30 Days To Live

Text from Story Wars
Used under CC-BY

Chapter 1 by go!den-in-the-mist
The hot sun radiated down her scalp, making it feel as if there really was a hell in the universe.

It was a desert with no sand. It would be hard for anyone to live in.

It was especially hard, though, for Blanche, a girl native to Alaska, who had never even heard the word heat, let alone felt it until today.

She always hated the snow. Now all she wanted was to get it back.

But of course, when she was told that she had a chance to live in Mars, she knew that her parents would not hesitate to ship her out. She knew that they needed the money more than ever, and this was their only chance to survive.

She was told she would be fine; that Mars was just as safe as Earth was fifty years ago, before the pollution had gotten worse.

She never imagined the only reason teenagers were sent to Mars was for an experiment.

The rules were simple: she survived for a month, and her family would strike it rich.

That is, if she survived.

Chapter 2 by Windlion
Mars was safe enough, sure. As long as she didn't do something stupid.

She learned what had to be done to live safely, just as she had learned how in northern Alaska. Know where you are, and where to go for shelter from the windstorms. Stay warm, but don't sweat. Keep your rebreather in top shape, always carry spare cartridges. Water. Sunscreen. Food.

In the Alaska where she grew up, though, everyone worked together to survive. On Mars? More like what she had read about the gold rush days.

Spend a month out in the desert chasing reports of an untouched ice seam.

Drive the old seismic vibrator rig slowly along the barren valleys, watching for dust bowls that could swallow the rig entire.

Stop at night, set up and run the seismic test gear. Pull the gear apart to find out why it had stopped working and patch it back together.

Read the shaky data. Guess whether it was worth the time to drill an inspection hole.

Reconstitute some soylent, the dehydrated synthetic protein that the prospectors live on, and gobble it down before her gut revolted.

Sleep. Wake before dawn and start up the rig. Pull the drive gearboxes apart and bang the axles back into line. More soylent. Swap out the skinsuit's recycling pads. Put the rig in gear and roll on.

Hold back claustrophobic panic attacks that go with living alone for four weeks in an increasingly stinky skinsuit.

Some prospectors had teammates. She would like that, but it would have to be someone she'd trust not to kill her if she struck it rich, found one of the big ice seams they were all searching for.

Besides, the guys were just looking for a floozy to make them feel good, and all of the few gals on Mars she'd met were more interested in mining the guys who were flashing creds from the ice they'd found.

Couldn't fault them, Mars was too hard a life. Her pride got in the way, though.

So she drove on. In two weeks, she would at least have her bonus payment from the company. Or rather, her family in Alaska would, and they could choose between paying for her return ticket to Earth or having enough to get by for the rest of their lives. Like most of the other teens, she expected them to take the second option.

She would still be on Mars. Unless she found that mystical pot of ice at the end of the rainbow, she would also be out of work and looking for a job.

Chapter 3 by Queenie
However, she found consolation in a group of people who also were probably never going home. These people just needed a friend to help them through the fact that their families loved money more than them.

Then, two months ago, people began to go missing. Ten at a time, every Friday. Tension was building and building, till everyone was at each other's throats, accusing one another and fighting. They were just a bunch of scared teenagers, trying in vain to find a scapegoat.

But if she remembered correctly, all the insanity started two months ago, on a Friday, when Matt the incompetent radar technician showed up with his disabled friend, Valerie, to the group meeting. Matt was really nervous, he probably had anxiety, but Valerie obviously helped him calm down.

That same night, after Matt and Valerie arrived, ten young men and women went missing, and there was no pattern between any of them.

She feared for her life.

Chapter 4 by Windlion
"It's no good just getting together if they're just taking us out. We need to be visible. We need to plan."

Valerie listened to Matt's voice tightening up. "Hey, lover, unwind a little. Maybe getting together to bitch about the company isn't such a good thing?"

"Can't believe you would say that, Valerie!" he snapped. "If that's all you've got, just leave me alone for a while."

Someone behind her spoke up. "Maybe some of us think the killing started before the bitching. Maybe some of us want to hear what Matt has to say."

She spun around, quickly enough that one of her prosthetic legs locked up. Five of the jobless teens were there, staring hard at her.

Here bestie Jingfei motioned to her. "Need to do girl talk, Val. Let's go, uh, fix our makeup, and I'll help you straighten that leg?"

Valerie looked at Matt, who was still head down and paying no attention to her. She nodded slowly, and limped off with her to the restroom.

Blanche watched them leave, and shook her head. She stepped up to Matt and put her hand on his shoulder. "Hey. Some good news? The first ten made it to the cave."

He looked up. "They're all right?"

"And the potatoes are growing. C'mon, let's dance a bit. It'll ease your mind."

He looked up, about to decline — but she had already pulled back, struck a dancer's beginning pose, and illuminated her tattoos. What the hell? he thought, but he matched her, as did the others, and — following her lead —joined in the chant,

Hey!

brother

Hey!

sister

What you say

We hear you

They hear you

The Man hears you

We say

Val hears you

Think about it

Tell her

Think about it

Don't tell her

Just do it

Confuse it

Their eyes

Disguise

We hide

Then ACT

NOW!

It ended, everyone panting, with the same look in their eyes. Glancing at a police bot passing by, Matt suddenly understood; only the ones who were dancing, who had the tattoos, who knew how to chant… only they would know what had just been said.

Blanche saw the realization dawning in his eyes. ''Today. 2071CE Day 152'', she thought.

''Today. The Rebellion has begun''.

Chapter 5 by Windlion
"Hey. Chat?" She held out her hand, and her palm tattoo winked into life.

"Chat." Matt touched his hand to hers.

''Just wanted to say good bye. The rig is hacked, I will "lose" it in a sand pit up north, and then make for the Havens.''

''Safe travels, Blanche. We will be free.''

She smiled, squeezed his hand, and leaned over to give him a kiss. "Been good, Matt. Keep Valerie sane, okay? Make sure she knows that I'll always be her fan."

"Okay. I'm your fan, too, Blanche. Stay away from those rich assholes."

She colored a little. "Nobody interesting but you on this pile of rock, sweets."

Should I have told her about the protest? he wondered as she walked away. ''No. She doesn't need to know. Her place is at the Havens.''

~

They did not gather at one place, or even at one time. Regulations required a permit before organizing a gathering of more than twenty people in one place, in the event of a containment failure. Instead, they gathered as if it was a rave, a series of text messages that sent twenty thousand of them dancing into the Council courtyard, up the steps and breezily past confused guards who were calling for assistance.

The Councilors looked up to see their quiet wood-finished chamber suddenly filling with hundreds of outlandishly dressed and tattooed youths. Staffers rushed up to whisper in their ears; video of the disturbance was being broadcast through the Net, and had been picked up by Earth new services.

The Chairman looked over to the bailiff. "Find the Security Officer, and tell him to do whatever he needs to do to solve this."

The bailiff nodded. He had already left a message for the Security Officer asking for help. He sent another message with the Chairman's directive.

The Security Officer interpreted the orders as freedom to act swiftly, and ordered the police bots released to scorch anyone found in the courtyard. On the witness stand in the Hague years later, he would claim that he did so with the Chairman's authority.

When the screaming was done, there were still three live video feeds broadcasting. Two of the cams were held by the cold hands of the dead.

Fifty seven people were killed. Hundreds more were lying around stunzapped. None of them, their outraged relatives pointed out, did more than dance and sing in a public place.

The Chairman's order to shut down video feeds off planet a half hour after the attack only increased the fury on Earth over the tragedy.

The hundreds retreating from the massacre "disappeared". Over the next few months, most of them found their way to the Havens.

Chapter 6 by go!den-in-the-mist
Blanche followed a carefully randomized trail toward the Havens to avoid disclosing her destination. Thousands had already made this journey into the shadow of Candor Chasma Rim, where they were met and guided onward.

She hefted her pack of recycler cartridges for air and water and her concentrated food supplies. Heavy even in Mars gravity, but it would still only last five weeks.

With the summer solstice dust storms beginning to blow in a month, she wanted to be in the tunnels at the Havens well before her supplies ran out. Besides, it would be March on Earth and she would be celebrating her birthday. Even if her parents chose not to buy her a return ticket with the huge completion bonus, she would celebrate freedom from working for Mars Inc.

She was halfway through the desert now, and she could almost swear she was seeing things. Thankfully, Valerie had packed her enough water for six weeks of backpacking. Blanche still did not understand. Even with a disadvantage with her legs, Valerie still managed to wake up everyday with a good mood. She was like a 'Momma Mars' to Blanche, as she called her.

A figure started to form not too far away. Blanche had a good feeling that this was really an actual person, and not just of her imagination. She waved her hands to get the person's attention, but her smile faded as she realized who it was.

"Blanche! It's you. I never thought we would see each other again." Mal was about to put his arm around Blanche, but twisted his wrist before he could do anything.

"Listen, rich kid, I don't know why you're here, or why you're trying to get close to me, but lemme tell you that any contact between a male and a female is prohibited."

Mal looked through his phone, the one all were provided the day they were deployed on Mars, and touched it to Blanche's head. The case turned yellow, and Mal bit his lip.

"Oh, really? Well, it looks like you've already had some physical touch with a boy. Matt, it says here. And with a kiss?" Mal's face filled with jealousy.

Blanche thought about lying, but she waved it off. "Matt's my younger brother. And I just pecked him on the cheek. I won't be seeing him for a while. I'm going to the Havens."

Mal raised his eyebrow. "Your brother? Cheap excuse."

Blanch held her hands up in retreat. "Alright, don't believe me. I don't care. Plus, they'd know if I had any physical contact with a male that's not related to me. Alarms would be blaring and I would be shipped out."

Mal shrugged. "The government has been very inattentive lately." Before Blanche could take a run for it, Mal held her close tightly. His nose was touching hers, but he was surprised when Blanche pulled her leg around his. When he took a step closer, she pulled the string tied to her pink, and he fell on the desert sand.

He rubbed his head. "What was that for? Aren't I the handsome guy you've been waiting for?"

Blanche's tattoo woke up in an instant. Blanche thought for a moment. "You're right. You've been what I've been waiting for. Let's go home."

Mal smirked. "I told you I was right!"

"Chat?"

"Chat."

Mal gladly gave his hand to Blanche, and Blanche took it. She thought for a moment.

Kiss my a-

Mal let go. He looked at Blanche.

"Alright, if we're going to go to the Havens together, might as well do it together."

Realizing Mal was right, Blanche rolled her eyes. "You're right. But once we get there, we part ways."

Mal smiled. "Maybe by then, you'll have different feelings for me." Mal's tattoo came into view. The lively tattoo walked through Mal's skin, landing into his hand. It winked at Blanche, Blanche glaring at it.

"Usually, they just use what they find to make tattoos. What makes yours so different?" Mal realizes she's looking at his tattoo, and he slaps his hand. The creature runs through his forearm, and out of view.

"That's something I would like to keep secret, thank you. Now, shall we continue our journey? We've spend enough time pondering each others thoughts." Mal takes his arm out for Blanche to lock hers in, but all Blanche does is stick her tongue out and walk farther away.

"We shall, but only because we have to. Kay?"

Chapter 7 by Windlion
Jonazel was waiting for them at the rendezvous point. “Blanche! Blanche! Maligayang pagdating!” He greeted her with an enthusiastic hug, and then stepped back with a frown. “But who is this?”

Blanche’s joy at seeing Jonazel again after her long march faded suddenly. Abashed, she replied, “This is Mel. He, his journey to Mars was, umm, interrupted when the lander was taken? He spotted me walking down the chasm, and said he was also going to the Havens.”

“Hindi ko alam … Some people will not like this,” Jonazel scowled, ”but since you have arrived with Blanche, I must accept you as a guest.” Ignoring Mel's disgusted expression, he spun back to Blanche and let ebullience overwhelm his dislike for her companion. "But we have so much to show you, Blanche, many, many wonderful things!"

“How could anything be more wonderful than you, Jonazel?” Blanche laughed.

Jonazel grinned, shook his head, and squinted at Mel. "Maybe I shouldn’t tell you right now. Relax and don't worry, though, it is the best of news!" He paused. "Well, mostly."

Blanche glared at him, then shrugged. "Okay. Nice eye tatts, by the way. Did you get those in Arsia before you headed out?"

"Oh! I'm glad you like them, aren't they so girly?" Jonazel batted his eyelashes at her. "Actually, Dion brought his entire kit with him and has set up a clinic. He takes care of broken bones, altitude sickness, flu, and does cosmetic surgery on the side."

Blanche smiled and closed her eyes. If the Disappeared already had time to be fashion conscious, things couldn't be that bad.

"There's the university's lander arriving! You can just see it through the dust cloud."

University? Lander? Blanche's eyes flew open. Jonazel was grinning at her.

"It's a very secret thing. We never speak of it until we are in the Havens. Which is here!" He dove through what appeared to be a wall of sand …

… into an echoing cavern, a city vibrating with the energy and voices of hundreds. Not all of them were familiar faces.

Chapter 8 by Windlion
There were many, many refugees from Arsia Mons who saw Blanche and flicked welcoming note her way. The others, including a group carrying travel bags and getting used to Mars gravity — new arrivals on the university lander? The possibilities! A way home to Earth?

A wiry silver-haired fellow who had been talking to the new group waved to them and then bounded over, calling, “Gidday, Blanche, I’m Archie! And this" — he slowed suddenly and lost his warm smile — "is Mel Valheart. I recognize you, sir, from the news vids, and I cannot say that I or any other kiwi welcomes meeting you. We will always remember the disaster that your family caused at Christchurch.”

Archie gave Mel a dark look and then turned back to Blanche. “Some explanation, please, Blanche. Our project team is definitely not ready to expose the existence of the Havens to a Valheart, and I question whether your refugees are either.”

Blanche nodded. “Uh, Mister Valheart surprised me during my trek here. He told me that his trip to Mars had been interrupted by a unit that hijacked one of the landers. I apologize, I am sorry — I had no idea that we were sharing accommodations, or I would have asked approval first?”

Bristling, Mel stepped forward to defend himself. “Look, boyo, this is —”

“What the hell is — ''EVERYONE! POWER DOWN YOUR TATTS NOW! NOW!”'' Archie was staring at Mel’s arm, where the creature Blanche had seen was rushing back under Mel’s shirt.

“You also, Blanche! And you, Mister Valheart, NOW. If I see that — I do not want to see that creature again, ever. Do you understand me?”

“Archie —” Blanche tried to calm the man, but he cut her off.

“That monster is a synth bioform. It can invade people and take control of their neural systems, even through wireless connections. It has a communication link to a twin somewhere that sees and hears everything that it does, and it — spawns — inside you to create more of its kind!”

One glance at Mel’s expression told Blanche that Archie was telling the truth. She quickly powered down her tattoos, shivering as her connections went silent and shaking with anger at herself for bringing this demon to the Havens.

“Terry, Jared!” Archie shouted without turning his eyes away from Mel. “Bring the shipment wrapper over here! You,” he snarled at Mel, “are going to leave. Now. Quickly. You can walk, or we will take you.”

“The hell you say!” Mel thundered. “My family owns this planet. Who do you think you are?”

Archie blinked, and then half-laughed, half-barked at Mel. “The owners of this planet? Not your family, scum. Humanity's First Contact with the owners is standing right behind you."

He spat on the ground. "And I should not have told you that. Janey, I propose to dump this trash out the door until we can decide what to do with him."

The tall black woman who had hurried up when Archie began shouting looked at him, and then back at Mel. "Get this — Valheart — butthole outside. And throw a copper net over him so he can't use his comm to rat us out to his friends!”

"Wrap him up, don’t let him touch you or you’ll be attacked by the bioform!”

The two men who had rushed over with a large device with a spray head aimed it at Mel. Ignoring his shouts, they covered him with layers of fast-drying plastic ropes before he could move away.

Then they picked up the scion of the family who thought he owned Mars, hauled him outside of the Havens, and left him in the shade of a rock outcropping struggling to breathe in the thin atmosphere.

Inside, the cavern began to fill up as word of the new arrivals spread. A few of the them, Blanche noticed, were tall, willowy, with sienna-shaded skin and silver scales.

Definitely not human.