Chapter Text
Jade felt the happiest she ever had in her entire life. She along with several others were chosen to pilot the Skeld, a small frigate class ship destined to the newly discovered planet of Polus. There they would establish a base and learn more about the planet. After six months of extensive study they would return home with their findings.
Interstellar travel was fairly new and Jade felt excited to be one of the first to travel the stars. As a child she would watch the sky at night, dreaming to one day be among them. Now, her dream was a reality.
She brought her mind back to the task at hand, loose wires hanging out from an electrical panel. They had been out at space for three weeks now and the crew all fell into their roles rather quickly, if not feeling a little homesick by now.
The Skeld itself had remained in planetary orbit for a month before each member of the newly formed crew was sent up. Jade remembered the first member of the crew she met, Talia. She was a beautiful and kind woman, who had been stationed alone on the Skeld for that month, doing routine tasks to ensure the ship was fit for the long voyage. After spending so much time alone Jade decided she would try to be friendly with Talia, offering her the companionship she was sure she missed.
At that time the two became close friends, much closer with each other than with any of the other crewmates. That wasn't to say she didn't grow to care for all of them and consider them friends, she just felt the closest connection with Talia.
As she put together two of the wires she heard a slam behind her, causing her to jump and turn her head quickly. Was that the sound of a closing vent? She quickly spotted a figure standing above said vent, watching her intently.
"Talia!" She screamed, putting a hand on her chest as she tried to steady her breathing, "what the hell was that noise? You scared the crap out of me!"
"I stepped on the vent, sorry" Talia replied with a guilty smile, stretching her arm out and offering her a thermos, "I made you some coffee. I know it's a bit late and I figured you must be tired. Two caramel chocolate creamers, just the way you like it"
With a smile she took the offered drink, taking a sip of the hot liquid. Turning back to her task she heard Talia take a seat behind her.
"Almost done?" Talia asked, sipping from her own thermos.
"Yeah, this is my last task. I just have to...got it" she replied, closing the electrical panel and turning to face Tal. "Thank you, for the coffee, and the company"
A bright smile spread across Talia's face, her blue eyes shining as she reached up, pushing some of her raven locks behind her ear.
"Anytime" she replied, standing back up and offering a hand to Jade.
With a smile of her own Jade took the outstretched hand, getting back to her feet.
"Would you be up for another movie tonight?" She asked.
"Always"
As the two walked toward Talia's quarters she couldn't help but stare at Jade. Quickly this one had become her favorite human. While all of them had likable enough personalities, Jade had opened up to her immediately, offering her companionship which she admittedly had been without for longer than she could remember.
Space was cold and empty, an endless vacuum of nothing besides the distant stars and planets. How long had she drifted before she landed on The Skeld? She couldn't tell you, not for certain. She had been alone for so long it could drive any human mad. But she wasn't human.
In truth, she wasn't completely sure what she was. All she remembered was drifting in the cold quiet nothingness. Talia had been the first human she ever met, devouring her not two days after she had been stationed on the Skeld. Learning from her memories she decided to take her shape and become a part of the crew. She felt an urge to devour them, make them a part of her, but then she looked at Jade.
The brunette meant too much to her. If she lost Jade she would be alone again. Like she had been for such a long time. No, she would protect and care for her human. She wouldn't harm any of them.
Over the past three weeks, Jade would spend her evenings in Talia's quarters, the two watching movies from her extensive collection. It reminded her of her childhood when her friends would come to visit and they would play games together. After college, many of them parted ways, Jade choosing to focus on her career. She had to admit it felt nice to get close to someone again. Although unlike those times with her friends she admittedly felt a much deeper connection with Talia.
"Jade?"
At the mention of her name Jade turned her attention to Talia, who changed from her normal work uniform into a comfortable and much more casual t-shirt and pajama bottom combo. In her hands, she held three DVD's for Jade to pick from. Without hesitation, Jade selected the horror film.
"John Carpenter's The Thing, got it," Talia said, nodding and placing the DVD into the player. She then sat on the bed next to Jade, holding the remote to start the movie once the previews were finished.
"I've never seen it," Jade told her, "I've been told the practical effects are really good"
Talia grinned, turning to face her, "It is a horror movie you know. If you get scared feel free to hold my hand"
"Likewise" Jade replied with her own grin, blushing lightly at the implications.
Jade slowly opened her eyes, recent events coming back to her. She had fallen asleep next to Talia as they watched the movie together. Her tasks for the day must have worn her out more than she thought. Scanning the room she found the primary light to be off, the only source of light coming from a small lamp on a nearby desk. She recognized the room, and the bed she lay on, as Talia's, however, the girl didn't seem to be present.
Reaching up she rubbed her eyes, yawning as the sound of the bathroom door opening caught her attention. Opening her eyes once more she looked in that direction, only to feel her blood frost in her veins.
Exiting the bathroom was a somewhat humanoid creature, however, it appeared to be inside out. Blood covering most of its body, as well as internal organs appearing to be infused with its skin. Several lashing tentacles swung about, coming from its stomach, arms, and back. Some of them were sticking to the ceiling and floor as it walked. It had dozens of eyes about its body, all of them turning their focus onto Jade as it spotted her awake. Its arms and body jolted in an inhuman and uncomfortable manner, its jaw opening to make a low moaning sound, blood, and saliva drooling from its open mouth as it did.
Every instinct within Jade told her to run, to scream, but she lay in the bed frozen. Her muscles were stiff and she could barely breathe. This creature almost resembled something from The Thing, but far, far more horrifying. How did it get here? Did it kill Talia? Did it kill the crew?
Taking in a sharp breath Jade felt tears in the corners of her eyes, squeezing them shut she let out a scream, only to feel a hand clasp around hers. Her eyes shot open, only to see the creature was gone. Above her sat Talia, holding her hand tightly with a look of concern on her face.
"Jade, are you alright?" she asked, lacing their fingers and squeezing her hand tighter.
"Talia?" she whispered, still feeling the tears fall down her cheeks, "You're alive, you're okay."
"Of course I am," She replied, looking confused. "You fell asleep during the movie so I just let you stay here. You must have had some kind of nightmare or something. One moment you were sleeping peacefully, the next you started screaming."
"I...I saw something, some sort of creature," Jade replied breathlessly.
"There's no one here but us" Talia replied, leaning forward and putting her free arm around Jade, holding the trembling girl tightly.
Despite the anxiety still present in Jade's mind she couldn't help the blush that came to her face as Talia held her like this. It was comforting after such a horrible nightmare. She slowly put an arm around Talia, remaining silent as the two held each other. It was only a dream, nothing would hurt her or Talia. She kept trying to repeat to herself that such a horrifying dream like that couldn't possibly be real, but her eyes wouldn't leave the darkness billowing out from the open bathroom door.