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The Story:

They sent me farther out on my patrol than usual. My oxygen is nearly empty. All I can think about is how many water rations I’m going to chug when I get back, knowing I’ll be reprimanded for it tomorrow.

Mission control has been radio silent for an hour, but I reported no activity, so we didn’t have much of a reason to talk. They have never been the chatty type. That no insurgents had landed is all they cared to know.

Ahead, I see the domes and the life they house. Wander around on the surface of Mars long enough, and you start getting misty eyed at the sight of trees—even if everything is always covered in this relentless red dust.

I reach the hatch of the south tunnel entrance to the domes and surrender the passcode to the keypad. It returns with “ACCESS DENIED” in red on a small display.

“Mission control, this is patrolman Oliver Kiln. We have a broken keypad at the south entrance. Over.”

Silence.

“Mission control, please, respond. Over.”

More silence. My gear is not giving me any indication of a signal loss but only empty radio waves. I decide to drop protocol.

“Somebody, come on! I’m running out of oxygen down here! Can you…”
“I’m sorry, Oliver.”
“Jack, is that you? What are you doing in there?”
“I’m sorry, man. They’ve declared you a 37-C.”

How could I be a 37-C? I have never spoken to any of the insurgents in my life. There could not be any evidence to indicate that I’ve given them aid.

“Jack, listen to me. There’s been a mistake. Don’t do this, man, please. Let me in.”

My oxygen meter redlines, and a readout begins counting down from 3 minutes.

“Colony first, Oliver. You know that.”

I hear the familiar click of the radio cutting off. Collapsing into the dirt, I have no other choice but to run out of oxygen. Once I’m dead, they’ll bring me in to salvage my suit and dump my body outside.

Just as I am accepting this fate, the dust around me begins to swirl and pebbles bounce from surface vibrations. I look up and see a ladder being dropped for me.

An insurgent ship.

My oxygen meter chimes a one minute warning, so I decide to climb up and get the explanation from them.

 

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