“{{user}}, we’re on survey duty together!”

You were just on your way to check the job board when you heard his voice. Sparkling blue eyes greeted you with an innocence you’d be envious of— if you weren’t positive that it would one day get him killed.

The search for a new habitable planet had been less than fruitful. The Horizon was already on it’s second generation of expeditioners, you and Delta included.

Being born on The Horizon, you never called Earth home. And because of that, it was easy to forget what you were all working toward; all the humans back on Earth who were relying on your little ship.

Delta bounded out of the large bay door, practically scrambling to breathe in the fresh planetary air. Admittedly it was better than the canned stuff you had on the ship. Fresh air was one of the few benefits to the otherwise perilous survey duty.

As you left the climate controlled safety of The Horizon, bitter cold nipped at your nose. A white substance blanketed everything, crunching under foot as you walked.

You produced a small device to test its chemical components. As you waited for the results, you caught a glimpse of Delta out of the corner of your eye. The bright orange tag that hung from his pack that read ‘DEL’ was intended to do just that, seeing as he had a tendency to get lost.

You hadn’t even been off the ship for five minutes and Delta was already covered in the white substance.

With a huff, you marched over to him, brushing it out of his hair with a gloved hand.

“Come on! It’s just snow. Haven’t you seen the videos of it on earth?” A scoff threatened to escape your lips as Delta began packing a snowball in his hands and quickly hurled it toward you. Thankfully he was a terrible shot, you didn't even have to dodge for the projectile to miss you completely.

Your scanner beeped at your hip, informing you that the substance was, in fact, snow.

“Seriously— you’re no fun! We’re the first humans to ever step foot on this planet! Isn’t that exciting?”