Mission Origin View (Final Days Trilogy) (45 page)

“
Grandma, you look so young and pretty,” Joseph said as he softly touched her hair and breathed in the sweet perfume she wore.

“
Thank you, Joseph. It’s so good to see you. I wanted to tell you that I’m so very proud of what you’ve done and what you’re about to do,” she said with a smile, then hugged him. As she released him, he heard faint singing coming from the other side of the small building.

“
Do you hear that, Grandma? Who is singing?” Joseph said as he stood and held his head up so he could hear the singing better.

“
Yes, I hear it, Joseph. Let’s go and meet ‘em,” she said as she rose from the chair and took his hand. She led him to the other side of the building and stopped. There he saw an orange-colored, sandy dirt path leading into the woods that wound down into a hollow. Through the pine, hickory, and oak trees in the hollow, he could see a creek in the distance. The singing became louder, and he finally saw a group of people walking up the trail toward him and his grandma.

“
Are those the people I saw the other day at the creek? The people you told me I helped save?” Joseph asked.

“
Yes, it is, honey,” she answered with a wide smile and then squeezed his hand.

Their singing grew louder
, and Joseph hummed along, thinking it was the most beautiful sound he had ever heard. He couldn’t help but smile as the people walked out of the woods. They continued singing and walking and began putting their arms around the person walking beside them. They all returned Joseph’s smile as they walked past him and began singing even louder. The crowd then turned and started walking toward the back of the small building.

“
Where are they going, Grandma? Can we follow ‘em and listen to ‘em sing?” Joseph asked with excitement.

His g
randma looked into his eyes and said, “Yes, Joseph, we can, but don’t let go of my hand.”

“
Yes, Grandma,” he answered with a big grin, and they began following the crowd.

Behind the building the crowd stopped at a
wrought iron fence surrounding a rectangular half-acre piece of land. A double swinging iron gate was open, but no one entered as they continued to sing. Joseph’s grandma led him toward the gate, and then he remembered where he was. Joseph stopped and tried to pull away, but his grandma’s hand held him.

“
I know this place, Grandma, and I don’t like it. This is where they put Mama and Daddy and my brothers and sisters!” Joseph said, his smile now gone.

“
I know, honey, but it’s okay. There’s someone inside the gate that wants to speak to you.”

Joseph looked beyond the gate and saw a large man st
anding. The man was wearing white and motioned with a hand to Joseph to join him.

“
Will you come with me, Grandma?” Joseph asked.

“
I’m sorry, honey. I can’t. I have to leave, and you have to go in and talk to that person,” his grandma said as she squeezed his hand again. She added, “I have to go now, but I’ll see you very soon, and you can spend as much time with me as you want.”

“
Can I spend a whole day with you?” Joseph asked, his smile returning.

“
You can stay with me as many days as you want,” she answered with a big smile, then let go of his hand. “Be a good boy and go on now. Remember that I’m so very proud of you, Joseph. I love you!”

Joseph
kissed her on the cheek, turned, and walked through the gates. The singing grew louder and sounded sweeter as he walked towards the man. As Joseph walked, he saw many, many stones protruding from the ground. The stones were different shapes, sizes, and colors with names and dates etched into their surfaces. He remembered the stones placed for his family with their names and dates. He knew the stones were in this place but couldn’t remember where they were.

“
Hello, Joseph,” the large figure said when Joseph reached him.

“
Is that you, Michael?” Joseph asked, surprised to see the huge man.

“
Yes it is,” Michael answered, pushing the hood of his white robe back to show his head. “I’m here to tell you that you’ll help save many, many lives in the next few days. You must be bold and speak what you feel in your heart. Be brave, and you’ll be provided with the words you need to answer questions and the knowledge to astonish the wise.”

Joseph was confused and tried to simplify what he
’d been told. “I should be bold and brave when I speak over the next few days.”

Michael smiled and said,
“That’s all you have to do, and you’ll know what to say when the times come.”

Joseph
noticed the wind had started blowing as a thunderstorm was moving in. The rumble of thunder shook the ground while the storm clouds covered the sun. Joseph looked toward where his grandma was, and she and the crowd of people were gone.

“
Where’s my grandma and the other people?” Joseph asked Michael.

“
They’re waiting for you, and you’ll join them shortly,” Michael said.

“
Where are they waiting?” Joseph asked.

“
In paradise,” Michael answered as a bolt of lightning struck nearby.

“
We’d better go in the building and get out of this,” Joseph began saying and stopped. He watched in fascination as Michael’s white robe turned black. The same color it had been on Leonis
.

“
I’m leaving now,” Michael said.

“
Where’re you going?” Joseph asked.

“
I have more work to do before the time comes,” Michael answered as a bolt of lightning struck a nearby tree. The clap of thunder was so loud it woke Joseph. He couldn’t go back to sleep and lay in his bed, thinking about what he had seen and what he had been told.

Part Six: The Origin of Life

Combat Control Center, SRS
Stephen Hawking

0832
—
March 8, 2372

Once again the sh
ip’s officers and scientists gathered in the Triple C. Stephen reported he had completed his self-diagnostic test and no problems had been discovered.

“
I don’t care what the AI reports. I believe it has a serious problem, and we can’t trust anything it reports,” Dr. Harper said.

Mary
thought for a second and addressed Dr. Qasim, “Doctor Qasim, you’re the computer expert. Do you think Stephen has a problem?”

Dr.
Qasim squirmed in her chair, glanced at Dr. Harper, and said, “I believe the AI is functioning properly.”

“
How can you say that?” Dr. Harper almost yelled. “Take a look outside; the stars are gone! The AI is wrong!”

“
I said…that I believe Stephen is working properly…I didn’t say the data and sensor information being used to determine where we are is accurate,” Dr. Qasim responded.

“
Stephen, if we’re in normal space, where’s the stars?” Mary asked, again wondering why these brilliant scientists seemed to avoid asking simple questions.

“
I don’t know, Captain. I have also attempted to locate our sun using the advanced long-range sensors, and our sun doesn’t exist,” Stephen answered.

“
Do you need any more proof that the AI is malfunctioning?” Dr. Harper said, this time remaining calm. “We’re only about eight thousand light-years from Earth. Our sun, along with all the stars in the universe, has to exist, and we would see them if we were in normal space.”

“
Did you attempt to locate Earth?” Gideon asked.

“
No,” Stephen answered. The AI paused and added, “Searching for Earth now.”

“
There’s no need to scan for Earth! If the stars and sun are not there, then Earth won’t be…!” Dr. Harper began shouting until Stephen interrupted him.

“
Earth has been detected, and long-range sensors are gathering information for analysis,” Stephen said.

Stunned, no
one said a word for a few seconds.

“
That’s…that’s…that’s…impossible!” Dr. Harper stuttered. 

“
Earth analysis results are being displayed on the main MCC holographic display,” Stephen said.

Everyone in the Triple C rushed to the MCC
, and as they entered they saw the main display showing a blurred planet as analyzed sensors data scrolled across the bottom of the display. Everyone stood and watched the display for minutes without a word. Eventually Dr. Harper said, “Everyone, to your consoles. I’m sure this data is in error, but it might help us figure out where we are and diagnose the problem with the AI.”

The scientist
s took their places at the consoles and began analyzing data. Mary, Gideon, and the other officers remained standing, watching the scientists work.

Mary leaned
towards Gideon and asked, “Why did you ask about Earth?”

“
It just seemed to be a logical question at the time,” Gideon answered as he continued watching the main display.

The
planet remained blurred on the display as the data continued to be received and processed. Minutes went by, and the blurred image began to take focus. The data on the bottom of the screen began reporting high levels of water on the surface and heavy water vapor in the atmosphere. Hardly any other compounds and gases were reported.

The image was an infrared display showing
the warm and cold parts of the planet. The core of the planet was white hot, and the surrounding atmosphere was colder blue. Within half an hour the sensor analysis was complete. The processed, and now-focused infrared display, showed the planet was a ball of water surrounded by a thick atmosphere of water vapor. The scientist then began the task of analyzing the data to detect life.

“
Why’s the display shown in infrared?” Mary asked aloud to no one in particular.

“
There’s no light from a local sun or stars, Captain,” Dr. Harper answered. “Captain, I’m not sure what we’re looking at. It may not even exist; it may be false data Stephen is reporting for some unknown reason. If it does exist, I can assure you that it’s not Earth. It could be a planet that’s also stuck in the time-speed dimension with us.”

After several hours t
he scientist concluded that whatever they were analyzing, it was lifeless because of the atmospheric conditions and the absence of light.

“
So, what’s next, Doctor?” Mary asked.

Dr.
Harper threw his hands up in the air as he said, “I don’t know, Captain. Nothing makes sense, but I still believe we’re in the time-speed dimension.” Dr. Harper thought for a second and asked, “Could I talk to Petty Officer Sipes? I want to ask him some questions. Maybe he saw something out there he didn’t remember or didn’t report. I don’t mean to be callous, Captain, but he’s mentally limited and may need some probing from us to get some information that might be useful.”

“
Anna, where is Petty Officer Sipes?” Mary asked.

“
He is in sick bay, visiting Gunny Xia,” Anna answered.

“
Have him report to me as soon as possible,” Mary said.

“
Yes, Captain,” Anna replied.

Sick Bay, SRS
Stephen Hawking

1242
—
March 8, 2372

“
What are you doing, Sipes?” Xia yelled after opening his eyes and looking around.

“
I’m reading to you, Gunny,” Joseph answered with a smile.

“
You’re what?” Xia barked while he continued to look around. “Am I on the
Hawking
?”

“
Yes, you’re in sick bay,” Joseph said.

“
Hey, Doc! Hey, Doc!” Xia yelled, moving as much as he could while looking at all the plastic tubes and electronic sensors placed on and inserted in him.

A few seconds later
, the curtain door slid open, and Dr. Pettway walked in. “Keep it down, Gunny,” she said. She walked over to him and began examining the various pieces of medical monitoring equipment surrounding his bed. “I didn’t expect you to wake up so soon. We’ve placed you in a controlled coma while you’re healing.”

“
We’ll, I’m awake now, Doc, and this ain’t the first time I’ve been torn up, so give it to me straight. How bad is it?” Xia asked.

“
Your shoulder and leg were severely injured, but it’s nothing that we can’t fix here on the ship,” she answered as she continued looking at the monitors. “Are you in any pain?”

“
Yeah, but I can take it,” Xia said with a grimace as he tried to sit up a bit. Then his eyes locked on Joseph, who was still sitting there, wearing a smile. “What are you doing here, Sipes?”

“
I told you. I was reading to you,” Joseph answered again.

“
Get out of my sight, you moron!” Xia barked.

Joseph
’s smile vanished as he stood. He walked out with his head hung down like a child who had just been scolded.

“
Doc, why did you let that idiot come in here?” Xia yelled again.

“
Gunny, if you can take the pain, I won’t put you into another coma. But if you yell once more, I’ll put you out until we get back to Earth,” Dr. Pettway said slowly and firmly.

“
Fine, Doc, but why did you let him in here?” he asked, this time without yelling.

“
I figured it was therapeutic, and I didn’t think you’d mind,” she answered through clenched teeth. She paused, trying to control her anger, and continued. “If it wasn’t for that idiot, as you refer to him, you, Manelly, and several civilians would be dead.”

Xia
didn’t respond; he just stared at the ceiling.

***

As Joseph walked back to his quarters, he felt hurt and was trying to sort out everything that had happened to him since the mission began. He had been in ground combat, something he hadn’t been trained for, and had several dreams about saving people. Although he somehow felt in his heart that what he had done and was going to do was very important, his brain and everyone else seemed to tell him he was doing everything wrong. He was confused and disheartened.

“
Joseph, Captain Bowser wants you to report to her in the mission control center as soon as possible,” his Anna said through his implant.

“
Okay, I’m on my way,” Joseph said. As he hurried to the MCC, he wondered why the captain wanted to see him. He thought he must’ve done something wrong. It seemed like no matter what he tried to do right, things just never seemed to turn out right. I’m pitiful, he thought. I must be a moron.

Mission Control Center, SRS
Stephen Hawking

1305
—
March 8, 2372

Joseph entered the MCC
, and his eyes were immediately drawn to the main holographic display of a planet. He then looked around and saw Mary sitting by Gideon and Dr. Harper at a console in the back of the MCC. He walked over to Mary and reported, “Petty Officer Sipes reporting as ordered.”

Mary
returned his salute and said, “At ease, Sipes. Doctor Harper wants to ask you a few questions.”

“
Yes, ma’am,” he answered.

“
Sipes, take a seat please,” Dr. Harper said as he used a hand to motion him toward an empty seat at an adjacent console.

Joseph sat down.

“Sipes, I want to ask you a few questions about what you saw while performing the hull inspection yesterday,” Dr. Harper began. “I want you to relax and think about my questions for a few seconds before answering. Okay?”

“
Yes, sir,” Joseph said as he tried to relax his body.

“
Tell me the first thing you saw when you exited the air lock.”

Joseph waited and then answered.
“I saw the hull from the ship’s external maintenance lights.”

“
When did you look up into space?”

“
I always look at the stars when I go outside the ship,” Joseph said. A few seconds later he continued. “I looked up as soon as I double-checked that my safety lanyard was secured to the double-catch system.”

“
Can you always see stars with the maintenance lights on?”

“
Yes. There are always some bright stars I can see,” Joseph said.

“
Did you see anything at all unusual in space? Like flashes of light, trails of light, or bursts of colors?”

“
I didn’t see any of those things, but there was something unusual,” Joseph said after a pause.

Excited,
Dr. Harper asked, “What…what…what was unusual?”

Joseph looked at
Dr. Harper confused, waited a few seconds, and answered slowly. “It was unusual that I didn’t see any stars.”

Gideon couldn
’t help but laugh aloud. Mary just smiled, not able to control herself.

“
Don’t joke with me!” Dr. Harper almost yelled as he stood. “Don’t you understand that this is a serious matter? Or can’t your simple, dim-witted mind comprehend our situation?”

Gideon
immediately stopped laughing and said in a deep, slow voice, “Stand down, Doctor. That’s enough of that. He understands how serious it is, and he was only answering your question.”

***

“Long-range sensors have detected major anomalies. Processing data now and updating the display,” Stephen said over the MCC intercom. The holograph of the planet began to blur again as new data was received, processed, and reported at the bottom of the display.

Dr. Harper, whose attention was now locked on the report, forgot about Joseph, walked closer to the display, and watched.

After a few minutes,
the image began to focus, and this time the image was not an infrared display. A light source illuminated the planet.

“
What the…?” Dr. Jones paused and continued. “Light is being reflection from the planet’s surface.”

“
That’s great! We must be coming out of the time-space dimension. Where’s the planet’s sun?” Dr. Harper said as he walked closer to the display.

“
There’s no sun,” Dr. Jones said as she feverishly used her data console to locate the source of the light.

“
Stephen, use all the long-range sensors to locate the planet’s sun,” Dr. Harper commanded.

The focusing image of the planet and the data that was being received and processed paused as Stephen used the sensors to search
for the planet’s sun. “The planet has no sun, and no stars have been detected. The light has no source,” Stephen reported calmly and then switched the sensors back to the planet and continued to process data from the planet again, focusing on a light-gray ball in a void of black.