Over the course of time, Josh becomes a key figure in Martian evolution and peace. He becomes highly respected by many, taking after his father.
Seven and Xeilya Sphere – Shortly after Zero’s dismantlement, Valkyrie and Seven decide to withdraw themselves from all official involvement on Mars and disappear to their own separate journey. Over the years, they maintain telepathic and occasional face to face contact with Josh but the public never saw them directly again.
Mars – Mars has seen many troubles over the years. Many conflicts and wars, battles and struggles but the people eventually learn. They feel the fire and they know why it burns. In time, The Martian people grow away from the nonsensical violence and aggression stemmed from earth.
They become more responsible, caring and strong individuals with emphasis on keeping their world non-overpopulated, secure, safe, joyful, strong and wise. Mars also becomes the first planet to establish official alien contact with a race containing technology a few hundred years in advance.
Due to the drastic difference in the Martians from the Earthlings, the two worlds become estranged from each other. Consciousness related evolution takes a serious hold on Martians, after deeper studies beyond Zero, concerning the Sirians, and earthling origins reveals new chapters of our place in the universe. Due to the increasing knowledge, Martians dismantle all religious influences in their world and seek only true spirit teachings, finding solace in the Universal Consciousness; Creation.
Mars also becomes a respectable technological haven, pointing their scope toward geothermal energy and assuring their world is clean from pollution. Their genetic advancements increase the average lifespan of the Martian to over 600 years and they also reduce the aggressive genes within their bodies.
However, through their studies, they still wish to venture out into space to find the Sirians. By the year 2447, the Martian council makes a decision to send Astraea back in time to properly evaluate each timeline, stemming back since the original Sirians entered the solar system up to the events of Zero Sphere, to find proper firsthand information in order to prepare them for the mission to Sirius: To confront and peacefully deal with the people who spliced our genetics in ancient times.
ACT SIX
The Timeless Drifter
2448, The Timeless Drifter Speaks…
People always ask me two things, ‘Who are you?’ and ‘Where do you come from?’ And the answer should be easy. I shouldn’t second question my name or the soil I grew up on, but there’s something more I always wish to say. Something they won’t quite understand, so I keep to the basics. My name’s Astraea and I come from a town named Spherical on the planet Mars.
‘How? There’s no life on Mars…’ The more ancient peoples would sometimes suggest.
And they’re right, at least, in their time but in my time – it’s blooming with life. The grass is green, the air’s breathable, the sky’s deep blue; not the pale blue earthlings used to see from their deteriorating world. My people learned from their mistakes. We decided to act against the irrationality of our forefathers and move onto a better world, together. It’s a shame earth didn’t follow those footsteps immediately, but they’re catching up. Slowly but surely, they’re catching up.
Only minutes ago I waved goodbye to The Sphere’s family yet the moment my beamship warped and distorted spacetime around it, I went back in a Time Far Away – 2448. Two years ago, The Martian council presented me with a mission. They wanted me to be their firsthand chronicler. The gatherer of history as it really happened. No stories to be told. No fables handed down, twisted and turned into whoever’s liking the way they wanted it unfolded. My duty, was to find truth so that the information I come back with today will be used to make an unbiased, logical, wise decision as to whether or not we are going to Sirius.
Least that should be the end of my task. Pictures of a memory a few days ago flashes into my mind.
“So…” The ancient Martian carefully walks around his words – “Do you have someone to go back to?”
Now why would you ask me that Colin?
Of course I do
“Surely.” I told him.
‘Surely’, I can’t wait to see him. My husband to be? Of course.
I know why the council chose us. They could see the displacement in me. From a child I always felt like I belonged out there. Traveling to distant times and even different worlds was bound to happen for me. As far as him, maybe they chose him to venture out there and push our technology because he’s always been a man of courage. A man of bravery and strength. My Leo. We make a great team don’t we?
Both of us were always willing to take the next step for our world. To enforce what we’ve learned, to teach, to learn, to grow and to push ourselves as much as we can. I know why they picked us, and that’s why I couldn’t argue against it. All I know is that I’ve done my time and I hope you’ve done yours.
I’ve seen spaceships of fleeing refugees looking for a new home in an abandoned solar system, nations on Malona rise and tear themselves to ruin, the birth of religion, the tears of a mother aching for her lost child, humans from here, there, far and wide, and yet none of that compares to the love that kept me going for that moment I’ll get to see you again. I’ve missed you so much, and I think it’s about time we earned our rest. I’m coming home.
“Welcome back.” The council greets me.
They’re all smiles and warmth, hugs and claps. Happy to see me return. Proud one of their own did it. No help from outside hands, especially Earth. All this, the people who made the ship, the plan to go back in time from the beginning of Mars to the events of Zero Sphere, all this – planned, calculated and executed by Martians. It’s something we can all be proud of together. No man’s an island. I might’ve been the one to do the traveling, but I’ll never forget the people who made it actually happen.
“How are you feeling?” Monasos, the Council’s Interstellar Minister asks me directly and somewhat privately I’d say, in front of the rest of the council.
I wondered what they’d wear when I came back. Nothing too different from what I imagined. Comfortable and functional – the usual in this time. It’s always interesting to observe the clothing of the different times. There was a time people dressed for the delusion they labeled as ‘style’. In my time, people have changed.
“Fine.” I reply to Monasos, my eyes drifting around the room to familiarize myself in the world again. The soothing, meditative whites, the few detail with plants and trees outside to place a distinct emphasis on technology and nature as one. The council room felt different, but it wasn’t. The thing that’s different, is me.
I’ve seen so many different ways each time wants to do their style. Our chairs aren’t about looks, they’re about comfort and how much they can help us forge a better spine. We’re creatures that lost unnecessary complications. Humans that don’t beat around the bush.
“You ready for the checkup and debriefing?” Lea, the councilwoman snaps me into focus.
“Certainly.” I tell her.
They take me to the medical room. It mirrors the same theme as the rest of the building. Simple, to the point, meditative and balanced. Instead of humans, androids come to my aid. They look just like us in this time. In the Sphere’s time, they had rubber skin and their independent intelligence was just evolving. Here, there’s no rebellion. No possible uprising. All that’s fixed. All those times of war, and chaos, the battles, the tears, we’ve learned from it and we won’t make those mistakes again.
The medical check comes back positive. My general senses are fine; sight, hearing, feeling, smelling, taste, instinct, extrasensory and, my psychological evaluation turns up favorable.
Overall, one could say with absolute certainty, the trip didn’t best me. It took me to the depths and sent me out to the blue, yet it never lost me. In the end, I came back and I feel stronger, more capable. I’m ready for more.
They lead me to the council’s main meeting room. A medium sized ar
ea containing few, small white seats surrounding a long rectangular white desk in the middle of the room, with windows showing windy, but not hostile looking trees outside.
“Are you ready to report?” They ask, despite already having read my reports. They’re not asking in a suspicious nature. After all, they already have a precise idea of what I should say. They’re asking me to relay the information first hand because here, in my time, we respect people. We don’t only look at statistics and make a decision based on numbers alone. That’d be rather unwise. There are other factors to consider. Psychological for one and a list of other unseen, feeling-swinging-wave-based emissions that can only be related from genuine human to human conversation. That’s why it’s important for us to carefully, and of course, patiently discuss my findings because my findings will influence the final decision if we’re going to Sirius or not.
“Let’s start from the beginning.” Monasos insists.
Solar Opus
Three times she felt herself embraced in the reported memories. One time, a far away venture where she saw armies of ships scraping to the once blue, old Martian world. A time when Adam didn’t exist yet.
The ships claimed their new lands, knowing they’d evade their enemies in a desolate, old solar system – one that was soon destined to become barren on a cosmic scale. The Time Traveler visited these people, protected with her futuristic gadgets. Some were reasonable, others could sense her difference from the rest. She walked among them for months, taking reports of their culture, skipping from era to era, sometimes backwards, sometimes forwards; in order to get it just right and no less than anything but the truth.
She knew what was at stake, even when she’d travel to the time of The Spheres. She was more careful then, knowing her limited influence in a region of space that no longer catered to any alterations she’d dare try to make. She had to watch, firsthand, over months, years and decades while she skipped from this time to the next, fixated on her mission.
Then there was also another time – one in a time beyond hers. There, she found what she most certainly did not expect. A report she kept hidden; for whatever it is she had seen, she would not reveal so openly. It was not of a lying nature, she held her secret – it was for the good of mankind.
The Time Traveler knew many things. Many, many things. She had traveled very far and very wide, yet she never become arrogant. Seeing as much as she did instead turned her to a more modest light. She always knew that one day, the time would come when she’d have no choice but to protect the world she came from.
The Timeless Drifter’s Service
“We thank you greatly. You have done a monumental service for all of mankind.” Monasos had to have the final closing word amongst the council. He placed his hand over his heart and slowly closed his eyes with a smile of kindness. The rest of the council followed his action and so did I.
They were pleased with my findings but the decision could not be made in a single day. I took my leave. It was time for me to return home. It’s been a long journey. I grabbed the few supplies I came with, tossed it into my backpack then I took one last look at my beamship and thought all the times we went through together.
‘All things come to an end.’ I whispered in my mind to the ship, sleeping in the hangar, ‘For things to come anew.’
After that, no more words needed to be said. I went for the exit.
“Astraea.” Monasos called to me on my way out
“Can I help you?” I asked him as I turned around
“Not right now.” He smiled, “I only wanted to tell you that, it’s good to have an old friend back.”
My smile was a good enough response
“So.” He continued, “Where you off to?”
“Home.” I told him truthfully, my feet, antsy to get going
“Need a ride?”
I looked around thoughtfully. Could’ve summoned my own worldship to get home, but I supposed some company wouldn’t have been a bad idea to familiarize myself with my people again
“Sure.” I walked over to him giving the implication of urgency to go and go right now. He reached for the buttons on his utility belt and pressed a few of them. In less than half a minute, his worldship came overhead and sat itself down on the lawn.
“Let’s go.” He led me.
Worldships are a class of beamships solely designed for inner planetary travel. They don’t house dimension shifters or hyperdrives and their top speed is limited to less than the speed of light. They’re also equipped with an intelligence of their own. This intelligence acts as an overseer in case the pilot may go wrong, or miss a miniscule detail that may cost his life.
Both of us stepped under the ship and instantly we were beamed up into the vessel. Inside, I took a seat on one of three armchairs and propped my head up, using my fist against my jaw.
“Has Mars changed at all?” I asked reflectively
“Nothing stays the same.” Monasos was tinkering with the ship’s controls, “A lot has changed since you’ve been gone.”
Hmph, not surprising.
“Care for a small detour?” He asked.
“Where to?”
“An old favorite.”
I shuffled through my head thinking about the possibilities of what that could mean. I have a few favorites and some of them, can’t be accessed in this time. I’m certain I haven’t forgotten any major event. Nevertheless, I chose to remain silent and take in whatever may come my way.
“Here. Over here, come.” He pointed outside the ship’s windows.
I got out of the chair and went over to him, though I must confess the chair was rather, too comfortable. It’s like it was calling me to sit back and relax or nap. Outside paved the beautiful picture of an old, misty, pine tree forest I used to run away to when I was a child.
“Why did you bring me here?” I wondered out loud, eyes still reconnecting to the old memories and in some ways, connecting to the new trees.
“Remember when we were children? Leo, you and I?” Monasos asked with a twinkle in his eye
“Sure.”
“We used to come here. A long time ago, just us, children. Wanting to find out more. Wanting to know more. It was a special time for me.”
“You weren’t the only one to hold those memories dear. I still wonder why you’ve brought me here.”
Monasos folded his arms, “Astra, you and Leo are my best friends. I’m very happy you came back, now I’m waiting on him.”
I smiled at Monasos. I know I can be the type to appear, outwardly, cold, while Leo was warm one amongst the three of us. Monasos kept a nice balance.
“Hey…” I placed my hand on his shoulder to get him to look at me and not the beautiful scenery over the midday’s sun – “Leo is coming back. If I made it back, you know he will. He’s always been the one to push us. To make sure we get what we’re supposed to get. SEEK will make It back.”
“Certainly…” He dismissed any further lesson about his friend, “It’s just… I’m not sure how to tell you this…”
“Speak truthfully.” I used a sterner tone. This was not the type for beating around the bush.
“We haven’t heard from the SEEK team in over two months nor have we been able to track their ship. His crew entered a blackout zone. We’re still not sure what happened.”
“A ‘blackout zone’?”
I wasn’t repeating what he said out of ignorance. I was asking out of surety
“We sent another crew out to investigate last week. We should be hearing from them within the next two days.”
“I’ve been on blackout zones myself. Sometimes for over a month.”
“This is different. You maintained contact at the earliest opportunity. They haven’t.”
I really wasn’t sure what to say. He was telling me that Leo, had gone missing and they weren’t sure where he’d be. I just stood there. Silent. Words really unable to leave my mouth and the scenery outside, making it worse. I couldn’t be here anymore. I ne
eded to go home.
“Astra?” Monasos interrupted the silence, “You alright?”
“I am fine.” I swiftly responded – “SEEK will come back and Leo will be there with them.” My eyes trotted around the trees outside.
Leo will come back
He always comes back. What’s to stop him now? I moved away from the windows, having taken in enough of the old sights for the day. I needed to go home. My body felt weary. My mind felt heavy. So much racing through my head. All I needed now, was simply some rest.
Monasos dropped me home a few minutes later. My home was a good distance away from the rest of civilization, closer to another forested area. There was a medium sized circular housing and my garden – a perfect combination of peace and tranquility with only the birds around to sing with modest chirping with a small lake in my backyard. He sat the ship down, away from my lawn – respecting the garden. As I waved him goodbye, I looked across the blooms of the newly grown flowers. That was not my action. There was only one possible suspect for the growth of new plant life. And she stepped out my front door, nearly bursting into tears of joy the moment she saw me. My sister, Pleija.
“Astraea! Astraea!” She shouted as she ran to me excitedly. Pleija was a young adult, about 22 going on 23 but you wouldn’t know that the way this girl ran into my arms hugging me and forcing me, naturally to drop the backpack over my shoulder to embrace her fully. She squeezed me tightly. I could feel her warmth and the longing come to an end, at last, now that her big sister was back home.
“Welcome back! Welcome back! How was it?”
“Ple…”
“What did you see out there? How far did you travel?”
“Ple, Ple, Ple – ease down, my girl. We have plenty of time.”
“Yes, yes. Of course. I’m so glad you’re back! I’ve missed you, no, we’ve all missed you. There were times we were so worried…”
Zero Sphere: A Space Opera Thriller Page 21