Traveling to Mars #3. Published by Ablaze Publishing, 11222 SE Main St. #22906 Portland, OR 97269. TRAVELING TO MARS, created by Mark Russell and Roberto “Dakar” Meli © 2022 Arancia Studio s.n.c., Mark Russell. All rights reserved. Ablaze TM & © 2022 ABLAZE, LLC. All rights reserved. For the English edition: © 2022 ABLAZE, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Ablaze and its logo TM & © 2022 Ablaze, LLC. All Rights Reserved. All names, characters, events, and locales in this publication are entirely fictional. Any resemblance to actual persons (living or dead), events or places, without satiric intent is coincidental. No portion of this book may be reproduced by any means (digital or print) without the written permission of Ablaze Publishing except for review purposes. Printed in Canada. For advertising email: info@ablazepublishing.com
One of the few remaining dangers that could reasonably derail the Eazy Beef Corporation’s plans to claim the energy deposits on Mars, and in doing so become the world’s new masters, would be if I cracked up.
If I was somehow mentally unable or unwilling to claim the mineral rights of Mars on their behalf.
As such, they take my mental health very seriously.
Once a week, I have to check-in with Dr. Rubens
Boys, I’m go a n d y’a to back up
Being locked in a sardine can for six months is enough to drive anyone nuts.
I a reciate that, sir. But I wouldn’t wo y
I mean, it’s sti bi er than my apartment back home.
We’re just concerned for your we -being, Roy.
So we encourage you to engage them socia y.
Though I imagine that, as robots, you wi find them nice, but uninteresting.
But you also n d stimulating human contact, Roy.
We could have completely automated the Erimhon, but we activated Leopold and Albert, at least in part, so you could have someone to talk to.
That’s true about most people I know
He , that describes me.
My God. His whole life has b n preparing him for this.
We , you hang in there, son!
You’re helpin’ us and, by gumdrops, we’re go a do what we can to help you.
“Once you land on Mars, you’ become a go amned hero. To the whole human race.
“I’m glad you aren’t here to s it, son, but the whole world is fa ing apart. Energy shortages everywhere.
“Riots and wars a over the place. A fighting over the peanut bu er at the bo om of the jar.
A go amned hero.
You’ become i ortal
Speaking purely figuratively, of course.
“But once you get to Mars, we can fix a that. You can fix a that.”