Zhenzhu

Part 1

Bixler stared out at the flat grey rock that expanded around him in all directions. The heavy mist in the thick air was slowly starting to condense. He looked down at his boots, already drenched with the morning dew. He shook his right foot hard, flinging water drops, and watched as they joined together in a small pool momentarily before draining into the porous rock.

This was all a new experience for him, being on a planet with real gravity, although it was about fifteen percent more than he was used to. And the air here was real, not the canned scrubbed variety. Except this air was dangerously thick, hence the pressure suit donned to keep him from being slowly crushed. And of course, the air was terribly poisonous.

He walked slowly forward and could feel his boots make low crunching sounds over the rock. This was his third excursion in as many days, and he still had a paranoia that the suit was not fully sealed. Despite his continual anxiety, the low right of his biometrics on his GUI remained a steady healthy green.

He did not expect to be here. Not like this. And certainly not alone.

Was he grateful? Yes.

Was he in over his head? Yes.

Could he survive? Well, that was the big question staring him in the face, and a key factor in his anxiety attacks. He let out a long sigh in the suit and told himself to keep moving forward. The only cure he had for his anxiety was to take a moment to breathe in oxygen and think of ways to keep going and then do them. Was this all a mistake? Perhaps. Was he better off living here than living in habitat stations? He didn't know. This was the biggest risk he'd ever taken. If he could survive and grow the colony and lead the youngsters into a community with high humanist ideals; love of reason, respect, dignity, eliminating violence and working together to better themselves. That would be his life's accomplishment that would endure for generations. If he could succeed at that, then he'd be better off than if he'd stayed on Primron, or Gallavia or even his birthplace of Selenum.

Bixler playfully stuck out his arms and swayed them back and forth in the thick air. The suit was thin enough, permitting full wide movement of his joints. His rapid movements in the air felt a bit like swimming in thin water, a strange but satisfying experience that was a new twist for doing morning exercises.

He wondered if he'd ever get used to Zhenzhu? He turned his face to the sky and gazed at the white mist overhead. It reminded him of a cocoonlike shroud. With the rising sun, soon the white mist would give way to a yellow sky. Misty mornings reminded him of a jungle garden he used to frequent on Primron. Zhenzhu's mist was real, not the work of machinery behind walls and ceilings. This mist had been appearing the same time each morning every day for millions of years.

It was also hard to fathom there were almost three thousand mbars of air directly above him bearing down on his suit. He let his mind wander for a moment, imagining himself being slowly crushed to death under the weight of the air and suffocating as the poisonous gasses made their way inside. He shook his head and snapped out of the bad thought and reminded himself that he was a survivor, and the suit was designed to protect him from the harsh environment. He couldn't remain in the lander indefinitely; it was healthy to do these excursions each morning.

So much had happened in the last few days it left Bixler's head spinning. He knew he needed to keep busy with his hands and engage his mind. Being cooped up in the lander was part of this journey, and he had a growing long mental list of items that needed to be done, and he was going crazy just thinking about them. He needed to take some time, write them down and prioritize. By setting daily goals, and see his progress, he just might be able to survive months or even years. That will be today's task.

He turned around and glanced back at the Cygnus Venuste, the lander which was now his new home on this forsaken world. He was careful not to wander too far, the GUI eased his nerves, offering assurance as it clearly outlined the lander in a green outline. His morning walk was nearing its end, it was time to inspect the lander. He'd do a more thorough exercise later once inside. His suit was making him hot and uncomfortable; and he was reaching the limits of his patience. Even with a full tank of air, he felt like he was breathing in his own sweat.