"WHAT WAS THAT?" Bobby and Ragnar were alarmed.
The entire region of the dark side, at least a major part of it looked lightened up as if it was under the sunlight. It lasted for a few seconds and then abruptly returned to darkness.
Just then Magnus returned, the two rushed to help up back in, close the hatch and pressurise the unit. Soon, Magnus opened the helmet and burst into mad laughter, "Hahaha... who would have thought... who... this changes everything."
"What happened?" Ragnar shook his body.
Magnus stopped, "You know, we were wondering if Magic can work in space? It doesn't just work in space,"
"What?" Bobby exclaimed, it was bad news then.
But Magnus had more to say, "IT WORKS EVEN BETTER HERE! I used a simple Lumos and that lightened up the entire dark side of the moon, I used a reparo to fix the landing leg and it fixed the entire rocket, even the missing paint magically appeared.
"Do you know what this means? The true origin of magic is actually in space, it's some sort of an invisible particle that gets thinned out when it reaches Earth due to the atmosphere. This is the reason in some locations there is a higher intensity of magic. THIS IS BIG!"
Ragnar and Bobby had similarly shocked faces as soon as they heard this, both looked at Magnus, who was probably already the strongest wizard to have ever existed, "T-then... how strong does that make you?" Bobby asked.
Magnus had no idea, he just looked at his hands, "I have no fricking idea, and honestly, I'm scared, I am like a god when up here,"
"But what is this invisible particle you are talking about? How do we find it? If what you said is right, then this magic should be available across the entire universe, does that not mean that its origin is the Big Bang?" Ragnar asked him, referencing his limited knowledge.
"I have no idea what particle this is," Magnus shrugged.
"I KNOW!" Bobby exclaimed, his face looking as if a bulb lit up, "Fritz Zwicky, in the 1930s. I studied it when I was in the US. If my theory is right, the invisible particle is one of the building blocks of the universe that exists everywhere, yet we can't see it. It has already been detected and theorised, it's said that a higher concentration of it exists near the centre of the Galaxy,"
"What are you talking about? What particle?" Magnus asked him excitedly.
Bobby didn't make any suspense, "Dark Matter, it can not be detected by anything other than its effect on gravity. It also makes sense that it's less on Earth's surface due to the atmosphere. Magnus, this is truly big."
Magnus clapped, "Then, Rag, remember the 1st year's first Slug Club? The question was about the origin of magic. I proposed a theory that magic is in the air and only a small population got mutated to sense and use that magic. I think it was true, the small human population got mutated to sense and utilise this Dark Matter, how it happened, I have no idea. My guess is, it was said that magic came after something fell from the sky in Africa. What if it was some sort of cluster of Dark Matter and it mutated whoever was living close by. Then humanity migrated everywhere, spreading magic?"
"The theory makes serious sense, Mag." Ragnar also fell into deep thinking.
"Let's land first, everyone. Mag, try your theories on the ground as well. And if what you said is true, then I think the portkey will also work." Bobby got back to work.
The three quickly took their positions. Bobby, having the most experience and time training, was the one to ensure the landing happens properly. Although there was a computer system that was going to help tremendously, still, computer power was not so far ahead that it could replace a human.
Magnus took a position at the distance scale machine and guided Bobby. "50 metres"
"40 metres"
"20 metres"
"10 metres, slow down,"
"Thrusters," Ragnar pressed the button. This was the most crucial phase as the rocket needed to be steady. Bobby did it masterfully.
"CUT!" Ragnar stopped the engines, all sounds started to subside slowly.
They looked at each other's faces, big smiles plastered on them. Magnus hugged them, "Welcome to the moon, brothers,"
"Okay, let's toss to decide who steps out first," Magnus took out a coin. However, the other two didn't accept. Bobby patted his shoulder, "You go first, it'd make a bigger headline if the first British man on the moon was also the King. Rag and I will toss a coin."
"Thanks," he gratefully said and started to dress up. They had a lot to do and had come to the Moon to stay for at least 5 days. During this time they will conduct a lot of research and also build the first moon base, an enclosed cabin space for the living of 4 people, all including a bathroom and also a water tank. They were yet to see if they could make water from minerals on the soil, but magic could help until then.
*WOOSH*
The hatch was opened, they pressed the button to take out the mechanised lift. The height of the rocket was too high for them to descend from the ladder. (See the image of the rocket)
All three got out and descended down on it, but didn't step out. Ragnar instead lifted the camera and pointed it at Magnus back. "It's connected, live,"
As soon as the green signal came, Magnus stepped out taking a short jump, walking on the moon was hard. His boots left a few marks on the fine grey sand. Then, he took out two different flags, first, he placed the flag of the United Kingdom, then the flag of Earth, both side by side, but the national flag was a step behind the Earth Flag.
Then he saluted at the camera with the words, "The view is magnificent, the place is deadly, but mankind will keep moving forward steadily."
Then Bobby stepped on the moon surface, followed by Ragnar, both fell down however and it was funny. Magnus teased, "You two look like two toddlers,"
"Shut up, we know you secretly trained for this in the Ministry," Ragnar barked as they were not connected to Earth at the moment.
They walked a few hundred metres to their destination, it was the giant crater called Peary Crater on the north pole. This was going to be their main target, they were to enter it, test the ground, find if there is ice and if everything is fine, it will be the main location of starting the colony.
Soon enough, they stood at the edge of the 79 kilometres wide and 1.5-kilometre deep crater. It was an overwhelming experience, to look inside the pitch darkness, not knowing what was in there.
Ragnar shivered, "This feels damn scary, I feel like a monster will come out at any time and bite me."
"Huh, say thanks, we're not beside the Aitken Basin of the south pole. That one is 2,500 kilometres in diameter and 6-8 kilometres deep." Magnus added.
"I know. It's scarier for me actually, at least you two can save yourself with magic if you fall in there," Bobby said.
"Don't worry, Bobby. I gave you the portkey to get safely to me. Besides, now that we know about the gravity here and have experienced it, can't you make something like a jetpack?" Magnus asked him.
This got Bobby thinking, "Actually, I think we can make it. We can absolutely make it,"
"You know what, I can't wait, let me look down there, Lumos momenta!" he sent a flare of magical light into the crater. If it could lighten up the dark side with a normal spell, then the weakest should be enough for here.
Soon, they had the entire view for themselves. As far as they could see, there were small dots on the surface of the crater, there were also some spikes here and there. There were craters inside the crater. But they were very small.
"LOOK! That shiny sand, I think that's ice," Bobby pointed.
"Let's go and check it out then, hold me," Magnus apparated straight to the site where they saw the shining sand.
Once they arrived, they didn't find straight-up chunks of ice, but instead ice crystals that seemed like fine snow, they were not so much that they'd feel like snow. Bobby quickly took out a few tools and dug the soil. *TING* The Shovel hit something.
Bobby quickly stood up, "Quick, let's head back, staying here is very dangerous, this area is one of the places sunlight never reaches, hence it stays very cold. I think I hit a block of ice, we don't know what's under it, it could be more ice, the ground or... a deeper darker part of the crater. I will have to use x-ray and geo-sensing drones to check the bottom. Once I map everything, we will know how deep it goes."
Magnus nodded, Ragnar had also done his work by taking a few soil samples. Then they apparated back to the edge of the crater.
"We should have gone to the South Pole, there is supposed to be more water there," Magnus suggested.
"No, we can't go there yet. The south pole is a much harsher region with craters much deeper, that place is absolutely uninhabitable and unreachable. Let's first set base here and expand, once we have more experience, we will move to the south," Bobby quickly corrected him. He had researched on the level of a muggle. Of course, for Magnus and wizards, living on any part of the moon would not be hard, but for muggles, space-exploring was much more dangerous.
Magnus sighed, "Fine, baby steps. You two, let's head back to the rocket and unload the items. At the same time, I will do what we came here for. The moment of truth is here,"
They gulped and looked at Earth in the distance at the same time. "Be careful," Ragnar worriedly muttered.
Magnus nodded, "If everything goes right, I will be back in a minute. I will try to apparate home first, then return with the portkey."
The last thing he did was a simple salute to them and placed the return Portkey on the ground. *POP*
He vanished from his place. Ragnar and Bobby stayed still, they would be biting their nails if they could right now. They waited... and waited. A minute felt like a day to them.
*POP*
"AAAARGH... I'M BACK! FUCK, I DID IT! But, do not try apparition, I felt like a constipated poop coming out of a contracted rectum." he was back, on one piece, thankfully.
[You can see the moon, the rocket and the crater on Discord - https://discord.gg/DgHkrAn OR see them on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mister_immortal_novel]
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You can read 20 Advanced chapters and 70 chaps of Marvel fic at -patreon.com/misterimmortal.
Special thanks to *DougErNuts* *Oluwatimileyin Olayemi* *BirdRant* *Franklin Walley* *Brennan Tubbs*
Earth,
Inside a secure chamber on the Belize Base. It was a secret underground room with all kinds of sanitiser sprayers meant to activate the moment any motion is detected. It was supposed to be the place where Magnus was going to appear.
A small window looked inside the big room, behind it sat Emma, Severus and Magnus' family.
*POP*
He arrived with the apparition, his breathing was hard and his body ached like hell. The answer was clear, an ordinary wizard can not apparate to the moon, he will die in the middle even before he leaves the atmosphere.
He waved his hand at the people behind the window while his suit got sanitised. "The moon is pretty and scary, everyone."
"How are Rag and Bobby?" Grace asked him.
"As always, crazy and stupid. They are probably waiting for me, I will head back now, see you later," He waved his hand and this time used the portkey to head back to the moon.
...
He returned to the moon, still feeling the effects of the apparition. Ragnar and Bobby helped him.
He warned them, "It's not a good feeling, and this means that it took a lot of magical power for me to do it. A normal wizard might not even reach the moon and drop dead in the middle, only for his body to explode. Portkey is the only normal way any ordinary wizard or muggle can teleport to the moon." He fell to his knees as soon as he return to Moon.
"That's great, this means we can effectively control the means to reach the moon. With portkey, everything can be logged, if people could just apparate to here then it'd have created a lot of problems." Ragnar said. It also made a lot of sense.
*Sigh* "Let's start setting up the base so we have a place to sleep," Magnus took a long breath before getting back up.
The three walked to the rocket. Ragnar had the idea to joke with the rocket at that, "Haha, look, our rocket is like Moon's penis,"
"Wait, then... if a guy on Earth says the moon looks so beautiful, he's gay?" Bobby added.
Magnus burst into laughter, "Hahaha... and what about guys who say they're gonna pluck the moon for their love."
"They be plucking nothing but Moon's dick at this point," Ragnar added, laughing together.
Putting aside the jokes, they quickly got to work. One guy climbed back into the rocket to start unloading the cargo, the other two transported it near the crater's edge.
Magic was one hell of a thing, they didn't need any heavy machinery to lift objects. They easily dismantled the parts and welded the entire living unit. It was a big cabin with two windows, a pressurising chamber door, solar panels on the roof, antenna dishes and also a water tank on the side.
It was made to allow them to research inside while providing a safe space to live without the suit. For now, it was a simple single unit, and soon, whole complexes will be made to house dozens of people at the same time.
Once they were done making the unit, they decided to call it a day and take some rest. Inside, they ate frozen food that was microwaved, then went to sleep in the bunkbeds. Magnus, just for security, cast a bubblehead charm inside the whole cabin, so even if something happens, they won't die.
"Good night, or morning, whatever you want to call it," Magnus yawned.
"It's morning back at home," Bobby said.
"Night in Japan. The sense of time as day and night is invalid here," Ragnar argued.
He was right, "Good moon, then, I guess." Magnus fell asleep. He too was tired today.
...
Their alarm clock rang, the sleep of 6 hours was over. Today they were going to survey the whole crater and then collect a few samples from the places they felt they'd get the most minerals.
Ragnar stayed in the lab as he had already gotten some samples. Meanwhile, Magnus took out Emma's experimental broom to test it out. At the same time, he'd be using Bobby's geo-sensing and X-ray equipment to map the crater.
"Okay, I'm ready. Wait for me here," Magnus flew up on the experimental broom. The broom Emma had designed was a single unit like a car, it was as if a motorcycle turned into a car but only for one rider. Most of the frame was made of strong steel and glass to give visibility.
~Nice, due to more magic in space the speed at which the broom can fly has increased.~ he noticed. The broom was the same old model that was used on Earth, the only new things were the enclosed pressurised chamber.
He flew directly over the crater, he had to fly over this dark black ditch without illuminating it as magic may mess with the muggle instruments.
...
He spent an hour or so flying over and operating the small machines, he mapped the entire crater and also checked the floor. After returning to the base, they started analysing the data.
Meanwhile, Ragnar was already done with sand testing and gave his report, "As expected, there is oxygen content. But to extract that, all processes require high energy input, between 2-4 megawatt-years of energy to produce 1,000 tonnes of oxygen. While oxygen extraction from metal oxides also produces useful metals. So, I guess we will need to bring your fusion reactor whenever it's complete.
"Other minerals are Hydrogen, Iron, Titanium, Aluminium, Silicon, Calcium, Magnesium. Next comes the Rare Earth Minerals, as you guys know, Britain is not gifted with these, China, California, India, Brazil, Australia, South Africa, and Malaysia are. So our hope is this moon. Of course, Helium-3 is abundant here. Carbon and nitrogen are also present, these can be helpful in the future when we create an enclosed biosphere for farming here.
"Not to mention, the moon sand is like a natural cement that can be used in many different ways. In short, mining the moon can be the most profitable thing in the world for us, all we need to do is plan and create a well functioning efficient mining and processing system. Of course, we will need to bring other countries on board."
This was the end of Ragnar's report. Magnus and Bobby silently thought about this. They already know about all these things from scientific speculations. For the coming few months or even years, Moon was going to be a cash dumb, as it will take time before they truly start gaining something in return.
"Alright, let's start with the initial mining then. Ragnar, you two start extracting resources, Bobby, you put extra focus on Helium-3, we need the Fusion Reactor, without it we can't do anything else. Wait, what about water?" Magnus remembered the most important resource.
Ragnar flipped a few pages, "Oh, that, yes we got a lot of that here. Especially on the poles. As long as we can come up with an effective way of extracting water, we won't have to worry about going thirsty on the moon ever."
It was very calming, "Good, I will go and start gathering samples from the entire moon. Apparating around the Moon for me is not a problem, even if it's the Dark Side. We need to map this fat stone boy entirely so we know where the biggest mineral deposits are."
"Be careful, man. The dark side of the moon will be extremely cold." Bobby warned him.
"Haha, don't worry, with my magic amplified, I can literally obliterate this giant rock if I want. If I was on Mars though, then I would have been much more careful," Magnus flew away with that.
For the next four days, the three worked as much as they could. They could remain on the Moon for months if they wanted to, but then it would become too shocking for the muggle science community. The fact that they were able to build the first structure on the Moon that can be called a base was shocking already.
The next time another mission is sent, the rockets will have a lot of items related to long missions. Not to mention, Magnus will send wizards and muggles who know. There will be two missions, one that will be in front of public eyes, most of the time 3-5 people will go through the rocket. Meanwhile, with the help of Portkey, at least 10 people will go at a time.
All the heavy equipment, expansion of the base and more items will be sent from Portkey. But above all, the best thing about Portkey was the fact that in case of an emergency, immediate help can be sent.
[You can see the moonbase on Discord - https://discord.gg/DgHkrAn OR see them on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mister_immortal_novel]
HIT ME WITH A MOON ROCK!
__________________
You can read 20 Advanced chapters and 70 chaps of Marvel fic at -patreon.com/misterimmortal.
Special thanks to *DougErNuts* *Oluwatimileyin Olayemi* *BirdRant* *Franklin Walley* *Brennan Tubbs*
1 Stone = 1 Cash Banana. [Effect: get unlimited cash, but it will be black money.]
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