The Interplanetary Expedition of Mars Patel by Sheela Chari

Author:Sheela Chari [Patel, Mars]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781536222241
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Published: 2021-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

The Lifeboat shuttle was docked at the flight platform, ever ready for action. In addition to launching all the Oliver Shuttles, it was one of Daisy’s many jobs to see that the Lifeboat was always primed to go. But Daisy had never launched the Lifeboat, because the Lifeboat had never been used. It was designed for an emergency, which so far had never happened. Until now.

Nervously, Daisy helped everyone get suited up for the flight: Mars, Axel, Julia, and Fang—or Aurora, as everyone discovered when the motley crew reached the South Dome and took off their helmets.

“You’re Fang?” Daisy uttered in disbelief. “But you were doing so well in the greenhouse.”

“Why am I not surprised?” Julia said coolly, staring hard at Aurora.

Aurora glared back. “Really, Daisy, do you think I came here to grow lettuce?”

“But . . . but,” Daisy said helplessly. She couldn’t understand why anyone would trade the experience of living in the Colony for . . . she looked more closely at Aurora’s scruffy space suit. Was that a skull-and-bones symbol carved into the helmet? Next to Aurora, Axel was already defacing the side of the dome wall with a marker.

“Let’s go, everyone,” Mars said, walking ahead of them. “If we’re doing this, let’s do it.”

By now, everyone was pretty much glaring at everyone else. Julia was pissed off, Axel was up to no good, Aurora was sneering, and Mars was unhappy at being “the ransom guy.”

But clearly she was the unhappiest, Daisy decided, as she led them to the suit room. That’s because she was prepared for everything . . . except a real disaster. And Aurora and Axel on the Lifeboat without authorization was the gravest disaster of all. Because Daisy knew the true cost of getting it wrong on Mars—mayhem and destruction! What if Aurora’s brash decision destroyed them all?

Getting everyone into their flight suits and helmets took nearly an hour. There was so much equipment, and it had to be worn correctly to ensure a proper seal. Plus, Axel fidgeted, and Aurora refused to change out of the suit she was wearing. “This is premium Martian gear,” she said, smirking, even when Mars pleaded with her to change into a new space suit that would offer better protection. Eventually he gave up, and Aurora continued to look like death in her skull-and-bones decor.

Finally, when everyone was ready, Daisy reluctantly led them through the airlock and onto the shuttle platform. By now, Daisy’s hair was way beyond limp, the gold ribbons had fallen away, and there was glitter smeared across her face. She was a sad mess.

“Daisy, close the hatch, will ya?” Aurora said leaning back in her seat. “Oooh, I’m gonna like this ride!”

“Strap in,” Axel said. “We are going to PAR-TAY.”

“Yeehaw,” crowed Aurora.

Daisy reached for the hatch. “To the stars,” she said, faltering. Disappointment welled through her. How would she look Mr. Pruitt in the eye? Aurora and Axel—they were the worst kind of Colonist, not thinking of anyone but themselves. Now

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