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4 June 2077

Kuga was running across Spacestation Mars. He was having difficulty keeping his luggage upright as he went and the pants on his spacesuit kept slipping down so his boots got caught up under his feet. He was late for his shuttle!

“Wait!" Kuga called out at the airlock controller, “I need to board!"

“Takeru I assume?" the controller crossed his arms.

“Yes sir! Sorry for being late!" the otter bowed, “I had some trouble on my way across the station."

“Get onboard, they're waiting for you."

“Thank you!" Kuga bowed again and walked through the airlock and onto the shuttle.

The otter secured his luggage. He entered the shuttles seating area and saw only one spare seat. He squeezed by the legs of critters of all shapes and sizes. He hopped up into the seat and secured his harness.

“You have it on wrong," a wolf with a Scottish accent said from next to him, “Let me help you."

“Oh! Thank you!" Kuga said as the wolf leaned over and corrected the harness and buckled the otter in.

“Just tug the straps to make sure it's secure," said the wolf.

“You are very kind," Kuga bowed his head as he pulled the straps down, “My name is Kuga Takeru by the way!"

“Ken McInnis," said the wolf.

“What are you going to Mars for friend Ken?" Kuga asked.

Ken chuckled at Kuga, “Oh, well. I invented an environmental system to improve living conditions in space. Mars is receiving the first of the units and I'm going there to install them."

“Wonderful!" Kuga bounced in his seat, “You'll be working for me! I'll be overseeing the installation and making sure it's systems are correct. Your system is very innovative. I'm impressed by the design."

“Oh, thanks," Ken nodded, “I worked hard on it."

“You're so young!" said Kuga, “We can only be a few years apart."

Ken sighed, “Yeah, I get that a lot."

“I'm working on getting Mars systems stable," said Kuga, “There have been a few unfortunate events where systems have been failing at every housing unit. It's dangerous for the citizens to have any kind of exposure from Mars itself."

“I heard about that," said Ken, “One of the reasons they sent me here. They think a few contractors cut corners during installation. They decided no one but me would be better for installing a system I made. Needless to say, I think it's a wise decision. It's better to have someone intimate with the systems. I'd hate to have my system end up being the result Mars gets poisoned."

“I think we will be saving a lot of lives!" Kuga giggled in excitement, “Kuga and Ken! Saviors of Mars! We are going to make a great team. You get my back, and I'll get yours. Mars won't know what hit it."

Ken smiled.

8 January 2083

The team wasn't having any luck on their search for more life on Europa other than more samples of Fresco Caballero. Julio gave up on going down to the moon after his fourth trip not finding anything new. The hyena took up sulking around the lab. He was even being nice to Marc from time to time.

Bruno was finding himself having a good time. Diego had brought him coffee two more times now. The coyote wasn't sure how this happened, but he wasn't about to complain. Diego made his mornings bright when he stopped by. This time around, Diego pulled the coyote in for a deep kiss.

Bruno closed his eyes and pushed against his captain. Diego rubbed his hands around the coyote's body. The bat was just keeping him turned on now. The bat grinned broadly and bit his lower lip.

“If you ever want more, you're welcome to stop by my quarters sometime," the bat rubbed down around Bruno's ass.

The coyote was several shades of red, “I'd like that sir. What if Rasul is there?"

“The more the merrier," Diego chuckled.

“Oh my," Bruno huffed.

Diego smacked him on the ass and left the coyote to his work. The bat made his way back to the galley to top off his coffee. Errol was looking out the window with his own cup of coffee. He seemed lost in thought.

“You alright Thunder?" Diego asked.

“Yeah," Errol nodded, “Just thinking about my career after this."

“Oh?" Diego joined him by the window, “Thinking about quitting?"

“Not at all sir," Errol chuckled, “With how rapidly we're advancing in space travel right now, I want to be the first one to the Kuiper Belt."

“That's a big trip," Diego chuckled, “You should bring a crew."

“Only if I'm in charge," Errol smirked.

“I'm sure after the glowing review I give about your performance, you'll be in a position to make those requests," Diego sipped into his coffee.

“Thank you sir," Errol sighed, “It's been a real privilege working with you."

“I'll be the first to ask to join your mission," Diego grinned.

“I'd be honored," Errol laughed.

“How're things with Hyperion?" Diego asked, “I've noticed you two have been sleeping together since new years."

Errol blushed, “They're good sir. We've had such a dynamic relationship since the beginning, and I think we're at a point where we're even more supportive of each other."

“That's good to hear," Diego smiled, “Sounds like me and Rasul."

“If you don't mind me asking captain," Errol leaned his back against the wall, “When did you two start seeing each other? You guys kept it under the radar for a while."

“Years," Diego chuckled, “It's why him and I match up well. He's always been my king of the charts."

Errol giggled, “I'm gonna call him that from now on."

“Don't," Diego ruffled Errol's headfuzz, “Get ready to take over the bridge. I'll be stealing Lightning for the trip down today."

“You got it captain," Errol gave him a salute.

Diego sat down with Hyperion and Rasul shortly before getting into the Spider. They scanned the planet and searched in the areas between the probes they were planting. Three of the probes had moved from their previous locations and one disappeared completely. The moon surely likes playing tricks on them.

Diego took Hyperion when they figured out a new location. Magnus, Marc, Ken, and Kuga were already suited up and waiting for them. The two of them got their suits equipped and they loaded up. Hyperion brought them down to Europa and the team dispersed.

Diego was helping Ken gather up more ice cores. Magnus and Marc were working the drill with Kuga to keep them company. The kangaroo wanted to see if they could hit rock beneath the ice so he could get samples of the moon itself.

Marc had rigged a scooper to one of the drones that he could operate with tethers. Magnus heard the rhythm of the drill change. They hit something that wasn't ice or water. The raccoon kept pushing the drill further to insure they could get a good sample. Marc was excited to see what they would get when Magnus started to retract the drill.

The kangaroo had Magnus feed the drone down. They hit water and Marc steered it straight down the tube. Magnus kept an eye on the camera to make sure he wasn't going in too fast. The camera fogged up with dirt particles.

“Ease up on your speed," said Magnus, “You're flying blind."

“I know dad," Marc teased the raccoon.

The kangaroo slowly descended until he hit resistance. The kangaroo tugged on the two tethers to activate the scoop. He mentally had his fingers crossed as he started to back the drone up out of the tube. Magnus started to pull the drone's tether back in and after several minutes, it poked up from out of the ice. Marc skipped over and pulled the drone up.

“Yes!' Marc laughed as he set the drone onto its side, stones spilled out of his scoop, “It worked!"

“It wasn't the best thing I've seen," said Magnus, “But it got its job done."

Magnus helped the kangaroo gather up his samples. Kuga had wandered off to take some scans. The otter saw some bubbles sliding along beneath the ice. He started to follow after them to see where they went. Diego noticed Kuga was wandering out pretty far across the field and took off after him.

“Don't wander too far," Diego chuckled as he caught up to Kuga.

“Sorry boss," said Kuga as he looked up at the bat, “I was just seeing where the bubbles were going."

“You and Harvey followed these before," he said, “What was the theory?"

“There's something below causing a surge in heat and creating air pockets in the ice," he said, “The bubbles are a result of water trying to flow, but since there's not much gravity here, it creates these bubbles and just flows along beneath the ice."

“What's the difference between the flow up here and the water below?" Diego asked.

“The water below remains stagnant because there's no ice pockets actively forming where we've been finding the pools below. There's not a great disturbance to cause the water below to move like the water up top here," said Kuga, “There's also some weird things going on with the gravity here. I've been taking scans every time we come down and comparing them to scans we have on the ship. I'd bore you with the math, but I'd rather not you pass out."

Diego laughed, “Thank you Kuga. But yeah, the relationship between Europa and Jupiter is proving rather unique. Especially with the shifting changes on Europa. They seem to happen at random."

“More mysteries," Kuga held a finger up to his helmet near his lips.

Diego smirked. He stuck with Kuga as they traveled along until reaching a cliff. The bubbles seemed to flow downwards and disappear at this point. Kuga slowly moved toward the edge. Diego grabbed him by the shoulder.

“Not so fast," Diego pulled him back, “Harvey cautioned to not trust ledges. And to be careful around the bubbles. I don't like the idea of both of them being together."

“Aww," Kuga sighed, “I guess you're right. I'll just take a scan and we can start to head back."

Hyperion came on over communications, “Hey captain, the seismograph is picking up some activity. We've had a two point four, and a three point two within the last hour. Think we should pack things up?"

“Good idea Hyperion," said Diego, “I'd hate to be down here if the ground started shaking or shifting."

“Roger that," he said, “I'll warm up the engines."

“Kuga, head back towards the ship," said Diego, “I'm gonna help Ken get the auger loaded back in."

“Sure thing captain," the otter was doing a few more scans, “I'm going to take more scans on the way back."

“Alright, don't take too long," Diego skipped his way back to where Ken was.

Diego helped the wolf finish up the core he was in the middle of picking up. The bat kept his eye on Kuga to make sure the otter didn't wander off again. He was slowly making his way back over to the ship.

Ken pulled back the handle on the auger and capped off his sample, “Alright, that should do it."

“Let's load up," Diego helped Ken tie off the samples for transport.

The two of them had gotten down moving the auger across the moon with ease. They propped it up into its storage and shut it closed. Marc and Magnus were getting the drill secure when they felt the ground start to shake.

“Captain," it was Rasul this time, “I'm getting some strange readings up here on the ship. You guys need to move! Scans show a split forming right beneath you."

“Hyperion, get the ship lifted," Diego ordered, “Magnus, lift the legs. Kuga, get back here now!"

Hyperion rapidly got the ship in gear. The ground vibrated again. Kuga was running across the field as fast as he could. He tripped and fell when the ground violently hit them. Right before their eyes the ground split in two and moved Kuga away from them.

“KUGA!" Ken yelled and started running to where the ground split.

“Fuck," Diego attached a tether from the spider onto himself, “Hyperion, follow me!"

Diego took off after Ken. The wolf barely stopped in time before reaching the area where the crack was. His heart sank. There was a thirty foot gap between them and Kuga.

“Ken, get on the ship!" Diego picked him up and carried him over to the ship.

Hyperion was hovering as low to the ground as he could. Diego stepped up onto the ramp and passed Ken over to Magnus. The bat went back down to the edge of the ramp.

“Hyperion, get me over to Kuga," said Diego.

“Guide me!" He shouted back.

“Move to port and slowly lower the ship," said Diego.

The bat guided Hyperion over to where he could see the tiny orange dot that was Kuga. The ground shifted again and Kuga started to slide down a slope. Diego jumped off of the ramp and slid after Kuga. The otter was yelling for help as they went. He was trying to find something to hold onto, but the ice field was too smooth.

Diego was gaining on him. The bat shifted himself onto his chest and grabbed onto the otters leg. He pulled the icepick off of his belt and slammed it into the ice. The only sound was the heavy breathing from the both of them.

“I got him," Diego called, “Get over here fast and reel us in!"

Hyperion didn't even have time to move the ship down when the cliff gave out beneath them with a fresh earthquake. The tether pulled tight against Diego and Kuga slid out from beneath his fingers. The otter disappeared into the crevice with more ice collapsing after him.

“NOOOO!" Ken cried out.

Diego felt the tears hit his eyes, “Reel me in!"

Magnus started to pull Diego back into the Spider. The bat scrambled back up onto the ramp. Ken had collapsed in a ball on the floor crying out Kuga's name over and over again. Marc was holding onto him. Diego slammed his fist against the contamination shield, a large crack splitting right down the middle. Magnus closed the ramp.

Rasul turned off communications and pushed himself back from his station. He looked up at Errol. The weasel came over and hugged him, bursting into tears. Kuga was gone.