This God Forsaken Planet

Chapter 2

The weeks after the selection process were filled with classes on how to successfully run the exploration pod, how to grow food while in the pod, and emergency protocol. Shmutle picked up on the emergency protocol easily enough. Ideas such as if the ship crashed on land get out as quickly as possible, and if the ship crashed in water use the air tanks as flotation devices, seemed likes commonsense to Shmutle.

"How do you already know all this?" Asked the instructor of the emergency protocol training.

"My father volunteers as a low level medic for the engineering department," Shmutle said, his skin tingeing pink, "I guess part of that is being prepared for the worst, floods and crashes included."

"Interesting," Said the instructor, "it looks like your father taught you well, keep this up and you'll be out of this class early." Shmutle nodded and headed out to his next class. At least he would be good at something.

Growing food proved a little more difficult for Shmutle because he was unaware of how delicate plants could be. Only after spending days in the green house watering and checking humidity levels did Shmutle realize he needed to turn the lamps on.

As Shmutle went through his growing root vegetables he found himself questioning why he had planted so many seeds if he was now just going to replant some of the vegetables elsewhere. Shmutle was so absorbed into his task that he didn't notice his father come in.

"Hey, Shmutle!" Bopp Greeted enthusiastically. Shmutle flashed a startled yellow and bolted up right, firmly knocking his head on the lamp above him with a yelp. "Oh, Ouch let me check that," Bopp said with a shock of apologetic purple.

"Okay," Shmutle said as he knelt down to let his father inspect his head. Shmutle was a half head taller than Bopp, but it wasn't until moments like this that Shmutle really thought about these details.

"Are you feeling drowsy?" Bopp asked, breaking Shmutle's random train of thought.

"Not really," Shmutle answered.

"Where are we?"

"The farming lab."

"What's the ships Name?"

"The Solar Vapor."

"What's your full name?"

"Shmutle Farbe,"

"Feeling sick?"

"Not really."

"Look at your hand, how many fingers?"

"Four." Shmutle said. He was starting to wish Bopp hadn't taken that first responder's course.

"Getting annoyed at these questions yet?" Bopp said with a smile.

"No Dad, I know you're just worried."

"What was the first thing I asked you?"

"You asked if I was feeling drowsy."

"You'll be fine," Said Bopp "You have a lump half the size of my fist, but you'll be fine."

Shmutle stood up, a little more carefully this time and flashed his father a grin. Bopp didn't usually talk much but he certainly looked out his family.

"Am I that late getting home?" Shmutle asked as he glanced at the clock, it was almost an hour later than when he would usually head out.

"Maybe you would have an easier time of sticking to your schedule if you had something like this," Bopp said as he pulled a small box from his pocket and handed it to Shmutle. He took the box and studied his father's face, Bopp didn't seem to be pulling a prank. Shmutle opened the box and inside was an antique looking personal time piece on a long chain. When he opened the watch to check and make sure Bopp wasn't pulling a prank. There was a clock on one side and a portrait of Bopp and Unna on the other. Both Unna and Bopp were in their best uniforms and showing their merriest shades of blue. Shmutle threw a surprised look back at his father.