Chapter 3
Curiosity is dangerous, but ignoring it is worse.
The Vanguard Capsule was in better shape than I had expected, but that didn’t mean it was in good shape.
I ran my gloved hand along the battered hull, feeling the rough patches where someone had stripped away the thermal shielding. Despite everything, the legs and tracks were functional, meaning I had some mobility if I needed it.
That was one problem solved.
I exhaled, my breath fogging inside my visor. The cold had settled into my bones—not from the temperature, but from the unease creeping at the edges of my thoughts.
I turned toward the distant abandoned campfire. Even though it was kilometers away, I felt its presence like an itch at the back of my mind.
Someone had been there.
But who? And where were they now?
My fingers hovered over the navigation controls on my HUD, debating whether to reroute my plans and investigate now. But common sense won out.
I wasn’t ready for a first encounter.
Instead, I issued an order.
"Claire, assign one drone to monitor the campfire site at all times. I want movement alerts and infrared scans running on a loop."
[ "Acknowledged. Recon drone assigned. Real-time feed available on request." ]
I nodded. That was one precaution taken.
For now, repairs came first.
The repairs were minor, but necessary.
With the Vanguard still operational, I could use it as a base camp. The nanomachine repair system took care of the worst of the hull damage, and I spent the next few hours reinforcing the exterior armor plating.
I also ran full diagnostics on the life-support system, ensuring that—if needed—I could stay inside for extended periods.
The solar panels were a mess, but some were salvageable. Enough to keep the capsule functional.
As I worked, I kept glancing at the horizon, as if expecting someone—or something—to emerge from the tree line.
But nothing came.
The forest remained silent.
Too silent.
After fixing the Vanguard to the best of my ability, I proceeded to my next objective.
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Survival Rule #1: Secure water.
"Claire, set tomorrow’s primary objective to investigate the water source two kilometers north."
[ "Objective set. Do you wish to depart at first light?" ]
I hesitated, rolling my shoulders. "Depends on how bad my exhaustion hits. But yeah, that’s the plan."
[ "Acknowledged. Would you like a reminder of your secondary objectives?" ]
I smirked. "Let me guess. 'Stop getting distracted, Erika?'"
[ "That is an informal way of putting it, but yes." ]
I chuckled softly. "Got it, Mom."
Claire didn’t respond to that, but I could almost imagine her exasperation.
By the time I finished repairs, exhaustion weighed on me like a lead blanket.
I should have gone inside the Vanguard to sleep properly.
But that meant full decontamination procedures.
And I just didn’t have the energy for that tonight.
Instead, I sat against the capsule’s hull and set my PIPS suit to rest mode. The self-adjusting gel layers inside adjusted for comfort, and the visor dimmed automatically.
[ "Would you like me to monitor your vitals while you rest?" ] Claire asked.
I hesitated for only a moment. "Yeah. Thanks."
There was a short pause.
Then, Claire’s voice softened.
[ "Good night, Erika." ]
I blinked.
It was the first time she had ever said that to me.
"...Good night, Claire."
The forest was still silent, but it felt less lonely.
I woke up to static in my ears.
[ "Erika, vitals stable. External temperature: -13°C. No movement detected near perimeter." ]
I grunted, stretching inside the PIPS suit. Sleeping inside armor wasn’t ideal, but I’d had worse during survival training.
I grabbed one of my filtered water bottles and took a sip of the recycled moisture from the suit’s reserves. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t good either.
Fresh water was priority.
After a quick check of my equipment, I set out toward the water source.
The stream was exactly where Claire had mapped it. A narrow, winding ribbon of dark water, flowing sluggishly between banks lined with thick, frost-covered reeds.
I crouched near the edge and dipped my filtered bottle into the current. The onboard nano-purification system kicked in, scanning for contaminants.
The results came back safe.
In fact…
[H?O detected. Trace minerals present. Purity level: 98.7%.]
I blinked. That was cleaner than most bottled water back home.
But there was something else.
The scanner detected faint traces of Anomalous Matter in the water—not harmful, but unnatural.
I ran my gloved fingers through the water, watching the ripples distort oddly.
"Yeah," I muttered. "Not Earth."
I quickly shook off the thought. Not jumping to conclusions.
Claire, of course, wasn’t having it.
[ "Erika, you are deviating from your primary objective." ]
I sighed, capping my bottle. "Fine, fine. Moving on."
The next objective was identifying potential food sources.
The first plants I found were berry-like clusters hanging from deep-purple bushes. They looked like blackberries, but the scanner flagged them as having unclassified organic compounds.
"Edible or poisonous?" I mused.
[ "Unknown. Further testing required." ]
"Yeah, I figured."
Then, I found tracks.
The footprints were large, clawed, and not remotely human.
Something big had passed through here recently.
I exhaled slowly. "Well. That’s not terrifying at all."
Claire was silent for a moment.
[ "Erika, I recommend establishing a perimeter security system." ]
I smirked. "What, afraid of monsters?"
[ "I am incapable of fear. You, however, should be concerned." ]
Fair point.
I spent the next few hours setting up rudimentary early-warning systems.
Using tripwires, motion sensors, and some basic nanotech modifications, I rigged a system that would alert me if anything large entered my camp.
It wasn’t perfect, but it was better than nothing.
Finally, exhaustion set in again.
This time, I climbed onto the Vanguard’s probe platform, sitting against the cool metal.
The sky above was clear, the stars unfamiliar but beautiful.
"...Hey, Claire?"
[ "Yes?" ]
"Thanks for keeping me sane."
A pause. Then—
[ "That is my function." ]
I smirked, closing my eyes.
"Good night, Claire."
[ "Good night, Erika." ]
And for the first time since landing, I felt safe.
