Mike spoke, “Well, Kevin and Jake, there you have it. From what we have concluded from this message, Gloria Jackson is dead, the crew crash landed on another planet with an atmosphere similar to our own, and they may have gone through a wormhole.”
Kevin glanced at Jake, whose jaw was now taut as he continued to gape at the frozen image of his father on the computer screen. Kevin then turned his attention to Mike. “A wormhole? How is that possible? No one’s ever seen a wormhole before. So, how do we know they exist?”
Mike smiled and said, “That’s where Skip’s theory comes in.” Mike turned to Skip. “Skip, you have the floor.”
Skip stood up and walked to the head of the conference table. “Computer … retrieve computer program ‘Wormhole Theory,’ authorization code eight, four, three.”
“Yes, Mr. Hendricks.”
Kevin watched as his brother’s image disappeared and a new image of the solar system came into view.
“I know that both of you are familiar with physics and Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, so I’ll be brief. I don’t want to bore you with the details.” Skip touched the computer screen and an image of the Sun appeared with the Earth and other planets in the solar system rotating around it. “As you know, Einstein established that nothing can travel faster than the speed of light, but he also believed that we live in a four-dimensional, space-time continuum. Three of those dimensions are space, and one is time.”
Skip continued as the computer displayed a model of four-dimensional space. “You see this cluster of bright dots in the upper left of the model? This is our galaxy. Now, Einstein theorized that any fold, distortion, or expanse in this four-dimensional space continuum could shorten the distance it takes to travel to other planets and stars. He also claimed that anything that distorts this space continuum has to have a mass.”
Jake finally spoke, “Like planets and stars.”
“Exactly,” Skip said. He touched the computer screen again. An image of the Sun appeared with the planets rotating around it. The planets looked to be spinning on something similar to a flexible sheet of fabric.
Skip continued. “Even though Einstein believed that we live in a four-dimensional, space-time continuum, our human senses have a difficult time imagining a four-dimensional model. So instead, imagine space as a sheet of fabric. And this sheet is made of a stretchy material like a trampoline. If you take a look at this model of our solar system, the Sun is in the middle of the sheet. Since the Sun has the largest mass, it creates the deepest depression in the sheet. As a result, the smaller planets spin around this depression. The depression that the Sun creates in space causes the planets to stay in their current orbits.”
Skip touched the computer screen again. The model changed to a long sheet with several solar systems in various places along the sheet. “Now, imagine every solar system in our galaxy or universe on this same stretchy space material. Einstein theorized that only an object in space with a large mass could create a depression that would in turn create a wormhole.”
Skip touched the computer screen and the model of the different solar system was turned vertical. One side of the model hung like a bedspread on a clothesline on the left side of the screen. The other side of the model hung on the right side of the screen.
“If you take a look at this model,” said Skip, pointing to the computer screen, “space is like a huge blanket hanging on a clothesline. Our solar system is on the left side of this model.”
Skip touched the left side of the computer screen. The model magnified, and an image of Mars appeared. Skip then touched the right side of the model, and another spinning planet magnified.
“Now remember, Einstein said that only objects with a mass can create depressions large enough to create wormholes,” Skip reiterated.
Kevin watched with extreme curiosity as the side of the model with Mars began to sink in, and the other side of the model with the other planet sank in as well. Each planet created a deep enough depression in space that the two depressions touched each other.
Skip continued, “As you can see by the model, gentlemen, planets on each side of the space sheet may create deep enough depressions in space that we may be able to travel through them in an instant to other worlds.”
Jake interrupted before Skip could go on. “Wait a minute. Are you telling us every planet in the galaxy or the universe, for that matter, may be able to create a depression deep enough to reach a planet on the other side of the galaxy or universe?”
Skip smiled and touched the computer screen again. Every planet on the model created its own depression. The depressions on each side of the sheet touched each other. “What I’m saying, Jake, is that your father may have accidentally discovered the secret to deep-space travel.”
Jake slapped his forehead and was about to curse.
Kevin cut Jake off before he could finish his curse word. “So you’re telling us that it’s possible that every planet in the galaxy or the universe can create a depression deep enough to reach another planet? That’s what you’re telling us, right?”
Mike laughed. “That’s exactly what he’s saying, Kevin. And you’ve got to admit, it makes perfect sense.”
Kevin leaned back in his chair and ran his hands through his hair. “Wow!”
Skip continued. “We here at NASA now believe that wormholes are present near every planet in the solar system. Earth may even have its own wormhole. We just haven’t found it yet.”
“But how can you be sure? I mean … where is the actual proof?” Jake questioned.
Skip and Mike looked at each other and gave one another a knowing smile. Mike spoke, “We were hoping you would ask that, Jake. Skip, do you want to show them the video?”
“It will be my pleasure. Computer …”
“Yes, Mr. Hendricks.”
“Retrieve video-file two, eight, six, seven, three, authorization code eight, four, three.”
Kevin watched the screen as Skip’s model of the wormhole theory disappeared and an actual image of Mars appeared.
Skip continued. “Three months after we received the message from your brother, we sent a probe to Mars. Using the technology that your company,” Skip nodded in Kevin’s direction, “has developed, we were able to remotely activate the satellite that the Mars I crew placed into orbit twenty-three years ago. As a result, we had feedback from the probe. Now, watch. Computer play video-file two, eight, six, seven, three.”
“Yes, Mr. Hendricks.”
Kevin watched as the video played.
Skip narrated the playback of the video. “Watch. … After the probe activated the satellite, we were able to see through the probe’s eyes. Now watch, as the probe starts its orbit around Mars. We edited some of the video for time. After a while, the probe stops. Look,” Skip said as he pointed to the screen.
Kevin leaned forward to get a better look. The probe had stopped in front of what looked like some sort of ripple in space with a bright white, light radiating from its center.
“It reminds me of when you throw a rock into a pond and water ripples out from the center,” Jake said.
“Yes,” Skip said. “But keep watching. The probe stopped to examine this phenomenon, and then it started to accelerate toward the ripple, and then …”
Kevin watched anxiously as the probe accelerated toward the distortion. The ripple grew larger and larger. And then, the video stopped. “What happened?”
Skip looked at Kevin and then at Jake. “That’s it. We believe the probe got sucked into the wormhole,” he said as he walked back to his chair and sat.
Mike looked at Kevin and Jake. “I know this is a lot to give you, but we have had our best scientists on this for a year and have come to the conclusion that the Mars I crew didn’t disappear. They were, in fact, sucked into a wormhole, and may very well be alive on another planet on the other side of our galaxy.”
Jake looked down and shook his head, trying to control his emotions. “But …” He sighed, trying to hold
back the tears. “But … how can you be one hundred percent sure?”
Mike leaned on the table and spoke softly to Kevin and Jake. “That’s where you two come in.”
CHAPTER 3: EINSTEIN-ROSEN BRIDGE
Cape Canaveral, Florida. 6 months later …
Kevin paced back and forth in the hallway outside of the medical unit at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. He was waiting for Jake to finish with his pre-flight physical. He hoped to catch Jake before he was transported to the shuttle that was scheduled to launch in four hours. There was so much that Kevin wanted to tell him, but he didn’t get the chance to talk to Jake the night before at his family’s Christmas party.
Kevin heard voices inside of the room. The door slid open, and Jake and the doctor both walked out together. “Now, Commander, remember all of the training that you have gone through. It may save your life out there if some unforeseen emergency should happen.”
Jake reached out and shook the doctor’s hand. “I will, doctor. Thanks again.”
“You be careful out there, and good luck,” the doctor said as he walked back into the unit. The door slid shut behind him.
Jake turned and saw Kevin leaning on the opposite wall with his arms folded. “What are you doing here this early?”
“I’ll walk you to the transport,” Kevin said, putting his hand on Jake’s shoulder. “I came by because we didn’t get a chance to talk last night.”
“What do you want to talk about?”
“Jake, you know that I love you, right?”
“Of course I do.”
“Well, I just don’t remember the last time I told you, so I wanted to let you know before you took off.”
“Why did you want to tell me now?”
“I don’t know. I just thought that I should.”
Jake could tell that there was something bothering Kevin. He stopped, turned, and looked at the man who had been his father for nearly twenty-five years. “What’s bothering you?”
“What? Oh, nothing I just needed to tell you that I love you.”
“C’mon, Dad. I can read you like a book and can tell when something is bothering you.”
Kevin was stunned and flooded with emotion. That was the first time Jake had called him “Dad” in a long time. “Jake, promise me that you will be careful out there, okay? And if you don’t find this so-called wormhole, you will land on Mars, do a quick search, and come home. I don’t know if I could handle it if I lost you.”
Jake felt his emotions rise to the surface again. The last two days were the most he had cried since his aunt’s death. Shouldn’t he be out of tears by now? “You think something might go wrong up there too, huh?”
Kevin gave Jake a puzzled look. “What do you mean? You don’t know if this will work either?”
“Honestly, I don’t, but don’t let my crew know. This theory that Skip has come up with just seems too outrageous. How do we know the shuttle will even hold together once we enter the wormhole? And, how do we know if the original crew is even alive on this theorized planet on the other side? There are so many things we don’t know, and yet, we’re still going.”
Kevin stopped walking and turned to look at Jake. “If you think that this mission is going to fail, why did you accept to command this mission?”
“I don’t know. I think I did it mostly because …” Jake paused and lowered his head. “Well, if there’s even the slightest chance of bringing my dad back home alive, I would give anything in this world to do it. Even if my dad is dead, and I find his remains on Mars or on some other world, to bring him home for a proper burial would bring closure to all of those years of wondering what had happened to him.”
“I know what you mean,” said Kevin.
Kevin and Jake began to walk down the long hallway again. There was a long silence between the two until they reached the doors that led to the transport. Jake was about to punch in the code to open the doors when Kevin grabbed his arm. “Before you go, Jake, I want to say a prayer with you.”
“C’mon. You know I don’t believe in God anymore.”
“I know, but it will help me feel better.”
Kevin prayed with Jake. He felt a little foolish standing in the hallway praying, but he didn’t care. He wanted God to watch over Jake and bring him home safely. He also prayed that Jake would find Adrian alive and bring him home. As soon as he said this, he heard Jake sniffle, as if he was beginning to cry.
Kevin finished the prayer and looked at Jake. Jake had his thumb and index finger on his eyes, rubbing the tears away. “Are you okay, son?”
Jake looked up and gave Kevin a hug. Kevin hugged him back, not wanting to let go. Jake pulled away. “Yeah, I’m okay. It’s just that … when you prayed to find my dad and bring him home safely, I had a weird sensation come over me that I have never felt before.”
Kevin smiled and said, “You know what that was, don’t you?”
Jake frowned. “Oh, don’t go telling me that it was the spirit or Holy Ghost type of thing. I won’t believe it anyway.”
The door that led to the transport slid open, and Skip stood there with an impatient look on his face. “Jake, there you are. We’ve been waiting for you. C’mon, we’ve got to get prepped.”
Jake turned around and looked at Kevin. He smiled. No more words needed to be said. He turned back and followed Skip to the transport.
Kevin watched as his son walked to the transport. Oh, how he loved that boy. He could remember when he was six years old as if it was yesterday. He remembered how they used to shoot hoops together, toss the football and baseball around, and water ski whenever they had the chance.
As the transport sped away toward Mars II, Kevin felt a flurry of emotions flood within him. On one hand, he felt good about Jake’s ability to return home safely. Yet, on the other, he had an uneasy feeling that this mission was the beginning of something bigger than he or Jake, or for that matter – bigger than anything humanity had ever faced – but he couldn’t quite figure it out.
**********
Three Months Later. March 25, 2042 – Approaching Mars …
Jake was engrossed in reading a set of scriptures that Ashley had given him for Christmas. He was lying on his bed with his left arm propped up by his elbow and holding the book open with his right hand.
Even though he didn’t know for sure if God actually existed, he continued to keep the promise he had made to Ashley of reading the scriptures daily. What was surprising to him was that he was beginning to feel that maybe, just maybe, there was a God and that God was watching out for him and his father. Every time he thought about it, chills would shoot up and down his spine, leading him to think that he was being guided. But then his logical side would take over, telling him that it wasn’t possible. After all, he was a pilot, trained to rely on his own senses, not some unforeseen spirit. Nonetheless, he still questioned, and that was what terrified him the most.
Suddenly, the communicator to Jake’s quarters buzzed, snapping him out of his daydream.
“Come in.”
The door to Jake’s quarters slid open. Skip walked in with a smile on his face.
Jake gave him a curious look. “What are you so happy about?”
Skip grabbed the chair located next to Jake’s desk, turned it around, and sat, resting his forearms on its back. “Ah, reading the Bible, huh?”
“Yeah, I promised Ashley that I would.”
Skip seemed to perk up a bit with the mention of Ashley. “Your cousin? Oh, she’s a looker.”
Jake smiled and said, “She’s what … twelve years younger than you?”
Skip cocked his head to one side. “Hey, I know beauty when I see it. In fact, I think after this mission is over, I may just ask her out.”
Jake’s body stiffened. Even though Ashley was constantly teasing or insulting him, he still wanted to protect her. “Over my dead body,” he retorted.
Skip laughed. “Hey, that can be arranged. We’re in space, after all.”
<
br /> Jake chuckled. “Shut up.”
After a few seconds of laughing, Skip changed the subject. “So, have you found Jesus yet?” he asked with a nod of his head toward the scriptures on Jake’s bed.
Jake looked up, his joy quickly turning to discouragement. “Trust me, Skip. I’ve been a around God my whole life. My family is extremely faithful, so you would think I would have found him. But … the only thing that God has brought me is pain and suffering. He took my mom and dad away when I was young. And he killed my Aunt Diane, even though I prayed nonstop for her to survive her cancer. Why would God do that? In my opinion, He’s either a hateful, vengeful God, or He doesn’t exist at all.”
Skip quickly stood up and pushed the chair he was sitting in to the side, surprising Jake. “Don’t you dare speak about God that way! He loves you more than you know. We weren’t placed on Earth just to get by. We are challenged to make us stronger. You, being in the military, should know that more than anyone. Look at your Brother, Jesus; he suffered for you and me. He suffered more than anyone in the history of our planet—”
Skip stopped, and tears poured out of his eyes.
Jake was speechless. He didn’t know what to say. Whenever he offended God or tried to deny His existence to his uncle, Kevin would simply try to console Jake and reassure Jake of God’s existence. But not Skip. Here stood a close friend, almost a brother, rebuking Jake for his lack of faith and ignorance.
Skip quickly regained his composure and spoke in a softer tone. “Jesus suffered for you. He suffered so you could return to live with your mom, dad, and Aunt Diane again. If it wasn’t for Him and your Father in Heaven, we would be lost forever. So you better get your faith back quick, Jake, because you’re going to need it during this mission.”
Before he could respond, Jake heard the voice of Taylor Young, the third member of his crew, through the comlink in his ear.
“Jake?”
Jake, still looking at Skip like a scolded child, cleared his throat. “Wh … What is it, Taylor?”
“Jake, we’re approaching Mars.”
“All right. We’ll be right there.”
Worlds Without End: The Mission (Book 1) Page 5