Mars is commonly referred to as the "Red Planet" due to the distinctive red coloration resulting from the presence of iron and other minerals on its surface. It possesses a tenuous atmosphere primarily composed of carbon dioxide. Mars experiences extensive dust storms, the largest in the Solar System, lasting for months and enveloping the entire planet. Additionally, it harbors one of the most colossal volcanoes known in our solar system, recognized as Olympus Mons.

Mira and Rahul concluded their study of planetary features by reading a paragraph of their assigned holiday homework. They were both situated in the living room at the time. Later in the evening, as they were preparing to venture outside to join their friends for playtime, their attention was captured by the ringing telephone. In his eagerness, Rahul hurried toward the sofa and noticed that the call was from their Uncle Vikrant.

Due to the limited network connectivity in their area, it was a rare occurrence for them to receive calls from outside the city. Filled with excitement, Rahul accidentally dropped the call, much to Mira's chagrin. Angered by his carelessness, Mira decided to proceed with going out to play on her own. The park, adorned with beautiful flowers, was her preferred destination whenever she found herself upset. Meanwhile, Rahul headed to his friend's house to engage in online gaming.

At 8 pm, both siblings returned home and discovered a letter placed in front of their house. This time, Mira was quick to retrieve the letter to prevent any accidental damage by Rahul. It turned out to be a letter from Uncle Vikrant.

"House no. 12

Vashantvihar

New Delhi

30 May 2021

Dear Rahul and Mira,

I hope this letter finds you both in good health. I am doing well myself. Upon reading the contents of this letter, you will be both shocked and excited.

During my recent exploration of marine life, I stumbled upon a colossal spacecraft at the seashore. The vessel was concealed beneath a layer of dried leaves and mud. I brought it to my laboratory and meticulously cleaned it. To my astonishment, I discovered an alien inside, possessing ears resembling a bat and a nose resembling a mosquito. The alien had three fingers on each hand and foot, with a blue complexion. I shall provide further details when you both visit the lab.

I eagerly await your presence. Stay joyful.

Your uncle,

Vikrant."

After reading the letter, both Rahul and Mira commenced packing the essential items they would require. Rahul took great pride in his packing skills, considering it one of the many tasks he excelled at more than anyone else. He emphasized this fact to Mira, asserting that she should entrust the entire matter to his expertise. However, Mira reclined on the comfortable armchair, misunderstanding his intention. Rahul had meant for her to assist him under his guidance. Her interpretation of the situation irritated him. Nothing irritated him more than observing others idling while he worked diligently. He wished to oversee the process, stroll around nonchalantly with his hands in his pockets, and instruct Mira on what to do. Nevertheless, he refrained from saying anything and proceeded with the packing. It turned out to be a more time-consuming task than he initially anticipated. Nonetheless, he eventually completed packing the bag and sat on it, securing the straps.

"Aren't you going to include the boots?" Mira inquired. Rahul looked around and realized he had forgotten to pack them. He reopened the bag and placed the boots inside. Just as Rahul and Mira were preparing to exit the house, they heard the sound of breaking plates. Hastening back inside, they discovered Peter, the mischievous rabbit. Despite his adorable appearance, Peter possessed a mischievous disposition. Rahul decided to take Peter the rabbit to his friend's house and entrusted his care to them.

Peter's life ambition was to be a constant nuisance and create chaos wherever he went. His greatest satisfaction came from being in places where he was least wanted, causing frustration and annoyance to those around him. If he could make someone stumble or provoke them into cursing him for an extended period, he considered his day successful. Once he achieved this, his conceit knew no bounds.

After handing over Peter to his friend, Rahul and Mira proceeded to the railway station.

Upon their arrival at the Kurla suburban railway station, Rahul and Mira proceeded to join the orderly queue at the ticket counter to purchase their tickets. Once they acquired their tickets, they ascended the stairs leading to the platform. Finding an unoccupied bench, they seated themselves, as they still had some time before the train's arrival.

While waiting, Mira took the opportunity to observe her surroundings at the train station. She noticed a cobbler diligently shining a customer's shoes, a vendor selling peanuts, and various stalls offering food and magazines. Finally, their designated train arrived at the platform, prompting Rahul and Mira to board and secure seats by the window. After an hour-long journey, they disembarked at Delhi station, where Uncle Vikrant awaited their arrival.

Filled with excitement, Rahul and Mira declined the option of going to a hotel and instead accompanied Uncle Vikrant directly to the lab. There, Uncle Vikrant disclosed to them the alien's unfortunate tale and emphasized the necessity of their assistance. Eager to help, Mira urged the alien to share the story behind his arrival on Earth.

"Greetings, inhabitants of Earth! My name is Mopo Kafo. I have journeyed from Mars to seek assistance in defeating the formidable warrior known as Kaliponioak Lia. He has usurped control over our planet, imprisoning our king. Through fervent prayers, Kaliponioak Lia has obtained extraordinary powers bestowed upon him by a divine entity," explained the alien.

Grasping the gravity of the situation, Rahul and Mira wholeheartedly agreed to aid Mopo Kafo in combating the malevolent Kaliponioak Lia. Uncle Vikrant also offered his support to the children's noble cause. They collectively resolved to depart for Mars the following morning after obtaining some rest. Mira's anticipation to witness the planet Mars firsthand was palpable, as it held a special place in her heart, particularly from her history lessons. She borrowed her uncle's laptop to conduct further research and gain comprehensive knowledge about Mars.

Mira came across the intriguing fact that numerous renowned scientists had ventured to Mars and made remarkable discoveries, yet failed to provide concrete evidence of extraterrestrial life. This led her to delve deeper into her exploration of Mars.

Mars, often referred to as the Red Planet, is a frigid desert world approximately half the size of Earth. Its reddish hue stems from the presence of oxidized iron in its soil. Like our own planet, Mars experiences distinct seasons, possesses polar ice caps, showcases volcanic activity, displays intricate canyon systems, and undergoes weather changes. Its atmosphere is incredibly thin, consisting mainly of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and argon. While signs of ancient floods are evident on Mars, the majority of water exists as ice and tenuous clouds. Certain Martian slopes exhibit indications of liquid saline water beneath the surface.

Finally, the anticipated morning arrived, and Rahul and Mira promptly made their way to the lab after enjoying their breakfast.

Accompanied by Mopo Kafo, they embarked on a voyage to the planet Mars. As they approached Mars, a brilliant blue light engulfed their surroundings, obscuring their vision momentarily. However, after a few minutes, a sprawling landmass emerged, teeming with numerous alien beings. The sight was truly awe-inspiring, reminiscent of a celestial realm. However, their amazement turned to shock as they witnessed the aliens toiling arduously, excavating exquisite stones and transporting them away. Alighting from the spaceship, they proceeded to Mopo Kafo's residence, where he provided them with attire resembling that of the aliens.

Curiosity piqued, Rahul inquired about the destination of those aliens and their purpose.

"They are delivering the stones to the malevolent Kaliponioak Lia.

He does not care about our planet's inhabitants and forces them into laborious work to extract these stones. He is driven by selfish motives," revealed Mopo Kafo.

Mira, intrigued by this revelation, sought further clarification regarding why the aliens were handing over the stones to Kaliponioak Lia.

Mopo Kafo explained that when all the stones were combined, they bestowed immense power upon the possessor. These stones had the ability to enhance an alien's abilities or render them powerless. Once Kaliponioak Lia acquired all the stones, he would fuse them together, resulting in two switches—a red switch and a green switch. Activating the green switch would grant the alien tremendous powers, whereas activating the red switch would strip the alien of its abilities.

A silver lining, however, emerged amidst this precarious situation. If a human companion stood alongside an alien within the vicinity of the switches and activated the red switch, it would nullify the alien's powers without affecting the human.

Rahul, Mira, and Uncle Vikrant absorbed this information, understanding the gravity of their mission. They were determined to thwart Kaliponioak Lia's oppressive rule and restore harmony to Mars. Prepared to face the challenges ahead, they embarked on their interplanetary quest, fueled by a shared sense of purpose and a desire to bring justice to the oppressed Martian inhabitants.

Rahul comprehended the gravity of the situation and vowed to assist Mopo Kafo in neutralizing the power of the malevolent Kaliponioak Lia.

Mira, with a burst of realization, interjected, "That's precisely why you sought help from humans—because human abilities cannot be nullified by those stones. Only alien powers can be affected."

Mopo Kafo nodded in agreement and advised them to remain focused on their task of transporting the stones. He emphasized the dire consequences that would befall them should their true identities as humans be exposed. Together, they diligently carried the stones to Kaliponioak Lia.

As the evening descended, Mira ventured into the backyard, where a vibrant display of ice flowers greeted her. The remarkable sight intrigued her, prompting her to inquire about them from Mopo Kafo.

"These flowers are meant for consumption. Just as you earthlings relish ice cream, we aliens indulge in ice flowers. The distinction lies in the fact that while you create ice creams, we cultivate these frozen blooms," Mopo Kafo explained.

Rahul found himself astounded by this revelation, while Mira reveled in the enchanting surroundings. It all seemed like a dream, akin to the stories they read in books. Never did she imagine that one day she would journey to such a magical place.

After relishing the beauty of the ice flowers, they retired indoors for the night.

Days turned into weeks, and they adhered to their established routine. They toiled diligently during the day and found solace in the ice flowers' embrace during the evening.

One day, Rahul and Mira witnessed an alien retrieving a stone hidden behind a pink tree and rubbing it. Within moments, the alien ascended into the sky, departing from the planet Mars. Filled with curiosity, they hastened to Mopo Kafo, seeking an explanation.

Mopo Kafo disclosed that the stones possessed magical properties, enabling the aliens to soar through space and facilitating breathing in oxygen-deprived environments. The alien they witnessed had departed for Jupiter.

With a spark of excitement, Rahul exclaimed, "Jupiter is my favorite planet!"

Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, resembled a star that never attained the necessary mass for ignition. Swirling cloud stripes enshrouded its surface, accompanied by colossal storms like the Great Red Spot, which persisted for centuries. Jupiter, a gas giant lacking a solid surface, likely harbored a solid core akin to Earth's size. Faint rings encircled the planet, though they remained inconspicuous.

Mira proposed a plan: transporting all the aliens to Jupiter, where they could confront the evil Kaliponioak Lia. However, Mopo Kafo chuckled and cautioned, "If it were that simple, we would not have sought aid from you earthlings. Kaliponioak will never permit the aliens to leave the planet, and he possesses formidable power."

Resolute in their mission, Mira and Rahul resumed their work. They found solace in the serene landscapes, relished the icy delicacies, labored alongside the aliens, and slept peacefully in the embrace of Mars.

Days turned into weeks, and their routine persisted. However, unbeknownst to them, an alien grew suspicious of their true identities and clandestinely trailed their every move. Witnessing their human nature, the alien reported their secret to Kaliponioak Lia. The following day, Rahul and Mira were apprehended and brought before Kaliponioak Lia.

The situation appeared grim, with no apparent means of escape. However, Rahul, known for his mischievous nature, conceived a cunning and plausible idea.

"Hail to the mighty and esteemed fighter Kaliponioak Lia! I have heard tales of your incredible strength and power from my dear friend, Mopo Kafo," Rahul proclaimed with calculated deference. "He suggested that it would be wise to aid the great new king in obtaining these powers. So, we have come to assist you in acquiring them and witness the glory of the occasion when you attain them."

Kaliponioak Lia pondered Rahul's words, skepticism etched across his face. He questioned how he could trust their intentions.

Rahul, quick-witted, replied, "We diligently bring these stones daily so that the great fighter can amass the powers necessary to rule over all of Mars." His words resonated with Kaliponioak Lia, eliciting a gleam of satisfaction in his eyes.

Intrigued and pleased by Rahul's proposition, Kaliponioak Lia made a promise to appoint them as his trusted bodyguards with handsome salaries once he had harnessed the complete power of the stones.

With their roles established, the trio resumed their work, diligently fulfilling their duties until evening fell, signaling their return home.