Enoch's Challenge

by Warren W Ward

  "Morning, Early Bird. It seems as if you have been sightseeing without me."

  "I didn't want to wake you, but I just had to see your home planet. It really is real, and we will be there tonight! This is an astronaut's dream. There is no way we could even have imagined such a thing at our level of technology for many years yet, and certainly not in my lifetime. Surely NASA will be landing men on Mars by the end of the century, but it undoubtedly won’t be me on that mission. That’s for sure! But here I am, in space, on an alien spaceship, about to land on a planet over four light years away from where I started. I was only supposed to get to Mars and see what would happen from there, and that was a great unknown! We had no idea what to expect, but eventually Cris and I realized that we were to be sacrificial lambs to whatever the voice from Mars wanted. John was spared this.

  Jason stared at Vickie.

  He waited a minute and said, “I never dreamed my Martian would be so lovely, or I would have volunteered for sure."

  She ignored the compliment, although she couldn't help smiling, and said, "I can hardly wait to show you my home. It's beautiful! It is like your Paris or London taken to the next few centuries or so. There are so many beautiful buildings and homes. We take care of one another, so there are no poor among us. Oh, and you will love our theatres. Our actors and musicians are so talented. I just love musicals. My favorite Earth musical is Les Misérables. I see it whenever I am in London or New York."

  "Wow. You get around on Earth more than I do."

  "It is part of our assignment. We are trying to find out which countries will be more agreeable to our proposals. Unfortunately, we were not entirely pleased with any of them. The United States, Great Britain, Lithuania, Poland, along with Japan and Korea are our first hope. The main European countries are failing fast economically, and they don’t even know it. Actually, all of Europe is failing economically, and they have all failed morally. That creates the perfect playground for the Thadiantons. It is a very dangerous situation for your whole planet. What you don't know is that the Thadiantons have been the instigators of the demise of your Western world for centuries. They have long-term plans, and they are patient."

  "How did we not discover them?" he asked.

  "What would you look for in us aliens? Maybe little green men–or women–in my case?" She couldn’t resist throwing that in. "As we said, the fact is that you've been invaded, and few of you even realize it."

  "So, is this where I come in?" Jason asked.

  "Well, my father and the Council have thought long and hard on this. They are for the natural evolution of your world's society. Sadly, it looks like it may take another world war before your people realize that what they are doing is not going to work."

  Jason said, "Well, again, I'm no politician. Your father seems to think that I can do something about the situation. I think he backed the wrong horse."

  "What do horses have to do with it? They are beautiful, I agree, but how could they help us?" Vickie’s looked confused.

  Jason laughed. "I see you need to study more Southern idioms. It means, you got the wrong guy for the job."

  "Oh," she said blushing. "I should have figured that out for myself. I'm so embarrassed."

  "Just wait until I slaughter your idioms. You do have idioms on Enoch, don't you?"

  "Well, yes, I guess. It is just that the English language is so descriptive that we haven't developed them very much. We don't need them."

  "Well I'll be a horse's behind. I know something you don't know."

  "Hah. I get that one,” she laughed.

  "Back to the question. How will I be able to help in all this?" Jason had a serious look on his face.

  "They will have to explain things to you. I 'm not in that lop. I'm just in your lop." With that she gave him a good morning kiss.

  He didn't have the heart to tell her the word was loop. He just let it go.

  "What," she said. "Did I say something wrong?"

  "No. I was just thinking to myself." Jason lied.

  "If I find out I said something wrong and you don't tell me, I will have you in my infirmary with at least two broken ribs."

  "OK. OK. The word is loop. You say in the loop, not lop."

  With her arms raised she threatened to poke him again.

  "Whoa! Why are you trying to hurt me?” Jason faked a hurt face. “Mom!” he called out.

  Vickie said menacingly, "That’s for trying to let me say something stupid."

  "But it was so cute," Jason pleaded.

  Just then they walked into the cafeteria and found their special seat available.

  "Why doesn't someone else sit here? Is it saved for us?" Jason asked.

  "In a way it’s simple. They see us there all the time, so they leave it for us. We are a very considerate people. It is part of our culture."

  "Well, that's nice. I like predictability. And it seems that torture is also part of your culture, I guess." Jason rubbed his ribs.

  She smiled. “The best part!”

  So they ordered and ate. Jason wanted to see the oncoming planet again, so they walked back to the observation deck.

  "There is Alpha Centauri A where Gehor is. There is Alpha Centauri Proxima where Enoch is. And behind Alpha Centauri A is Alpha Centauri B. You cannot see it from this angle. They are all within the range of the distance from Pluto to Uranus and Saturn and Jupiter. They have an interesting gravitational effect on each other. You will see."

  "I can hardly wait," Jason said enthusiastically.

  Just then, coming around the corner, was Bishop Rhodes.

  "Ah, Jason. I figured I could find you here… and my little girl. Don't you have a human-donkey brain transplant coming up? Or a kidney toss?"

  "Your little girl? Humph! OK, daddy. I'll get lost. But go easy on him. He's an Earthling, after all."

  Then she turned and walked away. She went about 20 feet, turned around, and blew Jason a kiss.

  "I think that was for me, son," the Bishop said grinning.

  "Certainly, sir, I'm sure."

  "Walk with me, Jason," the Bishop said.

  He headed toward his office with Jason in tow.

  As they entered the Bishop's office, he signaled for Jason to sit down.

  "We are expected to reach orbit in about eight hours. Most of the last day or more was spent slowing down. As you know, being an astronaut, the slowing period is almost as long as the getting up to speed time. However, with the inertial dampeners, it goes a lot faster each way. Regardless, I would like to tell you a few things before you meet with the Council."

  "A briefing, sir?" Jason asked.

  "Exactly! Listen closely, please." Jason could tell the Bishop was very serious. So he gave him his undivided attention.

  For the next hour and a half Bishop Rhodes described the makeup of the Council and protocols. It wasn't too bad. He could certainly handle it. It was nothing that he hadn't dealt with before in interviews with the press. He wasn't sure where he would get the white shirt and tie the Bishop wanted him to wear, but he would leave that up to the Bishop.

  "This shouldn't be that difficult for a Navy Captain. Too bad you don't have your dress whites with you. That is a wonderful uniform, I must say."

  "I think I would be more comfortable in my dress whites instead of a suit and tie."

  "Oh, you'll do fine. See Amanda Jayne on the second level. She will find you something to wear."

  "Oh, I've met Amanda Jayne. She has a thing for me. But don't tell Vickie."

  Bishop Rhodes realized that there was an inside joke there somewhere, but he figured he would ask Vickie later. He was sure he would get a more accurate story from her.

  "Jason, you be responsible for getting the suit from Amanda Jayne, and I will meet with you later."

  "Aye, aye Captain."

  Jason turned to leave and Bishop Rhodes called after him, "Oh and Jason, try to get a conservative tie. Amanda Jayne has a tendency to get a little carried away."

  "Will do
, sir," Jason called back.

  –––––––

  The time seemed to fly by. Jason kept coming to and from the observation deck. He just couldn't get enough of the view. The planet was obviously getting closer, but he kept trying to see the planet Gehor. It worried him.

  As he stared out the window Vickie came up behind him silently.

  She covered his eyes with her hands from behind.

  "Guess who?"

  "Amanda Jayne? Is that you? Kiss me quick before Vickie gets here."

  Vickie removed her hands and poked him in the ribs on both sides. He should have expected it, but he had absent-mindedly forgotten about the rib thing.

  They stared out the viewport together for a few minutes. While it was captivating to both of them, it was still breathtaking for Jason and he was transfixed.

  "We couldn't put these large windows in the main cabin on Apollo 6. We only had one very small window. It didn't deserve to even be called a viewport! A small port hole might be more accurate. If you stood back from the window when the capsule was facing the Earth, you could make it look as if you were many thousands of miles away, when you were actually still in orbit! We used to take pictures like that for fun. The garden capsule was the only room that had decent-sized windows. But this is phenomenal!"

  She just let him stand there looking until he finally turned and said, "This is a wish come true on so many levels. I'm in space, on an alien craft, with the girl of my dreams. It just doesn't get any better than this."

  She reached over and gave him a kiss.

  "OK," he said. "It just got better."

  Vickie laughed out loud.

  "Jason?" Bishop Rhodes had come up behind him. "We will be ready to take the shuttle in about an hour. You better pack up your meager things. Did Amanda Jayne take care of you?"

  "Oh yes. I think it is a nice cut. I particularly liked the pink polka dot tie."

  The Bishop turned around quickly with a worried look.

  "Just kidding, Bishop. I think you will like what she chose. She has good taste."

  "We can always rely on Amanda Jayne. I hear she is a good kisser," the Bishop said.

  Now it was Jason's turn to look startled.

  "Just kidding Jason, Vickie told me about your little inside joke. Amanda Jayne thought it was funny."

  "You told her?"

  "Of course. She's my older sister," the Bishop said, watching for a reaction.

  "Sister? Wow. I didn't see that coming."

  "Get your stuff and I'll meet you at the shuttle," the Bishop said, and then he turned and left.

  "Roger that, sir!" Jason shouted out.

  Then, Jason took off for his cabin enthusiastically.

  –––––––

  The shuttle flew over the city and circled the tall buildings. Jason was bewildered by the beauty of the sights. The lights of the city were mesmerizing. They seemed to be strategically placed for effect. He could see a mountain range in the distance and a sea to the west, or at least, he assumed it was the west, as the sun seemed to be going down in that direction. He could also see other aircraft buzzing around the city. They did not look like anything he had ever seen before. He had expected that much, but the way they moved was totally different than anything he had ever seen. They would move, then stop. Then suddenly they would seem to take off in a totally different direction at lightning speed. Well, he thought to himself, this explains a lot. The stories of UFOs had often described this behavior as swamp gas.

  There must be lots and lots of swamp gas here! he[WW2] chuckled to himself.

  The craft he was on was the one they had sent to rescue him, he was told. It was, in fact, round in shape, much like the proverbial flying saucer. He could just see it in his mind's eye zooming around the sky. As he looked back at the Gilead, it, too, was saucer shaped. Interesting, he thought. I never considered the shape of the ship I was just on. I just spent months in a flying saucer! If the guys could only see me now!

  His ship approached the landing area which seemed to be the top of a tall building. After he was shown the way out, he was led to a special room that had been prepared just for him. He learned it was in a hotel in the heart of the city.

  His room was very nice. It was quite large with a traditional bed and vanity. The bathroom was spacious and the view spectacular. Even at night it was obvious that he was not on Earth. The sky had far more stars, and he could see Alpha Centauri A and B. There were also two moons, which felt a bit unusual to say the least! The buildings were nothing like he had seen on Earth. Their shapes were both angular and, well, not angular. It was as if they had hired artists to design them with no thought to how they could be made, but then they had been constructed. The result was wonderful! To add to their beauty, the lights of the city were not gauche like Las Vegas, although there were probably many more. Instead they were, again, as if an artist had designed them, and their designs had been fully carried out with exactness. The whole city was a work of art and light.

  His bags soon arrived and he put his things away. He felt a little apprehensive about the next day, and he wondered about Vickie. He hadn't heard from her since he left the ship. But he was overwhelmed by the whole ordeal, and he fell right to sleep.

  –––––––

  The next morning Jason heard a knock at the door. He opened it, and there stood Vickie and Bishop Rhodes.

  "May we come in?" Vickie asked.

  "Of course," Jason said.

  Vickie went straight over and gave Jason a kiss and held his hand.

  "Daddy thinks we should go sightseeing. I can hardly wait to show you my home."

  "I have my transportation right outside if you are ready to go?" Bishop Rhodes said.

  "I got cleaned up and dressed about 5:00 AM your time,” Jason replied eagerly. “I have been reading some of the books you gave me. I am learning a lot about your society."

  "Good, my son. But books never tell the whole story. Come with us."

  As they left the room, Jason grabbed his jacket and joined them in the hallway.

  They went down an elevator that seemed to go forever.

  "What floor was I on? I forgot to look when we came in."

  "You are on the roof level. It is room 246.01. The 123rd floor. Just divide the first three numbers of your room number by two, then round up, if needed, and it tells you the floor. There is some history behind the room numbers, but we'll get into that some other time."

  The elevator stopped quickly, but Jason didn't feel a thing.

  He looked at the Bishop and said, "Inertial dampeners?"

  "Yes. They are quite useful in a lot of places."

  "I don't know if I will ever get over breaking the laws of physics."

  "Well, you aren't breaking any laws of physics–just the ones you think you understand."

  "True, I guess. Boy, are our physicists going to be confused when they hear about this technology. Books will have to be rewritten, class syllabuses will have to be changed, and physicists re-taught."

  "Yes. Exciting isn't it?" the Bishop said with a grin.

  They walked through one of the most beautiful hotel lobbies Jason could imagine. There were original oil paintings on the walls. There were sculptures all around–the most amazing sculptures he had ever seen. It looked like some celestial body was being displayed in wire frame and lights. The furniture was elegant. And the lighting made everything surrealistic. He couldn't get over the beauty.

  "We would have put you up in one of our finer hotels, but this one is close to the Council offices," the Bishop said by way of apology.

  "You mean this isn't a fancy hotel?" Jason asked incredulously.

  "Oh, no. It is a very nice hotel, but we have much better hotels nearer the downtown area. We are a few miles from that."

  "I don't know what to say. This is incredible!" Jason was truly amazed.

  "I'm glad you like it. It is one of my favorites because of the location," the Bishop responded.

 
They went to the curb and a car-like vehicle drove up to them. It was oval shaped and had three wheels that he could see. It was as big as a normal sedan, but the doors were much larger. He could not see where an engine might be hidden. And there was no driver.