"Pier! Quiet down!"
"This is Second Home! Not Earth!"
"We're pioneers of humanity, opening up a new world and exploring a planet suitable for human habitation. What does this little sacrifice amount to?"
"Think of Magellan's voyage around the world. His fleet was gone for three years, and more than two hundred people died along the way, including Magellan himself. We've only lost four team members." The speaker was a stubbly, middle-aged white man. He roared at the Black team member in the passenger seat as he drove, clearly just as hot-tempered.
"Fuck you! Jason, Earth doesn't have those damned monsters! I'd rather retrace Magellan's route than spend another day in this hellhole!" The tall, burly Black man argued with the middle-aged white man, filling the entire team with a tense, oppressive atmosphere.
Meanwhile, the young man of mixed heritage, Bruce, sat crouched in the Lunar Rover's back seat, surveying the distant horizon through binoculars. He then glanced down at the rough map in his hand, a trace of excitement flashing in his eyes, and interrupted the argument up front. "Jason, how much charge does the vehicle have left?"
"Thirty-two percent. Enough for fifty-six kilometers. This damned place is desert everywhere, but the days last twenty-four hours, so there's plenty of sunlight. The solar panels charge very efficiently."
"What is it? Have you found something, Bruce?" the middle-aged white man asked, pricking up his ears.
In Jason's eyes, the young man of mixed heritage had remained silent throughout their journey. His patience and composure far surpassed theirs, and he only suddenly spoke up at critical moments.
"I have!"
"There are signs of water about ten kilometers ahead. I can't tell whether it's a river or a lake yet!" The young man pressed his dry lips together and spoke with a