Chasma, seated on Vera’s lap, was pointing at the giant forward screen, fascinated by the exotic images of dinosaurs and giant tropical forests that were being projected by the ship’s Zarfha.
“…but it is hard to say how it will fare this time. Only time itself will tell.”
Jorh paused and turned his attention to Gahneo and Mahhzee.
After the three had seemed to exchange thoughts the small human group could not hear, Mahhzee got up and moved toward the forward view. Pointing at a point in an overhead view of the African continent and its surrounding oceans, she spoke warmly to the small passengers.
“Silargh and his crew landed here on your world. We were hoping they had managed to use their Time-Frost pods and survived, but we would have felt them by now…”
“The other ship? In South Africa?” asked François out loud, as surprised as the rest of them. “I know that’s why you wanted to come here, but I didn’t think you were really expecting to find much. That was seventy million years ago! I know Mars’ geology has not changed much during that time, but Earth has been very active, even in the recent past, and I doubt you’ll find anything but fossils from that era. Plus, I’m sure someone would have found it, if there was an alien ship in the jungles of Africa,” he finished telepathically.
“We know the Aruk is still there. Our own ship has detected its signal.”
A small yellow dot was now flickering in the center of the image, as the view zoomed to a remote area of the big continent.
“I’m assuming that’s where we’re going next, but that doesn’t change our own problem. What do we do now that we can’t live on Earth? How long can we survive on this ship? We only have enough supplies for a month, if that!” suddenly said Sabrina out loud. Her voice was shaking.
“Exactly! What now? Earth was our only chance. We’re screwed. We’re all gonna die!” Tendai screamed, looking at Dedrick, hysterical.
“I don’t wanna die!” started crying Liu from the back of the room.
“Calm down, calm down! Nobody is going to die,” interjected Dedrick, looking at Chasma and his wife, trying to reassure them. “We didn’t come this far to give up now, right?”
“There goes Mr. Positive, again,” thought François to himself, unconvinced.
Africa
Outside, the southern tip of Africa was slowly rotating under the ship orbiting a few kilometers above. From that distance, the once lavish green land now looked mostly bare and desolated. The ship was soon flying along the coast, a mere few meters above the water. The dark murky ocean added to the gloomy of scene. A few dark clouds were scattered in the distance. Occasional wave surges were creating white foamy tops below. Ahead, a protruding land mass was approaching. The sun was shining brightly in the early afternoon sky as the vessel reached the shore. It slowed to a mere few kilometers an hour. Again, all they could see was the bare ground, stripped of its vegetation and left naked, dead trees and dried out bushes scattered about. A few minutes later, they were landing softly at the foot of a large hill.
“We are very close to the place where the ship is. Gahneo and I need to go get what we came for. You are welcome to join us, but don’t forget you’ll need your suits. Earth’s atmosphere is toxic now,” told them Jorh, looking at the small humans.
Dedrick briefly glanced at François.
“Actually, François and I would like to come with you, if you don’t mind.”
“I’d like to come as well,” added Ladli.
“Of course, you are welcome to join us.”
“Personally, I think I’ll stay here,” said Tendai.
Liu wasn’t in the mood to join either.
“It’s probably better if you stay here with them. I’m sure we’ll be safe with Jorh and Gahneo, but I don’t want you to take unnecessary risks,” told François to Sabrina.”
“Honestly, you don’t have to convince me. I’m not really feeling like taking a stroll at the moment,” she replied, sounding justifiably depressed.
“We’ll be back before you know it,” said Dedrick, looking at his wife.
“I know, be careful,” she replied as she kissed him.
Stepping out of the room, Jorh and Gahneo traveled to the end of the ship, dragging a large container with them. They were both wearing a form fitted suit that covered their entire body, their head and face included. Except for a dark section in front of their large eyes, the gelatinous looking suit was mostly see-thru. After having suited up as well, Dedrick, Ladli and François soon rejoined the two aliens.
The two aliens stepped out of the white vessel and began walking toward the hill ahead, when they heard their troubled human friends behind them.
As soon as François landed softly on the ground, the strong gravity of Earth reminded him immediately how much the lower gravity of Mars had weakened his body. Fifteen years spent on the red planet had noticeably atrophied his muscles. Dedrick and Ladli realized quickly what was happening as well.
“Shoot! I forgot. We’ve been on Mars for so long, Earth is making everything feel much heavier, especially our suits.”
Jorh walked back to them. Extending his arm, he released a small Zarfha from his tubular fingers, and the white sphere hovered to François. The Frenchman felt instantly relieved from the uncomfortable weight. Two more Zarfhas came resting in mid-air next to Ladli and the Russian commander.
“These will help counter the effect of your planet’s pull.”
“Thank you, Jorh,” replied Dedrick.
Leaving the vessel, the tall beings and their three human companions walked up the rough terrain and soon disappeared behind the hill.
“Ok, so I guess we’ll be waiting right here, then…” said Tendai a bit sarcastically, as the five vanished from the giant screen.
Almost an hour had gone by the time the explorers finally got back.
“So? Did you guys get what you were looking for?” asked Vera to Dedrick.
“Did we ever?! Let me show you.”
Inside the main cabin, the small group gathered around him and Dedrick turned his suit pad on. Near the Zarfha, Mahhzee was getting some details on the excursion, from Jorh and Gahneo.
Dedrick’s screen was only twenty centimeters wide, resting in the middle of his torso, but for once, the picture was bright and of high quality. He took the device off his chest and put it on the table, so he could watch as well.
“Let me give this to our Zarfha. You will see more comfortably,” came Jorh’s mental voice. He did not wait for them to respond. Grabbing the small video tablet, he brought the object to the sphere next to him, and the pad disappeared into the Zarfha’s white surface, as if swallowed by quicksand. Within seconds, a three-dimensional view of the trail Jorh and the others had taken, formed around the sphere. A large three-dimensional image, projecting all around them, soon filled the ship’s entire cabin.
“That’s the entrance to the cave!” said François out loud.
“I can see that,” replied Sabrina.
Aside from the strange ghostly look of the five explorers in the video, everyone could clearly see from their large hovering chairs.
After a bit of effort getting the container through the tight passage, the five explorers began their slow journey down the cavern tunnel, Dedrick and François’ helmet spotlights lighting the way. Fifteen minutes later, the narrow path opened into a large cavern. Gahneo opened the container he and Jorh had brought with them, and a small Zarfha rose out of it, slowly spinning on itself. With a wave of the hand, the alien sent the sphere toward the center of the cave, and the Zarfha instantly illuminated the large underground space. Near the back, the alien vessel was now clearly in view. A portion of the ceiling of the cavern had caved in from above and damaged it substantially.