A Daydream

A Whole New World

"It's incredible."

Our mouths gape open in amazement at the planet that sits before us. After countless years of studying science and exploring space, this planet has to be the most astonishing thing my partner and I have ever seen. It is truly a work of art -- almost as if somebody had taken the time to sculpt every landmark to perfection. Immediately, Harris and I know that this new territory can not be left unexplored.

To go to uncharted territory without authorization is against the law, but we decide that we have waited on a rescue squad for long enough. After all, how can we sit and wait with the most promising discovery of our lives right in front of us?

I am not sure what this planet holds, but that is maybe the most exciting thing about this. It is not very often that I get to act on a whim. It feels wrong, but that makes it more exciting.

Suddenly, Harris calls out to Allen, the computer system at the base of our ship, and orders him to head straight for the planet ahead of us. Finally, my thoughts are confirmed, he is just as curious and intrigued as I am.

As we rush towards the planet I feel more and more nervous. However, when we hit the atmosphere, I know that something is different. The air around me feels different. I know Harris can feel it too, because I look over and see the same confused look on his face that I probably have on my own. Something makes my brain feel more open, perhaps even excited.

"Aster, do you feel that?" Harris asks from my left.

I provide him with a single nod so he knows that I feel it too although we have been partners for so long that he knows what I feel without me even telling him.

"Get ready for a rough landing," I smile.

Sure enough, the whole ship begins to shake as it adapts to the shift in gravity. We are being hurled toward the planet at a faster speed every second, and at this point, we are just hoping to land safely. Finally, the ship halts, lurching both Harris and me out of our seats.

I look over at Harris and see him lying on the ground; He must have had a harder time keeping himself grounded. I rush over to him and check him for injuries. It doesn't seem as if anything is broken, but he's holding his head with his hand.

"I'm fine. I just bumped my head," he laughs nervously, but I can tell it's hurting.

"Let me see," I run to him, but he shies away clearly attempting to hide his injury, "oh, goodness, that is a lot of blood."

Harris: always trying to hide his own problems just so the mission won't slow down. At least, I know that he won't give up. I will definitely have to keep an eye on that. Fortunately, he accepts my help this time, but he insists that we go on with the mission as usual.

With the ship on land and my partner in one piece, it is almost time to see our beautiful new discovery up close. I first ask Allen to do the routine checks on our surroundings; we need to be sure that the area is habitable. Allen reports that the air around us is breathable and we have landed on some kind of sand. In other words, the conditions are "safe." Even though the air can be classified as "safe", Harris and I have no way of knowing what dangers we will face as we explore the vast unknown. Nevertheless, we are still brimming with excitement. After all, what is an adventure without danger?

We impatiently stuff supplies into our bags: medicine, snacks, water bottles, journals, mapmaking supplies, and various tools that might aid us in our adventure. I quickly change into boots, which are more suitable for hiking than the ones I usually wear. I pull my hair back to prevent the possibility of it making things more difficult. I set a watch to make sure we do not wander for so long that we fail to return to safety by nightfall. I feel overprepared.

At last, Harris and I stand facing each other, seeing if we've missed anything. We are both trembling with anticipation as we check that the last tiny details are perfect.

"You scared, Aster?" Harris teases.

"Not even a little," I smile back, taking care not to reveal the level of anticipation that I am feeling.

I carefully deactivate the safety seals on the door, and it whirs open, beckoning a brilliant light into the shuttle. Harris and I start down the steps that are protruding from the side of the ship. Our curiosities have climaxed, and we are eagerly approaching what we believe is the answer to our question. What can possibly be on the other side of this door?

Glorious. It is incredible, beautiful, a miracle. The sand squishes below my feet. Tropical trees tower hundreds of feet above. Breathing the air makes me feel a freshness that I have not felt in years. You learn to accept how bland it feels to be in a spaceship after a while. This place I never laid eyes on before today feels real. It feels like home.

As if that were not enough, it is warm! I am standing in actual sunlight, it is beaming down on my face. I stand and absorb the heat, not worrying about my vulnerability to being sunburnt after being lost in the darkness of space for years. Turning around, I see Harris. His arms are outstretched as if he is basking in the sunlight. He is having his own moment of appreciation.

Deep Breaths. We don't have much time to spare, but I need just another moment. At this rate I'll never leave; I feel like curling up and taking a nap on the sand. If only we had time. As much as I want to take it in, I also crave more. The real adventure hasn't even started. We need a plan.

I scan my surroundings. There is no shortage of trees in the area. From what I can see, there is a river beyond the trees. The river is definitely our best bet for finding natural resources, and it is the perfect place to find any signs of animal life on this planet. I examine the sky. As long as we do not tarry, we can make it there, explore a little, and then return to our ship before sundown.

"I think we should head for that river," I start, "I think it's our best bet if--"

I turn and see Harris holding his head. I knew it was hurting him, why did I just let him ignore it? He turns around as I speak to him, staggering. He falls forward but straightens himself up to look at me. Before I can even ask what he needs, he stumbles forward again, helplessly falling onto the ground, unconscious from the blood loss.

"Harris?" I call out desperately. "Harris!"