Interstellar Odyssey

Story Text, taken from story wars
Content used under CC-BY

Chapter 1 by oc
I wanted to believe that going to Mars was my choice.

But sitting on the ship heading the red planet I realized I had no choice in the matter. Sure I agreed to mother's proposal when the hippie scientist's asked for me to be a variable in their little game. They also informed her that I would be safe and secure. Of course they would never harm me, my family would destroy everything they know and love.

I'm part of the Valheart dynasty on Earth's moon. A family as powerful and influential as mine arrived there as soon as terraforming was completed on the satellite. It's sad really, that people are still stuck on miserable planet Earth. I feel bad for them.

But don't tell my parents that, they'll think I'm a softy.

I was just thinking about getting up for a drink, when a voice spoke through the ship's intercom system.

"Mel Valheart, report to the deck 2B for your export to Mars."

Sounds like we've finally arrived.

Chapter 2 by ThunderRising
Out of excitement, I got onto the ship rather quickly. I had thought that I would my family and I would be the only voyagers on this ship, but I had thought wrong.

The ship was full with people. We were given a private cabin near the entrance to make sure that we could get of first.

The journey there took a couple of hours, but it actually felt like a couple of years. I wasn't used to waiting that long.

For the entire time, I just played on my smartphone, and tried to fall asleep, even though I couldn't.

Desert.

That was the first thing I thought when I saw the Martian terrain. It was one big desert.

But when I got off the ship, I realized something, it was a desert with no sand.

That was weird.

Suddenly, I heard a loud swooshing noise of the wind.

Where were my parents?

"Mom, Dad?", I cried out loudly a few times. I wanted to get back on the ship, but as soon as I turned around, I realized that the valve was closed.

I looked back at the vast desert. I definitely didn't want to go into that. I banged on the valve a few times.

Nothing happened.

When I turned around once again to face mars, I realized what was happening. The extensive education that my parents gave me was finally coming to use.

I banged on the valve a few more times, but just like I expected, there was no reply.

I was stuck in the middle of a Martian duststorm.

Chapter 3 by ArtemisNine
I cursed at myself for not paying more attention during my survival training. Everyone who goes gets training, and my parents wouldn't get me out of it, even when I asked.

I should have paid more attention. Tried to remember more.

Banging against the valve, I yelled, "Let me in! Let me in!"

The door whooshed open with that same sound of wind, and I stumbled as hands grabbed me and pulled me inside. "Thank you," I said, before I saw who held me.

It wasn't any passenger. Their clothes were stained red with the dust of mars, and as I glanced about the shuttle, I felt cold with terror.

There were more people with clothes stained red. And they were pointing weapons at the other passengers.

Pointing weapons at me.

So much for safe and secure, I thought, as the rebel shoved me towards the other passengers.

They were rebels. The rumors were true. I thought it was nonsense, everyone thought it was nonsense, who would dare to stage a rebellion? There were reports, news broadcasts, everything was fine-

''They faked the broadcasts. The news. Everything, to stop a panic.''

Seeing something on my face, some expression I didn't know I wore, the rebel smiled, teeth flashing at me.

"Welcome to Mars, kid."

Chapter 4 by Windlion
She's got tatts. I could use the Lizard to take him, control her into doing what I want. But I don't know enough yet.

"You're the Valheart boy?" She stares at me and shakes her head. "Just got here and already calling for Mommy and Daddy to rescue you?"

"Uh, kind of shook me up, getting locked out there."

"Wake up to the real world, sonny boy. You traveled ten months to get here. The next transit ship left Earth orbit three months ago, and won't be here until Mars is in opposition. That's how far you are from Valheart Land."

She looks across at the other passengers. "Hey, people, your lucky day! You get saved because you're riding with a Valheart, how about that?"

Feeling the others edge away from me, I get the idea that they don't appreciate the favor.

"We're going to finish chopping the AI on this boat so we can fly it over to Arsia. Then we're going to open the door and let you run for the station entrance. Naked, because we need your suits. There's enough oxygen in the atmosphere for you, but you will want to move fast to keep from getting one hella sunburn. Also, we will be taking off right away, so you will get knocked down by the engine blast if you don't get out of the way. Everybody kapeesh?"

A heavy-set fellow called out, "What about my heart problem? I can't —"

"Bullshit!" The rebel cut him off. "You were cleared to travel to Mars, you can run fifty meters. Or, you can die. Your choice. Any more good questions?"

"Why are you doing this?" a young woman snapped.

The rebel leader looked at her sharply, then nodded. "Temp worker?"

She flushed, and nodded back.

"Short answer. We are hijacking this boat. You all have been the hostages to keep them from shooting us out of the sky on the way down. We don't need you any more. We could just dump you off in the middle of the desert to die, but our boss says that's bad manners. No more time for questions. Everybody sit down or hang on to something, we're lifting!"

The shuttle engine roared back to life.

Chapter 5 by Windlion

 * 1) M72>ARSIA we are coming in hard to drop off hostages at dock 13 be ready they will be arriving without suits


 * 1) ARSIA>M72 who are you


 * 1) M72>ARSIA ten minutes to arrive we have a valheart dont shoot


 * 1) ARSIA>M72 {unintelligible}

The hostages had stripped to their underwear during the short flight, and were huddled together, shivering.

"Been a pleasure, gentles, enjoy your stay at Arsia. No dawdling, I will shoot you dead. Just run for the dock. Brace!" The rebel leader grabbed on to a stanchion, and the lander touched down hard with an explosive roar of its engine.

The exit door spun open. "Go, Go, Go!" roared the rebel leader. She fired his stunner above their heads, and they scrambled.

When the temp worker who had challenged her went by, though, she grabbed her by the shoulder and pulled her aside. "Wait!" she snarled, and let the rest of the hostages go by.

"You don't have to go. You can join us. Now."

The young woman stared at her, and then shook her head. "No. No, I'll take my chances with the good guys."

She shrugged and let go of her arm. "Difference of opinion on that. Here's a gift for the station, just drop it on the dock. Go! Go!"

The temp took the bundle of tubes shoved into her hands and dashed away to the dock. When she heard the lander engine powering up and the door slam shut behind her, she dropped the bundle and ran as hard as she could, trying to outrace Mel Valheart to the welcoming committee at the door.

Behind her, chaff-spewing rockets raced out of the tubes and filled the sky over Arsia Mons with radar-blinding strips of metallized film.