The Moons Of Troponin

Sleep didn't come at all this night; fits and turns, demons and dragons, knights and damsels in distress; he dreamt it all, forgivingly, he was awakened by the sultry female voice he picked to awake to every day, this was his scheduled sleep awake notice, "Awake sweet prince, it is time to go forth and conquer, and Thomas, have a nice day." Damn, he was about to save the girl. Oh well; Tommy was a young, strapping, easy-going pioneer, the guy you could count on in a pinch, everyone's friend, but a loner. His day started out like all other days on this God forsaken world. It was morning back on earth, Greenwich time, but here on Troponin and its thirty-three-hour days, it was midday. But for the slight change in the hew of the sky, it was almost impossible to know the hour of this day or any other day on this alien world. He ventured forth from his bed to the adjacent wall of his small living quarters, scratched, placed his hand on the wall and a toilet appeared out of the floor, he relieved himself, placed his hand back on the wall, and the toilet once more was swallowed by the floor. His was a one room studio apartment, standard fare on the outer rim; it contained a Murphy wall bed that appeared out of the wall, like most of his creature comforts. He touched another wall and the bed disappeared. He slumbered into the kitchen area, still trying to awaken himself from his fitful sleep, scratching his week-old stubble on his chiseled face. He came to the mirror; mom would not be pleased!The kitchen was a small oven with a three-burner stove top which ran on a mixture of propane and infused Troponin air continuously routed through a vent system. Troponin air consisted of a higher concentration of oxygen than was on Earth. All personnel were told there was no reason to be alarmed or concerned about these things, yet he knew, there were instances of disappearances and strange happenings that the corporation seemed to go out of their way to disavow. he wondered if perhaps it had to do with the alien air they were breathing. He sighed, about to partake in the everyday, mundane, uneventful task that he had become accustomed to, his job. He poured a cup of coffee from the automatic dispenser and gulped it in four chugs, grimacing, maybe at the disgust of the terrible coffee, or more at the thought of travelling a thousand miles an hour, hurtled through an alien atmosphere, puking on himself from the enormous G-forces. Thank God for the nitrous oxide pumped into the large transfer vessels taking them from Troponin to its mineral rich moons. Laughing was always a better choice than puking. He opened the door from his apartment, drudged his way along the hallway which emptied into the immense docking station where all personnel reported for duty. Here they were given their shift assignments. The past two months he had been flip-flopping between N-STEMI and the work projects of the barren plains of the world. Today, he would be enroute to N-STEMI.

The world was abundant in life, each continent of the planet erupted with various and exotic life-forms, identical to that found on Earth, but much grander in scope. A scientist dream come true, a planetologist's goal of a forever never-ending source of life and exploration.

He had been assigned to the deserts recently and was the case with everything else here on Troponin, it was abundant in life. Amazingly, it never rained on Troponin, the world was covered in a blanket of clouds in the lower atmosphere which kept the temperature a mild temperate, though there were rivers, they only seemed to transport water from the deep caverns of water to the surface. It was almost dreamlike, or so he thought. Deep in the mountain caves is where the water was found, exotic fish, blind due to the blackness of the caves, flourished on the creatures on the bottom of the floor, which in turn fed of the algae. It was the algae that became the prize. The times he was called to these caves was to harvest the algae; the scientist would synthesize the algae to feed plants, an enormous bounty; yet when they attempted to send the algae back home, it rotted once outside Troponin's atmosphere. the scientific community were unable to reproduce the same effects on Earth, the algae perished once removed from its native world. The scientific community were attempting to single out the molecular structure that made it such a potent nutrient, so far, they were unsuccessful in reproducing it on Earth.

The mountainous regions spoke to a completely different environment. Again, life was abundant. Large land animals roamed the countryside. Life on Troponin was identical to life on Earth, other than the enormous size of the creatures. As though this world had been transported back in time when life on Earth was inhabited by life which the fossil record showed was the same, just "bigger".

Scientists and Theorists believed it was due to the higher concentration of oxygen on Troponin, though no one could theorize the exact duplication of life found, except for one species, Homo Sapiens.

“Wait up.” Tommy spun around and saw his buddy Luke rushing towards him, arms in a wrestler’s pose. He laughed as he stood motionless awaiting impact, Luke hit him full force as hard as he could with his shoulder planted firmly into his chest, he barely moved. “Damn, Tommy.” Luke rubbed his shoulder with a hearty laugh and playfully took another jab at him.

“You can’t keep coming at me with that weak-ass shit Luke.” He smiled at his friend, Tommy stood an impressive six-three, two hundred and ten pounds, while Luke, was a good seven inches shorter and forty pounds lighter. Before taking assignment on this forbidden planet, he had a real shot of playing professionally in the Planetary Football Alliance, until he fractured his pelvis in a freak tackle during a game at the University level. Doctors told him he would probably never walk again, but with intense dedication and help from wonderful counselors and therapists, within two years he was mobile enough to pass the entrance requirements of the corporation. “Come on, little man, let’s go.” He grabbed Luke by the scruff of his neck and gave him a loving bear hug. The two waited for the heavy doors of the transport interplanetary shuttle to open and along with thirty other men and a few women, sauntered inside the huge vessel. Steel benches lined the walls of the shuttle, it was completely enclosed, no windows were present. They took their seats and almost instantly had smiles upon their faces, Tommy peered across the openness of the shuttle and saw that everyone else had the same dreamy, idiotic smile upon their mugs. Nitrogen oxide.

“So, are you pulling a double?” Tommy couldn’t help but notice Luke snickering as he asked the question.

“You know we shouldn’t talk during transport; you’re gonna piss your pants.” Even as he said it, he couldn’t help but laugh. He tried desperately not to look at his friend, the two of them struggling to keep their eyes focused on the ground, giggling. Mercifully, the trip ended in an enormous backward thrust pressing all passengers against the cold steel backstop of the benches; the craft came to a sudden and pounding stop upon the launchpad, the launch window closed over the housing structure which kept the whole mining operation secured and protected from the moon’s poisonous atmosphere. With the caressing of neck muscles and rubbing of backs and shoulders, you would have thought everyone had just endured a rollercoaster ride at an amusement park; the workers of Mining Shaft 62 deposited out though the heavy metal door as it opened with a deafening screech, everyone smiling as they rubbed strained neck and upper body musculature. The sign above the departure ramp had two arrows, the one left pointed to a two-story structure situated on top of a massive mountain of granite that housed the command center, including management and security, as well as the cafeteria and other amenities. All but for a few of the passengers turned right, the arrow pointed to the immense cavity of the open cavern, lit by flickering lightbulbs strung across a battery of wires suspended along the whole column. After walking a hundred feet, the cavern opened into several tunnels, most went horizontally to their respective mining shafts, but a few had steel cages supported by pulleys and cables that lead deep into the heart of the massive cave. Miners affectionately referred to these as, “Hell’s belly.” Strange stories promulgated that screams and hideous shadows could be seen and heard in the blackness of the mines. Today, he would venture into this nightmarish arena.

By the time he entered the caged elevator the space giggles had dissipated, he had donned his gloves and put on his construction headgear which had not changed much since the days of mining back on Earth. Luke was working another mine, “I’ll see you after shift, the first beer’s on me.” They gave each other a high five and Luke ventured off. Tommy lifted the cage door of the elevator leading into the mineshaft, it creaked with an ominous high pitch when metal scratches metal; the descent into the “belly” went quickly. The cage door opened with a loud scream, he peered out into the emptiness of the shaft, the walls were reinforced with high fiber steel, meant to survive the strongest blast the miners used when exploring new veins in the surrounding tunnels. The ceiling above him also showed the construction of the steel reinforcement, though the netting that hung just below didn’t quite give him confidence he could survive a collapse. The shaft supervisor motioned for him as he strolled toward the squatty character everyone called, “Moose.”

“Tommy, I need you to work tunnel three-six-two, takes Holmes with you, make sure you take your air concentrators with you and that they are full. You will be deep in the mine; it’s been surveyed but hasn’t been fully explored. Make sure your helmet cam is lit and operable, and for God’s sake, make sure your radio is fully charged.” He nodded in agreement and gave the heads up to Frank Holmes, another young miner, about the same age and build, they had worked together on several of these deep excursions into the shafts, Holmes began teasing everyone that they were the “Shaft brothers, always taking one deep for the team.” It always got a good laugh among the miners.

“What’d-ya know, Tommy?” Frank looked at him as he continued to rub his neck and roll his shoulders. Tommy liked Frank, but the big guy could be a bit loud and too talkative for his taste, still, it was nice to have a partner that he knew was big and strong enough to handle himself down in the mines.

“I know you better not screw up like the last time.”

“What?!” Frank feigned innocence and stepped back into the darkness of the mine, only his silhouette from the shadow of their head lamps made him visible.

“You know damn well what I’m talking about, I almost got a week’s suspension from your bullshit last time.”

“Tommy, I don’t know what you are talking about?” Frank continued to plead his innocence in the matter, he could hear him snickering in the shadows.

“I’m warning you Frank, just don’t screw around down here, you almost blew us up last time.” Frank had thought it would be funny if he etched his and Tommy’s initials inside a heart on the granite walls, the corresponding sparks that followed had started a fire that easily could have spread throughout the whole mineshaft. Tommy was able to douse the flame with a retardant cannister close by, the shaft was soon drowned in water when the flames set off the fire alarm. He took the blame for the incident and only because of his impeccable work record, was only given a reprimand.

“They would have canned me, you saved my ass Tommy, I promise, no screwing around.” Tommy gave him a nod and the two men sauntered deep into the mineshaft, holding onto the walking cables that were fastened to the walls, faint shadows flickered off the walls from the lighting of their headlamps. “It’s kinda creepy down here Tommy.” That was an understatement. “Reminds of that girl at the cantina you were hitting on last week, you know, creepy.” Frank started laughing to himself. Tommy chuckled and pushed Frank from behind. He tapped him on the shoulder and the two were face to face.

“The survey says we are coming upon a fork, they want us to go left, a supposed huge mineral vein is embedded in the granite, it’s gonna be pitch black, so we will need our high beam flashlights, and the air is gonna be very thin, so put on your mask, and dummy, turn on the regulator, I don’t need you dragging my fat ass out of here.” This time he laughed. The fork in the tunnel came upon them quickly. They pulled out their self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBA’s) and each took turns cranking the gas knob on the others tank. Their heavy breathing reminded him of that old show his grandfather used to tell him about, Darth Vader, who was characterized by heavy breathing through a mask. Heavy light beams from the flashlights showed the way down a deep dingy shaft, they both had to hunch to continue their trek. Frank’s breathing became noticeably deeper and faster. “Slow your breathing Frank, you only have about an hour of air in your tank. The SCBA had a mixture of Earth concentrated air with an infusion of Troponin oxygen, any deep and rapid breathing could result in a self-induced euphoria. The risk of “freaking out”, was a real and deadly concern.

“Tommy, I don’t like this, I swear we are being watched.” Frank continued to breath rapidly as he moved his head as though on a swivel, glancing at the walls and to the ceiling. “What’s that?” Frank suddenly came to a stop and fell backwards into Tommy, the force knocked him to the ground, the thud of the clanking of his SCBA striking the ground pierced through the shaft with a hideous high pierced screech. “I gotta get out of here.” For a second Tommy thought he could hear laughing, he realized his own breathing had intensified, they were both in danger of becoming delusional and running out of air. He came to his knees and intently slowed his breathing, he could see Frank with his back against the cavern wall, his breathing remained rapid and deep, he appeared to be frozen in fear.

“Frank, listen to me, there is nothing here, your mind is playing tricks on you; you must settle down, you are going to exhaust your tank. Frank, look at me.” Frank Holmes stared intently at him, eyes wide open gazing through the Plexiglas mask of the SCBA. Tommy raised himself and moved slowly towards the terrified man. “It’s ok, it’s just me and you down here, nothing more.” He gently grabbed Frank’s arm; he was trembling. “Listen to me, we are going to head back up the shaft, okay? But you must slow your breathing, or you are going to pass out.” Frank nodded in agreement and took a heavy sigh. Tommy listened intently to the surroundings of this dark forbidden place, again he could hear distant laughing, ominous. His heart pounding, his fear palpable. “Frank, we are leaving.” The two men grabbed the cable rope attached to the wall and began moving briskly back up the shaft, Frank was the lead.

It seemed an eternity as they continued their march up the shaft; it was no illusion, no euphoric event, it was laughter he was hearing and whatever it was emitting the grotesque sounds, was stalking them. Suddenly, the cable rope in his hands became limp, Frank came to a resounding stop, all Tommy could hear was the sound of Frank’s breathing, he held his breath, waiting and wondering what was in the shaft with them, he reached into a pocket on his vest and produced a long-serrated knife. A high-pitched howl ripped through his very soul. Frank stood in front of him motionless; with all the courage he could muster, he slowly turned around facing down the menacing shaft, knife at his side, the high beam flashlight in his other hand flickered and then died out completely, he could see shadows on the walls of the shaft from his headlamp. Another howl in the darkness and then more earie laughter. He squinted and through the darkness it appeared, a towering presence, at least ten feet in height, not more than twenty feet from him, more shadow than substance, pale yellow eyes with slits for pupils, like he was staring into the face of a serpent. It had a hood that covered its enormous head, horns protruding from its forehead; massive broad shoulders that ate up the whole width of the mineshaft, it appeared to be wearing a cloak, but then he realized they were giant wings that draped over its shoulders. Dark, angry thoughts invaded his psyche, it felt as though his mind was being probed. He glimpsed perverse and unnatural images dancing in his mind’s eye, his thoughts were not his own; whispers spoke tantalizing secrets into his ear, half seduction, half terror. He braced himself for the inevitable onslaught, but it never came, the being, or presence, just as quickly disappeared in the darkness, laughter followed its retreat. His high beam flashlight flickered once more and lit up the shaft behind him. He turned around and bumped into Frank who was staring intently at him, it startled him. Frank was obviously terrified, his plexiglass mask fogged, obscuring his facial features. They never spoke a word; they continued their ascent out of the shaft.

They reached the main shaft where the fork in the road had taken them into madness, they took off their SCBA’s, both men collapsed against the wall, drenched in sweat. Tommy thought he could sure use a cigarette but neither man said a word, they hardly looked at each other, both lost in their own thoughts. He was the only one who had seen the beast, who would believe such a report.

“I ain’t saying nothin.” Tommy watched as Frank took a few steps towards him and then back peddled to the wall. “Space madness Tommy, that’s what it was, a trick of the light, sounds from the shaft drillers making crazy noises, I ain’t saying nothing, I can’t afford to be sent back home, I’ll get a section eight, they’ll lock me up; nothing, I ain’t saying nothing.” Tommy lifted his head and watched as Frank continued to mumble to himself, he was probably right, at least about being sent home with space madness, but what he came face to face within the blackness of the shaft was real, and terrifying. His only thought, he wondered what his helmet camera would show. He might have to come up with an excuse as to why they didn’t complete their mission, it seemed the least of his worries.