A/N: I hope you all like this idea. I'm trying something different, but I think it turned out well. I have a few other stories in the works. I will continue to update those as well. Let me know what you think of this so far!

INSINARIO

Chapter 1: A Field Trip

December 3rd, 1 A.E. (After Earth)

A black Zin ship lands on an unknown planet. The ship opens and reveals four shadowy figures. The shadows step into an ominous night. A deep blue moon, larger than the planet it rotates, provides a bluish light to guide the voyager's way. At the front of the group is Kinzie, a freckle faced tech geek and all around typical nerd. She holds a scanner in her hand to examine the surroundings.

"The area appears stable," says Kinzie.

"Does that mean we can take these damn helmets off?" asks The Boss, the group's leader. His blue eyes meld with the sapphire light of the moon through his oxygen helmet.

Kinzie nods and removes her helmet. The rest of the group does the same.

"Thank God," says Shaundi. She flips her wavy, brown ponytail and blows a curl of bang from her eyes. "I hate these things."

An Indian goddess, named Asha, drops her helmet by her feet. She pulls out a pistol and checks to make sure it's loaded. "Any signs of life?" she asks with a sultry British accent.

Kinzie checks her equipment. "There's lots of plant life. They're making huge waves on the scanners."

"I think she meant, are there any signs of life that might try to kill us?" Shaundi adds with slight condescension. She hates beating around the bush.

"Not that I can see." Kinzie makes an adjustment on her scanner to check for heat signatures. She comes up with nothing. "I think we're okay."

"Proceed with caution anyway." The Boss runs his fingers through his sandy, blond hair and readies his weapon. "I don't trust that equipment."

Kinzie takes offense to his comment and scoffs. "This is Zin equipment. The Zin are the most technologically advanced race in the universe. They mastered time travel for Christ's sake!"

"Yeah, which is the whole reason we're here remember? Their piece of shit time machine broke and forced us to go on a scavenger hunt for..." The Boss looks up at the sky and tries to think of their mission. "...what the fuck are we looking for again?"

"Plaisent Fluid," sighs Kinzie. She's reminded him of their mission several times already.

"Right." He pauses for a moment. "And, what the hell is Plaisent Fluid?"

Kinzie rolls her eyes. "It's the power source for the machine. Zinjai said this is the only place in the universe that has it."

"I still don't know what to think about him," says Asha. "He's a cowardly twit, but in my experience with MI6, those are the ones you should keep an eye on."

"Is that why you and Matt are so close?" Kinzie asks with a raised brow.

"You aren't still sore about that are you? All that happened ages ago." Asha crosses her arms. "The FBI is gone along with whatever incriminating evidence
Matt had against you. It disappeared with Earth. Let it go already."

"You know what I'm gonna do when we get back?"

Asha lifts her chin. "Fix your complexion?" she guesses with antagonism.

Kinzie pretends to laugh at Asha's insult and her eyes become tiny slits of anger. "The first thing I'm gonna do is go back in time and make sure his father wears a condom."

Shaundi groans and pushes through the two of them. She walks toward a forest of tall trees with tops full of circular white leaves. They move like paper in a calm breeze.

"Are you guys coming? Or, do I have to get this fluid shit on my own?" Shaundi asks as she reaches the edge of the forest.

The Boss follows her into the tree line. Asha gives Kinzie the stink eye as they continue their mission. Shaundi walks briskly ahead of them eager to get it over with. They maneuver through the dense alien forest filled with pale blue and white plants. The plants grow out of a shale rock floor which has a glossy shine in the moonlight. Kinzie keeps on eye on the scanner for signs of life and for Plaisent Fluid signatures while she follows behind Shaundi.

"So, what does Plaisent Fluid look like anyway?" asks Asha.

Kinzie shrugs. "I don't know, but according to the scanners, we're nearing its source. It's about 800 meters ahead of us."

Shaundi continues to lead the way. The Boss comes up behind her and whispers so the others can't hear. "Hey, we need to talk."

"I don't have anything to say to you," says Shaundi. She keeps her eyes forward as they walk.

"I know you're mad about how things worked out between us."

Shaundi shakes her head and grumbles. "There is no 'us'. You made that very clear."

"I thought we were just having fun," says The Boss.

Shaundi finally looks at him. "We were, but I'm tired of just having fun. I want something more."

The Boss sighs softly. "Shaundi, I'm not looking for a relationship."

"You sure? Or are just not looking for a relationship with me?" Shaundi stops and turns to face him. She shoots a quick glance at Asha. "I've seen the way you look at her."

The Boss stares down at the ground. He doesn't say anything.

"She has a boyfriend, Stephen," informs Shaundi.

"I wouldn't call Matt her boyfriend. I can't even imagine him having sex at all, let alone with a woman. They're just friends, like we used to be before things got complicated." He leans close to her and mutters under his breath. "And cut it out with the first name shit alright? You know why I hate that."

Shaundi crosses her arms. She clenches her jaw and looks away from him. "I never should've let it go this far. I knew better."

"I never should've put the idea out there. We should've left things the way they were." The Boss gently grabs her hand and caresses it.

Shaundi relaxes a little. "You asked for a shot and I gave you one. I knew this would happen eventually, but I always thought you'd be the one to get attached and I'd be the one rejecting you." She lifts her head and returns her attention to him. "It sucks when it's the other way around."

"I know. I'm sorry," says The Boss softly. "I just don't want to lose a good friend over this."

Shaundi is quiet for a moment, then lets out a breath. "Neither do I." She takes her hand away from him and continues ahead without another word.

The Boss calls after her. "Why do I get the feeling you're still mad at me?"

"Because I am," informs Shaundi a she disappears into the dark forest.

The Boss rolls his eyes and follows her. Kinzie keeps an eye on the scanner as they search for the fluid. She follows a blip on the radar until they reach its location.

"Stop." Kinzie orders. "We're here."

The group looks around. Asha furrows her brow. "I don't see anything but weird trees and bushes."

Kinzie points to the scanner. "According to my readings, we should be right on top of the fluid's source."

"Is it underground?" Asha stomps her foot on hard rock. "How the hell are we supposed to get to it?"

Kinzie puts a hand up. "Wait, it's moving."

"What is?" asks Shaundi.

"The source. It's moving around." Kinzie checks her scanner settings. "That can't be right."

The Boss points to her equipment. "I told you that thing was a piece of shit."

An intense beeping echoes throughout the forest. Kinzie scrambles to find where it's coming from and adjusts the scanner's settings. Her eyes widen as a mass of red dots on the radar moves to their location.

"What's going on?" asks Asha. The beeps intensify, forcing her to yell over them.

"I think we've got company," says Kinzie.

The Boss lifts his gun. "Everyone get ready."

Wolf-like howls reverberate around them. Kinzie turns the device off and the group readies their weapons. Green eyes begin to glow in the darkness. Growls and panting leaves the trees. More howls whine before a large scaly creature, built like a dog, jumps out of the tree tops. It lands on the rocky surface below causing the ground to crack under its weight. It's gaping maw for a mouth bares teeth like broken glass. It growls with a hostile nature as a line of quills lifts up from its shiny, turquoise back. The group stands in a circle as dozens of the creatures appear from the forest.

The Boss silently radios to the ship. "Pierce?" he whispers.

"Yeah, Boss?" asks Pierce.

"We've got a problem. Think you can get to our location?"

"Yeah. I got you. What's wrong?"

One of the creatures scratches the ground with its clawed foot. It growls and starts a chain reaction of snarls throughout the rest of the pack. The creatures rear back and prepare to pounce.

"Just get here!" screams The Boss.

The group opens fire as the creatures jump toward them. Lasers blast from their guns and shoot holes into the trees when the alien life forms dodge the shots.

"They're too damn fast!" shouts Kinzie.

"Keep trying!" The Boss orders before he ducks an attack from one of the creatures.

"Where the hell is Pierce?" asks Shaundi. She fires her weapon as a creature jumps toward her. Her shots meet their mark and the creature falls dead in front of her. The rest of the pack stops suddenly. The dead creature's body begins to dissolve and a green cloud of smoke rises into the air. I releases a smell like sulfur. The group covers their noses as the creatures disappear in a flash, leaving nothing but whimpering cries in their wake. Shaundi scrunches her brow. "What the hell just happened?"

"Why'd they stop attacking us?" asks Asha.

The Boss lowers his weapon. "Who cares? Just so long as they leave us alone."

A bellowing roar shakes the ground. Short bursts of quakes soon follow. Nearby trees fall to the ground as a towering troll, almost five stories high, barrels toward them. Each step the troll takes rumbles and vibrates the rock floor.

"Holy hell!" The Boss radios to Pierce again. "Pierce, where the hell are you?"

"On my way."

The troll nears their location. It only has a few more mile-long steps. The ground shakes even more. Cracks start to form in the rock under Shaundi's feet. She looks down. "Oh fuck me." She groans before the floor crumbles beneath her, revealing a deep, dark hole.

"Shaundi!" The Boss leaps forward to catch her. He grabs hold of her hand. She dangles in the opening of the cavernous gap and grips his hand for dear life.

"Don't let go," begs Shaundi. "Please, don't let go."

"I won't. Just hold on to me." He tells her.

The ground continues to crumble around them. The Boss falls through. Shaundi screams before he grabs the edge of the hole with his free hand. Asha and Kinzie rush to help as Pierce arrives with the ship.

"What the hell is that thing?" he asks when he sees the troll.

"This isn't the time, Pierce." The Boss says through gritted teeth. His grip begins to loosen on Shaundi. The floor gives under his hand. Asha and Kinzie catch him before he and Shaundi drop into the dark fissure

"I'm slipping!" Shaundi cries as her hand start to slide from The Boss' grasp.

"I got you." He grunts as he tries to pull her up. "I won't let you go."

Asha and Kinzie do their best to pull them both to safety. More of the rock deteriorates making their struggle even harder. The troll meets up with them and roars, shooting bits of phlegm in their direction. Pierce opens fire on it from the ship. The troll waves its fat arms to deflect the shots and throws a fallen tree in defense. Pierce moves the ship to dodge it and continues to fire.

Down on the ground, Shaundi's grip is failing. Her arms grow tired. Her hands start to sweat. "I can't hold on much longer," she screams.

The Boss yells at Asha and Kinzie. "Pull us up!"

"We're trying!" Asha tells him while she strains to pull them up.

"Try harder!" The Boss commands.

Shaundi hangs over impending darkness. Her fingers start to fall through The Boss' hold. His face turns red with strain as he does his best to hold on. It's no use. Though he tightens his fingers around her hand, her clammy palms make for a slick setting. She looks deep into The Boss' eyes and says gently, her voice signaling that she knows she's about to fall. "Goodbye."

"No. I got you. Don't let go." The Boss begs.

Too late. Shaundi's grip finally fails. The Boss screams her name as he watches the dark wake envelope her. His heart sinks when she's no longer in sight. Who knows how long she had to fall. The Boss closes his eyes in defeat while Asha and Kinzie help him up. The ground continues to crumble.

"We need to get out of here," says Asha. She kept her tone soft, knowing how close he was to Shaundi.

The Boss regretfully nods. He looks back at the deep cavern. Grief is written all over his face, but he knows he has to leave. "I'm sorry," he says under his breath before he runs for the safety of the ship.

Pierce is still fending off the troll. The trio on the ground run for their lives as the ground caves in behind them. They reach the ship. Johnny, The Boss' second in command, opens the cargo hold door for them.

"Where's Shaundi?" he asks when they get inside.

No one says anything. The silence was Johnny's answer. He bows his head and closes his eyes while he shuts the door.

"Pierce, get us out of here," says Johnny in solemn voice.

The Boss sits down and rests his arms on his knees. He puts his head in his hands. He says nothing, but his sorrow from losing Shaundi was apparent. Asha kneels by his side and places a gentle hand on his shoulder as Pierce blasts away to safety.