A laboratory on Mars

The particle floated inert within a solution. It could feel itself being examined by something currently greater than itself.

Doctor Young examined the latest sample from the Mars Ice Caps. The initial excitement from being part of the first mission to colonise Mars had gradually worn off to routine experiments and analysis of soil samples. He found it frustrating that he hadn't yet made any breakthroughs or discoveries.

His colleagues had already had limited success in their specialised fields of research and she felt some jealousy at their success. The pressure to excel had been drilled into him from an early age and he felt shame that he had not yet made the discoveries he had yearned for.

He sighed as he finished her examination of the sample, there didn't appear to be anything of interest and it was similar to 100 previous samples he had checked.