It was war, yet not like any war that man had ever seen before. There were no guns shooting or bombs exploding. There wasn't even the bloody massacre that is usually associated with war, but it was war of a magnitude never seen before or since on that world. After it was over the planet was quiet. A huge silent chunk of rock and dirt floating through space. All signs of the vast civilization that had flourished there was gone. The towering buildings, the giant cities, even the people had all been eradicated by the war. The only thing that existed above the single cellular level was a broad jungle extending over the world. It covered everything it could. It spread over what was once plains, forests, swamps, mountains, deserts. It covered the entire planet except where the polar regions grew too cold, and in the nearby area of a large black tower. The tower sat alone surrounded by the vast chaotic jumble of trees and vines. A lone monument to the people that had lost their lives in the battle the day before. An eerie timelessness hung over the planet. Nothing changed, no animals moved through the forest, no fish swam in the seas. Not even an insect could be found amidst the lush foliage. As it ever does, time marched by. Centuries passed and besides the occasional tree falling down, nothing changed. No storms came, no earthquakes, the planet was as silent as the graveyard it was.
In the sky a white streak appeared. It came hurtling down towards the ground and planted itself right next to the tower. Unmoving it appeared to be a short, squat, metal box. It sat there a moment in the shadow of the tower that dwarfed it before a large hole appeared in one side. Two multi-appendaged creatures came out. They had brownish-pink skin, and walked upright. They were perfectly normal specimens for the human species they belonged to. They looked around for a second, immersing themselves in the strangeness of the world they had arrived at.
“Sure is quiet here” Dr. Herbert Thow said. “I can't hear a thing besides us, it makes me feel lethargic. I wish I could stay here and enjoy it forever. Unfortunately we have a job to do. I'll start on the vegetation, you do the animal study.”
“Why do I always have to do the animal life.” Jonathon Teey moped. “I have a degree in botany, and he makes me do the fauna. Just because you're the big-shot scientist and I'm the lowly pilot doesn't put you in charge.”
“Yes,” Herb said “But the Final Foundation that is financing our trip out here does. It doesn't matter how menial you think the job is. You're being paid to help me and that includes the animal life here. Now get to work.”
Herb handed Jon a pair of binoculars, a camera, some plastic containers of various sizes, and a pooper scooper.
“What if I'm attacked again like on that last planet we surveyed?” Jon grumbled.
“Stop being so pessimistic. I have the only tranquilizer gun so stay near me, and we'll be fine.”
Herb got to work collecting samples of various leaves and branches on the surrounding trees and vines. As he snipped the first leaf off with his shears he couldn't help but get an overwhelming feeling that the tree was in pain where he had cut it. He backed away for a second and looked at the tree. It was similar to other trees he had seen on other planets. It had a few minor differences as all trees did, but it was like any other tree he had seen. It had a large round trunk, many branches with slender green leaves covering it. He put the leaf in a container and took some more samples. As he cut and clipped he continued to feel anguish emanating from the surrounding planets, but it was masked by a growing sense of hostility. He felt something touch his back and he leaped around ready to attack whatever it was.
“Hey hold on Herb!” Jon cried “It's only me.”
“Oh,” Herb sighed “You startled me.”
“You're kinda jumpy today. Fortunately there is nothing to worry about. Not a single animal here.”
“You're kidding.”
“Not even insects and grubs, just plants.”
“Well I think we're done with the initial survey. Lets put this stuff away and check out that tower. This may be the first proof people have been looking for to show that intelligent life exists on other planets.”
Jon started coughing harshly.
“This is not a good place for allergies with all these spores floating around.” he hacked. “Remind me to take a sample of them, I forgot to.”
“Lets check out that tower first.”
Together they walked around the base. The door was a large, heavy thing that was almost impossible to move. The inside was a dark dreary chamber with the only light coming in from the door and a few windows near the top. A single spiral staircase ascended up into the high reaches of the tower.
“This metal is an inferior alloy to the one we use.” Jon mentioned feeling the wall “Yet the design and architecture are exceptional.”
The stairs had no visible railing that could be seen, but they still went up anyway. Herb was paying so much attention to what was around him that he missed a step, went wheeling over the edge and stopped.
“What happened?” Jon asked “It looked like you were going to go over the edge.”
“Press out, some force keeps us from going over the side. I can't see it, but it's tangible and I can move it a little.”
“Yes, but let's not test and see how well it works again. This place might not be working entirely.”
They climbed the rest of the way to the top and stepped out onto a balcony that showed a panoramic view of the area. Looking out, Herb felt the loss of whatever people had been here. Somehow he could sense that this world had been more than what it was. To the east he could see the shimmering of a long forgotten sea. To the north overlooking the ocean was the broad expanse of a now nameless plateau. He felt the strange compulsion to go back down and abandon everything he had worked for to live in this jungle. It was so strong that he almost started back down the stairs but he stayed for a moment. The feeling passed and he was fine.
“Are you all right Herb?” Jon asked. “You had a strange vacant look in your eyes.”
“I'm fine. I was just trying to see if I could find our ship from here.”
“It should be to our left over there.”
They searched around yet no sign remained of their only contact home. Jon’s stomach fluttered with fear. In panic, he raced down the stairs. Herb still stood looking out. Jon had been acting erratic lately he thought, I wonder what is wrong with him. Somewhere in the back of his subconscious mind he felt that something was wrong. It was pushed out as soon as it came in and Herb soon forgot about it. He slowly walked down the stairs again and out into the bright sun. No sign remained of the ship, yet he wasn't bothered. He knew everything would be alright. A tunnel opened through the trees into the dense jungle. The vines hanging down looked vaguely like teeth, giving the tunnel the appearance of a giant mouth. Herb nonchalantly entered the gaping orifice which crashed shut behind him, making him an innocent victim of the ancient war. The noise of the closing tunnel reverberated throughout the hills. The echoes soon faded though. Once again leaving the world as silent as the graveyard it was.