Chapter Ten: Demand And Sacrifice

***********************************************************

GOD Of A Man

Eternity Versus Eternity

“The only virtue that measures up to the future’s yardstick is conscience.”

Chapter Ten: Demand And Sacrifice

Dated: 19^th December, 2459

Future is never perfect, for it is always judgemental. Present works hard to create a future it desires, only to be questioned for its’ inadequacies and failings. But howsoever upright, impartial and judicious the future might be; it can never relive the manipulating forces that played upon the present out of which it was born. Actions are always a balance between desires and demands; the means and modus operandi being determined by the former, the end result being governed by the later. The future itself is modelled along the lines of the former, but the final outcome is invariably determined by the successful achievement of the later. Judging an action in retrospect is fraught with the inconsistencies arising out of missing influences that determined its’ execution originally. What transpired to invite an action may not be factually important for the history of mankind, but is enlightening about the evolution of a society.

What plays out in present is always contextually relevant for the actors, and to every extent justified by their immediate requirements. Action is always warranted by the situation, even if it might not be the best choice to be made under a given set of circumstances. However, subjects vary of scrutiny by the keepers of time can make their decisions everlasting if they base their decisions and choices on the call of conscience. Future can be heartless in dealing with facts, and ruthless in passing judgement, but conscience remains consistent across the barriers of time. Morality stays the same! It’s the subjects whose adherence to it varies. An honest observation can never miss a glaring truth in a pile of falsehood.

Conscience, as is it complex to define, as is it important! Conscience is the heart beat of the society. A society may not be destroyed by war, plague or a natural disaster, and it continues to live in the history. A society however dies with its’ conscience! What continues to live is a dead body, both in history, as well as in time. Conscience is also the sieve that filters out society’s gold from dust, and New Saisho seems to be fairly rich for its’ small numbers.

“What’s our current speed Sergeant Schaeffer?” Captain Aman asked the man on job for the night Sergeant Alfonso Schaeffer.

“Currently cruising along at twenty five Nautical miles per hour,” Sergeant Schaeffer replied.

“Go full throttle Sergeant, nothing less than thirty three at any cost,” Aman replied, “I want to make it to the Shooting Darts region latest by three in the morning. That’s where I would like you to stop the vessel and wake me up before we continue navigating. We need to make through that region latest by four in the evening.”

There is a thin line that differentiates haste from speed. When on speed the movements are still co-ordinated, the activity follows a plan, adjustments are possible and results are in line with predictions. But haste is marked with discord, falling apart of plans or lack of them altogether, thus making adjustments impossible, and results can be contrary to both expectations and intentions. Speed can deteriorate into haste when the activity is delayed by indiscipline and lack of adherence to the time frame suggested for the plan. Haste however cannot be improved into speed by any amount of discipline for valuable time has already been lost, and most of the adjustments are meant to diminish the damage.

“Captain, may I please,” Doctor Xavier made an obvious reference to Captain Connors who was sitting opposite to him in the military chopper that was flying them to Libyan shores.

“What can I do for you Doctor,” Bradley teased him as if he didn’t know what the doctor was asking for.

“Captain, I need to see you hand,” Xavier replied.

“I didn’t know you were into palmistry. Please tell me what lies in my future,” Bradley asked as he thrust his wrong hand forward while his men smirked at the poor chap’s plight.

“Oh GOD, why me? This is so ridiculous,” Doctor Xavier murmured to himself before stating, “Your other hand Captain.”

“If you insist Doctor, but I must make it clear, I am not offering my hand in marriage,” Bradley quipped.

“Ha, Ha, Ha, you are so funny,” Doctor Xavier replied grimacing, “But you are not my type anyway.” And Doctor Xavier tried to grab his hand for inspection, but Bradley pulled it away, joking, “You break my heart Doctor! Are you saying I am not good looking?”

“Look Captain, let’s not make each other’s job tough,” Xavier pleaded, “I’ll have a quick look and we’ll forget about it for the next fifteen minutes.”

“I refuse,” Captain Bradley continued teasing the poor bloke.

“Ok fine! Do whatever you feel like,” Doctor Xavier got incensed.

Bradley got up from his seat, stepped to the other side and took a seat next to Doctor Xavier. “What do you mean doctor?” he asked putting his arm around Doctor’s shoulder.

“Oh my GOD, you are a soldier Captain,” Doctor Xavier complained.

“Please don’t hold that against me,” Bradley quipped, “Now where were we?”

“I can’t believe I am stuck with this bunch for the next how long? Centuries I guess,” Doctor Xavier was getting frustrated.

“Its’ going to be so fun,” Bradley added with a big broad teasing smile on his face while Xavier turned his face away hatefully.

“Oh my GOD your finger has swelled up,” Doctor Xavier exclaimed as he noticed Captain’s hand that he had put around his shoulder. He immediately grabbed Captain’s hand and pulled it over his head to have a better look at it.

“This is getting serious Captain,” Xavier commented as he pulled out his magnifying glass to inspect the prick marks on Bradley’s thumb and index finger.

“Bee sting doctor,” Bradley shrugged his shoulders in a disconnected demeanour.

“You don’t know nothing about biology Captain,” Xavier replied, “I need to call Doctor Suzanne immediately to have a second opinion.

“How can she give a second opinion when she can’t even look at it,” Private Simmons asked.

“I don’t need her second opinion about the wound officer,” Doctor Xavier replied, “I just want to know if she supports my decision to give Captain Bradley’s finger and thumb a small incision to clean his wounds.”

“Oh C’mon now, it’s just a small prick, and will get better by tomorrow,” Bradley exclaimed.

“It may or it might not,” Xavier answered, “But if it doesn’t, we might not be able to fix what has gone wrong. So it’s more about taking precautions.” Xavier’s reply quietened everyone. “Can you please connect me with the base camp in Kuwait where Doctor Suzanne is?” Xavier asked the co-pilot of the chopper.

“Sure mate,” the co-pilot replied as he grabbed a wireless piece, tuned the radio to a certain frequency, and spoke into the microphone, “Charlie calling Delta Nine, are you receiving?”

Commitment is often a loosely understated expectation, willingly accepted by the bearer. What often comes bundled alongside the packaged duty is the burden of sacrifice. The moment a person accepts a proposal, not only is he expected to fulfil the promise to see the deed through, but also is he expected to forgo any personal comfort, desire or benefit that may hinder the achievement of desired results.

“Jhiang, you are still working?” a familiar voice called from behind.

“Sir,” Jhiang turned around, wiping his tears with one hand, his other still attached to the keyboard of his computer, as if permanently glued to it, “Thanks Sir! Sir, Hameed is gone!” And Jhiang broke down. “I couldn’t save him! I couldn’t,” Jhiang was inconsolable as he slid from his chair, on to the floor, on his knees.

“Hey, hey, young man, gather yourself together and tell me what happened,” Doctor Jonathan Yardley knelt beside him, put his arms around his shoulders and comforted him.

“Sir, I couldn’t warn him in time,” Jhiang was inconsolable but somehow managed to explain Doctor Jonathan in brief as to what had transpired. Even Doctor Jonathan wasn’t left untouched as he took his glasses off and wiped off his tears.

“You are a brave son of this land,” Doctor Jonathan said, trying hard to control his emotions as he comforted his ward, “I am proud of you! You were firm with your job even in the face of great personal loss, for I know how close you two friends have been since your student days at the institute. But son, you real test remains and you need to gear up for that. You need to inform his widow!”

“I can’t sir! I will not be able to face her,” Jhiang shook his head haplessly.

“You need to figure out a way for I won’t be able to do it,” Doctor Yardley replied, “Perhaps ask your wife to do it!”

“I haven’t even told her yet sir, I haven’t even told it to myself,” Jhiang replied, “My best friend is gone forever and I am still busy with my work! Shame on me! He will never forgive me for this.”

“No, no! He will be proud of you son! You’ve done a great job, the right job, for if you hadn’t done it, we would have lost much more,” Doctor Yardley praised Jhiang’s commitment in the face of an extreme sacrifice, “You saved the day for New Saisho! But your work is still not finished. I wish I could have said that but unfortunately, we are still in grave danger. As enormous as your loss is, New Saisho still looks up to you for help son! You may not have had a chance to save your friend, but you still have a chance to save many others from a similar fate.”

“I know sir, that’s why I called you,” Jhiang replied, “I have created the basic model but now I need to make it complex so as to be able to make predictions on a more comprehensive scale.”

“Yes, you mentioned it on the phone,” Doctor Yardley replied nodding his head in affirmation, “I have called Research Fellow Nagarjuna Reddy and he will be here anytime now to assist you with the current model. But what exactly is happening and why do you need another pair of hands? Not that we can’t spare another pair, but you are aware of how we are running short on manpower at the moment with so much happening around.”

“I realize sir but I desperately need someone to predict using the current model, while I work on a more complex version,” Jhiang answered his query.

“So what does your model explain,” Doctor Yardley asked.

“Sir, I still haven’t figured out as to what is actually happening, but I know for sure that the events that have been happening so far are all a part of the same series. Their source is located about fifty billion light years away,” Jhiang explained, “The events are radiating out of the source in a spherical outburst, and are travelling at the speed of light, just like electro-magnetic waves.”

“So you mean they are travelling just like light! That’s interesting,” Doctor Yardley quipped, stroking his chin with his finger as he balanced his face in his hand, his elbow resting on his knee, his foot on a chair, while he stood there looking intently at the model on the computer screen. “So, how and why do the things disappear, and why is there so much variation in size?”

“Sir I made a guess for the model and it worked out fine,” Jhiang replied, “The events that have happened so far are all accurately predictable using the model. The phenomenon is travelling in waves of various wavelengths, and wherever a wave hits its’ amplitude maximum, and there happens to be present something at that exact spot, the object disappears. The size of the object that goes missing depends upon the amplitude itself. Bigger the amplitude, bigger is the chunk of matter that will be lost.”

“And much of space is empty,” Doctor Yardley added his bits.

“Yes Sir,” Jhiang replied, “The waves keep travelling until they hit something.”

“That sounds strange!” Doctor Yardley said, shaking his head in disbelief, “But what’s the problem with your current model?”

“Sir, the model is only meant to predict one event at a time and cannot make predictions for simultaneous events,” Jhiang replied, “To make it more informative and practically suited to our needs I will need a super fast computer, and I need to make the new model mobile so as to be fitted into a spaceship if the need arises.”

“I don’t understand,” Doctor Yardley was a bit confused by the last part of the statement, “Why do you think we need a mobile version of the software?”

“Sir, not just the mobile version of the software, I will need some new equipment onboard the new craft that would track the craft’s course in space,” Jhiang replied.

“But why will we need a new tracking system for the craft,” Doctor Yardley asked.

“Sir, in case we are forced to flee Earth, we will need a software that would remember the starting point of the journey of the craft, and also how far the craft has travelled and in what directions,” Jhiang answered, “Once in space, we won’t have any help from the Satellite system to provide us an estimate of our position, or where the next event is taking place. It will all have to be done by the software itself. There will be no one on Earth to give us directions!”

***********************************************************

Chapter Nine: Predicting Superstitions

*************************

GOD Of A Man

Eternity Versus Eternity

“Actions determine future, predictions adulterate it!”

Chapter Nine: Predicting Superstitions

Dated: 18^th December, 2549

Life in itself is too complex to give one a breathing pause, yet every human being lives three lives concurrently; past, present and future. The burden of what was done in the past and the regrets of what wasn’t, always weigh down heavily upon the present. The ugliness of the past deeds adulterates the beauty of the offering of the present, and aggravates the brunt of realities by painting the conscience in guilt. And then there is always the fear of the unknown, the yet to come, the future. The unpredictability of life and the fright of getting caught unprepared are major causes of concern for every human being. Much of human life is wasted in present to prepare for an unknown future that may never arrive. Valuable time that should have been embellished with love, laughter and happiness is lost in the grind to build up for a perfect future. But problem with future is; it never arrives! It always stays one step ahead.

Understandably every human being wants to know what lies ahead. Unfortunately, the quest to find the answers is not only an imperfect and shady art, the thirst for such knowledge is also adulterated by fears and expectations. But then a half baked cookie neither tastes good, nor digests well! Any prediction, positive or negative can have future altering consequences. A positive prediction can make one negligent, as well as raise one’s expectations, both contrary to the outcomes of future. A negative prediction under right circumstances can however serve as a reminder to the bearer of the burden, egging him to put in that extra yard in a bid to change the expected outcome. The cumulated extra mile might be all the effort ever required to usurp the prediction comprehensively.

However one thing humans’ forget is; it’s not the predictions but their decisions, choices and actions taken today, which determine their tomorrow. Future is yet to be born but what will grow out of the soils of present depends upon what was sowed yesterday, and how tall it will grow and how much fruit will it yield depends upon the efforts that are put in today.

“Oh my GOD, look what you have done now,” Doctor Suzanne freaked out as she noticed the blood droplets ooze out of Captain Bradley Connors’ thumb and finger. “Suzie, give me an antiseptic swab quick,” she asked one of her team members.

Bradley however was amused at her reaction, “Oh C’mon now! You are behaving like a mother of a two year old!”

Doctor Suzanne glared at him blankly. “You can’t be serious,” she exclaimed shaking her head in disbelief, “Do you even realize what you have done?”

“What?” Bradley asked nonchalantly.

“Do you even know what this is?” Suzanne questioned, visibly upset with him as she grabbed a fibre swab dipped in antiseptic solution and wiped his hand with urgency, squeezing his finger and thumb to make it bleed, with an intention of cleaning out any foreign matter stuck inside.

“Do you?” Bradley rubbed it in further.

“That’s exactly the point,” Suzanne exclaimed, incensed, “We don’t even know what it is, leave alone if it is hosting any pathogens, germs or harbouring any venom in its’ spines.”

“I am still alive,” Bradley quipped.

“Sometimes things don’t work instantly,” Suzanne reasoned, “Sometimes effects show up much later, when it might be too late.”

At this point one of Bradley’s men arrived at the scene and informed his Captain, “Sir, the chopper’s ready!”

Bradley looked at him, nodded, and then turned back towards Doctor Suzanne, “Doctor, it was a pleasure meeting you today, unfortunately as I mentioned earlier, I have to leave though. My men will be here to assist you in every possible way, and I am looking forward to hear from your team, all about this thing.”

“What? You are leaving,” Doctor Suzanne asked, “You cannot go!”

Bradley smiled and then quipped, “Even I don’t want to doctor, but then duty is duty!”

“No, I don’t mean it like that,” Doctor Suzanne roared back putting her hands on her waist, “I mean, you cannot leave now!”

“And why exactly would that be?” Bradley asked.

“Because now, you are my specimen,” Doctor Suzanne quipped with a big teasing smile on her face, twisting her waist around, tapping her shoulder with the knife she had borrowed from Bradley.

“And what does that suppose to mean?” Bradley asked, still a bit teasingly.

“You see Captain, naughty kids end up in detention,” Suzanne replied, “Because of what you did, I cannot let you go now!”

Bradley looked at his hand and then laughed the matter off, “You mean because of this! Forget it!”

“I said, you are not leaving Captain,” Suzanne jumped in Bradley’s way as he tried to walk away.

“You cannot stop me Doctor,” Bradley reminded her coolly.

“But I cannot let you go! At least not for another seventy two hours,” Doctor Suzanne reasoned, “I need to be sure your interaction with this beast has not put you under any harm, and things take time to be ascertained.”

“Don’t worry about me doctor,” Bradley replied, “I will be just fine!”

“That is my job to determine now Captain,” Suzanne replied back, “But you cannot leave without my permission now!”

“I have a job to do Doctor,” Bradley replied, “And as I said, you cannot stop me!” Bradley then sidestepped Suzanne to walk away.

Suzanne however jumped in front of him again, “Now wait! I know I cannot stop you, but you’ll have to take me along with you then!”

“You want to come with me? Why?” Bradley asked.

“Because I need to know how your interaction with the beast affects you,” Suzanne replied.

“I don’t think it will affect me anyway,” Bradley stated, “And if that were to happen, you will only be wasting your time with me? Besides who will work on the beast and other specimens you might collect here, if you tug along with me?”

This made Doctor Suzanne give a thought to the situation. After a deep thought Doctor Suzanne finally yielded, “Okay Captain, you can leave, but on one condition!”

“And what is that?” Bradley asked.

“One of the members of my team will accompany you,” Doctor Suzanne replied and then turned towards her team, “Doctor Xavier Adams, I would like you to accompany Captain Connors on his mission.”

“Do I have to?” Doctor Xavier looked at the Captain’s face and sheepishly asked of Suzanne.

“Oh yes you have to,” Suzanne stated emphatically and went on to outline what he was required to do, “And I would like you to keep a record of his injury, every fifteen minutes for the next twenty four hours, and every half an hour for the next twenty four, and finally every hour after forty eight hours.”

“Injury! What injury?” Bradley asked surprise.

“And remember,” Suzanne continued, “If anything goes wrong, chop his entire arm off!”

Xavier first looked at Suzanne and then at Bradley, who gave him a glare that made him nervous. “Chop my arm off!” Bradley was surprised.

“Ok! Maybe just his hand will do,” Suzanne quipped.

“You are kidding right?” Bradley exclaimed.

“No! I am not a Captain,” Suzanne replied.

Surprises however may not always have to be random instances of probability. Sometimes surprises might simply be a random rendezvous with a predictable chain of events. The essence of surprise is not in the content of the event, rather in the context. And time somehow makes some strange associations with context. Five minutes can sometimes feel less than five seconds at one point, and at others, longer than five years. The essence of the feeling lies in the contextual element of the occasion. The most remarkable sights any human being can ever witness, yet the death making its’ proximity too obvious for comfort, is a surprise not because of the actual picture it presents, but because of the unexpected appearance at the gate of time. And no matter how appealing the sight is, the desperation of the beholder to see it through is quite palpable.

As President Katsuo held his position firm across the face of the door, his niece and Secretary Anne hiding behind him, grabbing him for her life, the sight of standing next to a near pitch black Universe where you could see another world right in front, was mind blowing. The greatness of the emptiness that filled the space was overpowering. It was too huge to be filled by anything known. But as much as the two enjoyed the view astronomers are so desperate to feel when they gaze through their concave glass arrangements, the fear for life might not have been their last concern, but the fate of humanity certainly was their first. And luckily for them, the opening collapsed into itself, just like it had appeared.

As soon as the opening closed, the pull it was exerting vanished and the two fell to the floor.

“Are you alright,” President Katsuo was up on his feet quickly as he turned around to make sure Anne was alright. Anne started sobbing. “Hey,” President knelt beside her and gave her a comforting hug, “Stop crying like a girl! You are not a girl, you are not my niece, you are my son!”

“Are you two alright,” the first lady immediately rushed out of her room, “I couldn’t open the door to our room! It felt like someone had grabbed it from this side and wouldn’t let me open it!”

“Its’ alright now,” President Katsuo assured her, “The trouble’s gone for the moment!”

“Oh my GOD,” the first lady exclaimed in horror as she looked inside the room behind the President’s back, “The room is gone!”

“What?” President turned around and looked at their open backyard and sky through the missing walls and roof, as his bemused security scratched their heads outside.

“Are you alright Mr President,” one of them asked, “I mean, what happened Sir?”

“It’s alright,” President Katsuo raised his hand to assure them.

“I need to call him,” Anne said as she collected herself and realized the job that lay at her hands.

“Call whom?” President asked but Anne wasn’t listening as she dashed towards the other end of the corridor, looking for a phone that could be dialled.

Technology represents a strange analogy. It is one thing which can express an antagonism perfectly at the same time. On one hand it gives its’ bearer a power beyond own reach, and at the same time it exposes the limitations set on that power, the inherent weaknesses. Finding a perfect balance between the two represents the expertise that could be mastered by the bearer on that technology.

“Hello, research fellow Jhiang Chu calling,” Jhiang was trying desperately to contact the Grey House again as his earlier call had been abruptly disconnected. Thanks to the missing cordless handset, the special line was giving an engaged tone. Jhiang finally gave up on that number and immediately grabbed his phone diary to have a look at the other numbers available for Grey House. The moment he pressed the end call button on his handset to try a new number, the telephone rang.

“Hello, research fellow Jhiang Chu here,” he answered.

“This is Anne, Secretary to the President. Are you alright?” Anne asked what Jhiang was trying to know of her.

“I am fine, but how is the President and everybody else,” Jhiang asked back.

“Everybody’s fine. How did you know it was going to happen? When is it going to happen next? And where is it going to happen next?” Anne however fired a salvo.

“I am going to find it out now,” Jhiang answered, “The basic model for predictions is ready but I need to develop it further to make it more comprehensive and detailed. I need someone to assist me in predicting future events using this one so I could concentrate on the next part of the project.” And then Jhiang broke down.

“What happened to you? Why are you crying?” Anne immediately asked.

“I just lost my best friend forever,” Jhiang replied, and there was a silence at the other end as Jhiang sobbed inconsolably.

Humanity has a long history of abusing substances for their psychotropic effects. Illicit trades have flourished across the globe and across centuries, led to fall of empires and wars of empires. But few have realized the strong psychotropic effects of emotions themselves. Any strong emotion is as overpowering as a corresponding drug. From a feeling of being in a state of euphoric trance, to a calming effect of a sudden shock, emotions can sway tempers in a wide array of reactions. Emotions can subjugate a man to their will, so much so as to infect and hinder his rational processes completely.

As the day darkened in New Saisho, as the evening breeze got nippier by each passing moment, the wildly sashaying fields calmed down as if the plants were huddling together to stay warm. The chill of the oncoming evening was turning uneasy as a consistent sobbing and murmuring broke the silence that had otherwise engulfed the ‘House of Faith’.

“I don’t know what to do with my life anymore,” Janice’s father, Alan exclaimed as he broke down.

“You need to be strong,” Priest Norman consoled him, exclaimed, “You have to bear the burden of your punishment.”

“But I don’t understand! What am I being punished for?” Mr Alan Dwight asked, “I have never hurt anyone!”

“GOD has His reasons that we may not know,” Norman stated, “All we can do is pray and seek forgiveness and strength.”

“But what should I seek forgiveness for?” Alan asked.

“For everything you have done that you don’t remember now,” Norman replied, “But it won’t be your prayers that will be effective, for you are the sinner!”

“Am I,” Alan was confused but somehow felt a strange adherence to the prophecy, “Can you save me? Can you bring my wife and daughter back? Is it possible?”

“I am not enlightened yet,” Norman said as he put his hand softly on Alan’s shoulders, almost patronisingly, “But Senior Granger can. He can feel GOD, and GOD has heard his prayers in the past. You need to seek his help.”

“But my daughter and wife; are they still alive?” Alan asked.

“That only Senior Granger will be able to answer,” Norman replied, “Seek his blessings! Be humble in front of him! Be honest! Accept your mistakes and who knows, his prayers might work a miracle for you!”

*************************

Chapter Eight: The Impending

***********************************************************

GOD Of A Man

Eternity Versus Eternity

“Humans make plans, life brings surprises!”

Chapter Eight: The Impending

Dated: 18^th December, 2459

Randomness has a beauty of its’ own, an enslaving charm, like a potent habit forming substance. Monotony exists in repetition and predictability, boredom is the aftermath. Randomness though keeps one guessing; shattering expectations at one time, and blowing the mind away with excitement at another. It is just like a trip! The best laid plans are merely thatch-roofs in the stormy weather of life, ready to be blown away while you lie asleep under them, comfortable in their deceitful warmth. If you are not ready for last minute adjustments, under-estimated compromises and overawing sacrifices, you will neither enjoy the situations life will put you through, nor appreciate the gains made out of the biggest losses.

Enlightenment in reality is not about finding GOD or another world. It is about finding oneness with the creation and its’ interactions in this world instead. An ordinary human being keeps fighting all his life, against his life, to create predictability in his life. Predictability feels comfortable. Alas, it never lasts! There are too many variables involved in one’s life, no matter how diligently one sets self up something will go awry from the plan. Fret one may, pity their self, but the reality bites harder than the worst dogs! There are always and only two options; either one fights to survive and succeed, or become a fatality of life. Enlightenment is about finding peace when one is at war with their own emotions! Enlightenment is about being at ease even when the mind is in turmoil! Enlightenment is in finding positive gains out of utter disasters! Enlightenment is in understanding; others are in a similar situation and need help, as much as one himself needs!

Knowing one’s mortality is a way of accepting one’s limitations, it is not about giving up. Life will challenge your choices. Strength lies in believing in your abilities and pursuing your goals, yet being ever ready to switch course, should the need arise. Success is sometimes not about achieving what you set out to, but how you manoeuvred the course to achieve something even better. Adaptation is the key to the questions of life, and New Saisho needs to figure out a way to use it now.

“Sir, where are we heading to?” Lieutenant James Michigan asked his Captain, as they set sail from the New Saisho shores.

“We need to dig up live nukes,” Captain Aman Ahluwalia replied, “As many as we can, as soon as we can!”

“Nukes?” almost everybody in the control room jumped out of their seats.

“That’s not all,” Aman continued, “We need to relieve the vessels of their technology as well; their nuclear powered hearts!”

“Sir, but will we find any?” Lieutenant Thomas Schneider, manning the wheel, asked.

“As I mentioned, we are not looking for just one Lieutenant,” his Captain quipped.

“Sir, isn’t it a bit too specific to look for in something as vast at the ocean around the globe? And we are hoping they would still be viable?” James asked, “Not to mention the junk needs to be at a location shallow enough to make things retrievable!”

“The job needs to be done Lieutenant, and it has been given to us,” Aman stressed the point, “And we will get it done, no matter what!”

“Sir, where should we start then?” Thomas asked.

“The Open House,” Aman’s three worded reply left them all agape, eyes wide open. But one look at the steely resolve on their Captain’s face, and they knew it was business end of the mission straight away.

Duty is a strange noun; abstract in origin but rigid in definition, binding in its’ sense yet lose in its’ encompass. The problem however is, its’ existence is a by-product of two other coefficients of abstract origin; honesty, and authority. Either the bearer of the burden needs to be honest, or the authority above vigilant and strict, else the duty forever remains un-fulfilled. First case scenario makes the state totalitarian, the second makes it authoritarian, the last one is chaos. However, off these, only the first one is where a society can survive even utter chaos brought upon it, by the vagaries of life.

“Does this mean this organism is of alien origins?” Bradley inquired of Suzanne.

“I can’t say anything about the origins yet,” Dr Suzanne replied, dwelling deep into her experience, “But it appears it was allergic to human skin, or something associated with it, which appears to have resulted in its’ gastric inflammation.”

As Dr Suzanne was explaining this one of the hanging heads of the monster rose behind her and shot at her face. Dr Suzanne’s team shrieked and pulled away, but Dr Suzanne, with a swift swing of knife, chopped the head of the monster like a vegetable, nearly taking away a finger or two off Bradley’s hand, with which he had grabbed the ugly thing from its’ neck to play a prank.

“Damn! You are fierce, Doctor,” Captain Bradley admitted with an appreciative smile.

“That was so rude and childish, so immature,” Doctor Suzanne was however not only unimpressed, but rather incensed, “Do you realize Captain you are not supposed to touch biological samples? It could be a hazard? I would have loved to see how brave you are, were this thing to be still alive!”

“You are talking to the murderer of your sample, Doctor,” one of Bradley’s men replied.

That quietened as well as calmed Doctor Suzanne by a notch, but she added, “Even so, you should not be touching this beast with bare hands!”

Bradley looked at his hand, from back to palm, finally settling his sight on his thumb and index finger. Few minute droplets of blood oozed out.

Blood; the same that flows in every human being, one of the most important tissues, always short in supply when needed, yet the most likely to be wasted for the silliest of reasons. Eulogised in literature as a symbol of nobility, basis of defining relationships in a society, and a measure of commitment to a cause; blood actually plays many more important roles outside its’ physical existence inside a body. Still, basis of some relationships is not blood! Blood needn’t be shed for every cause, when untiring efforts may suffice! Blood may not be from the nobility, but sweat of labour can make any blood noble!

“Wow! Is that it?” Hameed exclaimed as he began to comprehend what Jhiang was doing, “Do you really think that is the answer?”

“I am sure it is!” Jhiang replied, without taking his gaze off the screen or hands off the keyboard, “Let me however cross check it for the events that have already transpired.”

Jhiang put some values into a few blank columns, and then switched over to a screen showing a three dimensional image of the solar system. He zoomed in to focus on the three dimensional image of the missing space station, Earth and Mars. The machine computed the rest and depicted its’ results on the screen. “Bingo!” Jhiang’s expression summed up his success.

“That is superb brother,” a jubilant Hameed stated, “You’ve cracked the mystery.”

“I have but not without your help though,” Jhiang said as he picked up his water bottle to have a sip.

“That’s empty! I’ll get another one from the fridge,” Hameed said, “Why don’t you try to predict some future events?”

“Straight away brother, else what use would this monstrous effort be,” Jhiang triumphantly exclaimed as he buckled down in his seat again.

“Do you want anything else?” Hameed asked him as he left the room to fetch a water bottle for his best mate.

“Just water is fine,” Jhiang replied as he got busy with his calculations again.

“You are too careless about your health man,” Hameed commented as he walked away, “I’ll make some fruit salad for us though!”

“Whatever,” Jhiang was too busy with his work to bother about anything else.

Humans hold a lot of things dear to their hearts, yet it is the same things they neglect the most. In fact, the realization how much something means to someone often dawns at the very fag end, with not much left to salvage. But sometimes life is too cruel to offer even such largesse.

“Oh my GOD,” the emerging picture from the model shocked Jhiang. “Hameed!” he yelled in desperation.

“Stop yelling and wait! We’ve been working since yesterday afternoon,” Hameed yelled back from the refreshment area, “Let me fix us some vitamins and minerals now!”

“Get out of that place,” Jhiang however wasn’t listening, as he frantically jumped out of his chair, tossing it out of the way and himself nearly tumbling to the floor. He dashed out of his room, almost on all fours.

“What are you saying?” Hameed couldn’t hear him properly.

“Get out of there now,” Jhiang shrieked as he rushed out of his room and into their main lab room, making his way towards the corridor, where Hameed was supposed to be readying a nourishing fruit salad for the two. However this time he heard no reply!

Jhiang rushed to the refreshment corner, only to find it empty. But not just that, their fridge was missing, along with the cabinet housing their cutlery, and a piece each of the roof and the flooring, revealing the upper and lower levels of the building.

“Hameed!” Jhiang yelled again and again as he looked around to see any signs of Hameed, “Where are you? Stop kidding if you are trying to hide?”

“Hameed!” Jhiang shrieked out again as he collapsed on to his knees, holding his face in his hands, “Why, just why?” Jhiang broke down as he realized he had just lost his best friend forever.

However this time he didn’t lose track of the situation as emotions over powered him. “What’s next? What is next?” he murmured to himself as he pulled himself up with a conviction that had been so noticeable on his face since morning, “I need to find out what is up next.”

Jhiang immediately rushed back to his room and got back to working on the system. He punched in a few new figures to replace some old values, and then waited for the computer to show how the model of solar system reflected those changes. The model started zooming in on Earth, then Australia, then New Saisho, and the final image got him at his wits end.

Jhiang immediately grabbed his phone and punched in a few numbers, his hands trembling and fingers fumbling. “Hello, this is Research Fellow Jhiang Chu from National Space Research Institute,” he spoke into the handset.

“This is Secretary to the President Anne De Villiers,” prompt came the reply from the other end.

“Please listen carefully to what I say for I have no time for explanations,” Jhiang was concerned excited and scared at the same time, “Please evacuate the room at the western end of the Grey House immediately. You have four minutes and ten seconds to do it. Nine seconds now!”

“But what’s the matter?” Anne asked.

“Four minutes and seven seconds now, quick!” Jhiang yelled into the phone. In fact, the fierceness of his voice might have sent some shivers down Anne’s spine.

Anne immediately rushed out of the room, carrying the phone in one hand, and yelling in her radio set in the other, “Everybody evacuate the western end room of the Grey House immediately. No time for explanations! Just do it now!”

“But the President is in the room at the moment with his wife and son,” came the reply from the other end of the radio.

“Damn,” Anne exclaimed as she ran head over heels towards the identified room.

“Three minutes and forty five seconds now,” Jhiang yelled in the phone.

“I am on it! I am on it!” Anne replied back.

President Shoji Katsuo and his wife, who were playing with their only son at that time, were taken by surprise by the sudden commotion.

“What has happened Anne?” First Lady Lucifer O’Donnell Shoji asked.

“Uncle, Aunty, you need to get out of this room now!” Anne nearly shrieked, her desperation spilling out in the way of emotions, “Please get out of this room!”

“But why,” President asked.

“Its’ two minutes and fifty nine seconds exact,” Jhiang yelled loud enough to be heard without the need of putting the receiver to the ear.

“Questions later, first just get out of this room, please,” Anne nearly cried as she dropped the phone and wireless sets to the floor, grabbed one arm of her uncle and one arm of her young cousin.

“You get your aunty and cousin out,” President Katsuo asserted, “I need to retrieve some very important papers from that almirah!”

“I’ll get them for you,” Anne insisted, almost pleading, “You just go!”

“You wouldn’t know which ones’,” President Katsuo said as he pulled his arm out of Anne’s fast grip and dashed towards the piece of furniture housing the documents.

Anne rushed behind him and spoke almost commandingly, as if she was her uncle’s uncle instead, “I said just get the hell out of this room, now!”

President stared at her face as she dashed past him, opened the wooden almirah, grabbed all the files she could see and rushed, “Are these the ones!”

“Yes they are,” President replied as he rushed towards the exit, while his wife and son made their way towards another room.

But haste is inconsistent! Anne inadvertently spilled all the papers that were held loosely inside a folder. “Damn!” she exclaimed.

“Don’t worry, I’ll help you collect them,” President Katsuo said as he rushed back towards Anne to help her gather the papers.

“NO!” Anne yelled at the top of her voice as if it wasn’t the President she was talking to, rather a truant little school boy, “Get out of the room right now!”

The President had no choice but to follow the direct orders of his beloved niece who feverishly gathered all the papers with her hands, grabbed them close to her chest, and made a dash for the exit. Her aunty and cousin had made it to the safety, but for the President and Anne, valuable moments had been lost! Anne had barely stepped out of the room when a giant black hole appeared in the middle of it and spread in an instant, covering the entire room.

As astounding the sight was, as was it fearful! The hole started to suck the air and objects inside the corridor into it, pulling the President and Anne along. The two made desperate dives in opposite directions, with Anne still clutching the papers to her chest. The two somehow managed to cling to the walls along the opposite end of the door. As the giant hole pulled into it, things flew past the two, some hitting them as they struggled to stay rooted to the walls. But the hole kept pulling!

Finally the two ended up near the two edges of the door. At this moment President Katsuo made a twin life saving decision. He pushed his body away from the wall, but before the hole could such him in, he stretched his arms and legs wide, planting his hands and feet firmly across the face of the door, and on the walls beside it. He held his position by the sheer strength of his muscles.

“Jump behind my back Anne,” President called out.

“No,” Anne shook her head, “I am scared!”

“Jump behind my back now or you will be sucked in by this monster of a hole anyway,” President Katsuo exclaimed, “You will not only lose your own grip, but your body will drag me inside as well.”

A reluctant Anne finally nodded as she let her grip go and flung around to end behind President Katsuo. She wrapped herself around his back with her hands and feet firmly locked while the President held on to his position with all his strength. After gaining a bit of stability with their position the two noticed for the first time, what was in front of them. It wasn’t a black hole! It was the Universe!

They were standing on the edge of a Universe. They could see the dark shadow of a huge planet with many rings around the belly, a sun in the background, and many stars further away. A fire extinguisher rolled along the floor and through the President’s legs, straight into the hole, only to blow up into fragments due to the pressure less environment.

They watched it all, spread across the face of the door as if someone had accidently tumbled on top of a well, and is now eagerly awaiting someone to grab him from the top and pull him back and up again, to save him from falling in.

***********************************************************