CHAPTER - 05 - CRATER CAVE & THE OVAL ROCK

The craterwas a gentle slope and there were few rock formations - the trio reach the fuel pod - pick it up - when Priyanka points the rock formation that's in the shape of the cave.

The trio venture one behind other to explore the cave. They send out mini rovers to identify potential threats inside the cave. The mini rovers move into the cave.

Maddy receives information from mini rovers on the presence of good level of oxygen inside the cave and no movements or presence of life inside the cave.

The trio now venture into the cave with their flashlights on. 

Maddy leads the team followed by Priyanka and Prithvi. The three of them explore the cave and they spot a peculiar rock formation in the form of oval egg like shape. Maddy uses an ultra sound to check if it is composed of carbon matter and the test proves negative.

The rock formation seems to be made of silicon and sulphur and traces of unknown minerals inside it. Maddy pick up 1 sample for further testing at the green house. Maddy goes in front along with Priyanka, while Prithvi curious, picks up a smaller egg rock and covers it in a box and places it inside his backpack and walks casually. He doesn't mention this to others.

They again walk back to the rover, picking up the mini rover and start again towards the sister pods.

After about an hour ride, they reach the other side of the crater- they see the sister pods landed safely with their parachutes opened correctly.

They use the parachute to construct the ventilation and greenhouse chambers and fix 2 sister pods.

The sun starts setting and darkness begins to fall - the trio get back inside the sister pod to sleep in the sleeping chambers.

The rock samples are left in the other sister pod. 
That night, the rock sample begins to ooze out a green liquid which flows down and slims towards the tuck of the greenhouse near a box kept in a corner. The camera monitoring the activity in the room is not working due to the effects of Solar storm.

The rock regains shape back and stands as it is.

The day breaks and the three of them get up - they prepare the breakfast and joke on their past. Maddy speaks good about his wife and daughter and his parents and his happy family.

Prithvi jokes about his collage days and tries to woo Priyanka with some jokes.

Priyanka speaks about her struggles as an independent working woman and her boxing career. She tells how she had to let go of her boyfriend to pursue her Astronaut dream.

They connect to the mother ship - and are greeted good morning by Chitti.

Arjunan is seen in the background brushing his teeth and checking the vital stats of the mother ship. Chitti jokes about by making mimicry of Amithabh Bachchan, SRK, Rajini Kanth and Sivaji Ganesan.

The three ground crew then check the vital stats of the greenhouse and other pods and then get on their suits and go out to fix the remaining 2 pods.

The 4 pods together forms a 1000 sq. feet laboratory with all the gadgets needed for testing rock samples and any carbon life forms if present.

To be continued...