The Martian Lie

Chapter 8

Chapter 8 – Times They Are A'Changing – Callie & Richard

I am running on adrenaline. So much has happened. Breaking with the tour group, meeting back up with Richard, joining the rebellion. And now, there's a comet coming.

My gut reaction, upon hearing the report from Artemis Rogers, was one of relief. It would not be hitting my home. Then I realized, I'm not at home.

There is a comet coming, soon, to the planet I am currently on.

It's a little scary.

I am relatively adept at ignoring negative consequences for my actions, and this time is no exception. It is simply not acceptable to me that I will be one of the people left on earth to scramble futilely to the top of a mountain and hope a tsunami doesn't take me out. Because that is what it would be - a futile effort. I saw right through Artemis' words. If you don't make it out on a spaceship, and you don't make it high up, you simply won't be likely to make it at all. Even if you make it to either of those safe havens, there are myriad things that could go wrong for you.

I met Artemis once. She spoke for one of my classes about possible careers you could have after majoring in Social History. She seemed uptight. Unemotional. The perfect person to deliver the news of a planet's destruction. I somehow doubt she was picked randomly. It is policy that higher-ups all have equal opportunity to make public announcements. This gives the impression that there isn't one person leading the utopia, but a collaborative group. However, in this case, with this emotional announcement, a person like Artemis seems too conveniently perfect for the job. Also, since coming here, I have begun to suspect the utopia isn't as perfect as I was brought up to believe, and there might just be quite a lot of behind-the-scenes manipulations happening I was previously unaware of.

I suppose we should feel lucky. This is exactly why the Father terraformed Mars. So we would have an insurance policy. So when disaster struck, we would not be destroyed entirely. Mankind will live on; Earth will perish.

I suspect, just like I suspect the Artemis announcement was rigged, that I will be on the ship back to Mars. I am sure there will be a lottery for the seats, but that the first 5,000 or so will be quietly given to specific people. I would imagine the higher ups, such as Roark, Jordan, Richard - anyone in power - will easily get on board. It will seem random; it will be privilege.

With all this in mind, I refuse to worry. I shut it off like a faucet. There is no use thinking about possibilities, only in living out reality as it comes. I doubt I will perish with the comet. If I do, I won't know the difference.

I'm going to continue on as if it isn't happening and do as I was told. When the time comes to leave for Mars, with Richard, I will go. There is no other future I will accept.

With this in mind, I head for the workroom down the hallway. Richard told me to avoid his father by working in this office. He said I was welcome to look through the old Earth books in there. Told me to research for classes and try not to think about what was going on around me. Like it's really that easy to forget you've suddenly got yourself caught up in a rebellion, Richard...

When I walk in, I am surprised to see someone sitting there already. Someone with strikingly beautiful, golden hair. I am looking at the back of her head.

"Umm, hello?" I say. Knocking lightly on the door to announce my presence.

The hair swivels in the chair to reveal an equally strikingly beautiful face. Large eyes look out luminously at me, framed by long lashes. They are a blue similar to Richard's. I should know. I've memorized his. She looks to be a little bit older than him. Maybe 3 years or so. There are fine lines around her eyes, but it does not diminish how striking they are.