Wadjet

5.3

Chapter V: The Call of the Gods

Section III: A Name from Ancient Legends

Leaving camp, Watanabe Haruto replayed the recorded dino call on BabelMind:

“Wa—je…Wa…jet…”

Valentina perked up.

“It does sound like ‘Wadjet’ or something close. Do they only chant it after seeing or sensing something?”

Chen Ruolan, walking ahead, glanced back.

“‘Wadjet’…that rings a bell. In Ancient Egyptian mythology, there was a serpent guardian goddess named Wadjet. Could it be just a coincidence in pronunciation?”

Valentina clapped her hands in excitement.

“Yes! Wadjet was the deity of the Nile Delta, symbolizing fertility and the power of snakes.”“This planet is teeming with serpent-like vines…” Watanabe Haruto mused.

Chen Ruolan’s brows knitted in thought.

“Maybe these dinos call this place ‘Wadjet,’ like it’s their homeland or some sort of deity. Even if it’s just a primal cry, ‘Wadjet’ might make a suitable name for this planet—mysterious, and it fits what we’ve seen.”“I like it,” Valentina agreed with a small smile.

As they pressed on, they debated whether “Wadjet” implied a genuine divine force or a collective will of the planet’s flora. Watanabe, grounding his view in evolutionary theory, argued that high CO₂ and low oxygen let the plants dominate, leaving animals as a minority. Valentina worried there might be deeper “spiritual” forces at work—perhaps the Mother Tree demanded living sacrifices. Chen Ruolan wasn’t keen on the notion of “gods,” but she intended to shield the dinos from further enslavement.

5.2 Chapter V: The Call of the Gods Section II: Unrest at the Camp While everyone speculated on the dino’s strange call, a sudden rustling erupted among the vines outside the camp. Femi and Chiamaka instantly raised their pulse rifles. Several thick vines tried slithering into the enclosure, but the two fended them off; after some brief skirmishing, the tendrils withdrew, seemingly deterred by the humans’ numbers. Sophie, observing from a distance, felt her stomach clench. “It never ends… At least they didn’t mount a full attack this time. Could this be a warning?” Chen Ruolan’s expression turned steely. “The Mother Tree—or Queen Tree—is still lurking, testing our defenses. Let’s gather our minerals now. Another big assault and we might not hold.” Watanabe Haruto grabbed BabelMind, glancing at Chen Ruolan. “Don’t be rash. The tremors we felt last night were strong—maybe the plants are reorganizing. If we go charging in again, we could be lighting the fuse.”“Haruto, are you spouting cautionary tales again?” Chen Ruolan shot him a narrowed look. “Relax—I’ll be careful. But we can’t just sit idle: without power, this ship is dead, and so are we.” He exhaled, resigned. “Fine, fine. I know you’re resourceful, but please—stay calm if danger shows up.” Valentina smiled at their bickering. “Alright, let’s quit squabbling and head out. Don’t waste any more time. And maybe later we can figure out what those repeated dino calls really mean.”

5.1

Chapter V: The Call of the Gods

Section I: Murmurs at Daybreak

Dawn broke in sweltering humidity, the red-orange sunlight drenching the makeshift camp. Despite the patchwork sunshades propped around the wrecked spaceship, the place still looked battered. A few stubby, endearing baby dinos paced nervously at the edge of their enclosure, letting out soft, anxious whimpers.

Chen Ruolan secured the medical gauze around the adult dino’s wounds and patted its neck reassuringly.

“It’s alright now. We won’t let those vines hurt you again.”

The dinosaur gave a low rumbling sound, its pinkish-purple scales quivering. It seemed to be trying to communicate in a clumsy way, producing repeated syllables that sounded like “Wa—jet…wa…jet.”

“It almost sounds like it’s saying ‘Wajet’?” Valentina murmured, brow furrowed in thought. “Or ‘Wadjet’? I’m not sure if it’s calling for help or something else.”

Watanabe Haruto, standing nearby with BabelMind, captured an audio clip.

“Let me analyze their vocal frequency. They keep repeating a fixed set of syllables—it could be a shared ‘call sign’ in their species.”

Busy tightening a coolant pipe on the ship, Sophie Henderson looked over.

“Sure, record it. Maybe it’s how these local creatures refer to this planet—or something else entirely.”

Chen Ruolan stroked the dino’s quivering horn, sensing its restlessness.

“Alright, Haruto, store that audio. We also need to gather more minerals today to keep the ship running. Maybe we’ll find more clues along the way.”

Standing guard on the perimeter were Femi and Chiamaka, both of African heritage, physically formidable, tasked with security and resource coordination. Femi quietly remarked to Chiamaka,

“They keep muttering ‘Wa…jet.’ Could it be an ancient word for a deity or totem? Even these smaller creatures might have their own concept of a ‘god.’”

Chiamaka shrugged.

4.7

Chapter IV: The Voice of the Roots

Section VII: Seeds of Conflict, Seeds of Hope

Their mission complete, Chen Ruolan and Watanabe shared a look, silently agreeing to retreat. They planted a hidden camera and sensor in the soft soil to record any root activity.

Before leaving, Watanabe glanced back at that towering shape in the gloom.

“So that’s the Mother Tree…? It doesn’t look entirely healthy. The crumbling root zone hints at some internal strife or old injuries.”“Damaged or not, let’s get back and report our findings,” Chen Ruolan said through clenched teeth. “Clearly the plant world here isn’t a single, united front. There may be factions or conflicts. That could be our chance—and the dinos’ chance—to survive.”

With questions churning in their minds, they stepped away, quickening their pace. In the shadows behind them, the Mother Tree’s roots continued to pulse faintly, as though in an ongoing silent dialogue—or summoning a deeper power. Perhaps next time, when the humans returned, they would be met by this planet’s supreme will head-on.

Slanting orange-red rays fell through the colossal rainforest canopy, casting warped, dappled shadows across the ground. Far off, a few wounded mini-dinos seemed to be calling out, as if sensing an even greater storm brewing. Sooner or later, humanity would confront the Mother Tree—whether in conflict or conversation, fate would see them collide.

Chapter IV: The Voice of the Roots

Section VI: Encountering the Colossal Trunk

Emerging into a broad, ruined clearing, Chen Ruolan and Watanabe suddenly felt a heavier rumble—like some titanic force shifting underground. Beneath an arch of twisted roots, they glimpsed what looked like a massive trunk looming in the shadows. Its middle was split by a huge fissure oozing a dark green liquid, a wound that gave off a menacing aura.

Watanabe held his breath:

“…That might be the Mother Tree’s base, or a major limb.”

Chen Ruolan also drew a sharp breath. Instinct told her this was no ordinary trunk. Vines etched with strange, rune-like patterns coiled around it, perhaps a “language” of this planet’s plant empire.

She instinctively tightened her grip on her laser cutter.

“Haruto, don’t get too close. All we need is to confirm its position before we go back.”“R-right. Still…this is…unnerving.” Watanabe’s chest felt tight, haunted by the memory of his nightmare.

ARIA’s blue eyes flickered, projecting a warning:

“Massive root energy detected…extremely high readings. Likely a core node.”

They exchanged glances but said nothing. The Mother Tree’s presence loomed over them like a silent threat—any moment, it might fully awaken and summon swarms of vines against these intruders. Both of them felt keenly aware of how small they were in this alien kingdom.

After a long break, I am back!

4.5

Chapter IV: The Voice of the Roots

Section V: Descent into a Root Graveyard

About an hour later, they crossed patches of grayish-black rock and boggy sinkholes before arriving at a colossal zone of exposed roots. Giant, twisted roots sprawled across the ground, tangled like a mass of living cords. Some sections appeared scorched or corroded, as if a past cataclysm had left them in ruins.

Watanabe knelt to study a charred break, face darkening:

“Seems there are hollow channels inside—like main arteries between the roots. Either a conflict or natural disaster ruptured them, causing a collapse.”

Chen Ruolan nudged a broken root with her boot.

“Could be plant-on-plant warfare or some outside force. This place definitely looks like it was some sort of root hub.”

ARIA scanned the site:

“Detecting residual chemical signals indicative of large-scale interactions. Approximately 30% of the root conduits here are severed.”

Puzzled yet intrigued, they followed the broken root channels deeper. Though vines still quivered ominously and toxic spores drifted in the air, there was no massive assault, as if the plants themselves were searching for something.

Suddenly, a faint hum vibrated through the ground again, jolting their nerves. Watanabe’s face went pale, recalling his nightmare:

“We must be closer to the Mother Tree. I can…almost feel it calling.”

Chen Ruolan’s pulse raced, an invisible presence prickling the back of her neck.

“Let’s press on just a bit farther. If that Mother Tree really exists, even catching a glimpse or a sense of it should be enough for us to head back and prepare.”

Deeper inside, more fractured root passageways came into view. The rhythmic surging of the low-frequency tremor felt almost like some vast entity breathing. Suspended high overhead were flamboyant blossoms and bioluminescent ferns, as if countless eyes silently tracking the intruders. ARIA’s system beeped incessantly: the area’s toxin concentration and infrared activity had spiked, prompting caution.

4.4

Chapter IV: The Voice of the Roots

Section IV: Waking Anxiety

Come sunrise, Valentina noticed the adult dino pacing restlessly. It let out anxious gurgles, leading the babies in uneasy circles.

“It looks like they can sense the vibrations from the root network too. If there really is a central plant intelligence, we need to find out where it is—and how big.”“Better than waiting for it to come to us,” Sophie remarked, busy with last-minute power checks on the ship. “If you plan to scout, I can only provide limited comm support. Don’t stray too far.”

Femi hefted his pulse rifle.

“We should fortify the camp as well. Who knows if that Mother Tree might rally a legion of vines.”

Chen Ruolan scanned the group. She locked eyes briefly with Watanabe Haruto. They agreed to split the team: one party to fortify the camp and protect the dinos, another to follow the vibrations and locate the Mother Tree or central root cluster.

“I’ll head out with Haruto. Valentina, you stay here and look after the dinos,” Chen Ruolan said, sparing a compassionate glance at the timid creatures. “Femi and Chiamaka, stay as well in case of an attack.”

Haruto raised an eyebrow.

“You sure you want me along, given how much I talk? Or am I just an extra weight on your shoulders?”

She gave him a mock glare.

“Please—you’re our environment and biology expert. No matter how annoying, you’re still useful.”

They let the snarking go at that, quickly packed, and headed into the forest. ARIA bounded onto Chen Ruolan’s shoulder, scanning the direction of the resonant root waves. Thus began their quest to find the Mother Tree.

4.3

Chapter IV: The Voice of the Roots

Section III: Nightmares in the Night

Nightfall brought no relief; temperatures stayed above thirty degrees Celsius. Sophie, Femi, and Chiamaka took turns on watch while the others tried to rest in the stifling heat. The baby dinos huddled close, gently bumping horns to bolster each other against any lurking plant threats in the dark.

In the latter half of the night, Chen Ruolan was dozing against the hatch when she noticed Watanabe Haruto suddenly jerk awake, forehead damp with sweat.

“What’s wrong?” she asked softly, scooting closer.

He looked shaken, eyes unfocused.

“I…had a horrible nightmare. I dreamed I became part of the vines, forced to merge into this massive root network. There were countless wooden channels carrying sap, and a gigantic will roaring in my head, commanding me to…capture more flesh.”

Chen Ruolan blinked.

“Careful, you’re scaring the little ones.” She glanced at the baby dinos peeking from under a dim lamp, obviously on edge.“Sorry,” Watanabe whispered, taking several deep breaths. “Do you think it’s possible there really is some ‘Mother Tree’ controlling all roots? Maybe it can manipulate our brains chemically or telepathically.”

She wanted to offer comfort, but the words caught in her throat.

“Don’t jump to conclusions. But…given that tremor and your dream, this might not be pure coincidence.”

She lowered her voice:

“Let’s not alarm the others yet. We’ll figure out a plan by morning.”

Watanabe nodded with a rueful smile. From a nearby perch, ARIA’s blue LED eyes glimmered silently, as though also sensing these ominous currents.

4.2

Chapter IV: The Voice of the Roots

Section II:A Subterranean Tremor

Around midday, Femi and Chiamaka dug a new drainage ditch beneath the ship, hoping to funnel away stagnant water so vines couldn’t slip in under cover of night. Suddenly, a faint vibration shook the ground—almost like a mild earthquake, only it lasted slightly too long. The mushy swamp floor seemed to “twitch.”

Chiamaka immediately called out:

“Captain, do you feel that over there?”

Indeed, Chen Ruolan and Watanabe Haruto had also sensed the tremor underfoot, nearly sending the baby dinos tumbling. ARIA, the cat-like AI, leapt to higher ground and projected data into midair.

“Warning: neighboring root networks are emitting intense vibration signals—over 200% above previous readings.”

Sophie’s heart lurched.

“You’re saying the plant network can produce such powerful seismic waves? Are they launching another attack?”“Not necessarily. The wave frequency is fairly low and widely dispersed—almost as if it’s…communicating,” ARIA explained. “It could be the network’s core issuing orders or directives.”

The team traded anxious glances, hearts pounding. A higher level of plant intelligence controlling everything? They all recalled the vines’ predatory behavior days earlier, and a shiver coursed down their spines.

Watanabe Haruto frowned.

“Are we talking about a ‘Mother Tree’ or ‘Queen Tree’ scenario, like an ant colony has a queen?”

Femi scowled:

“If that’s the case, we barely survived tangling with a handful of vines. If the Mother Tree decides to act, not even our camp may hold.”

4.1

Chapter IV: The Crimson Star

Section I: Tensions Under a Blistering Sun

On the fifth morning, the red-orange sun once again scorched the land. Even though Sophie Henderson had rigged several layers of shade cloth around the spaceship wreckage, the humid heat still surged across everything. Anyone moving for more than a few minutes ended up drenched in sweat.

Inside a simple lean-to, Chen Ruolan gently laid the injured adult dino back onto its bedding. She had just finished applying fresh antifungal medication to the wounds corroded by the vines; at least now the discharge had ceased. Several baby dinos crouched nearby, peering up at Chen Ruolan’s cool, inscrutable face with their big round eyes. They let out soft “woo-woo” calls, as if conveying gratitude or dependence.

“Don’t worry. A few more days of rest, and it might be able to stand on its own again.” Valentina knelt beside them, her lightly tanned face alight with a soothing smile as she stroked a baby dino’s scales. “I’ll keep monitoring their temperature and breathing. The main threat now is a fungal infection. Those parasitic mycelia are terrifying.”

Chen Ruolan nodded, though her mind was elsewhere.

“We need to accelerate our hunt for minerals. The ship isn’t fully operational, and if another large-scale plant attack comes, I doubt we can hold them off.”

As she spoke, Watanabe Haruto sat in the center of camp, poring over data collected the previous day with BabelMind. He glanced up at Chen Ruolan, his tone intentionally casual:

“You’re thinking of rushing out to explore again? Don’t go blundering into danger. These plants…they’re smarter than we assumed.”“There you go again.” Chen Ruolan arched a brow. “Can you stop telling me not to be reckless? If we never venture out, we’ll just wait around for doom.”

Watanabe gave a half-smirk.

“Huh, maybe there’s a safer method. Like using those dinos to guide us further into the jungle—but we should be careful not to hack up vines the way we did before—”

Sensing the sparks about to fly, Valentina quickly stepped in with a laugh.

“Alright, enough. We just rescued these little ones; let’s give them some time to recover. Once they’re stable, we’ll figure things out.”

3.7

Chapter III: The Crimson Star

Section VII: Night of the Crimson Glow

Night fell again, but the temperature barely dropped. As the red-orange afterglow faded, the vines’ bioluminescence and nocturnal mists reclaimed the jungle. The crew took turns standing guard, wary of any roots sneaking in. Huddled together, the baby dinos slept fitfully; the adult lay in a corner of the enclosure, swathed in temporary bandages. In the dim glow of camp lights, the humans pondered both the K-type star they had discussed by day, and the planet’s bizarre, merciless laws of nature.

None of them could truly rest. Sophie in particular kept picturing that faintly orange star on the cosmic map. For some reason, the memory unsettled her: the star’s relatively low luminosity, its red-shifted spectrum…yet somehow, through this planet’s greenhouse effect, it forged an extreme rainforest. Combined with the plants’ enslavement of animals—was this the norm on worlds orbiting K-type stars, or an isolated phenomenon?

It was an unanswerable question for now. Their only hope lay in further studying the root system—perhaps they could find a path to coexistence or a method of defense. Faint night breezes carried the vines’ low-frequency hum, hinting at either a warning or the stirring of fresh conflict. Even asleep, the baby dinos shivered, as though still pursued in their dreams by the brutal grip of the roots.

Everything suggested that a direct showdown with this planet’s K-type-star-fueled ecosystem loomed in the near future. Yet the rescue of the little dinos kindled a faint spark of hope. Perhaps they were not mere intruders, but guests in a vast botanical empire, seeking a different way forward — a way to coexist or survive.

3.6

Chapter III: The Crimson Star

Section VI: Hope in a Grim Environment

In the center of camp, the adult dino struggled to stand. Though still bandaged and weak, it let out a soft call to its young, as if urging them not to fear the humans.

“Mmm…mm…”

The babies immediately gathered around, rubbing their stubby horns against its leg in concern. Occasionally, they cast tentative glances at the human crew, emitting gentle calls that held less fear and a hint more affection. Valentina stroked one of them, feeling a pang at how these fragile creatures still nurtured kindness in such a brutal rainforest.

“I’ll go gather some more food,” she said, meeting Chen Ruolan’s gaze with determination. “If we want them to feel safe, they need to eat well. There must be loose foliage or certain vine fruits nearby.”“Right,” Chen Ruolan agreed, then turned her eyes to the forest’s depths. “Tomorrow, we’ll figure out how to push back against the plant network…”

3.5

Chapter III: The Crimson Star Section

V: Preparing for Further Expeditions

ARIA sprang onto the console, its synthesized voice echoing: “External temperature continues to climb—currently 44°C, humidity 85%. Recommend minimizing physical exertion and securing minerals to improve the ship’s cooling systems.”“We’ll return to the star analysis later,” Sophie said, shutting down the projection. “We’ve got to keep the ship functional first.” Chen Ruolan squared her shoulders, feeling both worry and resolve. “Knowing it’s a K-type star, we can stop trying to map it onto Earth-based assumptions. Our immediate goals remain the same: find minerals, study plant vulnerabilities, and keep these dinos from being enslaved by the vines.” Watanabe Haruto let out the faintest sigh but didn’t argue. “Fine, I’ll start gathering soil and rock samples.” Valentina gave the baby dino’s scales a gentle pat and eyed Chen Ruolan and Watanabe with amusement. “You two managed to stop bickering faster than usual. I’m impressed.” Chen Ruolan cleared her throat. “We’re not done bickering—we just have work to do. Let’s move.”

3.4

Chapter III: The Crimson Star

Section IV: Facing the Grim Reality

Femi studied the red-orange star spectrum, letting out a wry laugh.

“The star’s higher infrared output probably boosts photosynthesis in these plants, making it tougher on any animals trying to adapt.”“It explains the rainforest’s incredible density—and the scarcity of animal life,” Chiamaka said, tapping the console. “Maybe that’s also why the vines are so vicious. In a world with such high CO₂, plants might evolve aggressive traits, even preying on animals.”

Sophie closed her files, her worry evident.

“So what do we do now? It’s obvious this planet isn’t exactly rolling out the welcome mat.”

Valentina glanced down at the baby dino snoozing against her shoulder.

“At least these little ones don’t seem hostile to us. Maybe we can work with them to learn more about the planet.”

Chen Ruolan caught Watanabe Haruto’s eye. Her tone had softened.

“Haruto, you’re the biology specialist. Based on this ‘K-type star plus high CO₂’ environment, do you think there’s any chance of finding a safe zone, or at least a plant weakness?”

He mulled it over for a moment.

“Roughly speaking, here’s what I figure: The plant life is abundant, but it’s overly reliant on integrated root networks. If we disrupt certain key nodes, we might break the vines’ ability to coordinate their attacks on animal life. Animals here are small and timid, but they have their own survival strategies—like these dinos’ secreted mucus or specialized scales.”

He paused, glancing at the baby dino with its big, glimmering eyes, then added:

“Maybe we can discover something in their evolutionary traits to help us hide from or interfere with the vines.”

3.3

Chapter III: The Crimson Star

Section III: Star Data and a Bigger Picture

Just then, Sophie walked over and tapped on the main console.

“Alright, everyone gather around. Femi, Chiamaka, and I have done some repairs and gotten the database functional again. Let’s see if we can learn more about this planet.”

They clustered around the improvised command station. Valentina cradled a baby dino in her arms, while Femi and Chiamaka set aside their welding gear.

Sophie pulled up a star map projection—an image of a somewhat dim, yellowish star appeared on the screen.

“We re-analyzed the data on the parent star,” she said, circling a point on the display. “It turns out it’s not a G-type star like our Sun, but a K-type star.”

Chen Ruolan frowned.

“A K-type star… so that means it’s cooler than our Sun and has a red-orange hue?”“Exactly.” Sophie zoomed in on a spectral curve. “Its surface temperature is roughly between 4,000 and 5,000 Kelvin, compared to the Sun’s 5,800. That’s why the daylight has that red-orange cast. Plus, this planet isn’t too far from it, so with the strong greenhouse effect, we end up with extreme heat and high CO₂—this hyper-tropical environment.”

Watanabe Haruto jumped in:

“And the planet’s volume and mass are how much bigger than Earth’s?”“From our readings, about 1.3 times Earth’s mass,” Sophie said, swiping her hand to reveal a string of data. “That means stronger gravity. The atmospheric pressure might be around 1.5 times Earth’s. Combine that with CO₂ levels dozens of times higher than ours, and you have a perfect setting for runaway plant growth.”“No wonder it’s like a more extreme Jurassic,” Chen Ruolan sighed. “Well, how do we use this information to help ourselves?”

3.2

Chapter III: The Crimson Star

Section II: Conflicting Perspectives

Kneeling beside the baby dinos, Chen Ruolan double-checked their bandages. Satisfied, Valentina left to help Sophie organize equipment, while Watanabe Haruto came over to review biological data.

“Look at the scales on their tails.” He tapped on BabelMind’s screen, his tone as measured as always. “I suspect they can filter microbes or mineral particles from the mud—somewhat like the evolved gill structures of certain amphibians on Earth.”

Chen Ruolan didn’t reply. She was busy stroking the curved little horns on one of the baby dinos, her heart warmed as it nuzzled her palm.

“What do you think about their intelligence level? Any signs of group behavior?” she asked absently.“They definitely exhibit social tendencies. Watch how they huddle and lick each other’s wounds,” Watanabe said with a shrug. “Still, I don’t recommend keeping them as pets. We might destabilize the local ecology—”

Chen Ruolan’s hand dropped, her brow furrowing.

“Are you going to start that again?”

Caught off-guard, Watanabe hesitated.

3.1

Chapter III: The Crimson Star

Section I: Another Dawn, Another Challenge

When the red-orange glow of dawn once again swept aside the night, the makeshift spaceship camp greeted its third day. Sophie Henderson rubbed her temples, examining cracks across the hull and then pausing in brief contemplation. Beneath her short, gold-brown hair, her blue eyes looked bloodshot. Ever since they rescued those mini-dinosaurs the night before, the camp had been in nonstop motion—treating the injured adult dino, warding off another possible vine incursion.

“Don’t push yourself too hard, Sophie.” Valentina offered her a freshly dried blanket, concern evident on her tanned face. “Have something to eat. We’ll need you later when we analyze data on that star.”

Sophie forced a small smile, bracing herself to stay focused.

Not far off, Femi and Chiamaka were stabilizing the ship’s outer plating with makeshift welding tools, hoping to deter any more root invasions during the night. The cluster of stubby baby dinos nestled together inside a makeshift pen, emitting soft, plaintive calls. The once-gravely wounded adult dino lay near a campfire, giving a low, pained whimper now and then, yet still lifting its head to catch the humans’ gaze—a sight that tugged at everyone’s heart.