CHAPTER 6: LOVE, LIFE AND STRAWBERRY FIELDS: PLANET X PT 2

 

              Mission populate planet Xtasy had been in full effect for two months now. Two months felt like an eternity to Commander Jet and his crew. Planet X’s atmosphere was warm at the time they landed. So far on their adventures they discovered some very harsh conditions, so they marked them on their maps and took samples to see how they could tame the environment.

              In the two months on Planet X they covered much ground. They had discovered approximately 12% of the planet which was a tremendous task. At the moment they believe they were in Xtasy’s summer or spring months, and they could only imagine what the winter months would bring. Planet X was one of the most suitable planets the space station could find that would be able to sustain Earth’s organic chemistry.

              When Commander Jet and his crew first landed their top priority was to check the grounds to see if it could support organic life from Earth. Jet sent out rovers to test the grounds and plant seeds. Upon landing on Planet Xtasy the crew noticed its extremely lush atmosphere. There were many beautiful and humongous plant life. Wonderous trees almost the size of skyscrapers in the olden cities back on Earth. This was a great sign. The planet had an air of familiarity, yet blaringly foreign. The sky was a perfectly blended pink and blue. The clouds intertwined to create the most scenic sky any of the crew had ever witnessed. At night the sky shone bright with its two huge companions Commander Jet named Moon Jonnox and Moon Ascen in remembrance of his son and his purpose. The moons were so beautiful in color and size that they shone bright during the day as well.

              Days on Planet Xtasy ran a 32-hour cycles from the crew’s calculation. As the crew traveled through the thick luscious Amazon reminiscent forest, they encountered tribulations. On one occasion Commander Jet and his crew were cutting through a thick patch of brush trying their best to move in a calculated fashion. Pilot Carter was collecting samples nearby when suddenly the ground beneath him began to sink. Carter let out a panicked scream, “HELP ME!”. Sanjay the mission specialist was the nearest to Pilot Carter, so she swiftly went into action, but Commander Jet noticed the area around Carter was expanding and not safe. Sanjay paid no mind to the dangers as she grabbed a vine from a humongous tree and threw it to Carter. As Carter began to pull himself out the ground resisted violently and flung the tip of the vine. Sanjay held on tightly as the vine swung her into a tree. As she hit the tree she released her grip and fell to the ground. Mission Specialist Sanjay was left unconscious laying on the ground. Commander Jet noticed her helmet was cracked but just as he began to run towards her the ground shook violently and swept Pilot Carter into a whirlwind as it sucked him into its abyss.

              Commander Jet began to sweat in horror, but he was the leader therefore he had to remain calm and push his emotions to the side. Jet ran to Sanjay’s side. She was still breathing. Jet immediately pressed her back shield used for emergencies in these types of unpredictable foreseen instances. Reid the Flight Engineer ran to Jet’s side terrified but eager to help. Commander Jet and Reid carried Sanjay to their shelter that was set up just 10 km away. Nighttime began to fall, and this was as good of time as any to call it quits and hunker down for the night. They had just lost the first of their crewmembers and almost a second, but they hoped it would be the last.

              Whistling winds cracked against Commander Jet’s helmet that sat by his side. Jet and the remaining members of his crew had been walking for about 11 hours. They were running out of food, but they were too far to turn back now. When Sanjay finally came to, she realized her helmet was not on and as she looked at her other crew members, she seen that they too were not wearing their helmets. Sanjay began to panic but then suddenly became overwhelmed with joy. Her breaths were large, crisp, and deep. The air was not toxic as far as they can tell. It began to get dark, so the crew set up shelter.        

 Planet Xtasy’s nights were bright and beautiful. The night sky shone will millions of stars brilliantly dancing as if they were performing just for them. “What a beautiful sight.” Commander Jet thought. “I’ve seen this sky many nights and it always amazes me.”. The sky’s beauty however could not take away Jet’s underlying fear. Jet and his crew had lost contact with the rovers and Pilot Carter was sucked into the ground. Added to the stress was the fact that they were running out of food. Jet began to pray, “Was this in vain?”” Will we find nourishment and the proper place to start a thriving civilization?”” We are the first, the tester. I hope we can give the people of Earth some useful information. I know my purpose does not end here.” Commander Jet began to weep like he never wept before. All the pain being released, sobbing himself to sleep. Commander Jet woke the next day not ever remembering going to sleep. Refreshed! He felt. Jet and his crew continued their journey.

Slicing through brush Jet noticed they seemed to be nearing the end of the Forest. As they walked further the trees began to open to a wide field. The crew couldn’t believe their eyes. What appeared in front of them look to be strawberries. These strawberries were violet in color and the size of plums. As they walked towards the strawberries Reid noticed one of their rovers. It successfully planted seeds in this location. Sanjay noticed in the ground a potato like root, but it was a purple black color. This field was their food source. ‘This is where we will make our base” said Commander Jet. They were surrounded by resources. Commander Jet fell to his knees. “Thank you, Creator.” He exhaled. “Trusting in my purpose has led me here” he wept. The crew would send word back to Earth that mission population was a Go!                                                    

 

 

 

For more please check out my book. “On Letting Go” a great brief read of short stories and poems. 👇🏾

 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09XRDJK16