FLASHed

10. Mesoplanet Triumphant

Gretta turned on the window and welcomed the orange-red light as it flooded the confined space of her pod. The scintillating red tones of the photolytic atmosphere diffused sharp shadows and provided reprieve from the ever present glare of the lamp that had been driving her crazy for the past weeks. She became dizzy and had to steady herself against the wall. It was her hope that the act of standing and taking a few feeble steps would validate her wish to be well; a first symbolic step towards putting the injury behind her. 

She shuffled the few feet over to her cot and eased herself down. Her thoughts wandered to the mission. There was still much to do -- she needed to heal fast. 

The young astrobiologist had financed her solo mission to the small planet in search of life. Mineral samples extracted from a mining survey had shown odd carbon anomalies that could indicate living matter. The Agency classified the find as 'contamination' but were still obliged to offer a research contract in case any third parties wished to investigate. As the value of the contract was too small to make a corporate expedition worthwhile, it was perfect for the soloist starting out. Gretta was the sole applicant and won the job. 

Her good call. If the Research Division even had the slightest hint of what she would discover on the planet's surface, things would have been much different. The small semi-intelligent blue-black creatures she discovered and named poppets would have drawn a frenzy of interest. But, instead of a whole fleet of research vessels, just one tiny old-model pod made the journey to the place she had called home for the past six months.

After the pod landed, it was only a matter of days before she had made the discovery. But the small creatures initially proved elusive and gaining their attention and trust had been a struggle. Luckily, her strategy of using a conditional reward system had paid off.

She manufactured small lumps charcoal that the poppets found irresistible. But, even with the treats, it had taken weeks of daily passive observation to prove to the creatures that she was not a threat. Eventually the poppets became comfortable with her presence, and, after months of gentle interaction,  she became their...the only way she could describe the relationship was... friend. Now, every morning, she would venture out and several poppets would be waiting for her to throw out a handful of treats upon the small creatures would pounce and playfully fight over the larger pieces. After a feed, they'd hop up on her and seek scratches for their scaly skin.  That was before the fall. Now she was worried that the poppets would have forgotten about her and would have trouble resuming the research in the limited time she had left on the planet.

The details surrounding the accident were hazy, but she could remember the fall with vivid detail as if it happened just yesterday. God knows she'd relived the event enough times in her sleeping and waking hours while lying paralysed on the floor in the same spot where her rover dragged her unconscious body over a month ago. She looked over to the canine-like machine that had saved her life and said out loud, "Glad you were there boy. You're the best damn five hundred pax I'll ever spend". 

Picking up a display unit Gretta reviewed her medi-stats. The free-moving analytic nodes tickled her skin as the sensors did their thing. The results looked promising: Four more days of repairatory gefresh and she'd be clear to find the poppets. Then she thought glumly, four more days of worrying if they'll be there.

****

Three days later Gretta decided to venture out.  She stepped out of the pressure lock and into the alien environment and was glad it was a clear day. After double checking the safety systems on her suit and the rover unit, she tested that the pouch of charcoal treats she attached to her belt was secure.

After a considerable hike, she stopped atop a hill to rest and survey the landscape. The light grey sun was still low on the horizon and just bright enough to trigger the sky's fiery blue light show. The beauty of the sky along with the mountainous view and dark red methane lakes was breathtaking.  Below the hill Gretta spied the clear flat spot where she hoped she would meet the poppets.

Walking down the hill her heart jumped when she spied a small shape scutter into the clearing and stop. Her ocular display zoomed in on the spot and she recognised the one she called Ben looking up at her. She watched it rush off again and, even though she was feeling fatigued and her back hurt, the sight of the old poppet made her excited and so she picked up the pace.  She moved down a dip before the clearing and so temporarily lost sight of the meeting place. But, before long, she had made the slight climb to the clearing.  The poppets were there! At least twenty of them had appeared on the platform -- many more than she would have normally seen on any given day. She could hear their excited jabbering.

Gretta's heart raced with joy as she made the final steps and reached to her belt to remove the pouch of treats. But it seemed that the poppets were not at all interested in the treats and instead, as one, hopped over to the spot where she stood and began to climb legs and arms until she stood covered in purring poppets.

There was no doubt that her friends were glad she was back.

.fin

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Get Well @AmandaJuneHagarty!!  <3 

(964 words)

<◕.◕> first published 28 Feb, 2015