The sun was a dim red disk, hanging in perpetual sunset along the western horizon. To the east the world faded slowly into darkness, lit in places by slimy bioluminescent trails. Carson grimaced, and wiped a muddy hand against muddier overalls. Slime was never a good sign. Things that slimed tended to ooze as well, and the combination was always a bad thing for his uniform.

He toyed with the idea of simply returning to Ship and waiting until the scouting drones returned, but the head of the colony had been very adamant that the ‘problem’ be taken care of immediately. As if genetic manipulation was ever immediate. But there was no reason to annoy the man quite yet, depending on the slugs he could be here for months. Months. Now that was a dismal thought.

With a sigh, he started making his way down the hill and into the planet’s dark side.