Adrian couldn't remember the last time he’d had a good night's rest. He sat in his comfortable armchair, stretched as far back as possible, and stared blankly at the television. A brunette woman, not older than twenty-eight, in a yellow jacket, white floral shirt, and tan chinos spoke at the wreckage of a train station. He sighed, drinking a warm cup of synthetic milk. It never helped, and the smell made him gag. His eyes wandered to the remote, but his arms felt heavy, and so he continued to watch the midnight news show. He missed the days when the news broadcast happier things, the first dog of Mars, a wedding, the first “Martian” baby. These days only terror, and the trial of a red headed woman who had been involved in murder.

“Are we the bad guys here?” The question lingered in his mind, his grey tracksuit stained from the coffee spilt yesterday evening. The Magi of Mars started with good intentions, as all roads to hell are he supposed. The group began their campaign to have a Martian culture free of the politics of Earth. When their protests went unheard, they were forced to extremes, and bombed a train station in Trivia. Authorities were unable to track them down, and would never be able to track them down. The Magi of Mars were far removed from their Biblical predecessors. However, depending on who you spoke to, they would say they are just as wise as the men, and women, as the Magi of old. Their purpose clear, they were the only one’s wise and strong enough to take back Mars.

There was a soft tapping at the door, a highly specific three tap, then two taps, then 2 louder thuds. Adrian signed as he heaved off of his recliner. He pulled the tired door open, and a tall man stepped inside. “We're getting some heat Adrian” he said, his voice echoing in the empty hallway. The man turned to Adrian, his black coat, cream jersey, and black jeans becoming more clear under the small glow of light from the entryway.

“Hi, nice to see you Greg, want to come in?” Adrian’s voice sounded annoyed.

“Sorry,” shame crept into Greg's voice, “My contacts on Earth are all in agreement, the Magi must be stopped.”

A smile crept up Adrian’s face, “Your son, and the other soul's of Adiona, will rest easier…”

“... knowing they have vengeance” Greg finished, his eyes teared up, his features softened in an instant.

“You want a Pina Colada?” Adrian swiftly changed the topic, eagerly grabbing a coconut.

“I’ll never say no.”

The morning seemed more ominous than most, Adrian looked up through his apartment, the Jizo biome not filtering out the Martian redness since the incident. Like he did everyday, Adrian got out his worn Geiger counter, the needle still firmly seated in the “safe” position. He got dressed into his grey tracksuit, and sat back on his chair, his television beamed to life. Adrian pulled out a yellow notepad and pencil, and casually scribbled a box, with lines and markings decorating the box. His thoughts were interrupted by a rattling at the door, but not in any pattern he had heard before.

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“I don't know who you are” Adrian knew the voice, but he didn't know why or where from, “but I know you're there. I just want to talk.”

Adrian placed his palm to the door’s weary scanner and it opened. A man stood confidently, his black hair and brown leather jacket a contrast to the bleak surroundings. The two made eye contact and stared for what seemed like hours. The stranger’s eyes had a certain grief to them, but their gaze was broken by a barking sound. The stranger held a dog on a lead.

“Recognise this guy?”

Adrian could only nod, his eyes welled up.

“I thought as much,” a smile crept on the man’s face, “Shadow’s getting on in years, but he still has a good mind. My name is Jerry, I'm the sheriff,” he paused before continuing his sentence,”slash detective from Abeona.”

“What are you doing here?” Adrian could not hide his concern.

“How many more people in these apartments?” Jerry coldly ignored Adrian’s concern, “this place is quiet, but Shadow here has been on high alert since we arrived.”

“You won’t stop us.”

“I had no intention of doing so.”

Adrian took a step back at the remark. As he was about to speak Jerry held up his hand to stop him.

“My” Jerry paused, searching for the words, “wife was part of a cover up. She’s going back to Earth for her crimes.”

“Only you don’t think she did anything wrong?”

“She killed people,” Jerry was stern, “but she was also afraid. There’s a girl in Abeona you should meet.”

Adrian stood in his doorway, unsure what to do.

“If I was going to arrest you, I would have. Now come on, we need to go.”

Adrian kept looking around the park, anticipating a rather large man in a blue suit and black baton ready to take him away. Shadow wiggled out of his leash and immediately ran up to greet a girl, around sixteen, wearing blue jeans and mustard yellow shirt. She sat next to another girl, much younger than her, wearing a bright red dress. Shadow seemed extra excited to see her.

The older girl turned, unimpressed by the arrival of Jerry and Adrian, her lips became a thin line as she glared at them.

“This the guy?” she asked sternly.

“It's him,” Jerry said, treating this more like a business transaction.

Adrian tilted his head, “Okay, what's happening here? We say nothing on the walk, and now, there's a sassy teen and a tween, and you. Why?” his outburst far more passionate than he had intended, yet it was exactly what all three of them needed to hear.

Why?

This question echoed in their subconscious for months.

“We're taking back Mars, that's why” the youngest said defiantly.