"Yes!" Ethan exclaimed, relief washing over him as the last egg went dark. He looked at the tracker, which now displayed a new message: "All Cellucas Eggs on Planet Earth: Cleared."
But their reprieve was short-lived. The holographic display flickered again, and a new red dot appeared, this time accompanied by a celestial designation: "Significant Cellucas Egg Presence Detected: Planet 51 Pegasi b."
Ethan stared at the display. "51 Pegasi b? Where is that?"
"It's a gas giant in the constellation Pegasus, about 50 light-years from Earth," Kiaz replied, his expression grim. "And it seems the Cellucas have established a significant presence there. We need to go. Now. Every moment counts."
"Wait a minute," Ethan said, a practical concern arising. "How am I supposed to survive in space? Do I need a spacesuit or something?"
Kiaz shook his head. "With the high concentration of neutrino energy in your body, you possess a remarkable resilience. You can withstand extreme temperatures, immense pressure, and even the vacuum of space for a considerable amount of time. It's one of the… side effects of your unique physiology."
After a hurried and emotional goodbye to Lena, promising to return safely, the three of them boarded the Nebulan spacecraft. Once they had cleared Earth's atmosphere and escaped its gravitational pull, the ship shimmered, and the stars outside blurred into streaks of light as it initiated a warp jump.
In what felt like mere moments, the familiar starry sky outside the viewport was replaced by the awe-inspiring sight of a colossal planet. Swirling bands of vibrant colors dominated its form, dwarfing anything Ethan had ever seen.
"Woah…" Ethan breathed, his eyes wide with wonder. "That's… that's bigger than Jupiter!"
"Indeed," Ziak confirmed, his gaze fixed on the alien world. "51 Pegasi b. It's a type of planet we call a 'Hot Jupiter.' It's a gas giant, at least half as massive as your Jupiter, but it orbits incredibly close to its star. Imagine a year lasting only a few Earth days, the surface temperatures reaching scorching levels due to its proximity to its sun." He shook his head. "The Cellucas have chosen a truly hostile environment to incubate their young."
The Nebulan spacecraft smoothly descended through the gas giant's turbulent atmosphere, finally settling on a massive, floating structure that pulsed with an eerie, organic light amidst the swirling clouds.
"This must be where they're hiding the eggs," Kiaz said, his weapon ready. "Let's proceed with caution."