God Of a Man
Across Two Eternities
“Rationality and belief are mutually exclusive!”
Chapter Nineteen: Who wants to live?
Dated: 4th July, 2461
The premise of belief is based on the unquestionable validity of the assumptions held dear. It is not that beliefs are not questioned by those who hold them. It just happens that they don’t stop looking for answers to those questions until they find ones that support their beliefs. Anything to the contrary is always considered an anomaly, or perhaps a result of insufficient effort. Their research is always clouded by their desire to find a construct that fits their beliefs perfectly, so they could be encased in an even firmer background. The best case scenario in such circumstances is the fixation of a natural exception as a universal rule, while the worst case scenario is when the entire belief ends up being supported on an imagined framework. Needless to say, in either case the holders of such belief are living on a flawed theory.
Progress happens when rationality replaces belief. No thought is beyond questioning, challenge and replacement, provided the questions raised against it are valid, honest and investigatory. Rationality accounts for every answer encountered, to build a database of all known scenarios, so that exceptions are known and explainable, while the emerging rule is truly universal in application otherwise. The best case scenario then is advancement of knowledge, while the worst case scenario is a rule subject to further alteration or replacement as the society would progress. But progress would happen nevertheless in any case.
The reason the two cannot co-exist is; once a mind starts thinking rationally, it also acknowledges that beliefs are no longer permanent. And when beliefs are no longer permanent, they stop being beliefs, for then they are merely understandings subject to further questioning followed by a validation or rejection. While a rational life becomes stable, for it is always supported by firmer ground of reason, the rational mind is always in a state of flux, always on the lookout for what would challenge the current state of affairs for good. Humanity that still breaths on a lost earth knows this, and is thus prepared for whatever may come.
Nobody wanted to leave their loved ones behind, for everyone preferred to die and rest in peace with them forever. But everyone was still interested in knowing their fate as and when it got locked or avoided. All eyes were fixated on the constant dark skies above, with telescopes focussed sharp on the incoming demon of death. And then there were two last remaining hopes of humanity, NSSS ‘The Impact’ and NSSS ‘New Bounty’, under Captains Shania Williams and Stephan Grojenski respectively, making haste to make a last stand. Grojenski’s team was to take the first shot, having had ample time to rehearse their actions. Williams’ team had barely returned thirty six hours ago, from their sojourn to the supposedly lonely planet. They were the backup.
Tense would be a completely inept word to describe the atmosphere inside the control room at ‘New Saisho Space Research Organisation’ headquarters. President Lady Michelle Davis, Admiral Mir Abdullah, joined by scores of other high ranking officials including the secretary to the President Miss Ivanka Manning, they were all eyes and ears to the proceedings that were underway, as leading space scientists co-ordinated the mission. Giant television screens were outputting live telescopic images, which were also being fed to various news outlets. The giant meteor was there, in all its’ infamous glory, hurtling down faster towards those fearing the worst.
“The codes have been sent,” Professor Dave Hendrick informed Captain Grojenski, “Initiate the countdown Captain.”
“Roger that Professor,” Captain Grojenski confirmed the receipt of message, “Initiating missile launch now; countdown to start in five seconds, at seven.”
The countdown began and ended, but the missile failed to leave the craft.
“Professor, something’s gone wrong,” a shocked Captain Grojenski radioed back to earth, “The missile won’t take off.”
“No time to waste,” Professor however didn’t have any time to consider the information any further, “Captain Williams, dispatching codes to your ship right now. Prepare to launch in five.”
“Ready to launch,” Captain Williams was right on top of the job at hand.
It seemed fate had already conspired against humanity. Or maybe it was something that had gone drastically wrong during the assembly or manufacturing process of the missiles or material. Fate however is a word versatile enough to be deployed to cover up any blunder.
“Professor, something’s wrong with the missiles,” a desperate Captain Williams too reported back, “Even ours won’t take off!”
“Oh my mother,” a distraught Lady Davis was left feeling nauseous, with a palm on her forehead, as she stepped back from the edge of the viewing platform; “Please tell me this is not happening!”
“What’s wrong Professor,” Admiral called the professor on the intercom.
But the surprises hadn’t finished unfolding yet, as a panicked Captain Grojenski radioed back, “My missile has suddenly lifted off, and we have no control over it.”
“Mine too,” was a shocking addition by Captain Williams, barely a couple of seconds later.
“Stop the timers on the detonators,” Professor immediately turned towards his subordinates working on another set of machines, “If the charges go off now, they’ll hurl the meteor way faster and ferocious towards us.”
“We can’t,” was a tearful cry from a junior scientist working on the project, “The radio receivers inside the missiles have jammed up.”
“Admiral, please do something,” a desperate Lady Davis grabbed him by his shoulders, and pleaded with the decorated officer. Alas there was nothing in his control anymore!
The horrified crew of the two spaceships helplessly watched the nuclear charges go off in front of their eyes, and way behind their intended target, with the flying demon having already lunged ahead. Their combined shock waves were not only felt thousands of miles away by the two crafts, but plummeted the meteor with even greater furry.
“Did you see that?” Captain Ahluwalia asked Captain Bradley, whose ship was barely five minutes behind the Phoenix.
“That was definitely not natural,” Captain Connors confirmed his apprehensions, “Let’s have a closer look at that abnormal looking piece of rock.”
“It sure is bigger than any other our radars have picked in this region,” Aman replied back, “But if that wasn’t natural, we better be cautious.”
“Roger that,” Captain Bradley agreed, “Five minutes to the region and locked.”
Meanwhile frantic calls were made by the two crafts engaged in action, to the ground control for further instructions. They were simple; you are free to return or leave.
“This isn’t happening under our watch, is it?” a charged up Captain Williams however seemed to have made up her own set of instructions already, as she ferociously addressed her crew, “Will we let this happen?”
“No,” was the unified response of the crew.
“What does our craft flies on?” asked Shania.
“Uranium,” was the quick response.
“How much Uranium do we have?” asked Shania.
“More than three missiles,” was the next reply in unison.
“Who wants to live?” asked Captain Williams, having pulled out her pistol and cocked it, “Raise your hands now!”
But no one did!
“Good, I didn’t want to waste my bullet either,” exclaimed Captain Williams as she unloaded her weapon and gave the next command, “Flight Engineer Tomas Bayern, set our course to the nearest intercept point. That beast ain’t going anywhere today!”
“Yes Ma’am,” was the charged up reply from Tomas.
There was nothing secret anymore about what the crew was up to. It was clear on the giant screens, as everybody watched in disbelief, but with pride.
“Are they,” was a weak and incomplete question that Lady Davis raised for the Admiral, as her index finger meekly pointed at the screen, while her other hand covered her fast crumbling face. The Admiral on his part closed his eyes as a tear rolled down the man’s cheek. It was too much to witness live, but nevertheless uplifting for those were supposed to survive the event.
“Do you see that?” Captain Connors asked Aman.
“Looks like someone’s out to be a Kamikaze,” Aman replied, “Tell you what; I take the first shot, then grab our Kamikaze and get out of your way, while you prepare to cater to the splatter.”
“Roger that,” Captain Connors radioed back.
And with that Captain Ahluwalia sped up towards the hurling meteor and an equally intent Captain Williams’ crew. But before ‘The Impact’ could make a physical impact, a thick laser beam flew above its head and destroyed the meteor.
“What was that,” a shocked Captain Williams exclaimed. However none got a chance to reply to that, as an electromagnetic net cast by NSSS ‘The Phoenix’ snatched it out of thin space, and forcefully dragged it out of the way of the mass of resultant debris. ‘Firestorm’ wasted no time in raining enough fire that the debris were destroyed into balls, which burnt down to their own ashes as they fell through the thin earthly atmosphere. It was a lovely piece of lengthy fireworks for those on ground watching, bright enough to light up their dark world temporarily, as if a new sun had grown in the sky.
“Who are these people?” asked a shocked and surprised Lady Davis.
“Friends, I am sure,” was the Admiral’s carefully considered reply.
Having saved their beloved rediscovered earth, the jubilant duo instructed their crew to prepare for landing at the New Saisho Air Force base.
“Sir, we have unidentified spacecrafts flying in,” a concerned radar operator radioed his commander, who happened to be in the company of the Admiral himself.
“Let them come,” Admiral answered instead, having taken the handset from his officer’s hand, “The President and I will be arriving there in less than two minutes. Prepare a red carpet welcome for whoever our friends our. And be at your pleasing best!”
The orders were clear, so the tarmac had to be ready before the two unknown crafts had landed, with ‘The Impact’ and ‘New Bounty’ following way behind the duo. ‘Firestorm’ was the first to land, having been more proximate to earth than ‘The Phoenix’, which had flown a distance away to clear the way for Firestorm.
Captain Connors disembarked first, followed by his crew. The welcoming committee was surprised at a familiar looking face that they somehow could not put a name to. But Captain Connors confidently took a few steps towards the carpet, before halting to wait for his brother Captain Ahluwalia, to disembark with his crew. And now as the two teams marched ahead in unison, the joy of the welcoming party knew no bounds, and wild cheers erupted all over. Salutes were boisterous; especially will all those in welcoming party being juniors in rank and commission to those leading the two teams. But barely had their greetings died out, Admiral’s cavalcade pulled up right at the other end of the carpet.
The chauffer rushed out to open the door for the Admiral, who walked around to open the door for the President. But barely had the lady stepped out of the big Jonga Jeep, the two proud officers were at their steps, ready with their ceremonial salutations.
“Captain Aman Ahluwalia, commandeering NSSS ‘The Phoenix’, reporting sir,” Captain Ahluwalia made the first salutations.
“Captain Bradley Connors, commandeering NSSS ‘Firestorm’ reporting sir,” Captain Connors completed the first set of formalities.
“Welcome home boys, or nay, men,” a proud Admiral returned their salutes.
But the duo was not finished yet, so Aman forwarded further information, “Rear Admiral Gurubaan Ahluwalia sends his greetings, Sir.”
“It’s an honour to receive his word officer,” the Admiral exclaimed before turning to introduce their new President, “President Lady Michelle Davis, I would like you to meet two of our finest warriors.”
“It’s an honour officer Aman and Bradley,” Lady Davis exclaimed as the duo stepped forward to shake the Lady’s hand.
“Commander-in-chief of Operation ‘Salvage’, Miss Anne De Villiers, acting under New Saisho seal, and currently administering earth two; tentatively claimed human establishment in the name ‘Heaven’, sends her warm regards Madam President,” Bradley completed the first set of information that needed to be shared, “And hopes that it would only be a matter of months before we would be able to rightfully claim our new home in this universe.”
“Is it as beautiful as ours once was?” Lady Davis asked, with a certain hint of bitterness deep down in her eyes.
“It may never replace our home in our hearts Madam President,” Aman responded to her question, “But it sure is pristine and untouched in its beauty and glory, much like the brilliant green worlds of fantasies.”
“And what a glorious find it is for humanity’s sake,” Admiral sensing the situation turning tense, intervened with his take on the situation. However, before he could say anything else, Captain Shania Williams, who had barely landed back and marched out ahead of her crew, arrived at the scene.
“Well, well, well, if it really isn’t the ‘Troubled Child’ and ‘Young Adult’,” she exclaimed, referring to the pet names of her former batch mates and best mates from the academy.
“Who else would it be ‘Lady Dread’,” Aman returned the compliment, “If not the two innocent brethren who saved your arse from complete obliteration once again?”
“You,” Shania really wanted to say something but couldn’t really figure out what. Thankfully for her, Admiral cleared his throat to remind them of their esteemed company, and interrupted.
“Manners soldiers,” Admiral gave the trio a glare.
“Sorry sir,” the three exclaimed in unison, before turning back to each other.
“Boy, am I glad to see your faces again!” and a crying Shania stretched out her arms to the duo, who stepped up to her and huddled together in a big hug.
Finally Admiral thought it was time to move on, so he asked the duo, “Now I am sure you and your teams are tired, and would like to rest up before we get some work done. Is there anything you guys want for now?”
At this point Aman turned around and said, “Just one thing sir; how’s mom?”
Wounds heal over time, even if they leave scars. Beautiful however are scars that have glorious tales to tell.
The duo rushed to the hospital, but the news of their exploits, arrival and new earth had already spread like wild fire in the town. Street parties were on, and no news channel would stop airing the footage of the duo blowing the incoming meteor to smithereens again and again.
“Oh my stars, Captain Connors and Aman have returned,” an excited Doctor Xavier Adams exclaimed as he turned the television set in Mrs Suzanne Smith Ahluwalia’s room loud.
“That’s too loud,” Doctor Rukhsana Leung protested but in vain.
“Oh my stars, here they are already,” Doctor Adams exclaimed just as the duo hit the special ward. He rushed out to greet the two soldiers, “Am I glad to see the two of you. How is everybody? And how is my Suzanne?”
“We are glad to see you again too Doctor Adams,” Bradley replied as he gave the Doctor a big hug, “And Doctor Dillon; she never stops talking about you.”
“She actually talks a lot more about your expertise than she actually does her work,” Aman chipped in, “In fact, from her conversations it would rather seem that you should have been there on the mission instead of her.”
“Poor old Suzanne, she won’t change,” Doctor Adams quipped wiping his tears, unaware that Rukhsana was standing in a corner beaming from ear to ear. Doctor Adams however continued, “She has always been boisterous about my work rather than her own.”
“I bet she really cares a lot about you,” Aman exclaimed patting him on his shoulder before turning around to try and spot his mother, “But where’s mom?”
“Bradley,” a faint voice reverberated through the ward that might have been otherwise noisy, but not enough to drain this out. “Aman,” another name but same voice!
“Mom!” the duo cried out in unison and rushed to the ward just as Mrs Ahluwalia opened her eyes, finally awake after a long sleep.
“You are here,” she exclaimed in a very feeble voice, and tried to raise her hand, but couldn’t the first time. She was too weak!
“Yes we are here mom, and yes we found father too,” Aman exclaimed as he and Bradley rushed to the opposite ends of the bed, and grabbed her hand apiece and put it to their lips.
“Look at the two of you,” a mother however would always be a mother, “Don’t they feed you enough? How weak are you two looking, like flesh has been put out to dry on bones!” Her words made the two doctors fill up to their brims as well.
“We are fine mom,” Bradley exclaimed, “You just get better quick and fast now! We need to take you to our new home first, where father is waiting anxiously for us.”