galaxy
and night geyser courtesy of Astrodon]
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Our
ship, the HMS Explorer, was an ugly duckling, covered in pock and
sprit to convey warp field generation. She was a sight but
space worthy, bringing us safely to our alien shore. We were
the first to land on this planet, rich in oxygen, nitrogen,
hydrocarbons and metals.
First
mate, Mr. Lurie, approached, "watch yer step cap'n, thar's mean
pits o' goo and sharp whiskers about. By gum, if I didn't
get scritched right through me left boot."
Well,
that was it for sterile environmental integrity!
A
shout reverberated from behind Lurie, "egad, the pots burlin'
sur."
We
ran to the site and found an oily pool roiling. Our sensors
indicated life was flourishing in that pit. In fact, it
seemed to be evolving at an incredible rate.
"Mr.
Lurie, use that useless boot in your hand to scoop up some of this
stuff for later analysis and make ready to shove off."
I
followed the crew onboard and I watched the ramp come up as I
swung Lurie's dripping boot inboard. Below I heard a voice
and espied a rough looking biped through the closing hatch.
I could swear I heard it say with a lilt, "seems like an odd
vessel for a specimen." |
