Relief spread across Jen’s chest when the hulking metal structure came into view. She approached the airlock doors and asked Alessicka to open them. The girl must have been waiting with her hand poised over the button; they drew apart immediately, and Jen entered the airlock.

They looked at each other through the thick plexiglass screen that separated the airlock from the control room. Alessicka’s face was pale and covered in tear tracks, but she kept her voice from breaking as she stepped Jen through the protocol they’d followed so often that it was like second nature. This time was different, though. This time, Jen stood alone as she waited for the chamber to be filled with breathable air, stepped out of her suit, and stored her equipment.

“Central doors unlocking,” Alessicka said at last as the metal doors separating them parted. Jen stepped into the control room, and Alessicka threw herself onto Jen. Trembling, she hugged her fiercely, and Jen patted her hair until she pulled back. The girl’s red eyes searched Jen’s face, and for a moment, Jen was frightened Alessicka would blame her—tell her it was all her fault for ignoring the warning about Carly’s helmet—but instead, she said, “What do I need to do?”

Ignoring the guilt and the pain had been easier when she had a purpose, so Jen latched on to Alessicka’s opening and led her to the command board. “We need to get a message to Perros. Explain about the lifeform we found. Explain about… Carly. Ask for assistance.”

They would also need to request a replacement team member, but they could do that after the creature was dealt with and Carly’s death was confirmed.

Jen watched over Alessicka’s shoulder as she typed the message. Because of the location of their outpost, communication with Perros was difficult. Their ward planet would receive the message, but it wasn’t likely they would send a reply. Any discussions would have to wait until the backup arrived.

“Sent.” Alessicka swivelled in her chair to look up at her leader. “What else should I do?”

She needed work to keep her mind off Carly just as badly as Jen did. Unfortunately, work was one thing they were low on: the patrols usually took most of the day, so they’d finished all of their regular chores that morning.

Jen opened her mouth to suggest they go over inventory again, but a sharp noise interrupted her. They both jumped and looked through the plexiglass window into the airlock. Something large and dark was pressed against the outside door.

It’s the monster from the weathervane. It’s followed me back to base, Jen thought with a spike of panic, but as the shape moved and she realised what it really was, she somehow felt even more horrified.

“Carly!” Alessicka shrieked.

Their missing team member stood outside the base. She wasn’t wearing a helmet, and her crop of curly black hair was stuck to her forehead with sweat. Her dark eyes bored into them intently, desperately, as she banged a fist on the door.