I was so excited to be chosen to be a member of the Lunar Colony. Mars Colony had been settled ten years ago and after three launches of colonists and each trip taking nine months they were expecting a return within the next year. So as a backup, colony Lunar Colony was to be set up. Places on the colony ship were tightly contested and with the continuing deterioration of earth anyone with skills or money were looking for a way out.. I was lucky enough to have both skills and money and the four day trip seemed a little like a jaunt from one continent to another at home on Earth.
I am Katrin and I am a Speleologist, I come from a long line of Spelunkers and Cavers. I got my degree and have studied many caves on earth looking for liveable caves that may protect some of the human genome if a Nuclear War happens. The Colony project has united people from all nations in the surge to the stars away from the cradle of humanity. Unfortunately we still have so many warmongers in positions of power on Earth that many people may end up going back to caves for protection and safety from the fall out.
I know going in that Lunar Colony will be living in the caverns of the moon. That how I got onto the colony list my job along with other is to explore the network of caverns for more areas that we can live in. The original caverns were explored by camera back in 2014, then the astronauts live in them for a while which is how this colony was planned. Although the trip only takes four day we will be put into cryogenic sleep and effectively stacked like logs in the colony ship. We will be put to sleep on Earth and wake up on the Moon
As I woke up a burnt smell seemed to have invaded my nasal cavities, with bleary eyes I watched people shapes moving around. Someone stopped beside me and offered me a sealed container.
‘Here, get this into you, it’s a stimulant it’ll help you wake up.”
I pulled the tab and the smell of coffee wafted up as it auto-heated, I gratefully swallowed the warm, slightly bitter liquid and felt energy flow through me.
“Thanks” I replied
“When you are ready come over to the table and we will get you supplied” he said as he turned to the next person waking up.
After a few minutes I felt able to get to my feet and I made my way to the table. When I got there the woman behind the table looked at the grey tag attached to my collar.
“You are part of the Caver contingent” she said briskly handing me several cases and packs. “The Cavers are going to be setting out tomorrow morning, you’ll find them over by the grey flag.”
I looked where she pointed and could see the grey flag and a group of people loitering around it. I nodded to the woman behind the table and headed off.
When I reached the group I saw a solidly built, slightly older guy was organising the group. I walked up to him and held out my hand.
“Hi, I’m Katrin, Speleologist. I said.
“Des, Caver and Organiser” he replied “You should get some food and rest; we’ll get groups together and be heading out in the morning.”
I nodded in reply and looked for a space to spread my sleep bag. I still had the burnt smell in my nose maybe food would help with that. Finding a spot I put my gear down and went and got food. It went a long way to settling me down.
I woke in the morning to a loud ringing. Got myself some food and wandered back to Des.
“So what’s the set up” I asked
“We will get into groups and we’ll be heading out in about an hour. Each group will explore a different lava tube, we are looking for set ups like this so we can spread out a bit. First trip out is a shake down so we won’t go too far” he replied.
“I want to talk to the medic” I said, “I’ve got this really weird smell in my nose”
“Medic is over the back, you are not the only one several others have complained of it.
I went over to the medic and told her about the smell, her response was that it was probably a reaction to the cryogenic drug and would probably wear off as the drug was fully absorbed by my system and to let her know if it didn’t.
The group I was with consisted of six people, myself, another woman and four men the others looked very competent. The group was made up of a mix of spelunkers and cavers and me to do the science part. As we headed off excitement built. Virgin caverns, caves and lava tubes, I was in seventh heaven.
We spent several day the nearby areas, returning to the central cavern at night. After a week of mapping the surrounding Des decided we would extend out further and do some exploring as far as we could go in twenty four hours and then returning. While we were gone the main group would be moving to a second large cave we had found. Before leaving I had meant to see the medic again as the burnt smell had not left my nose but in the bustle of heading off I had forgotten. I would just have to suffer it for another forty eight hours.
Our team briskly set off, we had settled into a routine each of us knowing what was required of the others. We worked well together as a team. I had my eye of Carl, I thought we could get together for a different sort of team work. I would find an appropriate moment to suggest a little one on one. We moved quickly for the first six hours, nothing difficult in our path. After a break we took a tunnel that headed downward, we traversed the tunnel broken with small caverns for several hours. Eventually we came into a soaring cavern. This cavern was larger than any other cavern we had seen. As we entered the burnt smell in my nose became overpowering, it filled my head. The smell blanketed me and at the edge of my vision where our lanterns edged the dark I swore I saw movement. I didn’t say anything people caving often have hallucination but if you have too many nobody wants you with them when they are caving. Twelve more hours heading outwards then we would be heading back. I could hold on until then.
Next day we continued downwards, in some places the lava tubes narrowed down and we had to rope our way through. The smell continued to invade my head and the movement at the edge of my vision as if we were being flanked by something. Then I began to hear something. This hallucination was affecting scent, sight and hearing. I debated whether or not to tell the others, I decided against telling them as I was able to do my job. I would see how it went. It was only another few hours and we would be stopping for the night then we would be heading back.
Again we descended into a large cavern, it was almost as if they were placed at resting intervals. As we entered the cavern I realised I didn’t need my light as the cavern was subtly lit, I could see everything. As I came into the cavern I unthinkingly switched off my light and unerringly walked across the cavern to what appeared to be and alter
“Katrin, what are you doing” Carl cried
I turned and saw they were still bunched together at the entry, as I looked at them a wildness seemed to enter my blood. I sprang and leapt across the distance between us hands extended like claws. Suddenly Marcus drew a gun and shot at me. I leapt to the side landing on all fours hands and feet. Marcus aimed the gun again and fired.
I leapt high, I landed up on the wall above the altar and held fast as Marcus aimed the gun as I scuttled across the wall.
“What the hell are you doing Marcus” demanded Tony
Marcus fired again and this time I misjudged and the shot hit me. Numbness flowed out form the shot and I felt myself falling.
I woke to find I was shackled both hands and feet the others were sitting across the fire from me. Marcus looked directly into my eyes.
“I’m sorry Katrin, but I was told to watch for any change in team members and to incapacitate any who showed the change.”
I couldn’t find words, they had all disappeared. My eyes flickered from one person to another trying to understand.
“What is this change” Tony asked
“We don’t know, but some seem to be affected, a few have responded very violently and killed others” Marcus replied
“So, what are we going to do with Katrin” asked Carl
“We’ll take her back and the medics will check her out”
As my eyes flickered over each of them I saw behind them movement within the rock. The wildness was rising in me again and as the wildness peaked the rock bulged outwards and took the form of a dragon. The others looked around just as the dragon form expanded and surrounded them, engulfing them in the rock.
I found myself alone, shackled by the fire, my words had gone but I knew this band could not hold me. I felt a surge of power flow through me I clenched my fists and pulled my wrists apart breaking the shackle. I did the same to my ankles. I got to my feet and moved back to the altar, placed my hands across the back of the carved dragon and pulled. Again I could see the dragon in the rock. I continued to pull at the carved dragon with my spirit. It expanded further and further from the rock. With a final wrench of effort I pulled the dragon from the rock. A loud crack echoed through the cavern as the dragon broke free. I turned from the alter and walked toward the rock dragon, when I stood below its raised head i reached up and placed my hands upon the rock body and flowed into the dragon.
The dragons had waited thousands of years in the caverns of the moon for the return of their souls.
