The space shuttle was about to launch in three minutes. Many astronauts had hoped to be selected for this trip to planet Mars, but the astronauts chosen for this mission were Zain and Raees. As they were climbing into the shuttle, an army officer came running and yelled to Sir Shan, the head of this mission who was coordinating from the Earth Base.

“There are alien UFOs detected on the radar. I think we should send army officials as well,” he said while handing over important documents. But Sir Shan thought those would be some redundant satellites still floating in space and disregarded the idea of sending army officials.

Hearing this, Raees asked, “What are the chances of finding real aliens?”

In a tale of courage and accountability, two astronauts on a Mars mission come face-to-face with alien life and the consequences of humanity’s actions

Sir Shan smiled and said, “That’s what you have to find out!”

Finally, the shuttle was ready and off it went! Zain and Raees were excited. In a few hours, they entered space after crossing the different layers of Earth’s atmosphere. They were floating like daffodils in the pond.

Zain pressed a button, and they were freed from their seats. Then their routine research began. Months passed, and in the distance, they could see a blue marble, Mother Earth. They could also see a grey-coloured tennis ball with craters, Earth’s moon. They often saw some giant metallic pieces floating aimlessly outside.

Suddenly, some UFOs appeared around them. Raees saw the pilot controlling the UFO. He was surprised to see olive-green skin, with three eyes on a huge face, no nose, just one big nostril and a wide-open mouth.

Before they could be attacked, Raees took control of the shuttle and changed its direction. Both Raees and Zain had never believed in aliens, but after seeing them, they were shocked and began thinking of ways to save themselves. Soon, they were entering the atmosphere of Mars.

“Get ready. We are about to land,” Raees said.

After landing on Mars, both Raees and Zain took their safety gear and exited the shuttle. They were thrilled to finally reach Mars.

“It is vast. It is awesome. And … and … it is red!” Zain said excitedly.

They walked around, observing everything. At a distance from their shuttle, they saw a huge triangle-shaped building shining like a star.

“What is this? I mean, is someone living here?” they asked each other in astonishment.

They steadily walked towards the building. After searching for a long time, they finally found a way to enter. A silent surprise awaited them. A big telescope-like object was placed in the middle of the hall, attached to several computers — most likely a research room. On the left, there was a conference table where the same aliens, like the one they had seen before in the UFO while in space, were busy whispering to each other.

One of them, who seemed like the boss, was taller and had a bulky body.

He said, “So, it is decided. Today, we will fire our newest technology — the EDC.”

Zain and Raees looked at each other, not understanding anything. Suddenly, the boss looked at them and shouted, “Intruders!”

After a short struggle, Zain and Raees were caught and brought in front of the aliens.

“Earthlings!” the master said with disgust. “Because of your deeds, you will not be forgiven.”

“What do you mean, green-headed creature?” Zain said angrily.

Their boss sighed and continued, “You, the creatures of Earth, are throwing your garbage everywhere. It never bothered us when you were on your planet. But now you have gone too far. You are dumping your waste on others’ neighbourhood. The space around your planet, even beyond, is full of trash. It is a violation of Rule Code 9 Waste Dump (The Book of Law). Now you will face the consequences by encountering our latest EDC — The Earth Destructing Canon. You will see your planet withered apart!”

Zain and Raees realised that the technological and scientific advancement of the Mars-Diax, these creatures of Mars, was far beyond their capabilities. But they had to save their planet at any cost. Zain realised that they needed to talk to the aliens, it was the only way to survive.

Zain stepped forward and said, “May I have a few minutes, please?” The master allowed him to speak.

“Your Excellency, you are right. We are facing a big problem with waste disposal, but we are indeed peace-loving creatures. We are figuring out a way to sort out our problems, but that doesn’t mean we should be killed just for not managing things well. We have realised our mistake. We have polluted not only our planet, but also its surroundings with garbage.

The alien was silent as he listened thoughtfully. Taking this as an encouraging sign, Zain continued, “Sir, let us go back to our home and fix things, we are learning every day, and our learning has never stopped.”

The Mars-Diax leader paused, then nodded. “Very well. We will give you a chance to prove yourselves. Return to your planet and fix this mess. But know this: we will be watching. Any further violations, and we will not be so forgiving.”

Shortly thereafter, Zain and Raees were back on their way to Earth, their hearts pounding with relief and determination. As they travelled, Zain contemplated the immense task ahead. He knew that making his planet aware of their mistake and working to minimise pollution, not just on Earth but also in space, would not be easy, but it was crucial.

“Raees,” Zain said, breaking the silence. “We need to start a global movement. We have to educate people, push for stricter regulations and innovate new ways to deal with waste. Our survival depends on it.”

Raees nodded in agreement and said, “We can do this. We have to.”

Published in Dawn, Young World, November 23th, 2024