Worlds Without End: The Mission (Book 1)

by Shaun F. Messick

CHAPTER 13: THE BELOVED

  Earth-Salt Lake City, Utah ?

  Kevin stood along with Adam and the rest of the restless crowd within the arena that bore his company's name: Compu-Tech Arena. The arena had been built five years before and was the new home of the NBA's Utah Jazz. On this night, the Jazz were playing the Los Angeles Lakers. The game was tight in the fourth quarter, and Sam Johnson, the Jazz's all-star shooting guard, had just made a spectacular lay-up and was fouled.

  The entire crowd was frenzied. The shot was incredible and brought the Jazz to within one point of the Lakers. Kevin looked at his sixteen-year-old son. Adam screamed and shot a fist into the air. Kevin clapped and smiled. This was a pleasant break from work, his worries about Jake, and the strange shuttle he had seen just two days earlier.

  The crowd continued to stand, but became deathly silent as Sam Johnson made his way to the free-throw line. Kevin's cell phone vibrated. He looked at it to see who was calling. It was Michael Konrad from NASA. He lifted the phone to his ear. "This is Kevin Palmer."

  "Kevin. Good. Your daughter said you were at the game. I hate to interrupt your fun. I have the game on here at the office. It's good. But anyway, this is important. I-"

  The crowd went nuts as Sam Johnson hit the free throw that tied the game.

  "Mike ? I can't hear you! Let me go out into the concourse!" Kevin turned and began to make his way out when Adam grabbed his arm.

  "Where are you going, Dad? You can't miss this!"

  Kevin showed Adam his phone. "Got an important call from Michael Konrad!"

  Adam nodded and turned his attention back to the game.

  A few moments later, Kevin was out in the concourse, away from the noise of the crowd. He looked at the visual image instead of holding the phone to his ear. "Go ahead, Mike. I can hear you now."

  "Sorry, but this is important. The FBI, the CIA, the military, and not to mention the President, have been on my butt all day."

  "What? Why would they be questioning you?"

  "The shuttle we saw go through the wormhole just beyond Mars a couple of days ago ? well ? it arrived today."

  "And ??"

  "Well, you were right, Kevin. This shuttle isn't a modified version of Mars II."

  "Well, then ? who or what is it?"

  "I don't know. But this shuttle wasn't shy about avoiding our satellites. In fact, that's why the government is questioning me. The government saw what we at NASA saw as well."

  "What did you see?"

  "The shuttle orbited Earth for a few hours. During its orbit, it dropped off about two hundred small probes."

  "What kind of probes?"

  "We don't know. We tried to contact the shuttle in every language known to man, but no response. That's why the government is questioning me. They think we launched some sort of secret shuttle without their permission."

  "Where is the shuttle now?"

  "Well, as soon as it dropped off the probes, it took off back toward Mars. We're tracking its course."

  Kevin was frustrated. This was clearly not the news he was hoping to hear. "What about Jake? Have you heard anything from Jake?"

  "Sorry, Kevin. We're monitoring the wormhole twenty-four-seven. It's even opening and closing more frequently. The only shuttle that has gone through was the shuttle we saw a few days ago."

  Kevin shook his head. His worst fears were beginning to come to fruition. Maybe Jake and Adrian were stranded on some strange planet, or worse - dead. "It's not your fault, Mike. Just keep me posted, okay?"

  "I will. And, by the way, when are you going to be in Washington D.C. next?"

  "I have to meet with the Congressional Technology Committee in June. Why?"

  Mike seemed uncomfortable on the other end of the phone. He sighed and said, "Well, President Galbraith and his advisers want to meet with you personally about the shuttles you helped design."

  Kevin gave Mike an annoyed look. "I kind of figured."

  Mike nodded. "Kevin, they're not blaming us. They're just suspicious that's all. ? Listen, Kevin, I've got to go. I'll talk to you later."

  "Yeah. Bye, Mike."

  Kevin put his phone back into his pocket. He turned to go back into the arena, but he didn't feel like it, even though the crowd was frenzied and the game was coming down to the wire. He sighed and turned toward the exit.

  Once outside, he sat on the steps leading up to one of the entrances and buried his head in his hands. Desperation began to set in as the events of the last few days began to overwhelm him. He was beginning to lose faith. Would he ever see Jake or Adrian again? In addition, he had an uneasy feeling that something wasn't right about this new shuttle he had seen come through the wormhole.

  He lifted his head and looked up at the stars. He didn't know the answers to his questions, so he decided to take a walk around the arena for some air and to clear his mind. He sighed, stood up, and began walking.

  As he walked, his mind was still in a fog. He knew what he needed to do, so he looked around for a secluded spot near the arena. Looking to his right, he saw a small concrete staircase that led down to a maintenance door. Knowing he wouldn't be seen or heard, and appreciating the solitude, he made his way down the steps and knelt on his knees. He then began to offer a fervent prayer to his Father in Heaven. In his prayer, he gave thanks for everything that he had been blessed with in his life. He then asked for answers to the questions that had been plaguing him since the discovery of the strange wormhole.

  He also asked about another issue that had been on his mind for some time. For years, many people began to question whether Christ was actually going to return like He had promised. After all, scholars and believers alike had been predicting that the Lord's return was imminent. But with the passing years, and the entire world relatively at peace, many believers were beginning to question the doctrine on the Second Coming of Christ.

  When he finished his prayer, he continued to kneel and sat in silent reflection as he looked up at the stars.

  "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only."

  Kevin jumped up from his kneeling position and whirled around, looking up at the top of the steps. "I'm sorry? Wh ? Who are you?"

  Standing at the top of the steps was a man, tall and strong, dressed in blue denim pants with a Jazz jersey and a Jazz baseball cap. The man gave Kevin a warm smile. "I'm sorry, Kevin. I didn't mean to startle you."

  Kevin walked cautiously up the steps. He didn't know why, but there was something inviting about the strange man. When he arrived at the top, the man extended his hand. Kevin extended his as well and the two men shook hands.

  The man, still smiling, introduced himself. "I'm John."

  Kevin returned John's smile as he become more relaxed. "Hi, John. Do we know each other?"

  The lights from the arena reflected off John's dark brown eyes as he spoke. "We haven't met, but I do know who you are, Kevin - the man who invented artificial intelligence."

  Kevin nodded in return. After all, most of the people in Salt Lake, and the world for that matter, knew who he was.

  John continued. "Like I said before, I didn't mean to startle you. I was just coming out of the Arena and I heard someone speaking down there," he said, pointing down toward the maintenance door, "I shouldn't have eavesdropped on your prayer."

  "It's okay," Kevin said. "I've just had a lot of questions lately. You know, since my nephew's disappearance near Mars."

  "Ah yes, you've been through a lot, Kevin. I'm sorry for your losses - first your brother and then your nephew."

  Kevin gave the man an accepting smile. "Thank you. ? But wha ? what was that you said before ? about knoweth no man?"

  John continued to give Kevin a warm smile as he spoke. "I quoted Matthew chapter twenty-four, verse thirty-six. No man knows when Christ will come again, Kevin. Not even the angels in heaven."

  Kevin looked a little disappointed. "Yeah, I know. I'm just trying to figure things out."

  J
ohn nodded again compassionately. "You know, I have been following your story in the news. I know the questions you have about what happened to your brother and where he is now."

  Kevin felt the emotions of loss and pain bubble to the surface again as he looked at the kind man with sadness in his eyes. John seemed to notice and continued. "What if I were to tell you that Adrian and Jake are being watched over by the Lord?"

  Kevin gave the strange man a look of confusion. "What do you mean? H ? how would you know that?"

  The man smiled. "Let's just call it intuition. I have a strong feeling that they are alive and well, performing a greater calling. You know it as well, Kevin. Search your feelings and put away your logic and reasoning. Use your faith."

  With these words, tears began to stream down Kevin's face. He had known all along that Adrian was alive. But without seeing him with his physical eyes, he couldn't believe it. Somehow, he even knew that Jake was okay. But he didn't know what to say. The emotions were too strong.

  John recognized his loss for words and continued. "And, to answer your question about that strange ship and probes the news has been reporting on ? who knows? ? Only the Lord. But the scriptures have taught us only what the signs of the times are, not necessarily how they will come to be."

  John then placed his hand on Kevin's right shoulder. "Just remember, Kevin, rely on the Lord and he will show you the way."

  Kevin smiled and was about to speak when fans began to file out of the arena. His phone rang, and the image of his son appeared. "That's my son," he said, looking down at his phone. "The game must be over, and he's probably wondering where I am."

  Before he answered the phone, he looked up to thank the kind man for his words of comfort and advice. However, the man was gone. He looked around through the crowds of fans that were filing out of the arena, searching for John as his phone continued to ring.