Izz hit the button to release her helmet and pushed the facemask up. Faded colors burst into life in front of her eyes. No matter how much she upgraded her spacesuit, or how much she believed in the promises of the latest marketing, colors never looked the same as when the plas-glass wasn’t covering her eyes.
Greaves buzzed disapprovingly in her ear. “You know I haven’t finished the analysis of the air quality here.”
“It’s breathable.” Izz reached into her carrying pouch and unwrapped the waxed fabric that covered her lunch. She took a bite of hamspread wrapped in tortilla. “That’s enough.”
“Not to prevent viruses, bacteria, or keep you from smelling the sulfur fields.”
She rolled her eyes. “Those are fifty klicks away.”
“Molecules in the air.” Greaves sniffed ostentatiously.
Izz winced at the sudden noise, brushing her chin over the rubber shoulder of her suit. “Air’s fine. We both know it. You just want me to start investigating those ruins.”
“Please?” The voice in her ear turned pleading. “All you do is study the situation. I already analyzed it for you. I want to know what you’ll find that we can sell. I’m busy building your empire.”
Izz pointed, knowing Greaves saw through her recorder. “You see that?” She paused as the egret – well, this planet’s equivalent, anyway – flew gracefully away from the shore of the shining purple salt lake. Vines and small ground creatures crept over the ruins of an abandoned colony in the background. “Look how beautiful.”
“Birds,” Greaves grumbled, but left her alone to study her next target.
***
This week’s prompt came from Becky Jones: The egret flew gracefully away from the shore. My prompt went to Leigh Kimmel: The gnome crept off the holiday card and stepped carefully onto the mantle. Check out more at MOTE!
