The black outs, constricted days and lengthy period inside got to us all. Gillian called out to Simone for their daily catch up “quick our families on the split screen”. “Alright coming”. They sat down after the announcement made in the light of darkness. After the rolling red dust campaign, the planet was almost in total darkness and the outside even clogged up suits. But that didn’t stop people wanting to stroll around in the new terraformed planet. “Morning, everyone, how are you all?” Susum, Gillian’s mum responded, “Good, but frustrated that even after the end of the bombing campaign we can’t step outside”. Gillian sighed “mum, you know you shouldn’t venture into the dust, regardless if you want to be outside for a while”. “I know, I know, but I can’t take this cabin fever anymore” Susum said. “Well, let’s try do something to brighten the day up, even if we can’t go outside, what about a VR tour of our old home?” “Hmm, I don’t know, I’m sure that’ll feel worse rather than betted.” At the Gillian bit her head off and Simone stepped in to calm. “Well, there’s more than just the two of you here, why don’t we play a game? That’ll pass the time won’t it?” “Alright, alright, what’s the game?” “It’s called in our time.” “What does that entail?”. Simone tried to think about how to explain it simply. “It’s best described as a game of guessing the decade of different objects and thought patterns.”. That doesn’t sound all that fun.

“We may inhabit this side of the Ea-, Mars, but that doesn’t mean we’re the only ones here.” Jade yelled to her sister Rose. “There is an entire war not far from here! How could you be so careless to steal from their resources?!” “They don’t even know we’re here!” Rose shot back at her elder. “And if they figure out, we’re dead. We don’t have any other place to go. Planets don’t come cheap.” “They won’t-“ “They could!” “But they won’t! I won’t let them!”

The dust. There was no escaping it. My life existed solely within an air-tight village, but somehow the dust always got in in. Sometimes I wonder at it (...had to be particles clinging to Suits that had been outside). Sometimes I ignore it. Sometimes, it makes me so angry I could scream.

Today, I wiped down my cooking station calmly, letting out a small sigh when I lifted the rag to see the rust-colored tint.

Absentmindedly, I placed a pot down and turned on the heat source. I was reaching for the grains when, without warning, I was on the ground. Everything hurts. I can’t move.

What’s happening?

Slowly, a ringing in my ears. I blink three times. I bend an elbow, then a knee. Shifting my weight, I prop myself up and look around. The damage to my quarters almost doesn’t register - more pressing is how difficult is it to stand.

The gravity’s calibration must be off.

I begin to notice alarms are sounding. I can almost see myself standing there, dumbfounded. “Move! Think!” I want to yell at myself.

Ok - what alarms are these? Listen. Focus. It’s the alarm letting us know that our section of the village has experienced a direct hit.

No - I must be wrong. Listen again. No - I was right.

The Suits had told us for weeks this was all but an impossibility. They said they had the Others on the run - under control - contained.

Stop. I need to move. It’s happening.

I rush to the entry door of my quarters and grab my Aerator Helmet. I open the door. I see the others running. I join them.

It’s so hard to run with the added gravity. My joints ache.

“How can this be happening?” The woman running next to me is asking - I don’t know to whom. I don’t answer.

Someone has my arm and I’ve stopped running.

“We need you to come with me.” It’s one of the Suits. What was his name?

I still don’t remember by the time we make it to the Secured Area. “I’ve never been in here before.” I say, stupidly. The Suit ignores me and enters a code to open the door.

“Is this her?” It’s the Commander. He looks up from a series of screens.

The Suit nods. I step forward instinctively. “What’s happening?” I ask.

“The Others hit the Supply Quarter. You wouldn’t know, but we had a treaty on the table.” He looked away. “This came out of nowhere.”

“Our diplomatic team left for peace talks last week and haven’t returned. That’s why we need you.”

“I’m not a diplomat.” What is he saying? I don’t understand.

“Your the only one remaining in the Cultural Studies department. You speak their language if I’m not mistaken?”

I nod.

“You’ve just been promoted.” He gestured to the screens. “Let me show you what we’re dealing with.”

I’ve been promoted. I look up. The screens are covered in a light film of red dust.

“We always knew there were others. Other people, other beings. Mars being a huge planet we are used to hearing of wars over land and territory however we have never had it fall onto our doorstep.

We worked hard creating our homes, our food, our families and this conflict will not hinder our progress.”

I look up from my bowl, and to the screen projected onto the wall in front of me. I sat in shock as our leader continued with his speech, thoughts climbed through my mind slowly over growing the normal roots of domestic thinking which has inhibited my mind for a long time. Nothing has ever sent shivers down my spine like that word “others”. We have been carefully shielded from the world past the walls, I guess the bricks can’t hold back the hurricane which lay slowly breaking the foundations of our homes for much longer.

Suddenly my chair was no longer comfy and I was no longer hungry, my bowl now sits isolated on the kitchen side. My legs want to walk, I want to move, I no longer feel safe.

Surrounding me are other people covered in dust, shaking with fear and clueless as to what will happen next. A group of us, maybe 12 people or so, are squished inside a small crater behind a large rock we can only hope that will protect us. I stare up at it and pray it won’t fall on top of us. In the distance, shouting can be heard. Every few moments, I notice it’s just a little bit closer to us. Pretty soon this crater won’t be enough, but we need a moment to rest. My mind races now as I attempt to remember the area near us so we can relocate in a few moments. A few months ago while going through this area, I never would have imagined I would be hiding in it later so a group of people I just met and I could avoid a less than peaceful death. Amongst my companions in this crater was the sweetest old lady on the planet. Every few minutes, she starts coughing uncontrollably. I know it’s horrible, but every time she coughs my first thought is the hope that no one was around to hear it, possibly prompting an attack from them. Worry for her health should be the first thought that comes to mind, but I guess that’s what the war will do to you after three months. Whenever I look over at her, I see her grandson with one hand on her shoulder and the other clutching her other hand. I don’t think he’s let go of her hand this entire time. Those two always force me to wonder about my own family, the very people who had a hand in the beginning of this war. I haven’t seen any of them since the third week of the war. Of course I worry and miss them often, but I’m also rather grateful I’m not around them. I’d be in an even more dangerous situation than I am now because of the list. Everyone on the planet and on our neighboring planets of course know about the list created by the inhabitants of Mars. The list was made to warn their targets, the small group of people from the Temple colony of Jupiter that began this war by trying to claim more land in the universe. They had already claimed nearly their entire planet and were moving on to Mars, a planet that claimed less land but was still much more prosperous. The leaders of Temple, a group of which my parents belonged, were drunk with power and had to get more land. Unlike many other groups, they put up a fight and it’s still going on today. When the list of targets was published, I had to run away. Luckily, I had visited the planet before and knew the surroundings. I found a group of people surrounding a fire who took me in I assume they were unaware of my last name. Thank goodness.

Dear Diary,

Day 325 of living on the Red Planet, and I am bored out of my mind. I still cannot find work due the war. I try to get out as much as I can, when the Zeeps are in their nocturnal cycle. I still find it odd that the Karks don’t attack them, even though their honor dictates that they do not strike sleeping enemies. Yet another way they differ from humans.

I browse the same stores, visit the park. But it’s getting tedious. I applied for re-entry for Earth, but was denied. They planet is still over crowded, and I have no needed skills. Why the hell did I come here in the first place? Fun, adventure, and really wild things? What was I on that I believed that?

Saw Lincoln at the park yesterday. I tried to find the courage to ask him out, even of it was just to coffee, but I chickened out. He was born here, his family was some of the first to travel here, and I know his family looked down on the newbies. I don’t get the sense that he agrees with that sentiment, but I’m just not that sure.

Maybe I could try busking, I have my ukulele. Music is oddly rare here, Lincoln mentioned it was because of the war. Zeeps and Karks aren’t fond of music, and to be fair, they were here first. Not native, of course, but they landed on Mars two generations before us. And course, there was peace way back when.

If I play at night, I won’t disturb them. And I’ll keep busy, and hopefully make some cash. Maybe I’ll impress Lincoln.

I’ll start tomorrow. Today, I just want to stroll in the park, look up at the sky, and see Earth.

Until tomorrow, Dear Diary

I have to write this quickly. I’m very aware of the fact that as soon as one of them realise I’m writing this, I’m going to be killed. That doesn’t scare me, but you guys out there not knowing the truth does. This planet has been known for centuries as “The peaceful planet”, which has just a handful of kinda creatures leaving in perfect harmony. I’m here to tell you guys that is not at all correct. Admittedly, arriving was my biggest mistake. But it’s happened. These creatures are not peaceful. They torture each other through mind games. They find out each other’s weaknesses and use them against each other. They mentally stab each other in the back, which from what I’ve seen is somehow worse than being physically stabbed in the back. I’ve just seen someone get shot in the head for not dropping to the floor fast enough. This seems to be a war in which people are enjoying. They aren’t calling it a war as of yet, apparently it’s just their nature and this is all normal, but surely acting this cold heartedly has got to be due to some sort of war. I can hear people banging at the door, I have to go. Please spread this to whoever you can, people need to know how bad the planet earth is.

Everyday I fear for my life. I fear for my sister’s life. We came to Mars for a good life, for a new break after our parents died. And we just needed a new home. We weren’t expecting a war to exist on a planet thought to be uninhabited. They live on the surface. Our colony is underground. We haven’t seen the light of day in almost a year. Nor do we think we ever will see the light. There have been announcements that both sides of the war occurring above have been trying to infiltrate our colony. So it’s only a matter of time before our defenses wear thin. I’m writing in this diary so people who come to join the colony in the next year will know what they are joining. And- They’re here. They’re here. I can hear the screams. The sounds of death outside our door. I’ve hidden my sister in the closet. They’ll find em and only me. I made sure to erase any sign of other life in this house than me. I-

My sister saved my life. But I’m alone. I strolled through the colony. And I’m alone. I can still hear the warring people above. But now I’m going to fight back. I’ll do something to avenge my sister. Because now I’m alone and pissed.

Little Leo sat on his Daddies lap. "Listen my little elf." Daddy said. "Okay, Daddy." "Daddy has to go to fight." "Like when big brother Daniel fights the monsters on the games." "Yes, little Elf just like that." "But you'll come back right?" Little Leo asks with a sad expression on his elfin face. "Of course I will baby." "Okay, Daddy." Time skip two months later

Mommy sat on the sarf (couch in elf language). "Mommy?" Little Leo asked, "Yes baby?" "Mommy wheres Daddy." "Daddy's fighting baby." "But he's coming home right?" "Of course baby." "Okay, Mommy." Time skip one month later Big brother was playing his game. "Dany?" "Yes, little dinosaur?" "Wheres, daddy?" "He's fighting but he'll bee back soon." "Everyone keeps saying that but its been a really really long time and Daddy's not home." Little Leo stomped his foot angrily. "I know little man." Little Leo started to cry. "Dany I want daddy." "He's coming home," Daniel said hugging his little brother tightly. Time skip one week later. Mommy Daniel and Me were sitting on the Sarf when the knock came. "I'll get it, Mom," Daniel said He went to open the door but when he did he immediately called for little Leo and Mommy. When they got to the door there was an Elf dressed in black clothing. "Oh no!" Mommy cried. "What's wrong Mommy?" "Wheres Daddy?" Little Leo asked excitedly. Mommy turned to him with tears in her eyes. "Baby Daddys in heaven."

Swing, Lift, Swing, Lift. It was terribly monotonous being a miner on Mars. We do the same thing every hour, every day, every week, every year. It’s just, Swing, Lift, Swing, Lift. Over and over again. On Mars we don’t have a constitution or laws that stop slave labor, so it’s just, Swing, Lift, Swing, Lift. Eventually ones mind starts to wonder about things. The new war, for instance. Some of the Natives on Mars took exception to the fact that us humans were digging into the planet. They started to get physical and attack the humans. But I digress, I don’t get to hear much of the war because I just, Swing, Lift, Swing, Lift. I kind of hoped that the Natives won so that I wouldn’t have to, Swing, Lift, Swing, Lift.