CHAPTER 1 [FIRST HALF]
My lungs are burning. Each breath I take is a step closer to my death. I can feel how my alveoli are scorching to a crisp by the chemicals forced down my lungs.
I allow my eyes to travel along the strong arm, that is keeping me kicking in the air, to the face of my murderer. Behind the Oxygen mask is a face I have seen before, but I can’t be sure. His eyes are full of motivation but also regret. A sense of sadness keeps flickering past that cold, icy stare.
He releases me, and gravity rips me to the red soil. The oxygen mask on my face I rip off as fast as my toxified body can allow me. I put my weight on my hands and knees to try and crawl away. Without an oxygen mask, the air I breath starts suffocating me. My knees collapse out under me, my face hit the soil, sending red dust particles swarming my vision. Again, I try to evade my predator, but it is lurking behind me, teasing me, amplifying my agony. He grabs me by my one ankle, dragging me through the riches of this soil.
This place was supposed to be my new home, my new adventure, but rather did it become my deathbed. For my last moment alive, I dragged my hand through the Martian soil, feeling its hope just one more time.
[ this is my own creative writing. please give tips and critism. is this a worthy read, would you want to read more? i really want to publish this story ]
The window exposes the rim of Mars which is reflecting a red glow. I place my hand on the window for the last time, remembering how small Mars initially was compared to my hand. A smile spreads over my face; my eyes get teary at the thought that we have finally arrived at Mars. Being in space for two months was a great adventure, but I’m sure it is not comparable to the adventure lay waiting for me on the red planet.
Excitement rushes adrenaline through my veins, and I revert my attention back to my packing. The cabin is empty, and I snoop around making sure I don’t leave anything behind. It’s not like a hotel where they can post or keep stuff for you. The last thing I pack is a little wooden box with seeds in. I cover it with some clothing and bury it within my bag.
With my bag zipped-up, I make my way to the mess hall where we all meet before the descent. I was the last to join and take my place next to Anna.
“Doctor Wiecker, you ready for Mars?” Anna gives me a look that can only be translated that she can’t wait to get to Mars.
“Mars better be ready for me, Doctor Randall. O, I hope we get apartments close to each other so that I can help you with your set-up.” A smile spreads over my face. We both know what she meant, and I would like to keep this information just between the two of us. I just give her a silent shush.
One of the crew members attracts our attention. In total we are 21 passengers, 18 scientists, and three engineers, and five are the crew of this cruiser. One of the crew members are giving a brief speech about how the descent will work and the safety regulations that goes with it. He instructs us to place our bags in a compartment that will go into the baggage compartment of out pod. He even helps us get into our suits. When he passes me, he looks at my glasses I have on my face and asked me to remove them. With a sigh I take them off, I knew I’m not allowed but taking a chance wouldn’t hurt. I pop my helmet on my head and duck into the pod and to my seat.
“Charlie, did you check the mice and rabbits before they were loaded?” I set radio communication only to be directed to him.
“Yeah, they’re fine, don’t worry Renier. Mars’ first mammals are sleeping deeply in their cages.” I can hear the excitement in his voice. This mission is indeed a great step in the history and science of mankind. Half of the scientists onboard are zoologists of some kind. The other half are of all kinds of fields, some are Angiospermists, bringing flower species along. But this mission is mostly focussed on introducing animals to Mars for the first time. Each of us will be transported to different science facilities around the globe, depending on our field. I know Anna, and I will both be going to the Durbanville science facility for the first few months because I’m a zoologist and she a Carbonist. We are just part of a small step in the next phase of the Mars Terraforming project.
The terraforming mission started approximately 600 years ago, and about 200 years ago the first plants were introduced. These plants were cultivated by the residents of Mars to create and promote Martian ecology. The plant project was so successful that Earth wanted to start sending animals after a century, but world war three broke out. The war caused the destruction of Asteroid 2008 EV5, which acted as the interstation between Earth and Mars. All radio communications were cut. Mars have been operating on there own these last 70 years except for the occasional short long-distance messages sent between the planets. Due to the world war, the Huston Space Station had to shut down due to some countries wanting to seize the space station to gain control over the Mars government. As a result, the Asteroid was destroyed. A secret space base was built in the Independent Cape Colony or just the ICC because this country was not participating in the war and had enough natural resources as support. The new space station struggled to build itself up throughout the war due to using no radio-based technology to stay off the radar. The war caused radiation and chemical exposure to the environment of the involving countries, certain micro-organisms invaded past their natural boundaries and also adapted to travel on humans and other animals. It was quickly discovered that these microbes would be fatal to the Martians if it got in contact with them and a possible epidemic over the whole of Mars. Because of this, the ICC kept a strict regulation on migrations, not allowing any infecting person into the country. The new space station thus mostly trained local people to keep the station going with un-infected personnel. When the war finally ended after 50 years, the station already had a plan and a selected asteroid to rebuild a second interstation. This Asteroid Interstation is where we did our final training and from where we started our two-month journey.
I feel the pod ripping off the space cruiser.
“Hold on to your mentals”, the pilot announced over the intercom from where he sits in the cruiser. He pilots the ship into the Martian atmosphere, and with a sudden increase in speed I grab the chair’s armrests. My body is filled with mixed emotions of excitement, fear, hope and doubt. I start smiling when I realise that this is the feeling of adventure.