You're Going to Mars! by Rob Dircks

Author:Rob Dircks [Dircks, Rob]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Goodreads: 41433189
Publisher: Goldfinch Publishing
Published: 2018-11-13T00:00:00+00:00

For a moment, the competition slips away, and we look around at each other, and I think we’d all like to go to Mars together. I’d even take Avery with us.

“Hey. So where are the points?”

Huh. Benji’s right. Up above, the Big Board is clicking away with the Likes, but the points have stalled for days. “Isn’t this it? Isn’t the stage over?”

In answer, as Aurora finishes her song, the Board flashes a note across its top: Please return to the dining table, and each contestant retrieve a tablet.

So we make our way back and sit around the big table. Aurora unclicks her helmet and plops it among the dirty plates. Claire motions to the mess. “Maybe we’re supposed to do the dishes first?”

But our tablets wake up and sync, and Zach Larson’s voice fills the dome: “Congratulations! You’ve completed your tasks. Ah, with the notable exception of the mining team. You’ll be happy to know Jayden is recuperating nicely, and Avery, dear, we’ve been watching you closely, and the good news is you’re fine. Apparently the experts are fairly certain you’re faking it.”

Avery slumps in her chair and scowls. “Pffft!”

“In any case, someone asked about points. For Stage Two, we’re going to do something a little different.” A list of all the other contestants appears on my tablet. “You’re going to give points… to each other.”

We peer around at each other. So much for the camaraderie we were feeling a minute ago. This is war. First, we’ll give ourselves and own team members the highest scores-

Larson interrupts my thought. “I know what you’re thinking. But you’re only allowed to award points to contestants on other teams.”

Hmmm. What to do? Aurora, for example: I should give her a zero, right? She’s clearly the strongest contestant, a far cry from the drunk singer I thought she was, and what she lacks in technical know-how she more than makes up for in sheer competitive tenacity. If I’m going to Mars, she’s the one to get rid of. If everyone else is thinking the same thing, there’s a chance…

Wait! Listen to me! What’s happening to me? Yes, I would do anything to get on this mission, but… anything?

No.

I will not cheat. Yes, it’s true, I kind of made up my own rules in Stage One. But… I don’t know, I was lifting someone up then. Literally lifting Claire’s ass up that rock. It felt like I was giving. This time I would be dragging someone down. Taking. It’s a fine line, but whatever. This doesn’t feel right.

I give Aurora the maximum twenty points. She deserves it.

We sit in silence, tapping away, watching the tallies on the Big Board. It doesn’t take long, but it feels like forever. Regardless of our performance, contestants could, at least theoretically, send any team home. But as the numbers slow down, then stop, it’s clear everyone’s been basically objective, and there are no surprises.

Except one.

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