Information Finding Championship- Season 1: Round 23 entry- Children of Mars
The theme of this round is writing a short story, if you are interested in joining you can find more information right here.
Not Mars but I like this photo
The Children of Mars
It has been twenty-eight years since humans first began to colonize Mars. After the first twenty years, the colonizers started to have children. The six oldest children of Mars (approximately age 10); Amity, Prospero, Ada, Man-Young, Winona, and Daku, set out on a right of passage and come to Earth to learn about life and culture. They leave behind their eco-domes and suits to see where their ancestors originated and will make observations on what Mars yet lacks. Packing their luggage aboard the B.O.S.S. (Big Old Spaceship) they prepare for their two-year journey to Earth on August 14th, 2050.
The team is ready, strapped to their chairs waiting for the B.O.S.S. to take off. Its takeoff is similar to a Boeing jet. After the ship stabilizes, the crew settles in.
"Well, that was rougher than what we trained for," stated Ada.
"Just wait for that reentry, it is gonna get hoooot in here," replied Daku.
"True, at least that is not for a good three months," said Ada.
"Okay, guys, time to get ready, just like we practiced," Man-Young said.
The crew unbuckles from their seats and begin checking the ships gauges and doing a routine check of the interior.
"Life support and cabin pressures are normal," Ada stated.
"Power is normal, and the cell battery is beginning to recharge juice since takeoff," reported Winona.
"Cabin temp is normalizing now, and ship integrity is holding strong," Daku stated.
"Inventory is all accounted for, giving us enough to make it through the trip," reported Prospero.
"System clock speed is running smoothly, and we have established communications back at Olympus," Amity stated.
"Good, the ship is currently on proper course, let them know of our status," instructed Man-Young.
"Got it!" Amity replied cheerfully, preparing a message for Olympus Base, "This is the children of Mars to Olympus, all systems are functional, and we are making our way to Big Blue, B.O.S.S. out," she ended the message.
Speakers came on with a reply, "This is Olympus to C.O.M. (Children of Mars), glad to hear your status, you are clear to proceed. Have a safe trip from your home to ours."
Man-Young sits back with a sigh of relief as the rest of the crew, aside from Prospero, begins to make their arrangments for resting, going through motions just as they have known.
"So much work to be done just to cruise from one planet to the next," Prospero states.
"Right? Can you imagine what it would be like to cruise through the universe?" Man-Young responds.
Prospero laughs, "No, I don't think I would have the patience for that, not until they figure out hyperspace travel," Prospero states.
"That will be the day, but for right now, this trip is for the books," Man-Young stated.
"True. Well, we better get some rest, good night," Prospero tiredly stated.
"Alright, goodnight," Man-Young replied as they both get ready to leave the cabin. The crew sleeps that night soundly, as they dream of what their lives will be like when they reach the alien planet.
Daku wakes up early and goes to the dining hall to get some breakfast. Ada is already eating oats and stares out the window. "Can you imagine what it will be like, to see a blue sky and clouds stretching over everything?" she implores.
"It will be strange for sure; I want to go somewhere with seasons, I bet seeing the Fall leaves will make us feel right at home," he jokes.
"Right, and I heard from my mother that the grass is so nice on Earth, the ground is soft, not like Mars. My family is from Nigeria, though, there are no seasons from what they told me," she explains.
"Oh, right. I guess your family knows about the rainforest best," Daku states, "From pictures, my family has shown me, Australia looks almost like Mars, I bet if we go there, we might feel like we took a wrong turn." He pulls out some pictures to show Ada.
Examining the photos, "they do look quite similar. Oh, I can't wait to see a beach though! Imagine all that water as far as well can see. We can relax all day and play games, with what are those things called again?" she asks.
"A beach ball?" Daku answers.
"Right!" Ada responds, "such a simple name, I just forgot it."
At that moment, Man-Young enters the dining hall with the rest of the crew. "Alright, it is oh eight hundred hours cabin time now, time to run a diagnostic of the B.O.S.S and report back to Olympus, let's go, guys," he ordered.
"Alright!" the crew responds, as they head towards the cabin to check the ship's status.
This log had been the first 14 hours aboard the B.O.S.S, making history as the first real Martians make a mission to Earth. It also sets the foundation for a tradition for Martian children and establishes the cooperative nature of Mars and Earth for the future and beyond.
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Ride on!
Thanks! I hope it will inspire them to shoot for the stars :)
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Nice story @mr-bike. It was an enjoyable read and I loved the interactions between the characters! Well Done! This will make a great addition to the growing collection in The Story House.
Thank you @iexplore, doing dialogue and balancing them along with having some exposition with so many characters in a short time was the hardest thing to do. So, I am glad that you enjoyed it!
Starts out with my favorite number! That's a good start. :D
And.. I totally feel like a Martian sometimes, so I can extra vibe and relate!
I love space stories like these. :) Also I like the acronyms you used! Clever! Great story mr-bike!
Oh, really? That is a funny coincidence that I would use that number. Thanks, I liked the acronyms as well for the ship and crew :) I was kinda going with a Star Trek feel for the story.