Sun from Another World: Final Scene

By Jaime Santamaría

Year 2854, the Earth leaves the dark centuries that followed a pandemic that decimated humanity. The space race has finally resumed. After graduating as a space pilot, Michael Smith begins a trip to Mars on a rescue mission ignoring that route will take him to the Bidena Galaxy. There, the human race has restarted an ancestral conflict in which our protagonist will be immersed.
Michael, guided by the beautiful Judith and the faithful Lanark, will discover the planet Dhrima and prepare the way to reach Nadin, central planet of the Empire, now threatened by the Eutos, the banished of the Battle of Magento who claim revenge on this Sun from Another World.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BadPress
• Release date: Apr 12, 2020
• ISBN: 9781071536001

Book preview

JAIME SANTAMARÍA DE LA TORRE

Sol de otro mundo

® Jaime Santamaría de la Torre, 2005, 2017

Inside Maps: ® Manuel Calderón Guerra (about the original idea of Jaime Santamaría de la Torre)

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Jaime Santamaría (1971) was born in Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain. His writing clearly reflects the influence of the twentieth century and dreams come true in the twenty-first century. When his time allows, he likes to travel around the world. He collaborates in the Area of Literature of Fantasymundo.com and has been editor in the monthly magazine Scifiworld. In 2007 he participated in several television programs dealing with issues related to Science Fiction. The article Next stop: Mars obtained the second place in the category of Article of the 1st International Award of Electronic publishers.

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http://galaxiabidena.es.tl

http://www.youtube.com/LanarkMcKlaor

MAP OF IMPERIAL SOLAR SYSTEMS

FIRST PART

­­­CHAPTER 1

Wake up, Bobby! Hurry up or we’ll be late. Don’t forget to grab a jacket, its cold! I will wait for you outside with the horses.

The boy was being lazy between the sheets while his uncle was waking him up. Then, he remembered clearly of what he and his uncle had planned the previous day. While rubbing his eyes that were itchy because of the sleepiness, he asked excited:

Is it dawn yet?

No, not yet, but we should run if you don’t want us to miss it.

Michael had promised his nephew that in that morning he would take him to watch the dawn. It was still night when Bobby excited came out of the farm running. While riding his pony, helped by his uncle Michael, Chuck started to bark at them.

Shut up, Chuck, Bobby said. You are going to wake up the whole world. We will be right back.

They started to gallop heading the closest path. The horizon started to clear and even though you could tell it would be a sunny day of spring, this morning was especially cool. The horses quickly graved the pace while going through the fields covered by the morning dew.

They noticed the caress of the salty breeze that moved the unmistakable aroma of the nearby sea. They dismounted and left the horses grazing freely by the height they had reached. Bobby and Michael walked a few steps till the end of the ridge and observed the waves crashing in the shore. From there you could clearly see the hills ending and fell in precipitous walls of stone.

At the bottom there was a small beach to where they had gone down of previous days to bathe and stroll. Michael addressed Bobby and said to him:

My father brought me here when I was little as I have done with you. Then, we remained in silence and watched this wonder. I want you and me to do the same thing. Look at it, the sun is starting to rise.

Slowly a great yellow ball started to elevate through the thin line of the horizon covering everything with its light. The reflection of the beams crossed the sea quickly until the celestial body raised majestic in its faithful daily ascent. Bobby watched amazed the awakening of that day revealing before his eyes. Hundreds of doves plowing through the air filling it with their cawing while throwing themselves into the sea for the fishes that formed their morning snack. The air turned warmer and new air blew in their faces. A multitude of nests revealed their hiding places amongst the flower bunches and bushes scattered between the wild cliffs. In a few minutes more birds added themselves in frantic and impossible flights, which amazed Bobby. Behind them, the horses neighed to make notice that they were also participating in that explosion of life.

Wow! What a thing! Bobby remarked amazed.

Indeed, it is. I used to say the same thing to your grandfather when I came with him. But the best part is that this scene has repeated itself for millions of years and always with beauty that leaves us without speech. Well, come on, we have to leave. In the farm they are probably awake and you don’t want us to miss breakfast. This ride has awakened my appetite.

Mine too. I hope that mother makes the cakes we had yesterday. They were really good.

Both riders started their way back home after watching that fabulous dawn. A new day had started in the small planet Earth while, far away from there, millions of suns started their journey through the skies of many other worlds.

It was the year 2854. In those days Michael was in the family farm where his mother lived, Helen Smith. She had established her home after the disappearance of her husband, Tom. Helen was a biologist, specialized on growing crops on board space stations. After her retirement, she had devoted her body and soul in the little experimental botanical garden she had created, avoiding herself in the laboratory for hours immersed in test tubes and microscopes. Likewise, she was in Teresa’s house, Michael’s sister, married to a really important nuclear physician. The marriage and her son, Bobby, had added to the family reunion taking a few days of rest all together, something more often.

Michael was twenty-nine years old. With his studies in space engineering finished, he chose to specialize as a pilot, bragging about his outstanding abilities. After four years in the aerospace academy of Portlock, Michael had forged a well-deserved fame and went in the section of space navigation. He had inherited the green eyes and brown hair of his mother as well as the wish for traveling in space as his parents before him.

I see that you woke up early Helen said discovering them entering the kitchen.

Yes, grandma Bobby yelled really enthusiastic. It has been great that uncle Michael took me to the Cliff to watch the dawn.

That seems really good; now go wash your hands and come have breakfast. Your mother has made those filled cakes with cream that you really like Helen loved to be hostess to her children.

All of them had breakfast except Harry, Teresa’s husband, who after waving hello and drinking a glass of milk, grabbed a bowl of fruits and locked himself in one of the guests’ rooms with his laptop. Despite Teresa insisting that he took some small vacations, he continued working in a Project he had between his hands for the zone of South Africa. In that moment Mark came in, the master of the farm.

Good morning family. I bring you some fresh honey that I have just picked up from the hives. I figured you would like it with breakfast.

Thank you very much, Mark. Go on, sit down and have breakfast with us. You have to try the cakes that Teresa has made for us Helen offered.

I would not miss them for the world. He thanked while scaring away a stubborn bee that had followed him from the hives.

Mark had taught Bobby to ride the pony and the boy was enjoying some wonderful days in the countryside before they had to go back to the city.

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That day Helen seized the opportunity to take her grandson to the greenhouse, full of plants and flowers of all sizes and imaginable colors. She explained the basics of botany in a fantastic sample of vegetation that she took care of and perfected it with a precious Eden’s garden.

See, Bobby, plants are an instrument of nature. They breathe like us with the difference that they take carbon dioxide in the air and transform it into oxygen, vital for us to live breathing through our lungs.

So, this garden is like a lung, isn´t it, grandma?

That it is, Bobby, but in a smaller scale. Biggest are the jungles and the forests that we try hard to maintain.

They kept walking calmly through the Green House while Bobby explored with close attention.

Hey grandma, what was the Sentence?

Helen was surprised by the question given the short age of her grandchild, but kids are kids. He had already forgotten about it.

Honey, where did you hear it?

Our teacher explained to us that we live in 2854, in the New Era. The «New Era» started after the Sentence. Something that men would never forget and that she would explain to us later.

She was right. Let’s go outside and I will explain.

They both went out and sat in a terrace in front of some big cactus that had been obtained after an experimental crop in space. Next to them there was a small artificial water tank that kept a submarine sample of life. It was when they finally settled and the watering system finally activated automatically that Grandma Helen started the story, trying to explain to her grandson that dark part of history of humanity.

Everything started around the year 2098. Earth in that time was different of what we know today. It was divided in states and countries, even though its maps and borders in some parts of the globe changed due to war and conflicts. The shadow of a great atomic war sieved for years, but never happened. Still, there were lots of permanent confrontations. On the other side, there was the pollution problem. Despite some attempts, the true thing was that pollution, the waste and the deterioration of the planet was there, even with the great development that existed in aspects like medicine and scientific of the third millennium. However, the population grew and it was overpopulating the planet in the most depressed zones despite familiar policies and sterilizing vaccines while the prosper society aged. You will have to add the enormous existing divisions. Bobby listened attentively, even with the intention to intervene his grandmother because of a term that he did not understand at all."

People were starving, misery, and war. The main cities grew and most of them were out of control from the authorities, turning in some cases in completely anarchic places. Revolutions blew everywhere seeming to have reached a certain point in which men were the enemy. It was as it had fallen prisoner of ambitions and pride. The whole system crumbled trying to survive in the new emerged order. At the same time, in a paradox, the expansion to space was longed for and even some had been explored, meanwhile in the house problems were getting out of hand Helen made a small pause and continued. Soon two sides emerged that could be observed everywhere; on one side, the homeless without a home, the outcasts. On the other side, the rich and beneficiated with a development that only belong to a few. Humanity was going to an unavoidable global confrontation.

And, what happened? Bobby interrupted. The poor stirred up so that everybody was the same, right? Helen smiled tender, showing few wrinkles in her face.

It was not as simple as you think. This type of differences had happened throughout all history, one way or another. The events happened on an expected way.

Helen started the second part of her story with Bobby’s expectation.

There have been all kinds of epidemics, diseases and plagues throughout the existence of the human beings. Hundreds of diseases that within time were found a cure or men simply dealt with them with resignation. It was 2098 when the first deaths happened. That was not a plague, or a type of cancer or immune deficiency that was something to worry about in that time. It was just death, a scourge, a plague which was never clarified. It started, just as I told you, with a few deadly cases. People that died after a period in which the muscles were paralyzed little by little, loss of appetite, and a spine pain took all over the weakened body and after a painful agony the patient passed twisting in pain and internal bleeding, begging for the end of that torture. The last dark sunken looked in the sockets of the bruised eyes of the patient overwhelming the doctors, reflecting the size of that cruel death.

Bobby opened his eyes with the dark words from her grandmother.

First there were a few in the none developed zones, and then the disease met cases all over the world. That unknown disease provoked by a dark virus started to be daily news, impenetrable, lethal, once contracted it was certain death. You see there was no knowledge about it. What was confirmed was that it was not motivated by some kind of radiation, intentional escape or by mutation from an experiment that failed in some secret military or scientific facility. However, that is why the quick development started. The cases, that were counted as isolated victims even tough numerous, changed to dozens and hundreds of deaths. The bodies were incinerated as it was done with normal corpses, but soon special incinerators had to be built to an industrial scale because of the growth of casualties that by then were counted by thousands. Consequences were joining together in what seemed to be the epidemic of the century and to which men were helpless and defenseless. A third of the world population was affected with the first wave and an important number of labors disappeared despite the deep existing mechanization. The number of people capable of making the economic and social system started to fall.

How did all that finished, grandma?

With the great final blow. Everywhere, in all the houses, in all the families. The pain and tragedy flooded everything. There was no one that didn’t lose a father or a son, a sister or another sibling. Husbands, friends, enemies, governors, soldiers, elders, children, grownups... The plague took it all that extended escorted by laments, only living in fear knowing that one day you would get the first symptoms that let you know that you were sentenced, with nothing more than waiting for the terrible outcome. You could only see the smoke columns from the incinerators flooding the horizon. The cities started to lose inhabitants, deserted, inconsolable. The survivors were not enough to take care of the death and their bodies were rotting without remission scattered all over the planet devoured by the animals which seem not to be affected by this epidemic. There was no order or system since there was no one to hold on to it.

Helen, after a short pause, proceeded:

Here is the balance; after a nightmare century the holocaust seemed to be finished. It is estimated that a hundred and fifty million people survived to the stated sentence. Was it a selection of the strongest? Nobody would ever know the divine criteria used for such selection. The survivors were scattered all over the world like dormant specters in the middle of that desolated in this scenario. Men guided by an ancestral instinct went back to its origins moving away from everything they had created for centuries of what was unstoppable progress.

However, we are here and we do not live in that primitive state. What happened to humanity?

Calm down, now I will tell you the outcome.

Helen started the las part of her story.

It seemed that the Earth was death and it was only inhabited by wondering souls of men that meditated over their past, assimilating their present and facing the future. There were four centuries of lethargy, of fallow, but for rebirth. Earth took advantage to regenerate itself mainly from the damage suffered by those past years, and it was that humanity, the chosen ones, the one that took advantage of that period to rethink and learn from this warning. Furthermore, tell you that the knowledge was kept and passed on during those generations. Men had climbed another step in their evolution and started a new stage of the history being forged. The human race little by little grew with these new generations. They started to gather and create bigger communities. Everything that was created for destruction or inequity was buried taking advantage everything positive. Without having a perfect world, we have done everything possible to improve it. Finally, it was like that little by little that men woke up again. Taught a lesson, learned again a new system and started the New Era, until nowadays.

Oh, my Gosh! It was never known where the disease came from?

No, never. It was a dark spot in the microscopes. A spot that turned into a stain and expanded more and more... I repeat that it did not make men perfect. We have the problems that come with living in society and the nature of the human being, but now we move encouraged in another way and Earth will not be the same. Bobby, you learn this too. We have to respect as our fellow and the Earth as a cradle of our origin and a place that gives us life. Never forget it; this new order is vital for our existence.

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This time the whole family got together for lunch. Harry described the project that he was working with: A powerful reactor that would produce light and heat using deuterium and tritium atoms, abundant on Earth. South Africa would be the chosen place for the construction, saying Teresa that they might soon know the costumes of the Zulus.

On the other hand, Michael was asked a lot of questions about his new destination and if he will soon be sent to one of the big space stations close to Earth. Michael could not hide the desire that this would be the case. I have felt what traveling in space was in close trips to the Earth’s orbit.

It was in the middle of supper when one of the screens of the dining room showed Mark announcing that a member of the ICS had arrived with a message for Michael.

"Someone from the International Confederation for Space with a message when they could just transmit it? It must be important. Michael said thoughtfully while he got up. Set it right, Mark. I will be right there."

Michael walked to the assembly hall. This was comfortably decorated with wicker furniture with clear wooden ornaments. In front of the big windows that led to the rest of the farm there was a Sargent from the ICS, who addressed Michael with a light smile watching him come in.

Good afternoon, Lieutenant Smith. I am sergeant Williams. I am sorry to bother you during your holidays. I have been recommended to get in touch with you. These are orders from the main command headquarters in Europe.

The world in this time is divided in International Communities that basically contain each of the traditional continents, which are divided in different Regionals Departments, which facilitate the government. The five great communities were a part of ICS, and it had gained a lot of relevance because of the profound space development in the last century. Its main headquarters were located in London.

Please, sit down sergeant Williams. Would you care for a drink?

No, thanks. I was offered some juice when I arrived The Sargent answered politely. Both of them sat.

So, if you would be so kind to explain the reason for this visit.

I was sent by the ICS high command and I have orders to communicate you that your presence is required before the superior council. I will travel with you and will give you more information on our way to London. At the moment I am not authorized to tell you more. But we must leave as soon as possible. I have a plane ready to depart tonight in the areal base of Linbick.

Well, I see that everything has been foreseen and that I will have to cancel my holidays. Well, allow me to prepare my fare well to my family before we leave.

Do it. Your trip can be long.

CHAPTER 2

At 08.00PM Michael took off in the jet of the ICS in a supersonic flight on its way to London. The farm was left behind, saying good bye to his keen and the doubt hidden behind the rushed summon. The only certain thing was the darkness outside while he traveled to the speed of sound.

The American Coast was left behind him and William occupied a small office in the plane. The sergeant extracted from his binder a small digital cell that was given to Michael, who introduced it in a laptop. A sensor read his retina and the file executed. On the screen there was a heading that showed a confidential file from ICS. A greeting urged Lieutenant Michael Smith to read the report before presenting himself before General Ryan. The screen erased and a name and a code corresponding to the report appeared. There was a nut in his throat with the surprise. It was the MARS REPORT D45. For Michael it was remembering a story that unfortunately he already knew.

The MARS REPORT D45 contained the data referee to the facts happened on 2845, nine years ago. There was a detailed description of how the ship Star had been part of one of the missions sent to the planet Mars, with the order to join the space station in orbit of such planet. Project: advanced research for a possible initiation of excavations like it was done on the moon before.

Chemical treatments had revolutionized the mining world. As leader of the crew of the ship that should join the station was Tom J. Smith, captain of the expedition and doctor in Physics and Math. Next to him, was his wife Helen Smith. The trip to Mars II happened with no incidents, transporting water and other components that would replace the vital systems of the station; likewise, they carried the latest technology added to the station to receive the future convoys. The crucial events happened the day that a small exploration ship, at the command of Captain Tom Smith and a crew of three men, was heading to observe one of the satellites of Mars and carry out measuring and other routine experiments. The ship communicated with the station perfectly. However, everything happened in an instant.  The broadcast was suddenly cut and the ship disappeared. Nothing, literally there was nothing there where minutes ago a ship was located. It had been swollen by space. Even with all the investigations done nothing was ever known from the exploring ship and its whereabouts despite the detailed tracking carried out afterwards. That disappearance was incredible because of the impossible justification. There were thousands of reactions regarding the matter. The most outrageous minds even speculated with the possibility that it could have been a beam coming from the Martian surface the cause of disintegration. The result was that everything was that all project related to Mars were stopped until a convincing explanation was found. A great part of the human community from Mars II returned to Earth before the possibility that the station itself would disappear too. A change was considered, necessary on the other hand, leaving there only the minimum maintenance equipment. With them Dr. Smith returned. The Smith couple, not knowing what was about to happen, they had been excited about this opportunity to travel to Mars. However, this was a trip that would take them away from Earth for five years. They wished to come back soon since they were parents to two kids, even though that would give them the opportunity to have a unique experience for their carriers. Michael’s father had insisted to go because this represented something unique in history of the space exploration. All the couple’s plans had been stopped with the disappearance of Tom.

The MARS REPORT D45 stated the fact that nothing was ever heard of that small exploring ship and its crew. Project Mars was frozen. The words «END OF THE REPORT» was the last image to appear. At that moment everyone was informed that they would land on Earth in a few minutes and that they should go back to their sits. From there they took the subway that would transport them directly to the headquarters of the ICS.

The heart of London, Westminster, that in another time would have been the official center, was home of an imposing building surrounded by smaller structures between gardens carefully arranged creating a luxurious complex of the Central Head Quarters of the ICS in Europe. The architecture combined with the modern tendencies of classic buildings that still stood in the city as a simple of previous centuries.

When the tour was finished, they went up the complex and passed the established security controls. Once inside, Williams said good bye to him wishing him good luck. Later on, Michael was escorted by a lady, pointing out a room where he could settle down. There was a small classic residence that welcomed whoever needed it for a few days in the complex and did not want to go to a hotel. The room was practical and comfortable.

The stewardess began:

At 12.30 PM you must present yourselves before General Ryan, even though they will come get you. Now you can rest if you wish or visit the facilities. If you need anything do not hesitate in letting the person in charge know. I hope you enjoy your stay here with us.

Having said this, she left. Michael, before the automatic, scrupulous and formal manners, doubted if she was a robot.

Michael took a shower, took a short nap and after that put on the blue uniform that identified him as a pilot with the rank of lieutenant. Searched the TV for the internal channel of the complex where the current situations of the missions in charge of the ICS. Later on, he headed to the restaurant that was located in that sector that was practically empty at that time. He had coffee with milk and a couple of sandwiches. Back to his room he was being waited to be escorted.

They went down to a lower level where a conveying belt took them to the main building. Once there they walked to the elevators and, after a new identification control, they took an elevator which had yellow and black letters that indicated that it would take them to the Control Command Zone.

Went up the last floors; a voice coming from the intercom announced that it was the 45th floor, level 3. Once outside the elevator, they went through the halls full of life. An abundance of personal, officers and authorities were walking in the offices. Millions of data coming from every corner in the world overwhelmed the environment. When they arrived to their destiny, the escort disappeared and the personal secretary of General Ryan indicated Michael:

Come in, Mr. Smith, you are being expected.

Are they? Michael asked himself.

After the automatic doors opened, he came in.

Indeed, once inside the luxurious office, he could identify General Ryan siting behind his desk and in front of him another person that he could not recognize. General Ryan was around fifty-six years old and had been a friend of his father since childhood. Now he was in the high command of the ICS.

Boy, so long without seeing you! Come here and let me give you a hug! I hope you had a good trip and that they had given you the correct accommodations the general greeted him friendly when he got up to greet him. How is your mother? I have not seen her since she came back four years ago. And, how is your sister? I hope that everyone is well. I have to find a moment to visit Helen. I am sorry I could not see your father more frequently before disappearing, but the truth is that he became a workaholic. I believe that if he had returned, he would have been given the Nobel Prize.

Yes. Everybody is fine. The trip was perfect. Thank you. Michael answered, who was thinking about the comment, it was true; his father had changed lately, locking himself too much in his studies not having contact with anyone. As a matter of fact, it was him who convinced his reluctant mother to go to Mars.

Come, I’ll introduce you to captain McGreen.

The captain shook Michael’s hand firmly. He was a little bit older than him; he had his hair shaven and he was quite bulky.

Good morning, lieutenant. I am happy you had a good trip. I am sorry that London greeted you with such a greyish day.

Even though today was not raining, from the huge windows of the office you could see puffy clouds closing to the city. The ancient Big Ben could be seen from the bank of Thames River, whose tones still told the time.

After the obligated greetings, General Ryan proposed to start the meeting.

Alright gentleman, we do not have much time, so it would be best if we take a sit and we take care of the business that brought us here. I imagine that Michael should be impatient to know why he was brought here.

Yes, indeed. Particularly its relation to MARS-D45. Michael added immediately.

The General through the telecom gave the order not to be disturbed. Michael and Captain McGreen sat on the other side of the table. In front of the general sat on his black leather couch and started talking. The first words from General Ryan served to resume once more the strange circumstances in which the small explorer ship that was being used by Tom Smith and other crew members disappeared.

Despite the previous investigations nothing could be discovered to justify such disappearance.

The General got up and at the same time pressed a button. A giant flat screen came down behind of them. Afterwards, a dark image was shown. In it, in the vast space, a small ship would be seen, or what was left of it at least. The prow was darkened and it seemed to have received a strong blow, standing out the black remains of some type of explosion. The other half, the stern, seemed covered by a layer of a pale dust.

This photograph was taken twenty days ago from the moon observatory of Ristock. It is the explorer module from the Star. The General stated.

The apathy of captain McGreen showed that he was updated of such discovery. However, Michael was stock to his sit. Confused, he assimilated the transcendence of such news. His heart started to beat faster and thousands of questions bottled in his mind. Finally, he managed to say something really agitated:

Where is the ship? Is there anyone inside?

The general proceeded.

Calm down, Michael. It is located exactly in the place where it disappeared in 2845. In that precise zone Mars will be in his orbit around the sun in nine months. Nothing else has been detected. It is right now that I have to talk to you about something. The ICS had a Project called Titan that made the ship Titania, at the command of captain McGreen, left to Saturn within two months with a human crew on board. Well then, Titania will leave in three weeks. It can be done, physically and in knowledge of the servers of the new generation. The ship will make a stop in Mars II, leaving three passengers. Michael, you will be one of them.

CHAPTER 3

Three... two... one; ignition. The nozzles burst the fuel strongly that was consumed at more than three million kilos of force. The passengers of the space shuttle started to feel the acceleration of the lift off in their bodies and the deviation produced by the wings while correcting the direction. The screens showed countless information and a diagram drew a perfect lift off curve. Everything was going according to flight plan.

Michael moved his head with difficulty to the left with difficulty. Through the side window he could see the blue tone of the atmosphere fading away. Finally, at forty-six kilometers of height, the rockets went off. The ship was leaving Earth’s atmosphere and was correcting its course towards Orbiter station. Captain Somotoku took manual control and communicated with Command Control on Earth.

Michael relaxed on his passenger sit. The show was astonishing. Underneath you could find the blue and green ball, magnificent within the clouds. Next to him, McGreen was doing the same. Michael discovered in him that he intended to retain the old Earth in his retina.