The air outside was still and quiet. For a long moment, no one spoke, as if the crew was afraid that even breathing too loudly might wake up some hidden danger.
Rose was the first to step down from the ship. Her boots sank slightly into soft, dark soil. A breeze brushed against her cheek, carrying the scent of something floral—sweet, almost intoxicating. She froze, then inhaled deeply.
"Air's breathable," she said softly. Relief laced her voice.
The others followed cautiously. Jane's eyes widened as she tilted her head back to stare at the sky. Above them was the vast expanse of blue, but unlike Earth's sky, it held not one sun—but two. One shone brightly, warming the ground, while the other glowed faintly like a dim light bulb.
Edward crouched down, touching the grass. It swayed in waves, tall and soft, glowing faintly under the light. "This isn't Mars," he murmured. "This… this is something else."
A stream gurgled nearby. The crew approached it cautiously, Donald kneeling to dip his fingers in. He brought the water to his lips, tasting carefully before nodding. "Clean. Pure. Fresher than anything on Earth."
Jane examined the nearby plants, then cautiously plucked a fruit the size of an apple. It was a deep crimson. She hesitated, then cut it open. The inside was bright orange, dripping with juice. She sniffed it and frowned. "It smells edible."
Josh grinned and grabbed it before she could protest. He bit in, juice running down his beard. "Sweet," he said, eyes widening. "Like mango mixed with honey."
Jane gasped. "Josh, you idiot! What if it's poisonous?"
He shrugged. "Guess we'll find out."
But he didn't collapse. In fact, he looked healthier. Energized. Slowly, cautiously, the others followed, tasting the fruit. Relief spread through them like fire. Food. Water. Air. Life.
As the suns hid under the horizon, the crew built a small camp near the stream. Donald set up a fire. They gathered together, staring into the flames, each lost in thought.
That night, Rose's voice broke the silence. "We'll keep sending signals. NASA will find us."
Josh glanced at the sky, stars unfamiliar and strange. His grin faltered.
But he said nothing.