Jett Smith and The Alien Grave by Andy Orr

Author:Andy Orr [Orr, Andy]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Red Planet Adventures
Published: 2013-07-07T16:00:00+00:00

Before we depart, Yuri insists on snapping a photograph of the expedition team. We huddle in front of a rover and stand in a line, while Yuri waves us closer together so that the five of us fit within his camera’s viewfinder.

“Say cheese,” he orders in his heavily accented voice, then snaps the photo.

Dad and I climb into the lead rover. He wants me to drive. We’re bringing Al along too. Al doesn’t need air, water, or food, which means no extra supplies need to be packed for him. For now, his lifeless aluminum frame is tucked away, in back. I’ll boot him up when we arrive at the South Pole, a week from now. Azumi, Colt, and Maggie climb into the second rover, with Maggie at the wheel.

Dad and I lock our helmets into place, and punch in codes on our forearm keypads to activate our CCBAs.

I remember the first time I took a rover on the out all by myself. I was nine years hold, hardly big enough to fill out the arms and legs of a training suit. Yuri told me to do a few laps of Colony X just to get a feel for the rover’s handling. “Like a little astronaut performing his first spacewalk,” I remember him saying affectionately, with a wink. When the hangar door closed behind me, I felt a new and powerful emotion—the thrill of doing something scary and amazing on my very own, for the first time.

As my helmet fills with air, that same powerful childhood emotion rushes over me. My stomach is tight with excitement, and my hands and feet tingle. I’m charged with oxygen and ready to tackle whatever challenges lie ahead. Dad gives me a thumbs-up. I inch the rover forward and flip on the headlights.

“All set everyone?” dad asks over the radio. Colt, Azumi, and Maggie report that they’re ready.

“Keep your head up, eyes open, and never let your guards down,” he announces over the radio. “Let’s move out.”

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