1. It was Earth by William P. Propsner I was anxious for this trip. Not just for my own pleasure and thrill of adventure, but for all of the remnants of the human race. The year was 5854. A few decades after the last signs of the old Earth were seen from this far off new world. Our scientists and astronomers used the most advanced telescopes to witness the Earths slow demise. None of the people ever believed them when they informed us of what was taking place on our old home. No-one could understand that the stories were true. Not even me, until now. My name is Captain Ted Daniels. I've been in the new Air Forces for 10 years and have logged over a thousand hours in simulators getting ready for this most important mission. Here on our new home, Newton 18, we’ve been blessed with full peace and order. Newton 18 is it's formal name given to it by our scientists. But for most of us it's just called Newt. Someone coined 'Newt' when we first arrived two thousand years ago and the name stuck. Now this is my fifth day of careful planning with more simulations for the long trip that I’m about to take. It will take nearly 4 years to get to where the human race once lived. Those many centuries ago. My Chief of Operations tells me that I’ll not be alone. I’m wondering what he has in mind. I’ve always thought that this trip was going to be only myself and my cameras. Perhaps the chief is thinking on a companion for me. I hope not. At least if he does, he gives me someone that I can get along with. “Good morning Tedâ€. The chief walks into the room with a young security officer. “Morning Chiefâ€. I wasn’t expecting him this early. “How’s everything going Ted?†“Just fine sir. No problems on my end. In fact, I was just about to finish up here and go check on my ride.†“How’s the ship looking? Are all the checks made to her? Did the techs find the glitch in the onboard monitors?†“Yes sir, they did. It was a loose wire behind the console. Quick fix.†“That’s great.†“Oh, by the way, let me introduce you to Major Danforth. He is going to be your company for the trip. He has been training over on the island base for the past two years. You might find his knowledge helpful once you get to your destination.†“Oh, you think so? I always thought that this was a solo flight. Sir.†“Well Ted, plans change as you well know. And this plan had to be realized. The fellas at Space Central found something on their big telescope. Shocked the hell out of everyone. The Major will bring you up to speed about it.†“Can’t wait.†That’s all that I could get out with the chief’s news. Not that I couldn’t say more. I was just being polite. The major came and looked over my figures while I was walking the chief to the door. I didn’t want him to hear me drill my new charge about what he knows, or doesn’t know. “Well major, do you have a first name or do I have to call you ‘major’ all the time? After all, we are going to be ‘room mates’ for an awful long time you know.†“Captain, you can call me Major Danforth for now. If I feel that you are intelligent, I might let you call me just ‘Major’.†I can see this trip is going to be interesting. I seem to have a real winner to take along. “Fine Major Danforth. I’ll be the perfect officer.†The major turned his icy gaze from me to my notes on the table. It seems that he can understand my scribbling. That’s a point in his favor I guess. We’ll have to see. “So major, do you see where any changes could be made or do my scribbles make sense to you?†“Well, captain, the only change I can see is your time table for the landing and the time that should be spent on the surface.†He was acting as though we were going to be landing on some strange moon or an asteroid somewhere. Not a good sign in my book. “The timetable that I set forth on the surface is going to be plenty. And I was hoping for a little more time to search for artifacts of the population that was there before.†“And the landing timetable is right on the money. There can’t be any deviation from the sequence that I set forth on that matter. It has to be exact if we are going to make it.†The major seemed to pause for a moment and then I noticed he raised an eyebrow as if to agree with what I put down on my notes. He better agree. I’m not about to change anything. “So major, do you think that this will be an interesting mission?†“Yes captain Daniels, I do. In fact, I’m very excited about the trip. I’ve done a lot of research about the former Earth and to tell you the truth, I’m hoping to find answers to a lot of questions people have about our own past.†“Questions?†“Yes, questions. Mainly, why did we leave and why is there no life there any longer.†The young major seemed to have done some research alright. But his question about no life is what concerns me. The day was over too soon for me to get all my notes together. The rest of the evening I spent alone in my quarters thinking about the major and why he has to come along. I have the thought inside my mind that there is more to the majors orders than what anyone is telling me. I’ll have to wait and see what happens on the trip there. The next day the major and I went over the checklists for the takeoff and the first leg of our flight. I had to get the major up to speed and he had to get me up to speed on ‘his’ mission. I had to grill him for that bit of information. I feel he is going to be a little reluctant in divulging what orders he has. “Well Major Danforth, do you feel that you can handle the long mission ahead?†“I can handle it Captain. I’ve been training for too long to screw anything up. I have my assignment on this mission as you do. We’re both going to be very busy for the first part of our leg before we have to sleep for 4 years.†“Yes major, I know. It’s going to be a busy flight. Feel like going over the takeoff one more time before lunch?†“Very well captain. Let’s go over it one more time. I’d like to take a look at the numbers again before we take a break.†We both sat in our seats and started going over checklists for takeoff. My console had the flight control gauges and all of the dynamic controls. Most of the switches were placed conveniently for a one man mission. The majors controls on the other hand were more sparse. He had mostly the camera controls and the environmental controls. For the first part of our flight it was his job to adjust the environmental controls to get us both ready for the deep sleep that was to take place nearly one million miles into our flight. It was my job to make sure the inflight computers had the correct information and the exact star charts programmed in so we don’t miss our target. That would not be a good thing. The major and I had a good lunch at the officers club on the base. Very good food if I say so myself. I was raised on military chow. Can’t beat it anywhere. I had the steak and potatoes. With apple pie for dessert. The major had the soup of the day. Some fish soup I think. At least that’s what it smelled like. The next day we were called to a last minute meeting in the chiefs office. It seems that there has been an update in our launch date. “Good morning gentlemen. Have a seat.†The chief looked tired. Like he was up all night. Something didn’t seem right at this meeting. “Our launch date has been moved up a week. You both will leave day after tomorrow.†“Sir! Why the early launch? What happened to get the launch date moved ahead?†I had to choose my words carefully. I didn’t want to show the chief what I really wanted to say. I wanted to chew him out for listening to the higher ups that run the Space Center. But the chief is a friend of mine and I have to let him have his day. “The Center for Scientific Study has located another moon of our nearest planet that is working it’s way into our path. It’s a small moon. About the size of a house. But it’s there none the less. We have to move early so it stays out of our way. You will pass it by four thousand miles when you launch in two days. If we keep to our original launch time, the moon will be right in your flight path and that would ruin your entire day. The chief had a point. Didn’t really matter to me. I’m anxious to get this over with and get going. “Do our scientists see any problems with us passing this moon so close?†“No, they do not. They have calculated that you will be able to photograph it and map it at the same time. They have never seen this one before. So it’s new and they want all the information that you can get on it. You’ll be relaying all the information of the moon back to home base as you pass by it.†“Sounds good chief. I’m ready to go now. Why postpone any longer. I’m glad that the date was moved up. We need to get this done for all of humanity. Right?†“You’re right Captain Daniels. Major Danforth, do you have anything that you’d like to add? Any thoughts or arguments over our early departure?†“No chief, I’m ready. All of my programs are set in the systems on the ship and there is nothing else to do but go. Let’s do it.†The day came too soon. It seemed that we just got out of the meeting with the chief that this day came up on us. We launch today. Now the nerves kick in and the butterflies in our stomachs take over. Thank heavens for calming meds. The ride in the hover van to the launch site was uneventful. The major and I sat quietly across from each other, going over our launch checklists. Looking out the window I can see the ship rising high on it’s launch platform. The stark silver shine of the composite skin gleaming in the sunlight. All four hundred feet of the ship pointing toward the unknown. We both had no idea how this mission was going to go. Hopefully without a hitch. The wings of our ship stretched out to nearly two hundred feet. Sleek and slender was this home of ours for the four years that it will take us to get to Earth. Not to mention the four more years it will take us to get back. Down toward the base of the ship I can see the elevator that will take us to the cockpit where we’ll be strapped down for our explosive launch. The van stopped just short of the tower that holds our ship in place. “God speed Captain, Major.†The words of the van pilot echoed ancient words from long ago. ‘God speed‘, I remember reading something like that in our history discs. “Thank you Lt. Take care of yourself. And keep the coffee hot for our return.†“Sure thing sir.†The major and I exited the van and walked the short distance to the elevator. It was a nervous walk for the both of us. Now it was finally happening. The ride in the elevator took a little over five minutes. An eternity for myself. I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time. “Gentlemen, if you both will exit and go straight to the hatch, we’ll get this show on the road.†The launch commanders voice was stern in our headphones. He has been preparing himself for this day just as long as the major and myself. “Thank you for your help Commander, I bet you’re ready to get this over with aren’t you?†“You got that right Captain. I’ve done all the rehearsals that I care to do. Now I’m ready to get you on your way so my crew and I can go home.†As the major and I stepped into the ship, I turned and shook hands with all the members of the launch team. Every one of them in high spirits. I don’t think there was a dry eye on the floor. As the last of the technicians strapped us into our seats, I could look out the front window and see the bright sky of our world. Soon it will be all blackness and silence for a while. Then, the shape of the ‘old’ world will be in view. Am wondering what will be going through my mind then. “Well major, this is it.†“Yes captain, it is. I’m not afraid to tell you that I’m a bit nervous and maybe a little apprehensive. This is my first space flight.†“Yes, I know. I read your profile. Part of my duty to get to know who I’m going to be traveling with for the flight. And major, it’s okay to be a bit scared. I am too. Nervous and a bit scared. And this is my fifth flight. It’ll be okay major. Trust me. And trust the ship.†“I trust you captain. I only hope I can trust myself.†I didn’t want to comment on his last statement. ‘Trust himself’. Not sure what he meant by that, but too late now to worry. As the countdown began, all our checklists were completed and all we had to do was sit here. “12.…..11.….10.….9.….8...†My heart began to race. My mind became a blur of thoughts as the last seconds ticked away. Did I check this, did I check that? Did I complete all the items on my checklist? Too late now. “7.…..6.….5.….4.…..3.…†The last seconds seemed to take an eternity to get to. Seemed like minutes instead of seconds. ‘My God, what am I doing here?’ “Ignition sequence start…….2.…..1.….We have ignition…….we have ignition of the Earth 1 Mission……Gentlemen, our world is with you…..have a safe flight….see you when you get back.†The voice on the headset was warm and a wonderful thing to hear. I know the voice. It was Captain Elly Thompson. She was a sight for sore eyes when you came off of a mission. Hopefully she’ll be there when we get back from this one. “Thank you Elly, we’ll be right back. Tell all who are listening that we said thank you.†The shaking of the ship and the noise that was building inside the ship was overwhelming. I’m sure that flight control didn’t hear my last comment. But it’s on the disc that they’ll play later for the people listening to the news shows. The ship glided slowly from it’s perch like a magnificent beast. The flames from it’s launch rockets taking it higher and higher into the atmosphere. After we leave the pull of our home world, the pulse engines will take us the rest of the way. Firing their anti gravity bursts every two seconds to get us moving faster and faster. After twenty four hours, our ship will be shooting through space at a dizzying seventy five thousand miles a minute. I’m glad that the onboard computers are the latest and the best. No need to be striking an object at that speed. Doesn’t matter, we’d never know what we hit. It would be over in a nanosecond. We’re almost at the point in our mission where we start the pulse drive. That’s going to be interesting to say the least. The pulse drive has never been used in actuality. Only on unmanned test ships and in the simulator. Hopefully it’ll work the way the designers planned. “Major? Wait. Major Danforth, can we be on first name basis now that we are away from our superiors?†“Well captain, I guess it wouldn’t be breaking any rules. After all, we are stuck with each other now. Can’t change that. You can call me Derik.†“Okay Derik, you can call me Ted. Short for Theodore, but don’t let me catch you calling me Theodore. Got it?†I said that with a slight laugh so the major will feel more at ease. Not like I’d be chewing him out for that. “Very good Ted. I’ll remember not to call you by your Christian name. Good enough.†“Ready for the pulse drive in five. Let’s go through the checklist. Don’t want to miss anything.†“Sounds good.†The major, Derik, sounded a little more relaxed now that we’re a little less formal. We went through the checklist and everything went smoothly. There was nothing that we missed. “Countdown to pulse initiation in 5.…..4.….3.….2.…1.….initiate.†Derik hit the switch that shut down our main drive and pulled the lever that started the pulse drives. “Nothing happened Ted! Emergency shutdown?†Derik sounded alarmed. I had to reassure him quick. “No! It’s okay major, it’s silent. You can’t hear the drive kick in. It’s the way it was built. So don’t worry about nothing happening. It initiated fine. There, see the gauge on your left? Shows that the drive is working properly. It’ll take a little while for the numbers to reach their maximum output. Like twenty four hours. Remember the briefing?†“Oh, sorry Ted, my bad. I must have been distracted when that little bit of information was passed around. Yes, I see the numbers now. That’s a really strange sensation you know. Thinking that nothing happens when you hit a main control switch.†“That’s okay, I went through the same thing in the simulator. Does feel strange.†The pulse drive was working as it should. The dials started climbing higher and higher. The ship was now moving faster than any human has ever traveled. The star field outside seemed to stand still. Not as the old videos and stories tell you. Not like a blur of light. But since we are moving faster, the star field will remain the same. You can notice only a slight shift in the way they look from our vantage point. It’s been thirty six hours since we started the pulse drive. Now we are moving through space at the rate of eighty eight thousand miles a minute. We’ve surpassed the simulator and the test speeds. At this rate, we’ll arrive at our destination maybe three months ahead of schedule. Give or take a week. “Well Derik, this is the point in our mission where we need to get to bed. All the computers have the ship under control. The panels are all in the green and it’s a long flight. Your compartment is over there. Make sure you set your alarms and monitors. In case something goes wrong, heaven forbid, you’ll be awakened in less than three seconds.†“Very well Ted. Tell me, have you ever been in the deep sleep chambers? Will I dream or remember what happened on this day? I mean, when we awake in four years, will we have changed any?†“Yes Derik, you’ll dream. I did the first time I tried this. It’s not bad really. The sedation meds make you feel good and you’ll soon be the most relaxed in your life. And you’ll remember everything that takes place. Your monitors will record all your vitals so you’ll have something to look at when you wake. It will pass very quickly.†I was right about the passing of time being quick. When you sleep, time seems to just be a moment. We took one last look at all the dials and controls. Made our last checks of the ships systems and studied the trajectory of our flight and it all looked perfect. Couldn’t have made a better line of flight. The major took his place in his compartment and set his monitors and readouts. It wasn’t long before he was fast asleep. “See you in Earth orbit Derik, sweet dreams.†I was alone at last. With only my last thoughts of the days events going in my head. The last minute details, the ride to the launch area, the last handshake, the launch. Now here in this point in our flight I’m ready. I went into my compartment, laid on the mat, turned on my monitors and readouts. Then turned my own alarms in the ready position. What was that old bedtime prayer? ‘Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep’. It seemed so fitting now. “Well, here goes.†I set the meds to low and drifted off to my deep long sleep. Time went by slowly. The ship moved steadily on it’s path to history and the unknown. The ship was a beautiful sight gliding through space. Silently hurtling toward the very beginning of time. Toward all the years that have passed by the human race. Back where it all began, it was turmoil. Wars, disease, famine and the ultimate terror, the meltdown of it all. The pollution that buried the Earth’s atmosphere began early. When there were fossil fuels used on the Earth and coal mines, combustion engines. And then the overpopulation of the planet. That was the beginning of the end. The pollution that covered the planet started the greenhouse effect. The polar ice caps began to melt. A little at first, barely noticeable. But the scientists warned that it was happening. But no- one listened. A degree a year, then after thirty years it quickened. Forty degrees a year until there was a noticeable rise in the ocean levels. The Pacific Ocean areas were the most hardest hit. The small islands in the Pacific slowly vanished beneath the ocean. Hawaii had to be totally evacuated. It took two years to get everyone off the islands. And a year later to make sure the people had all the history off the island. There was a mass memorial for the old USS Arizona site. Thousands of people went to give their final respects to a war long gone in the past. Then California was next to have mass evacuations along the coastline. Eventually the entire state all the way to Arizona and parts of New Mexico became inundated with ocean waves. On the Atlantic side, it was worse. The land was lower and that meant that a lot of states went under water. Florida was completely submerged after three years. The nations capitol had to be relocated to the inner states. Montana became the new seat of the government. In Europe, the British colonies totally disappeared. France, Portugal and Spain, underwater. Italy was gone. Most of North Africa was underwater. The Atlantic Ocean took every island. Cuba, the Bahamas. All of them, gone. The Earth as seen from space no longer looked like it had for centuries. In a matter of a few decades, the Earth had changed beyond repair. It was too late. The scientists began a plan of evacuating the Earth all together. But it was going to be tricky getting the governments to agree on who goes, and who stays. It was then that the ‘Population Wars’ began. The worst time in Earths history. Man against man. Nation against nation. They were the wars that ended it all. Because of the evacuation from the ocean islands and the flooded areas, the remainder of the lands became so overpopulated that there was not enough food to go around. Not enough land to support the human race. Most countries governments began a ‘thinning’ of the populations around the world. Mass executions of prisoners in the countries prisons. Then mentally ill. The handicapped. The old came next. Then the riots. People fighting to stay alive. People fighting to keep their older parents alive. Mass panic ensued. There was no order, no discipline in all the ‘thinning’ of the populations. It was mass chaos. The ‘thinning’ was not working as the planners had hoped. They had thought out the details long in advance. But what the planners hadn’t thought of was the tremendous remorse that the troops that were in charge of the thinning had on their hearts and minds. The troops that were ordered to do the deed were revolting against the officers and politicians that started the thinning process. The thinning stopped after 20 years. The secret ship building had commenced next and the lists of the ones that would be evacuated off the planet were taking place under the most secret of secrets. Scientists, peaceful world leaders, doctors, physicists and the like were all picked. Then the most honorable in the military were chosen next. The families of those chosen were after that. Everyone was allowed to bring along their pets, as these were to help in the healing of leaving the Earth. Dogs especially were needed because dogs had a calming affect on the children. There were twenty ships in all. Each one could carry five thousand people with the families and pets. Each ship had cargo space to carry five thousand tons of supplies. Everything from food to tools and equipment. One ship carried only transportation to be used on the new home. Aircraft, electric vehicles. Early hover craft. Boats. Bicycles and also toys for the children. Also in the hold of this last ship were book discs and weapons. So, the action was set in motion to evacuate the Earth before it was too late. The year was 2250 when it began. The secret movements of people and material to the ships. The loading of fuel cells for the long trips that were ahead for the twenty ships. The first ship to be loaded was the transportation ship. That took the longest because of the way the ship had to be loaded. The heaviest vehicles had to be loaded first. Then the next heaviest. The flying vehicles and the hovering vehicles were easy to load. On the mid section of the ship, there was a massive opening that the flying and hovering vehicles could just fly into and land on their respective platforms. After the last of the transportation vehicles were loaded onboard, the weapons were loaded. Enough for ten thousand troops. Not that they were ever to be needed. But the government thought that it would be better safe than sorry. They still were not sure of the life that would exist on the new world that they were going to call home. It took two months to load all the ships. It was all done with the most well kept secret the world had ever known. Captain Ted Daniels ancestors were aboard the final ship to be loaded. Rear Admiral Theodore Daniels of the United Navy and his wife, Loretta. Along was also their children. Stewart and Dianne. Stewart was a nuclear physicist and Dianne was a teacher. The Admiral had a small part in the formation of the ‘thinning’ process. But he realized that the plan would fail from the start. Admiral Daniels was for the prisoners being thinned. But was totally against the remainder of the population. His appointment to be on the last evacuation ship was due to a stroke of good luck and a good contact within the government. Otherwise, he would have seen the last ship depart without him and his family. It was a good thing for the future of mankind that he and his family made the flight. That was it, the last ship was ready for the liftoff. It was one of three that remained to be launched from the central states of the old United States of America. The time had come to say farewell to the world that the admiral and his family had known since the beginning of time itself. This was to be the last time anyone would ever see the earth as it was. At least until the new ship from the future would land and see what has happened while the human race was away. Captain Daniels ship was now past the planet Neptune and beginning it’s long slow deceleration from faster than the speed of light itself. The pulse drives have long since automatically shut themselves down for the final leg of the trip. Captain Daniels and Major Danforths sleep cabins were beginning to wake their occupants, although a day earlier that programmed. The first to awake was the commander of the mission. That would be Captain Daniels. Before the Captain was fully awake and aware, the ship monitors and sensors began to collect data about the old Earth. Oxygen content, atmospheric pollution levels, surface temperatures and the like. The most spectacular of the sensors were the photographic equipment. It’s powerful telescope for the cameras could zoom in on the smallest of surface features. That was to be a very important piece of information when the crew had begun their pre earth trajectory. It will be a startling reminder of why they returned to the old Earth. It will change their lives forever. The ship was now nearing Mars and the Earth could be seen on the forward monitors in the control room. Captain Daniels and Major Danforth were glued to the view screen at the sight of the old home. “Okay, we’ve looked at our destination long enough Major. Do you think it’s time we got to work on our pre-insertion checklists?†“Yes sir, I do. It’s just that I’ve seen pictures of what the Earth looked like before the human race made the evacuations. But I’ve never even imagined that I’d be actually seeing it in real life. It’s amazing what it looks like even from this distance.†“Yes, it is amazing. But we can’t take the time to ogle the view now. We’ve got too much to do and too little time to do it in. Let’s get started.†As the two of them went over checklists and prepared the ship for the entry into Earth orbit, Ted Daniels felt nervous about this mission. He knew that not everything that he should know was made known to him. He knew that there had to be life left on the Earth. He knew that something or someone had to be alive on the Earth. It couldn’t be completely lifeless. The ship had passed Earth’s moon by the time that all the checklists were completed. The final phase of the mission to the Earth was now taking place in the control deck. Captain Daniels and the Major strapped themselves in for what would be the most crucial maneuver the ship had to make. Get into Earth orbit so the lander could take them both to a landing sight. The one chosen back on Newt was in what was once the Midwest United States. On the history maps the landing sight was called Oklahoma City. “Major, did you load the survival suits into the lander yet? We’re going to need those suits perhaps after we land.†“Yes Captain, they are in the lander. Did you want to take the weapons with us? You never know what we might find still alive there.†“Yes take the weapons. After all, our fearless leader back on Newt thinks that we might run into his double still on the planet. What did he call it? A wolf?†Captain Daniels let out a slight laugh as he mentioned his superior back on Newt. The lander was loaded and now the time had come for the two of them to separate from the main ship and take the slow ride to the Earths surface. On the lower aft end of the main ship is a large opening where the lander was placed before launch. The lander is a small hover vehicle that could stay in the hover mode for up to twelve hours if needs be. It had short stubby wings that were delta shaped. Three landing gear made it possible for the lander to travel over existing roads when the need arose. Forward of the wings is the cockpit that was big enough for three persons. A pilot, who was left seat. The co- pilot who sat to the pilots right. And an engineer who would have kept an eye on the life support and external array of instruments that the lander carried in its nose compartment. Small, lightweight and fast. The lander was perfect for this mission. “Get ready for separation Major, it’s going to be a little bumpy.†“Ready as I’ll ever be Captain. Oh, and can we stop the formalities now ‘Ted’?†“Sounds good to me Derik.†The Captain turned a switch on his side of the console and the slightest ringing of the engine could be heard throughout the ship. Major Danforth hit the release switch on his console and the lander made an abrupt clicking sound as it separated from the main ship. “Here it comes.†The Captain forgot to mention to the Major that the first phase of the seperation was nearly silent. The lander suddenly shook violently as the small engine became a roar due to the small push that the tiny thrusters gave it to get it clear of the main ship. The Major made a sound like a grunt as the lander roared to life at last. “Well Ted, next time, tell me what’s going to happen so I’ll be ready for it okay?†“Fair enough Derik.†At that, both men laughed as the strain of the long mission came to it’s halfway mark. “It was Earth once.†Ted Daniels whispered to himself. Captain Daniels stared in disbelief at the Earth below him. He saw the large oceans that formed when the ice caps melted. He looked at the small patches of land that remained on this forgotten world. “Will you look at that Derik. It’s sad what the human species can do to their own world.†“I see it Ted. Amazing, simply amazing. Wait! Isn’t the land suppose to be devoid of life?†“Yes, that’s what the scientists back home told us. All the telescopes on Newt have been studying the Earth for the last decade. Nothing is suppose to live there any longer. What do you see?†“I may be color blind, but is that green forests in the mid land areas? Look for yourself.†The Captain looked below at the mid west portion of what was once the United States and did indeed see a large green stretch of land. “That can’t be forests down there. All the information that we had informed us otherwise. It’s suppose to be just bare empty land. It could be a type of widespread mold or an algae growing. We’ll know more the closer we get to our landing site.†The lander cruised over the former Pacific Ocean then gently made it’s way to the mid section of the large land mass. Flying at nearly six hundred miles an hour now, it was time to begin the descent toward the landing site. So far, nothing was seen moving on the surface of the planet. No animals, no birds. Nothing as far as the eyes could see. The major kept an eye on the life reading instruments just in case someone back home was terribly wrong. “There, see that open area ahead Derik? That’s where we’ll touch down. Do you have the readings on the atmosphere?†“Yes, so far it looks good, oxygen, nitrogen a little high. And no pollutants in the air at all. None that is being picked up by the gauges at least. Looks good to land.†“Okay then, here we go. Make ready for landing. Set security sensors to maximum. Extend the landing gear. We’ll take a short walking tour of our surroundings before we go any distance.†The little craft settled gently onto what appeared to be a large field of tall grass. Green as far as the eye could see. The engines shut down, the silence returned to the grassy field. The lander now sat as a silent sentinel on a new world. Captain Daniels looked out the forward windows and saw a green, lush world. It was uncanny how the scientists and astronomers back on Newt could have been this wrong about what they would find on the old Earth. He knew that someone had the information wrong. It just couldn’t be that what he was looking at was in fact Earth. “Derik, did you get the readings of the atmosphere yet? We need to know what it’s like outside. Although it does look inviting doesn’t it?†“Yes Ted, the readings look good. Air is good to breath. Almost perfect. There is only the smallest trace of any kind of pollution at all. And that I think is naturally occurring pollutants as we have on Newt. Carbon, sulfer, that sort of thing. Otherwise, it’s perfect. I see no need for environmental suits.†“Well then, let’s take a look. But just in case, I’m taking a sidearm with me.†“You won’t get any argument from me Ted.†The two men carefully opened the hatch to the outside world. As the hatch swung open, a slight odor of fragrance entered the lander. As though someone sprayed flowers into the opening. A slightly sweet smell which took both men by surprise. “Good Heavens Derik, you smell that?†“Unbelievable! Just unbelievable!†Daniels took the first cautious step out the hatch, holding the hand rail as his foot touched the surface. The ground pressed in only the slightest bit. Ted Daniels took in the view with fascination and awe. He thought as he was the only human to ever set foot on this patch of land. He had of course the largest smile he has ever had on his face. The Major watched as Ted Daniels walked ten feet from the lander and just stood there, taking it all in. Derik Danforth carefully stepped onto the soil and felt a tear well up in his eye. “My God Ted, will you look at that? It’s like a garden here. Flowers, plants, even trees. Do you think….†“No Derik, according to our reports there should be no animal life here at all. But look around, so far I’d say everyone was wrong about the Earth. Wouldn’t you agree?†“Exactly, no-one knew. And to tell you the truth, I’m glad that they all were wrong.†The two of them walked a few yards from the lander and took soil samples. Air samples and plant samples. The trees at the far end of the grassy field looked to be a type of pine. Tall and green with green needles. Daniels looked in a manual that told of the old Earth fauna and found that this part of the Midwest had a type of oak tree. So the pine looking trees had to have migrated from some other area over the past few hundred years. Then both men realized one thing that made them both stop dead in their tracks. Not a sound was heard. No birds, no insects. Total silence. Only a slight breeze was blowing. That they could tell by the gentle swaying of a few tall grasses. “Derik, take a sound sample while you’re at it would you? I want to see if the instruments can pick up any sounds from a distance. There has to be insects on the planet to have these flowers growing all over.†“You got it.†The Major took out a small instrument and started taking a sound reading of the area. The machine would be able to pick up sounds up to a mile away. It sampled, then distinguished between manmade and natural sounds. Then showed the sound readings on a screen which the Major could read. “Readings coming through now Ted. A few insects, some wind noises…..wait….it can’t be! Let me delete what I have and take another reading. I’m not believing what this thing is saying.†The Major deleted the information that the machine took and started another sound reading. This took almost a full two minutes. “Here it comes. Same thing, insects, natural sounds and…..yep, the machine picked it up again. Human sounds. Can’t tell if it’s voices or natural sounds. It’s not coming in clear enough.†“Distance to the human sounds?†“The reading shows almost five hundred yards.†“Okay, let’s go. Keep your sensor active. I want to know if it truly is human or just a glitch.†The two of them walked carefully toward the stand of trees. The forest had minimal undergrowth so the view into the forest was clear enough to see in case anything caught them by surprise. Into the forest were more plants with yellow flowers. Other small plants that held a type of red berry. Derik Danforth took samples of both flowers and berries. Not wanting to miss a single reading, he also took samples of the ground soil as he followed Ted Daniels. “Stop……listen……..hear that Derik?†“Hear what? I don’t hear anything……..wait a second, yes, I hear it. Sounds like a voice. But it can’t be, there isn’t any human life here. Not suppose to be at least.†They both knelt down and listened carefully. The sound sensor silently ticking away at recording it’s readings. The human voices sounded close now. Almost too close for comfort. “Listen, doesn’t sound like human does it? Sounds more like…..gibberish.†“Wait Ted, there. Hear it? Sounds like ‘who’. Someone is in there. Looking at us I know it.†“Okay, but what do you think we should do about it? I’m not ready to get in a panic over something, or someone we can’t even see.†Both men stood there for what seemed like hours. But it was only a few minutes. When out of no-where a shape appeared ahead of them. A human shape. Small, not threatening in any way. It almost seemed like a small child. “Ted, look. You see that?†“Shhhh, let’s not frighten it.†Ted Daniels slowly stood up. His five foot nine inch frame not menacing at all. He was hoping not to startle the creature that was slowly walking toward them. “Hello……I’m Ted Daniels….do you understand me?†The small human stopped advancing toward them. Then slowly started walking again. “Do not be afraid. We will not harm you. Do you understand me?†The small figure stopped only a few feet away from the two travelers. Very slowly a smile came across it’s face. “I unger stain you. I not abraid.†Derik Danforth stood up slowly. Not wanting to frighten the small human with his tall form, he smiled a wide smile. “Hello there, I’m Derik Danforth. Do you have a name?†“I nam is Nit. Com, I tak you to my hom.†Startled by the new find on the supposedly vacant Earth, the two men followed their new friend. After walking a hundred yards, the group came upon a small living area in a small clearing. There was one other human standing by what appeared to be a machine of some kind. “Sor! I bing stangers! No be abraid! The one they first met, Nit, called out to the other small human. It looked female. She smiled slightly and approached her mate and the two strangers. “Hello, I’m Ted. Do not be afraid of us. This is Derik. We are from a far away place.†“I be not abraid. You wecom here to are hom.†The two small humans spoke slightly broken English, but it could easily be understood what was being said. Derik took out a small bottle of sweet juice and offered it to the female, Sor. She hesitantly took the bottle and tried to open the lid. “Here, let me show you.†The Major opened the bottle and Sor cautiously took a small sip. Suddenly her smile grew large as her eyes. She swallowed the sweet drink and laughed loud. As she passed the bottle to her mate, Nit, he too started to laugh. The Captain and the Major felt a sudden peacefulness come upon them. “You know Ted, this is uncanny. It’s amazing to find these two here. In this place. On this planet. After all that has happened to the Earth and after all that we’ve been told about it. It doesn’t seem real.†“I know what you mean Derik. I’m finding a hard time believing it myself. We’ve got to report this. Although it will take a full day to get to Newt. Having to be bounced off of our main ship antennae.†Ted Daniels moved over to a clear area and began making his call to the stations on Newt. He sent a photo and readings of the two humans. After he sent the information, he stood there for a long moment. Taking in the sight of the two small humans that he just met. Feeling strange and at the same time feeling that he has been here all his life. The two people that are his new friends have given him hope that the Earth is healing itself. And he had to find out from these two little people if there were any others like them. He walked back to where the Major was laughing with Nit and Sor. “Tell me Nit, is there anyone else here? Anyone else like you and Sor?†Nit had to think for a minute. The captains words weren’t like his own. He had to put them together so he could understand. “Yes, ther is a few odders lik me and Sor†“Tell me then, are the others as peaceful as you and Sor?†“Peesfull?†Nit was unsure of what that word meant to him. He has never heard it before. “Yes, peaceful. That means, not mean or violent. Not a fighter.†“Oh, yes, al of us are peesfull. No fite ever. Not aloud.†“That’s good. Do you think that we could meet the others soon?†“Yes, you wil meet them sune. We slip now. Dark.†The Captain and the Major laid out their sleep pads and settled in for a restless sleep. Knowing that they soon would meet other humans kept them both awake for most of the night. The next morning, the four of them ate fruit that Nit had gathered. Then they all set out for a meeting with the other humans that inhabited the area. After about an hour of walking, the four of them came upon another clearing, this one a little larger than the one that Nit and Sor lived in. In the middle of the clearing was a larger living area. A hut which looked as if it was made of a composite material. Standing in a line were a few humans. One approached the Captain. “Hello, I am Jal, you might say that I’m the leader of this little group. Welcome to our home.†The small one named Jal seemed intelligent enough for Captain Daniels to begin asking a lot of questions. Major Danforth kept quiet. Almost as if he wanted to say something, but kept quiet just the same. “Hello Jal, my name is Ted Daniels, and this is my friend, Derik Danforth. We come in peace and mean you or your people no harm. We have many questions that we would like to ask you.†“Welcome Ted, welcome Derik. You are both welcome to our home. Please, sit. May I offer you drink? Something to eat perhaps?†“No thank you Jal, we’re fine.†The Captain seemed to want to get right to business. No drink, no food. Major Danforth tugged on the Captains arm and gestured toward the clearing. It seemed that he wanted to tell something to the Captain in private. They both stepped over to a clear area out of earshot from the small people. “Ted, I need to tell you something very important. I knew that there were people on Earth. I’ve known it long before we left Newt. You weren’t suppose to know until we arrived here. The higher-ups thought that your knowing would jeopardize the mission. I’m sorry Ted, but I had my orders.†“So, you kept this secret from me for four years? Now you tell me? It’s okay. Guess no harm done. We’re here and we have a job to do. Right?†“Thank you for understanding Ted. I wanted to tell you before we launched, but I couldn’t get the chance. Thanks.†The Captain and the Major walked back to where Jal was waiting. He had set drinks on a small table for the Captain and the Major. A blue drink of some kind. A fruit maybe. “Oh, good, thanks for the drink Jal, I am thirsty after all.†The captain took a careful sip of his drink. Then pulled away. “Magnificent Jal. This tastes like strong grapes! Delicious!†“Thank you Ted. We grow the grapes in the forest. At the beginning of the season we pick them and make the juice. Nothing stronger.†The two strangers and their new found friends talked well into the night and on into the next morning. Ted Daniels recorded voices and information to be returned to Newt. Derik Danforth took sample readings of the drinks and the food that Jal so graciously provided. All the information would then be returned to Newt to be analyzed and replicated in detail. Nothing would be left unanswered for the scientists that worried about the mission. Ted, Derik, Jal and the two that found the strangers walked for hours among the trees and plant life. Looking and recording information. Sor, the small female stayed close to Ted Daniels. She seemed to take a liking to his kindness and his humor. After three days with the little group of humans that Ted Daniels and Derik Danforth came upon, it was time for the two of them to take the lander and hover it across the landscape to see if they could find any remnants of the former humans that lived and built the cities and towns of the old Earth. It will be a major undertaking for the both of them. “We’ll return in two days Jal. We will leave a transmitter for your group so that we may communicate with each other while we are apart. It is very simple to use. Derik will show you how to use it.†“Thank you Ted, we will talk to you as you go on you journey. There is nothing to fear as you explore. There are no others to worry about.†As Derik showed Jal and a few of the others how to operate the transmitter, Sor came over to Ted Daniels and gave him a warm hug goodbye. She had a tear on her face as she said her farewells. “Sor, it’s okay, we’ll be back soon. Do not cry okay? Here, you can have my cross so you can remember me and when we return, you’ll be happy alright?†“Yes, I be appy. Not cry ok.†Sor smiled as she took the small cross that Ted handed to her. “Okay Derik! You ready to hit the road?†“Comin Ted, just finishing up here.†The two waved goodbye to the small group of people and walked off to rejoin their lander. A short walk now that they had moved it closer to the clearing where they spent the last three days. As they climbed into the lander, Ted took one last look toward the clearing where his new friends were. He will miss them. The lander took off slowly and moved eastward toward a set of rolling hills. Trees could be seen as far as the eyes could see. The hills were covered with green forests and grassy areas in small patches. As the lander moved over the hills, the sensors and recorders kept recording the views and the information that provided the men with a broader idea of the condition of the old Earth. It seemed so clean and pristine. “Derik, let’s check out the lake that is three miles to our south. Looks like a good source of fresh water and perhaps liquid life forms.†Slowly the lander hovered over a lake that covered nearly four square miles. From the lander the lake had a smooth surface. Not much wind creating turbulence. “There, let’s set down on that grassy bank.†The captain moved the lander and landed it on a small back of sand and grass that lead gently to the waters edge. Both men exited from the lander and took in a deep breath of fresh moist air. The odor of flowers still hung in the air. It seemed that the scent was everywhere they went. “Derik, take a water sample if you don’t mind. Let’s see what it has in it. Hopefully it’s fresh water and not acidic.†Major Danforth knelt down and retrieved a small water sample and placed it in the analyzer. Within seconds the readings came through. Fresh water with trace minerals. Drinkable water it was. “Looks good Ted. Almost better water than we have back home on Newt. No parasites, no pollution, no harmful algae. Near perfect.†“Excellent. Perfect then. I can’t be more pleased with those results.†“Any signs of life under the surface?†“Yes sir, abundant. From the sensor here, looks like there are some form of fish life in the waters depths. Can’t tell what kind of life, but it’s life nonetheless.†“Good. Okay, let’s continue east then.†Both men returned to the lander and headed east, over the hills. On the other side of the hills the land stretched out for miles. Gentle rolling hills, grassy fields, no signs of structures or any remnants of the civilization that once lived here many decades ago. The lander moved farther east until it came upon the once Atlantic Ocean. Now it was located where the once Atlanta, Georgia use to be. The land ended the same as it started on the west side. Grassy and clean. No sign of civilization anywhere. The Captain settled the lander on a level area of beach and both men walked out onto the sand. “Ted, I think this is it. This is all we’ll find. No other people, no signs of buildings, no roads anywhere. All our sensors have read the same since we landed here. Nothing, only a few people survived the end times of Earth. That’s it.†“You may be right Derik, nothing. But you know what? I’m glad that we made the trip. If those people that we befriended are the only ones left on Earth, then I’m happy. They are making it work. They are building the Earth back to what it should be. Peaceful, restful. The way it should be.†The two men decided to stay the night on the shore of the ‘Atlantic’ and return to the village of Jal in the morning, then start the return trip back to Newt, their own world. They both ate a good processed meal that night, sat back and studied the star field, then went to bed. They slept quietly. That is except for Ted Daniels. The next morning came, sunlight breaking over the eastern horizon. The sun shone brightly on the water. In the distance, the men could see some fish splashing in the water. And for once, they both saw a few birds flying over the water. Perhaps some form of sea gull. They cleaned up their camp area, loaded what they could into the lander then headed back to the village where they met their small friends. The lander made a more northern flight back to the village of Jal. The landscape was the same the more north that they went. Soft rolling hills, grassy fields. Here and there, they spotted what they thought were small huts of some sort. But they put it off as illusions. They were content to know that the first village that they came upon is the only one left on the Earth. Back at the village, Sor was eagerly awaiting her knew friends return. Captain Daniels made a real impression upon her innocent mind. He had made a lifetime friend and he didn’t know it yet. Jal was setting up an agricultural piece of equipment when he heard the slight hum of the lander returning to his village. “They return! They return! All come to welcome them!†Jal shouted to the rest of the group that had been doing various chores around the village. They all ran over to where the lander was slowly settling down in the clearing. Sor was holding a bunch of flowers to give to the two new friends in the lander. Captain Daniels and Major Danforth exited the lander amidst cheers and laughter. Sor ran over to both men and hugged them each as she handed them the flowers that she carefully picked. She gave a larger bunch to Ted Daniels to his surprise. “Hello everyone. Thank you for that very warm welcome once again. Thank you very much. We have returned to our new friends and I’d like to tell you that no-where in our travels have we found any danger or problems that you may encounter. The land to the east is pure and clean. The ocean on the east is beautiful.†Captain Daniels wasn’t telling the villagers everything. He had something on his mind that has been bothering him for a week now. Ever since he landed on the old Earth his thought has been rolling around in his mind. He has yet to inform the Major what it is. Jal, the village leader, led Ted and Derik to a small circle where food and drink awaited them. He motioned them to sit at the head. Jal sat on Deriks right hand and Sor sat close to Ted Daniels left. She was smiling wide. All the villagers were smiling wide as were their honored guests. “Everyone, please, eat and let us enjoy the stories that our new friends from the sky have to tell us. Good food and drink for all.†The Captain started to tell them what they had seen on the journey to the east. He was short and to the point. “First, let me thank you all for welcoming us back to your village. And we’d like to thank you for all this good food and drink.†Ted spoke carefully and softly so all the villagers could understand what he was saying. “We found a land of beauty and green. All the air is cleaner than where we came from. We say no other people like you. We saw a few birds. And the ocean on the east seems to be loaded with good fish. A food source if you are so inclined to travel the distance to the ocean. We saw what might have been other huts like yours. But we saw no other people like you. If there are more like you out there, they are very few. And I’m sure they are friendly as you have been to us.†“Major? Do you have anything that you’d like to tell our friends?†The Major stood up and started to tell the people what his sensors picked up and what he saw on the trip. “My friends. What I saw was as Ted said, all beautiful. All green and wonderful. You live in a fantastic world. You have given it life where no life should be. I’d just like to thank you for making my dream come true. My dream was meeting our ancestors. Thank you. And oh, your food is so good. It matches your personality.†With that, the Major sat down to cheers from the villagers. And one of the villagers passed Derik a small cup of sweet juice that tasted like wine. Jal stood up and lifted his cup. Offering a toast to his new friends. “Ted, Derik, thank you for finding us. We have known that someone from our past would show up and tell us that we are doing good. We have thought of ourselves as the caretakers of the Earth as we knew that someday, someone would return. Thank you.†Jal’s speech was a surprise to the Captain and the Major. As the meal lasted through the night, the two explorers grew tired and settled in for the night. It would be a sleepless night for Ted Daniels. The next morning the Major informed the villagers that it was time that they returned to their own world, Newt. It would take them a long time to get home and soon everyone on Newt would know about them and be pleased with what the villagers accomplished. “Well Ted, should we say our goodbyes?†“Very well, you’re right, time to go.†The two of them hugged their new friends. Handing out little mementos to each one of the villagers. Sor sat on a tree stump with tears in her eyes. Ted Daniels saw this and walked over to her. “Sor, don’t cry okay? It’s okay. I’ll be back. I promise. Let me see that lovely smile of yours.†Sor looked at him and smiled. She could not let him see her cry any longer. She knew it. “Ok Ted, I not cry mor. It ok.†The two men walked over to the lander. They both waved a final goodbye as they boarded the lander. Captain Daniels was the last to board. Captain Daniels reached out his hand to Major Danforth. “Derik, goodbye. You have all you need to get back to Newt. All the sensors have been downloaded into the mainframe. And the lander knows it’s way back to the main ship. You have enough supplies to get you home. I’m staying.†Major Danforth was in shock. He looked at the Captain in surprise. “Sir! You can’t stay here! What do I tell Chief back at the base? You can’t stay here!†“No, I’m staying. There’s nothing for me back on Newt. There’s the world here. This is where I belong. And Major, I’d really appreciate it if you would not tell anyone that there is life here. I don’t want a lot of tourists coming here and spoiling the beauty of the ‘new Earth’. Can you do that for me?†The major looked at his friend. Took his hand in his and shook it firmly. A tear rolled down his cheek as he said goodbye to the Captain. “I’ll tell them that you decided to stay sir. I’ll stay silent about our friends in the village. You got a deal. Are you going to be okay? You sure you know what you are doing?†“Yes, never been more sure in my life. You take care Derik. Thank you for bringing me here. I’m home now. Write when you find work.†With that he let out a laugh. Ted Daniels stepped out of the lander and walked back to the edge of the forest. Just in time to see the lander lift off of the surface and start it’s long homeward trip. Sor saw Ted standing there and ran over to him. Arms reaching for him. Tears rolling down her face. But these tears were tears of joy, not of sorrow. “You stay? You stay? Sor am so happy you stay.†They walked back to the little village to open arms and laughter. Ted Daniels is home. He is home again on his world. When Major Danforth returns to his world the officials will ask him what happened to Captain Daniels, what took him away from returning. The Major will reply……â€It was Earth†“It was Earth that kept the Captain.†My name is William P. Propsner I have written this story to satisfy my imagination. It is meant to spark your own imagination in filling in the blanks of some parts of the story. You’ll find that once you get your own imagination started, you will enjoy the ride. This is my very first ‘book’. My first story that I managed to get published. I fulfilled a dream. I set a mark and met that mark. If I make another story, I promise that it will be longer. I hope you enjoy this story. I enjoyed imagining it for you.