Beneath the Red Sand
- Reads 1,828
- Votes 290
- Parts 38
Complete Sat, Jan 1, 20227h 23m
Kassi Blake, a ballerina dragged to Mars by her parents, must solve the mystery behind an escalating series of disasters and thwart an ancient guardian spirit to save the colony.****
When seventeen-year-old Kassi Blake's father is chosen by the Joint Space Commission to help terraform the red planet, Kassi gets dragged away with her family to join Mars Colony 1. Mars is a sterile wasteland 33.9 million miles away from home and her dance academy. Heartbroken over sacrificing her ambitions of becoming a prima ballerina for the sake of her father's dream, she has no choice but to make a new life with the limited options available on Mars. She learns the excavation team is accepting applications and takes the opportunity to prove that her physical stamina and grit honed from years of ballet can translate into a new dream - success in one of the most challenging fields Mars offers.
Kassi's assigned partner in hunting archaeological treasure is Noah, a former football player and grandson of the habitat's commander. He teases her new friend with the term of endearment, "Goth Girl," he's got a cocky grin that's too cute for his own good (and hers), and she's stuck with him. On their initial dig, they unearth prehistoric cave drawings and pottery emblazoned with a mysterious symbol. When the habitat's hull breaches during a freak sandstorm that vanishes as quickly as it came, Kassi sees that the walls of their compound now bear that same strange symbol.
With the colony's commanders in denial that this was something more than a natural disaster, Kassi and Noah team up to unravel the mystery of the symbol and discover who - or what - attacked their new home. The next disaster targets the greenhouse. Then the habitat's oxygen circulation system fails. With dwindling food stores and air supply, Kassi and Noah must confront an ancient force before it wipes out the entire community.
1st Place winner - Science Fiction Category, Winter 2021 Four Seasons Awards.
All Rights Reserved
#40
terraforming
Join the largest storytelling communityGet personalized story recommendations, save your favourites to your library, and comment and vote to grow your community.
You may also like
𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙨𝙚.
𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙤 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙖 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙤𝙠𝙚 𝙪𝙥 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙮𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙬? Summer was the school's, Golden girl. Perfect jock boyfriend, a huge friend group, and even perfect grades. She was aiming for valedictorian and had her whole future planned. Although life hits you when you least expect it and some things are just too good to be true... When 18-year-old Summer suddenly wakes up from a 1-year coma during the middle of senior year. Her usual bubbly and easy-going personality disappears due to the near-death experience causing life to feel meaningless. To make matters worse her best friend gets with her boyfriend and all her friends have changed in more ways worse than good. Even her family feels different. All seems lost until new student Kai Brent comes into the picture. At first, he feels like nothing but a pain in her ass but somehow he ends up showing her that there are still things worth living for. He even has an interesting offer of defense classes in exchange for Summer to be his fake girlfriend let's see how that goes... A jaw-dropping story filled with revenge, mystery, romance, and sweet sweet drama. -- "Wait doesn't this ruin our entire plan, we said to leave our feelings at the door", I say tensely waiting for his reaction to my statement. "Fuck the door", he says his voice just above a whisper and his eyes clouded. *STORY COMPLETE* _____________________ HIGHEST RANKINGS #1 in Fake Date #1 in teenromance #1 in Goodgirlgonebad #1 in ComatoseComplete
The Greater Universe
Max lives a very solitary life for a kid in a penthouse on Mars, and all they've ever wanted is to see Earth. And maybe to see their family more too. They at least get one of those things the summer after they turn sixteen, but spending the next few months on Venus with their aunt, uncle, and beloved cousin comes with a price; their parents are getting divorced. Not that it matters to them. It really shouldn't matter to them. It DOESN'T matter to them. The summer's already started off a little rocky, and it only gets more confusing from there when Max arrives on Venus to discover that their extended family has taken in two aliens the same age as themself and their cousin, and suddenly, Max doesn't fit in. Not that they aren't used to that. They really SHOULD be used to that. Somehow, they still aren't. As Max struggles to convince their cousin's new friends that they're more accepting than most humans, something strange starts happening in the little Venusian city, something that leads to Max and this ragtag group of strangers - that they're beginning to consider their family - going on an extraordinary adventure, learning the truth about many untold secrets, and possibly even uncovering an ancient intergalactic war...Complete
Down Under
|WATTYS 2022 WINNER - HORROR| Shawn, a convicted criminal, never thought she'd see the sun again, let alone call another star system her home. When she's offered an out from her prison sentence, she embarks on a dangerous interstellar expedition along with 18 of Earth's most intelligent criminals. Their task is to set up a base on a supposedly habitable planet and prepare it for colonization. Although the planet has liquid water and a breathable atmosphere, it is believed to host only microbial life. However, upon arriving, Shawn and the rest of the colonists learn that assumption was grossly incorrect. In a brutal attack from rampaging wildlife, everyone but Shawn and four other colonists are killed. The five survivors retreat to the cavernous network beneath the ground seeking safety, but they soon come to a terrible discovery. These caves aren't ordinary caves, and they are no safer down under than they were on the surface. [][][] This was originally my entry for the 2021 Open Novella Contest, and it received an honorable mention! It has now been expanded into a full length novel. I used prompt number 53: "When wildlife starts rampaging, all the humans are forced underground. However, they come to a terrible discovery that being underground is no safer than being on the surface."Complete
Exile: The Book of Ever
Centuries after the Fall, the United States has been wiped away. The crumbling remains of the great American empire are home now only to savage, lawless tribes and packs of ravening Damned-the twisted children of the apocalypse. Most of those few who survived humanity's destruction spend their short lives in a violent struggle for survival. But some light still flickers in the darkness: the Blessed of Bountiful live in seclusion, relying on walls both physical and spiritual to protect them from the Desolation that their world has become. Among them are the Saints, those few men and women born with superhuman abilities that the Blessed see as gifts from God. The violent apostate tribes of the Northeast Kingdom have always been a danger, but up until recently its small size and the vigilance of its people have made Bountiful an unappealing target. As attacks on the community grow harsher and more frequent, however, even the steadfast Blessed are forced to start preparing for the worst. With her home's very existence threatened, seventeen year old Ever Oaks, a Saint with the power to heal, is forced to make a difficult choice, one that may come to define her people's future... Exile was a semi-finalist in Mark Lawrence's Great Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off (#SPFBO). Fantasy Faction said it was "extremely cool," and Bookish Lifestyle called it "more than just a story, a journey and an experience." When I'm asked about it, I often describe it as "X-Men meets The Walking Dead." In addition to reading it here for free, you can buy Exile in e-book or paperback on Amazon.com.Complete
Verdant Ink (gxg)║AMBYS WINNER 2024
**AMBYS 2024 WINNER** The Alliance's top galactic terraformer, Pelin Demir, uses state-of-the-art biotech to transform barren rocky planets into lush habitable ecosystems. Seeking escape from a dying Earth and a tragic past, Pelin has devoted a decade to serving the Alliance in the seemingly endless galactic turf war between post-Earth humans and powerful warrior lifeforms, the Karinja. Pelin's life of quiet order is thrown into chaos when her Alliance leaders inexplicably force her to train Midori, a surly rookie navigator. When a terraforming mission spirals into a catastrophic Karinja ambush, Pelin discovers the dazzling secret that Midori, and the generals of the Alliance, are desperate to keep hidden. Forced to navigate deep space, draconian Alliance protocols, and her own turbulent past, Pelin charts a galactic course to protect Midori at all costs from the Karinja assassins hunting her, and from the sinister Alliance generals aiming to use her as a weapon of war. Yet Pelin can't seem to protect herself from her growing feelings towards her abrasive protégé. As the conflict for galactic control reaches a climax, Pelin struggles to keep Midori, and her own heart, safe. 🥇AMBYS 2024 WINNER - SCIENCE FICTION 🥇First Place, Katana Awards 2023, Science Fiction 🥇First Place, Lovely Valentine Awards 2023, Science Fiction 🥇First Place, Gloria Regali Awards 2023, Science Fiction 🥇First Place, Jamboard Awards 2022, Science Fiction 🥇First Place, Hearts Awards 2022, Science Fiction 🥈 Second Place, Aster Awards 2022, Science Fiction 🥇First Place, Star Awards 2022, Science Fiction 🥇First Place, Misfit Awards 2022, Science Fiction Cover designed by @laylagriffin_Complete
Primed: A Kayla Madison Story
Kayla Madison is a normal-ish sixteen-year old whose main desire is simple-make it through high school without embarrassing herself too much in the process. It doesn't help that she's being followed by dark figures no one else sees. When a man with incredible speed, unbelievable power, strange old-fashion clothes, and an obnoxious personality threatens her life, she discovers she is a rare "two-worlder" -a person with one parent from Earth and the other from Earth Prime. She escapes another attack by jumping through a portal to the alternate dimension, much to the chagrin of her protector. As if managing without electricity, cars, and phones on the more Edwardian world weren't enough stress; she finally meets her long-absent father, a scientist in the top-secret field of Trans-Dimensional Travel. Things get more complicated when she realizes her best friend's father, or rather the Earth Prime version of him, might have been the person that orchestrated the assaults. ___ Thanks for reading! I've been working on this story for quite a while and have drafts for a five book series. I would love feedback on what I can do to make it a stronger story. If there are things you enjoy, let me know (so I don't change those parts.) :) All portions of the story have been submitted and final chapters will visible by Nov 18, 2023. Among other degrees, I have my MFA in creative writing. I am a science teacher when I am not writing.Complete
The Comeback
*past* "Just leave Mary Grace." Teddy says to me with a blank stare, but I could see sadness built around them. "But Teddy, why-" I begin to say as a tear falls down my cheek. "No one wants you here loser. Ted never liked you. He just felt sorry for you." Savannah Oak says beside Teddy. I look to Teddy knowing that he'll stick up for me like he always does, but he is just staring at the floor. "Is that true?" I ask looking at him. He looks up and nods. "Dont you have a flight to catch?" Paige asks with a smirk. Tears Fall down my face, Savannah rolls her eyes and walks away. "Goodbye Mary Grace." Teddy says closing the door. I slowly turn around and hop back on my bike. How could he do this to me? We've been friends since we were little. He turned out to be just like the rest of them. He never did like me. I ride my bike home sobbing. "Mary Grace what happened?" My sister Anna Maria says running over to me. As I push my bike onto the driveway. "I never want to comeback here again!" I cry into her shoulder. *** Summary will be the first chapter! Hope you enjoy, first Teen Fiction Story. :) Btw. This is my story I made it up with my mere imagination, so don't steal thanks. COVER made by hannaxoxo_Complete
New Mars Academy: The Four Keys
School leaver Dylan's life appears to be going nowhere. Working and gaming all summer really is as dull as it sounds. That is until everything changes when a UFO crashes into his house. Stupidly, he tries to pilot the bashed up UFO. With some daring manoeuvres, he successfully outruns the space police for a while. But within minutes of learning how to land, he's quickly arrested. With their amnesiator not working, the police take him to the post-dystopian human-inhabited planet known as New Mars. Of course New Mars with it's alien technology, it's people, it's creatures and everything else about it shouldn't exist. Highly impressed with Dylan's flying skills, the president of New Mars offers to release him and his friend Zac into the New Mars Academy. OK, it's not the most prestigious place to study but it's far better then having their memories erased before being dumped back on Earth. They're soon befriended by fellow misfits including mayhem making ladette and talented hacker 'mischievous' Maya, disturbed and angry girl 'crazy' Daisy with her dark mysterious past and likeable conspiracy theorist 'loony' Lauren. Together they must fight the return of the evil dictatorship before it can wreck the re-emerging New Martian society. And of course, they mustn't forget to study hard for their exams. *** Edits and tweaks in progress. Updates will NOT affect the plot.Complete
Blasted Futures, Secret Histories (SciFi Smackdown)
The Adventures of Morley and Boots: The crew of the Leapfrog travel randomly about the galaxy in search of unique lifeforms to trap & trade. Intra-galactic poaching is profitable, but risky - like when an Evil Intergalactic Empire accuses you of capturing their Goddess, and you don't even know which critter she is! End Game: In an alternate near-future Indochina, Imperial France still rules, much to the chagrin of the local Siamese. Ratana's brother is captain of a premiere league football team, and a hero to the Siamese - and when he is booted from the squad to make space for the son of a powerful nobleman, it sets off a chain of events that could result in the toppling of the Empire. Self-Assembly Required: Human civilization has been almost entirely destroyed by a catastrophic plague of nanites, but one city remains, hidden and protected by Hydra, a team of all-female nano/human hybrids. Is the arrival of a roguish, lone-wolf mercenary a sign that human civilization is recovering, or the event that could destroy the few remaining survivors? The Woman from Mars: The robotic crew of the Basilisk thought humans were gone, long gone. But when they are sucked back in space and time to Jupiter's moon Europa in 2552, they discover a Viking civilization with the technology to rebuild human civilization - assuming the woman from Mars can complete her mission. Blasted Futures is a short story collection. All of these works have been written for The Pub's SciFi Smackdown, a contest in which contestants write Science Fiction stories meeting the specifications laid out by the smackdown's host, @ForbiddenPlanet. Check the Media widget in the right-hand column to see the images that the stories are based on!Complete
The Eternal Conqueror (A Cosmic Sci-Fi Progression Fantasy)
When Hope Burns Out, Heroes Ignite. Planet Blackium, a planet woven into the trade and commerce of Dark Matter, relies on the Obsidian Engine as its lifeline. Over generations, the Obsidian Engine has rewritten the DNA of Blackium's inhabitants, granting them the ability to manipulate gravity. Orion Voss, son of Blackium's general-in-chief, displayed exceptional skill in gravity manipulation from a young age. He was destined to succeed his father, but that duty fell on him unexpectedly when the Starborn Empire killed his father despite his surrender to their demands, and his mother succumbed to grief. On that day, Orion vowed never to bow to anyone, no matter the cost. Now, as general-in-chief, he is determined to protect his people and, above all, his younger brother, the only family he has left, whom he loves more than anything. His resolve faces its ultimate test as the Starborn Empire demands control of the Obsidian Engine. With their lifeline at stake and the council divided, Orion is left with one question: war... or slavery? What to Expect Dark Sci-Fi Epic - A war-torn planet, brutal truths, and fading hope. Psychological Depth - Duty, sacrifice, guilt, and fierce loyalty. Cosmic Arsenal - Nexus eyes, Dark-Matter Sword, The Obsidian Engine, The Gynos, Relentless Action - Epic duels, shockwaves that shatter worlds and anime style combat Human Struggle - Grief and honor in the face of annihilation. Emotional Core - Family, friendship, and loyalty tested in the fires of war. Plot Twists that no one can predict Author's Note (for verification): This story, The Eternal Conqueror, is my original work. It is published by me on both Wattpad (@alipmortuza) and Royal Road (Orion Voss ). Any other uploads outside of these accounts are unauthorized.
𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙤 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙖 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙤𝙠𝙚 𝙪𝙥 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙮𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙬? Summer was the school's, Golden girl. Perfect jock boyfriend, a huge friend group, and even perfect grades. She was aiming for valedictorian and had her whole future planned. Although life hits you when you least expect it and some things are just too good to be true... When 18-year-old Summer suddenly wakes up from a 1-year coma during the middle of senior year. Her usual bubbly and easy-going personality disappears due to the near-death experience causing life to feel meaningless. To make matters worse her best friend gets with her boyfriend and all her friends have changed in more ways worse than good. Even her family feels different. All seems lost until new student Kai Brent comes into the picture. At first, he feels like nothing but a pain in her ass but somehow he ends up showing her that there are still things worth living for. He even has an interesting offer of defense classes in exchange for Summer to be his fake girlfriend let's see how that goes... A jaw-dropping story filled with revenge, mystery, romance, and sweet sweet drama. -- "Wait doesn't this ruin our entire plan, we said to leave our feelings at the door", I say tensely waiting for his reaction to my statement. "Fuck the door", he says his voice just above a whisper and his eyes clouded. *STORY COMPLETE* _____________________ HIGHEST RANKINGS #1 in Fake Date #1 in teenromance #1 in Goodgirlgonebad #1 in Comatose
More detailsContent Guidelines