Amethyst

Amethyst, like most planets discovered in the 23rd century, had a name as one-dimensional as it was misleading. There’s no quartz here. The first ship to attempt a landing nearly combusted when its hull started oxidizing from the iodine in the atmosphere. That’s what gives it its rich violet palette: the iodine vents.

Its scorching hot here, but the plant life doesn’t seem to mind. That’s where the value lies, or at least that’s what I hope. I sold everything I had and took every loan I could get to afford this venture. With a little genetic modification, these plants could literally open up a whole other class of planets for terraforming.

That’s what Lylan figured, anyway. She’s my little girl; doctorate in exobiology from Calisto National University. She gets her smarts from her mother’s side. I guess they’re both smart enough not to talk to me anymore.

But that’s okay. Ancient history. What I haven’t got in brains I make up for with guts. And hooch. In fact, I’ve got a gut full of hooch right now. Let’s get this pressure suit on and see if I can’t find a way to print purple money.

Notes: I used an image as a writing prompt for this piece. You may be able to find the image on the artist’s ArtStation page.