12. The Healing Planet

Entering the uncharted territories turned even the stoutest of Hynerians into the equivalent of jiggy jello on a hot plate, which is to say, going uncontrollably everywhere and going there fast. The inhabitants of Bravo-Four-Zero had no choice, yet the fear of the unknown, the fear of childhood campfire horror stories, in short the fear that firmly rooted itself in the imagination, tended to suffocate it's victims like an anaconda with time on it's hands. Fear like this permeated every pore, turned the eyes bloodshot for no good reason, and warped judgment like wood left out in the rain too long.

No outside observer would have been surprised to learn that our friends attempted to land at the first planet that came into view. Later dubbed The Healing Planet, for the purplish waters had magical powers to heal all infirmities. A water world like their own Hynerian homeworld, our friends thought they had found their needle in the haystack. Passion fruit was consumed in quantities beyond legal limits as happiness and joy appointed themselves king and queen of the day.

There always seems to be a "however" about this time in the story as the happy couples soon discovered all was not as it seemed. Oh, the waters of The Healing Planet were in fact magical but as the old Hynerian proverb stated, Take what you want, and then pay for it, our friends soon realized that while the dark purplish waters certainly did heal, they also aged.

Just as the stars appeared to melt into the planet's lakes and oceans so too did a Hynerian appear to exchange life force, life years, in exchange for the healing properties. Had our four couples stayed, old age would have claimed them all within the year. Keep in mind a Hynerian's average life spanned centuries. The reign of happiness and joy were short lived as anger and fear rode in like barbarians to resume their rightful place. Within the hour, Bravo-Four-Zero headed back into deep space.