Chapter No.59. Bogus.

We ended up using the pods to create more comfortable chairs to allow us to sit in a den of sorts on the crew deck, and instead of making separate bedrooms, we installed curtains to make our bunks a bit more private. It wasn't all that much, but it did help make us feel more at home on a space vessel that was never designed as a normal human facility.

Natale and Bridget's ideas for the hangout on the agricultural deck were a bit more radical. They found an unused area and we gathered there to hear their plans for it.

Natale bent down and touch the surface. "This is grass. I don't know why it's here, but it's almost like Earth's grass. We found some deck chairs that are perfect for soaking up the rays."

I looked up at the lamps providing the light for crop growing. "Yeah, these lamps are like sunlight but without dangerous Ultraviolet. I doubt that you could get a tan with them."

Natale smiled. "That's alright. We just want to experience the effect of sunlight in our natural states."

Bridget pointed to spray bars that arched above the location. "We can feel the effects of artificial rain too."

Natale pointed to a row through corn stalks. "We can run through there feeling the dirt under our feet."

I approvingly shook my head. "That makes good sense." I really didn't want to criticize their efforts to create a modicum of normalcy.

When we arrived back on the crew deck, Janet and Sharon had a suggestion.

"Maybe we should go to Mars and see if there are people still living there," Sharon said.

I thought about it for a moment before replying. "That's a good idea. We might fine information about the exodus."

The engine-burn to go to Mars in two days required a half hour. During that time antimatter production was shut down to prevent any possibility of entering hyperspace.

We gathered in our new den for supper. The chairs were more comfortable, and it felt more like a family dinner rather than a fast food stop. Besides we could enjoy glasses of wine and have a more relaxed conversation.

"We tried out our new lounge area on the agricultural deck, sir," Natale informed me. "It's great."

"I can imagine. Hopefully, it helps you feel as if you're on a planet."

"We're oaky with living on this ship, sir," Bridget said. "There's one thing about this that makes it a satisfactory experience."

"Oh, and what's that?"

"We have the opportunity to explore the universe, to go where not too many have gone before. If we had stayed on Earth, we would probably have died early on."

"We also like the fact that you're our captain," Natale said. "You actually care about us. We never had anyone do that."

I exchanged glances with Kali before turning back to them. "I appreciate that. Your expertise and knowledge have been critical to our survival. Together, we are successful and still alive."

"We agree with them, sir," Janet said. "We're reconciled to living on this ship."

"If we can find a suitable planet or moon, we could at least enjoy it, assuming it doesn't have any threats."

That seemed to satisfy them, but I had no way to understand what they were actually thinking. Any man who claims he knows what women think is delusional at best.

We arrived in Mars orbit and settled down to scanning the planet for any possible life. After a few orbits around the planet, Janet and Sharon had something to report.

"We're picking up several infrared signals from Hellas Planitia near the underground colony that was here the last time we visited Mars," Sharon said.

I turned to Kali. Looks like we have to go down there."

"I'm ready," she said tightening her jaw.

"Do you need me, sir?" Bridget asked.

"I don't think so. If there are people down there, they're human and probably survivors."

She nodded her acceptance.

The trip down was uneventful. We landed near the entrance, which seemed larger than I remembered, another possible sign that this was not the timeline we were in when we visited it the last time.

Kali and I got into soft space suits that provided air to breath and temperature control. We both decided to strap laser rifles onto our backs just in case. As we walked across the surface to the entrance, we stayed alert for any possible attack, but none came.

The entrance was unlocked, which I thought was unusual. We descended a flight of stairs to the passageway below. Lights came on to allow us to see where we were going as we walked back into what must have been a volcanic tube. Humans needed to live underground on Mars to avoid the continuous viscous solar radiation bombardment.

We entered a door to an atmospheric lock that added oxygen and brought the pressure up to Earth levels. The inner door opened to a vast underground complex that consisted of many habitats and other structures as well as pumping stations and power relays from above ground solar cells.

And to our surprise many people were there. They were wearing simple clothing consisting of pants and shirts as well as sandals. They varied in ages from childhood to seniors, which indicated that they were never in hyperspace.

They gathered around us and seemed cool, calm and collected.

"Who are you," an older woman asked.

"We're the survivors from three expeditions to Proxima-b. There's only six of us left.

"When were these expeditions?"

"They launched in the mid twenty first century."

"We're in the twenty third century!"

"Yes, we know. It's because we've been in hyperspace, which causes our time to stop relative to the rest of the galaxy."

"How many of you live here?" Kali asked.

"We number one thousand and fifty-five."

"Did any of your people return to Earth?"

"Our ancestors say that many left in the time of crisis."

"How long ago did that happen?"

"It is at least two Earth centuries. No one is certain of the exact time."

"What sort of crisis are you referring to?" I asked.

"We were told it was political argument. The details are not precise."

"Is your situation here stable now?"

"Yes. We have adjusted to our situation here."

"Thank you for the information. We will monitor space for possible asteroid collisions. We have the means to divert them from a collision."

"We appreciate that," she said.

They showed us around at what they had created underground in an ancient lava tube. It was the perfect place for living on Mars. Most of the structures they had created consisted of what appeared to be a cement created from Mar's rocks and plastic. They really didn't need elaborate habitats. The air temperature was ideal and there were no storms down in a lava tube.

We left the underground compound and hurried to our shuttle. A dust storm was approaching, which would make finding the shuttle and taking off difficult.

We made it just in time and returned to the ship to join the others at the command station. That's when I decided to express my opinion about our status.

"There's over a thousand humans living there, which means that we are not in the timeline we were in when we came here before. This timeline is very close to that one. As far as I am concerned, it's close enough."

"It also means that aliens didn't come and abduct them," Janet said.

"It also means that the humans on Earth now were Martians," I said.

"It's a crazy universe, sir," Natale said with a smile. "We are truly lost in space."

"It's more like lost in time."

"So, what are we going to do now that we've settled all of that?" Sharon asked.

"We're not done with exploring. We should go back to the planet where angelic aliens took humans. If they aren't there, it'll be verification that we're not in the same timeline we were when we came back to Earth the first time."

"What about us?" Bridget asked.

"Keep working on the quantum physics that explains hyperspace. We need to know what it has done to us."

She squinched her face. "We're not Einstein's, sir."

"You're way better than Einstein."

She laughed. "You're a comedian, sir."

"I've been called worse."

They all laughed.

The get-to-gather ended and Kali and I headed to the engineering deck to make sure we were in good shape for a trip to the alien abductor's planet.

"I found something you should see," Kali said with a sly grin.

"What?"

"It would be better if I show you."

I looked at her with a subtle smile on my lips. What she showed me changed everything.