Mons Piton: Will you survive?

By Anthony Householder

Aboard a lunar steel mill facility their only job is to provide material for the worst world war in history.

All of that is about to change as they fight off the undead and nearly unstopable entities.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Anthony Householder
• Release date: May 8, 2021
• ISBN: 9781087879802

Book preview

Prologue

This dark sky looks a lot like it feels in my head, and the silence feels a lot like the weight on my chest. An eternity of drifting on, without a purpose. I guess I can relate to its vast emptiness; but I miss the rain; the smell and the sound. Could you imagine a storm cloud among the stars? Clouds of purple, red, blue and green stretched across an endless black canvas. Can’t you hear me Jack?

1

To the left of Jack's desk is a thick window from the waist up. It’s a small office but this is the one place he can have to himself . In the dark these walls are just as black as the abyss outside the glass. He’s holding a glass of wine in one hand and a pill bottle in the other. He’s struggled with his schizophrenia since the accident. A part of him wants to believe she’s actually there. That it’s not all in his head. 

He spends every night here drifting among the stars with his tall brown boots propped upon his old wooden desk. He listens to her speak but he never answers. 

Suddenly the sound of footsteps echo from the hall. He hides the bottle underneath his desk and hastily buttoned up his uniform. The door slowly creaked open. 

Jack? A voice whispered. His heart dropped. 

An arm stretched in and slapped up the light switch. Dingy white sane asylum like walls, a heavy metal door, and a fuzzy figure replaced the peaceful darkness.  Stunned with stinging eyes the only sensible thing to do at the moment is sifting through the paperwork as if he had been working. In fact the same pile of paperwork he’s been grabbing up and staring at every time that door has opened for months. 

Jack? says the tall figure coming in from the dark hall. 

His black uniform ironed out and starched to perfection with a perfectly placed Mons Piton patch on his chest. His square glasses glared in the light as he pushed them up. With the cheap wine, and the amount of hours he’d spent in the dark it's taking him a little longer than usual to adjust himself to the light.

Ben?... Can I help you?  He asked irritably.

So this is what you mean by putting in overtime. Ben said with a smirk. 

Jack pulled himself together and nearly responded with a smart ass comment. He couldn’t be mean to Ben. He's practically his only friend. 

 Well secrets out, what’s up? Jack asked hoping Ben could keep this nightly routine to himself.

Eh, a lot of stuff going on at home, sick of this job, sick of this place. He answered leaning against the door frame. 

Shut the door, turn the lights back out. Jack said, rubbing his eyes.  

Ben shut the door, turned the lights back out and sat at the other side of Jack's desk. The old leather chair creaked as he dropped his tired body into it.

Lucky for you I have an extra glass in case I’m ever in the mood for company. Jack said. He poured Ben a glass and refilled his own. He propped his boots back on the desk knocking the old paperwork to the floor.

Thank god for artificial gravity. Ben said while he accepted his glass of wine from Jack.

I wonder how long it’s going to take them to figure out your job is basically obsolete. Ben said as he leaned back and closed his eyes for a moment.

It’s only a matter of time, but I have to say, it’s been nice. Tran keeps thanking me for work orders I don’t have to fill out anymore; and I keep doing whatever I wanna do. Jack said.

Have you heard about the vaccinations we’re supposed to be having? Ben asked.

Yea, I think the majority’s already had them. I may avoid that.  Jack replied.

Same. Ben replied, lifting his glass with a laugh.

You know, things have been weird around here the past few months; the engineers, the doctors, the supervisors. I’ve been a little uneasy. Ben said.

The weekly vital checks for a lot of people are showing a decrease in heart rate, body temp, and blood pressure. Not to mention the amount of rage infused mood swings and fights that have broken out, especially the miners. Lab techs keep pawning it off as effects of zero gravity on the brain. The eerie topic filled the dark office with an uneasy feeling.  Jack and Ben sat in silence.

Well look at it this way, it’s this or the garrison. Jack said bitterly while checking his pocket watch. He snapped it shut as he stood up and stretched.

I guess you’re right, it’s hell down there. Ben agreed.

Jack picked his paperwork up off the black and white tiled floor he hates with a passion, tossed it back on his desk and locked the bottle back up in his bottom drawer. 

Let’s get out of here. He said as he stumbled out into the hall.

How do you even get away with this? Ben whispered as he followed.

What are they gonna do? Send me home? Jack smirked.

After every long night of solitude comes the eerie walk back.  The glow of dim red lights replace the sharp whites every night around 2100. At least tonight he’s not alone. The taping of their boots against the ugly tile floor echo while they walk in silence. The hallway stretches with every step. Jack is trying to ignore how well his imagination is getting the best of him but the lack of sleep and cheap wine is not helping one bit.

I can’t help but wonder how the war’s going down there. Ben said as he stretched and yawned.

I don’t really care, never have. Jack answered. 

It’s kind of funny how creepy this place can be at night. Ben added looking back over his shoulder.

The airlock is just ahead of them on the right. There is a huge proud sign just above the tall glass doors that read "MONS PITON''. Beyond them a massive chamber and another set of thick glass doors. The digital panel on the wall just to the right of the door illuminates Ben's face with a dim mixture of blue and red as he reads off the display.

Time 00:35

Date June 4th 2058

Temp -305 degrees F.

Radiation   -450 mSv

Lunar phase- waning crescent.

Hours until lunar eclipse- 48 Hrs.

Hours since last incident: 50 hrs

We don’t exactly ever have a reason to go out there, but it must be nice. Ben said. 

Jack stood with his hands in his pockets and peered through the massive glass doors. He’d love to be on the other side of them and into that black deadly void for even a minute. Solar powered lights are set in place along the path to the entrance of the mine. Two small wheels, a short hitch and square white body for the battery. Their cables stretch out to the solar farm where they get the majority of their power. Third shift is still making their way to the cavern. The infinite black vacuum on the other side of the glass is not even the slightest welcoming yet he can only imagine the thought of getting in that chamber and suiting