Fandom: Originals
Rating: PG
Summary: All they wanted to do was explore the new planet for danger. How could they be responsible for the death of every living thing on it?
Warnings: Deaths, sequel to "Invasion"
Disclaimer: This is my own original idea with my own characters. Don't steal! ^-^ However, feel free to take inspiration from me, heaven knows I have more than I need. Beginning scene is loosely inspired by a short story by Anne McCaffrey and First Lt. West is the name of a character from a TV show (Space: Above and Beyond) which I copied and pasted onto my own character.
Tani’s note: Hey, this is my sequel to "Invasion." I wasn't going to write a sequel, but I needed a contest entry for my neopets guild (which I am no longer a part of), and well, this is what I came up with. I don't really think it's the best, but there it is. Hope you get some enjoyment out of it! As always, R&R! ^_^
"...planet appears to have sentient life. Heat readings suggest both plant-like and animal-like organisms. No indication of danger level. Several natural resources detected. Next available investiship to be sent." --United Planets (UP) Log of newly discovered planets suitable for colonization.
First Lt. West picked his way carefully through the brush of the newly discovered planet X-17, head swiveling alertly as he scanned the area for any potential threats to his party's well-being. Six others followed him, no less alert, although perhaps a little more enthused. All were well equipped with food, water, and other items various and sundry which might be needed if the unexpected happened. Occasionally one would stop and examine something closer, eyes wide and demeanor bright in the wonder of their discovery. Every so often First Lt. West would glance at the watch-like object on his wrist and nod.
They'd been traveling through this untamed jungle for most of the planet's daylight and were growing weary. In fact, it seemed quite likely that the rush of discovery was the only thing keeping the following six from stumbling in weariness. The days on this planet were considerably longer than what they were accustomed to.
West was well aware of this fact, as the weariness was beginning to take a toll on him as well, and so the next time they came upon a suitable place he drew to a halt after glancing at the object on his wrist one last time.
"Are we stopping for the night?" asked the zoologist Clark Reynolds in a slightly relieved tone of voice.
West nodded slightly and let his pack fall to the ground. The others followed suit with assorted degrees of relief.
"How far did we get today?" asked Amber Roberts, the geologist of their group.
"Farther than planned," replied West, unwilling to give them any ammunition to fuel any complaints they might find themselves tempted to voice.
Amber opened her mouth to question him further but Hoshi Sanada cut her off. "Good. The faster we travel, the sooner we get back to the ship and can relax," the dark-haired chemist said wearily.
The other scientists nodded sympathetically. Hoshi had earth side leave next up, and was really looking forward to the R&R. Besides, it was tough fighting their way through the wild brush here.
"I'm beat," groaned Dr. Rafa Vidal, sinking to the ground.
Oliver Shaw, the botanist, crouched down beside her and smiled charmingly. "You look tense Rafa," he said in a murmur meant for her ears alone. "Maybe a massage would loosen you up."
Rafa gave him a wry look and shook her head negatively. "I think I'll pass."
"You don't trust me?" he asked in a mock-wounded tone.
"I trust you as far as I could throw you Oliver. And I greatly doubt that I could even get you off the ground. Anyway, the timing is just wrong and I heard you trying out some of your lines on Gypsy there last night and Amber the night before," she said with appropriate gestures toward first the nexialist and then the geologist, adding silently, Otherwise I might have taken you up on it.
Oliver shrugged and grinned unabashedly. "Can't blame a guy for trying can you?"
She shook her head ruefully at him, then dragged herself up to help set up camp. He followed, flashing a friendly grin at Hoshi. Who knew? Maybe she'd be a little more forthcoming than the other three had been. In the meantime however, he had a job to do and all of his concentration would go into that. Despite being an incorrigible flirt, no one could accuse him of being a slacker.
Supper was a quiet and tired affair, the seven of them seated around a small and well-contained campfire. They all turned in soon after finishing eating, energy sapped from their long day's travel.
The next few days progressed in much the same manner and quite soon they were safely back at the ship, having thoroughly examined the area and found no dangers to speak of. Even the diseases were backward and primitive. It seemed to be a peaceful planet, other returning groups saying much the same thing. And so after much scrutiny, Planet X-17 of the 20th Solar System was proclaimed to be safe. No dangerous natives had been found and it was deemed ideal for colonization sometime in the near future.
A short while later the ship lifted off, bearing with it many examples of life on X-17 but leaving behind nothing of foreign nature, as was the UP's policy. Or so they thought. Little did they know...
It started out small, a mere tingle of sensation, but as seconds turned into minutes and minutes lengthened into hours, it grew in strength. Invitation and ideal warmth and temptation all were combining into one insistent pull.
It didn't know exactly what it was that called to it so, but it was close. Cautiously it sent out a few thing tendrils of awareness, questing warily beyond its host. What it discovered made it surge into full awareness.
This place...it was different from any other it had sensed before. This strange place almost seemed to welcome it. How could this be? It practically teemed with warm life, just ripe for the conquest.
It extended its senses even further, stretching them thin, and took a few minutes to merely bask in the warmth it had discovered, desire growing within it every passing instant, to conquer, to take control, to break. It was as good as drugs would be for a human.
A hostile presence brought it back unto itself, a single white blood cell coming to investigate the disturbance it had created when it had let it's senses expand. It relaxed in the knowledge that it was safe for the moment at least. A single white blood cell posed no threat to it.
However, action of some type would have to be taken soon. Where one white blood cell was, others were sure to follow. Individual white blood cells might be no danger, but when they gathered into mobs they became a formidable force. This place had ceased to be safe haven. And so its decision was made for it.
It loosened its hold on its host, taking an instant longer to destroy the lone white blood cell with a contemptuous lash of energy. The energy was no real loss to it, and the small victory was well worth the minimal effort. It was once more on the path to victory and for once the possibility of failure did not loom ahead.
After a minute or two of drifting while scanning its options it made a decision. It settled almost immediately into a nearby host, still wanting to conserve energy.
It wasn't until it had settled in almost completely that it noticed another reinvading presence. This invader was very similar to itself, yet there was some unknown quality to it that made it undeniably different in a way the newcomer didn't quite comprehend.
Confident in its own power, it sent out a seeking tendril carrying a question to the other virus. Senses of alert and then welcome were sent back to it in rapid succession.
After a moment of weighing options it decided to take a small risk and identify itself. A sample of self was sent, and another sample received in turn from the other. The sample was promptly absorbed, and analyzed. It hadn't survived this long without learning a few tricks and it had no compunctions against using them at all opportunities.
What it found startled it, if so human an emotion can be laid to so inhuman a thing as a virus. This other was an enigma. It changed so easily...
Prospects opened to it as its analysis continued, unlocking the secret of how this change was brought about so easily. This could prove very useful indeed. This discovery proved even headier than its first glimpse of this new world. A new feeling, or rather lack of one, came over it. It felt no need to exert victory over this other virus that had so benefited itself. In fact, it even felt that it deserved a reward...
After a moment of contemplation, the virus had decided upon a suitable action. A small modification, a quick flicker of energy, and the other virus simply ceased to exist. If the virus ad been human, evil laughter would have rang out. As it was, a malevolent feeling seeped from it to its surroundings, causing a faltering in the natural biorhythms of the host. It felt an exquisite sense of power sweep through it at this display.
Sending out its tendrils of awareness once again it felt out its host's weak points. A few minor changes to itself and it was ready to take over. Soon it was producing perfect replicas of itself in rapid succession. Its first host yielded to it an easy victory and before the dawning of a new day it and its progeny had spread far and wide.
It was a matter of weeks, if that, before all life on the continent was in danger of extinction. The virus should have been basking in the glory of triumph. Instead, it was analyzing options doggedly. It was discontent. It sensed life, much more life, but it was somehow beyond its reach. A strange barrier was there. It was much like the fluids that some host cells were composed of, but this did not allow passage. The virus needed some type of transportation to get there.
The current host was being kept relatively healthy for this very reason. The virus planned to push its host into this liquid and then move into one of these inaccessible creatures when they made contact. Its plan was working too, the host stumbling exactly where the virus wanted to go.
So intent was the virus on its goal that it was nearly as alarmed as its host when a leathery creature lurched out of some nearby bushes and latched on to the host. The host's cry of terror and pain reverberated throughout its entire being. It had no effect upon the lumbering attacker though, as it inexorably dragged the desperately resisting creature to its feeding ground.
Alarm was replace by pleasure as the virus realized that this creature had the presence of the unattainables upon it. Without a second's hesitation it uprooted itself from the dying host and threw itself upon the attacker. Then it settled in for a wait.
All ended profitably, access finally being gained to the others. Things went near perfectly after that, the virus discovering that once it entered the liquid it could move about freely, and it was less than half a Terran year later when it found itself infecting the last living creature of the planet.
As the animal's life slipped swiftly away from it the virus had a few seconds of pure and unadulterated triumph. It waited expectantly when the creature was finally dead, though it knew not for what. A reward of some kind maybe, perhaps the ability to live on its own.
Then, as awareness began to fade from it, the terrible truth hit it. By its own actions it would cease to exist. It could only survive a limited time without the energy provided by a host. It was doomed. Then, as awareness faded, there was nothing. No hope, no triumph, no victory, no chance for a future. All that remained was void.
Exactly eight months, two days, three hours and a minute later the last semblance of life faded from the planet X-17. Human ships returned six months later to find a dead planet. A short report was filed, the cause determined to be an unknown virus. One last mission was sent to recover all the salvagable natural resources discovered. One trip was all it took to take everything that was worth the time and effort. After that no one bothered. All records were classified as irrelevant and disposed of a short while later for taking up needed space.
Planet X-17 was no longer, neither in the memories of its inhabitants nor in the records of its explorers. For all accounts it simply ceased to exist, a mere hunk of rock that had once been teeming with life. All gone now, and all because of one determined virus which achieved victory only to find it a hollow and fleeting thing.