The Gate

by Jennifer N Hibbert

  Kevin was enjoying the show about his life – but at that point in the story disaster struck. Kevin and Cynthia were not getting along anymore and Cynthia was beginning to reject his gestures of affection. At first, when he spoke to her about it, she told him she was having a hard time adjusting to work again. Kevin tried to understand and hoped that giving her a little time would help – until the day he caught her cheating with a man in their own home, just over a year after she returned to work.

  When Kevin saw who Cynthia was cheating with, he almost passed out; it was his best friend Matthew.

  Kevin was completely devastated. He threw up violently. He left home and stayed in a hotel downtown, refusing to contact anyone or let them know his whereabouts. He drank heavily and, to make sure he stayed continually drunk, he carried with him a miniature bottle of liquor. He thought it would help numb his pain. A few days later, he bought a ticket to travel to the Seychelles to try and pacify his rage before he did something, he would later regret.

  The night before he was due to travel, he decided to walk to the local bar in town to drink. He wanted to savour the beauty of the nearby parks, since he had no idea when he would return to New Orleans. Past midnight, when he was returning to his hotel, he swayed like a sailboat’s mast in a gusty wind – and that was when the Gatekeepers’ malfunctioning ship crashed onto him.

  Seeing that made him gasp for air and he struggled in anguish. The book closed with a snap and Kevin’s head jerked back, like he was suddenly coming up from a dream. All his past memories came flooding back and the projection stopped.

  CHAPTER 17

  KEVIN ACCEPTS THE OFFER TO BECOME THE GATE

  ‘Wow!’ exclaimed Kevin.

  ‘Yes, that just about covers the whole story,’ Calbas said and nodded his head. The lizard also nodded.

  It was the most bizarre experience Kevin had ever had. The process had opened his mind, allowing him to travel through time from the present to the past and back again. He never would have believed the remarkable sequence of events that had brought him to Mars Harrogate if he hadn’t seen it through his own eyes.

  Kevin reflected on his life, the good and the bad. He had a look at the job requirements supernaturally. He liked the possibility of seeing the invisible and being able to do cool stuff other people would only dream of. He was happy to think that he could help the universe and the human race as a whole, especially now that he recognised why some people might be eager to relocate to Mars. If he’d known about the migration project in the midst of his problems, perhaps he would also have jumped at the opportunity. He wondered if all of the Mars migrants were trying to escape a tragedy or looking for a fresh start. If so, the population would be made up of broken people, bonded through pain. He wondered if such people could learn to open themselves up to love again. He remembered what Calbas had said about the human spirit and how resilient it could be.

  His mind flashed to the history lessons he’d had in school: how civilisations were sometimes culminations of people all looking for something else.

  From Calbas’s expression, it looked as though he expected him to say something more than just ‘Wow!’ or at least to show some excitement.

  ‘Interesting,’ Kevin added as he continued to look calmly at both Calbas and Tobus.

  ‘I know! It’s a fascinating time in our work,’ Calbas replied. ‘Like I said, what happened to you was an accident. As reassurance, I want to reiterate that we didn’t target you. The crash was unplanned but we also believe it was divinely directed. We believe that the Gate has a say in who will carry the vessel. This Gate Vessel is a balance of the supernatural and technology and more. We are hoping it will be one of our best works so far.’

  ‘Wow,’ Kevin gasped again.

  ‘We will understand completely if you don’t want to accept this offer; the choice is still yours. If you do decide to join us, please note that we cannot reverse the activation process once it’s complete. If you choose not to join us, we will return your Earth suit – that is, your body – to the street where you lived, to be discovered by your family who will then bury you.’ Calbas paused. ‘We will now give you the chance to decide. We wanted to make sure you had this opportunity.’

  Kevin was silent for a few seconds.

  Tobus stood anxiously by the table, darting his eyes between Kevin and Calbas. ‘Now what?’ he whispered to Calbas.

  Kevin thought Tobus and Calbas looked a bit nervous but he wasn’t sure as they were not giving away much in their expressions. It would take a lot of time to undo the process and they’d have to start over again if he said no.

  ‘Come on, let us know either way. We haven’t got all day to sit around. We’ve literally got the weight of the world on our shoulders,’ Calbas announced, sitting upright in the armchair.

  ‘Yeah, c’mon, join us, it will be fun,’ Tobus said, his voice high-pitched.

  ‘Yes,’ Kevin said.

  ‘Excuse me?’ Calbas said, not sure he’d heard him properly.

  ‘Yes . . . on one condition. You let me see my children again and I will be happy to do it,’ Kevin said.

  Calbas breathed a sigh of relief. ‘Of course, you can see your children again. But remember, they won’t know who you are because you won’t be yourself anymore. You will be the Gate.’

  An excited Tobus waddled across the room and threw his short arms across Kevin’s shoulders. ‘Welcome to the team! We’d better get going. Let me introduce you to everyone else,’ he said.

  ‘That won’t be possible; we’ve got work to do,’ Calbas intervened. ‘We have to complete the process. After that, you’ll have all the time in the world to meet and greet the rest.’ He stood up and started walking back to the laboratory where Kevin had woken up a couple of hours earlier. Kevin followed and Tobus trailed behind them.

  Upon entering the lab, Kevin noticed that the same people were in the room: the two men, the woman and the robot with the short crocodile legs. The robot instantly began to announce Kevin’s arrival. Calbas returned to his massive workstation and started preparations.

  The woman handed Kevin some lab clothes to change into. The outfit looked like a hospital dress of the sort that opens at the back for easy access. She returned to her computer monitor without saying a word.

  Kevin stood in front of the bed, clutching the change of clothes. Calbas looked up and saw him. He quickly gestured for him to change. Kevin realised there was nowhere private to change his clothes; the robot was standing right next to him. It doesn’t really matter, he told himself. They must have all seen me naked at some point while they were working on my body. However, he still turned to face the wall and changed quickly. Then he was directed back to the same metal table and he lay back down again.

  The woman skilfully attached tubes and apparatus to his body and head. She pulled down the huge spotlights from the ceiling to highlight his face. Within seconds, she had taken Kevin’s arm and injected him with a thick, bright-blue liquid from a large vial.

  That was the last thing Kevin remembered.

  CHAPTER 18

  THE MIGRANTS ARRIVE ON MARS

  On board the Go-Go Kedson spacecraft, James Carna listened eagerly when he heard the blare of a siren. It was loud enough to be heard in every corner of the ship and to wake any passenger who was asleep in their cabin. He was happy they had finally arrived. He had learned of their arrival date when he’d visited the cockpit the day before, as he’d continued to do throughout their journey. He saw the fearful look on some of the passengers’ faces; they did not know whether they’d arrived or the ship had run into trouble. Going by what the commander had said when they first entered the ship, the space flight could take up to three hundred days but they would try to make it in 150 days and at most two hundred days.

  The commander, Tidor Thomson, had triggered the alarm system.

  All of the migrants started to emerge from various parts of the ship to the second deck, where they’d sat when they first boarded the spacesh
ip at the Channel of Exchange. They took the seats that had been assigned to them at the start of their journey and soon almost all of the allocated spaces were occupied.

  James glanced over at several empty seats and remembered the commander telling him about Martin’s ordeal. He felt sorry for the young man but he agreed with the commander’s decision to punish him for his recklessness, despite the brave act Martin and his friends had carried out at the Channel of Exchange. As for the missing drunk prisoners, James had personally reported some of them to the authorities.

  The commander silenced the alarm. James could tell that the hairs on the back of some of the passenger’s necks and arms were standing to attention; some were rubbing their hands on their arms, perhaps to tame the goosebumps. They were quieter than usual as they listened eagerly to find out why the commander had requested that they return to their seats. James overheard some people wondering if they had finally arrived; he heard them talking about the mixed feelings of both fear and excitement that surged through their stomachs.

  James looked at Carrol. She seemed on edge, fearing the worst. Just then, James heard Mrs Tate’s voice and his eyes were quickly drawn to her.

  ‘What’s happening, dear?’ she asked her husband. ‘Has the ship encountered some problem? Is it entering an area of massive turbulence or experiencing a change in pressure?’ She clasped her hands tightly around the cream leather armrests, closing her eyes in case there was an issue.

  Mr Tate took one of her hands, trying to calm her down. ‘The commander has not said anything, so try not to panic,’ he said to her.

  As James looked around their coach, he discovered that Mrs Tate and Carrol weren’t the only ones who were afraid. Other faint-hearted passengers were bracing for a rough ride, or worse. He could see some clenching their jaws; others held their breath with their eyes closed.

  The commander’s voice soon reverberated through the speaker system. ‘All passengers, please fasten your seat belts for landing.’ The message was repeated, in case anyone hadn’t heard it correctly the first time.

  ‘Attention all passengers. Go-Go Kedson spacecraft number GKSC110X to Mars is nearing its final destination. It is with great pleasure that we can confirm that our journey will be completed within our estimated time of 150 days. On behalf of the crew on board this vessel and myself, Commander Tidor Thomson, we are happy to welcome you to your new city.

  ‘Congratulations to all of you for becoming the first citizens of Planet Mars. With the help of our staff who are already on the ground, I’m confident that you will now create a thriving community here on the Red Planet. We hope you find the experience as adventure-filled and enjoyable as you anticipated,’ the commander continued enthusiastically. He wanted to keep the spirit of the adventure fresh in their minds whilst also reminding them of the purpose and importance of the programme.

  Triumphant cheering and applause erupted from the passengers, who were relieved and excited. James’s eyes caught Carrol’s eye and she gave him a false smile before adjusting her body in her chair and quickly looking away.

  ‘Please take a moment to review your handbooks,’ the commander instructed. ‘They clearly state the dos and don’ts for life on your new planet. These rules are important to ensure your own safety, as well as the safety of your fellow inhabitants. All passengers are now required to complete the sign-in process before landing. Please place your index finger into the infrared scanner on the seat in front of you.’

  The migrants complied and the scanning process was soon completed electronically. The computer automatically registered those passengers who were being held in prison.

  ‘There will be three stages to your disembarkation and integration,’ the commander continued. ‘Firstly, you will alight from the spacecraft, assisted by a trained member of staff who will ensure your safety. Secondly, you will be escorted to the community centre, where you will be issued with a new spacesuit and extra-vehicular visor so you are appropriately equipped to survive in your new city. Thirdly, you will go through the identification process and be transferred to your living quarters.

  ‘When we dock, it will be early evening here on Mars, so it will be night-time before the processing is complete. Please be advised that you are encouraged not to leave your quarters today. The controlled air quality in your living quarters will allow you to gradually acclimatise to the atmosphere. We understand that some of you will be eager to explore but there will be many opportunities for that; after all, this is your home and you will have a lifetime to discover every aspect of it.’

  James smiled and applauded again, as did most of the other passengers. He saw some exchange warm glances and nods with each other; even he received some. A few neither cheered nor smiled; they looked overwhelmed, perhaps at the impending reality of their new lives.

  ‘Thank you for your attention. Once again, we welcome you all to your new planet, Mars,’ Thomson finished.

  Once the announcement ended, the spacecraft began its descent for landing. The passengers peered through the windows. A vast openness met their gazes: there were no structures, trees or signs of life. The landscape resembled a dry, patchy, crust-like plain.

  James, being a lover of architecture, watched avidly to see what their new city looked like from the sky. The cities on Mars weren’t yet visible to the naked eye but, as the ship began to descend, the migrants could make out the shape of their new, futuristic city below. James’s eyes lit up. It looked small but well-structured and meticulously planned. He was distracted when he heard Morgan’s voice.

  ‘This journey just isn’t the same without Martin. I really miss him,’ Morgan said softly.

  ‘How could he have been so stupid? I hope they’ll release him once we arrive,’ Chris said.

  Morgan exhaled with exhaustion before reclining in his seat, wondering if Martin would be released upon their arrival. James remembered the commander telling him that the boys had all been given a written warning that if they were caught committing any offence whilst on board, they would serve a long time in prison and might remain imprisoned in their new city. James gave it some thought and feared what would happen to Martin; would his prison term be transferred to Mars? James’s pity for Martin extended to the rest of his friends. They looked pitiful, as though they had been manhandled into quietness.

  As they continued to descend, James continued his observations: houses of different shapes and sizes had been built to withstand the harsh weather conditions. Some were raised on four iron pillars, as though on stilts, and were round in shape with contours and grooves. The roofs were dome-shaped to provide additional insulation.

  James’s eyes darted back to their coach. Several passengers were flipping through their handbooks, mentally preparing for their new environment. Meanwhile, the spaceship descended smoothly into its parking bay.

  As the door swung open, James saw men and women dressed in suits and ties boarding the ship. He was surprised to see people on Mars dressed in normal clothes rather than spacesuits. As he looked around, he saw the same surprised looks on the other passengers’ faces. He overheard some talking about it.

  James was among the first people to alight from the craft. Two of the personnel ushered him and some other passengers off the vessel and escorted them through a passageway into a large hall, where they were seated in rows. In front of them were ten rows of booths, where registration was completed.

  James watched as the migrants were called to a booth one at a time. They were then led to another open hall, where they were presented with their tailor-made spacesuits, including an extra-vehicular visor, which was designed to protect their heads while still allowing them to see as much as possible.

  Once everyone had received a suit, the migrants were driven by space buggy to their allotted houses. Larger buggies transported families who were travelling together and sharing a house. A staff member escorted each individual or family into their living quarters and helped them out of their spacesuits.

  J
ames saw Morgan and Koi getting processed. They looked sad, perhaps because of their friend Martin. Just as they were about to climb into their buggy, Martin walked towards them, also in a suit. The boys erupted with joy when they saw him. James was also very happy to see him; he concluded that the commander must have decided to pardon all the prisoners, giving them a clean start in their new city. James was overwhelmed with joy for the boys and listened in as they spoke.

  ‘Man, is that you?’ Morgan shouted. He clapped his hand over his mouth in surprise, ran to Martin and threw his arm around his shoulders. They were overjoyed to see him after more than a month.

  ‘Yeah, man,’ Martin replied as Koi hugged him tightly. The buggy collected the three boys and transported them to their shared house.

  James saw Chris and Monica being transported to their property, which was next door. They had just missed the other boys by a few minutes.

  CHAPTER 19

  THE MIGRANTS OCCUPY MARS

  Carrol hadn’t seen Zatol or Jerry during the remainder of the trip. Those last two weeks were the most difficult she’d had to endure.

  She craned her neck as she made her way off the spacecraft, still looking for both of them, but everyone was quickly directed through various doors and transported to their quarters so it was difficult to search.

  Her mind was racing. She realised she wasn’t likely to see Zatol walking around openly. Who knows if he succeeded in coming to Mars? she thought. There’s no way of knowing for sure, unless I see him again. She had virtually lost all hope of that happening.

  Carrol had an apartment to herself. As she settled into her new home, she continued thinking about Zatol. After all, he had been her first real friend before Jerry had come along. They had both disappeared like vapour. She picked up a pillow from her bed and tossed it across the room in frustration.