A Discovery on Mars

By: Alyssa Pancake

I have made my way to the red planet we know as mars. I was put inside a monstrously large rocket ship

with air tanks and many provisions for my stay in the red dot in space.

I was told that my mission was to make life possible to live on other planets. At first, I wasn’t so sure this

plan would work. When I lost one of my oxygen tanks I thought I was surely doomed. But, something

magnificent happened.

It all started a few months after I arrived. I was exploring the dusty land and I happened upon a huge

crater. Mars must have been hit from a meteor a while back, I’m guessing. Anyway, at first I didn’t see

the crater and tripped. I fell rather slowly because of gravity but when my head hit the ground, it was

enough to crush open my helmet. I held my breath and closed my eyes thinking that my eyes would get

sucked out of my skull or I would die from poisonous air. I stayed like that until my face turned purple. I

could see white dots forming behind my eye lids. If I didn’t take a breath, I knew I would black out for

sure.

No longer able to hold my breath, I exhaled with a huff. At the same time I tried desperately to suck the

air back in. I start holding my breath once again. After floating there a while I realize something. I had

just sucked in more air! I exhale and try drinking in more. I suddenly feel a rush of relief and amazement.

My lungs were filling with oxygen; I wasn’t going to suffocate!

Feeling totally bewildered, I decide to try opening my eyes. I open them slowly and cautiously. Sure

enough, my eyes were still intact.

Immediately my mind was over flowing with questions. How was I breathing? Wasn’t that proven to be

impossible? I’m not going to die!

Looking around, I realize that I’m still floating a little above ground. With a burst of energy I push myself

back down. I drink in more oxygen. Suddenly, a swell of Mars’ red dust crowds around me, entering my

nose and mouth. At first, I feel panicked. Was the dust safe? I stand immobilized just watching to see

what would happen.

A few seconds went by and there was nothing. I realized. The dust wasn’t dangerous. It actually looked as

if I was breathing it. A strange excitement came over me and I screamed to the heavens. I decided I had to

report this. I had made a new discovery.

With my mind made up, I raced back to my ship as fast as the gravity would allow. I punch the big green

button to call head quarters and wait as the screen searches for a connection. Then, the screen turns white

with four black dashes across it. A female computer voice resounds around the ship asking for my

password. I push four little keys on my desktop and a familiar face fills the screen.

“Joe,” I yell happily.

“Yeah, what is it, Keith,” Joe asked unamused as he sipped his coffee.

“You won’t believe what’s happened!”

“What, there really are aliens on Mars?”

“No Joe, no aliens,” I sighed a little annoyed.

“Then what is it? Spit out, man.”

“I can BREATH!”

Joe rolled his eyes. Apparently, he did not understand my genius discovery.

“That’s great, Keith. Why don’t you call me when you’re serious next time.”

“But Joe, I AM serious! Listen, my helmet broke outside of the ship and-.”
“Wait,” Joe cut me off. “You broke NASA equipment?”

“C’mon Joe, focus. What I’m trying to say is that life IS possible on Mars. You can actually breath the

air!”

Joe sits back in his chair. He looks off into space and pauses for a moment. Then, he looks back at me

seriously.

“But that’s impossible. Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m positive.”

Joe took a thoughtful sip at his coffee and rubbed at the sides of his mustache.

“Look here, Keith,” He said as he leaned closer to the screen. “I’m going to have a meeting with the rest

of the boys to see what we should do. For now, I want you to sit tight and go through this week like

normal. I’ll call you back when we find out how to handle the situation.”

“Thank you, Joe.”

“Don’t thank me yet. If you are making this all up, you know, you can get in a lot trouble.”

“I understand.”

“You better. I’ll see you in a week. Joe, signing off.” The screen then, turned blank.

As days go by, I decided I no longer need my spaceman suit. I continued my study of the planet in my

sweatpants and army boots.

It didn’t take long for a week to pass and I was talking to Joe again. He gave me a new mission to stay on

Mars for another month and see if anything new happens. I think what he meant was: to stay on the planet

and see if the air on Mars eventually kills you. I wasn’t worried though. I was confident that the air was

safe.
As the weeks started to pass by I find my skin to become very irritating. It didn’t alarm me so much even

when I noticed I started changing color. At first, I thought it was the sun because my skin was turning

orange. When my eyes started changing I knew the sun had nothing to do with it. My irises changed from

a dark brown to a violet. I guess you can say I didn’t look like a normal person anymore yet I still did not

panic. Why should I? Nothing was wrong with my bodily functions. I never felt healthier in my life.

After a month had gone by, I reported back to head quarters. Joe nearly dropped his coffee mug when he

saw me.

“Keith! Is that really you?”

“Of course it is!”

“But you’re, you’re.”

“Orange? Oh yes, it seems that after a few weeks of breathing the air you start to change colors.”

“But how?”

“I think it’s the dust. It’s all red and floats in the air.”

“That can’t be good.”

“Sure it is. I’m not sick or anything.”

“I don’t think the superiors will like this.”

“Why not? Changing colors isn’t killing me.”

“But who is to say something else won’t change?”

“What do you mean?”

“Your genetic make-up is being changed. In other words, you are mutating. You’re becoming less human

each time you breath in more dust. Life isn’t sustainable on Mars. Your mission is over. Bring yourself

back to Earth and we’ll try to get you some help.”

“No.”

Joe blinked his eyes in disbelief.

“What?”

“No, I don’t want to go back. Life is sustainable on Mars! I’ll prove it!”

“Keith, you’re going to get worse.”

“No, I think I’ll become better. Maybe change is good.”

“Not when it looks like that. You have to come home before it gets worse.”

“No, I’m staying here! That’s my final decision.” I cut the connection before he can persuade me

anymore.

Now, I have lived a full year on Mars. Joe was right; I was mutating and still am. All my hair has fallen

out now. My skin grew leathery scales like a snake’s. My teeth have even mutated rougher and sharper.

I’m still trying to prove that life is sustainable on Mars but who will listen to an alien?