RED PLANET STOWAWAY CH.7 GET OFF AT THE CONVENTION CENTER

RED PLANET STOWAWAY CH. 7 - GET OFF AT THE CONVENTION CENTER

By John Elrod II

"Seems you're in quite a pickle."

You're startled as a grisly voice chimes in over your shoulder. Releasing a torturously tiny laugh, the stranger winces as he envelops the remaining three vacant seats between you and the aisle. He fills the area with the strong smell of oatmeal.

Careful to not fully acknowledge the oddly aromatic passenger, you quickly switch the screen to YouBoob; perhaps the presence of porn will give pause to any further conversation.

"Good move. Trying to make me uncomfortable?" His voice is like a cat caught in a mouse trap. "Unfortunately, I have no feelings toward the human figure."

"Listen, you, I don't know --" you snap at him, but your sharp glance is halted by the gruesome venal landscape covering his melon-shaped head.

"It's okay. You humans are very susceptible to fright. I've gotten used to your stares," his words are remarkably soothing, and that smell continues to thicken the air. "Why don't you get off at the Genesis Convention Center?" his suggestion seems strangely provocative.

"Uh... I wasn't really looking at porn; so, you see, I'm not really looking to get off, anywhere..." you're fumbling your words.

"No, no. You've misunderstood.” He places his hand firmly on your shoulder. "Perhaps you should exit the shuttle, at the Genesis Convention Center."

"That does sound like a good idea," you drone into his chest.

"Good. Here's that stop, now," he guides you to your feet and points you toward the door.

As the shuttle departs, you're left standing in front of what can only be described as Daedalus' wet dream. With your head still cloudy, you can't help but wonder why you're even here.

What exactly is my plan here? I need to get back on a shuttle, you think.

After consulting the nearby media guide and realizing the next shuttle will not arrive for half an hour, you pull on the door and, to your surprise, it opens.

It can't hurt to check it out I guess.

Within the center's atrium, you're bombarded with the whirring and whizzing of preparation. There's hover-machinery all over the place, and it's all centralized around a massive, metallic basketball being lowered onto an equally overwhelming podium.

"That seems like a bit much," you sarcastically motion to a Martian standing nearby. He just stares at you, all seven of his eyes seeming to convey differing emotions; he motions to a sign written in Galflorn.

It reads Beware of Falling Objects -- but of course, you cannot read it.

You look back at him, and he motions to the translucent, steel hard hat he is wearing.

"Gotcha." you give him a thumbs-up, which only serves to confuse him further as he returns to his work.

You begin to aimlessly wander around the immediate area, but there doesn't seem to be anything for you to do here; plus, these Martians seem to be getting irritated with your presence.

"Guess I'll go wait outside."

You begin the daunting trek back to the door out of which you came, but you're once again drenched in that peculiar oatmeal odor.

Suddenly, every Martian worker charges away, in a pattern radiating from your location.

"What? The smell isn't me; it's one of you guys!" you shout, ignorant of the shadow slowly swallowing you.

You finally notice the sudden darkness, but it is too late. You barely have time to recognize the stranger from the train before the massive metallic basketball reduces you to an organic pile of mush. The Martian workers are left staring at the stranger above them, wheezing that familiar, tinny laugh, the veins of his face pulsating more rapidly with every subsequent guffaw.

THE END

Oops...RETURN TO CHAPTER 7

RED PLANET STOWAWAY CH.6 THE SHUTTLE TO NANDITZ

RED PLANET STOWAWAY CH. 6 - JUMP ON THE SHUTTLE TO NANDITZ

By JA Souders

Malloy, Saleen, and Peter Tan step from the pod and you panic. You know it’s only a matter of time before they find that blob of a shape-shifter and they come looking for you.

And once they find out you know they plan on killing the president, that’s exactly where they’ll expect you to go. Not. An. Option.

So that leaves following them and trying to play hero. Or jumping on the shuttle to Nanditz and hoping someone there can help you. You decide you’ve never been much of a hero anyway, and take the shuttle.

The only problem with that plan is that the trio hasn’t moved from the pods, and the shuttles are in their final boarding calls. You don’t have a choice. You have to risk it. You rip off the security shirt and try to sneak as quietly as possible behind them to the shuttle pod.

Unfortunately, just at that moment, a little girl with bright yellow pigtails runs into you. You apologize with the intent to keep moving, but she squeals, a high-pitched yell that pierces your eardrums.

“Mommy, mommy look! It’s Smelvis! Can I have your autograph, Smelvis?” She shoves a notebook and pen into your hand.

You groan and wonder how this girl has mistaken you for Smelvis. You look nothing like the alien performer; for one thing, you’re not purple.

You quickly dash off a signature, hope that the trio didn’t notice the girl’s outburst, and push past her to the shuttle.

Just as you’re about to step onto the shuttle, a hand grabs your arm and twirls you around. You're facing Malloy.

He sneers at you. “What’s your hurry, Smelvis? Your fans want your autograph.”

He tugs on your arm and the shuttle doors close.

All you can think as he pulls you through the crowd is that you’re in for it now. But to your surprise, he only shoves you into another shuttle. Saleen is doing something at the controls.

Malloy and Peter Tan tie you up like a hog at a greased pig contest and then secure you to the seat, so there’s no way you can escape. Not that you’re not trying. The ropes bite into your skin as you struggle, but it’s a no go.

Someone had obviously paid attention during rope tying at the academy. Something you wish you had done instead of drinking your way through.

The trio smiles and Saleen wiggles her fingers as they leave the pod. Your stomach sinks.

There is no good reason they’re leaving.

You feel the minor vibrations of the shuttle leaving its dock and wonder where the hell it’s taking you.

You don’t wait long for your answer.

“We have reached…safe distance from planet…Orbiting mode initiated. Self-destruct sequence activated...Have a nice day! And thank you for using Red Planet Transport…

…5…4…3…2…1 . . ."

THE END

Oops...RETURN TO CHAPTER 6