“Oh, I… I didn’t see you there.”
“I know, Dedrick. I didn’t mean to startle you. I was listening to your beautiful thoughts. I hope you don’t mind.”
He smiled timidly. Even after so many weeks since their first encounter, he was still in awe of her majestic presence. She was truly an impressive being not only in size, but also in the way she moved and talked to his mind. He realized again that she was probably listening to that thought as well. Of course, she was. But she made sure not to show it.
“I came to show you something. Look!”
She gracefully walked to the window and placed her hand on the glassy material. With a lateral movement, she dragged the view and pointed at a small object outside. A quick zooming effect brought it right in front of them, and Dedrick instantly recognized what he was looking at.
“Earth!” he said out loud.
“Yes, your home planet. We will be there in a few days. I thought you might want to have a better look at it as we approach.”
“Thank you, Mahhzee,” he replied mentally, while transfixed on the three-dimensional image. He noted the pale bluish planet didn’t look as bright and colorful as he remembered it. That immediately worried him, especially after his morose thoughts moments earlier. He pushed the thought away again and looked at the view. It was Earth regardless and it was still a beautiful sight.
As promised, for the next two days, Earth grew larger on the visioning window of the ship's cockpit and soon, they would enter Kahjuna's atmosphere. The one thing that began to really worry Dedrick and his crew as they approached the blue planet, was the dullness and washed out colors of the continents and oceans. The closer they got, the more obvious it became that things didn’t look right. Even Chasma, who had only seen Earth in photos and videos, expected much more vivid tints of blues and greens. As for the cloud cover over Earth’s mass, it was giving them by far the strangest feeling of all. From pole to pole, the once bright white swirly features now appeared doll and gray, giving the world ahead a lugubrious look.
“I don’t understand. It looks like another planet. What happened here?” finally said Tendai, breaking the silence.
“Mahhzee, can you show us a close up of this?” asked Vera telepathically, while pointing at the island of Manhattan, on the New York coast of the American continent.
Mahhzee reached out and moved her six fingers across the Zarfha.
“Where is everybody? I… I can’t believe it! It all looks abandoned, like no one has been there in years. Where are the people?” She did not want to face the truth yet. “How can that be? I mean, the buildings are still standing, right? So where is everybody? They couldn’t all be gone?!”
Mahhzee brought the view even closer until… they finally saw them; human bodies, laying everywhere in the streets. Most still partially clothed, their skeleton remains confirming their worst nightmare. They had been dead for years, and no one had been there since. Vera stopped talking and brought her hands to her face. All eyes in the room were transfixed. It was a scene from a true holocaust.
“I am afraid you will find the same thing all over your world,” telepathically said Jorh as Mahhzee pulled back the display to a general view of Earth. The aliens could feel the distress in all of them. Even Chasma, who had always seemed so comfortable and happy in any situation, looked upset. Liu slowly approached the window.
“Mahhzee, can you let me see this place, please?”
Mahhzee obliged.
The city of Seoul, in South Korea, quickly appeared. As they all feared, it looked just as devastated. Dead carcasses, trash, abandoned vehicles, and all sorts of debris littered the once buzzing avenues. The mess all around was a testimony to the rapidity at which everything had happened. Boxes, bags, furniture, food stands, advertisement signs, bicycles, store canvasses, broken glass, machines, TVs, and so much more were piled up all over, as if a giant flood had dragged everything out of the buildings and strewn it all about. More evident that whatever had taken place there had happened in complete chaos.
The next few minutes were enough to let them discover thousands more corpses in the streets of others around the world. They had flown over dozens of large metropolises and witnessed the exact same scenes. Not a single sign of life, human or animal alike. Only scattered skeletons, pet carcasses and trash, littering the roads and highways. All had died years ago. And now, even the most cherished manmade structures, humanity had proudly congratulated itself to have created, were crumbling away all across the globe. It was hard to believe, but in time, no trace of them or mankind would remain.
They had all expected to find a battered Earth, aware of some of the tragic events that had taken place years ago, but none had truly thought the planet would have become too hostile for them to survive there.
The spaceship was now flying just a few dozen meters above the ground. By now, all of them knew Earth was no longer a possible home for them. Nothing green had survived. Grass, plants, flowers, crops did not exist anymore. The only visible remnants of the once thriving vegetation were dead tree trunks and dried out bushes and plants, a sad reminder of the once beautiful and lavish forests of Earth. Parks in urban meccas and residential areas had become dirt covered lots. Eventually flying over more rural parts of the world, the true magnitude of Earth’s predicament became evident. Everywhere they went, they found only desolation and death.
“I’m afraid your world has become uninhabitable as well, my friends. We are truly sorry,” said Jorh to the group, as they passed over Australia.
“I can’t believe they managed to destroy everything,” Tendai said out loud. “I mean, we’ve had wars before but this...It’s…” he couldn’t finish.
In the back of the room, Liu was crying, curled up in a ball. Mahhzee was seated next to her.
“I am truly sorry that your world is gone, Liu. I can tell it must have been a wonderful home for you and your people. I had seen Zarfha recreations from the Grand Halis Library, but seeing it now, I can only imagine its true beauty, with the vibrant colors and life I remember from our library of knowledge. Our world was beautiful as well, and when we lost it, I lost a part of myself. It was a long time ago, but for me it was yesterday. I miss the Klomags and their majesty. I miss our Mohgvar Ocean…I miss my home…my mother...”
Liu was now listening attentively to Mahhzee, feeling less alone, knowing she had experienced a similar tragedy. She had stopped crying.
Back at the other end of the room…
“Crap. So, what now?” asked Tendai.
Dedrick was about to ask Jorh a question but the alien, reading his mind, answered it before he could.
“It’s toxic. The ship’s probes indicate that the air is unbreathable for your people. It can no longer support your life as you know it. You and your friends would need your suits to breathe. You would not survive long. I am truly sorry.”
“Are you sure it is so everywhere? What about the poles?”
“Even at the poles. Nothing there has survived either but a few scattered small life forms that barely register on our probe. Not enough to sustain you and your friends.”
“So, what do we do? Return to Mars?” asked Tendai.
“We just left Mars because we could no longer survive there, remember? Earth is all we have left now. There has to be a way…” Ladli was visibly upset.
“What about the oceans? Could there still be life there?” asked François.
Jorh turned his attention to the Zarfha…
“Your oceans still harbor some life forms, but they are too few and deep-down remote regions of the oceans. Most are small creatures living near volcanic vents and deep trenches. All fish and mammals are gone.”
While Jorh was telepathically talking to Dedrick and his crew, the images of Earth’s desolated cities and land masses were replaced by deep ocean views, void of any colors. Small ghostly looking creatures crawled on a desolate oceanic floor, floating slowly above heated chimneys of hot gas, clearly visible in the dark murky waters. Some
resembled small crabs and shrimps, and others even looked completely alien to the human crew. But all were relatively small, no more than a few centimeters long.
“Not all life is gone but your planet will take many centuries, possibly thousands of years, to replenish its former abundance of life, if it ever does. Some worlds have come back from such dramatic change. Yours was one of them, many eons ago. Our archive speaks of several documented world changing events that had re-written Kahjuna’s history.”
Chasma, seated on Vera’s lap, was pointing at the giant forward screen, fascinated by the exotic images of dinosaurs and giant tropical forests that were being projected by the ship’s Zarfha.
“…but it is hard to say how it will fare this time. Only time itself will tell.”
Jorh paused and turned his attention to Gahneo and Mahhzee.
After the three had seemed to exchange thoughts the small human group could not hear, Mahhzee got up and moved toward the forward view. Pointing at a point in an overhead view of the African continent and its surrounding oceans, she spoke warmly to the small passengers.
“Silargh and his crew landed here on your world. We were hoping they had managed to use their Time-Frost pods and survived, but we would have felt them by now...”
“The other ship? In South Africa?” asked François out loud, as surprised as the rest of them. “I know that’s why you wanted to come here, but I didn’t think you were really expecting to find much. That was seventy million years ago! I know Mars’ geology has not changed much during that time, but Earth has been very active, even in the recent past, and I doubt you’ll find anything but fossils from that era. Plus, I’m sure someone would have found it, if there was an alien ship in the jungles of Africa,” he finished telepathically.
“We know the Aruk is still there. Our own ship has detected its signal.”
A small yellow dot was now flickering in the center of the image, as the view zoomed to a remote area of the big continent.
“I’m assuming that’s where we’re going next, but that doesn’t change our own problem. What do we do now that we can’t live on Earth? How long can we survive on this ship? We only have enough supplies for a month, if that!” suddenly said Sabrina out loud. Her voice was shaking.
“Exactly! What now? Earth was our only chance. We’re screwed. We’re all gonna die!” Tendai screamed, looking at Dedrick, hysterical.
“I don’t wanna die!” started crying Liu from the back of the room.
“Calm down, calm down! Nobody is going to die,” interjected Dedrick, looking at Chasma and his wife, trying to reassure them. “We didn’t come this far to give up now, right?”
“There goes Mr. Positive, again,” thought François to himself, unconvinced.
Africa
Outside, the southern tip of Africa was slowly rotating under the ship orbiting a few kilometers above. From that distance, the once lavish green land now looked mostly bare and desolated. The ship was soon flying along the coast, a mere few meters above the water. The dark murky ocean added to the gloomy of scene. A few dark clouds were scattered in the distance. Occasional wave surges were creating white foamy tops below. Ahead, a protruding land mass was approaching. The sun was shining brightly in the early afternoon sky as the vessel reached the shore. It slowed to a mere few kilometers an hour. Again, all they could see was the bare ground, stripped of its vegetation and left naked, dead trees and dried out bushes scattered about. A few minutes later, they were landing softly at the foot of a large hill.
“We are very close to the place where the ship is. Gahneo and I need to go get what we came for. You are welcome to join us, but don’t forget you’ll need your suits. Earth's atmosphere is toxic now,” told them Jorh, looking at the small humans.
Dedrick briefly glanced at François.
“Actually, François and I would like to come with you, if you don’t mind.”
“I’d like to come as well,” added Ladli.
“Of course, you are welcome to join us.”
“Personally, I think I’ll stay here,” said Tendai.
Liu wasn’t in the mood to join either.
“It’s probably better if you stay here with them. I’m sure we’ll be safe with Jorh and Gahneo, but I don’t want you to take unnecessary risks,” told François to Sabrina.”
“Honestly, you don’t have to convince me. I’m not really feeling like taking a stroll at the moment,” she replied, sounding justifiably depressed.
“We’ll be back before you know it,” said Dedrick, looking at his wife.
“I know, be careful,” she replied as she kissed him.
Stepping out of the room, Jorh and Gahneo traveled to the end of the ship, dragging a large container with them. They were both wearing a form fitted suit that covered their entire body, their head and face included. Except for a dark section in front of their large eyes, the gelatinous looking suit was mostly see-thru. After having suited up as well, Dedrick, Ladli and François soon rejoined the two aliens.
The two aliens stepped out of the white vessel and began walking toward the hill ahead, when they heard their troubled human friends behind them.
As soon as François landed softly on the ground, the strong gravity of Earth reminded him immediately how much the lower gravity of Mars had weakened his body. Fifteen years spent on the red planet had noticeably atrophied his muscles. Dedrick and Ladli realized quickly what was happening as well.
“Shoot! I forgot. We’ve been on Mars for so long, Earth is making everything feel much heavier, especially our suits.”
Jorh walked back to them. Extending his arm, he released a small Zarfha from his tubular fingers, and the white sphere hovered to François. The Frenchman felt instantly relieved from the uncomfortable weight. Two more Zarfhas came resting in mid-air next to Ladli and the Russian commander.
“These will help counter the effect of your planet’s pull.”
“Thank you, Jorh,” replied Dedrick.
Leaving the vessel, the tall beings and their three human companions walked up the rough terrain and soon disappeared behind the hill.
“Ok, so I guess we'll be waiting right here, then…” said Tendai a bit sarcastically, as the five vanished from the giant screen.
#
Almost an hour had gone by the time the explorers finally got back.
“So? Did you guys get what you were looking for?” asked Vera to Dedrick.
“Did we ever?! Let me show you.”
Inside the main cabin, the small group gathered around him and Dedrick turned his suit pad on. Near the Zarfha, Mahhzee was getting some details on the excursion, from Jorh and Gahneo.
Dedrick’s screen was only twenty centimeters wide, resting in the middle of his torso, but for once, the picture was bright and of high quality. He took the device off his chest and put it on the table, so he could watch as well.
“Let me give this to our Zarfha. You will see more comfortably,” came Jorh’s mental voice. He did not wait for them to respond. Grabbing the small video tablet, he brought the object to the sphere next to him, and the pad disappeared into the Zarfha’s white surface, as if swallowed by quicksand. Within seconds, a three-dimensional view of the trail Jorh and the others had taken, formed around the sphere. A large three-dimensional image, projecting all around them, soon filled the ship’s entire cabin.
“That’s the entrance to the cave!” said François out loud.
“I can see that,” replied Sabrina.
Aside from the strange ghostly look of the five explorers in the video, everyone could clearly see from their large hovering chairs.
After a bit of effort getting the container through the tight passage, the five explorers began their slow journey down the cavern tunnel, Dedrick and François’ helmet spotlights lighting the way. Fifteen minutes later, the narrow path opened into a large cavern. Gahneo opened the container he and Jorh had brought with them, and a small Zarfha rose out of it, slowly spinning on itself. With a wave of
the hand, the alien sent the sphere toward the center of the cave, and the Zarfha instantly illuminated the large underground space. Near the back, the alien vessel was now clearly in view. A portion of the ceiling of the cavern had caved in from above and damaged it substantially.
“We found out from the vessel’s records that the collapse happened twelve million years ago, your years, during an Earthquake,” mentioned Gahneo to the three humans in the group. As they approached the ship, it was easy to see the large agape hole caused by the crushing roof. The two suited aliens made their way through the rubble and entered the vessel, followed by their human companions. The inside of Silargh’s ship was a mess. From large boulders to small mounts of debris, dead over grown plants, and broken artifacts were littering the floor of hallways and rooms everywhere. The small party kept on, making their way through the rubble, toward the main cockpit. The large room appeared intact, but was covered in a fine layer of dirt and dust. Gahneo approached the Zarfha, and after an elaborate display of hand gestures, awakened the large white sphere. Some of the chairs, lying on their side on the floor of the ancient vessel automatically reset themselves, hovering in their upright position. Jorh and Gahneo sat down and began an intricate hand dance, focusing again on the Zarfha. The following light show, now quite familiar to all, began and a beautiful three-dimensional view of an ancient valley began to form all around the five explorers.
“That’s quite interesting,” thought François. “So, we’re all in the ship outside, right now, in this three-dimensional projection, experiencing what Dedrick, Ladli and I witnessed about an hour ago, as we relived what happened to the ship in the cave, seventy million years ago. Talk about messing with your head.”
“I have to admit, it’s pretty weird. It feels like a strange dream,” agreed Sabrina.
“If you think of it, it’s like seeing yourself on TV watching an old movie.” Dedrick was correct, but the three-dimensional projection made the whole experience confusing, especially due to the three time events occupying the same space. Those in the present found some of the objects and beings moving around them, to pass through their bodies, like ghosts. The sensation was quite eerie to Vera.
Kahnu (The Guardians of Tomorrow Book 1) Page 36
