Chapter Six: Crackling Walls

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GOD Of A Man

Eternity Versus Eternity

“Every situation carries within itself, a solution and an opportunity.”

Chapter Six: Crackling Walls

Dated: 17^th December, 2459

A very generic view about situations is; they are unpleasant. But a picture is always incomplete without an audience, as much as it is without a story. A picture within itself is just a memory of a moment, a flash out of a stream; the story it is a part of is either for its’ creator to speak, or for the audience to deduce. If the creator takes upon self the burden of truth the view gets constricted, confined to the limits of his story. However, if left to the audience, every intellectual entity to witness the creation builds up a story of their own; a story that explains the moment, or a fantasy which incorporates the picture sublimely into self. Situations are like pictures, their creator known or otherwise, but their stories incomplete without the interpretation of their audience. And their audience is varied!

For every situation there are three kinds of subjects: the victims, the survivors, and the beneficiaries. The first amongst these are those who either lack the special traits that help the other two survive, or are perhaps the ones who get caught unprepared. But then, who can prepare against the randomness of life? Still, there are those who get a second chance to escape the catastrophe. They are the ones’ who look for a way out, a solution, which always comes out of the situation itself. A flood can drown everything, but what doesn’t drown in it is the escape from the calamity. A fire can raze everything to the ground, but can the fury even touch what exists in burrows and caves? Ability is the trick that identifies a solution out of the situation, and survivors have this ability.

Then there are those who look at a situation and yell, opportunity! Those who sell boats make money from floods, those who sell spades make money from fires, those who sell guns make money from war, and those who sell coffins make money from all! Intelligence is the ability inherent to the enterprising few who en-cash the hidden opportunity in a situation. Survivors keep humanity alive, entrepreneurs make it progress! New Saisho is in search of such entrepreneurs, and at a very short notice!

“What’s all the commotion in the street?” a sleepy Mrs Ahluwalia asked her son as he entered the house.

As if he didn’t want to answer, he laboured to muster the words, “Janice and her mother are missing!”

“Missing? How come,” Mrs Ahluwalia was surprised, and so was Jenny who had just walked out of her room, rubbing her eyes and still yawning, “Missing? Since when?”

“The detectives are treating it as a homicide,” Aman’s reply shocked them even further.

“Murder?” Mrs Ahluwalia said as she put her hand on her chest as if helping the reality sink in.

“They found Mrs Dwight’s chopped feet next to the spot where their now missing bed was,” Aman informed the two ladies.

Both the ladies looked at each other as their hearts nearly skipped a beat, their throats suddenly dried as both of them took a huge breath in. “But who would do such a thing?” Jenny asked.

“I don’t know, but I think there is something more to it than what meets the eye,” Aman said as his mind started analysing the bigger picture.

“Do you think the power supply disruption had something to do with it?” Jenny asked.

“Maybe it did, maybe it didn’t! But even if it did, it won’t be in a way we might apprehend it to be,” Aman replied as his eyes got fixated on something far off, completely out of sight.

“What makes you think something is hidden from our view?” Mrs Ahluwalia asked.

“Something doesn’t seem right here,” Aman replied as his eyes constricted, “Their bed has gone missing along with a piece of carpet and their concrete floor. A killer might have some use for the carpet, but the rest of the stuff just doesn’t mix with the plot. Call me a freak but I have a strange notion in my head right now.”

“And what would be that?” Jenny asked, albeit a bit intrigued herself.

“I have this ugly feeling that the missing space station, last night’s power failure and now our missing neighbours, are all a part of the same chronology of events,” Aman said with a certainty borne out of experience more than sixth sense.

“You are scaring me now!” Jenny said as she clasped her hands together, fingers crossed and her palms holding the edges of her night shirt’s sleeves, as she put her hands to her lips. She then took a few steps forward to rest her head on Aman’s chest.

“Hey, what’s there to be scared of? I am here?” Aman said as he hugged her softly, their bliss only to be interrupted by the ringing of his mobile.

“Hello! Yes Sir,” Aman answered the call and listened intently to the voice from the other end. “Sure Sir, I understand. I am coming straight away.” The phone disconnected.

“Who was it?” Jenny asked immediately, her heart suddenly pounding at the thought she wasn’t prepared to entertain for another twenty four hours.

“I have to leave, immediately,” Aman informed them, “It was from the base and they need me to depart immediately.”

“But I thought you were leaving tomorrow,” Mrs Ahluwalia exclaimed.

 “Looks like something urgent has come up,” Aman replied.

“But can’t you just stay another day?” Jenny asked, her eyes moist, as if she didn’t know the answer.

“I need to leave love,” Aman held her face in his palms softly and kissed her forehead, “I’ll just take a quick shower and after that if you could help me pack quickly.” Jenny didn’t reply but she hugged him tightly as tears rolled down her cheeks. As Aman put his arms around her back and used one hand to caress her head to his chest, he saw Rosie standing by the side of her room’s door, her soft pink puppy pillow hanging in her hand. She quietly turned around and walked back into her room.

“Just give me a sec love, I need to talk to Rosie,” Aman said as he left Jenny standing in the middle of the room, to try and talk to Rosie. But Rosie didn’t speak a word as she sat on the edge of her bed, still holding her pillow close to her heart, looking away from Aman as he tried to talk to her, explain how it is important for him to leave. She didn’t even cry, just kept quiet, looking away. And Aman didn’t have time!

Time has a unique habit of always running out whenever anyone needs it the most. It is too slow, almost impossible to pass by when your life is stuck in a rot, and yet one day you suddenly realize you have already lost all of it. Is it manageable or does it manage us? Hard to say about an entity which owes its’ existence to the human habit of quantizing everything they come across, to simplify and make their universe more comprehendible to themselves. But time was one thing Captain Bradley Connors had none as he could feel the impending event on his neck. Action had to be quick, action had to be abrupt, the confines however constricted, and the enemy unknown.

As Bradley felt the whispering breath on his neck, he instinctively put his one hand to the knife that hung from his waist belt, while the other manipulated the rotatable control of his headlight, and at the spur of the movement, his agile body flung itself horizontally to a side, as he twisted around, pulled out his knife and turned on the light in a single flash. The enemy could only swing wildly in the air, missing his target by inches, but what an enemy it was!

As Bradley crashed to the ground on his back, he had the first glimpse of the enemy, in the faint lighting provided to the dark dungeon by his small head lamp. It was a giant worm, cylindrical in shape, dangling like a snake in the air, its’ body dirty dark in colour, covered in scales and spines, its’ sphincter like mouth full of serrate rows of teeth. But before Bradley could take a better look, the monster’s face was heading towards his body again. Bradley rolled away and got back on his feet, and with one quick move, chopped the head of the beast from its’ torso.

As the lifeless body of the creature hung from the roof like a hose pipe, Bradley looked towards the roof for the first time. The sight he beheld could have terrified any lesser mortal into a lifeless stupor!

Above his head the cave roof was covered completely by a blanket made of a fold, of which, the lifeless body of the predator was a part of. The skin fold was firmly fixed to the roof at its’ edges, but the middle part of his body was dangling downwards, as if full of something.

The fold had many oblong projections hanging out of it into the cave. As Bradley inspected the structure, the skin of the oblong projections started to tear open as many tubular bodies, similar to the one Bradley had relieved of its’ head, hung out and started swinging viciously in search of flesh.

Bradley ducked just in time to avoid becoming the feed of a couple of such projections behind his back. Luckily for him, they were not long enough to reach the floor where he lay firmly fixed to avoid the hunting many. But their ferocious search for feed continued and to his horror, the giant beast started to crawl along the roof towards the sides of the wall, bringing the beasts closer and closer. Bradley chopped a few more heads and then strangely, the feverish activity stopped! Slowly and slowly each one of the dangling deaths eased out into a lifeless stillness.

Bradley waited for a few more uncomfortable minutes, then chopped a few more heads and got back on his feet. He looked around trying to see if there are any more of the nasty creatures in the cave and then slowly and slowly made his way around the curving passage. It appeared to be an underground cave dug by the workers as it had lines of electrical wires, globes and fluorescent tubes. Its’ just that none of them were working anymore!

Bradley however concentrated hard on whatever the dim light of his head lamp could show. He was fast losing breath as the oxygen in the confined space diminished.

Bradley finally reached the end of that particular section of the underground passage, to find a door sealing it off from the next bit. He carefully opened the door and took a quick step back, ready with his knife for anything. Too bad the door only led straight into a wall of rock!

Frustration can incite violent reactions in most sane minds, but not if it belongs to a seasoned campaigner! Bradley moved closer, put his ear to the wall, and gave it a tap with the handle of his knife. The sound was distinctly hollow and the wall appeared not too thick. Bradley confirmed the findings by putting his ear to one of the side walls where a tap confirmed solid rock all around. Certain about his finding and ready for anything that awaited him at the other end, Bradley finally gave it a strong kick.

The wall didn’t break, but a bit of dust arose from its’ edges. What cannot be torn down, can sometimes be kicked out of the way! A few more fierce kicks and the piece of rock fell, and fell many feet below, into the empty valley that existed now.

Bradley stepped to the edge and took a long breath as his men outside cheered in delight. The new opening was just on the other side of the projecting rock where Bradley had earlier escaped the collapsing wall.

The thing about walls is; they always look daunting! Bring them down and everything is flooded with whatever they guarded so dearly. And should you not be ready on an uplifted plain to a side of the opening, the ferocity of the flow will sweep you away into oblivion. And walls are not always physical, they can be emotional too!

“Just go now!” Mrs Ahluwalia told her son as she turned her face away wiping her tears, “Just go before I can’t let you leave!”

“Mom,” Aman wanted to say something as he put his hands on the side of her shoulders and looked at her face that was breaking with emotions. But Mrs Ahluwalia just pushed him away! She had already cried her heart out and was on her breaking point. Aman looked at Jenny who was standing next to her and she immediately turned her face away, her hands failing to wipe away the streams running along her cheeks.

“Jenny, please be strong, for you are the one who has to give strength to both my mother and my sister,” Aman said as he stepped towards her, trying to hold her face in his palms.

“You are counting on the weakest link,” Jenny said as she burst open and collapsed in his arms, “Please don’t go!”

“Look at you two now! Didn’t you two just let me go a couple of weeks ago?” Aman asked.

“We did!” Mrs Ahluwalia replied, “But it’s different this time. Last time we were mentally ready for you to leave, this time it is so sudden.”

“But I was going to leave tomorrow anyway mom,” Aman replied.

“Yes, tomorrow,” Jenny replied, “It is not the same as today! Feels like we’ve been robbed of a day from our lives!”

“But I have already spent half of my morning with you two,” Aman made a week plea, too meek in the face of the daunting task of assuaging two crying ladies.

“Hey where is Rosie?” Aman asked as he desperately looked around for his kid sister. And there she was, standing quietly to the side of the door to her room. Aman looked at her and she ran straight to him hugging his leg. Aman knelt down and holding her by the sides of her shoulders, said, “Girl, you are the strongest of the three! Make sure you take good care of these grown up kids!” And Rosie hugged him tightly, without saying a word. There was a doll in her hand, the first one Aman had ever gifted her.

Rosie broke the embrace and thrust her hand forward, handing over the doll to him. Aman didn’t move! So Rosie took his hand in hers’ and put the doll in it, “Give it to me when you return!” She then ran back to her room as Aman called her name uselessly.

“You please take care of her,” Aman said as he looked at Jenny.

“And who will take care of me?” Jenny asked a question which left Aman speechless.

“Please don’t go! I don’t know why but I feel a strange fear this time,” Jenny pleaed, wiping away her tears.

“You know I can’t stay,” Aman said wiping her tears.

“Ok! If you have to leave then please,” Jenny continued, “Promise me you will see me again!”

“Hey, what are you saying?” Aman was taken aback, “I will, no matter what.”

“Don’t just say it,” Jenny retorted, “Promise me that you will.”

“I promise you, I will be back with you in no time,” Aman said as he hugged her.

“Just remember, I trust you more than myself, and more than GOD,” Jenny replied, “Don’t break your promise!”

“I promise I won’t,” Aman said as the two embraced.

But promises are often commitments made in haste, either to make a deal, or to delay it indefinitely. Those who master the art of breaking them and still keep the value of their word intact, generally become good politicians, businessmen or religious preachers. And opportunity is a maiden that sleeps only with either of these!

The House of Faith looked serene standing in the middle of a ripe golden sea ready for harvest. A small track between the fields extended at its’ rear, and led to a small wooden cabin by the side of the bore well that irrigated the fields. Two shortening shadows extended from the feets of two men, the white of their robes easily overawed by the dark of their thoughts.

“Tell me Norman, did you hear the morning news,” one of them asked the other.

“I did,” Norman replied.

“There are many things going missing around the globe,” the other one quipped.

“What are you trying to say?” Norman wasn’t getting the point.

“The time is right to administer the medicine to the community,” the other one said.

“Yes I realize,” Norman replied, “But the old idiot inside and that army man’s bitch won’t let us do it.”

“I know they won’t,” the other one replied, “But then, a lot of things are going missing, ain’t they?”

“Granger,” Norman quipped, “You sometimes scare me!”

“Well, all the more reason to stay by my side,” Granger said.



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Chapter Five: What The Shadows Hide

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GOD Of A Man

Eternity Versus Eternity

“Build a castle to block the light, remove a brick to enlighten!”

Chapter Five: What The Shadows Hide

Dated: 17^th December, 2459

The biggest allusion in nature is the overpowering extent of darkness. What is darkness? In simplest terms “Absence of light!” But is the light truly absent? What is night? Does it mean somebody has switched off the sun? Is the Universe really dark, pitch black? The light coming from multitudes of stars makes even a moonless night bright enough to see hand from hand. When moon passes in front of the sun, it blocks its’ light from reaching the earth temporarily to varying degrees, depending upon the geographical location of viewing. Wherever the Sun is completely hidden from view, it gets dark as if dusk has arrived prematurely. But even at that location, the moment moon passes the edge of the Sun, giving it the astounding shape of a diamond ring, the brightness is once again overwhelming in presence. A room can be dark even in broad daylight, as long as it is perfectly sealed off from the light outside. A small opening however is good enough to light it up completely.

Knowledge and ignorance share a similar, intimately antagonistic relationship. A mystery, as intriguing as it might be, is generally revealed by the slightest of clues. Knowledge is the light, ignorance the darkness. But one thing common to both knowledge and ignorance is; they both inspire some of the strongest emotions to be ever experienced by human beings. Ignorance instils faith, knowledge is rebellious!

Just like dusk and dawn between the two merging points of day and night, there is an intermediary phase between ignorance and knowledge; the shock. This shock can be an explosion of answers or a humble acceptance of human limitations, both of these ultimately leading to the realization that forms the new learning, the new knowledge. New Saisho finds itself on the brink of a similar experience!

“Impossible” was the final verdict to escape Doctor Yardley’s lips, for the truth that lay bare in front of his eyes was too confronting to be acceptable to human intelligence without unreasonable resistance.

“What is it?” President Katsuo inquired, “Is it a meteor hit?”

“Sir, looks like the space station, oil and transformer are not the only things missing,” Doctor Yardley replied after finally yielding to the reality of the moment, “And this one is a massive chunk of matter gone missing. We can even see the molten core of Mars now.” He then asked Researcher Chu, “Can you give us any more information? Did the researchers at our Antarctica facility give any more details like when this thing happened?”

“Sir, they forwarded the pictures to our home facility as soon as they were taken,” Jhiang replied, “According to their rough estimate, based upon the spinning cycle of Mars, it must have happened about four hours ago, from now.”

“Doctor Yardley, would you be able to comment as to how this will affect Mars?” President Katsuo asked.

“Sir, it is definitely going to affect Mars’ spinning cycle, as well as its’ revolution around the sun. It is a big mass taken off from an object in motion,” Doctor Yardley replied out of his deep understanding derived from his experience, “We will have to check its’ revolutions over the next twenty four hours to be able to do some mathematical modelling. Only then will we be able to predict its’ future course, and if it will affect us in any way.”

“And Doctor, what do you make out of all these recent incidents?” President inquired further.

“Sir, all I can say is, we now have some data to begin work on developing a computer model for prediction of future events,” Doctor Yardley gave his honest opinion, “Beyond that, all I can say for the moment is; it doesn’t look like a case of space gates. It could be a dimensional tear, but we need more information to make a call on this one.”

“How does it affect us?” President finally asked the most important question.

“Sir, without any knowledge of the fate of things gone missing so far, all I can say is, we are not safe,” Doctor Yardley put things in their perspective without any ambiguous words.

The long silence that ensued would have confused even death.

Finally President Shoji Katsuo asked Miss De Villiers, “Anne, just check with NSS Full Bloom if they have got any information from the oil rigs in Kuwait region.”

“Yes Sir,” Anne immediately contacted NSS Full Bloom, “NSS Full Bloom, this is Miss Anne De Villiers, Secretary to the President. Can I speak to the commanding officer?”

“This is Rear Admiral Guruban Ahluwalia, currently in charge of NSS Full Bloom speaking,” Rear Admiral’s commanding voice boomed from the other end.

“Rear Admiral, where is Captain Bradley Connors?” Admiral Mir immediately asked as Mrs Downing smirked.

“Captain Bradley Connors has been dispatched with a team to the location Sir,” Rear Admiral Ahluwalia replied.

“You mean he has vacated his responsibility on board NSS Full Bloom and left in search of an adventure in the desert,” Mrs Downing commented.

“I beg your pardon! Captain Bradley Connors is a very responsible and highly decorated soldier who would never do such a rash act. He was ordered to relinquish his charge temporarily and lead a very young and inexperienced team into the field by this very senior officer of his,” Rear Admiral Ahluwalia retorted fiercely, “Who is this idiot I am talking to?”

“This idiot you are referring to is the Finance Minister of New Saisho Mrs Gabriella Downing,” Mrs Downing immediately burst out, “Has the Rear Admiral lost all his manners?”

“Mrs Downing, I very well remember my manners but, of all the people, you should be intelligent enough to realize that when a senior is present on site, the junior officers can no longer make policy decisions without his consent and their actions become the direct responsibility of the senior himself,” Rear Admiral gave a befitting reply, “By the way, which of the two schools in New Saisho did you go to Mrs Downing where they didn’t teach you not to interrupt a conversation between two people?”

Mrs Downing’s face was left agape and she herself left speechless as Admiral Mir finally broke the ugly conversation, “Rear Admiral, we appreciate you are in the thick of something serious out there, but things are not too bright at our end either. So let us get something constructive out of our conversation now. Would you please brief us about what is going on over there in the Arabian Sea?”

“Sir, our first reconnaissance sortie wasn’t too productive. The night vision images of the sight show a massive crater but reveal no details,” Rear Admiral Ahluwalia replied, “My boys are forwarding you the images now.”

The images showed a dark spot at the site, looking like a huge crater, but the details were indeed not visible.

“Any luck with the radio contact Rear Admiral,” President Katsuo asked after checking the images.

“No sir,” Rear Admiral replied, “That is why I had to take the immediate decision of dispatching a small team for the physical inspection of the site, and since Captain Bradley happens to be the only man with experience in underground mining site searches, I had to relieve him of his current responsibility in charge of the aircraft carrier, so as to enable him to lead the team in person.”

“We understand your position Rear Admiral. Under the circumstances you made the right choice,” President Katsuo lent his weight behind Rear Admiral’s decision.

“Thanks Mr President,” Rear Admiral replied, “As soon as the Captain returns, I will transfer his responsibility back on his shoulders.”

“That’s alright Mr Ahluwalia,” President Katsuo said, “But we might have to ask you to carry the responsibility a bit longer for we might need Captain Bradley to do some other work for us, offshore the north eastern edge of Africa, depending upon how things are in Middle East.”

“I would be more than obliged to carry out the responsibility Sir,” Rear Admiral replied and then mentioned his upcoming retirement, “But Mr President, I only have a few weeks service left.”

“I am aware of your impending retirement next month Mr Ahluwalia,” President assured, “We just might have to give you an extension, if you don’t have any objections.”

“None at all sir, it will be a pleasure to serve the people of New Saisho for more,” Rear Admiral replied.

“That would be it for now Mr Ahluwalia,” President Katsuo said, “Do keep us updated about the findings of Captain Bradley Connors and the rest of your men.”

“Yes Sir,” Rear Admiral replied and the connection was closed.

Before anyone could say anything President Katsuo turned towards Doctor Yardley and addressed him, “Doctor, I don’t think we have much time on our hands. What do you need immediately to get the answers we are looking for?”

“Sir, with so many things disappearing at such a short notice, the situation is bleak but we can use the data to start mathematical modelling straight away,” Doctor Yardley replied, “Research fellow Jhiang Chu here is himself leading the work on developing the model.”

“I don’t know if we will survive Sir,” Jhiang was still visibly shaken by the whole knowledge explosion that had happened over the last few hours.

“We will survive young man,” Admiral Mir was pumped like his usual self, “We have survived a nuclear holocaust, we will survive the universal furry too!”

“Now look here son,” President Katsuo addressed Jhiang Chu, “Our community is in dire need now and it is, and will be looking up to young intelligent minds like you to deliver. We may not survive, but we might as well! But one thing is certain, the only way to survive will be to find answers to the threat we face today. Now you can sulk and let everyone including yourself perish, or you can pitch in your intelligence and put in the hours needed, and find a way out for all of us. The choice is yours and I cannot make it for you!”

Jhiang nodded, still gagged by his fear. At this point Doctor Yardley suggested, “Do you want to leave this job for someone else who might not be half as intelligent as you but who is more comfortable with the situation.”

Jhiang’s eyes finally stoned in a resolve, “No Sir, I cannot shame my grandfather and my family! I won’t go home and will live in the laboratory until I find you the answers we all need.”

“That’s the spirit of New Saisho son,” President Katsuo symbolically clapped his hands in appretiation.

“Sir, we don’t have time! I request leave from your gracious presence,” Jhiang said as a new fervour gave a spring to his feet.

“Make us proud son,” President Katsuo said as he gestured him to take his leave. Jhiang bowed in respect and quick marched his way out, almost breaking into a fierce jog.

“Now Doctor Yardley, anything else we can do for you right now,” President Katsuo asked him.

“Sir, we need the satellite up as soon as we can,” Doctor Yardley replied as he looked towards Doctor Stephen Sebastian from the engineering wing, expecting some information.

“Sir, my men are already working round the clock on the project,” Doctor Sebastian replied, “We have decided to finish the work of four weeks in one and half, no matter what. We are camping in the office since.”

“I see doctor! Your department has definitely taken a lead over the rest of us. I wish you luck and if you need anything, just let us know!” the enterprising gesture had really impressed President Katsuo, “I think this deserves a round of applause” And everybody in the room clapped for the engineering wing.

After the applause had died out, Admiral Mir asked, “Sir, what would you like my men to do?”

“Admiral,” President Katsuo stopped to think for a moment before continuing, “I think we have lost the oil in Middle East. It is time to open up the Libyan ports again.”

“Sir, I will immediately instruct Rear Admiral to dispatch Captain Connors to the new location as soon as he returns,” Admiral Mir replied.

“And Sir,” Doctor Sebastian spoke to add something else into the equation, “I don’t think we have time to develop Uranium enrichment plant or fission engine from scratch, and we need both.”

The room became a whispering chamber as President Katsuo thought about the question. Finally Admiral Mir came up with a suggestion, “Sir, NSS Mighty is still ashore. I can dispatch Captain Aman Ahluwalia to do some underwater search for buried nuke subs in west Pacific region. He is experienced, committed and a decorated soldier.”

“Do you think we will be able to recover any worthwhile nuclear material or technology from the salty graveyard?” President inquired.

“Sir if I may reply to this one,” Doctor Sebastian offered the answer, “Nuclear material was generally very carefully stored and nuclear technology was not easily susceptible to natural disasters or factors. There is a high chance of recovering some well preserved weapons grade Uranium in the form of buried warheads, as well as still workable nuclear reactors, if only we can locate one buried nuclear sub.”

“Perhaps you are right doctor,” President replied, “I realize what limitation we are facing. But then the question is, are we ready to tap the former technology for our advantage?”

“Sir, we just constituted another team yesterday which has already started working on models that will incorporate old technology into a new space ready version,” Doctor Sebastian replied, clearly impressing the gathering once again with his departments’ commitment.

After a bit more discussion on the current situation and the steps that had been decided to be undertaken, the meeting was finally dispersed.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I think we can head back to our work now,” President Katsuo said as he rose to leave the room. Others followed soon, everybody leaving in their own directions, determined to help humanity find a way out of the current crisis.

The monochromatic colour of the night is slow and sneaky in blanketing the nature, but it is quick to fade out. Like herds escaping bush fire, the dark that approaches as dispersions, refractions and radiations slowly die out, escapes at the speed of light. The world is up and running before the first light hits, as if shoeing away the blackness.

As Aman jogged around the bend, on the return lap to his home, he was surprised to see a stack of emergency vehicles outside the neighbours. Mr Dwight, Janice’s father, was being consoled by an officer whose face looked familiar.

“Elle, is that you?” Aman recognized the officer Elle Wilson, his former classmate and now an officer with New Saisho Police, “What happened here? Oh! And how are you?”

“Aman, you haven’t changed at all,” Elle’s face brightened up more than the brightening morning light, “I am fine! We are here to answer a missing persons call from Mr Dwight.”

“Missing persons call?” Aman was surprised, “Who is missing?”

“His daughter and wife,” Elle replied, “He just returned after doing some overnight work, a bit of longish overtime at the factory he manages, and found his wife and daughter missing, along with the bed, carpet under it, and a chunk of their floor.”

“That sounds so strange,” Aman was shocked.

“We are dealing with a homicide here,” Elle shocked him even further.

“Homicide, how come,” Aman’s disbelief was clearly evident.

“Mrs Josephine Dwight’s chopped feet were found right next to spot where the bed was located, still in her slippers, but strangely, not a single drop of her blood spilt,” the information Elle shared was more gross than shocking, “Did you or any of your family see anyone entering or leaving these premises, or anything suspicious in the area.”

Aman, still in disbelief, “How can this happen? We have never had a murder in New Saisho.”

“Aman, if you or any of your family has any information, call me at this number,” Elle said as she pulled out a piece of paper from her pocket and scribbled her number on it, “Give me a call anyway, whenever you have some time. It’s been so long since I last saw you.”

Elle still hadn’t been able to move on from her never disclosed feelings for Aman. But Aman was already lost in deep thoughts as he took the piece of paper from Elle, put it in his pocket, and walked towards Mr Dwight, to console him.

As the dawn marched around towards the middle of the globe, five pairs of feet stomped on the sandy edge of a massive crater in the middle of the earth.

“Wow! That looks deeper than the ocean Sir, must be over a thousand feet deep,” one of the marines commented on the first look of the crater, not confident to step on to the edge but bending over to have a better look. Their Captain stepped out of the pack, walked straight to the edge, stood there and looked down below as a few pebbles took a tumble down a lonely fall. After having a good look at the face of the crater walls and the deep dark valley they enclosed, he motioned his men to follow him as he stepped back towards their chopper.

“Now listen boys, we only have a few hours before this place becomes a furnace,” Captain Connors briefed his men once again, “The crater is over three kilometres in diameter and by the looks of it; the entire oil rig infrastructure has collapsed in. I don’t expect any survivors but we will still keep our eyes and ears open. However, the more important thing to look for is the presence of any material that seems out of place, a rock that could be a part of a meteor, or just anything that doesn’t fit with the surroundings. Our chopper will drop us as close to the bottom of the crater as is possible, but it cannot fly even remotely close to the edge of the crater. Such walls are prone to collapse and we don’t want our only escape to get buried along with us. We will walk towards the edges looking for any caves or openings, then climb, jump and grab our way up to them, looking for specimens and signs of life if any. Once we have inspected everything, including any caves or holes we find, we will make our way back to the centre in four hours time to get a lift back. Any questions you have?”

“No sir,” Captain’s boys replied in unison.

“Good! Lets’ move,” Captain Connors gestured his men to follow him back into the chopper where he gave instructions to the pilot, “Drop us in the middle of the crater, and collect us from there in four hours time.”

“Roger sir,” the pilot replied as he ferried his cargo towards the designated spot.

“The bottom is hardly visible sir,” one of the marines commented as he opened the helicopter door to prepare for getting lowered into the crater.”

“Watch where you step boys, don’t let go the rope until you are sure the ground beneath your feet is firm,” Captain Connors replied, “We don’t know how much has been dug underneath. Mining leaves the land like a sponge; it can collapse, causing landslides and pits above the surface, and craters deep inside.”

“Yes Sir,” his men replied as they prepared to glide down the ropes one by one.

“I am going down first,” Captain said as he grabbed the rope in his hand from one of his marines, “Do not disembark until I radio an all clear.”

“Sir, it could be dangerous down there. Let me go in first,” one of his men said as his friend standing behind the Captain shook his head and gestured to cut it out.

Captain Bradley looked in his eyes, smiled, and then put a hand on his shoulder, “We’ll talk about it once we get back Private Simmons!” And Captain Connors slid down the road.

“You idiot, why did you have to butt in,” Simmons friend quipped.

“What did I do wrong?” Simmons asked innocently.

“Last time a soldier volunteered to help Captain Bradley, he was discharged from the service and flown back by a special plane to New Saisho,” his friend replied, “Do you know what Captain was doing?”

“No,” Simmons asked as his heart palpitated.

“He was hunting two sharks with one knife, the other one having attacked when Captain was in the middle of his first kill,” the friend replied.

“What happened then?” Simmons asked.

“The marine was the first one to be served shark meat that night and now he works in a bakery in New Saisho,” his friend remarked.

After gulping down a big lump, Simmons asked, “Did the marine help the captain though?”

“Are you kidding? Before the marine could even jump in water with a gun and a mask, Captain had already sized up the two sea monsters,” his friend replied.

“Its’ all clear boys,” Captain Connors made the announcement on the radio, “Just watch your step as the ground is highly rocky and uneven, and remember not to let go the rope until your feet are firmly on the ground. The last one will radio the helicopter to depart.”

One by one the other four members of the team, including Simmons, glided down. Once they were at the bottom, the chopper was sent away for the time being and Captain Connors gave them further instructions, “We will spread out, two hundred meters between each one of us in case the walls collapse. Keep your radios turned on and make sure your every step is on firm surface before transferring your weight. Remember what we are looking for, and if anyone finds anything, radio me and stay put. I will join him to see if we need to collect the specimen.”

“Yes Sir,” they all replied.

“Good! Lets’ move,” Captain Connors remarked and they all spread out, slowly and slowly. It took them about half an hour to hit the bottom of the steep wall, and their arduous climb began!

After another hour and a half of searching one of them found what was more disturbing than interesting, so he radioed the Captain, “Sir, its’ Private Mathew Kline, I just found a human arm, and it looks eaten!”

“Reveal your position Private,” Captain Connors immediately asked.

Private Mathew Kline signalled by waving his hand.

“I see you Mathew, just wait there,” Captain Connors said as he carefully made his way across the rocky surface, towards Mathew. On inspection of the human origin specimen, the bite marks were easily evident.

“Now what the hell could that be?” Mathew was a bit concerned.

“It looks like bite marks left by a creature with many serrate rows of teeth,” Captain Connors replied as his attention was suddenly caught by a strange sound. “Get away quick,” Captain Connors replied as he dropped the specimen, and looked around, “Jump on that rock piece now!”

He nearly pushed Mathew on to the projecting rock surface he had noticed along the wall, and followed suit as the wall above their location collapsed. A slight delay would have buried both the Captain and Private into history.

The dust settled down to reveal an opening to a cave just where they had found the arm. Captain Connors looked at the wall above to make sure there was no other collapses imminent, and once sure, he started to climb his way towards the opening.

“Follow me,” Captain instructed Mathew as he himself quickly climbed into the cave. Mathew was about to start his climb when the wall collapsed again, this time closing the mouth of the cave once again.

“Damn it,” Captain Connors said as he picked his radio and asked, “Can you hear me boys?” But he got no response! He tried it a couple of times more as he stood facing the blocked exit, but it was no use. He had been cut off from his men!

Captain Connors latched his radio back onto his waist belt and was about to switch on the light on top of his helmet, when his ears picked up a strange hissing sound, a sound he wasn’t familiar with, a sound that was coming from behind, a sound that was too close for comfort, a sound that could be felt on the back of his neck!

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Chapter Four: A Different Bite

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GOD Of A Man

Eternity Versus Eternity

“Faith is the first in attendance, logic the last to prevail.”

Chapter Four: A Different Bite

Dated: 16^th December, 2459

Forging them out of unpredictability, life has a knack of throwing situations in the face of humanity, situations that test its’ will to survive, capacity to learn and ability to adapt. Every situation gives lessons that form the basis of survival instincts in play in a subsequent situation, which itself will lead to a newer learning. Like the scientific approach to solving a problem, formulating a hypothesis and then collecting relevant data to test its’ validity, life situations have a peculiar methodology of teaching their lessons.

The first and natural reaction to every situation is faith; faith which evolves further, in a chronological sequence, motivating and nudging mankind towards the next step. Starting as a faith in the unknown to be the protector, it soon evolves into a hope that the unwelcome test won’t last forever, and finally culminates into a belief that concerted efforts will bring an end to the misery. Faith thus leads humanity to the next stage of response to a calamity; the efforts. Faith thus changes into will!

The will to survive another day can often motivate unprecedented reactions. The efforts, initially blind and directionless, as soon as they yield a positive result, become directed, and are then repeated again and again, building a first reaction knowledge base for future events. The unwilling students get a basis to formulate a hypothesis, from which to work out a solution. The subsequent efforts, often corrected again and again, help build a response to negate the damage already inflicted by the situation. This builds the knowledge base for the secondary response to a calamity; minimizing loses. The efforts are continued till a solution is achieved. Thus a defence that was founded on faith, build upon efforts, culminates in a logical conclusion!

However not all situations give enough breathing space to those in the thick of action, to survive. Some have embedded themselves deep down in history as catastrophes that annihilated every existence that dared breathe in their vicinity. While Dinosaurs ended up in engines centuries later, much of humanity ended up into nothing! The predicament the small surviving New Saisho community faces, hides behinds its’ garbs the intent to annihilate every truth humanity holds dear today!

As the shadows of the night trudged alongside the lonely crescent above, every household in New Saisho looked calm, at peace, and a secure place to dwell. The lights that lit every window, soon faded into a tranquil blackness. But there was one particular house where light was still dancing behind the veils of curtains that dangled blissfully in soft night breeze. From a distance even the brightness looked peaceful, the approach gave no indications of the life that thrived behind the well lit brick walls, but one step inside the dwelling and the verve was infectious in its’ joy.

“That’s a foul, that’s a clear foul,” Captain Ahluwalia was yelling at the top of his voice as Jenny at the other end of the table tennis furniture stood with her hands on her hips, shaking her head in disagreement, firm in her response, “No, it was not!”

“I saw it with my own eyes. Your service landed in the other square,” Captain Ahluwalia protested as he pointed towards the centre of dispute, and a hapless Rosie watched, sitting on the backrest of the couch, her feet resting on the arm-rest, her head clasped between her hands, as she balanced her elbows on her knees. She was clearly not impressed with the two players.

“You are just afraid of losing to me,” Jenny exclaimed, “Admit I am a better table tennis player than you!”

“You a better player than me, you are dreaming,” Aman retorted, “I can beat you any day with one hand.”

“Is that so? Then how come you are losing five games to one?” Jenny replied, “You are a sore loser! You are cheating!”

“I am not cheating! I am just letting you win because you are a girl,” Aman boasted.

“In that case why don’t you let me win this point you magnanimous knight?” Jenny retorted as she marched to the other side of the table to confront Aman as she pushed her chest nearly on to his.

“Because you are cheating,” Aman replied as he took a step back, “If you want to win, win it fair!”

“I am wining fair,” Jenny again took a step closer to him, “It was not a foul, but you have been crying like a child for the last three games you sore loser!”

“I am not a loser,” Aman replied as this time he took a step closer and rubbed himself on to Jenny, pushing her back, “Ask Rosie if you want to?” And they both turned their heads towards Rosie who closed her eyes in disgust.

“Oh GOD, when will these kids grow up!” Rosie’s expression was priceless as she closed her eyes behind her fingers in disgust.

“Hey Rosie, tell Jenny she had fouled,” Aman said as he walked towards Rosie.

“Why should she lie for you?” Jenny hopped on to the sofa’s back rest and sat next to Rosie and hugged her onto the side of her bosom.

“Now don’t try to impress upon our match referee,” Aman complained.

“Oh stop it you two,” the voice of Mrs Suzanne Smith Ahluwalia broke the deadlock, “Do you two brats realize what time it is? It is middle of the night! Stay awake as long as you want to but at least let Rosie go to bed now!”

“But I want to play mom,” Rosie insisted, “Remember I don’t have school tomorrow?”

“Yes I remember dear,” Mrs Ahluwalia replied, “But it is still very late.”

“C’mon mom,” Rosie still insisted, “Aman is going to leave again day after tomorrow, and then he won’t come back for six months.”

“I know my dear, your brother has grown so big now, he cannot even spare time for his family now,” Mrs Ahluwalia complained as she lifted Rosie in her arms.

“That’s not true mom,” Aman was taken aback by criticism, “You know I have a job to do! Army is not run by my dad, is it?”

“Just like your father,” Mrs Ahluwalia protested as she turned her face away, “You don’t even have time to go to your father’s retirement party in January!”

“Mom, we’ve already discussed it,” Aman walked around as he put his arms around the shoulders of his mother and rested his head on the shoulder opposite the one Rosie was resting hers’ on as she sucked her thumb.

“Hey you, put that out of your mouth,” Mrs Ahluwalia pulled out Rosie’s thumb out of her mouth, “Can’t you just take a leave?”

“Mom, we only stay away for six months in a year, and if I took a leave during that then what will be the point of doing this job? And if every soldier took leave because they had a family to fend for, then who will do the job?” Aman tried to reason, “Besides, do you think father would like me to take a leave for his retirement party? He’ll prefer to have me court-martialled, and with his position in the army, he might very well do it?”

“You and your father,” Mrs Ahluwalia shook her head in disgust. “Why me GOD? Was there no other girl to marry in an Army family?” Mrs Ahluwalia continued her tirade.

“Oh C’mon mom, stop exaggerating! You know you love us,” Aman quipped as he hugged his mother.

“Love you? I hate you from your head to toe,” Mrs Ahluwalia acted to be cross, “Will anyone care to tell me what is the army protecting us from?”

“Hey! That is so mean,” Aman retorted, “Why do we have to just protect people when we do so much other stuff for the society!”

“Like what?” Mrs Ahluwalia questioned.

“Like right now I will be escorting fishing vessels for six months, guiding them through the cold waters and terrains of Antarctica,” Aman reasoned.

“So you are fishermen!” Mrs Ahluwalia rubbed in.

“Now that’s unfair and judgemental,” Aman protested, “We do so much other stuff like helping researchers unearth buried vessels in deep waters.”

“So you are in merchant navy, or are you mercenaries?” Mrs Ahluwalia rubbed in further, “I still don’t understand why we still need army when all we need are fishermen, gold diggers, explorers and researchers.”

“Hey, who knows we might be attacked by an alien race tomorrow,” Aman insisted, “Who will come to your rescue then? It will be army!”

“You are fantasising now,” Mrs Ahluwalia shook her head in disagreement, “There will never be an alien invasion!”

“How can you be so sure?” Aman questioned, “Didn’t the space station just disappear into nothing? Who would have imagined that?”

“Ok! Ok! That’s enough of this boring discussion,” Jenny tried to break the deadlock, “I am hungry now!”

“Me too,” Aman said but couldn’t resist the temptation of having the last say, “But we still need army!”

Mrs Ahluwalia was about to respond when Jenny put her hand on her shoulder and tried to lighten the situation, “Mom, can I ask you one thing? How do you survive with two army men?”

“Simple! They are both idiots,” Mrs Ahluwalia had the last laugh though.

Aman’s jaw dropped and it took him a few moments to finally muster, “I’ll pretend I never heard that!”

“Don’t stress out son, I’ll repeat it for you,” Mrs Ahluwalia responded with a rubbing smile stretched on her lips.

Aman was speechless for another moment, then finally spoke, “You too Brutus! I won’t eat half my dinner now!”

“Why eat the other half?” Mrs Ahluwalia asked.

“I am not going to starve to death for you two thankless ladies,” Aman responded as he tried to walk away from the room.

“Oh C’mon you two,” Jenny realized the situation was getting serious, “You know mom really loves you and your father, and she just wants you to be there for his retirement next month.”

“Leave it Jenny! Its’ no use arguing with him or his equally stubborn father,” Mrs Ahluwalia replied as her eyes filled up, “They don’t feel the emotions.”

“That’s not true mom,” even Aman was cheese now as he walked around to Mrs Ahluwalia and put his arms around her again, “You know us mom, we love you! But principles are principles!” Aman tried to reason with Mrs Ahluwalia and continued, “If army men became weaklings like everybody else, the last line of defence would be lost!”

“Last line of defence! Last line of defence! I am sick of hearing this again and again,” this time even Jenny broke down, “Do you people even realize how hard it is to live without you people for so long?”

Now Aman was in trouble as he was one man to fend for two crying ladies, thankfully the youngest one having fallen asleep on her mother’s shoulder because of fatigue. “Hey, you are an army man’s to be wife, and you are already an army man’s wife and mother,” Aman positioned himself between the two ladies as he put his one arm around each of the two ladies, trying to console them, “You cannot be weak like normal next door ladies! You have to be strong enough to sacrifice your most precious belonging for the society when the need comes! You cannot cry like the rest!”

“Oh yes, we have to be strong enough to sacrifice our whole world but no one will care for us or do anything for us or society,” Jenny protested angrily as she broke out into a full blown tear storm.

“Hey, nothing will ever happen to you two,” Aman retorted back.

“Oh yeah? Who will save us if we ever needed you in an emergency? Your army?” Jenny cried out.

“Nothing will ever happen to you as long as I am alive!” Aman’s face stiffened with resolve as he pumped his chest with his fist, thumb side in and hard, “Over my dead body! Over my dead body!” And Aman walked out of the room into another one and stood facing the window that overlooked the street and the scattered houses. His eyes were moist but it was as if the tears didn’t have enough guts to roll down his cheeks.

Jenny immediately wiped her tears and rushed behind him, crashing hard into his back and caressing him tightly to her chest. “I love you,” she whispered as she struggled to control her tears, “I just want to be with you all the time!”

Aman put his hands softly on her hands and caressed her arms between his chest and arms softly, “I love you too! And I can’t live without you! But I have a job to do!”

“I know!” Jenny replied meekly and then burst out crying, “I just love you and I am sorry if I am ever mean to you!”

“Hey, don’t be nuts,” Aman said as he reclined his head back to gently hit her head with his head.

“Ouch! That hurts!” Jenny said as she bit him in return.

The moment was pure bliss for as long as it lasted. A sudden power failure across a complete block, including the Ahluwalia mansion, broke the serenity.

“What’s happened to the damn light,” Mrs Ahluwalia was frustrated. “Amanu,” as she lovingly calls Captain Ahluwalia, “Can you check what’s happened to our lights son?”

“It’s not just our house mom,” Aman replied, “It’s the entire street and block! Looks like some kind of grid failure! I’ll turn the emergency supply on, just hold on!”

This was the first time in their lives they had experienced a power failure, but then things always have a nasty habit of happening for the first time in life!

In another part of the town meanwhile, the lights in the streets and houses were still on, but the one in brain was fading fast as President Shoji Katsuo grappled with the latest news he had received on his phone.

“What do you mean the wells have run dry?” President Ono asked.

“Sir, it was there one hour ago, but now it’s all gone,” Director Paul McCartney was struggling to catch his breath as the panic tensed up his chest muscles, making it hard enough to breath, leave alone speak.

“Relax Mr McCartney,” President Katsuo tried to calm him down, “Just take a deep breath and then try to explain.”

Director Paul took a few moments to let the information sink in his own mind first before continuing, “Sir, the oil in the wells has suddenly gone missing! It was all well until about an hour ago when the pipes suddenly went dry.”

“But last month’s reports clearly indicated that there was oil for another couple of centuries for our small community?” President Katsuo inquired.

“Yes sir, that’s right,” Mr McCartney replied, “But now it’s all gone! Vanished!”

President Katsuo was left speechless as he struggled to put two and two together, “I’ll convene another emergency meeting tomorrow and I want you to be available all through via satellite cam.”

“Yes,” Director McCartney’s call disconnected abruptly before he could complete his sentence. The last bit of sound to be heard was a sudden surprised shriek.

“Mr McCartney, are you there,” President Katsuo tried in vain to re-establish the contact. He tried to call him back but all he got was a no connection tone. Meanwhile another phone had started ringing and Secretary Anne rushed to pick it up.

“Hello, Secretary Anne at Grey House receiving,” Miss Anne De Villiers replied and then listened intently as her expressions became grave.

President Katsuo looked at Anne’s face, expecting an answer as she put the receiver down. “Sir, we’ve got some more disturbing news,” Anne’s voice was trembling.

“What happened?” President Katsuo asked.

“Sir, it was Director Electricity Board,” Miss Anne replied, “A massive transformer managing supply to a section in the city east has vanished from the power station, plunging four blocks into complete darkness!”

President Katsuo gazed somewhere far away, had a deep thought, and finally gave directions to Anne, “Call everybody in right away. Give them one hour to be present! Those far, advise them to use choppers but report immediately.”

“Yes sir,” Miss De Villiers replied as she took her leave. Her work was cut out. She needed to wake up over two dozen people and make sure they were in attendance before President Katsuo made his appearance in the conference room at the Parliament house. However this time, thanks to the desperate situation, President Katsuo beat them all, including Miss De Villiers.

“Sir, sorry I am a bit late,” Admiral Mir, twenty minutes ahead of the schedule, was apologetic as soon as he entered the conference room.

“No need for apologies Admiral, it’s me who is early,” President Katsuo said as he gestured him to take a seat.

“Thanks Mr President,” Admiral said as he took his seat, “Others won’t be too long!”

“That’s fine,” President Katsuo nodded.

“If the President doesn’t mind me asking,” a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, Admiral Mir finally asked President Katsuo, who was lost in deep consternation so far, “It must be something very serious!”

“It is indeed Admiral,” President Katsuo confirmed his suspicions and then gave him a brief description of the couple of events that had cost him his sleep. Meanwhile others trickled into the conference room one by one, Miss De Villiers walking in after making sure everybody had arrived.

“Miss De Villiers, would you please brief the gathering quickly?” President Katsuo motioned to his secretary who immediately took the centre dais and divulged all the details of the two incidents.

“So right now we are awaiting a reply from Captain Bradley Connors, in charge of our aircraft carrier NSS Full Bloom. He had been instructed to send a reconnaissance plane, to have an aerial view of the oil wells as well as try to establish a radio link with our men there,” Miss Anne De Villiers apprised the gathering of the latest situation.

“That impulsive kid, I won’t be surprised if he himself flew in and paradropped at the sight,” Mrs Gabriella Downing commented.

“He is a decorated soldier and highly professional,” Admiral Mir jumped to his ward’s defence, “He will never relegate his responsibility aboard NSS Full Bloom, leave alone jeopardising any of the missions entrusted upon him. He is committed, not impulsive! I would appreciate if the parliamentarians are judicious with their remarks about my men!”

“I am not questioning your ward’s abilities Admiral,” Mrs Downing replied, “But isn’t he the guy who hunts sharks by jumping in the water without oxygen mask, just with a knife, saying it won’t be fair on the sharks otherwise?”

“He is indeed,” Admiral Mir quipped, “But that’s his bravery and strength of character, not impulsiveness!”

“Please, let us not argue needlessly,” Secretary Anne tried to diffuse the situation, “And just to mention Rear Admiral Guruban Ahluwalia is currently onboard NSS Full Bloom for his last official inspection of our Navy’s preparedness before he retires next month. There is no need for any apprehensions!”

“That is insulting to even suggest that without the presence of a senior official like much respected Read Admiral, any of my men won’t be able to carry out their duties professionally,” Admiral Mir was outraged, “I demand an immediate apology from Secretary Miss De Villiers, and also from the Member of Parliament Mrs Downing.”

Sensing the outrage the conversation had caused, Anne was quick to offer her apologies saying it wasn’t what she intended to say, while Mrs Downing too repented.

The conversation had barely died down when one of the phones in the conference room began ringing. Anne immediately answered it, “Hello! Secretary to President Miss Anne De Villiers speaking, is this NSS Full Bloom?”

“I am sorry Miss De Villiers, I am the clerk from President’s office and I have a young researcher from National Space Research Organisation who seeks audience immediately,” the voice at the other end replied, “He identifies himself as Research Fellow Jhiang Chu.”

Anne looked at the President who nodded in affirmation. Anne then replied, “Please send him in?”

“What does your ward have to say Doctor Yardley?” President immediately asked the senior space research scientist.

“I am sorry Mr President but I have no information about what he might have to share with us tonight,” Doctor Yardley answered the query as a huffing and puffing Jhiang rushed into the conference room and crashed on to his knees, in the conference room’s well.

“Sir, I’m sorry sir,” Jhiang didn’t even wait to catch a bit of his breath and immediately blurted out, “But you need to see this!” Panic was writ large on his face as he held out a compact disc.

“Miss De Villiers, please show us what the young man’s got on the disc,” President asked Anne.

“Sir, these are images of Mars taken by our space observatory in Antarctica, that have just been emailed back to the office by our man there, just half an hour ago,” Jhiang struggled to maintain a steady flow of words but managed to complete his statement.

“What do these images show?” Anne asked as she put the disc in the conference room system and projected the images on to the big screen.

“These are a series of images taken of Mars over the last few hours,” Jhiang, who had caught his breath now, spoke with panic dripping like tears from his eyes, “We are all going to die! We are all going to die!” And fear took the better of Jhiang as he broke down.

“Get your composure young man,” Admiral Mir spoke in his military tone, “We all are going to die one day, what difference does it make when?”

“You don’t know what’s happened sir,” Jhiang said as he raised his hand to point a finger at the screen, “Look at the next few images!”

Anne continued the slide show, one image to the next, until an image showed up, which everyone present in the conference room would have happily wished they will never have to witness in their life. The fear that had only been visible on Jhiang’s face so far, suddenly gripped everyone inside the conference room. As the images presented the story of Mars’ revolutions around its’ own axis, an image appeared that showed a big chunk of Mars missing, like it had been bitten off!

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