Rabbit Hole on Mars - Day 20 (Nov 20) 640 words

Chapter 20

“You guys wanna see something neat?” Don asked the NASA team.
“No, Don,” Brian replied, “No we don't.”
“Come on, we've only got ten days left till you're time's up on Mars. Check this out.”
Frankie pulled out what appeared to be a laser pointer. Placed it on his shoulder. The laser pointer moved around autonomously, pointing toward the sky.
“Donna, pull me up on your satellite,” Don said, “Show everyone in the room.”
Donna nervously went over to her desk and put the real time satellite imagery on a screen. She looked over at Scott and shrugged her shoulders. She didn't know what else to do.
“Now you see me,” Don said.
Then a bright green laser beam shot up into the sky.
“What's he doing?” Brian started freaking out.
Donna hit a few keys on her keyboard, “I don't have any idea...”
“What's he doing, Donna?!!”
The satellite imagery showed nothing but static.
“Now you don't,” Don said.
Brian yelled, “You've gone too far, Don! That is it!”
“God, I wish I could see the look on your face right now.”
“This is our life's work you are destroying.”
“Oh, calm down, you little baby. I'm scrambling the signal, not burning a hole in the lense.”
No reply.
“Once you're gone off the surface, then I'll start picking off your satellites.”
Donna felt personally offended.
“Oh, come on Donna. You need more free time with Scott anyway.”
“You son-of-a-bitch, I'm about to leave this office and find you myself!” Brian yelled.
“Brian, don't say things you don't mean. You're an old man. I don't want to break your toys and then have to break you too. Just let me have my fun over here. You've got plenty of other planets to choose from out there without any trouble from me. Remember, it's not about finders keepers, it's about finders must be dominators. Otherwise Mars belongs to Danish Tycho Brahe when he found it's position in 1576. That would halt the claim that you or I have any claim to the red planet.”
Everyone in the Rover Control Room sat bewildered and felt helpless.
“You're going to go through the labyrinth, first person shooter style. You don't get to experience lights out over head in the 3rd person. It's only going to be while I'm right there with you. Tearing you apart.”
Don could hear a fist pounding on a desk
“Now go take Opportunity for a walk. I want it to be in tip top shape for it's stroll through the labyrinth. T-minus 10 days until lights out. Have a good Sol everybody!”
Bluetooth connection ended.

Don called up Samantha, “What are you up to?”
“I was reading. What are you up to?”
“Spent sometime with my online friends?”
“I'm sure they had a great time.”
“I think so.”
“I highly doubt it.”
“You know, not every world is gonna be sunshine and rainbows. People gotta be ready for the unexpected.”
“I'll tell you what, Don, you were definitely unexpected. What the hell am I doing with you? I don't know but for some reason I like it. Wanna take me out for ice cream?”
“Sure. I've got a little gardening to do and then I'll head over.”
“Okay, weirdo.”
Don went back into his computer and programmed Frankie to begin the finishing touches on the labyrinth. The pathway had been completely set in place. Now it was a mater of building up the stones on either side of the trail a bit higher. After pressing enter and putting his computer on hibernate, Don walked down the stairs.

“Mom, can I borrow the car?”

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