Dr. Voss had spent a decade petitioning the space council for funding to reach Z19, a planet harsh in emerald storms and rumored to host life defying evolutionary principles. His obsession? The ''Shrike'' a predator said to wield wild genetic secrets capable of amazing applications. His assistant, Lira a brilliant biologist, joined solely to ensure he didn't get himself killed.
Their shuttle pierced Z19's atmosphere, reveling a jungle pulsating with bioluminescent trees and animals. Voss adjusted his mask. ''The Shrike nest is near the northern cliffs. Its feathers hold traces of DNA in hollow quills-like a living syringe.'' Lira scanned the terrain. '' And if it's as lethal as they say? '' Voss grinned. ''Then we'll have to be quick.''
The air whistled with the shrieks of the unseen creature. Voss led them through thick vines that recoiled at touch, their boots sinking into iridescent moss. by dusk, they reached the cliffs. Above, silhouettes circled wingspan like daggers cutting the twilight.
Broken eggshells lay all over. Bones were scattered in little dens, and the smell of flesh was in the air. The pair kept moving as they did not want to wait around to be found. And this planet was filled with exotic wildlife, far too many to count. As they approached the top they could hear the beast.
Lira froze. ''It's not just one.''
A Shrike landed, its amber feathers gleaming with dark browns and light oranges. Razor tipped talons flexed, and its eyes captivated Voss's pupils swirling. '' Adaptive vision,'' he whispered. '' Imagine the applications''.
The bird lunged.
They scattered as its beak snapped the air, emitting a subsonic screech that vibrated their bones. Lira's wrist pc flashed in a white light, that illuminated from her skin: Frequency disrupting neural signals. ''Its weaponizing sound!'' she yelled. Voss, undeterred, fired a neon green dart. It ricocheted.
Cornered against a cliff, Lira activated her ultrasonic emitter and blasted a shot at the bird. The Shrike recoiled, disoriented. '' Now, Doctor
Voss scrambled, snipping a feather. The shrike thrashed. Its cry summoning echoes, Dozens more descended. At that very moment, Lira received a warning from her wrist pc about the weather.
''Run '' Lira shouted.
Eletric-green clouds churned overhead. Z19s storms weren't just deadly they birthed fireworks of wildfires, random shots of red electricity and powerful winds that raced like oxygen to the brain. They raced as fast as they could for their shuttle, feathers clutched tight. A shrike grazed Voss, its talon ripping through his suit. He stumbled; the feather spilled. Lira hauled him up, her own leg bleeding. '' Leave it! she urged.
''No '' Voss lunged for the quill. A shrike wing slammed him into the moss.
Lira triggered the emitter, its pulse buying seconds, she dragged Voss onto the landing ramp '' take off'' she roared. As red thunder engulfed the cliff sent rocks flying towards Their engine. Through the viewport, the flock swirled like a living vortex, their cries a haunting requiem.
Voss didn't care he started at the single feather in his hand.
''Enough... to start over.''
Lira bandaged her leg, silent. The data lit up on her arm flashing: DNA sequence incomplete. Risk of mutation 97%. Her computer said upbrought Ly. Back at his ship, Voss held up a vial sinister look upon his face. Lira watching from the doorway, noticed the rash spreading where the shrike had scratched the Doctor. He clenched his arm shaking. Trembling eyes locked onto the small vial...