Starbound: A Space Odyssey

John and Peri kept chatting while slowly walking forward.

Just as one the Mining Facility's watchtowers entered in their sighed, both of them stopped at once.

In the horizon, they could see the purple cloud almost completely enveloping the Mining Facility.

"That is..." John face turned serious the moment that giant purple cloud entered in his sight, "...Erchius Ghost..."

As soon as he muttered its name, two giant white balls appeared from within the cloud.

Those balls were like eyes and they stared at Peri and John just for a fleeting moment before it lost interest and returned to do what it was doing.

John and Peri decided to stay at such distance and watch.

After it was done with whatever it was doing, the cloud started to shift in size and shape.

In less than a second, the cloud acquired a discernable shape.

It pretty much looked like a floating worm with two arms popping just beneath what is suppose to be its head that contain the two white balls and a black hole in the middle that was the creature's mouth.

That was Erchius Ghost, the most fearsome creature in the universe.

Technically undying, and capable of easily destroy any metal it comes to touch.

The Erchius Ghost was a mystery as there have never existed the chance to closely study its movements.

Although it show interest in nothing but Erchius Fuel, if someone get to close, the Erchius Ghost will ruthlessly kill.

The way to stay safe is simply by maintaining distance and having nothing that has Erchius Fuel close to you.

"It's my first time seeing this thing up close." Peri muttered in amazement as she stared at that purple worm-like creature, "I wonder how strong it is..." Her eyes gleamed with fighting intent.

"Don't even think about it." John extended his hand in front of her before she could move, "It's suicide."

Peri lowered her eyes from the Erchius Ghost and stared at John for a moment before saying, "I know, I don't have a death wish...yet. Don't worry, I won't do anything reckless or stupid."

John looked at Peri's eyes confirming if she really had no intentions on trying to fight the Ghost before lowering his arm, "I was planning on taking the Erchius Fuel I dumped before entering the Mining Facility, but it looks like the Ghost already found them and ate it."

John could feel relieved that although Peri liked to fight like any other Floran warrior, she still had a head over her shoulders and knew better than to pick a lost fight. If she was like any other Floran warrior, she would have just charged ahead despite of the consequences.

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"We just need to get more." Peri said.

"Yeah, but we need to wait until it get very far away before I can start taking Erchius Fuel." John shook his head and started to walk from where they came from, the direct opposite way the Erchius Ghost was going, "Let's go."

Peri nodded and followed behind John.

...

John and Peri were calmly and silently walking in that rocky terrain when John suddenly broke the silence, "Peri, what do you think of Lenny."

"Huh?" Peri was surprised by the unexpected question. She never thought John would ask something like that to her, "You want to know exactly how I think of him?"

"Yes."

"Huh...well...*ahem*" Peri cleared her throat and started, "I don't know him very much, so, I won't have many insights, but I see him as someone strong and somewhat reliable. Although he seems like a lazy, alcoholic, flirtatious, and incompetent, he's a good sharpshooter and his personality is not that unlikeable."

"Oh?" John sounded surprised, but Peri couldn't see his face as she was behind him, "It looks like you think rather highly of him."

"Not that much. I still think he's annoying."

John faintly chuckled. He stopped for moment before saying, "Yeah...but that's not what I wanted to know...what I want to know is of he's trustworthy, if he's... someone good, fair..."

"I don't know." Peri said while she tried to take a look at John's face, but he kept staring ahead, "He's a Bounty Hunter, so, you should expect his hand to be rather dirty. But even if he did some terrible things in the past, it is in the past. Who didn't do something they regret in the past? People change with time. Look at him now, he saved Forge and Saito when he didn't need. If he had dumped both of them behind, he would have a greater chance to survive, but he still chose to save them. I also made some mistakes on the past and shameful actions when I was younger...like when I almost killed a king-...no, just forget about about it."

"Yeah...you are right..." John's voice sounded rather distant at that moment, "People commit mistakes in the past...people change..."

Although he didn't seem interested, John was curious about what Peri was about to say about her past, but he decided to not dive in it, he would wait until Peri decided to tell about her to him.

"Are you alright, John?" Peri accelerated her steps and caught up with him, "What's up with that question?"

"Nothing much, just clearing some doubts bin my head." John turned around and showed a small smile to Peri, "I'm fine now, let's keep moving."

Peri silently stared at John's back before she started to follow him again.

[Did he overheard my conversation with Lenny?] That's what Peri was thinking as both of them continued to travel around the rocky moon.

...

Not long after creating some distance between them and the Erchius Ghost, John and Peri soon found a strange lake filled with a purple, slightly pink, liquid.

"Liquid Erchius Fuel." John recognized the liquid in his first glance.

"What's better, Liquid or Crystal?" Peri curiously asked.

"In which way?" John asked back.

"In terms of energy...I think."

"Both of them has the same amount. 1 milligram of Liquid Erchius Fuel has the same energy as one milligram of Crystal Erchius Fuel. The only difference between both of them is the fact that is easier to extract, as well as store, the liquid form rather than the crystal."

"Uhum." Peri nodded as she she sounded like she understood.

"Unfortunately, I can't extract the Liquid Erchius Fuel, not without upgrading my Matter Manipulator." John shook his head, "If I could have taken all this lake, we could have use the Warp Jump a few times without worrying about Fuel."

"That's a shame."

"Yes, it is." John said.

He glanced at the lake one more time before walking away, [When I get to Ark Outpost I'm going ask if Esther has some Modules with her that she could give to me. I need to upgrade my Matter Manipulator...]