See you Sooner, Earth

Chapter 1 - Mars is habitable

Chapter 1 - Mars is habitable

"To Martians, cheers!"

"Cheers!" the crowd was joyous and living in excitement as the Chief of Project Mars raised her wine glass for a toast.

Decorated with a steep stage in front of us, Martians, stood the Chief. She was wearing a white sleek suit with two men in black behind her. One was holding his earpiece and talking, while the other remained steady. Both were holding their guns, the ones designed by our scientists to defeat the real inhabitants of Mars.

"0050," I read from the pale banner clang into the upper part of the stage, where this very platform was built in the middle of our scientific cubicle homes. This whole location where the event is being held is enveloped with thick see-through covers and is oxygen-sustaining.

Exactly 50 years now, we celebrate the victory of Project Mars, when the people of the Earth flew here to seek refuge from our broken land. Earth at that time was inhabitable... 

50 years in Martian Solar System which means it's approximately equal to 33,416 Martian days or "sol" in total and approximately equal to 94 years had passed in Earth already.

I didn't understand it when Mom described how it feels when you sit under the shade of a tree. I didn't believe her that there was once white sand from beaches and coconut trees... that there were water bodies. There were no pieces of evidence I've seen because she said that Earth was already dying when they left it.

"Is Earth colorful Mom?" a question that knocked my mind as I was blankly staring at that bland decoration in front. My voice was already matured, I'm already 20 years old, but I still got a lot of wonders about Earth which I ask Mom as if I were a toddler.

I looked at Mom in her grey flowy cardigan and low chignon bun. I never knew a lot of colors, Mom said that on Earth they had a lot more colors more than I knew. It's because the government will not release other colors other than blue, white, and grey. But I know what the color rusty red is, Mars' surface is. The government said we will lose our resources if we manufacture other colors than the ones we only use here. We barely have enough to survive on this planet.

"I hope we could go back to Earth so you'll find all the answers to all the questions you have." Mom's voice has no hint of weak senility. She's in middle age, but her voice is bright and still full of hope. She then diverted her gaze on me and put down her arms she crossed before.

"But yes, Feliz. Earth was very colorful." She smiled at me as she pat my head, and so did I.

Mom had told me a lot of stories since I was a kid. But the only thing I wouldn't forget was when she told me green looked really beautiful, refreshing, and lively. Mom was right because that's how I'd feel when I look at Charlie's eyes, my 12-year-old brother.

"Now, go back to the cubicle home. Call your brother, it's also bedtime." Mom's voice is reassuring and warm. There I went through the crowd while tying my light brown hair at the same time.

"Charlie! Where are you?" The people were too loud chatting and laughing as this event happens once every after a decade.

"Charlie!" I called out once again and blocked someone else's elbow which was about to hit my eye.

"Charlie!"

"Feliz! I'm here! Here!" From the left part of the crowd, I've seen him jumping like a shrimp. I never really knew what a shrimp is, Mom just told me because she said it was her favorite food when she was young and living in the Philippines.

My brother and I are very close, guess I believe blood will always be thicker than water. Charlie has always been my best friend. There I laughed as soon as he approached me after being barricaded by the crowd. He looked a bit hassled and there was sweat all over his face and on his favorite blue polo.

"Did you meet new friends?" I asked in gladness as I put both of my hands on his shoulders leading him towards the exit. There he stopped and turned to me as he shrugged his shoulders proudly before talking filled with happiness. "Well, from 219 people here on Mars and 3,047 people from The E Spaceship, that's been orbiting our planet, I already have seven friends." I smiled as I heard the news from him, he's a naturally friendly kid. "Not bad, two new friends are great," I uttered and pat his head.

Charlie and I are likely the same. We look nearly identical, it's just that he got our late Father's eyes. He also heights over my ear already and that kiddingly scares me. We're practically one, it's just that he talks and acts like a Martian, while I long for the Earth.

Mom always taught us to look after each other. She said she wanted nothing besides us, but happiness and freedom. And that's where we got our names. Mom told me that Feliz means happy, a word she got from a line being uttered during her favorite season on Earth - Feliz Navidad. That means Merry Christmas, a season where I'd appreciate reds and greens she'd say. While Charlie's name means freedom, like a free-spirited he is.

"Now let's go to the cubicle before Mom scolds us!" I exclaimed jokingly so he laughed.

"Where's mom?"

"Oh, she's waiting for the distribution of rations for tomorrow. Let's just wait at our cubicle."

"Okay! I hope there's meat in the distribution."

"There will be, Charlie. I could even give my part when you want to. Now let's go."

Everyone was still having fun, the Chief talking with one of her board members; the civilians were dancing to that fading music the government played for the celebration. I heard it was sung by a once-famous singer back on Earth, that's why they had it recorded.

Everything was okay, not until the alarm in the area and the cubicles started ringing. There were red lights everywhere. We don't produce red color, red lights are reserved for emergencies, I recalled as we kept on hearing the Chief saying this before.

And from the hazy surroundings we had outside, there, a person running wearing his space suit. The music stopped, the people shut silent and the man shouted.

"The inhabitants are attacking!"

It was too loud that my heart started beating the same loudly. My pulse went faster as I gripped Charlie's right arm.

The people began to shout and run all around the thick covered-room, and from nowhere I heard Mom's voice.

"Feliz, run!"

I know at that moment, it wasn't reassuring as I heard it.

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