The morning light crept through the dense canopy of trees, casting long shadows across the jungle floor. Evan woke with a start, the lingering sense of dread from the previous night still gnawing at him. He glanced out the window of the Constellation Voyager, taking in the lush, vibrant landscape that surrounded him—an alien world teeming with creatures that belonged to a bygone era.
"Lyra, what's our status?" Evan asked, his voice hoarse from a night spent in restless vigilance.
"Good morning, Evan. No immediate threats detected," Lyra responded, her calm, synthesized voice a small comfort in the chaos of their situation. "I have also completed a preliminary analysis of the ship's systems. The Temporal Shift mechanism is still inoperable, but with the right materials, I can attempt to stabilize it."
Evan stretched his arms, feeling the tension in his muscles. "Alright, let's get moving. I need to find what we need to fix the ship, and I don't want to waste any more time. The longer we stay here, the more likely it is that something will come looking for us."
"Understood," Lyra replied.
The ship's cargo hold was cluttered with emergency supplies and tools, but Evan knew that wasn't enough. He needed to venture out into the jungle. He gathered a few essentials—his plasma rifle, a basic survival kit, and a few energy packs—and set out toward the dense jungle that lay beyond the ship.
As he stepped out of the ship, the heat hit him first. The air was thick with humidity, and the sounds of the jungle were almost deafening. Birds—some resembling modern species, others completely unfamiliar—sang overhead, and the ground beneath his feet seemed to tremble with the movement of large creatures in the distance. He could hear the rumble of something massive, something that reminded him just how small and fragile he was in this strange, prehistoric world.
"Lyra, do you have any idea where I can find the materials I need?" Evan asked, trying to keep his mind focused on the task at hand.
"Based on the readings from your previous scans, there are deposits of rare minerals in the nearby mountains," Lyra replied. "However, the terrain is highly unstable, and large predators are known to inhabit the area. Proceed with caution."
Evan didn't need any more warnings. He had already seen the dangers lurking in this world, and he wasn't about to take unnecessary risks. The mountain range Lyra mentioned wasn't far, but it would require a trek through thick jungle, and that meant he would have to keep his wits sharp.
The first hour of his journey was relatively uneventful, though Evan couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching him. Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig had him on edge. He tried to stay on the move, but the oppressive heat made it difficult to maintain any sort of speed. Sweat dripped down his face, and his gear began to feel heavier with each step.
As he neared the edge of the jungle, the terrain began to change. The trees grew sparser, and the underbrush thickened, but he could see the distant mountain range rising on the horizon, just as Lyra had indicated. It wasn't until he reached the edge of a clearing that things took a turn for the worse.
Out of nowhere, a loud crashing sound shook the air, followed by a deep, rumbling growl. Evan froze, his hand instinctively going to the plasma rifle slung over his shoulder. He could feel the ground vibrating beneath his feet, and in the distance, he caught a glimpse of movement—something huge, moving fast.
A massive figure emerged from the trees, its body covered in scales, its long tail sweeping behind it like a wrecking ball. The creature had the head of a crocodile and the body of a massive lizard, easily the size of a school bus. Its eyes locked onto Evan, and he could feel its predatory gaze piercing into him.
"Oh, hell no," Evan muttered under his breath. The creature let out an ear-splitting roar that rattled the air around him, and before he could react, it charged.
Evan sprinted, heart pounding in his chest. He didn't have time to think—he just had to move. The jungle around him seemed to close in, and every tree, every branch, every rock became a potential obstacle. The creature was gaining on him, its heavy footsteps shaking the ground as it pursued him relentlessly.
Evan could hear it getting closer, its breath hot and heavy on his neck. He dodged to the side just in time to avoid a massive swipe from the creature's claws, but it was relentless. He had to think fast, or he wouldn't make it out alive.
There! He spotted a large tree ahead, its branches thick enough to support his weight. Without hesitation, he leapt towards it, his fingers grabbing hold of a low-hanging branch. The creature roared in frustration as it crashed into the tree, but Evan had already pulled himself up, scrambling up the trunk and into the canopy.
From his perch high in the tree, he watched as the creature circled below, snapping its jaws in frustration. Evan took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart.
"Lyra, I could really use a distraction right now," Evan said, his voice strained from the exertion.
"Deploying drone decoy," Lyra replied immediately.
A small drone shot out of the ship and began buzzing above the clearing, drawing the creature's attention. The beast growled and lunged at the drone, giving Evan the moment he needed to climb higher into the tree, out of reach.
He watched from his vantage point as the creature chased the drone into the jungle, its massive form disappearing into the distance. Only when the sound of its footsteps had faded completely did Evan allow himself to exhale.
"That was too close," Evan muttered. "Thanks, Lyra."
"You're welcome," Lyra replied. "I suggest continuing your search for the materials. The creature may return at any time."
Evan nodded, taking one last look at the clearing before continuing his journey toward the mountains. He couldn't afford to waste any more time. With every step he took, he felt the weight of his situation bearing down on him. The longer he stayed here, the less likely he was to make it back to his time.
And if he didn't find those materials soon, he would be stuck in the past forever.
To be continued...