God Of a Man
Across Two Eternities
“There are two ways to solve a problem; you either deal with it, or you deal it.”
Chapter Eighteen: Whose world is it?
Dated: 29th April, 2461
Of what good is intelligence that rather than being intelligent about how to secure more avenues for future, wastes its’ sweat and blood over available resources from avenues known since past? Humanity cut itself into pieces over and over again, for a piece of land that always belonged to it, rather than securing pieces of land beyond its own. No wonder when the time came to save itself from annihilation, an intelligent species that had only spent its intellect in developing better ways of self annihilation, found itself staring at a dead end, literally. There were always too many differences to stare and concentrate on at micro level; from natural like colour, to artificial like religion, and situational like geo-cultural. Humanity never stopped to look at one stark and overbearing similarity; of everybody being a human!
Religion was the biggest culprit of all; for those who believed in any were ready to kill anyone who believed in another or none. It is arguable if there were really any God at all; those who prayed and believed were actually worshipping a Satan who couldn’t let them live together in peace as one. The older the religion, the worst its level of social control, for there were far more layers of superstition and lies about things no one had ever seen; from horoscopes to astrology, from palmistry to clairvoyance, an endless list of psychological devices. That these lies lasted well beyond scientific enlightenment, is a testament to the corrupt desires of various priesthoods, to maintain their shop and control, and the impressionable gullibility of the so called intelligent species. It would be an understatement to make, that by twenty first century, some ancient religions had lived way beyond both their best before and use by dates. For very little good they had to offer to humanity, they took a way heavier toll on it.
It took a catastrophe to wake humanity out of its numb stupor. The pain was real when the reality was starkest, and the efforts were hectic when the straits were dire. Stumbling and rolling, humanity finally found a way to get itself out of a deep grave. That it took more than a fair share of wild probabilities to work in its favour; bears a testimony to the lack of commonsense displayed by the most intelligent species of earth. But lessons taught the hardest are learnt the best, and there were over a couple hundred human souls on earth two, temporarily named ‘Heaven’ as an ironic acknowledgment of the past and grateful acceptance of the future, who could have vouched for the accuracy of the assertion.
The delight was real when everybody onboard the six spaceships learnt that the new found solar system was indeed a piece out of their universe, as much out of place as they were. But the worlds they were looking at were not dead dark places like the one they built five of their new ships on. They were alive and thriving places, with humans having no idea as to who and what they might encounter down there. Careful observations were precisely the recipe of the day, and they took seven of them. But the results were finally out, and they had a post Jurassic world, and a post ice-age world right in front of them. The third one was still coming out of its original freezer. There were a few more worlds around the area, but none close enough to interest them as a matter of urgency. Time was always important, but somehow it felt like ticking way too fast now, especially now that they had all started thinking fondly about those that they had left behind.
When a senior officer is there, especially one from the ranks of Admiralty, governance committees are no place for lesser soldiers and seamen. The ‘Defence Core Committee’ had to be reconstituted with Rear Admiral, who had been forced to give himself a job extension due to the course of events, representing the army, and Miss Anne De Villiers and Mr Charles Harrison representing the civilian government as its three heads. Captains; Connors, Ahluwalia and Davis, were joined by Engineers Dodd and Jhiang, as a five member advisory panel at the second rung.
A safe area for arrivals was identified by a beautiful beach, sandwiched between the clear blue waters on the southern side, and a thick green forest leading up to the feet of daunting mountain peaks on the north. There were far greener places, and far freezing poles and peaks all over the new world, but this was the least dangerous of all places. Some distant cousins of earthly dinosaurs roamed this planet, some of which grew expectedly huge. The edibility of flora was yet to be tested, but Oxygen was aplenty. Fresh water was not a problem with a river flowing not far off. Yet the weathers had yet to be tested and tides measured, especially with three moons doing the rounds at unearthly hours. What creatures floated in the blue waters and how edible would they be, were a matter of course to be discovered, and much else was yet unknown. In these circumstances, it was only intelligent that the Committee decided to live out of their mobile homes for the time-being.
“What do you reckon Sir?” Bradley asked his senior, as the Committee undertook a motorized survey of the beach.
“It is indeed a heaven,” the Rear Admiral replied, “At least as long as we don’t find something in our universe.”
“But why would we need to do that?” a surprised Anne asked.
“This is a good place, don’t get me wrong,” the Rear Admiral answered her query by allaying her apprehensions first and foremost, “But, if not us, then one of our posterity will have to find a way to get back to our Universe. This universe is not the place where we belong.”
“Is it because you think we won’t be safe here on this world?” Anne probed further.
“It is not about our immediate safety Miss De Villiers,” Rear Admiral replied, “It is just that it is only one Solar System that we have found. And given our very recent experience, it would not be wise to lock ourselves into this universe for the rest of times. The reason could be any, and even though we have three possible homes here in this system itself, but if anything goes wrong again, our posterity possibly might not be in a position to find another place like this again in this Universe.”
“Are you suggesting we shouldn’t stop here?” Charles asked this time.
“Of course we should, at least for a very long foreseeable future,” the Rear Admiral replied, “Our first concern should be to bring here those that we have left behind, if they are still alive and we are able to locate them. This is a safer and better place that can be home to humanity for as long as we can imagine. But ultimately, we should not take our eyes off the risks that might even seem remote and impossible today.”
One should not try to mould the future according to their desires today, but rather build a today that would yield a future they desire. The difference in the two is; while in the first scenario one is working on hypothetical scenarios which are subject to unknown errors and vague probabilities, in the later it is the actual available raw material that can be moulded to attract contemporaneous desired probabilities.
“Ma’am, we are ready to land,” Captain Stephan Grojenski, commandeering NSSS ‘New Bounty’ informed the President who, accompanied by Admiral Abdullah, was on a journey to the now defunct oil caverns of the Asian land mass. The plan was to test a miniature device there; one similar to twenty others that were supposed to make up two missiles.
“That was quick,” an impressed Lady Michelle Davis exclaimed as she looked at Admiral’s face, “I am already in love with these new spaceships.”
“They are real masterpieces of science,” Admiral nodded in agreement, “I am glad we will have two pressed into service to deliver the warheads at the meteor.”
“You know Admiral, what I admire the most about humanity today is,” Michelle added contemplatively, “None wants to leave their families to save their skin, but would rather die alongside their loved ones. What a far cry from our traitors!”
“I agree Madam President,” the Admiral quipped just as the spaceship landed, “But if I may dare say so, those who left us behind didn’t have an easy choice to make either. They did what they thought was in the best interests of humanity.”
“My foot they did Admiral,” the Lady however wasn’t impressed, “For World’s sake, I am not someone who would have stopped my husband from leaving. In fact, I would have been the one egging him to go or be sent. It is not about the fact that he left me. It is about the way he did. He was disloyal, when he had pledged to be by my side until death did us apart. Death never came, but he left!” The lady was obviously bitter, but not without a reason. “Those who love you, have the right to know the truth,” the Lady continued, “It’s the least one can do for their loved ones. If they were really that glorious in their exit, how come it feels like they cheated?”
Perceptions are often personal, for their inferences are generally coloured by the observer’s personal viewpoints. That however does not mean they can’t be rational. In fact, two people can have a totally rational yet radically opposite view of the same situation. The subject of their observation may be the same, but their reasoning ought not!
“According to Marcus’s calculations,” the Rear Admiral addressed the Defence Core Committee and its’ advisors, “The earth should be somewhere inside a one light year wide region of space that we have left behind. A direct flight through this universe in one of our smaller crafts would get us in the ballpark area within two months, while space tears will take much longer as they would involve much greater travel.”
“How many should we send though?” Anne asked as the committee looked at the advisors for a comment.
“I suggest two,” Captain Ahluwalia replied, “We can definitely use one craft to secure our perimeters here, while two travelling through space infested with potential enemies would increase our chances of reaching our people. And of course, not to mention, two crafts on the lookout would make it a lot easier and quicker to find our people in the unknown space.”
“That’s a good suggestion,” Rear Admiral nodded, “I am ready to back it if the rest are.” He looked at the other two members of the committee, who agreed without hesitation. The Rear Admiral then added, “However, I would further recommend that we start scavenging this world for resources as well, and as a thing high on priority list, build up our defence and flight capabilities.” Expectedly there were no reservations on this point too.
“Sir,” Bradley however had a question to ask, “What about Mishansa?”
“Mishansa,” Rear Admiral exclaimed with a heavy breath, “I am really intrigued by this alien, more so by the fact that you have intentionally kept her away from me and my men. But I do see your reasons why! But what do you want us to decide about her?”
“She needs to be reunited with her kin, if any of them are still alive,” Bradley replied with words carefully weighted and given a proper thought, “If we won’t do that, we would be punishing her for no reason or fault. And that doesn’t seem right!”
“I agree with Captain Connors,” Aman added his weight behind his brother’s call, “In fact, I suggest we take her with us, and once we find our earth, while Captain Connors can proceed to find her missing kin, I can go search for my fiancée.”
“First of all, your first job is to find earth and help establish an immediate communication link between us,” the Rear Admiral however replied in a commanding tone, “Then, once your teams are back on earth, you would immediately go under the Admiral’s command. Any further requests for permissions will need to be made directly to him, and decided by him. We don’t know what sort of needs and requirements they have as of today. So I cannot give you any permission whatsoever beyond the initial task of locating our lost earth.”
“Besides Captain Connors,” Anne had a few words of her own to add to the conversation, “Do we really want a race as powerful as hers’ sharing even our solar system, what to talk of this planet?”
“That’s presumptuous, if I may put it so without meaning any disrespect Commander,” Bradley however was taken aback by Anne’s suggestion, “Not only we don’t know if any of her kith and kin are still alive, but even if a lot of them are, not only do we need allies, and as many of them if we are to survive in this enemy infested region of space, but our abilities to scavenge for a way back into our universe would also be enhanced by having a race as powerful as hers’ on our side.”
“But what if they don’t like to share?” Anne asked as she stared back at Bradley with constricted eyes, “What do we even know about her race, and what is it about our race that can or would stay hidden from hers’?” To drive home her point, she gave a very small pause before adding, “Even our science will not be safe.”
“So should I just leave her here with you, to fend for herself?” Bradley asked.
“Maybe not here,” Rear Admiral replied, “It would needlessly complicate our work. Maybe it’s better if you took her with you to earth, but make sure she is kept away from our people there. Admiral and whoever is the President there now, they can decide on her fate, like everything else. My suggestion however would be; you take her out, but make sure she gives up her search before she finds anyone.”
“But that would be,” Bradley wanted to say something but corrected himself.
“Strategic,” Rear Admiral quipped, “If that’s the word you were looking for.”
“But what about Jenny?” Aman’s issue still hadn’t been addressed however.
“What about her?” Rear Admiral asked, “Who is she? And, where is she?”
His father’s words really shook Aman to the core, as he stumbled to find the right words to phrase a sentence in response. Finally he blurted out, “I wasn’t even supposed to be on this mission. The only reason I have helped is because I was promised that I would be a master of my destiny, and be allowed to do what I want to, once I find a new earth, and connected it with our parent earth.”
“But that was when there was no command above you,” the Rear Admiral replied, “Now you take orders from me, and once you get back to earth, you will take orders from the Admiral.”
“But why should I, when I was clearly and unequivocally promised otherwise?” Aman however questioned.
“Because you are still an army man,” came the crisp response from the Admiral, “Tell me, did you ever resign from the army?”
“No,” Aman replied hesitatingly.
The Rear Admiral then asked others, “Who put him here on this mission?”
“I did Sir,” Bradley replied.
“Was there an order prohibiting anyone from taking anything or anyone from the earth, against anyone’s wishes, that was necessary for the mission’s survival?” the Rear Admiral asked.
“No Sir,” Bradley replied.
“Has Captain Ahluwalia been of any use to the mission?” Rear Admiral then asked.
“Absolutely Sir,” Bradley replied, “The mission wouldn’t have succeeded or survived if it wasn’t for Captain Ahluwalia’s expertise and efforts at the most crucial moments.”
“Then good work Captain Connors! I am recommending your name for an order of merit,” the Rear Admiral replied patronizingly.
“What,” a shocked Captain Ahluwalia exclaimed and then complained, “Why do you always have to take his side?”
“Because he’s always right,” came another crisp response from the Rear Admiral.
“Oh C’mon, that’s not fair,” complained Aman, “I topped the academy.”
“So what?” asked a cool and composed Rear Admiral, “They are humans too; prone to making mistakes!”
“Ok fine, I resign,” exclaimed a frustrated Captain Ahluwalia.
“Accepted,” was a one word response from the Rear Admiral, who then went on to rub salt into his wounds, “Now go and sit outside with the civilians.”
“I need a ship,” Aman however raised a new claim.
“There are no ships for civilian use,” Rear Admiral replied.
“Oh C’mon, give me a choice,” Aman protested.
“You just used yours,” Rear Admiral continued in the same vein, “You resigned.”
“Please, can we be just a bit more considerate about the issues involved here,” a flummoxed Aman replied as he scratched his head over what he had landed himself into.
But the Rear Admiral had had enough with him. Enraged he rose from his seat and thundered, “Soldier, have you lost your manners?” His voice made the entire ship reverberate, but he wasn’t finished, “On the floor, on you fours and give me twenty.”
“But,” Aman tried to make a weak protest.
“Thirty,” roared the Rear Admiral.
“I was just,” Aman wanted to argue his point further.
“Fifty and shut up!” came the thundering response that nearly brought the sky down.
It wasn’t painful just because the long journey in gravity less space had made the Captain complacent in training. But what made it harder was the much fierce gravity of a world that was bigger than the one he had known before. However, it was a lot more painful for others to mask their smiles and keep a straight face in front of the Rear Admiral. Luckily, his agony filled ten minutes were a very small part of a slightly longer day of the new earth.
“Now get out and wait for your orders Officer,” Rear Admiral however didn’t give him a chance to sit down in his seat once his ordeal had ended, “As a punishment for your imprudence, you will no longer serve as an advisor to the Committee.”
“Was that really necessary,” Aman however couldn’t help chirping under his breath.
“You have anything to say officer,” the Rear Admiral asked in a still incensed voice.
“No Sir,” Aman straightened out in no time, “I was just saying I am feeling a bloated now.”
“Quick! Outside!” were the marching orders.
A dejected Aman walked out of the cabin, and out of the ship. It was close to sunset, and the beach looked beautiful. But while Aman was lost in his thoughts, Lieutenant Jake Reginald walked up behind him.
“Beautiful, isn’t it Sir,” Jake exclaimed to get his senior’s attention.
Aman however took a deep sigh in response. He had little left to say after the intense dressing down he had been given by his father.
“By the way Sir, did anyone mention how we found your car at the planet that we were on?” Jake asked.
“What?” a perplexed Aman turned around in a flash and looked at his junior officer.
“There was this block of houses from the ‘Peacock on the Hill’ suburb, that we found on one of the beaches as we were leaving the planet,” Jake replied, “And as I walked through the streets calling out for anyone who might have been there, I came across your car. There were your wedding cards and your fiancée’s bad lying inside. Rear Admiral however asked us to leave it there.”
“Jenny is there,” prompt came out the words from Aman in response. However he still asked a question whose answer he already knew, “Did you find anyone on that planet?”
“No sir,” Jake however confirmed it.
“You missed her,” Aman however exclaimed grabbing his shoulders, “How could you?”
“I swear there was no one sir,” Jake however knew what he was talking about.
“Did you search each and every house in there?” Aman asked.
“There was no time sir,” Jake replied shaking his head in negative, and perhaps wondering why he even had to bring this matter up, “And it wasn’t even necessary. The announcements were loud and clear, and we took our time walking down those streets.”
“Oh, you don’t know what you have done Jake,” a frustrated Aman however exclaimed, “You just missed her! Something must have happened to her.”
“But how do you know sir,” a surprised Jake asked.
“I just know it Jake,” Aman was now getting really excited, “If my car is there, then she has to be there too, for my car was right there, next to the walkway that lead to the stage. There could be no other meaning behind this coincidence.”
“But,” Jake wanted to say something but Aman didn’t wait to hear it. He instead charged back towards the chip just as Bradley stepped out.
“Where do you think you are going,” Bradley asked as he put his arm through Aman’s, stopping him in his stride, having guessed correctly it wasn’t the best idea playing in Aman’s mind at that moment.
“I need to talk to father,” Aman replied as he tried to disentangle his arm from Bradley’s.
“Have you lost your mind?” Bradley however asked, “He’s not just our father. He is also a very senior officer!”
“I am sorry, but I have no choice,” Aman however quipped.
“We are taking out two ships in search of earth tomorrow,” Bradley however informed him, “I am with you whatever you decide once we leave this place.”
His words finally stopped Aman’s struggle. Captain Ahluwalia paused and then said, “We go find mom first. Jenny is stronger than her, while I am weaker than both!”