The simulation loaded into Sy and Jim's headsets. The cockpit became alive with lights and data outputs. A clear expanse of sky blossomed out from the center of the window. Jim looked up at the stars. He drew his gaze down and away from the far away suns and towards the planet they were supposedly orbiting.

"Life bearing planet, mid sized. We're over the northern hemisphere, looks like they're heading into their winter season. We seem to be over a desert, or something. I think based on cloud coverage that they are getting some rare rain." Sy's voice came through their headsets as he gave his assessment. "It's hard to tell, but I think we're heading towards some mountains."

The analysis was interrupted by their program. "Welcome out of hyperdrive. This is Planet 597. The inhabitants of this world are not yet in the space exploration stage. However, we have belief that there may be an extremist group using this planet as a base for operations. Your mission is to photograph possible locations that they may be occupying so we can send in additional teams to assess the situation."

Jim could hear Sy moving around behind him as he shifted to get a better look out the program windows. The younger boy spoke again. "This should be easy enough. They said we have two laps? Three?"

"Two." Jim settled his hands on the controls. "I'll rotate us so that we're flying sideways. You'll be disoriented just by the nature of the view. Your body thinks that it should be pulled towards the planet, so you will feel awkward that you aren't being affected like your mind expects to be."

"I'm going to take a couple test pictures to get the feel of this camera. Let me know if there's anything you want me to get a shot of. This shouldn't take more than a couple moments." Sy adjusted his equipment in the back as he spoke. "What do you think we are looking for?"

"Large patches of unusually well lit areas. Or places that are unnaturally dark. Any man made buildings in bodies of water. Areas of especially advanced looking cities or whatever. Patches of land that look suspiciously well manicured or planned out. Anything that feels off." Jim shrugged his shoulders, though he wasn't sure if Sy was looking. "It's really hard to explain. Just use your instincts."

"Alright, I've got the hang of the camera now. Let's do this!"

The small craft flew over forests, oceans, and large stretches of open land. Sy's shutter clicked rapidly. Jim spoke up each time he spotted a possibility, but for the most part he trusted Sy to identify the most suspicious areas. From the sounds of his camera, however, he was erring far to the side of caution.

As they drifted past the side bathed in sunlight the planet's shadow plunged them into darkness. The lack of light pollution spoke volumes to both boys. This land was far behind in technological advances compared to the life they were used to. The path back to daylight was a long dark one. Sunrise was a welcome change.

"I think I see it, Jim."

"Where at?"

"Middle of that jungle, there's a cleared out patch. I spotted it as we passed by it, we'll have to be prepared on the second lap. Think we can take a third if we really need it?"

"That should be fine. We'll do our best to get our photos on the second lap, but if the program doesn't end, we'll take a third."

"Can you try to adjust us about twenty kilometers towards the south?"

"On it. I'll do my best to get us into the right location."

"We're moving at a good clip." Sy was busy fussing over his controls as he assessed the situation. "Is there any chance you can slow us down on the next pass so I can get enough pictures?"

"I can, but the easiest way would require entering the atmosphere. This ship should be able to handle it, but I'm going to wait until we're close to the location. I don't know if we'll be able to exit the atmosphere again once we've entered. This type of ship isn't meant to reexit without a launch pad."

"I think we should try anyway."

"Alright. I'll try entering about a thousand kilometers before the site. Will that be enough?"

"Should be. Thanks Jim. We'll get the best pictures out of all the groups."

The planet rotated below them as the boys prepared for their updated mission. Jim could feel the tension in his partner. He couldn't help his grin. "Relax, Sy. It's just a program. Nothing is actually going to hurt us. If we can't exit the atmosphere again, we won't really be stranded waiting for a rescue mission!"

Sy answered nervously. "I know. I just...this is important, you know? My family…."

Jim nodded. "That's right. Your mom's side is all involved. I remember you saying that. Look, they're going to be proud of you, no matter how a simulation goes. Sometimes they're designed for us to fail. Failure is part of life. At least, that's what they told me after our first intentional failure. They need us prepared for worst case scenarios, not just running perfect missions every time. We need to adapt."

"I'd rather have perfect missions."

"So would I. I still haven't completely forgiven them for making me fail intentionally."

Sy's laughter was a welcome sound. Jim relaxed with his partner as they waited for the right position to come back around. As the jungle came back into sight, Jim took the controls once more. "Alright, here goes nothing."

The capsule they were seated in jerked as he flicked on the thrust. Cautiously he guided them towards the surface of the planet. As their ship entered the atmosphere everything began to shake. Jim hated the bone rattling sensation. Far too soon it stopped.

Everything stopped.

The world froze and all sound cut. A warning box popped up across their screens. "Entering Additional Program. Continue?"

"Yes?" Jim glanced towards Sy for reassurance.

"Please wait as content is loaded." The awkward pause felt wrong as a loading bar inched its way through the center of their planetary view. Sy fidgeted in his seat.

"Hey Sy?" Jim took a deep breath. "Do you think that-"

"Download complete."

The entire capsule started shaking once more. There was a sickening twist in their stomachs as the artificial gravity kicked in and pulled them towards their perception of the planet. The ship cleared the upper stratosphere and dropped into free fall.

"Alright! Let's do this." Jim started flicking switches and turning dials as he adjusted to the input on his scenes. Wind conditions, atmosphere content, gravity calculations, it felt so natural to put all the pieces into place as he guided the ship towards their targeted location.

Sy's fingers flew across his own control panel as he adjusted his camera. "This is perfect, I've got a very clear view of the ground now. We'll get some great pictures this way."

The pleasure warmed Jim in a way that the artificial sun could only hope to do. "We're going to ace this mission."

He guided his craft above the trees with ease. "There it is. I can see it. Oh wow, they've got a lot done. I'll pass over it three times, is that enough?"

"That'll be perfect. I think they've spotted us, though. There's a lot of movement and-" Sy cut himself off with a gasp. "They're getting into fighter ships. Jim, we need to get out of here!"

"What?" Jim jerked the controls to the side, tipping his craft sideways so he could get a better view. As he circled over the military base three small armed aircraft took off. "Okay, yeah, this is bad."

"Can we outrun them?"

"Not in this thing! This is an observation vestle, not a spy craft or-Oh. Oh, that's what the secondary program was for. I bet the third years go in with a spy craft in the same program."

"Oops. What do we do Jim?"

"We hide."

"Hide?" Sy's voice was rising a little with panic. "I don't know about you, but I am fairly certain that you can not actually park a spaceship in a cloud. And even if we could, they would absolutely find us."

Jim cut off the thrusters.

Sy screamed.

The observation craft dropped towards the planet. The military's first shots flew over the top of their ship. Their ship flipped tail over wings as they plummeted through the sky. Jim threw his head back. "Whoooo-hooo!"

"I hate youuuuuu!"

Nose to the ground, Jim flicked back on their thrusters. The sudden burst of speed cleared them of the next round of attacks. Two miles above the ground he cut the boosters again and let the air slow their fall. They plunged into the trees with a sickening crunch of limbs and metal.

The program froze again. "Entering additional program. Continue?"

"Yes!"

"Jim!"

"Please wait as content is loaded."

The entire planet was locked in deathly stillness once more as the loading bar filled up. Gravity released and sent them reeling. Sy spun towards Jim furiously. "What are you doing!? We're already in one program we shouldn't be touching, and now you're going for a second?"

"Hey, if we stay in that secondary program, we'll be shot to pieces. May as well try this one, see what happens. Either we get shot and die anyway, or we escape, hide, call for help, and survive! I know which one I'd give a better grade to."

"I hate you. I hate you so much."

"I love you too, Sy."

Sy sighed and leaned back into his seat. "Next time we get that pop up, I'm screaming no." He glanced over at Jim, a rueful smile on his face. "Alright Captain. I trust you. Let's see where this takes us."

Jim grinned. "I knew you'd see things my way. Besides, this is fun."

"Yeah, maybe a little."

The program launched into being again. The boys jerked with the unexpected return of the artificial gravity. Stomachs churning they broke out of the branches and ground to a halt on the planet's surface.