North
02:02:03
Over his shoulder lay the body of Emily Hayes their chief Xenonologist.
She was burned where she was not bloody, which was primarily the back side.
The front side of her was torn as if some great claw had rent through her from top to shin.
The face and scalp were ripped off and laying some space away, identity now only recognizable by her exposed genitalia and suit.
Michael had not known her before this mission but she had been pleasant with a quick humor and he'd learned to enjoy her company.
His vision shifted back to blurry when he spotted Caleb, still seated by the instrument console, now black with ash.
An electrical discharge could have explained the singeing of his body but the macabre scene of Emily indicated something else.
Head pounding he stood and staggered over to the commander's corpse, finding it easier to place his focus there.
None of the routine readings had changed and Caleb's hands where hanging stiffly at his sides suggesting that he'd not been touching the console when he died.
The console itself was cool to the touch and polished which again indicated something other than electric discharge.
Michael cried out at a sudden tingle beneath his fingertips and jumped backward, knocking into Caleb who fell against him as he landed atop.
The corpse was cold but should not have been.
It also had very little odor.
How long had Michael been out anyway?