Moon Stone looked at the letter that had come through on her pad. This was the first time DPIP had written to her. She hit the button to open the message. Instantly there was a little happy jingle and a message popped into view.

Moon Stone, it has come to our attention that the bioluminescent gene has not been studied yet. We require a sample. We have in our records that there is a young Belemoid with the gene. Please get us a sample of her blood.

DPIP

Moon Stone logged out of her pad. The only Belemoid the village had that had the Bioluminescent gene was Toffee. She searched for the supplies she would need amongst the drawers. She was still organizing and it took her opening several drawers to find what she needed.

She left her clinic in search of Toffee. The snow gently fell from the sky to add to the snow already on the ground. The largest of the two suns was just beginning to peak over the tall black mountains.

Moon Stone headed toward the small building that sat on the outskirts of the village. She noticed that someone had recently gone there as there was a trench in the snow leading to it. And it had not filled in yet.

The door swung inwards on slightly squeaky hinges. Moon Stone was pleased to see her first guess was the correct one. The walls had pickaxes and packs hanging by pegs. And a snow sled was parked on one wall. There was already a pack inside with two pickaxes. Currently Toffee had a pack she was inspecting.

"Ah Toffee. I was looking for you. I was wondering if you could help me out?" Moon stone said as she stepped inside and closed the door from the bitter cold of the outside.

Toffee looked up briefly to see who had walked in. "Hello Moon Stone." Toffee greeted before she went back to expecting a pick axe head. "It will depend on what you need my help for. I am quite busy. Kel and I are going to go back to the mine now that he has healed enough. Although he isn't supposed to do much strenuous exercise. But he is bored. I figured he could help chip out stubborn rocks."

Satisfied with the strap Toffee was inspecting she moved on to inspecting the rest of the pack.

"Well you see-" Moon Stone started. " I was just informed by DPIP that they are in need of a colonist with the bioluminescent gene and get a small blood sample to them. And well you are the only one in the village with that ability. "

Toffee thought about as she slowly and very carefully inspected the pack in her hands. Moon Stone waited patiently while Toffee thought about it. She watched as the young Belemoid turned the pack over and over in her claws.

"Alright. I will do it. But on one condition. " Toffee said as she tossed the pack into the sled.

"You come with us. " Toffee held up a claw forestalling anything that Moon Stone would say.

"That way if Kel does overdo it and hurts himself you will be there. And I have missed you coming with us. You haven't had a day off since you got your physician's license."

Moon stone could not think of a reason to refute any of her friends' reasons.

"Sure I will go with you. Even if it's just to keep an eye on Kel." Moon Stone joked.

"When were you thinking of going?" Moon Stone asked.

"Probably tomorrow. I need to check all this gear and pack food and water. You know just incase-." Toffee answered.

"Alright, would you mind if I got the blood sample now?" Moon Stone said as she started taking out her medical bag.

"I guess now is as good as any time." Toffee said as she moved from her spot to stand next to Moon Stone.

Moon Stone took out some gauze and cleaner and cleaned a spot on her friend's neck. Then she took out the syringe and proceeded to gather the needed amount of blood. She placed the blood into a vial and gave it a gentle shake.

"There, that should do it. I will just send this out to DPIP. And start packing. Shall I meet you here at dawn tomorrow?

"Yes. Kel and I want to start out as soon as possible." Toffee answered as she moved to take down another pack.

"Thank you." Said Moon Stone as she started to leave.

"No problem. " Toffee said as she gave her friend a little wave. "See you in the morning."

Moon Stone waved back at her friend and stepped back out into the frigid air. The evergreen trees were laden with snow. And the trail that she had followed her here was slowly disappearing as the falling snow filled it in. She patted her medical bag and started walking back to her clinic.