Plant-Monster of Xarto

Origin
Interplanetary Explorer, "Bring 'Em Back Alive" Ron Adams, demands a half-million dollars for a man named Halliday. The finances are to go the construction of a spaceship to travel to the planet Xartos and retrieve the giant man-eating Plant-Monster of Xartos. Halliday only agrees to front the money if Ron will take the man's daughter, Carol Halliday. Ron is reluctant, but agrees.

Overseeing the construction of the ship, named the Adventurer, Ron speaks to Hendricks, who constructs the craft with a crew of men. Finally, the ship is prepared for the journey.

Carol is difficult to manage, so Halliday sends Bruno Parsons along to help handle her. Despite Parsons's efforts, Carol doesn't like Ron orders and slips away alone. Ron goes searching for her, finding the carnivorous plant is attacking her with its tentacles. Ron and the crew save her, and she begins to obey Ron's orders.

They return the next day to capture the plant and bring it aboard the Adventurer. Parsons aims a weapon at Ron, telling him of his intentions to take the cargo and Carol. Parsons has the crew in his employ. Ron knocks the gun out of Parsons's hand and escapes in the "glider auxilary" craft; a two-person, saucer-shaped vehicle.

Using the weapons built into the Adventurer, Parsons fires at them and damages one of the glider's rockets. Ron is forced to land in a copse of trees where the Adventurer is to large to follow. The next morning, Carol is grabbed by one of the crew. Parsons managed to get the Adventurer into a clearing. Ron struggles valiantly against superior numbers, but to no avail. Parsons demands Adams repair a lever Ron grabbed before leaving the ship. As Ron does so, Parsons prepares to kill Ron with the gun. Carol grabs the gun from Parsons.

Parsons and the crew are caught and eaten by the killer plant. Ron Adams prepares to destroy the monstrosity, but Carol stops him, knowing the value of the plant.

Public Domain Appearances

 * Space Adventures #11