The Sons of Mars

By Christopher Jackson

When research scientist Darien Howton's closely guarded secret is discovered by a murderous cult led by one of the most beloved figures in American history, he unwittingly becomes the missing piece in a bizarre puzzle.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christopher Jackson
• Release date: Feb 13, 2010
• ISBN: 9781452348063

Christopher Jackson

Dr. Jackson is a senior resident in Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins. He obtained his MD from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He completed his chief residency in June 2018 and is currently working as a postdoctoral fellow in neuro-oncology. His research interests focus on interactions between brain tumors and the host immune system, particularly local, regional, and systemic mechanisms of immune suppression

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The Sons of Mars

By

Christopher A. Jackson

Copyright © 2015 Christopher Jackson

All rights reserved.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

CHAPTER 1

It was a cold damp night and Dr. Darien Howton was still awake, lying in his bed unable to sleep. Earlier that afternoon, he had attended his mother, Alice’s funeral. Although Darien loved Alice, he had not spoken to her since their falling out. Darien was angry with his mother because of the way she treated Lauren, his girlfriend at the time. Alice never liked Lauren and she made her feelings about her known to everyone, in particular, Darien. He had gotten tired of her always putting Lauren down. The friction put a serious strain on their relationship and it got to the point where Darien had to choose Lauren over his mother. Darien and Lauren eventually got married and moved away to St. Louis, Missouri, where he worked as a medical researcher with the bio tech firm Fonwood Research Technologies.

When Darien severed his ties with Alice it really broke her heart. They had always been so close. It used to be the three of them; Alice, Darien, and his dad JC, who had been a hard-working diesel mechanic. They lived in a small town called Four Corners, Texas. JC was a good man and a good provider. He made sure that his beloved wife, Alice, and the apple of his eye Darien, did not want for anything. There was a lot of love in the Howton home — until the night when JC woke up during the middle of the night with chest pains. JC being a man who didn’t like doctors, told Alice not to worry, it was just a little gas. I’ll be alright, he said. But he wasn’t. JC was having a heart attack, and by the time the ambulance arrived, it was too late. He had already died.

Alice was devastated by her loss to the point that she fell ill. It was as if she was wasting away. Her once youthful appearance faded and she lost the will to live. She spent days and night crying, mourning the death of JC. After seeing the effect she was having on Darien, Alice knew she couldn’t go on grieving for her beloved JC. She knew that she had to pull herself together for the sake of Darien. So despite grieving for JC, Alice began to search for the will to live and she found it in her son, Darien. Alice began to focus on raising Darien. She dried her tears, got back her zest for life, and with that, her youthful appearance returned.

JC had been the sole provider for the family so after he died, the family fell on hard times. Alice began to look for work and she eventually found a job as a grocery store cashier. Alice worked very hard at the store, taking double shifts so she could provide for herself and Darien. She also worked a part-time job at the local credit union and she used that extra money to open a savings account so Darien could go to college. Alice went to work at both jobs every day and when she wasn’t working, she was spending all her available time with Darien.

In those days it was hard for a woman to raise a child by herself because of the lack of opportunities for women, but somehow Alice pulled it off. Things started looking up for Alice and Darien. After all they had gone through, they were able to come out on the other side together and their small family grew stronger. Darien grew up with all the love a parent could give a child. They grew closer because of her dedication.

Darien grew older and became a teenager. Alice thought that Darien was old enough to know the truth about the secret she and JC had been keeping from him. The secret had affected the both of them, a secret that she had been keeping from him since birth. The secret was that she and Darien had a special gift. The gift was very complicated, and both Alice and JC had agreed that it was best that they waited until Darien got older. When JC died, Alice almost told him about his special gift but she decided to wait, fearing that knowledge of his gift would be too much for Darien absorb at the time.

Now, in his teenage years, it was time for Alice to tell Darien the truth about why he was so special. One day Alice got the nerve to tell Darien while he was getting ready to go to football practice. Alice knew that Darien was now growing up so she figured that he was old enough to be told the secret she had been keeping. Before Darien left to go to practice, Alice stopped him and told him that they had to talk.

Alice faced him in the garage as he was putting his practice gear together and took a deep breath. Okay, what I have to tell you is the truth, and it is not some crazy made up story.

She looked at his curious face and managed a smile. You might want to sit down for this one.

Darien was curious as to what was so important for them to talk about, so he sat down on the old stool that his dad had sat on when he was working in the garage. Alice tried to think of a way to tell him but after realizing that there was no easy way she just blurted it out. For starters I have been lying to you about my actual age. I am not really forty two; I am actually one hundred and fifty-seven years old.

Darien kept his expression neutral. Great, he thought bleakly. Now my mother has lost her mind.

He gave her a skeptical look as reached for his gear again. That was what you wanted to say to me? Come on, Mom, nobody lives to be that old!

Alice tried in vain to convince him that she was actually telling the truth, but Darien was not buying it. He was just sure his mother was having some kind of breakdown. Alice knew if he did not believe the truth about her actual age, then he would never believe what else she had to tell him. She was going to have to show Darien to make him believe. Alice told Darien to follow her into the kitchen; she had something to show him. Trying to humor her, not sure what else he should do, Darien followed her into the kitchen. Alice told Darien to have a seat. Darien, still trying to humor his mother, sat down at the kitchen table. She gave him a steady look. This is not a magic trick, it's very real. She reached for the meat cleaver in the knife block, and to Darien’s, horror she took a whack and cut off her hand. Darien leaped to his feet, his hand over his mouth as her blood spurted. Mom are you crazy! he yelled.

He charged for the phone to call for help, but Alice grabbed his arm with her good hand. I’m alright, she said calmly.

To Darien’s amazement, Alice did not appear to be in any pain. Numbly he stood there as she picked up her severed hand and held it against her wrist. The cuts healed instantly and her hand was totally restored. Darien started to shake. Alice asked a stunned Darien, Do you believe me now?

Darien still shocked by what he saw just nodded, unable to speak. Finally, he stammered, What are you, some kind of alien?

No. Alice gave him a crooked smile. I'm just as human as you everybody else. Alice told Darien that she did not know why she was like that, and there was no medical term for it. She simply called it the gift. He had no reason to be afraid of her. Now that she had his full attention, Alice was able to tell Darien in detail about her special gift and how she really was a hundred and fifty seven years of age. Although she didn't know for sure, she assumed that she could live as long as she wanted to live. Darien's friends had always wondered how his mother was able to maintain her youthful appearance so that she looked as if she was still in her twenties. Alice never talked about her age, not even on her birthday, and Darien had just figured that she was in her forties or early fifties. He nodded slowly. Is that the reason why you look so young?

That’s one of the perks of the gift, you can maintain a youthful appearance. She nodded.

Where did the gift come from? He was still eying his mother a bit cautiously.

Alice told him that she got it from her mother. Darien was confused because his grandmother was dead and if she had died, then how could she have it? I thought you couldn't die?

Alice shook her head. I told you I could live as long as I wanted to but if I give up on life then that’s when I will die. And she looked away, not wanting to admit that she had almost down that, when JC had died. Let me put it this way said Alice, as long as I have a desire to live then I will live.

She went on to tell Darien the story of his grandmother’s life and how she fell in love and got married to his grandfather. Alice told Darien that his grandfather died fighting in the Civil War . When his grandmother received news of his death, she sank into a deep depression and it was not long before she died. She warned me before she died, not to fall in love with anyone, because when they die and leave you all alone and if you don’t learn to move on, then you could give up on life, and risk dying.

Alice went on to tell Darien that her mother tried to protect herself by not falling in love with anyone or even getting too attached to anybody for that matter. They always leave one way or another. she had said over and over.

But despite all her attempts not to get too close to anyone, she met her husband your grandfather, whom she fell in love with. He was the love of her life. After pushing him away for a long time, his persistence wore her down and she finally gave in and fell in love. She and Father got married and they lived in complete marital bliss for over fifteen years. They loved each more and more each day. Alice sighed deeply. When he died Mother missed him so much that she just wanted to go and be with him. Mother purposely gave up on living and died so she could be with her one true love. She left me all alone to be raised in an orphanage.

That was why you got so sick after dad died? Light was dawning in Darien's eyes.

That was the reason, but you were the reason I had the will to live. She kissed him gently on the forehead. I was able to move on and raise you.

Alice told Darien that she couldn’t leave him like her mother had left her and have him raised in some orphanage the way she had been. I couldn’t do that to you, so when JC died, though I really wanted to go with him, I couldn’t leave you alone in this world; I loved you too much to do that to you.

Darien looked at Alice. Had he inherited the gift? How would it be