Chapter 1
Monday, December 25, 2090.
“Dude. You know we are not supposed to come out this far. We are going to get into trouble for wasting oxygen.”
“Matt, why do you always have to be such a chicken? If you are scared then go back.”
“You can be a pretty big jerk you know that Joe?”
“Yea. I know.” Joe said with a smile.
“What do you two think you are doing out here?” A voice shouted from behind them.
“Are you kidding me Kyle?” Joe said, obviously startled. “I should give you a knuckle sandwich for scaring us like that.”
“Scared you did I?” Kyle said with a stupid smile on his face.
“We are going to the old wreckage out past the flag.” Joe said.
“You two really are crazy you know that,” Kyle said, “Well I’m in.”
“Oh, wow, thanks so much,” Joe said sarcastically. “Now we will survive this treacherous journey. Who said you was invited anyway?”
“I’ll tell on you if you don’t let me go.” Kyle remarked.
“Whatever,” Joe said. “Just stay out of the way.”
Kyle threw his hands up in surrender, “Okay. Okay. Gez.”
Joe led the way, as Matt and Kyle followed. All three were dressed head to toe in space suits. The suits were form fitting, made of a thick material that held up against the moon’s wear and tear. Most suits were white top to bottom except for the face shield and a weight attached to the bottom of their boots. Each weight was specific to a person’s size, the weight would counteract the difference of the moons gravitational pull, allowing a person wearing them to walk normal in the way they would on earth. Matt and Kyle’s suit was the original white with their personalized weights attached to their boots. While Joe’s suit was the new platinum colored suit, that of course was off limits for a random walk about, but that didn’t matter to Joe. He always considered himself an explorer and he felt entitled to have the best because of course he was the best, or so he thought. Besides the color difference there were only a couple upgrades to Joe’s suit like the oxygen tank was a prototype that was smaller in size but allowed for a longer amount of time out on the surface. The suit was even more durable and its fabric was made of heavy-duty ballistic nylon, a lighter weighted material than the older suits. Plus, the boots looked more fancy, not just a block of weight attached to the bottom but now the weight actually looked like the sole of a boot.
All suits also came with an emergency bag on the back carrying the proper safety equipment; first aid, flashlights, tape, pens and a notepad. The tape was added to cover any spot in the suit that may be punctured while out on the surface. The pen and paper were added to the emergency bag because the city thought that it would be nice for citizens to have them available if anything interesting was observed while out on the moons surface. Learning about the moon itself has just recently become a small priority. Over the past two years the only few goals were staying alive, finding a way to grow food and not run out of oxygen. We have become self sufficient on the growing front and for the time being oxygen was not an issue but randomly exploring, using oxygen so carelessly, was among the worst of offences. But sanctioned “Discovery Searches” were allowed. After two years only about one tenth of the moon had been explored, which leaves a lot to the imagination.
Nothing was found in the early stages of the Discovery Searches, but just a few days ago a group came across a wreckage sight. Some kind of ship had crash-landed. The location was just found but had not yet been explored, plans to explore the wreckage were on the “To Do List”. The “To Do List” is a real thing here on the moon. It is a list of priorities, and though the wreckage was exciting, it was not high on the list.
“How much farther?” Kyle said.
Joe stopped on the spot and turned toward Kyle slamming his hand into Kyle’s chest, “you don’t get to complain. You weren’t invited, if you want to leave just leave.”
Kyle pushed Joe’s arm away and took a step back, “back off man, I’m getting tired.”
“So am I, but we are almost there.”
“Look.” Matt interrupted, pointing up ahead.
“It’s the flag,” Kyle interupted.
“Thanks captain obvious, but he was pointing to the wreckage just past.” Joe said. “Lets pick up the pace, we have to head back soon.”
“Twenty-seven minutes,” Matt said.
Joe and Kyle turned to see Matt holding the small clock in his hand. Another idem in the space suit bag.
“Thanks Matt keep that handy” Joe said.
“No problem bro.”
Five minutes later the group made their way past the flag and to the wreckage. The Wreckage was a half buried ship, Moon dust and moon rock covered the ship an inch thick, it was untouched. Toward the middle of the dusty outline of the ship you could make out what looked like a door. Caution tape had been put up around the wreckage sight.
The mystery of the unknown nearly drove Joe crazy as they made their way the last bit of the journey. Joe had been waiting for something, really for anything to put his mind to and he knew this was the perfect opportunity.
“Okay let’s go.” Joe walked over to the tape and lifted it up with one arm and waved the other two under.
“I’m not going first,” Kyle said.
“Baby.” Joe said.
Matt walked over and grabbed the tape from Joe. “Me either bro, this was your idea.”
Joe stood almost stunned; he slapped his friend’s arm, and said, “Alright I’m first.”
Joe made he way to what they thought was the door. Kyle then Matt followed close behind.
They reached the door at the same time; they shared a glance with each other, Joe finally showing a hint of worry. Wondering if maybe he was making a bad decision. Matt, who must have been sensing his friend’s hesitation said, “let’s do this.”
These words snapped Joe out of his trance. “Sounds good to me.” Joe reached out and gave Matt a high five. Kyle reached out for one but Joe turned away and started pulling on the door. Then the other two joined in. At first it didn’t budge, after a few pulls they stopped and Joe gave the door a hard kick and threw his body into it. On contact the door seemed to give a little.
“Did you see that? It moved a little, let’s try again.” Joe said.
The three latched onto the door and pulled with all their might. When they did the door finally gave and quickly swung open. Joe lost his balance and fell backwards onto his bottom.
“Guess your going to be the last one in,” Kyle said as he rushed inside the dark ship.
Joe hopped to his feet and hurried in behind him, “Hey you know I wanted to go in first.”
“You snooze you lose.” Kyle said over his shoulder.
After a few seconds they had entered into complete blackness, they could only look behind them and see the little light that came in through the door.
“You coming in?” Joe yelled out to Matt.
“I don’t know man,” Matt said, “I think I might stay hear and keep look out.”
“Come on, you aren’t going to want to miss this.” Joe said. “Oh wow look at this.”
Matt rushed in making his way to the boys. He ran right into Kyle.
“Hey, watch where you’re going.” Kyle said.
“Sorry, I can’t see anything. What did you find?” Matt said.
“Nothing, I just wanted to get you in here.”
“You are a jerk.”
“I know.” Joe said. “Anyone have a light.”
All they could hear was the sound of each other shuffling through their bags, and then one of them clicked their flashlight.
“Nothing.” Kyle said.
Another click. “Nothing” Joe said.
“Mines not working ether,” Matt finally said.
“Are you kidding me? No stupid lights.” Joe said frustrated.
“We can come back tomorrow with flashlights that work,” Matt said.
“I really wanted to explore today,” Joe said.
“Then lets go,” Kyle said. “We just need to carful.”
Next thing there was a loud crash, it sounded like Kyle knocked over a shelf.
“Ouch,” Kyle yelled, “Something stabbed my arm. It punctured my suit.”
“Hurry, lets get outside,” Matt said. “We need to get tape over the holes.”
The three scrambled through the darkness and made their way threw the door. Kyle came stumbling out last, holding his arm tight trying not to let any of the atmosphere get inside his suit. Blood dripped as he stumbled over to Matt. Joe slammed the door shut behind him and Matt already had the tape out and began wrapping it around Kyle’s arm immediately. They didn’t have time to tend to the wounds so they just taped up the suit and kept pressure on it. It was bleeding pretty badly but it didn’t seem life threatening.
“Are you okay?” Joe said, “What happened in there? Did you run into something?”
“I don’t even know what happened, it was like something fell on me.” Kyle said. “I was being carful and feeling my way through the dark. Then there was a sharp pain in my arm and I pushed knocking whatever it was over.
“So a shelf jumped out at you?” Joe said sarcastically. “Here you are talking like an idiot and I was actually worried about you.”
“Come on man, cut him some slack it looks like it really hurts” Matt said.
“I’ll live,” Kyle said. “Sorry I ruined your trip.”
Joe turned to face Kyle, “it’s ok really, and it was almost time to go anyway. I’m sorry you got hurt. We probably shouldn’t have come out here.”
Even though Joe wasn’t the biggest fan of Kyle, he was still one of his best friends. Plus, nowadays you cant be to picky, being in a small group like the people in Sector 4, there wasn’t many people and after everything that everyone had been through the last few years petty stuff seemed so small.
Joe wrapped his arms around Kyle’s shoulders, “you know kid, I think your starting to grow on me.”
Kyle’s eyes lit up, “really?”
“Really, now lets get you back to the infirmary, I’ll tell them what happened.”
“No,” Kyle said abruptly, “I’ll tell them I cut it messing around and you guys walked me to the infirmary. No reason for you guys to get in trouble.”
Matt and Joe looked at each other then they both looked at Kyle, “really?” They said in unison.
Kyle started walking and talked over his shoulder, “yep, what are friends for.”