Worlds Without End: Aftermath (Book 2)

by Shaun Messick

  The room began to spin, and Adrian couldn’t focus. He pushed his chair back, bent over, and placed his head between his knees. He waited a few more minutes for the nausea to go away. Looking back up toward John, he choked out the words with trembling in his voice. “W-What changed?”

  John leaned back in his chair, his jovial expression returning. “If I knew the answer to that, then we wouldn’t be in this mess, would we? You are the only one with the answer, Adrian.”

  “Me?” Adrian questioned, shaking his head.

  “Go back to when you went through that wormhole. Other than discovering an alien civilization, was there anything out of the ordinary?”

  Adrian had to stand. He paced the room for a few seconds, racking his brain. His mind flashed back to when he and his crew abandoned Mars I, escaping in the NightHawk. They eventually crash-landed on Terrest. Memories of those first fifteen years on Terrest flashed through his mind. His appointment to command the Terrestrian armed forces, his marriage, and then the Gnols attacking.

  He continued to pace, replaying the memories over and over again, until it hit him. He stopped in mid-stride. “Abandoned … We abandoned Mars I.”

  John nodded, understanding where Adrian was going. “Go on,” he said.

  “Mars I,” Adrian continued as he began to pace again. “Mars I was basically the first successful artificial intelligent machine human beings created.”

  John’s eyes lit up.

  “She … It’s Maggie. Maggie was the nickname given by Sean Gibson to the Mars I Artificial Intelligence Entity, the shuttle’s computer.”

  John interjected before Adrian could go on. “And, if you think about it, Adrian, can intelligence or consciousness ever really be artificially created?”

  Adrian was still not sure of his theory. “But how? It doesn’t make sense.”

  The ageless apostle of Jesus Christ stood, walked over to Adrian, and placed his hands on Adrian’s shoulders. His wisdom and knowledge far exceeded Adrian’s, so it was easy for him to figure out. “Think about this. Some believe that intelligence or a consciousness, whatever you want to call it, begins with the spirit. We are the spirit children of God. There are good and bad spirits. The good spirits earned the privilege of having bodies on worlds without end that God has created. Our bodies are simply biological machines designed to hold our spirits. The bad spirits, because of their rebellion, didn’t earn the right to have a body. But if man were to create an artificial machine modeled after the same kind of circuitry as our brain, then we have just created a so-called body in which Satan and his followers could inhabit.”

  The weight and realization of John’s words hit Adrian like a sledgehammer. “My brother. H-he invented the first artificial intelligence. Mars I had the most sophisticated computer hardware and software known to mankind. And Maggie …”

  Adrian stopped, a lump forming in his throat.

  John stared with intensity into his eyes and finished what he was about to say. “Yes, Maggie, Adrian. She wasn’t just a computer. That shuttle you were on didn’t just have nine crewmembers. There was a tenth. She was just hidden in the computer system.”

  Adrian turned, slamming his fists on the table. His mouth was dry and the nausea returned. He turned back and met John’s stare with his own ferocity. “Mars I. Maggie. The shuttle didn’t just drift away into space. It crashed on Gnolom, only to be discovered by Koroan Chast. That’s what happened. Because of our free will, we created a machine capable of carrying an evil spirit from its prison and onto another world.”

  “Bingo,” said John, snapping his fingers. “Congratulations, you just figured it out. But don’t blame your brother or yourself, Adrian. You and Kevin were meant for great things, and God is proud of the decisions both of you have made. But, like I said before, Satan uses our agency to his advantage, even when the choices are good.”

  Adrian’s legs felt weak. He turned and sat back down in his chair. John returned to his as well. Adrian placed his head in his hands, rubbing his eyes with his fingers. The realization of what he had just learned was almost too much to comprehend.

  John waited a few seconds before he continued. “Even though we know that the computer system of Mars I was possessed by one of Satan’s underlings, it still doesn’t explain how Koroan Chast and Vlamer Kreuk were able to enhance their genetic abilities, more so than any other Gnol.”

  Adrian looked up from his hand, his eyes red from rubbing them too hard. “No. There must be something else on Gnolom. Something else Koroan found along with Maggie.”

  John nodded in agreement.

  Adrian was about to continue, when another thought popped into his head. “If Koroan has become so powerful, and if this entire scenario was one that God did not want to happen, then how are we supposed to win?”

  John settled back in his chair, a smile curving along his lips. “That, Adrian, is the right question. And lucky for the good guys, God always has a back-up plan in place. And that back-up plan, Adrian, involves your son and Koroan Chast’s very own daughter.”

  * * * * *

  Earth Time: 1 day later, July 20, 2042 . . .

  Kevin was shell-shocked, to say the least. He sat in the mess hall of Scott Air Force base, his tray of uneaten food sat in front of him. Adrian had just finished telling him everything, and he felt horrible. Even though John told Adrian not to blame him, he couldn’t help but feel personally responsible for creating artificial machines that could house evil spirits.

  “There’s one thing I don’t understand, Kevin,” Adrian said. “How come evil spirits aren’t inhabiting the artificial intelligence machines your company builds, and how come they aren’t running amuck here on Earth?”

  Kevin couldn’t comprehend the question. His mind was in a fog, and his mouth was too dry even to speak.

  “Kevin?”

  Kevin looked up from his food. “I’m sorry, Adrian. What did you ask?”

  “I said, how come evil spirits aren’t wreaking havoc on the entire world with your smart machines?”

  Kevin looked down again. The weight of Adrian’s question sitting square on his shoulders as the answer came to him. Clearing his throat, he said, “The computer system in Mars I was different.”

  “Different? How so?” Adrian questioned, a puzzled look on his face.

  “The circuitry for the smart processors I created for Mars I was the most sophisticated design I have ever created. In all the tests that I performed on the processors, the simulations matched the synaptic processes of the brain to near perfection. In fact, in some of the tests, the processors even outperformed the human brain.”

  Adrian leaned back in his chair, a look of shock on his face. “So what you’re telling me is that you basically created an artificial human brain?”

  “You could look at it that way,” Kevin answered. “I was very concerned with how well the processors processed information. At times, they would take on a life of their own. They would not accept my commands and would begin to make decisions on their own. As a result, I would have to terminate a test and destroy the processor.”

  Adrian leaned forward. Kevin could tell that the weight of what he was explaining was beginning to make sense.

  Kevin continued. “I never let my concerns be known to anyone at NASA. The Mars mission was too important. So I kept the design intact for the processors that were embedded in the computer system of Mars I. After you disappeared, I figured that Mars I took on a life of its own, killing all of you. That’s why after the investigation declaring the Mars I crew missing in action, I changed the design, so that artificial intelligence design could never be out of the control of human hands.”

  Adrian shook his head. “It still doesn’t make sense. I don’t remember any time that Maggie ever took control of the shuttle without our authorization codes. In fact, she tried to help when we were getting sucked into that wormhole.”

  “No, it doesn’t make sense,” Kevin responded. He then paused a few minutes, thinking a
bout the situation. “Maybe, the spirit knew something else. You did say that John told you that Koroan may have discovered something else on Gnolom besides Mars I, some sort of ancient secret. Maybe that’s why the spirit was dormant on the shuttle until the time was right.”

  Adrian thought about Kevin’s comment for a few moments. “Yeah, that could be it. So whatever it is, I need to get to Gnolom to find what that secret is. I also need to get back through that wormhole to warn Jake and Celeste. That is, if they’re still alive.”

  “But how are you going to get back to the wormhole? The U.S. military doesn’t have a spaceship and there is no way you’ll be able to steal a Gnol ship.”

  Adrian looked into his brother’s eyes. “I know, Kevin. But I’ve got to get back. To warn the others and to explain what I learned from John. I need to find a way. If not, there may not be any good left in the galaxy to fight for.”

  * * * * *

  Dorange stared out the plasma screen of his transport down to the spot where his attack would commence. His transport as well as the destroyers and space fighters under his command were holding a stationary position in orbit above the spot on Earth called St. Louis. Soon, he would order the attack that would finally destroy his old nemesis and commander, Adrian Palmer, as well as everything standing in his way to ultimate power.

  “Sir?”

  Dorange turned around and looked at the young Gnol pilot who was controlling the transport. The young pilot’s visor shielded his eyes. “What is it, Captain?”

  “The command destroyer has communicated that you have an urgent message coming in.”

  “From Lord Chast?” Dorange questioned.

  “No, sir. It’s not coming from Terrest. It’s coming from Gnolom.”

  “Gnolom? Who would be . . .” And then it hit him. “Dock with the command destroyer.”

  “But, sir. What about the attack?”

  Dorange glared at the young pilot. “Alert the rest of the fleet to delay the attack, and get me back to the command ship now!”

  The pilot nodded, ordered the delay, and sped the transport off toward the command destroyer.

  After a successful docking, Dorange made his way to the command bridge of his destroyer. When he entered the bridge, all of his subordinates stood to attention and saluted. “I’ll take this message in my quarters,” he said as he walked through the bridge and into his office.

  The door slid shut behind him and he turned to his right where he usually communicated with Koroan Chast through a hologram. He stepped upon the metal plate, the lights went off, and the image of the goddess of light appeared. Dorange was astounded. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes upon. Hovering in the air just a few feet above the floor of his office, her white robe fluttered around her as if there was a breeze whipping through the room and her long, blonde hair shimmered from the lights of the hologram projectors. Her crystal blue eyes met his.

  He immediately turned his gaze to the floor and knelt down on one knee to pay homage to his newfound deity.

  “Dorange Gar,” she said.

  Dorange didn’t know what to say. He was tongue-tied. After all, the goddess only appeared to Koroan Chast and Vlamer Kreuk, the chosen ones to save the Gnol race. He peeked up and met her eyes again. Her smile comforted him. Yet, he quickly ducked his head again. He couldn’t believe it. He didn’t even believe in a supreme being, let alone a goddess. “M-my Queen,” he muttered under his breath.

  “Arise, Dorange.”

  He stood, still not daring to look at the alluring goddess before him.

  “Dorange,” she continued, “do you know who I am?”

  Dorange looked up. A feeling of comfort resonated throughout his body. “Yes, your Highness, I-I know who you are.”

  The goddess flashed a smile at him. “I have a mission for you.”

  Dorange bowed his head again, humbled by the fact that he was communicating with a higher power. After all, she hovered in the air right before his very eyes. “What brings me the honor, my Queen?”

  “Dorange, I know who you really are.”

  Dorange snapped his head up, his face flushed red from embarrassment and shame. But the look on the goddess’s face quickly put him at ease.

  “Do not worry, Donald Garrett. I have not revealed your true identity to Koroan. But be mindful, my son. I am aware of your true desires for power. You must understand that Koroan Chast has a higher calling, and you must serve him. He is the chosen one – chosen to unite two worlds and two peoples.”

  For the first time in a long time, Dorange felt an emotion of what he could only describe as humility. It was an odd feeling; one he didn’t care for.

  The goddess recognized his disappointment, and she tried to reassure him. “Nonetheless, Dorange, you have an important role to play.”

  He nodded but didn’t respond. He was beginning to accept the fact that he would always play second fiddle, never leading, always following.

  The goddess continued, “You are about to attack the rebel stronghold on Earth?”

  “Yes, your Highness.”

  She continued to smile. “Good. There is a man you must take prisoner on the planet below. He is an important ally to the enemy in this war.”

  “Adrian Palmer?” Dorange questioned.

  The goddess shook her head. “No. It is another man. Another human with the power to repel our efforts on Earth.”

  Dorange tilted his head in confusion. “Another human? But what human could have that kind of power?”

  “He can’t be killed,” the goddess responded. “He has been transfigured. Therefore, it is imperative that you find him, take him prisoner, and get him off of Earth. Bring him to me.”

  “Who is this man?”

  The goddess lowered herself to Dorange’s eye level and within inches of his face. Her smile turned to a fierce scowl, and her loving blue eyes transformed into fiery red orbs, sending untold fear trembling throughout his body. She seethed as she spoke. “You know him as John the Beloved, one of the original apostles of the so-called Savior of mankind.”

  * * * * *

  Scott Air Force Base, Earth . . .

  Ashley sat alone with her back against a single tree in a grove of trees just outside of the perimeter of Scott Air Force Base. A hot breeze whipped through the foliage, and she closed her eyes, inhaling a deep breath. The solitude was a nice beak from the horrors that she had experienced the past month. She knew that she didn’t have long. No civilians were allowed outside of the base’s perimeter. However, she convinced a young guard who seemed taken with her to let her out for only a few minutes.

  She was about to get up and return when she heard the snap of a twig behind her. Whirling around, she met the stunning green eyes of the man who had saved her and her family’s lives two weeks earlier.

  “You know you’re not supposed to be out here, Miss Palmer?”

  “I’m sorry, Colonel. I just needed some time alone. And don’t call me that. Call me ‘Ashley.’”

  Christopher Peterson smiled and sat down next to her, resting his own back against the tree. “Okay, ‘Ashley.’ Then you call me ‘Chris.’ I’m only ‘Colonel’ to my superiors and subordinates.”

  Ashley returned his smile with a shy one of her own. “Very well, Chris. Did they send you out to find me?”

  “As a matter of fact, they did. But don’t worry. I won’t arrest you,” he replied, nudging her shoulder with his.

  A flutter of butterflies flew through Ashley’s stomach, and she felt her face flush red. There was no questioning her attraction to the strong soldier. But with everything that had happened to her and her family these last few weeks, she never really talked to him, only passing glances with awkward smiles.

  Chris recognized her embarrassment and then looked to the sky, changing the subject. “Can you believe this is happening?”

  Ashley turned her stare toward the sky as well. It was pale blue once again, the smoke and pale orange from the attacks disappe
aring. Very few clouds patched the sky. She sighed. “No. No, I can’t.”

  “I’ve always wondered if there were other planets out there with life. And if they did have life, what would it look like? I never would have imagined that they would look like us.”

  Ashley turned and looked at Chris. “Why wouldn’t they? After all, we’re all created in God’s image.”

  Chris looked at her with hesitation. “God’s image, huh. If you would’ve told me that a month ago, I would have laughed at you. But now …”

  “But now, you’ve found God?” Ashley questioned.

  “It’s more like he found me,” Chris said, his eyes alive with a renewed sense of being.

  Chris then went on to explain his experience after he and his team were shot down soon after the Gnols attacked. He told her about the strange man they now knew as John, and how John had healed them.

  He and his story captivated Ashley. She couldn’t help the feelings that were beginning to swell within her. It was as if she had known him her entire life. She couldn’t pull her gaze away from him.

  After he finished, she was about to respond when his two-way radio crackled and Colonel Belnap’s voice came through. “Colonel Peterson, this is Colonel Belnap. Do you copy?”

  “Copy that, sir?”

  “Have you found her?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Good. Get her back to base now.”

  “Copy that.”

  Chris looked at her, seeming disappointed that their conversation was cut short. He grabbed her hand and helped her to her feet. “I’d better get you back to base before they hang both of us. What do you say we continue this conversation over dinner in the mess hall?”

  Ashley smiled, the butterflies returning. “There’s nothing else I would rather do,” she replied.

  CHAPTER 13

  Earth Time: July 20, 2042 – Underground Rebel Base. Terrest . . .