Chapter Text
The Beginning
When the alert came through the comms that the scouting party had set off their emergency beacon, Commander Xheryl of The Mikkherr didnt know what to expect, but she thought up a dozen scenarios anyways.
Such was her constant mindset since she had allowed a Terran (or human as they preferred to be called) to join her crew. As she prepared a personal drop ship with six other Chethren crewmembers, Xheryl looked back at when the problem had started.
She'd known right away her approved request for extra security forces was too good to be true. When the giant of a creature had stepped foot onto her ship, she felt all the authority of command dissipate at the sight.
Terrans. Mythical in stature, strength, speed, and temper. Too little was known about the species which had shocked the Galactic Council by emerging from what had to be the least hospitable planet to harbor life. Terrans had practically leaped onto the scene. In mere decades, they had become a powerful presence in the universe, which made their mystery even more... well mysterious!
The feeling of the ship entering the atmosphere of Trexin 6 knocked Xheryl out of her inner musings. In what felt like forever, they finally broke through and began descending onto the signal source. Luckily the signal was coming from a point near a large enough clearing to safely land.
As soon as the doors opened, the landing crew leapt out, securing the surrounding area.
"Area secured, proceeding to signal source. Oculars on people, if a Terran is involved in an emergency, then we need to be prepared for anything." Cheryl called out, motioning the group forward. The fur on her neck stood on end as the group advanced, approaching the forest line of the Dawn-forsaken land. Something in the air warned her to avoid this area, something the local fauna must've felt as well. Not a single living creature was seen the whole trip.
Finally the beacon Xheryl held in her hand beeped loudly, locking onto a secure location for the signal source.
"There! 20 lengths ahead! Let's move!" Xheryl cried as she abandoned caution to find her missing lead researcher. Nightmare visions of their gruesome fate were dogging her mind the whole way. The brush and trees gave way to a small clearing. What she saw defied all of her expectations.
There in the clearing was the mangled corpse of one of the largest newly discovered creatures of the planet. Lying next to it, just as gore coated, was her apparently dead Terran.
"By the Dawn." Xheryl gasped. Questions flew through her mind as she noticed one key detail.
Reisha wasn't among the corpses.
"Medic! Check on the Terran. I need a confirmed Cause of Death. The rest of you, secure the perimeter and search for Head Researcher Reisha." Dawn this was a nightmare.
"Commander! I've got bio-readings! Theyre all over the place, but they're there. The Terran is still alive!" The medic called, shock registering in his voice.
Xheryl was about to reply when another shout cut her off.
"Commander! We found her! Look!"
Xheryl looked toward her team, who were all gathered around a tree, which had a beacon at the base. Following their gaze, she gasped as she saw her Head Researcher, her oldest friend, and one of the bravest Chethren she knew, cowering up a tree like a newborn pup.
"Alright let's get her down, somebody get me a-"
"NO! THE MONSTERS!" The terrified Researcher shrieked, huddling tighter.
"The creature is dead Reisha, you're safe now, the Terran is even still alive" Xheryl explained as calmly as possible.
The frightened researcher sobbed more, her fear was practically palpable, her scent reeking of prey.
"THEY'RE MONSTERS! THEY'RE ALL MONSTERS!"