The vehicle screeched to a halt in a cloud of red dust. Joffra and Mitch leapt from the rover, firing their lasers at their pursuers
‘Take that you cosmic slime-ball,’ Joffra yelled as a Martian fell backwards, a stream of fluorescent purple blood spurting from its side.
Another of the creatures slithered forward, its single eye bulging, tentacles flaying at the earthlings.
‘See you on the other side of the Andromeda Galaxy, Cyclops,’ bawled Mitch, blasting one at close range.
The two astronauts made a run for the capsule. They clambered through the hatch. As Joffra went to close it a green tentacle forced its way inside, latching onto Mitch’s leg.
‘Help!’ screamed Mitch, struggling against the creature that was slowly pulling him towards its cavernous mouth.
Joffra grabbed a steel spike from the emergency kit and jumped back to where Mitch was about to be devoured. He ducked under a swinging tentacle and thrust the spike into the creature’s eye socket. The Martian screamed in pain and let go its grip.
Joffra slammed the hatch shut.
’Time to get off this godforsaken planet,’ said Joffra. He hopped into the pilot’s seat while Mitch manned the laser cannons.
Joffra flicked a switch. The cabin filled with a comforting mix of coloured lights, but the speakers only crackled.
‘Bugger! Comms with Earth still down,’ he said.
The cabin rocked with a large metallic clang.
Mitch fired a round from his laser cannons. ‘There’s thousands of them out there. We won’t be able to hold them out forever.’
‘Time to fire up the rockets. Call it,’ said Joffra.
’Tentramater.’
‘Check’
‘Vulcaniser.’
‘Check. Passcode?’
‘Hang on.’
‘Mitch, what’s the passcode?’
‘I…I don’t know.’
Joffra turned around and saw Mitch rummaging through his pockets.
‘It’s gone.’
‘What do you mean, gone?’
‘The metal token with the passcode. I must have lost it when those slimebags jumped us on Hill 91.’
‘Bloody hell. If we don’t have the passcode we die here. These Martians will eat us like a can of sardines.’
Outside they heard the ghastly shriek of the creatures.
’Mission Control will have the passcode. Try the comms again,’ said Mitch.
Joffra pressed the switch. More static. He smashed the console with his fist.
There was another clunk and a big dent appeared on the side of their spacecraft. Their sardine can was being prized open.
‘Well Mitch, old pal. It was an honour being your colleague. Maybe it’s time to spare a few thoughts for your loved ones.’
Mitch took off a pendant from around his neck. ‘Hannah gave this to me before we left. She said it was lucky. She was wrong.’
‘What’s inside?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘It’s a locket. The pendant should open up. Usually the person who gives it as a gift puts something special inside.’
Mitch found a tiny clasp. It opened.
‘What is it?’ asked Joffra.
Mitch pulled out a small metal token. His eyes widened. ‘She must have made a copy. It’s…the passcode!’
