Night had already settled in. It was around seven in the evening, but the area around the ship was still clearly visible. Two moons provided enough light to keep the forest from going dark, casting steady illumination across the ground and trees. Aiden did not need any additional lighting to see his surroundings.
Near the cockpit, he raised his wrist and activated his terminal watch. A map appeared in the air, clear and detailed. It was built from drone scans and high-quality imaging taken earlier. The view looked almost real, like he was looking down from above.
The map was not perfect, but it was clearly better than nothing.[1]
The drones had done most of the work. On the map, trees were shown in wide patches, making it easy to see where the forest was dense and where it opened up. The crash site was marked near the center with a small, simple symbol.
His first path north was already marked on the map. It showed where the ground dipped and where the forest became thinner. The drones had also collected air data, so the display pointed out places where the air felt colder, heavier, or different from normal.
Simple icons showed where he had found food that was not from Earth, including strange animals and plants that reacted when touched. He did not add long notes yet. The map only held the details he knew he would need later.
Aiden leaned back and studied the map.
"The first exploration went better than I expected. I have not seen any dangerous lifeforms yet, but that does not mean they are not out there. Tomorrow, I need a more efficient exploration plan."
Outside the ship, a large campfire burned a short distance from the hull. He had not prepared any proper fire-starting tools, so he used the welding torch from his multitool. The blue flame caught the dry wood easily, and the fire soon became steady and controlled.
Aiden did not stay outside because he felt adventurous. He stayed because he needed data and because he needed to cook. The fire provided light and heat while he observed the night conditions.
He wanted to record the temperature drop, study how the just about everything behaved after dark, and listen for any changes in the forest while preparing his meal. He was also sick of the nutritional paste. After so many meals, he would rather bite into the metal-barked trees he had seen than eat another serving of it.
He ran the analyzer over the deer and brought up the data chart on his terminal.
[ORGANIC SAMPLE: FAUNA
STRUCTURE: STABLE
TOXIN PRESENCE: NONE
PARASITIC ACTIVITY: NOT DETECTED]
The scan continued as the system processed deeper layers.
[CONSUMPTION STATUS: SAFE
BIOLOGICAL COMPATIBILITY: HIGH
NUTRITION DENSITY: ELEVATED
ENERGY YIELD: ABOVE EXPECTED RANGE]
A final line appeared, highlighted by the system.
[ADDITIONAL NOTE: UNUSUAL ENERGY CONCENTRATION DETECTED]
Aiden frowned slightly. The readings explained why the meat felt different. It was not just food. It carried more energy than it should, almost like a natural tonic for the body..
He opened a survival guide on his terminal and watched the video carefully. The animal he had brought back looked similar to a deer from Earth. It had the same general shape and body structure. However, the data showed clear differences. The muscles were thicker, and the meat was heavier. Each cut would give more food than expected.
Following the guide step by step, Aiden hung the animal upside down from a low tree branch near the ship. He let gravity do the work. Beneath it, he used a tool to dig a shallow hole in the ground. The guide explained that this was important. Letting the blood drain properly helped keep the meat clean and made it last longer.
He waited and watched until the bleeding slowed. When it was done, he pushed the loose dirt back into the hole and pressed it down firmly with his boot. He did not want the smell to stay. Anything that could attract animals was a risk.
As he worked, Aiden let out a quiet laugh. The whole thing felt strange in a familiar way. It was like going on a camping trip, but on another world. The sky was different. The forest was unfamiliar. He thought about the survival videos he had saved years ago and watched for fun. He never thought he would actually need them, but now they mattered.
He prepared his spices while eating a crisp apple from his supplies. The fresh taste was a relief after so many meals of paste.
He checked his supplies again. He had more than enough spices. Some of the meat would be dried later for long trips away from the ship. Other cuts would be sealed and placed in the freezer. But one piece would be cooked now.
Aiden selected a thick cut from the thigh. The meat was firm and heavy in his hands. He rubbed salt into it first, then added spices, making sure every side was covered. When he was done, he reached for a long metal pole. It came from equipment he had taken apart earlier, smooth and sturdy.
He pushed the pole through the center of the meat with slow, steady pressure. The cut was large and heavy, easily enough to feed three people. He adjusted its position until the weight felt even on both sides. If it was not balanced, it would not turn properly or cook evenly over the fire.
Near the fire, Aiden placed two large stones on the ground, one on each side. He rested the metal pole across them, forming a simple turning spit, just like the guide had shown. The setup was basic, but it was stable.
He turned the pole slowly by hand. The meat began to change color as the heat worked through it. Fat dripped into the fire, causing soft crackling sounds. Aiden watched closely and kept the movement steady. He did not want the meat to burn. He wanted it cooked evenly, sealed on the outside, and juicy inside.
Soon, the smell spread through the air. It was rich and warm, mixing with the scent of burning wood and strange plants from the forest. Above him, the two moons hung in the sky, lighting the clearing as he continued to tend the fire.
When the meat was finally done, Aiden lowered himself onto the ground near the fire. He sat cross-legged, holding a metal plate in his hands. The roasted thigh rested on it, still steaming in the cool night air. He lifted it and took his first bite.
Juice spilled out immediately. The meat was soft and tender, almost falling apart. The flavor filled his mouth at once. Even with nothing but salt, it tasted better than any venison he had eaten at the best restaurants back on Earth with his family. It was rich, clean, and deeply satisfying.
He closed his eyes without thinking.
"Mmm..." he let out a joyful moan while chewing slowly. "This...this is really good."
He took another bite and let out a quiet breath of surprise.
"So juicy. No dryness at all."
The meat felt warm and filling, and every bite made him want another. He shook his head slightly, half laughing to himself.
"If I had herbs, this would be insane."
The thought made him smile. If plants like that existed here, he needed to find them. He took another bite.
He ate slowly, savoring every bite. Each time, a quiet sound escaped him, unable to hide how good it was.
After he finished eating, Aiden checked the analyzer again. He wanted to be sure the environment had not changed while he was outside.
The results appeared on the screen.
[SCAN COMPLETE
ATMOSPHERE: STABLE
DIURNAL VARIATION: WITHIN PREDICTED RANGE
TEMPERATURE SHIFT: CONSISTENT WITH NIGHT CYCLE
TOXINS: NONE DETECTED
PARTICULATES: WITHIN SAFE RANGE
BIOHAZARD RISK: LOW
ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE RATE: SLOW AND STABLE]
Aiden studied the data for a moment. Everything looked normal. The night was colder than the day, but the change followed a natural pattern. The air was clean. There were no signs of danger. Nothing in the readings suggested immediate risk.
If not for the strange animals, the unfamiliar plants, and the two moons above, he might have believed this place was Earth.
He stared into the fire as it crackled softly, sending small sparks into the air. The warmth brushed against his face while the cold night air touched his skin. He listened to the forest, but nothing moved.
It was past nine in the evening when Aiden finally stepped back inside the ship. The light from the two moons faded as the hatch closed behind him.
Outside, the night remained calm and quiet. Even though several days had passed since he arrived, and even though he would be safe once inside the ship, Aiden did not skip this step. Night was when danger usually appeared, and he treated it seriously.
He sent his drones out for a slow and careful sweep around the ship. They moved close to the ground first, scanning beneath trees, rocks, and uneven terrain. Then they spread out wider, circling the area in a steady pattern.
Their sensors stayed fully active, tracking movement, heat, and sound, while their lights stayed dim to avoid drawing attention.
Aiden watched the live feeds closely. He checked each angle and waited longer than necessary, making sure nothing changed.
The screens showed no movement in the trees. No heat spikes on the ground. No unfamiliar shapes hiding in shadows or behind rocks.
Only when he was certain the area was clear did he call the drones back.
Inside the ship, the air was clean and steady. The systems were running in power saving mode, and a soft hum filled the rooms. The sound was familiar and calming. It made the ship feel secure, like a shelter from the outside world.
With everything stable, Aiden focused on the animal he had brought in earlier. He had already eaten part of the thigh, but most of the body was still untouched. Leaving it unprepared would be a waste. He lifted the body onto the work surface and adjusted it until it was steady.
Even though it was his first time doing this kind of work, the cutter on his multitool and the strength of his exoskeleton made it much easier. The blade moved through the meat smoothly, almost like cutting butter.
He worked with steady hands, careful not to waste anything. His movements were slow and controlled, the same way he worked when repairing machines or building new ones.
He had started calling the animal a quartz deer.
The name fit it well. The antlers were the reason. They were not made of bone. They were a strange kind of metal. Clear and sharp, with smooth edges that caught the light even in low brightness.
When he checked them with an initial scan, the analyzer showed that the material could be smelted and shaped. That alone was strange. A living creature growing metal.
Aiden made a mental note. He might tinker with the antlers later. The metal looked strong and clean. It could be turned into a simple tool, maybe something for cooking, or even a proper blade.
The readings showed the material was good enough to be made into a weapon if needed. The thought made him pause. It was strange, but also impressive.
He continued working and began dividing the meat with care.
When he opened the chest cavity, his hands slowed.
Aiden stopped.
There was no heart inside.
Instead, deep in the center of the chest, sat a crystal.
The crystal sat exactly where the heart should have been. It was locked in place by thick tissue, with vein-like lines branching out from it. They wrapped around the crystal as if feeding into it.
The surface was smooth with small natural edges, not sharp, but clearly formed. When Aiden touched it, it felt faintly warm. It did not glow, but there was a sense of stored energy, as if it was holding power inside instead of reflecting light.
For a moment, Aiden did nothing. He just stared at it, trying to understand what he was seeing.
Then his training kicked in.
He stopped cutting at once. He sealed the remaining meat quickly and moved it into the freezer without hesitation. Speed mattered now. After that, he carefully removed the crystal, holding it with steady hands. He carried it to the analyzer and placed it gently onto the tray, ready to see what the data would reveal.
The scanner continued running, recalculating the values again and again. A new section appeared on the display as the analyzer compared the readings to the ship's systems.
[ENERGY ANALYSIS: IN PROGRESS
COMPARISON TARGET: SHIP CORE
OUTPUT LEVEL: 1.02% OF CORE CAPACITY
ENERGY SOURCE TYPE: BIO-ENERGETIC]
More lines followed as the system finished its estimate.
[PROJECTED POWER OUTPUT
ESTIMATED RUNTIME AT FULL LOAD: 7 DAYS
ESTIMATED RUNTIME IN POWER SAVING MODE: 30 DAYS]
Aiden stared at the numbers.
One small crystal. Taken from a single animal. Enough energy to run the ship for a week at full use. A full month if he stayed in power saving mode like he was now.
He let out a slow breath and leaned back slightly.
"What the... " he said again, quieter this time. "This is literally a living power source."
Whatever this crystal was, it did not belong in a machine. It had grown inside a living creature. That fact alone made it different from anything Aiden had worked with before.
To Aiden, this was a biological energy organ. It was something that evolved over time, not something built by tools or hands. It acted like a regulator and a storage unit at the same time. A living battery that once controlled how the body used and stored energy.
Suddenly, many things made sense.
The muscles had been unusually dense. The nutrition readings were far higher than normal. Even the weight of the meat felt different in his hands, heavier and richer than it should have been. The crystal was not an extra feature. It was the reason the animal could exist the way it did.
Then a single number appeared on the display.
Energy equivalence: approximately one percent of ship core output.
Aiden straightened at once.
One percent did not sound like much at first. But he knew better. One percent of the research vessel's core was enough to run the ship at full cruise mode for nearly a week. If the ship stayed in power saving mode, like it was now, that same amount of energy could last close to a full month.
A month of power.
From one animal.
Aiden slowly let out a breath he did not realize he was holding.
This was no minor discovery. This was not just biology. This was infrastructure. Ecosystem-level energy storage walking on four legs.
The analyzer did not take long to show another problem. New warnings appeared on the screen as the system compared the crystal to the ship's core.
The energy types did not match.
The crystal produced a different kind of power than the ship used. If he tried to force it into the ship's system, most of the energy would be lost. Worse, it could damage the ship or destroy the crystal itself. Without a proper interface or charging tool, using it to power the ship directly was not possible.
Aiden sighed.
"Too bad. It was too good to be true, huh.."
Still, that did not make the crystal useless.
Using it as a standalone power source was a different story. Small tools. Portable devices. Emergency systems. Anything that needed low and steady output. For those, the crystal would work just fine. Using it that way would be simple.
He powered down the analyzer and carefully lifted the crystal. He placed it into a shielded container and sealed it shut, making sure it would not be damaged.
"Later..." he said softly. "We will figure you out later."
Then he turned back to the quartz deer and continued his work, finishing the task he had started.
Aiden carried the salted cuts to the upper exterior section of the ship. The air there moved constantly and stayed dry, which made it a good place for drying meat. He secured each piece high above the ground, tying them firmly so nothing could reach them.
Drying would take several days, maybe even a full week, depending on the air and moisture. When finished, the meat would be light, preserved, and easy to pack. It would be perfect for long trips away from the ship.
Before heading back inside, Aiden took one last look around. The sky was clear. No flying creatures crossed above him. No shadows moved in the distance. The air was still and quiet. With nothing showing danger, he felt confident the meat would dry without being disturbed.
With the food secured, he moved on to his next task.
Aiden gathered the cameras and began installing them around the outside of the ship. He had only a limited number, so he used them carefully. He removed cameras from empty compartments inside the ship, where they served no purpose, and locked those rooms instead. Using a camera there would only waste equipment.
The remaining cameras were placed outside to cover every angle around the hull. The front, the sides, the rear, and the upper sections were all watched. Each camera gave a different view, creating full coverage of the surroundings.
All camera feeds were linked to his terminal. They would record movement, sound, and environmental changes while he slept.
When he finished, Aiden stood still and checked the live feeds. The views were clear. No blind spots. Everything was accounted for.
Satisfied with his work, Aiden cleaned himself using a damp towel. He did not waste water on a full shower. Supplies mattered too much for that. He wiped away the sweat from his skin, the smell of smoke from the fire, and the dried blood left from processing the meat. It was not perfect, but it was enough to feel clean and comfortable.
He dimmed the lights, left the monitors running, and lay down to rest.
The ship hummed softly around him.
Outside, two moons hung over an unfamiliar world.
And Aiden fell asleep.
[1] This is the sample map: https://imgur.com/a/9rwGOer