinced though. He was earlier, at least."

"What's he think he heard?"

"A clicking noise."

"That's all? A clicking noise? Not a growl or a roar or a battle cry or something. A click?"

"That's what he said."

"Jesus, I hope he's not losing it. We're a long way from the ship boys."

"I think I'd rather he lost his mind than there actually be something alive out here."

The jungle was quiet. Not a sound. Not even the wind.

"There is nothing out here, my good friends," said Bad Matt. His voice was deep and determined. "There is nothing out here. Therefore, there is nothing to be concerned with."

Johnny looked at Mark and said, "You keep an eye on him back there."

The three men fell silent and waited for Mark to return.



"Something moved. I just saw something move."

Lucas turned and looked. He saw nothing. They'd only been moving fifteen minutes.

"Mark," he said. "There is nothing here. Nothing on this planet moves. Only us. We are the only thing that moves."

"I saw something move, Lucas. It rustled that bush-looking thing. There is something out there."

"There's nothing out there, Mark! Fall in line and keep the pace!"

Lucas turned back to his spot in the line. He took a hurried step to close the distance with Johnny then suddenly stopped. His head locked on the jungle undergrowth to their left.

"Mark." Lucas said.

Something dark, a shadow-form, shot from the vegetation, grabbed Lucas and disappeared into the undergrowth to their right. And then there was silence, except for the soft clicking sound.

Mark was frozen. Ahead Johnny and Bad Matt still hacked and slashed at the dense jungle ahead. He couldn't speak. He couldn't move. He could barely breathe.

And then the shadow-form took Johnny. And there was a click.

And then it was Bad Matt's turn. And another click.

And Mark was alone. Still frozen in his boots. He relaxed. The jungle was strange but there was beauty in it. More beauty than the cocoon where he spent a thousand years. He was thankful to see it.

Something dark moved enough to catch his eye.

I knew I heard something, he thought.

Then he was gone.