MissiontoEuropa1

David
ThemoonEuropaisinviewnow.EuropaisamoonofJupiterandiscoveredby
athicksheetoficeonitssurface.Thisisduefromitsdistancefromthesun.
Fortunately,myteamispreparedfortheextremetemperatureswellbefacingonthe
surface.WevebeensentbytheUnitedPlanetaryMiningCompanytodrillintothe
surfaceofEuropa.Supposedly,belowallthaticeonthesurface,liesavastandlarge
oceanofwaterjustteemingwithnewundiscoveredlife.ThisisofinterestoftheUPMC
sotheysendasmallteamofustodrillthesurfaceofEuropaandtakesamplesofthe
wateroncewevepenetratedthethickicycrust.Thisprocessmaytakeyearsduetoits
62milethickcrust.Thedrillwebroughtisselfsustainingnuclearpoweredbutourfood
isnt.Whenwelandwewillhavetostartgrowingfood.Waterfortunatelywontbean
issuehereduetotheice.Asalastresort,thereisacolonynearbyourdrillingsitethat
wecangotoforaid.ThistripiscostingtheUPMCbillionssonaturallytheygaveusthe
bestequipmentandthebestscientists.OurheadscientistisCathyWilliams,anold

MissiontoEuropa2

planetaryresearcher.Shealreadyhasmanymissionsunderherbeltwithdrilling,but
nevertoEuropa.ShehasthemostexperiencewiththesemissionsaccordingtoUPMC,
Ihopetheyrerightabouther.MysecondteammateisTristanLowsley,thedrill
technician.HeistheonlyoneontheteamwhooriginallycamefromUPMCsinceallof
uswerehiredrecently.Hewastrainedformanyyearsontherepairandoperationofthe
drill.MythirdteammateisStevenSaunders,abotanist.Hisroleinthisistogrowa
sustainingfoodsupplyforwhenfoodreservesrundry.Ireadsomeofhisresearch,he
knowshisstuff,especiallyongrowingplantsondifferentplanets.Lastly,theresme.My
nameisDavidToronto,thebestscientistaround!Well,maybenot,butImgettingthere.
TheUPMCtookagambleassigningmetothismission.Myroleistheassistantscientist
andtoassistCathywhenneeded.
IlookedoutthewindowandsurveyedthesurfaceofEuropa.Ourshipwasstillin
orbitaroundEuropa,butsoonwewouldbelandingsoon.Whoknewthatmilesunder
thesurface,thereliesavastdeepoceanpossiblycontaininglife.Imstillalittletense
frombeinginstasisfor3yearsIcantbelieveitsbeenthatlong.Itshardtoimagine
yourselfbeingasleepforyears,whileeveryoneelsehavingagedandcontinuedwith
theirlives.Itwashardleavingmyfamily,knowingIwouldntseethemforupto10
years.SomuchstuffcouldhappenandIwouldntevenknowaboutitforyears.I
wonderhowtherestofthecrewdealswiththisproblem.Cathyhasbeenonmanyof
thesemissionsbefore,perhapsIllaskherlater.Ishouldprobablygocheckon
everyoneelsebeforelanding.Istandupfrommyseatfacingthewindowandwalkinto
thecentralroom.Thecentralroomofourspacecraftisquitelargeandconnectsour
separatestasischambers.Sincewewouldntspendmuchtimeawakeonthe
spacecraft,UPMCtookthelibertyofmakingtheroomanextracargoholdingarea.I
climbedoversomeboxestoreachwheremyteammateswerelocatedinthemiddleof
theroom.Theywereallcrowdedaroundalargecirculartableinthecenterwhere
Cathy,ourdecidedleader,wasdiscussingourplan.
Wewillbetakingasmalllandingcraftwithalloursuppliesandleavethe
spacecraftinorbitforwhenweleave.Oncewelandwellhavetounloadeverything

MissiontoEuropa3

quicklyandstartourrespectivejobs.Steven,itisofourbestinterestifyoustartsetting
upthehabitatroomandsetthesoilforourplants.Tristan,lowerthedrilloffthelanding
craftandsetitupandworking,wewanttobeginassoonaswecan.Iwillstarttosetup
ourlivinghabitatwithDavidwhereverhemaybah,thereyouareDavid,Cathy
turnedtowardme.Betweenherstressandgeneralimpatientattitude,sheseemedtobe
doingwell,IassumeyoualreadyheardeverythingIhadtosaysoIwillcontinueon
withthebriefing.Wellheaddowntothesurfaceusingtwoshuttles.Thismeansthatwe
willsplitthesuppliesbetweenthetwoaswell.TristanandIwilltakethefirstshuttle.
David,youandStevenwilltakethesecond.Weshouldstartpackingupourthingsnow
tomakesureweleaveattherighttimeoftheorbit.
Acoupleofhourslater,wearepreparedtogo.Wepackedalloursuppliesthat
wewillneedforthelongstayonthesurfaceandCathyandTristanhavealreadyleftin
theirshuttle.Wearecurrentlywaitingforthemtogetfarfromussincetheshuttlestend
todisrupteachotherwhentheyareflownneareachother.Sincewedontwantany
problems,wearewaiting10minutesafterthefirstshuttletoleave.BothStevenandI
aresittingdowninsilenceinsidetheshuttle,waitingforthemomentofourdeparture.
NobodyontheteamexceptCathytalksmuchatall,thoughIhavehadverylittle
interactionwithanyofthemsofar.Afteracoupleofminutes,Steventurnedonthe
shuttle,detachedfromourspacecraft,andheadedtowardsthesurfaceofthemoon.
Duringourlongstayonthesurface,thespacecraftwillstayinorbituntilwearereadyto
returntoEarth.Theflightwasassmoothasitcouldbedowntothesurface.Whenwe
landed,IcouldseethatCathyandTristanhavealreadybeguntosetupwithhelpfrom
ourrobots.Ofcoursewecouldntdoalltheworkbyourselves.Itwouldtakedaysforus
tosetupeverythingweneedanditwouldbeverydifficulttomaintainourfoodsupply
anddrillintegritywithonlyonepersonperjob.Forthesereasons,UPMChasprovided
uswithmanyrobotstodothemanuallaborinvolvedindrillmaintainingandfarming.
Funnilyenough,someoftheserobotslooklikeR2D2fromStarWars.Asthedoorof
theshuttleopened,somerobotsquicklyrushedintothecabinandpickedupallthe
cargoandleftjustasquickly.IfollowedtherobotsoutsideandIwasimmediately

MissiontoEuropa4

shockedbythecoldtemperature.Myenviromentcontrolsuit,orECSaswereferto
them,isimmediatelyheatedontheinsidewhenitdetectscoldtemperaturesonthe
outsideitstillfeelscoldthoughasiceontheinside.Outside,itwasjustashighspeed
asitwasinsidetheshuttle.Robotswererollingaboutbeingcommandedbymyother
teammates.Stevenhasalreadycreatedalineofrobotscarryingallhissuppliestothe
placedesignatedforthegarden.Furtheraway,IcouldseethatTristanhasalreadyset
upthedrillandwaspreparingitforfunctionality.
Thedrillisthemostimportantassetofthemission.Withoutthedrill,ourmission
herewouldbepointless.Sinceourstayherewillbelengthy,thedrillweneededhadto
beefficientandreliableformanyyears.Therearenoreplacements,onlyrepairs.This
alsomeansthatourdrillisthemostadvancedandexpensivedrilloutthere.Itcosts
moreandtooklongertobuildthantherestofthemissiontook.Inmatteroffact,nobody
isallowedtohandlethedrillexceptTristan.However,thedrillisalsothemost
dangerouspartofthismission.Earlier,Tristanexplainedthewhatsandthehowsofthe
drilltoallofusanditbroughtupsomeconcernsbetweenallofus.Thedrill,tolastfor
years,needstorunonaefficientfuelsupplythatwontdepleteitselfveryfast.Wealso
wouldalsoneednotbeburdenedthesaidfuelsweight.Theonlypowersupplythat
wouldmeettheefficiencyandpowerrequirements,isnuclearpower.Tomakespacefor
oursupplies,UPMChasalsoputthenuclearreactorinsidethedrill.Thisworriesallof
ussinceofhowclosewewouldbetoanactualnuclearreactor,butTristanassuresus
astheprocesshasbeenperfectedanditsperfectlysafe.
Theonlyradiationthereactoremitsisbetaradiation,whichisimmediately
stoppedbythealuminumshellofthedrill.Tristanwouldalwaysreassureuswiththis
statementwheneverdoubtscameup.
Thewaythedrillsreactorworksisactuallyquitegenius.Itworkslikeanormal
nuclearreactorwherefissionhappenswithinuranium235powercells.Itsusing
uranium235asfuelforitsfissivepropertyofhavingselfsustainedfission.Thefission
withintheuraniumstoredinthereactorofthedrillwillcreateanextremeamountof
heat,whichwillcreatesteamfromthewatersurroundingit.Waterwillberelativelyeasy

MissiontoEuropa5

toobtainonaniceplanetunsurprisingly.Thesteamwillthenpowertheturbineswhich
powerboththedrillandthehabitats.
Atthispointintime,everythingisaboutsetup.Thegardenhabitatissetupand
Stevenandhisteamoffarmingrobotshavestartedtoplantcropsforfuturesupply.The
drillisfullyfunctionalwithateamofrobotsconstantlymonitoringitandthelivingand
sciencehabitatisevenprocessingasampleofice.Sofar,everythinghasgonetoplan.
Currently,ImworkingwithCathyinsidethescienceandlivinghabitat.Thehabitatis
quitespacioussurprisingly.Ithas4roomsthatareconnectedbytubularhallways.Its
reallycozyinsidethehabitat,itshardtoimaginethatoutsideisacold,deaddessertof
amoon,millionsofmilesfromanythingweeverknew.Outhereitsonlyus,andthe
coloniesthatlittertheplanetofcourse.Itssurprisingthatanyonewouldwanttotryto
colonizeonthismoon.Thecoloniesherearemostlyjustothercompanieslookingto
experimentasustainedpopulationonotherplanets.Whoknewyoucouldselfsustaina
wholepopulationonaplanetthatnothinggrowsonexceptthesoilbroughtfromEarth.
Well,wedontknowifanythinggrowsorliveshereornot,butthatswhatwereherefor.
Thedrillhasalreadydugintoagaspocketintheice.ThisiswhatCathyandIare
currentlyexaminingasampleofinthelab.Cathywasstaringatacomputer,examining
thegas.Afteramoment,shecameuptome,
Theresnothingoutoftheordinarywiththissamplereally,itjustappearstobea
sampleofhydrogen.Thatsnotgoodatall.Hydrogenisahighlyflammablegas,Ive
alreadytoldTristantofindawayarounditforsafety.Iftheoxygeninsidethedrill
somehowgottoit,itwouldblowusallup.
Dayshavepassednowandnothingnewhasbeendiscovered.Tristanmanaged
tomaneuverthedrillawayfromthehydrogenpocketandcontinueddrillingdown.No
otherobstaclehasbeenpresentsofar.ThegardenthatStevenhascreatedhasstarted
tosprout,agoodsignforwhenwerunoutoffood.CathyandIhavejustfinished
sendingareportbacktotheUPMCcommandaboutthehydrogenpocket.Everythingis
goingasplannednow.Sincenomoreworkwasneededinthelab,Ihavebeen
assignedtoSteventotemporarilyhelpwiththegarden.AsIenteredthegardenhabitat,

MissiontoEuropa6

IsawStevenhunchedoverasmallsprout,gentlywateringitwithameasurementcup.
Helookedupatmeandmusthavenoticedmyconfusedlook.
Ahh,Dave.Cathysaidyouwerecomingover.Stevenbeckonedmeoverto
him,GrowingplantsonEuropaismuchmoreriskythanonEarth,somanythingscan
gowrong.Iespeciallyhavetobecarefulwithwateringthecropswiththeexactamount
ofwater.
IwatchedasStevencontinuedtowatercropsinexactmeasurements.Hemay
bealittleobsessed,buthehasapoint.Thesecropsneedtosurvivetoensureour
lengthystayonthismoon.Soon,Stevenlookedupatmeagain.
Itsactuallyquiteinterestinghowwegetthewaterforourconsumptionandfor
thecrops.Contrarytobelief,itsalotharderthanjustmeltingice.
Ineverreallythoughtaboutthewatersituationmuch,Stevenwasputincharge
ofgettingthewaterandIneverhadtoworryaboutit.Stevenquicklyfollowedupafter
wateringsomemore.
Theicearounduswouldbeterriblytoxicifwetriedtoconsumeitinaliquid
state.ThatiswhyIcreateourownH2Ofromscratch.Itinvolvesextractinghydrogen
andoxygenfromtheicefirstlytogetthecomponentsofwater.Ithenusealittle
machine,whichIcalltheassembler,tocreatecovalentbondsbetweenthetwo
hydrogenatomsandanoxygenatomtoformawatermolecule.Themachinecreates
thebondsonalargescaleandinputsthenecessarymineralsforuse.Intheory,we
shouldbecreatingthesameamountofwaterasweuse.Thisofcoursebeingthatwe
haveaconstantsupplyofcomponentsand....Allofasudden,analarmblaredfrom
outside.StevenandIquicklyrushedoutsideandwasmetbyCathywholookedequally
asconfusedasus.Itdidnttakeuslongtorealizethealarmwascomingfromthedrill.
CathyandIquicklyhurriedtothedrillStevenstayedbehindtotendtohiscrops.
WewentoveronlytobemetbyafrightenedTristan.
Somethingiswrongwiththedrill,itsnotworkinganymore.Ididntdoanything,
itjustwontlistentothecommandsIissueit.Itsjustheadinginonedirectiondownand
wontstop!Alltherobotsarechargingsotheycantdoanything!

MissiontoEuropa7

Cathyspokeup,YourethemasterofthisdrillTristan,arentyousupposedto
knowwhattodointhesescenarios?
TristanlookedupatCathywithadefeatedlook,Ihavenoidea.
WestoodthereforafewmomentsuntilTristanperkedup,ActuallyIdohavean
idea.IfDavidwastohelpme,wecouldrestartthereactormanually,forcingthedrillto
stop!TristanlookedatmeandInodded,itwasourbestbet.TristanandIhurriedupto
thedrillsshellandpulledoffapanel,revealingaswitch.
Therestartswitchwontworkwiththedrillstillrunning.Ifyoucanpresstheoff
switchontheothersideofthedrillhowever,itmaytrickthesystemintorestarting.I
quicklyrantotheothersideofthereactorandstoodneartheswitch.
Tristanyelledfromtheotherside,Weneedtopressthemsimultaneouslyforthis
toworkIpreparedmyselftopressthebutton,whenallofasuddenanewalarmwas
blaringthehydrogenpocketalertalarm.
Go!yelledTristanandIpushedthebuttonin.Nothinghappenedatfirst,asif
timestopped.Allofasudden,Iwasthrownbackwardsbyanexplosion.

MissiontoEuropa8

Steven

W
henthealarmwentoff,IknewIhadtocloseupthehabitat.Itwaspartofmy
training.Ifanythinghappens,whichIpraynothingdoes,Ihavetomakesurenothing
interfereswithmybabies.Well,theplants.Itstheonlywaywecansurvive.Cathyand
Davidlefttocheckoutwhatshappening.AssoonastheyleftIsealedtheentrances
andwindows.Icallovermyrobotthathelpsmewiththegardening.IcallhimRB
because...well,hesbasicallyaRoboBotanist.Iwasaskinghimtoexaminetheplants
andhabitattomakesureeverythingissecureandthenBOOM

MissiontoEuropa9

Everythingshook.Allthelightsshutoff,theoxygenflowintheareastopped
running,RBstoppedmovingasiffrozen,andeverythingjustseemedtoshutdown.My
headswarmingwiththoughtsNononono,thiscanthappen.Weshouldbealright
becausewheneverthealarmsgooff,thepeoplebackatthestationwillbenotifiedjust
incaseanythinghappenstous.Ihopetheothersareokay.Itmusthavebeenthe
turbine.Man,weveonlybeenhereforayearandwesomehowmanagedtoscrewup.I
shouldprobablygoseewhatthatwas.Ithendashedoutthedoorandsawsmokefar
ahead,towardsthedirectionof...crap!Thedrill!IgnoringtheroverIusuallyusefor
transportation,Iracedtothedrillingsite.
WhenIfinallygottothesite,Iwasappalledbythedisastrousscene.Acoldchill
randownmyback.Wherearetheothers?Islowlywalkedtowardsthesmokewherewe
havebeendrillingforthepastyearandtomyterror,Ididntseethedrill.Isearched
aroundonlytofindpiecesofthedrill.AsIwassearching,Ialmostvomitedfromshock.I
foundwhatlookstobeahand.Ilookedaroundandfound...aleg?Thiscantbe.Imust
behallucinatingfromthelackofoxygen.Theyrebothsinged.Thismusthavebeena
badexplosion.Icanttellwhoitis.Ohmy,wherearethey?Ineedtofindthem.Im
tryingmybesttostaycalm,butIseenosignoflifeanywhere.Igobacktothedrill
whichwasalready7milesdeep,whichmeansweweregettingthroughthisalotfaster
thanwhatweinitiallyplanned.
AsIgotclosertothedrill,Ijusthadthisterriblefeeling.Igotcloserandcloser,
thesmokefoggingmyvisionandthatswhenIsawhim.Tristan.Itallmakessense
now.Theremusthavebeensomethingwrongwiththedrillandhetriedtofixitwhenit
explodedandnow...hesgone.Butwhatabouttheothers?Irunbacktothespacecraft
hopingtheywouldbethere,buttheyarent.Icheckedeverywherebuttherewasno
signofthem.Itrytocontactthecompanyinthemainroom,buttheexplosionseemsto
knockoutallpowersotheresnowayofcontactinganyone.Isteppedbackoutside.The
wholeareawassoquiet,itwasscary.Everydaywouldbesonoisyfromthemachines
androbotsbutnowyoucantellsomethingwaswrong.Idecidedtolookaroundthesite

MissiontoEuropa10

beforeIgototheothercolonyforhelp.Becausemaybe,justmaybe,theothersare
alive.

David

Icantmove.Icantspeak.Whatthehellhappened?Everyinchofmybodyhurts
andIhearapiercingringinginmyears.IfeellikeImgoingtovomit.Buttheworstpart
ofallofthisisIdontrememberwhathappened.Ohgosh,thepain.Itsunbearable.
Wherearetheothers?Ugh,thepain.Ifeelmyselfslippingoffagain.Ithurts.Ohmy
goodnessithurts

MissiontoEuropa11

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Iwakeuptofindmyselfinthespacecraftrover.Itswhatweusetogetaround
here.Cathyisbymyside,butsheseemstobeknockedoutandshesreallygrubby.I
lookedaroundoutthewindow.Iseemanyunfamiliarpeopleandrobotswalkingaround
withbagsandwhatnot.Wemustbeattheothercolony.Imstillalittlefoggyonwhat
happened.AllIrememberisthedrillalarmsgoingoffandCathyandIgoingtothe
sourcetoseewhatwasgoingon.NowIminagonyinaroverwaitingformycrewto
showup.MaybeTristanandStevenbroughtushereforhelp.Butwhywouldweneed
it?IlookovertoCathyagainandinstantlyrealizedwhatwaswrong.Bothofherlegs
weregone.Though,theywerentbleedingalmostasiftheywereburnedofftocutoff
thebloodflow.ThismademesupernauseousandIalmostgotoutandvomited.But
somethingtoldmetostayintherover.
JustthenIseeStevenrunthiswaywithamanwhoappearedtobeofhigh
authorityandtwonurseswhowerewheelingwheelchairs.Theybothcameoneither
sideandthedoorsopened.Stevengavethemanasurprisedlook,thenlookedatme
withworry.
Ididntexpectyoutobeconscioussofast.Icantellheputonafakesmilethen
wenton,Thisisascoutinggroup.Theysettleinplacesinsearchofatmospheric
relativitywithearthsothathumansandanimalshaveaplacetogoifanythinghappens
totheearth.
Thatscompletebull.Ihaveahunchthatthisisoneoftheescapecolonies.The
groupsthatabandontheircompaniesandcolonizeanywheretheywantotherthan
earth.Honestly,Idontknowwhyacolonywoulddothatbutithappensquiteoften.One
ofthenursesputsCathyintothewheelchairandstartedsterilizingandwrappingher
legs.Though,Ifinditweirdthattheydidnttakeherintothestation.Imsuretheyhavea
medicalroomiftheyhavenurses.
Stevencontinued,ThismanhereisDr.Davis.Hesheretocheckonthebothof
you
WhereisTristan?Iask,andwhyarewehere?

MissiontoEuropa12

Youdontremember?Heasked.
No,allIrememberisthealarmgoingoff.Idontremembermuchafterthat.
Stevenlostallthecolorinhisface,sighed,thenrepliedinalow,sullenvoice,
Somehowthedrillexploded.Imguessingithitanairpocketthatleakedintothe
nuclearwasteinthedrillwhichcausedittoburst.Unfortunately,ImguessingTristan
wastryinghardtofixitbutDavid,Tristansdead.Iguesshewastooclosetothedrill
whenithappened.
Imtryingreallyadrtoprocessitall.Ijustcantbelieveit.Weweredoingsowell.
Howcanweletsomethingassmallasahydrogenpocketmessusup.AndTristan.I
dontevenwantbelievewhathappenedtohimistrue.Itwouldntbefair,itjustwouldnt.
Steventhenstartedexplaininghowtheexplosiongottothegeneratorwhichshutdown
everything.Eventherobotsandthegreenhouse.Ashewasexplaining,peoplefromthe
colonystartedgatheringaroundustomeetthestrangersandseewhatshappening.
Apparentlywewereinterestingtothem.
TheimpactoftheexplosiongottoyouandCathysonowyourebothare
exposedtotheradiationfromthedrill.Cathyfromherlegs,andyou...wellDr.Davisis
goingtofindout.
Well,youwonthavetoworryaboutme.Imalright.Perfectlyfine.See?
Iclimbedoutoftherover,justtoseeeveryeyelooktome.Thecolonybacked
awayimmediatelyasifIweresomesortofmonster.Theyweregivingmelooksof
disgustandstartedmurmuringamongthemselves.Istheresomethingwrongwithme?

MissiontoEuropa13

Cathy

Iwasawokenbythenoiseofpeopleshouting.Iquicklycaughtontowhatwas
happening.Though,allIrememberisthedrillexplodingandDavidandIgetting
knockedbackfromtheblow.ThenIwasout.Iseeacrowdofpeoplehecklingthisthing

MissiontoEuropa14

thatseemstobesomekindofhumansizedextraterrestrial.Butit,he?Hadahuman
head.Thethingsthesepeopleweresayingtoitwasawful.
Whatareyou,youfreakWedontwantyouhereYourenothuman,whatare
youplanningwithuskillhim!Justthen,thethingfacedmeandIrecognizedthethat
facefullofsorrow.ItsDavid!OhmygoodnessIneedtohim.Crap.Mylegs!No!Icant
help.OhDavid,Imsosorry.Okay,Ineedtofindawayaroundthissituation.Isaw
Steventryingtoreasonwiththecrowd,butfailingandDavidcamerushingbackover
here.Thecrowdwentwild,itwasobviousthattheyreallywantedtohurthim.Withgreat
effort,Davidmanagedtomakeitbackintotherover.Thepeoplestartedbeatingitand
thatswhentheirchiefsteppedupandthecrowdinstantlybecamequiet.Hecametous
andbannedusfromeversteppingfootinthisareaagainandthreatenedusifhewas
evertoseeourfacesagain.Ibecamereallyangryandwasgoingtosaysomething,but
Steveninterruptedandcalmlyapologized.Thenhehelpmegetbackintotheroverand
wewereoff,takingthewheelchairwithus.
Wheredowegonow?Whatarewegoingtodo?WheresTristan?Whatthe
heckhappenedbackthere?Iwasonedge.Somanythoughtsandemotionswere
swarmingthroughmyhead.
Steventhenresponded,Iknowtheressomanyquestionstobeanswered,but
Illtellyouontheway.Oneofthenursestoldmeaboutanabandonedhabitatthat
anothercolonyusedtoliveabout15milesawayfromhere.Itlltakeabout19hoursto
gettherebecauseofthespeedthisrovergoesoninthisatmosphere.ButIthinkitwill
beagoodplacetostaywhilewetryandfigureouthowtocontactthestationwherewe
are.Iguessthiswasalright.Atleastitsaplan.

MissiontoEuropa15

Steven

Theplaceissortofamess,butitlooksasiftheywereambushed.Thisplaceis
veryroomy.Westartsearchingtheroom.TherearentmanyusefulstuffherebutI
assumeitsbecauseothercoloniescleareditout.Itsquiteoddthough.Everything

MissiontoEuropa16

lookstrashedexceptforthisonelittlepictureframeofasmileyfacethatlookslikeafive
yearolddrew.WhatIcantputmyfingeroniswhythiscolonywashere
Steven,lookIhearDavidcallout,Ifoundanemptybag,butlookatthe
initials.hegavemeahopefullookandpointedatthebag.TheinitialswereAIB.Iknow
thisgroup.ItstandsfortheAmericanInstituteofBotany.Theyare,orwere,agroupof
botanistswholikedtotravelinspaceinsearchofeditableextraterrestrialplantlifeand
spacewherethathastherightelementsforgrowingplants.Theinstituteissponsored
fromabiologygroupwhichishowImetDavid.Heusedtobeapartofthegroupandhe
wouldhelpwithmissionsforAIB.Iusedtobeapartoftheinstitute,butIwasina
missionthatwenthorriblywrongandsoIleft.Ourgoalmissionwasalwaystoinspect
Europabecauseweheardofhowthereispossiblelifeonit.WhenIheardaboutthe
UPMCandtheirsearchforabotanistIknewthiswastherightthingtodo.Though,I
dontknowwhyDavidleft.Though,thereisonethingwebothknowfromworkingfor
themtheyalwaysbuildasecretgreenhouseoneachoftheirmissions.
Webothlookedateachotherandinstantlystartedsearching.Cathystaredatus
withaconfusedlookonherface.
Whatareyouguyslookingfor?
Thecolonythatusedtobehere,theyhaveahiddengarden.Whichmeanswe
cansurvivehere.Wejustneedtofindit.Theremustbeabuttonorahiddenlockthat
thatwillshowustheopeningtoit.Ifwecouldfindsomethingjustalittleoutofplace...
thenIrememberedthepicture.
Idashovertotheweirdsmileyfaceandstareatitforamoment.
Whatisit?Didyoufindsomething?Cathyasksfromadistance.
Ofcourse,thesecretpasswords.Theyalwaysusesomekindofuniquewayto
unlocktheirpasswords.saysDavid
Hethenpulledoutakeychainthathadalittlelightonit.Onlyitshinedalot
brighter,andithappenedtobeablacklight.
IstillmanagedtokeepalittlesomethingformyselfwhenIleft.Davidsaidwith
asmuglookonhisfacelikehehascrackedtheenigmacodeorsomething.

MissiontoEuropa17

Heshinesthelightonthepictureandweinstantlysawasortofthisweirdsymbol
thatbothDavidandIrecognized.Itwasthesecretsymboloftheinstitute.Noone
exceptthepeoplewhohaseverworkedthereknowit.Though,becausethislockisa
drawlocktheywontjustanyoneopenthis.ThepeoplefromtheAIBeachgetan
invisiblemarkingontheirindexfingerforthisspecificreason.Itssotheyaretheonly
oneswhocanunlocktheirtouchcodesregardlessofwhatitis.Davidtriedtotracethe
symbolwithhisinhumanfinger,butitjustwouldntworkout.Hegotfrustratedand
punchedthewallnexttoitleavingahugeholefilledwithwires.
David,didyouforget?Iheldupmyindexfingeranddrewthesymbolonthe
picture.Thenonthewallbesidethepictureopensrevealingasmall,clear,glass
elevator.DavidistoobigtogothroughandCathyswheelchairwontfitsoIhavetogo
inalone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WhenIgotdown,itwasdark.LuckilyIhadmyownkeychainflashlightexcept
LEDandIfoundthegenerator.Withafewpushesofbuttons,Igotitupandworking.
Thewholeplacelitup,evenupstairs.Smart.Notetoself:keepgeneratorinsidethe
habitatwhereitwillbesafe,andnotblowup.Ilookaroundonlytobedisappointedto
findoutthattheyonlyhadthesoilandadvancedsolarpanelssetupwhichmeansthey
neverevenstartedplanting.However,theyaremissingsomeofthemostimportant
thingsforplantstogrow,whicharethechemicals.
Plantsneedtheprimarynutrientsthatarenitrogen,phosphorus,andpotassium.
Thoughthosecanbefoundinfertilizer.Theyalsoneedthesecondarynutrientslike
calcium,magnesium,andsulfurwhichisfoundinthesoil.Buttheyremissingthemost
importantchemicalneededforanylivingorganism.Thatwouldbecarbon.Well,carbon
monoxidefortheplantssake.TheplantsneedittogrowandIdsaywecanusedthe
airwebreatheouttohelpit,butthatwouldrequiresomeonetoliveinthegreenhouse
whichwouldntbeideal.Ineedtofindawaytosomehowcombinecarbon,oxygen,and
nitrogentocreatethecarbonmonoxidesotheplantscouldgothroughphotosynthesis
andactuallygrow.Butunfortunately,Icantfindanything.Ah,therewereare.Ijust

MissiontoEuropa18

foundthishugeclosetlikeareafilledwithmostthestuffIneed.Evencarbon.ButIstill
neednitrogenandoxygen.IwishtherewassomewayIcanextracttheoxygenfromthe
icyH2Oatmosphere...THEMACHINE.Icompletelyforgotaboutourchemicalmachine
thatcanextractelements,breakelementsapart,andputthemtogether.Itsprobably
goodtousesinceitwasinthehabitat.Plusitrunsonwaterinsteadofpowersoitwould
beofgooduse.Icanextracttheoxygenfromthewaterwemeltfromthemoons
surfaceandthenaddthecarbon.IshouldntforgetaboutthenitrogenwhichImcertainI
alotleftoverinmygreenhouse.Oh,thisisgreat!Icanrestartafamilyagain!Ijustneed
togobackandgetthatmachineandthenitrogen.
IquicklygetbacktoDavidandCathywhoseemedtohavediscoveredalotwhile
Iwasbelow.Oncethere,Itoldthemaboutmyplanandwasofftogetthemachine.
TheyneededtostayattheAIBhabitattoprotectwhatsleftandcleanupalittle.PlusI
knewtherewouldbemanycomplicationswithtravelingwithcrippleandamutant.As
wealreadyknow,thepeopleheredontdowellwithdifferent.Oh,theirony.

MissiontoEuropa19

Cathy:
Davidstop.Please.Yourechokingme.WhyisDaviddoingthis?Heisacting
reallystrangeandnotlikehimself.Hejustallofasuddenstartedtogetangryatme,I
dontknowwhatisgoingonwithhim.Iknowlifehasbeenhardonhimlatelybut,Iwill
behereforhimtohelphimandbebyhisside.IwanttotellDaviditsgoingtobeokay.
Thatthingswillgetbettereventually.JustletmebetherewithyoutohelpyouDavid.I
willalwaysbethereforyou.Iwillalwaysbebyyoursidebut,insteadallIcanletoutisa
groan.Iamliterallytryingtobreatheforabitofair.DavidIknowthisisntlikeyou,this
isntyou.Mylungsfeelliketheyareabouttoburstanddeflate.Mylegsstillhurtso
muchandtheyfeelliketheyreonfire.Everythinghurts.Everything.Hisgripisgetting
tighterandtighteraroundmyneckandIlookhimintheeyestoseeonlythat,thelookin

MissiontoEuropa20

themseemsofullofhate,withnomercyanddespisement.Yet,atthesametimethey
arefilledwithhurt,filledwithsadness,pain,andsuffering.Thesecansometimeslead
peopletoturntomadness.Icandefinitelytellthathedoesntrecognizemeanymore.
Daviddoesntrecognizemeanymore.Everythingisslowlybecomingabluranddark.
DavidsqueezesevenmoretighterthistimeandeverythinginmejuststopsasIexhale
mylastbreath.Ifeellikenowallthesadnessinmyheartisjustpouringoutasthetears
areslowlybathingmyface.
DavidIllalwaysbebyyourside.Imsosorry,goodbye.Theworldisblacklike
thenightskyandsosilent.IwillnolongerbeabletobetherewithyouanymoreDavid.

MissiontoEuropa21

Steven:

IcantwaittillCathyandDavidseewhatIcameacrosstoday.Weareinserious

needofthingstohelpusrecreatenewcrops.Wehavethesoil,carbondioxide,and
someoftheotherchemicalsalthough,therestillaresomemissing.Ourwholeplansfor
thismissionhavebeencompletelychangedbecausethedrillmalfunctioned.Ifeellike
therewashastobeareasonastowhythedrillexploded.Imnotsureifitwasthe
hydrogenpocketthatwasthecauseofitsmalfunction.Yetitcouldhavebeenoneofthe
causesbut,Ijustcantseemtowrapmyheadaroundit.Theysaidthattherewasno
signofanythingthatseemedwrongwhentheyweredrillingandwehavealreadybeen
drillingforawholeweek.Whynow?Iwouldatleastorexpectthedrilltoprobably

MissiontoEuropa22

malfunctionearlier.But,ifeverythingwasfinethen,thenhowdiditjustmalfunction.
Whatwouldhavecausedit.Couldithavebeentheturbinefailing?Ordiditbecome
unstable?Butsosuddenly?Wellsometimesthingscouldhappenunexpectedlyorwhen
leastexpected.WellnowImthinkingsincethecausecouldmayhavebeenfroma
reactionfromthepossiblewaterunderneaththeicesurfaceandthefrozensulfur
dioxideontheice.
Theunexpectedhappens.Everythingstilllooksthesame.Everythingisjustleftthere
tojustfreezeintheicecold.Itwillforeverseemtolooklikeadisaster.WellIbetterstart
headingbackcauseIdontwanttobeoutheretoolate.ThoughIkindofwanttotakea
lookattheoldhabitat.IshouldbringbacksomethingstoCathyandDavidorwouldit
bebettertojustgoback?...WellIguessitwouldnthurttojustbringbackafewofour
stufffromthehabitat.Goodthingthewaytotheoldhabitatwasstraightaheadfromthe
drillingsiteorelseitwouldbeconfusing.AlthoughIneverlikedhowfaritwas.
Wait!ItsoneoftheUPMCrobots.ShouldIbringitbackupwithme?Illjustbringit
alongitshouldbeuseful.ImsurethatDavidandCathywillbehappythatwehaveone
withus.IthinkwehaveenoughthingssoIamjustgoingtoheadbackuptoCathyand
David.IpressthepowerbuttononontheUPMCrobot,strapafewofthelighterthings
ontoitusingsomeoftheropeIluckilyfoundinthehabit.Then,weheadbackupinthe
glasselevatortotheroomDavidandCathyareat.Yes,wemightbeableto
successfullygrownewcropstosurvivethankstothematerialswefound.Althoughthe
cropswegrowhereonEuropatendtohavemoreheavyCarbonthanonEarthbecause
thecarbonweholdbecomesenrichedwithaheavyisotope.Carbonoriginallyhassix
protonandsixneutronsinitsatomicstructure.But,wheninfluencedbythecosmic
radiationitcanbecomesthecarbonthirteenisotopeandthereisonemoreneutronthan
protons.Insteadoftherebeingsixprotonsandsixneutronstherearenowsixprotons
andsevenneutrons.ItreallyismoredifficulttryingtogrowcropsonEuropafromEarth.
TheelevatorarrivestothemainfloorwhereDavidandCathyare.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MissiontoEuropa23

DavidhasjustkilledCathy.Hejustchokedhertodeath.WhathappenedwhenIwas
gone.IjustcameupwithallthematerialsandbeforeIknewitwitnessedDavidkill
Cathy.WhatiswrongwithDavid.Howcouldhe.HowcouldyoukillherDavid!Cathyis
dead!Shesgone!ShewasourfriendDavid!Ithurts,itfeelslikethelifehasbeen
suckedoutofme.Itfeelsalmostlikesomeonehasjustgrabbedmyheartandcrushedit
rightintheirhands.Ivegottogogethelpfromsomeone,fromthecolony.Tearsare
streamingdownmyfaceasImrunningtowardsthecolony,everyoneisdead.Itsall
Davidsfault!Thereissomuchangerboilingupinsideofme.Somuchhatred!Iwill
convincethecolonytojoinme.IwillconvincethemtohelpmekillDavid.AsIarrive
backtothecolonyIfeelanevengreaterurgetoendthis,endDavid.Ithurts,Istilldont
wanttokillhim,butheistoodangerous!HekilledCathy!Iseetheheadofthecolony.
Head!Steven?Whatdoyouneed?Imtryingtocatchafaintofbreath.Now
Iamthinking...
Headyouwereright.Davidhasgonecrazy,hesgonemad.Ijustwitnessed
himkillCathy.Hesbecomedangerous!Heisdangerous.Ineedyourhelp.Ihavenow
noticedthatthepeoplefromthecolonywerealsoaround.Thereisfearandterrorand
worrywipedacrosstheirfaces.
Ineedallyourhelp.IneedasmuchhelpasIcangetfromallofyou.Theyall
lookconcernedandworried,buttheyagree.
Theheadandthecolonyanswer..Okay.Wewillhelp.Halfofthecolonysmen
comealongaswearerunningtowardstheabandonedoldcolonywhereDavidwas.We
carrywithusgunstohelpustokillDavid.Wearriveattheoldcolony.Everyonestill
seemstohavethatsameexpressionontheirfaces.Fear,thereisalsoanger,butthere
isworryalso.Wekeeponwalkingarounduntil,thereheisDavid.Theirispainand
sadness.Butforsomereason,whenIseehimrightthereinfrontofme,withmyown
eyesagainamountainfullofangerjustcomesupboilinginme!Forwhathedidto
Cathy,forkillingheritsjustunforgivable!Themengatheraroundandsurroundhim.
David!YoukilledCathy!WhatiswrongwithYOU!Howcouldyoudothis!Thisis
theendofthelineforyou.Isignalforthemtogethim.Theyallchargerightathimand

MissiontoEuropa24

startshootingathimwiththeirgun.Ialsobroughtonejustincase.WAIT!NO!Istart
noticingthatoneafteranotherDavidstartskillingthemen.Moreanger.Itislikea
bloodbathnowallIseeisevenmoredeadbodiesaroundme.Justlikeatthedrilling
site.But,thistimeinsteadofseeingburnedcarcases,itsbloodyhumans.Icanhearmy
heartbeatingatmychest.AlmostasiftryingtogoforDavid.
Davidhowcouldyou!YoureaMONSTER!Imgoingtokillyou!Imgoingto
finishthisonceandforall.HeiscomingatmeandIstartrunning.Ihavemygunat
handandpreparedtoshoot.Hehaslongandsharpclaws.Hestarttryingtocomingat
mewiththem.RightwhenonehandcomesatmeIpointmygunandshoot.Imiss.I
keeponshootingandyetImiss,butonebulletdoeseventuallygethisleftthigh.He
endsupyetalsostillgettingmeandscratchesmyarm.Painshootsupthroughmy
armsandithurtslikeheck!Icanfeelbloodtricklingdownmyarm.Hekeepsoncoming
andIkeeprunningandjumpingasfastasIcantotrytoavoidhim.Davidisquickand
prettystrong.But,ItrytojumpbackfromoneofhisattacksandIendupfallingdown
andtrippingfromaledgeofice.Hegrabsme,thenthrowsme.Myheadisthrobbing
andbloody.Myhelmetiscracked.Igrabmygunandtrytoaimathim.Heisstillcoming
atmethoughnowheiscomingquicker.Ishotandhegrabsmeandthrowsmeagain.
Itssopainful.
Davidyouwillpay!Ichargetowardshimandtrytoshootathimbutmissand
thenhecomesatmequickly.Hescratchesmeonthechestandthrowsmeagain.My
helmetslamsthegroundharderthistime.Itsbrokennow!Icantbreathe,thecoldslaps
acrossmycheeks.Thefrostisbitingmyfacequickly.Everythingisbecomingblurryand
unclear.Icantseemtoseemuchbutthecoldairandablurryfigure.Davidpicksmeup
bytheneckslowlyandstartschokingme.
Youmonster!HesqueezesmynecktighterandIchoke.Icantdielikethis.
Thisneedstoend!Ineedtoendthis!Itrytoreachformygun,butIdontfeelit.Where
isit?!No!Idroppedwhenhethrewmethesecondtime!Hisgripgetseventighter
aroundmyneck.Iamtryingtogetoutofhisgripbykickingupanddown,buthestoo
strong.

MissiontoEuropa25

Thisisjusthowshedied.DavidthisisjustasyoukilledCathyinyourbare
hands.Hesqueezesmyneckforthelasttime,tighter.Ichokeonmybreatheashe
squeezestighter.Everythingisdoneisntit.Thisisthelastofme.Why?

David:
Dontdothis!Lethimgo!Dontkillhim!NO!WhathaveIdone?Thetearsjust
comefloodingoutofmyeyesnonstop.WhywouldIdothis?Itwasntme.Ididntdo,I
didntdoit.Ididntdoit!
Animageofthemcomesupinmyhead.Everyonefromthedrillingsite,Tristan,
Steven,andCathy.Thetearsarecomingdownevenfasteronmyface.WhathaveI
done.Theyrealldead,everyone.Ikilledthem.Thecolony,...Cathy!,....andSteven.I
killedthem.WhathaveIdone!Why?Theydidntdeservethis.AllbecauseIwentcrazy
andIputthemindanger!Idontdeservetolive!Idontdeservetolive.Icanttakeit,I
cant!AgleamofblackcatchesmyeyesasIraisemyheadindespair.Ihaveathought
thatcomesacrossmyheadasIslowlyreachmyhandtothegun.Adropoftear

MissiontoEuropa26

streamsdownmycheekasIholdthecoldtrigger.Theycomeupinmyheadonelast
time.ImsosorryeveryoneIdontdeservetolive.

MissiontoEuropa27