Niharika Machhi

Fantasy

3  

Niharika Machhi

Fantasy

M.O.R.E - The Committed Crime

M.O.R.E - The Committed Crime

15 mins
228


Theme- A visit to another planet


PART - 1

Once upon a time, there I was, reading a book about space and looking at pictures of my dream planet MARS. Then, quite suddenly, the light I was reading under started flickering, the windows shut with a bang, books started flying in the air and the house started spinning and spinning...Then suddenly there was silence. Absolute silence. There was darkness everywhere. I was in a corner of my room terrified and upset at the same time seeing my room in an upside-down mess. Then all of a sudden, I thought I was feeling hot!! Boiling actually. I knew the fan was off, but I felt as if I was getting heated like a water atom on the gas. I looked at my legs and arms to see if I actually had boils of heat on my body! But, I had the greatest surprise of my life, when I saw I was wearing something like a spacesuit. "NO, it can't be," I told myself." I cannot be in space!". Then a thought came to me. I summoned all my courage and got up from the corner I had stuffed myself into. I went straight to the switchboard and switched the first button on. To my astonishment, the lights turned on, I saw my messy room and also tried to spot the book I was reading. I spotted it and thought of a way to get to it. I knew, walking from the corner to the switchboard that walking was a giant task with the suit on. My brain had already gone numb looking at the mess. After a few minutes of thinking, I was convinced that I had to walk to the book to get it as there was no other way. My attention was actually not on the book, but on how I got into a spacesuit. I got the book with great effort and walked to the door. I peeped outside through the eyehole and had a mixed feeling of a nightmare and a dream come true. I felt scared thinking that I might be stranded on another planet but felt proud picturing myself with a Mars rock in my hand in NASA. I sat down on a chair and opened the book I was reading on earth. I felt sure it was magic. I opened the page I was reading and found that written in German were a few words. Thankfully on my phone, I had a translator and fortunately had battery and data. It said, "What you dream is what you get but dreams change. To accomplish this mission you must be what you are not. But remember enemies of M.O.R.E, beware."

I had no idea what it meant. I mean, I dreamt about the stars and being here. What does 'dreams change' mean, then be what you are not. Meaning not a girl or not a human. The last line though confused me the most. ' Enemies of M.O.R.E beware'. I mean I had read a line in Harry Potter saying enemies of the heir, beware but MORE or M.O.R.E. In Harry Potter it meant Tom Riddle, meaning Slytherin, but that was fiction. M.O.R.E could mean anything. What was it? My brain was completely empty. Finally, after giving a thought for 10 whole minutes, I gave up. I got up to touch the door and as soon as I touched the door, something happened. A voice full of panic came "Do You Copy? Do You Copy? Huston here.Do You Copy? I repeat. Do You Copy?" When I heard this voice at full volume I panic panicked. "What's going on? I am alive and I can hear you. " I checked my helmet to find out why the voice had stopped, as no response came. "I copy Huston," I said in a calm voice. Then came Huston's swift voice "Hush, you are alive! Are you onboard for Mission Mars?". I felt rather important thinking someone was speaking to me from a space station. "Remind me what the Mission is again? Huston," I said ."The mission is to destroy M.O.R.E. transferring the coordinates. We will be off radio once you leave the room". "Ok Huston, send me the coordinates", I said, feeling very important indeed. Then out of nowhere on the transparent screen, 4 numbers came flashing in. They were 31° -37° -12° -42°. "Sent the coordinates, disconnecting radio, All the Best"! "But M.O.R.E .." I began. A loud buzz interrupted me indicating that the radio was disconnected. Well, at least I know what the mission is, I thought. I touched the door handle again thinking that the radio might connect, but nothing happened. I pushed the door and there was wind raging outside. It was Mars alright! I saw a bunker nearby and closed the door to my room. Trying to prevent more mess from being caused. I started walking towards the bunker and finally reached. By now I knew what the 1st line of the translation meant. I had always dreamt of coming to Mars. But never thought in my wildest dreams it would be so challenging walking on Mars. My dream had changed, I would have preferred the Moon, maybe it would be easier up there. I reached the bunker out of breath. I opened the door, went in and shut the door. I knew it was safe to take off my suit as there was NASA printed all over the walls. It looked and felt human friendly. I took off my suit with great difficulty and put it on the table. I sat down on a chair. Then suddenly I saw a man on the TV screen in front of me, and I guess he saw me too. He started saying, congratulations on making it to NASA's bunker. Your mission is to make it to M.O.R.E, convince them you are one of them and shut M.O.R.E down. Your assignment details are being sent to you. On the transparent screen came in the blue text the following details-


MORE: Motion Of the Rising Evil. 

Program coordinates :31° -37° -12° -42°. 

Mission Time:42 Hrs.

Warning: If you are unable to complete the mission, you will be stranded on MARS forever.

I got a ball in my stomach after reading the last line. I could see the coordinates disappear from the screen. I tried to remember them. I repeated the coordinates to myself over and over again. Next to my spacesuit, I found a map. 4 flags were in place of the coordinates on the map. I thought to myself, maybe I have to go to the centre of the floor to go into the Headquarters of M.O.R.E. I saw in small letters the number 10 on the map. I guessed they were the number of steps for entering M.O.R.E. I took the map with me suited up and opened the door. Behind me I could hear the TV screen say - YOUR TIME STARTS NOW. Press the green button to minimize your suit. I closed the door and started walking 10 minutes south and like the map showed, 15 minutes east. I saw a flag at 3 steps. I walked to it and examined the flag. The number 12 was written in black. I saw a flag on my right in front of me and diagonal to me. I knew this was the place. From flag no 12, I walked 10 steps towards the centre, and just before putting my 10th step, I saw an outline of a box. I jumped on it with both legs. With my weight, the platform split into two and I fell into a gooish looking substance. I looked up just in time to see the opening close. I got up in a hurry but the gooish substance served its purpose, and I slipped. I got up then slipped, again and again. After falling about 10 times, I reached a door. I looked through the eyehole and could see a place where there was no good at all. Pushing the door I went in. There, there was another door. I peeped in, to find humans walking about. As there were humans, there was obviously oxygen. Taking a deep breath in, I pressed the green button and pushed the door with all my might. I shut the door as fast as I opened it and slid my minimized space suit into the front pocket of my pants. I turned to face the lab and saw 10 guns pointing at me. "M.O.R.E "- I said. "Is this M.O.R.E"? "Yes" replied a woman in black. " Great" I murmured under my breath. This was a bad idea as the women caught what I said. "Identification?" she said in a prim voice. Well, I began thinking they would not buy my excuse. "Well, I am from the earth and was sent here by a man", I paused, as I saw a few faces turn red. " Am sent here by your leader". All the people whose faces were red had now definitely turned purple. I started to think, they were going to buy it, and that they would be scared of me. I could see the woman in black master all her courage and say "Do you mean to say you are the daughter of the lord of evil? ". " Yes, I said very confidently".

PART -2

There was silence. I had no idea what more to say. I wanted to make them feel I was good at being bad. Whatever it takes. However, this thought gave me an idea. Whatever it takes, includes cheating, doesn't it! It suddenly hit me, 'that to accomplish this mission, you must be what you are not. It meant I had to cheat to win. That would make me a really bad person, and make me a better imposter. I was in my thoughts when someone said " She is the daughter of the lord of evil, so she is the princess of M.O.R.E." My ears could not believe what they were hearing." What is your name, Princess? " asked the woman in black. I did not know whether to use my real name or not. But decided not to so there were fewer chances of it to backfire. "Lily," I said. My choice was Lily as I felt like I could give up my life for Earth-like Lily Potter did for Harry. I felt brave, though if avoidable I would not want to give up my life. Anyway at the thought of being the princess of evil made me very happy. I was going to be a perfect imposter! "Who is the head of this operation?" I said in a commanding voice that startled me more than anyone. "I am," said a woman in black. She had a wicked look on her face, her golden hair tied in a black ribbon. She had a crocked face and a confident voice and looked a little pale as she spoke to me but I could make out she knew her stuff. She gave a bow and said "My name is Clare, princess and I head MISSION MARS. Forgive me but my curiosity is not holdable. Why did the lord not warn me about your arrival? "Clare, you are smart, but as my father wanted to surprise me on this(M.O.R.E), I had to get his plans out of my mom," I said firmly. "I order you to tell me all the details of mission Mars and tell me what M.O.R.E is about." "Yes, ma'am" came Clare's swift voice "M.O.R.E is put on Mars because your father has planned an attack in 3 days meaning 72 hours from today to launch a meteor of nuclear acid which generates fire after touching the surface of the earth, containing enough power to destroy the entire earth. M.O.R.E. doesn't need the earth. We already have everything we need on Mars for the attack, and your father, thanks to his advanced technology, has pods ready to teleport to Jupiter which is much bigger in size and has everything ready. As soon as the meteor is launched, your father will be contacted by radio and will teleport. By then we will be done with the launch and teleport to Jupiter ourselves, to welcome your father" Clare finished. What a plan, I thought to myself. "I want to know where the nuclear acid is kept", I said sternly. She then leads me through a narrow pathway. I was taken to a pitch dark room. Then suddenly, someone turned the lights on and I saw it. A huge ball, well protected by something I did not know yet. It was at least half the size of the earth. It was huge. What I had to do next was clear. I had to break that hard, transparent substance and find a way to take all the nuclear acid out of that thing. "Clare", I called. "Yes Ma'am", came Clare's proud voice. "How did you fill all the acid in the meteor, and what is this thing protecting it?" I asked, trying to sound less curious and more commanding. "The transparent substance covering the meteor is clear porcelain, and do you see that pipe over there?", she asked pointing to a pipe as fat as a snake, connected to a huge machine that I guessed was generating the acid. "Yes," I said "well that switch over there which is currently off is the switch that we turn on at precise timings so that the meteor doesn't have too much acid and just burst here. We need just enough for it to touch earth and burst. The atmosphere of earth won't have any effect on it." finished Clare. An idea came to my mind. Why not burst it here, and as much as I hated thinking about it, destroy M.O.R.E and everyone in it. I tried not to think that I was thinking of murdering 20 people including me at the same time. I knew there was a guard guarding the room. "Clare", I said in a tone that scared her a little. "Why does the room need to be guarded"? "Well," she said a little taken aback by the question. "We do not want anyone turning the switch on, even by mistake you know, so one of us stays awake all night. It's my turn tomorrow and Grey's turn today." She said turning to a man. He smiled and gave a bow. I smiled back. I looked at Clare, "I will take the turn tomorrow", I said. Clare looked tense and her voice shook as she spoke. " Well, we have a launch the day after that, so I have to take night duty". "No," I said firmly. "No, tomorrow night duty is mine. I don't know anything about activating the meteor for launch. You are IN charge, you need a good nights sleep as the day after is a very important day. "As you say", said Clare. She turned to leave. My brain started saying, When the meteor erupts, there will be fire. Is my suit fireproof? "Wait", I called out just in time to catch her. Clare turned ."2 things. 1- Where do I sleep? 2- Can you tell me whether all spacesuits on Mars are fireproof?" Clare looked at me closely, then replied. "You can sleep with Margaret for the night and you have duty tomorrow, but I don't see why you need information on the spacesuit". "I shall tell father then, that you are good, but you dared to question me". I said with a realistic sigh. Clare turned purple. "No no no need for that." she said in a panic ." If the spacesuit comes to Mars, it's water and fireproof. But ma'am why do you need it". "I have a score to settle with NASA and many other space stations, and will make sure no one survives." I said that and gave her the evilest smile I could manage. She looked at me for a second. I could tell she wasn't buying it and then out of nowhere she said, "You are as clever as your father". She left and by now I was hugging myself in delight. I went with Margaret who was nervous and gave me a bed to sleep in. The moment I touched the bed, I fell asleep. At about 5 in the morning, there was an alarm. It rang at full volume. I woke up and was excited about my night duty since morning. Clare told me to sleep in the afternoon as I had night duty. I obliged. I woke up at about 6 in the evening explored the place till it was 8 and everyone went to bed. Clare told me not to fall asleep. I assured her everything would be fine. I waited for 2 hours till 10 pm and then went to see the switch. I squeezed into the corner and then took my space suit out of my pocket. I put it on and the switch had made me remember that if it could blow earth then M.O.R.E was nothing. I thought that my room would blow up but NASA would have a plan. I turned the switch ON and it said " 2 MINUTES TO FULL ACID". I waited and felt hot in the suit but the countdown went to 45 seconds. Then suddenly I heard something fall. I saw the clock showing 30 seconds, and when I turned I saw Clare. "Intruder!" She yelled multiple times. I turned. It had 10 seconds on still. I saw people gathering around and then I heard it. 5-4-3-2-1-and then nothing happened. I knew why. It needed to be hit. I turned the transparent porcelain button OFF and ran straight for the meteor. Clare tried to come in between but I was mighty with the spacesuit. Slow but mighty. I hit the meteor and then ran away from it as fast as I could, then came a voice. 10 seconds to self destruct. Nobody had a spacesuit, but not bothering about others, I ran to the exit and before I knew it, it erupted.


 The next thing I knew, I was blown all the way to the door of my room. I felt tired but got up to see that Mars was on fire. I knew Nuclear acid generates firepower so this was normal. I stepped into my room as swiftly as possible. "HUSTON" I whispered, " MISSION ACCOMPLISHED". The moment I said it, my room spun. Everything was silent. I had obviously gone unconscious and then regained consciousness, realizing I was not wearing a spacesuit anymore. I opened the door and saw my living room. I was home. My room was properly organized like nothing ever happened. The Mars book was, however, on the floor. Before I could even think, I picked up the book and tore all the pages. In the next 1 minute, the garbage was full of torn paper. I tried to believe that the incident had never happened to me. But crime had been committed, Mars had turned to ashes and Earth had been saved.

 I guess all is well that ends well.


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