"Dude, you can't be scared to do this." He says hurriedly

"But-" I stop and take in our surroundings for the first time.

What a marvel it was! We were in space, on the moon to be exact. I began thinking about how we had made it thus far, so no turning back now. Although I still doubtful I say,

"But- but what if the procedure didn't work?"

"We went through enough trials, on the ground. Look, i'll go first"

He starts to take off his helmet. I watch in terror. He was right, we'd been through many trials on the ground to see if the procedure would give us the ability to live without oxygen, but what if was a fluke? We are far far away from home, no doctors, no help, just the hope that this situation will work out in our favor.

"See, nothing bad happened"

He gulps in a huge breath of air, but doesn't seem to exhale. He then falls towards the ground gasping. I spring into action, in fear that my bestfriend is about to suffocate. As i reach to grab his oxygen mask, he starts to laugh. I feel an instant burning of anger pulse through me, i should have known. Ace has always been that kind of person who will take a "joke" way too far. I say nothing as i shove him and start towards the ship.

"C'mon bro, you know that was pretty funny" Ace says then jumps up. "We're in space we gotta keep it interesting or we'll lose our minds out up here."

"Oh and fake dying is the route to go?"

"I thought it was funny as shit, actually!"

"Fuck you."

I continue my path to the ship, but I am halted by Ace. He has a look of genuine remorse. He's the kind of person who kind of, and i do stress kind of, realizes that he has messed up only after he has done the deed, and it's too late. Despire the fact that I should have been used to it by now, i mean, we have been friends for around 12 years or so, practically raised together, so i would say i should be pretty accustom to this sort of behavior, but this, this crossed a line. We are in Mo.Ther.Fuck.Ing. Space for one, and if we are going to have to spend 30 days out here, he would have to learn his lesson the hard way. There's enough to worry about way out here, unethical practical jokes shouldn't be on the list of things for "fun". This coming from the guy that's always laughing at any stupid thing he does, but i don't know, maybe it was the pressure of being so far away from home that just put me on edge. I trudge past him, we bump shoulders as i do. He doesn't react or even fix his posture after the contact, just stands there in a daze.

As i open the door of the the ship I realize that at some point my helmet must have came off, because i reach up to feel my face, which is a bit cold to the touch, and it's not there. A pang of fear rushes through me, i reach back to grab onto the railing to steady myself, but then i calm down as i realize i'm alive and breathing, very rapidly so, but with excitement! Without an apparatus! I instantly get thrilled and start to fist pump into the air. I swiftly turn to dash down the stairs, skipping the last two stairs. My feet fly from under me, I fall in what feels like slow motion, due to like no gravity. As i land on the ground i can feel the coarse, yet comfortable sand graze my face. I leap back up exuhberant. "It worked! Ace! It Worked!" I practically scream while running towards Ace. In the excitement i guess i forgot how everything just went down. My mind has always worked like that, once something goes right i can quickly forget the bad. This moment was no different. "You were right." i say more to myself, because i feel guilty. I attacked him for- wait no it was a bad prank, but maybe i did react too harsh i think to myself. I slowly stride over towards Ace. I look down at the ground the entire time, guilt taking over me.

"Dude-", I start.

"No it's-"

A loud explosive sound from behind the both of us makes us jump for cover, although there is absolutely nothing to protect us nor brace ourselves against. So we both fall to the ground hands clasped behind our heads, like as if we were in a school's tornado drill. As we slowly work up the courage to view the ship, we can see the rear area of the ship remnants burning. The smell of smoke, two years of supplies, and fear in the air. Bits of the ship are elevated, and moving fast, yet floating with a harsh grace into the nothingness that surrounds us. Our only way back home there in front of us burning. Me and Ace exchange bewildered looks, suddenly the last 15 minutes matter no more. All our past feelings replaced with terror and desperation.

"WHAT THE-" he says as another explosion goes off. It is going to be a long long month, if we can even last that long.

[End Transmission]