Microscopic Devastator

Imagine that you are part of a team of explorers.  You have been assigned to survey a newly discovered planet in the ongoing search for energy sources.  From orbit, the planet seems as if it were formed from gaseous material.  Upon further inspection, your team discovers that the planet has a solid surface, although no available sources of oxygen.

You join your exploratory team on a mission to the surface.  From within the vessel, you can see the seemingly endless terrain.  It is sharp and rocky in places, and in others, the terrain seems as smooth as glass.  Some time later, you are standing on the very planet itself.  The surface under your boots is clearly very unstable.

You walk for what seems to be hours as your team collects data.  Suddenly, your suit sensors detect a fast approaching life force.  The unknown being is detected by your team as well.  You are concerned because these life sources were not detected from orbit.  Instantly, warning alerts from your vessel indicate a danger situation and your team is recalled.

In moments, an energy strike obliterates a member of your team.  Frantically, you and your team make for the vessel.  You move as fast as you can as energy strikes ignite the very surface of the planet all about you.  You hear a strange sound as like a grinding and cutting machine, cutting and tearing.

Sweat beads on your forehead, as you see defensive energy bolts firing from your vessel ahead of you.  They cut through the dense atmosphere, passing your suit by inches and disappear behind you.  A high shrill voice cuts through your protective suit and bursts within your head, dropping you to the ground.

You try to cover your ears, but for your helmet, are unable to.  Struggling to stand, you stagger back in the direction of your vessel.  You notice that your suit no longer detects your team members, and you make an extra effort to make it back to the safety of your vessel.  Before you, you see a great amount of sparking and heavy smoke.  Staggering forward, you notice that your vessel lies on it's side and in ruin.

Everything is silent.

You turn to see a strange creature floating silently above you.  In one arm it wears a heavy red-hot weapon almost as large as you are and in the other it carries a huge red-hot cutting machine.  The creature lets out a piercing shrill that makes you fall to your knees, as the beast descends down towards you.

~

I couldn't resist writing a little story.  Did you survive this dire and hopeless situation? That is for you to decide.