Lost On Mars

by George Robbins

  Donnie turned his body and focused back on the way. He couldn’t believe for the second time what he had just done. It seemed to him like it was a movie.

  “That’s amazing!” Arida shouted. “You would have to tell me more about you, human”

  The chief khaghin stood up from the ground, his head shivering with anger, he watched Arida and Donnie soon disappear out of sight.

  “Arghhhh!” he screamed.

  Before he realized, beings with laser guns and trucks surrounded him. He looked down at his guards also getting back onto their feet.

  “Lay down your weapons, this is the lower rim’s militia―you are all under arrest!”

  Chapter eight

  The chief Khaghin and his men were taken to the headquarters of the Lower Rim Militia. The chief stood all alone in a white room, his hands behind his back and staring down at soldiers of the Lower Rim, going about the duties. The sealed door of the room opened with a flash sound.

  “Am very surprised to see you Chief Hakaz―You of all Martian broke the law of boundaries” a soft voice spoke from behind.

  Chief Hakaz turned around and there was the leader of the Lower Rim Militia, also the chief of the whole Lower Rim; Chief Balain. She was a Gray-ail. Her skin grey, bald head, large dark eyes and thin, looking like the typical alien humans see on the media. She wore black military suits and boots with the Lower Rim Militia badge on the left side of the suit. “See the destruction you’ve brought this city in just one night. You and your men destroyed an airship which had seven of my guards onboard―how careless of you and your guards to leave your trucks falling through the Prime Gateway―”

  “That wasn’t our intention. We lost control after our prisoners started shooting at us―after all, we were driving at top speed” Chief Hakaz interrupted.

  “The falling residue from the explosion caused the city to lose five more lives and a lot of properties. See what you have done!” Chief Balain slammed her hands on the table in the center of the room. “You have interrupted centuries of peace out here. Now the citizens are scared of what will happen next―they are scared for their lives, their family and their friends! I would have the city’s guards escort you and your guards back to the Upper Rim before you start another panic down ―”

  “We are not going anywhere without our prisoners. They also broke the laws of boundaries and we can’t let them go free”

  Chief Balain squeezed her eyes as she walked slowly towards Chief Hakaz. “And who are those prisoners you are talking of?”

  “Believe me Balain, never seen dangerous prisoners like their type―ever before. One, a female. She came from the Lower Rim onto the surface, searching for an unknown weapon. It seems she is from the legendary Kail- ail clan, very fierce like her ancestors and―”

  Chief Balain interrupted as her face suddenly changed with shock. “That’s Arida, you are right. She’s the last of the Kail-ail clan. I personally trained her and she was one of the brilliant students I have ever had. But growing up, she was more interested in something more than the militia―she run off a two years ago. We tried to track her but never had anything. She just disappeared”

  Chief Hakaz nodded slowly whiles he listened.

  “And the other prisoner, who is that?” she asked.

  “An alien―” Hakaz answered. Balain furrowed her brow. “Another one?”

  “Yes just like the dead one we sold you, the human, they call them. But this one is fierce and possess a deadly weapon, which I think he brought from his planet”

  “Mmm” Balain placed her hands at her back and began to walk about the room.

  “You see, this is why I can’t just let them escape. I would do anything to get my hands on them. It’s either you work with us to capture those two or me and my guards continue to do our good work, searching for them in your city and that will cost you a lot”

  “Are you threatening my city? Don’t forget Arida is from the Lower Rim―”

  “Not anymore― she is now a property of the Upper Rim Militia. Don’t forget she broke the laws of boundaries. You have no choice chief Balain, now release my guards and let’s get back to work” he ended with his lips twisted in a smile.

  Chief Balain stared at Hakaz silently, clenching her jaw. She had no choice but to accept his proposal. “We would help you get your prisoners but after that I need you out of my city as soon as possible”

  “You got it chief” The door opened with a flash sound again and Hakaz walked out of the room.

  Arida led Donnie to an abandoned warehouse after escaping the cops and the Khaghins.

  “We will be staying here for the meantime. This is the safest place we can keep our heads low” she said.

  “Really?” Donnie asked. “It seems nobody has been here for decades”

  “That’s why it is the safest place to be you dumb head” she rolled her eyes. “We would have to clean it though”

  Donnie took off his jetpack and fell right on a dusty heap of sacks.

  “Can we do the cleaning tomorrow? Am really tired, after all we have been through today”

  Arida stood at one corner of the room, hanging her jetpack on the wall. She turned towards Donnie. “You humans are such weaklings”

  Donnie threw his head back and sat up. “Oh is that so? Thank me later―we nearly got caught if it hadn’t been me. Humans are not weaklings, Martians are” he huffed and fell back onto the sacks.

  “Whatever” She replied, walked towards Donnie and also fell onto the dusty sacks.

  They both laid their backs on the sacks, their hands under their head as they stared at the artificial night skies through a large transparent glass in the roof. After long minutes of silence, Arida began “Beautiful, isn’t it”

  Donnie sighed deeply. “Yeah, so amazing. How did they do that?”

  “Who knows? The ancient Roghims had so much power and knowledge that, they built it even before the nuclear war and asteroids destroyed the surface. The artificial skies, creates its own clouds and rain. Even though we don’t have the sun, we still have times and seasons down here. It’s been centuries since the Martians on the Lower Rim saw the sun. The last time they saw the sun was their last day on the surface, thousands of years ago―it’s always night time down here and we have gotten used to it―”

  “Not you―you have experienced the sun in the past year” Donnie cut in.

  “Yeah, you are right” she laughed briefly. “It’s so beautiful to see those lights always behave like stars all night, all years”

  “Yeah, so cool” Donnie nodded.

  “They just don’t care anymore. Generations down here grew without the sun. They are just happy with their home―the city of light” they laughed briefly and then silence followed.

  “Who are the Roghims?” he broke the silence again.

  “The Roghims?” a smile changed Arida’s face. “They were the Martian warriors who possessed special weapons. Thousands of years ago, before the destruction, there were numerous Roghims everywhere, protecting and serving Mars. But now, they are extinct. Except for their weapons, which only a few survived” she turned her head to Donnie. “That was what I was searching for. That was what led me to the Upper Rim. After a year of my unsuccessful quest, I accidentally got caught by the militia and now look at me― here with an alien”

  “Now I get the reason why a lady like you was doing all alone up there―I get the big picture now”

  “Yeah” Arida took her stare back at the artificial night skies.

  “And you? Tell me about your journey back on earth”

  “Me?” Donnie laughed, but all that while, grief sunk through his heart. “I was an assassin, working for a private agency. I assassinated many important figures in my world, politicians, musicians, actors, just a whole lot. After many years of serving, I decided to quit and have a normal life. As much as I tried, they wouldn’t let me leave. I came home one night to find my wife and daughter murde
red and I knew the agency was responsible. Upon contacting them to get answers, they set me up and got me arrested and accusing me of murdering my wife and daughter. Got sentenced to life in prison. Two years later, I got recruited by force for a space exploration program, which landed me here. All those I came with are dead and now look at me―here with an alien” Donnie sat on the sacks, Arida followed.

  “Oh that must have been hard for you. Really sorry―”

  “Yeah I know but would you help me escape this planet? That’s all I need from you Arida”

  She sighed and pulled her knees up. “I can’t promise you but I can help you get to a place where there are advanced spaceships to fly out of here― am talking about taking them without permission, am talking about stealing them” she turned her head and glanced around the dark room. “You would have to help me take care of some problem first. Now am back down here, I would have to do things I should have done long ago. I know the truth and I need to confront it” she looked at Donnie with a crinkled forehead.

  Chapter nine

  Days went by, down the Lower Rim. Arida and Donnie had kept a low profile, living in the abandoned warehouse. They had finally cleaned it and kept it dark all the time to prevent any suspicion. Wanted posters, billboards, news stations, spread throughout every city on that rim. The Lower Rim Militia, cops and the Upper Rim Militia were all searching for them.

  Arida sat opposite to Donnie at the round table as they had their evening supper. A piece of lit wax stick was erected in the middle of the table, producing a dim orange light.

  Donnie looked down at a green slimy liquid in the bowl in front of him. He clenched his jaw and made a nauseating face. Arida was happily enjoying the food. She stopped her hand before the spoon could enter her mouth and raised her eyes up at Donnie.

  “What? You better eat it if you want to survive down here. Get to know this place isn’t earth”

  “Is this the only food out here in this so called advanced city?”

  “That’s what fugitive like us can afford. So eat it Donnie” she replied. “And hurry―tonight I will have to take care of something and you are going to help me”

  Donnie, his head hung low and scooping his slimy supper, looked up at Arida. “And after this you are also going to help me get a spaceship out of here?”

  “Yeah―it’s a deal” she replied.

  “Deal it is” Donnie added with a faint smile.

  Donnie and Arida found themselves playing hide and seek through the city’s streets hours later. They had finished supper and was heading over to the place Arida told Donnie about. Arida wore a long brown coat and used its hoody to cover her head. Donnie on the other hand wore a hooded jacket, black pants and black Martian boots.

  Arida led the way as they walked through the dark alleys of the city. They did this to avoid been seen. Flying police vehicles blared their sirens on mostly every part of the air paths in the city, beetle bots soared through the air, serving as a surveillance camera for the militia.

  “I bet those cops are searching for us” Donnie said.

  “Everywhere” Arida replied and a low laughter followed by both of them.

  As they branched into another alley, Donnie looked up at the Martian vehicles of different colors that flew in the skies. All vehicles in the Lower Rim had no tires and never touch the ground. They fly when steering them or suspend a little above the ground when they not in use. The vehicles flew in different paths, sometimes crossing each other’s path. Air paths were invisible air roads just above the city.

  Donnie gazed at the scene with an opened mouth. This was his first time of seeing such an amazing sight, since he had always stayed indoors after their arrival into the city. Arida looked behind and there was Donnie, his gaze fixed up the skies. “Amazing right?”

  “Wow! This place is so beautiful. The city is―” he just became speechless, still gaping at the skies. “Whoa! Whoa!! That vehicle is going to collide with the other―” Donnie jumped, pointing up a car that had crossed another vehicle’s path.

  “No you silly, they won’t crash. Never have a vehicle collided with another on the air paths before”

  Donnie stopped jumping, shrugged and turned to her. “Really?”

  “Yeah” she tilted her head with a smile. “Come on, we got things to take care of” Arida walked and entered into another alley. Donnie turned to see her gone. He looked back at the skies, sighed and ran into the direction she went.

  Arida was a little far from him whiles they walked through the alley. “Can you tell me what we are actually going to do?” he asked, raising his right hand.

  “You will know when we get there?” she replied.

  Donnie wanted to say something but then stopped himself, both his hands wide apart. He rolled his eyes and followed her in silence. They walked through several alleys and Donnie wondered when it was going to end. “Where are we actually going―hope something fishy isn’t going on?” he thought and looked down at his pistol in the grip of his belt. “I got an earth friend here by my side―if anything goes wrong, we fight” he smirked down at his gun.

  Donnie creased his brows, hearing the beeping sounds that continuously passed over the buildings. “What have those small bots been doing in the air? I have seen lots of them in this city”

  “They are called beetle bots. They serve as the eye for the city’s militia”

  “Something like surveillance cameras?”

  “Exactly”

  “Then they already got footage of us to the militia”

  “I don’t think so―I chose the dark alleys causes their lens aren’t good in the dark and they don’t really check the alleys, plus, the hoods over our heads got us covered” she turned her head and winked at him.

  “Alright― this is your city so I trust you”

  “And know that this isn’t the only City in the Lower Rim― there are about seven more―”

  “What!”

  “You heard me. This is the main city because it is the one with the Prime Gateway―a way in and out of this rim”

  “For real, you didn’t tell me this before―”

  “Am telling now because I think you are old enough here to know. I can’t tell you everything but soon you will get to know”

  “I will be back on my planet by then. You know I can’t stay here that long”

  “Yeah I know” Arida’s face dropped with her reply. “Come on. We will talk more after this”

  Donnie nodded and continued shuffling behind her.

  They curved into another alley, walked a little while till they ended up in front of a grey brick wall. It seemed that was last. Donnie glanced around and noticed there weren’t any more alleys.

  “Dead end” he thought. “Are we lost or something?” he asked, raising his voice a little. Arida shook her head strangely.

  “So you brought us all the way here for nothing? Just a Martian brick wall”

  Arida didn’t talk back or swivel towards him, but kept on feeling the brick wall in front of her with her right hand.

  “What is she doing?” Donnie moved two steps, tilting his head to have a closer look at what Arida was doing on the wall.

  She stopped her hand on a particular brick, smiled and pushed it inside and then took steps backward.

  A large rectangular light appeared on the wall.

  “What the fuck” Donnie rubbed his eyes in shock.

  Another small circular light appeared on top of the rectangular light, projected a light on her face and scanned it. An image of her face quickly appeared on the rectangular light with a little details of her under it.

  “Arida-ail―Khail-ail clan” a computerized voice came from the light and then the lights went swiftly went off. Every place became dark again. Donnie could feel his heart racing. That was some strange thing that don’t normally happen. “Now what?”

  Arida stood still, her stare fixed to the wall. Then a cracking noise came
from it. The bricks began spacing out to each sides and gradually formed a rectangular door exactly where the rectangular lights shone before. Donnie clasped on his pistol, just in case―

  A sudden bright light shone from the door. Donnie blocked his eyes with his palms against the intensifying light.

  “Come on” Arida beckoned and disappeared into the light.

  “What! She just entered without me. Ladies will always be ladies, even on different planets” he shook his head as he walked straight into the light.

  Before he realized, he was standing next to Arida. He glanced around and noticed they were in a Martian night club. Lights flickered in different colors, a Martian band was performing a kind of jazz in their alien language, different species of Martians from different clans filled the room, both males and females.

  Donnie shuddered and turned his head to Arida. Right before he could speak, Arida interrupted. “Don’t worry, there are no cops around here. They don’t even know this club exists on the Lower Rim” She gave Donnie a stare back. “This place is filled with criminals, black marketers and a lot of bad people. So try not to look anyone in the eye, even when they do first. Take ―put it on” She handed Donnie a gas mask which looked exactly like earth’s, except it was somehow electronic.

  “A gas mask?” Donnie whispered, looking confused.

  “This will cover your face so you can’t be identified. You are different―they haven’t seen a human before and chaos will take over this whole place when they find out an alien is in here” She paused and looked around. “Some of them are aware of the wanted news and posters and won’t hesitate seizing us to the Militia. Most of them are bounty hunters”

  Dread washed through him after hearing Arida. If that club was a very dangerous place that will risk their lives, then why had she brought them there?

  “Come on, follow me―and don’t look at anyone no matter what” she whispered and began to walk. Donnie nodded and put on the gas mask, its glasses colored grey so no one can identify who is wearing it. Their hoodies covered their heads as well.