The Mons Connection

by Janine R Pestel

  After some effort, they manage to right what is left of the transporter and step back to survey the carnage. Considering all the noise and the beating it sounded like the storm gave to the rover, the damage is not as bad as they thought. All the windows are broken, and the body is twisted and dented; almost making their transportation appear like something you might come across at an auto recycling yard on Earth. But, the wheels are fine and, the crew thinks, the machine as a whole still seems to be in drivable condition. As they contemplate their now damaged chariot, Doug speaks up with his dry sense of humor.

  "Oh, look," he says, pointing to the stubborn, non-closing hatch, "it's closed. I guess a dust storm and a few boulders is all it needed." No one laughs.

  "Well," says Jon, "this changes our plan a little. It's obvious we won't be able to pressurize the cabin now. Not with all the glass blown out. We can still sleep in it tonight, but we're going to have to keep our visors closed." He motions to a small outlet port on the side of the pod "We'll use the auxiliary ports to recharge our oxygen supplies in our suits." His attention shifts to Doctor Doolan

  "Guess you had good foresight in suggesting we bring the EVA packs, Doc."

  "Unfortunate, but yes," she agrees.

  "And I was so looking forward to dehydrated lasagna," Jon says, sounding whimsical.

  By now the damaging storm is passed enough for the sun to lend a little brightness - if one could call it bright - to the scene. The rust-colored Martian dust is still pretty thick and seems suspended in the atmosphere. Everything has an eerie red cast -- even more so than before the squall. The four clean the debris from inside the vehicle as best they can, return to their respective seats and make themselves comfortable. At least, as much so as one can be after going through such a windstorm as they have been through.

  "We should get back underway while we still have light," says the Captain.

  "Agreed," Mikhail speaks up.

  "We don't want to be here if there are any life forms we don't know about out there. Let's find out if this thing is still going to work Miko," says Jon. Mikhail presses the button, and the electric chariot comes back to life. Gesturing down at the floor of the rover, Mikhail gets Jon's attention.

  "Good and sturdy. They make this in Russia, you know." Jon smiles as their trip resumes.

  As they continue their journey, each begins to think their own personal thoughts. Those of Doctor Doolan are of medicine, of course, and hoping no one receives any injuries she is not equipped to handle. Nervous about this, she fidgets in her seat. Jon is thinking about what they might find inside the mountain. Is the volcano dead, or will they find lava pits and poisonous gasses? Doug recounts the discovery that was made at the dig and how it led them all here. The hieroglyph appearing to show the solar system with Mars and, in particular, Olympus Mons. But did this, in reality, mean what they all thought?

  Mikhail worries about when they first departed the ship. Did Doug witness what Mikhail did high up on the cliff? He almost hoped so because he didn't want to be premature with his announcement to his "superiors." This would not be a good thing. And, if Doug also saw them, then he knows he is right.

  "Better be right," he thought to himself, "or leader will say to me 'dasvidaniya.'" He glances at Jon, who is looking out what used to be his window, then makes a slight facial gesture at the bottom of the rover

  "I hope you are doing well, my little friend," he thinks silently about the small device he placed under the vehicle, "I will be needing you very soon."

  Olympus Mons

  They make their way the rest of the way up the hill to the base of the towering cliffs of the mountain. The rover comes to a stop, and Jon jumps out. His weapon at the ready as though expecting an attack, he surveys the area while the other three disembark.

  They walk over to their captain, their weapons also in hand. After a few minutes, they put their carbines back on their shoulders. Digger regards his leader

  "What," Jon says as he starts back to the vehicle, "Never hurts to be careful."

  Doug shakes his head, making a disapproving facial gesture. "Well," he says, "we're here."

  "We certainly are," Doctor Doolan agrees.

  "Let's take a gander around before the sunlight goes away," the captain says, surveying the landscape.

  "I think it best we stay out of caves for now, though," chimes in the crew archaeologist

  "What you afraid of? Little -," says Mikhail

  "Green men... that's getting old," says Doug, interrupting him in mid-sentence, "No. I think we should wait until morning when... when we can... uh... well, the light will be better. That's all." He peers at his captain as though pleading with him to agree.

  Jon gazes at him for a moment and says

  "All right. Let's investigate the area, but do not enter any caverns. Clear?"

  "Da," Mikhail says, using his native Russian, "Vyyasnyat, Kapitan."

  "Let's pair up," the leader of the expedition says, "Doctor Doolan and I will go this way," he motions, "Miko and Digger, you two go that way. Anybody runs into a situation; you shout out immediately," he stresses as he glances at everyone for their agreement. "We'll meet back here in one hour." He turns his face skyward, "Should be getting close to sunset by then."

  Jon and the doctor go off in one direction, Mikhail and Doug go off in the opposite. As they make their way, every boulder is examined. So many large boulders are around the two scientists, they only walk a few feet at a time. Digger investigates the rocks and Miko studies him.

  "You," the crew navigator remarks, "are more like geologist now than archaeologist." Doug glimpses up at him for a brief moment.

  "I'm... uh... I'm a little interested in what is here," he says, examining one of the boulders, running his fingertips over the surface, "Almost like I... um... saw this kind of rock before."

  "Yes. So have I... several times." This last remark solicits a surprised glance from his field partner.

  "On Earth, you found marked rocks like this," he asks.

  Mikhail smiles a smug sort of smile. "Yes, in places. Near my home in Russia. Why? Is that important?"

  Doug makes a slight facial gesture before composing himself. "No. I guess not. I'm curious," he says as he goes back to his field work.

  The Russian studies the American. Pleased he managed to ruffle the archaeologist's feathers.

  "I didn't think so," he says, as he also begins to examine boulders.

  "Hey Doug," the familiar voice coming over the radio is the voice of Henry Weimer, a close friend of Doug's and a fellow archaeologist with the ATP.

  "Hi, Hank." He uses his friend's nickname.

  "Can you do me a favor and try to give me some variation of angles on those marks?"

  "Sure thing, buddy," his attention turns to Mikhail, "Captain's right. This is like having a conversation in slow motion."

  He moves to alternate sides of the rock so he can give his earthbound friend several different views of the markings.

  "Thanks, Doug. I'm going to ask them to send us a copy of this video so we can analyze the marks at our lab. They may mean something, or merely be scratches."

  "Mikhail, here, told me he found similar rocks near his home in Russia."

  "Yes, we're aware of the Russian rock fields."

  "Any more progress made at the dig in Egypt,"

  "Yes. I'll send you the data."

  "Roger. I'm anxious to study it. Digger out."

  "You... uh... you married," Miko asks. Doug glances up at him, puzzled by the reason for the question.

  "No. I'm not. Why do you ask?"

  "I didn't think so. Is... how do you say... common knowledge how your government does things. If even a small chance of not returning from mission, they send people with no family to miss them." Doug nods, still studying the rock.

  "You," he asks, "you got a wife, Miko?"

  The cosmonaut takes a few moments before answering, while his teammate scrutinizes him.

  "Da," Mikhail responds,
"Natalya. We have two boys. Leonid and Maxim. I'm officer in Russian Military, but still only 'Vasya Pupkin.'" The archaeologist astronaut furrows his brow, perplexed by the meaning of the foreign words.

  "I think you say... 'Average Joe.'"

  "Ah," Doug says, smiling.

  "Why would you think we would be on a one-way trip," Digger asks as it dawns on him about the inference being made.

  "Oh," Mikhail tries to brush the question off, "well... you know how it is."

  "No... I don't... uh... how 'is it'?"

  "Is space mission. Always full of danger. Things can happen," he pauses, "many things."

  "Like what things," Doug is beginning to become a little testy. He is nervous about what Mikhail seems to be implying.

  "Lots of things," the military officer says. He regards his exploration partner for a moment, "I tell you something," he says with a subdued tone of voice, "A few years ago, I am friends with another cosmonaut. Nikolay was name."

  "Nikolay Nikolovski," Doug interrupts "he retired, didn't he?" Mikhail drops his eyes for a second.

  "Yes, Nikolay Nikolovsky. Was good man," he returns his gaze to his crew mate. "I tell you now what is true story that happened to Nikolay." Miko continues "He came back from mission. Was a simple operation. Orbit Earth and come back. We lost contact with him when he re-enters atmosphere. When we arrive at capsule and open hatch, Nikolay is dead. "

  "Any idea what caused it," Digger asks

  "All the air in vessel stopped, and he suffocated. Russian government made us swear to secrecy. We never told anyone. Only said Nikolay 'retired'." He turns and glares at Doug, "That is why I don't 'take for granted,' as you say, that we will always come back."

  "Oh. I... Uh... I'm sorry for your loss. I was unaware."

  "Thank you. Was a long time ago."

  The two return to their task at hand.

  "I wonder what makes these marks," ponders Mikhail out loud as he rubs his hand over the surface of the rock. Strange impressions cover the surfaces of some of the boulders much like the scars on the ore with the gold they found earlier.

  The captain and the doctor are a short distance away, both engaged in trying to find what may be the shortest and safest route to the base of the mountain. Their search does not seem to be going anywhere until Jon says;

  "Katherine, are you seeing what I am," he is pointing to what appears to be a hole in the cliff face not more than fifty feet away from them. The cavern is large, and obscured by a boulder that is quite tall and so straight, it is almost unnatural.

  "Yes. I think I do," the doctor answers, straining her eyes a little. It is not as bright as when they started out, and the hollow itself is in the shadows of the cliffs. "I think it's a cave or something," she says. Jon glances back toward the rover so he could "get his bearings," in a manner of speaking, on how to return to this spot from the vehicle.

  Katherine is studying their discovery and an odd sensation comes over her.

  "Very strange," she says, sounding nervous. "I almost have the impression like someone is watching us."

  "Yes," agrees Jon, "I do, too. It's funny how your mind can play tricks on you." The two stand together for a few moments longer, studying the cave entrance. "I could almost swear there is some kind of marks on the rock. I'm sure it's only my imagination," he says as they turn to go. "We'll explore more when the light is better."

  The two arrive back at the base camp to find their teammates have arrived and are there waiting for them.

  "Gettin' dark," Doug says, looking around.

  "Yeah," Jon agrees, glancing at the sky. "Guess we should break out the grub and after meal time, bed down for the night. We'll start first thing in the morning," he says as he steps to the damaged rover.

  The other two men gather four large rocks for them all to sit on and place them in a group near the vehicle.

  "Dining room's ready," Doug jokes. The captain walks over to the crew, the plastic bags containing their "dinners" in hand.

  "Yum," Jon says, laughing, "EVA Packs. My favorite." He pats his stomach.

  Each one takes their pack and puts it on. The pack is similar to a bag a person riding a bike on Earth would wear on their back and sip water from. Since there is a straw going into their helmet for water, the device connects to a small control box on the front of their suit. Turning the switch on the unit one way, they drink water, and the other way gives them the protein shake.

  "I think the good doctor and I found a cave entrance." says Jon as he sips his meal.

  "Yeah," Doug asks, "where? I guess it can't be far from here."

  "No, it's not at all. It's up that way about a quarter click." Jon motions in the direction.

  "We're going to need to explore it. I thought I saw some kind of markings on the rock at the entrance," he chuckles, "But I'm sure my eyes are playing tricks on me."

  "Maybe is like what we find," Mikhail says, looking at Doug.

  "What did you find," asks Jon.

  "Oh... Some rocks Miko and I discovered down that way," Doug gestures toward where he and the navigator explored earlier, "it could be nothing," He glances at the Russian, who turns away.

  "You know," Mikhail says, anxious to change the subject and pointing to the protein pack on his back, "this stuff isn't half bad. But I can't wait to be back in Mother Russia and eat a big, thick, juicy steak... A real one." He laughs, and the other three laugh with him.

  "So," starts Doug, as he sips his shake, "what brings someone from Russian military all the way out here to Mars?" Mikhail gazes at him for a moment and ponders the question.

  "Well, you know how government in Homeland is. Like any other. If there is a possibility life exists here, we want to know."

  "I understand that. The point I'm missing is why you? Why not send civilian scientists?"

  "I am scientist and I am most qualified," answers Mikhail, "I am doing what you call... study of Life. I am sent because if life is here, is matter of national security." He glances away

  Doug nods. "Oh," he says, "A biologist who can protect."

  "Yes," the cosmonaut says as he rises to his feet not wanting to answer any more questions, "I'm going to get some sleep. Was long day today. Tomorrow will be more of same." He takes his leave, and Doctor Doolan stands up.

  "I think I'll turn in, too." She says, and walks away to join her teammate in the rover. The two plug into the port so their oxygen in their suits will recharge overnight while they are at rest.

  Doug moves over next to Jon, who makes a slight facial gesture. Digger motions, and holds up four fingers while turning a little knob on a device on his wrist. The captain understands this signal to switch to "channel 4" on the radio so they can converse in private. He follows suit and changes his frequency.

  "What's up," he asks.

  "It's Mikhail," Doug says, "Something is not quite right with him."

  "What do you mean?"

  "I dunno. Can't put my finger on what it is, but he seems to be acting," he searches for the right word, "suspicious or something." He surveys the Captain as though trying to read his thoughts. "When we prepared to leave the ship, I caught him staring at the rock outcroppings in the cliffs." Jon is a little puzzled.

  "I don't understand. What's wrong with that?"

  "After he walked away, I tried to catch a glimpse what he may have been looking at, and it appeared like something moved on the ridge." the military man glances away for a moment.

  "Something moving," he says, glancing back at his civilian crew mate, " You didn't think to mention it to me?"

  "It happened so fast and only the slightest movement. I'm not even sure it was anything at all. I'm still not sure. I'm telling you, Captain," he leans a little closer, "we must be careful with him. He's up to something, and I don't think it's good."

  "I'll take that under advisement," Jon states, not wanting to jump to conclusions. He glares at the young archaeologist "You're not going to start with that ATP crap again, are you," he says.

&
nbsp; "It's real, Captain," says Doug, now quite serious. "As real as you and me."

  "Yeah... okay," Jon says as he stands up, "You know what else is real? I need sleep... that's real. You can stay here if you want to, but I'm gettin' some shut eye. Is there anything else you need to talk to me about?"

  "No, I guess not."

  The mission commander turns his dial back to the original channel and walks away. After he plugs into the oxygen port, he slips into his seat in the rover.

  Doug watches him go to the vehicle. He sits alone on his rock, looking at the Martian night sky, which is filled with so much dust high up in the atmosphere from the earlier storm. It catches the light of the sun, which, only hours ago disappeared below the planet's horizon, and reflects it. It gives the whole night an eerie perception. Doug relaxes there for almost an hour, enjoying the quiet.

  While Jon and Doctor Doolan sleep, Mikhail decides to venture out of the safety of the metal enclosure they are in. He disconnects himself from the port and starts off in the direction of the mountain. He only gets a few hundred feet, when he realizes the area is glowing. As he recons his surroundings, he becomes aware he is not alone. Two creatures are standing behind him. He turns to face them and finds one "person" is a mirror image of himself. He stares in astonishment.

  "What the hell," he starts to say. The creature points what appears to be a weapon at him and fires.

  "You are not permitted here," the being says. He holds his hand over Mikhail and absorbs all Mikhail's memories and mannerisms. He disposes of the navigator's now lifeless body in a small crevice, turns and walks toward the rover. He becomes the Russian cosmonaut. The second creature seems to vanish.

  While this is happening, Doug is still perched on the rock, taking in that he is now on Mars on a mission for the ATP.

  "It's strange to be outdoors at night and not hear a sound," he ponders, "Not even a cricket. But, if Martian crickets did exist, I wouldn't even hear them with this helmet on." He scans the night sky, curious if he can recognize the constellations. He can, but they appear a little different than on Earth. He studies the surrounding landscape, and his gaze comes to rest on Olympus Mons. Peering at the cliffs, he is startled by a faint golden colored glow appearing to come from somewhere close to their location.