The Stonehenge Portal

Copyright © 2013 by Charlie Peart

No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, photocopy, recording or by any information storage retrieval system-except for excerpts used for published reviews-without the written permission of the author.

The Stonehenge Portal

Charlie Peart

For our children, family and friends

By Charlie Peart

Pleasure Coast Pilgrims

Dimensional Deception

Sky Woman of Groom Lake

The Stonehenge Portal

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This book couldn’t have been written without the help of my co-author and editor, Vivian Cipriano who made major contributions to the writing, plot, character development and overall editing of this book as well as to my other publications.

I also have to thank my friends who have been my avid fans and offer encouragement to write. Thank you for your continued support over the years.

A special thanks to Alma Goldstein, a true believer in other dimensions, who has offered encouragement and ideas when I first mentioned this project.

Chapter 1

SCHIAPARELLI BASIN – MARS

When the distress call was received, the Intergalactic Mining Company’s supply and transport ship the ‘Platinum Raider’ was just 12-hours away from crossing over the Schiaparelli basin on its mission for a resupply to their mining operation on Phobos. Captain William Novak, the cocky 37-year old ship’s pilot and his assistant, the robot affectionately named Mr. Mojo, were cut off in the middle of a routine call to the ‘Iron Maiden’, the IMC ship posted in orbit around Mars, and their ultimate destination. The blaring signal interrupted the normal communication channel and forced the ship’s captain to end his call.

“Damn,” Novak growled. “That nearly blew my eardrums out. Get a fix on that Mr. Mojo, we will have to respond.”

“I already have, sir. It’s coming from an area in the Schiaparelli Basin, the newly established mining camp, if I am not mistaken.”

Mojo is never mistaken that’s what I hate about him. Novak alerted his crew using the ship’s intercom. “Attention, all hands. To the galley, now!” He then instructed Mr. Mojo, to plot an immediate course to the origin of the call.

“This takes priority for now,” he said to the robot, then realized he didn’t need to as the robot was already in a priority mode.

“I assume they don’t respond to their comm?” Novak questioned.

“I have already tried on several different frequencies, including the wide area emergency band. There is no response right now.”

“Well, good. But keep trying.”

This was Novak’s first assignment with IMC. After graduating from the U.S. Space Academy, he spent the requisite five years with the USAF, piloting hypersonic transports. He was a good pilot but, for some reason, was not considered for the more envious position in the Interplanetary Space Force. So he quit, and was thankful to get the position with IMC. It wasn’t as glamorous, but it afforded the money and adventure he had once hoped for.

The ‘Platinum Raider’ wasn’t a bad assignment either. It was a medium range transport, and fully armed. Platinum, being a scarce commodity these days, was a highly prized black market commodity. IMC’s ships were often fending off space pirates, now that the technology to develop a space transport was available on the open market and affordable to those with deep pockets. Black market operatives sometimes combined resources and built space vehicles designed to prey on the unarmed ships. Ever since IMC lost a load of platinum on a return trip from Phobos to one of these ‘space-jackers’ they had weaponized their ships and armed the crew.

With his wavy, Hollywood hair and dark, unfathomable eyes, Novak presented himself as someone in command, and took his job very seriously.  Sometimes, in his crew’s eyes, a little too seriously. After all, the fact of the matter was that, a shuttle to Phobos and back was interesting but a tediously long journey and often quite boring, unless they encountered a space-jacker. The close living quarters got on everyone’s nerves, especially toward the end of a trip.

Novak gathered the five crew members in the galley, the largest room of the ship, which served also a conference area whenever he needed to address them. With the exception of Mr. Mojo, all of the other members were really passengers with duties scheduled at the IMC command center. This command ship had been nicknamed ‘Iron Maiden’ by the crew, but its official name was ‘Columbus’. It was parked in orbit around Mars and its nearby moon, Phobos. His crew, therefore, was minimally trained in their ship’s operations and they were expected to assist Novak with the general maintenance and monitoring of various systems during the voyage.

When Novak entered the galley all five crew members were seated, and a good deal of grumbling seemed to be going on. His quick entrance caught them by surprise as he overheard his chief whiner, Nate Castro, one of the most vocal of the group, bitching loudly.

“This is bullshit, man.  I’ve got a ton of stuff to do. What the hell is so important we have to listen to Novak again?”

“Listen up people, and pipe down, Castro. This is very important or I wouldn’t have asked you to drop what you’re doing and come here in the first place,” Novak stated in his abrupt fashion.

Novak spoke in his measured voice, direct and to the point. “We have just received a distress signal and that, according to IMC protocol, takes immediate precedence. This signal is apparently coming from the area of that new mining colony at the Schiaparelli basin, according to Mr. Mojo. We have tried to reach them on the comm, but there hasn’t been a response, so we need to send down a team to investigate, asap!”

“How many people are down there?” one crew member asked.

“About twenty, more or less. I’m not really sure, but what difference does that make? There seems to be a problem, we’re going to help them solve it.”

Castro then spoke up, interrupting his captain. “Here’s the difference. I don’t recall seeing anything about ‘helping people’ in my contract. I’m a mining engineer, not a fucking nursemaid.”

“Listen up real good, Castro. I’m the captain of this ship and it’s my decision. It’s about what I think, and what IMC thinks, and what the rule book says. I say we have to check it out, get it!”

The crew unanimously groaned, as no one wanted to add extra time to the journey. They were all anxious to disembark on the ‘Iron Maiden’, a larger ship with much more space to move around in and lots more amenities. Novak could be overbearing at times, and this was one of those times.

Novak continued, the ‘Iron Maiden’ has received the same signal, but has already advised us that it will not respond. They’re undermanned right now and too involved keeping up with the mining operation on Phobos. Frankly speaking, I think IMC isn’t interested in disrupting the supply of platinum. So, given we are the nearest ship, responding to this distress call will be up to us.”

Novak looked at the faces of his disheartened crew members. Suddenly remembering that he was supposed to appear a little compassionate and mindful of the needs of his crew, especially after they had been putting up with one another for such a long time, he felt compelled to state, in what he hoped sounded like a democratic fashion, “Does anyone else have a comment they want to add?”

Sienna Love, a geologist with IMC and the only female aboard, instantly spoke up. “I have to agree with Nate’s comment. The signal device could have been accidently set off by anything; maybe a windstorm event. I think you should report it, but that’s all that’s necessary. That way you’ve covered yourself.”

“I’ve already made my decision to go check things out. I’m asking for suggestions on how we might approach the task.”

“Okay then,” Sienna responded. “I’d keep trying to raise them on the comm channel first, if I was captain. I’d do that before sending some of us down there, where we’d face a lot of danger. I doubt if IMC would disagree with that. Personally, I think you’re making too much of a big deal over it, but if you think it’s so important, at least give it a little time.”

Sienna was highly intelligent and often asserted her presence and opinion on a wide range of subjects, so it was no surprise to Novak that she offered dissent now. He admired her for her spunk, although at times he thought she could be a pain in the ass.

Marc Poland, the ship’s weapons officer and security technician, who often assisted the mining techs in the absence of any space-jacker, nodded his agreement with Sienna, stating flatly, “Why rush down there? It’s possible that the signal is a false alarm. I think we should give it a few more hours at least. If we can raise someone and talk to them we can find out more about their problem, or lack of it.”

Novak glared at Poland and Poland ignored the stare. The young security officer considered Novak competent yet annoyingly rigid at times.

Marc Poland expanded his thoughts. “I doubt anyone wants to delay our mission for resupply and repairs to the Phobos command center, ‘Iron Maiden’. This voyage has been long enough as is, trying everyone’s patience and pushing the envelope on our abilities to mentally cope with the stress of close and long confinement on this ship. At this point, an immediate shuttle trip down to the Mars surface seems like a waste of precious time, until we have more information.”

Marc hoped that his psychological mumbo-jumbo might sway the captain’s opinion. But his real concern was that, at age 32, he was the most experienced of any other crew member, having done this resupply trip once before. Also, since the nature of his job was security, he believed that he might be the most likely of the three to be picked to check out the source of the signal.

Novak didn’t tell the crew that, after he heard the signal, he re-established communications with the ‘Iron Maiden’ and its four-man mining crewmembers. Their thinking was similar to what he had just heard from his own crew. They had heard the signal too, but did not want to report it for differing reasons. First, they didn’t believe it was anything more than a rogue distress signal. In addition, two of the men were due to rotate from their eight-month duty on the ‘Iron Maiden’ and return with the ‘Platinum Raider’. They wanted no part of a shuttle mission to the Mars surface, particularly with the recent dust storms over the Schiaparelli area. The other two were so consumed in trying to keep the robotic mining operation on Phobos going, due to lack of enough human staffing, that IMC would never authorize them to investigate anyway.

Yet Bill Novak didn’t agree with his crew or the crew of the ‘Iron Maiden’. He felt, regardless of apparent circumstances, someone had an obligation to check things out. So Novak thanked his crew for their thoughts but curtly dismissed them. He told them his decision was to report the matter to IMC but, in the meantime, he had plotted an intercept to the Schiaparelli Basin. The crew exited the galley, on the way back to their duty stations, grumbling. Novak knew his decision was highly unpopular but he was captain, and he was paid to make sometimes difficult decisions. He didn’t care what the majority thought, damn it. He felt he had an obligation to ascertain the validity of that signal.

Some of Captain Novak’s sensitivity regarding the responsibilities of his job came from his insecurity about the future of his position, especially regarding Mr. Mojo. In attendance at the galley meeting, the robot had remained silent, as was expected. He was, after all, just a machine. Unlike the friendly, animated robots characterized by Hollywood, he wasn’t particularly funny and lacked any programmed emotional response. For now, he followed Captain Novak’s orders. However, Mr. Mojo, had a very important responsibility. It was the robot’s job to pilot the ship in the event something happened to Novak. IMC called him “The Magellan Robot”. He had been programmed to take control of the ship’s navigation should the human pilot become incapable. He could speak three languages and access information for the crew faster than they could, so he was enormously valuable to them.

The truth of the matter was that IMC really didn’t need Novak’s skill anymore; a small, but important fact he was well aware of.  All of the navigation and piloting could now be done using Mr. Mojo, with updates fed from Earth through an uplink on the Moon. However, the psychologists at IMC believed a human pilot presence would help calm others on board who were not qualified to pilot the ship. Also, they were uncertain whether the others would respond well to the demands of the robot in an emergency. The company agreed with their assessment and the robot was used for the “interim” period, as they said in the boardroom, until crews could adjust to the idea that the robot was actually preferable. Robots were not subject to human error. They cost less, too.

When IMC received Novak’s message from the ‘Platinum Raider’ an hour later, they sent an immediate reply to Novak with permission to carry out an investigative mission. Platinum, one of the rarest precious metals on Earth, was selling twenty years ago for $2,200 per ounce. Now that the supply from Earth had almost vanished, IMC could sell it for five times that price. Unfortunately, given the need for platinum in so many things, from automobiles to cancer resisting drugs, it became one of the most important precious metals of the 21st Century. The media labeled IMC as greedy, avaricious, and predatory, plus a host of other negative connotations. Yet, it was a fact that IMC took a tremendous risk trying to mine asteroids like Phobos for this most valuable metal. It cost IMC trillions to create this endeavor, the first of its kind, and they had become one of the most profitable mining operations in the nation’s history. Now they had expanded their operations to the surface of Mars, on a trial basis. The fate of the twenty miners was crucial to their future success.

Getting the go-ahead, Captain Novak picked Marc Poland and Sienna Love as his shuttle team. Poland was an easy choice due to his previous experience making resupply trips. Novak had, at first, considered loud-mouth Castro as the second team member. But, shortly after his galley meeting with the crew, Sienna had come to him and asked for the assignment. He wasn’t surprised that she should request such a dangerous mission.  Her bio told the story of a young woman who was drafted at the end of the China Wars. Sienna was sent through the requisite training, but released before actually participating in combat operations because the war had ended. He was certain she could handle herself well and was not afraid of danger. He also surmised that she hoped that volunteering for this assignment would lead to a faster future promotion or perhaps help her secure a better position elsewhere. Novak had only briefly considered teaming Poland up with Mr. Mojo; but frankly, he couldn’t afford to lose the robot. Mr. Mojo held more value in the company’s eyes than the human crew, although such an outrageous position regarding the low value of human life could never be publicly expressed. He felt that overall, Sienna was the best choice.

Sienna, newly hired and making her first trip to the ‘Iron Maiden’, was thrilled at her selection. She liked adventure, was incredibly sure of herself, and welcomed the diversion of going down to the surface of Mars. She had been in the Army for a very brief stint at the end of the China Wars, released early and finished her online academic studies in Earth Sciences at MIT. She was as proficient with a weapon as she was at analyzing rock samples. However, Sienna’s family had previously pleaded with her to not sign up for such a long voyage and danger-filled occupation. Sienna ignored them. She knew what she wanted at this stage of her life, and nobody was going to talk her out of her goals. She also knew that her beauty might cause a big problem for her, although she was sure that she would be warmly welcomed on an all-male ship.

Sienna was close to Marc’s age and, with his recent divorce, she suspected he had secretly lusted for her during their three month voyage to ‘Columbus’. She actually enjoyed his attentive stares at her, when he thought she did not notice. His desire was only lessened by her announcement, during their first week on board, that she was a devout lesbian. This lesbian announcement was really just her protective act, designed to ward off potential unwanted advances from any overly horny mining techs during the long trip.

Marc, however, received the news of his selection unfavorably. Having linked with the ‘Iron Maiden’ during the Raiders first operational mission, he had the opportunity to step foot on Mars during one of their mining explorations to test for possible minerals before they made the decision to start a small mining camp there. It had satisfied his curiosity enough at that time. “Been there, done that” was his explanation for reluctance to go again.

Yet the real truth was that Poland knew about the dangers of the shifting sands and violent wind storms, having personally experienced one of the red planet’s unpredictable dust storms. If the signal device went off and now no one can be reached on the comm, the underground habitat is probably buried under a ton of sand by now. It’s a waste of time to go there. We’ll need a ton of equipment we don’t have to get them out, if they are even alive.

So Poland made a personal visit to Novak’s quarters to express his dissatisfaction with his selection. He told Novak that, if he was determined to send a rescue party, it should consist only of the robot, Mr. Mojo.

Poland’s suggestion was received with one of Captain Novak’s icy stares and the curt reply, “That isn’t going to happen.”

“It’s just too dangerous. I know what the surface of Mars can be like.” As Marc said this his thoughts suddenly jumped to the lovely Sienna, being teamed as his partner. “And to send a woman out to possibly deal with a Mars windstorm would be crazy. I don’t care how much she thinks she is invincible.”

“Ms. Love volunteered for the mission.” Novak then sneered at Marc Poland, challenging, “Maybe you’re the one that’s afraid of getting blown away in a wind storm.”

Marc made no reply. Maybe I am very afraid of what could likely happen.

“Thank you for expressing your concerns, but I’ve thought this through and made my decision,” was the captain’s final reply, as he waved a dismissive hand in Marc’s direction.

The plan was to link up with the ‘Iron Maiden’ and transfer personnel and supplies. Once that was accomplished, Marc and Sienna would, the next day, don extravehicular mobility units or spacesuits for the surface exploration and take one of the three shuttle craft aboard ‘Platinum Raider’ to the surface. They would be allowed a two-hour exploration and then a return to the Raider. Novak, with Mr. Mojo’s help, found a site map showing the exact location of the trial colony, tunnel dimensions, and layout. He would direct the operation remotely, he advised them, from the Raider. It would be “by the book”, as he expressed it. Marc, more experienced, would take the lead. Sienna would assist

The link-up with ‘Iron Maiden’ went as planned. That night the two crews celebrated with the fresh supplies brought by the Raider and a few bottles of champagne, a rare courtesy of IMC. Later in the evening, Marc sought out Sienna in her sleeping quarters. As a woman, she was allotted her own little closet-like space. The male crew had to share space with each other. She wasn’t surprised to see him when he asked to come in. She hoped he would talk to her, but he seemed a little sullen. She assumed he had a lot on his mind to worry about.

“I’m not real keen on going down there tomorrow; I just want you to know.”

“Why, Marc? You seem more than qualified, and it’s an opportunity we otherwise wouldn’t get. Frankly, I‘m looking forward to it. It will be a tale I can tell my children about one day.”

“Thought you were a lesbian,” he said with a shy smile, his gloom starting to lift a little.

“Oh, yeah, that, well…,” Siena laughed in a way that made Marc realize she might not dislike the idea of romance with a man as much as she wanted everyone to believe.

He decided to be straight with her. “I’m really worried about the shifting sand and soil down there, particularly in those tunnels. How do we know they might not cave in and trap us down there too? That’s what may have already happened to the men. I think it’s risky and foolish for us to be sent there without the proper backup and support, and I don’t understand why Novak is so adamant that we check it out. There’s another larger ship right behind us filled with excavating and mining equipment and plenty of guys who know how to use it. I bet they’re no more than three days out from here right now. If there were five or six of us going down there with the right equipment, I wouldn’t have a problem, but I don’t think you and I can do much other than take a look-see.”

“You may be right on that, but someone has to check it out. Why not us?”

“Listen, I’m up for it if you are. But I want to warn you, cause I’ve been on the surface before, and it’s no picnic down there, believe me. That’s why they live underground now.”

“Well, I have faith in you, Marc. You seem level-headed, someone I can trust and, like you say, you’ve been there once before. I think we will do just fine.” Sienna stood up and gave him a little hug, hoping to encourage him.

Her hug caught Marc by surprise. Although he had spent the past three months with Sienna, reading a woman was something he wasn’t particularly good at. Maybe that’s why I had my own troubles at home. He quickly brushed that thought aside.

“Well, my final thought is, let’s not take unnecessary chances. If it looks too dangerous at any point, we turn back, no matter what Novak says and leave it up to the ‘Platinum Explorer’ that’s coming right behind us. Agreed?”

“Okay, that makes sense. Let’s just do the best we can as quick as we can, and be done with it.”

Marc felt relieved. Sienna had proven to be quite assertive in the past, sometimes acting like she was tougher than any man. Knowing her background, he thought she probably was and he admired her for it. However, having been in the Army himself, he wondered if she would place herself in danger as some kind of test. He wasn’t as eager to take on impossible odds. His unit had been overrun by the Chinese, and he was one of the three remaining survivors. He knew what danger and fear smelled like and although he didn’t relish it, he hadn’t run away from it either. He said goodnight and left for his own quarters.

Drifting off to sleep, he thought a little more about his life before this trip. Like Sienna, he had been drafted too. During his two year tour, he saw enough of combat, and it wasn’t something he wanted to talk about. The experience helped him win the position of weapons officer with IMC, but the frequent absences from home cost him his brief marriage. Now, after his divorce, he wondered how he was going to balance his career with a serious relationship, not that he foresaw any developing in the near future anyway.

That morning, Captain Novak announced that there was still no comm link with the camp and stressed the importance of the mission. Marc and Sienna acknowledged they were ready and donned their EMU suits. They had already checked the small inventory of supplies they would carry to the surface for exploration. Basically, they needed a digging tool and communication. The suit held enough oxygen and, with its internal carbon dioxide scrubbers, the suit was good for 24-hours of activity. Unlike spacesuits of the past, this one was a one-piece unit entered through a hatch in the suit, and had a front facing external light and back-up light, also two cameras. There would be a communication link between each other as well as to the ship. The suit was much more flexible than past designs and would allow them to walk and move easily on the surface.

Captain Novak planned the mission and went over the site plan with Marc and Sienna the day before. He made it clear that he would direct them each step of the way.

They boarded the shuttle craft affectionately called “Scooby” by Sienna, the name she had given to her childhood pet dog. Its commercial design name was Planetary Transporter or ‘PT’ to the crew. Ever since one of the PT’s had been hijacked four years ago by space pirates and their crew murdered, IMC retrofitted the PT fleet with light armor and a forward weapon system.

They strapped in, and waited for Novak and Mr. Mojo to begin the task of opening the cargo doors, starting the craft, and remotely piloting it to the surface. Novak counted down and then, on his mark, the craft shuddered forward leaving the Raider for the surface.

The craft could support twelve people and supplies and its life support system could sustain a crew of twelve for thirty days in an emergency situation. It could be piloted remotely or manually. Marc had been given flight training to operate it when he signed on with IMC. “If Novak wasn’t such a control freak, I could have taken over and taken her down to the surface,” he muttered softly to Sienna.

“Everything is go; all systems functioning normally. It should be a short ride, courtesy of Novak airlines,” the captain quipped over the intercom, seeming uncharacteristically jaunty.

“I’m nervous about the ride down,” Sienna whispered back to Marc. That wasn’t something he expected to hear from her, based on their last conversation.

Marc almost blurted out that she should be nervous, knowing Captain Bly was at the controls, but realized he needed to keep her and himself calm. “I was nervous myself the first time I left the Raider to go to the surface on Phobos. I think everyone else was too. Don’t worry, it’s normal.”  It was one thing though to go to Phobos, Marc thought. That moon was small, rocky, stable, and had no wind to speak of. Mars on the other hand was a different proposition altogether, with shifting sand and winds capable of blowing far in excess of 150 knots (172 mph).

As they entered the Martian atmosphere, the craft began to vibrate. “What’s happening, Marc? What’s making ‘Scooby’ do this?”

Marc almost laughed when she said “Scooby”, but thought better of it. Novak answered for him over the intercom, “Hey guys, looks like you’re getting into the atmosphere now. The ride will get a little bumpy for a while.”

“Yeah, well Novak airlines sucks if you ask me,” Sienna remarked.

Twenty minutes later they bumped the surface at Schiaparelli. “All systems are normal, it’s safe to exit the craft,” Novak informed them. “I’ll be watching from up here. Make sure your helmet and arm camera are on, I want to see a clear picture from each of you before you egress. The entrance to the tunnel is 100 feet ahead, on a northwest heading of 270.”

Each checked their oxygen flow, and camera and communications equipment, and then stepped out onto the surface. The wind was blowing around 15 mph, sending dust swirls all around them. Marc could see the remnants ahead of the atmospheric domes once used by a trial colony. They were flattened and shriveled up like month old mushrooms and mostly covered with red Martian sand. The very battered communications dish used to link up with IMC was lying on the ground, blown away about fifty feet from its support system. It was twisted like a pretzel. Poland reported this to Novak.

“Well, that explains why we can’t reach them,” Novak responded.

“There’s something else strange too. The surface rovers are missing. They were supposed to have two of them.”

“Doesn’t make sense, Marc. You’ll have to check out the mining site. Maybe they’re parked over there.”

“Roger that, I’m going to the source of the beacon now. I’ll let you know what I find.”

He checked his heads-up display for 270 and headed towards the apparent source of the beacon. Marc showed Sienna how to skip along the surface, a feat made possible because Mar’s gravity was thirty eight percent less than Earth. His 175 pounds weighed 67 pounds here, making traversing easier.

It took them ten minutes to reach the entrance to the tunnel where the underground habitat was located. Marc stopped for a minute and looked at Sienna. “How are you holding up, everything okay?”

Marc’s suit was equipped with a tether system and Sienna grasped the end of the six foot long tether with a carabineer positioned on the rear of Marc’s suit and pulled it towards her. She hooked the carabineer onto the front of her suit. This insured they would be linked in the dark tunnel ahead. She then nodded her head in the affirmative to his question.

“Okay, I’m going down now,” he advised Novak and Sienna. As Marc entered the tunnel, Novak was watching the remote feed. It was difficult for him to get a clear picture due to the low light conditions from the lack of any reflectivity below ground. Mr. Mojo checked systems remotely and watched the weather, particularly the wind, which had already increased 5 mph since they arrived at the tunnel. If it got over 38 mph, they had to get back to the shuttle craft. A gusty, high wind could tip them over or make the ascent in the Martian atmosphere dangerous.

“Marc, be advised winds are slightly increasing. We have 20 mph on the surface now. It looks like you are 6-feet into the tunnel. Sienna is just behind you. Do you Roger that?”

“Roger that. Don’t worry, just keep me posted, okay?” Novak sensed Marc’s voice got a little tighter during this last report.

Even with his lamp turned on, Marc noticed that it was very dark in the remote corners in the tunnel. It was spooky as hell. He could see that some of the roof and side supports were buckled, and some of the side support beams had sharp edges protruding into the tunnel where the beam had cracked from stress. But it could be repaired. He wondered why it wasn’t.

He warned Sienna to be careful. They both knew a tear in the suit wasn’t lethal in the short term, because the suit would try to compensate for a leak, but it wasn’t good. It had to be repaired on the spot.  They each had an emergency repair kit, but the safe thing was to make a quick repair and return to the PT.

The tunnel system was quite complex and went horizontally as well as vertically for over sixty feet. The living quarters were thirty feet below the surface and well protected. He suspected any workers would be holed up there, or in one of the safe rooms designed for emergency situations like this. They were traversing one of the upper levels now, but overall, Marc didn’t think the complex looked like it had collapsed. The power appeared to be on, because some of the tunnel lights were activated. He assumed the others needed repair.

Marc tried raising the trapped miners on his comm but received no response, but he wasn’t surprised. They probably depended on the surface antenna, and it wasn’t working. From the condition of the place, Marc began to suspect that everyone might be dead. They shouldn’t be. They had safe rooms here that could sustain all of them for a period of sixty days, which was more than enough time for a rescue.

The signal seemed to be coming from around the next corner, so Marc convinced himself to continue on for a few more feet, despite mounting fears and a pounding pulse. He hoped he could count on Sienna to pull him out if need be, but if the roof above collapsed, he doubted she would have the strength to do it. They would have to send someone to dig them both out. He pushed that thought out of his mind for the moment. Don’t go there; think positive.

“Okay Marc, the tunnel turns left three feet ahead. What’s happening down there? I can’t see what you’re looking at on this remote. The visual is terrible.”

Marc wanted to reply, “I see a lot of dirt, asshole, what do you think I see?” But knowing he was being recorded, he kept his cool, saying instead, “I think the device sending the signal is a few feet ahead.  I’ll let you know in a moment, okay?”

Mr. Mojo advised Novak that the wind was now 25 mph. The mission would need to be terminated in the next ten minutes, according to his estimate. Novak was irked. He was in command, dammit, and he would make the decisions, not some metal-headed computer.

Marc plodded ahead, slowly. The lights in this location were out and his helmet light did little to illuminate the tunnel ahead. Now the tether had tightened up. Sienna must be stopping. “Sienna, how’s it going back there?”

She replied in frustration, “I can’t believe my bad luck. The arm on my suit snagged on one of those cracked beams you warned me about.  It’s leaking air.”

“How big is the rip?”

“It’s small, I can repair it.”

“Unhook my tether, and make the repair. I’ll continue on for a few more feet here.” Marc wanted to get the job done and get back. He knew unhooking from the tether was against protocol, but the tunnel looked stable enough, and he decided to take the chance.

“Okay, I’ll try to catch up in a few minutes.”

Marc moved ahead. He couldn’t see anything but sand, no signal. “Novak, I don’t see anything down here. I’m going to move to the other tunnel. Maybe it came from there.” Novak didn’t respond, so he repeated himself. Great, Sienna has a leak in her suit, I can’t see shit, and Novak can’t hear me.

Novak could hear him, but he was lost in a conversation with Mr. Mojo who had just advised him to terminate the mission. The wind speed was now 30mph, gusting to 35 and rising.

Marc retraced his steps and moved into the right hand tunnel. Sure enough, he could see the small signal device lying there, activated and working. It must have been accidently left behind in a rush to evacuate to the rovers. But why would they do that? He picked it up, and turned it off.

“Marc, we aren’t getting the beacon signal anymore. I can’t see you.” Novak impatiently waited for a response.

“It’s because I turned it off, Novak. I’m waiting for Sienna, then I’m going down to the safe room if I can. I still don’t get a response on their alternate comm channel.”

Sienna heard Novak and Marc talking about her and interjected, “I’ve just finished repairing my suit; I’m coming to meet you.”

As soon as she arrived, she hooked her tether to Marc and they cautiously proceeded down into the depths of the tunnel to the stairway system. He decided not to try the elevator, worrying that the power grid might be intermittent. It seemed like a safer alternative, but it would take longer.

They progressed down into the depths of the habitat, finally reaching the area where the safe room was located. He could hear Novak calling him for an update, but his signal strength here was weak and Novak didn’t hear his response.

“There’s no one here, Novak, they’ve gone. We’re heading back.”

Novak was standing around in the Raider bridge, fuming. Why doesn’t he answer me? Now I will have to send a shuttle down to find them. Just when he was about to call Castro and Patel to come to the bridge for a shuttle mission briefing, he heard from Poland.

“We’re back on the surface. There’s no sign of anyone down there.”

“Well, that doesn’t make sense. You’ll have to check the mining site then.”

“Roger that. We’ll use the PT to get there.”

“Advise me when you’re buckled in, I’ll pilot it from here.”

“Negative on that, Captain. I want to take a look around the area on the way, just in case the rovers didn’t make it to the mine. There must have been a hellacious storm here not long ago judging from the twisted supports for the communication dish. Maybe they got blown over, too.”

Novak mulled that over. While he was thinking about it, Mr. Mojo told him he thought Poland’s idea was correct. Novak glared at the robot. He knew better than to override him because IMC had more faith in the robot than they did in him. If he took over, and the mission failed, IMC would blame him. He knew they had a complete recording of all communication from the bridge.

“Roger, go ahead, but keep me advised.”

Marc and Sienna made it back to the shuttle craft and lifted off, scooting along the surface of Mars. The craft was buffeted by the increasing winds and Marc had a hard time keeping it level as he made sweeping “S” turns on the way to the mine in search of the rovers.

“Are you sure you can handle this thing?” Sienna asked. Her body was being pushed against the restraints once more due to the constant rolling of the shuttle, as the flight computers compensated for the wind.

“Just relax, Sienna, the computers are doing their job perfectly. I’ve been through this before. Nothing out of the ordinary, yet.”

“It’s the ‘yet’ part that concerns me.”

“Yeah, well, I can handle that, too. Report to Novak that we don’t see any sign of the rovers and the mine is dead ahead. I can see the robotic drilling equipment, but no rovers. I’m going to move on to the north and then take a wide circle around the area. If we don’t see anything, they will need to do a fly over with the drones.”

Novak received her call. He could see what they were viewing using the live video feed from the shuttle camera system. He directed them to start the return in thirty minutes. Mr. Mojo remained silent for a change.

Poland noted that the winds were dying down to a respectable fifteen knots as they passed by the drilling equipment. He looked for any sign of the rovers, but knew that the path taken by the rovers would have been long since erased by the shifting sands. He went north for ten minutes. The landscape below never changed. It was nothing more than red sand and rocks. He could see the Schiaparelli basin wall in the far distance ahead and decided to begin his turn to the east and then come full circle around the mining area before returning to the Raider.

“What do you think happened to them, Marc? They couldn’t have just vanished.”

“I don’t know. It doesn’t add up. Wait a minute, what’s that going on up ahead?” He was pointing through the forward viewing screen to a group of stone pillars arranged in a very large circle, slowly rising up out of the sand about fifty feet in front of his shuttle. It reminded him of the pictures he had seen of Stonehenge. He placed the PT in a hover while they watched the phenomenon ahead take place.

The pillars rose to more than twenty feet in the air; then stopped. Marc noticed an opening directly in front of them, wide enough for the shuttle to enter and set down. “This is the strangest phenomenon I’ve seen yet, Sienna. I want to take your ‘Scooby’ right through the opening and set it down. We need to take a look around.”

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea. We’re supposed to be looking for the miners, besides; we don’t know anything about this thing.”

“More than enough reason to investigate,” Marc replied, as he added a little power and maneuvered the shuttle through the opening. He was suddenly extremely excited.

Novak was tracking the progress of the duo with Mr. Mojo. They had a visual of this apparent ‘Mars Stonehenge’ from the shuttle video feed and he too was getting very curious. Suddenly, however, Mr. Mojo dispassionately stated, “Danger” as the robot watched the shuttle descend to the center of the structure. “More data needed before entering this structure.”

Captain Novak agreed now, his curiosity overcome by his sense of responsibility for two lives. He turned to Mr. Mojo. “Override the manual control. Get them out of there!” By the time he looked back at the screen, the shuttle had disappeared.

Chapter 2

The PT was tumbling now through a black void. Marc and Sienna had both almost lost consciousness. For Marc, what he was experiencing felt like having too much to drink and then the room starts to spin around. He felt out of control, but unable to do anything to stop it.

Then the darkness lifted, the dizzying sensation stopped, and Marc and Sienna returned to an awareness of their surroundings. They were still in their PT shuttle, strapped into their seats. The shuttle was upright, in the landing configuration, and all the external viewing cameras were functioning.

Looking directly ahead, Marc could see that they were in a long, narrow valley surrounded by tall mountains. The valley floor consisted of tall, undulating green and brown grass, scrub brush interspersed with large rock outcroppings, and copses of trees. But it was the partially destroyed city in the distance, some buildings sending off tendrils of smoke as if there had been a recent fire, which riveted his attention. It was so surreal looking that for a moment he wondered if he were dreaming. It was the sound of Sienna moaning, that brought him to a state of full reality. “What happened?” she gasped. Then, a minute later, “Where are we?” she screamed.

“Sienna, are you okay?”

Sienna was, at first, completely disoriented too, but slowly regained her awareness of their situation and answered in the affirmative. “Where the hell are we?” she asked again, this time more calmly.

“Damned if I know, but it sure doesn’t seem to be Mars.”

“I warned you not to go into that structure. Now look at the mess we’re in. Who the hell knows where we are. Why did you have to maneuver ‘Scooby’ into the middle of that rock pile?”

“I can’t honestly tell you why,” was all Marc could say. He couldn’t imagine what had compelled him to act so irrationally. He remembered he had almost felt a compulsion to enter the strange structure, almost as if a magnetic force was drawing him into the center of it.

“Well now the question is, can we get back? If we can, I think that is something we should consider doing right about now, wouldn’t you say?” Sienna was quickly going through all her emotions; confusion, fear, and now anger. She punched Marc hard on his shoulder to emphasize her point.

“Thanks, I needed that. That’s really gonna help our situation,” Marc said sarcastically. “I’m trying to think rationally here. I don’t understand what happened to us. Let’s power this baby up and see if we can figure out where we came from, maybe there is another one of those Stonehenge things around somewhere. Maybe we can use it to go back.”

The PT had stopped running, although its electrical power to the instrument control panel was still working. “Probably just needs a restart,” Marc said as he pressed the ‘start’ icon on the display to power up the engine.

“I don’t feel anything happening,” Sienna commented, a nervous impatience growing inside her.

Marc pressed the display icon again, but the engine didn’t ignite. “I need to go through the troubleshooting procedure I guess. Something’s not right.”

“This whole idea isn’t right. How could you have been so completely stupid, Marc?”

“Not now, Sienna,” Marc replied, hearing his voice rise in frustration. “That isn’t going to help. You want to help, start checking all the other systems. We need to work together if we want to get out of here.”

Marc went through the troubleshooting menu until he found the engine diagnostics. “I think our problem is a computer module that probably blew out. Fortunately, this thing comes with a spare parts kit. It’s in the back. I’ll get it. What about the other systems?”

“I’m still checking. But get this…” Marc could hear the excitement in her voice. “The sensors tell me the outside atmosphere is very breathable. We don’t need these suits! I’m taking mine off; it will make the job a lot easier.”

Marc helped Sienna out of her suit and she in turn helped him. “See, amazing what a little teamwork can do,” he quipped.

“Okay, I’m sorry, but you have to agree this is a real fuckup on your part.”

“If it will make you happy, okay, I agree. Now let’s get back to work.”

Marc began to work his way back to the spares when Sienna’s frightened tone called for his immediate attention. “Marc, come here, quick! We’ve got company.”

The front viewfinder showed about ten shiny metal balls, each about four feet in diameter, spinning their way over the ground directly towards the craft. They were coming from the direction of the city. Sometimes they would be lost in the grass and then suddenly bounce up in the air, spinning, rolling, tumbling, and then plunge back to the ground again as they rapidly closed on the PT.

“Is the weapon system up, Sienna?”

“As far as I can tell.”

“Start tracking the nearest ones with the forward gun, and shoot as soon as they come into range.”

“Maybe they are friendly, what then?”

“They don’t look friendly. Make a couple of warning shots if you want to test them. We don’t want them too close to us until we know their intent. I need to get the engine going. I’m going to have to go back for those spares, so it’s all up to you.”

Sienna’s fingers rapidly accessed the targeting sequence on the panel giving instructions to the target acquisition system to track the approaching balls, and fire on her command. It would automatically select the nearest target first. The gun was a ‘Gatling’ style mini-gun, capable of six thousand rounds per minute sustained fire.

“Marc, we have more incoming!”

“More of the balls or something else?” he shouted from the back of the craft. He was still looking for the replacement module.

“They’re a distance away, but coming in from the air. It looks like some kind of sled that can fly. Something is lying down on it, maybe a man. I can’t tell.”

“How many?”

“At least ten or more. They’re spread out across our front, about fifty feet or more in the air.”

“Do they look friendly?”

“Hell no, they’re already firing on us!”

“Holy shit, Sienna, get on it! Get that mini-gun going, we need to hold them off.”

Sienna started firing back, first targeting the nearest balls. The mini-gun spewed out a continuous stream of fire. With tracers intermixed with the normal load, it looked like a thin red stream of fire lancing out and cutting through the balls. She took out the first five in a matter of seconds. The sleds were another matter, however. They were maneuvering and jinking around in the sky to avoid becoming an easy target. Some of their bullets had already made their way to the PT. Fortunately, they hadn’t punched through yet, thanks to the light armor surrounding the shuttle. The remaining balls had spread out making them a tougher target, but the mini-gun soon destroyed the remainder of them by alternating firing patterns to adjust for the sleds and spinning balls.

Without the ability to move the PT, the front firing weapon was limited in how far to the left and right it could direct fire. It had taken out four of the sky sleds, but the others maneuvered out of the mini-gun’s field of fire and were going around their shuttle firing at it from the sides. Marc could hear their rounds slamming against the craft.

“Sienna, since they’re hitting us from behind and to the sides, we’re going to need to take it to them outside. I’m getting the guns from the locker.” He opened up the armory in the rear of the craft, removing the fully automatic assault rifles and ammo clips.

“What about the module, Marc? Isn’t that more important?”

“I’m almost done installing it, but it won’t matter if we don’t cut some more of those sleds down right now.”

“You’ll be too vulnerable out there, Marc,” she screamed back warning him. “They’ll cut us down if we go outside. It’s a suicide mission!”

Marc held back, considering Sienna’s words of warning. She was right. It probably was hopeless for one man to go out there and try to do a shootout. And he didn’t even know what he was really shooting at. What were these creatures?

Some of the sky sled people had landed their sleds off to their side, out of the range of the mini-gun system. Sienna could see them setting up what looked like a heavy weapon, which they had removed from one of the sleds. She also saw that they were not really men. They were some kind of human-sized robot that could move like a man and possessed an almost human like face.

Sienna was trembling with fear. “These bastards might not even be living beings. I wonder if they can even be killed? If we don’t get the hell out of here now, we’re screwed!”

Marc had finished inserting the module and raced back to the front controls. He started to reboot the ignition system when they both observed that the robots seemed to be taking fire from somewhere behind their PT. Could it be that someone else was joining the fray, and they didn’t like the robots either?

“Who’s shooting? Sienna, can you get a visual on the rear screen?”

She brought up the feed from the rear camera. They could see three motorized vehicles spread out behind the PT, each one outfitted with a front firing automatic cannon of some kind. In a matter of less than a minute, those weapons had taken out the nearest sleds. The remaining force had immediately retreated to the air and was circling now, far out of range.

Marc breathed a sigh of relief. “Well, whoever our rescuers are, they bought us another few minutes of time to get the PT running.”

“Don’t relax yet, Marc, we don’t know who these new guys are or if they really are friendly. All we know is that they have weapons, and they don’t like the sled robots. Let’s not assume they will like us any better.”

Just as soon as Sienna finished her sentence, she heard a loud voice outside the door to the shuttle craft. “Open the hatch and get out or we’ll blow it open. No weapons, hands in the air.”

“Oh shit!” Marc’s feeling of relief vanished.

“What do you think?” Sienna anxiously asked, “Should we obey them or can you get this shuttle moving?”

“It’s going to take another minute for the reboot sequence and re-ignition. I don’t know if we have that long. They might kill us or damage the shuttle beyond repair. They held off the robots, maybe we need to take our chances with them. Let’s find out what they want.”

“But we don’t know who they are!”

“They don’t know how many are in here. Go to the rear and stay concealed. Keep your weapon out of sight. I’ll let them in. Use it if you think you have to. Okay?”

“Agreed.” Sienna hurried back to the rear of the shuttle and took one of the automatic rifles to a concealed space where she would be hidden from view.

Marc unlocked and slid the door rearward. “I’m not armed,” he said as the door slid open. Facing him was an armed man, very humanoid, dressed in black battle fatigues. He pushed Marc aside and rushed into the craft, keeping his handgun trained on Marc the entire time.

“Anyone else on board?”

“No, I’m alone.”

“Liar!” And the man pistol whipped Marc across the face in response. Marc felt a searing pain as the pistol ripped a three inch gash in his temple. “You son of a bitch,” Marc seethed as blood ran down his face. “You’ll wish you hadn’t done that.”

Taking that as her cue, Sienna stepped out of hiding, with her gun trained on the man. “Put your weapon down if you want to live,” she commanded, hoping her voice didn’t sound too shaky.

The humanoid didn’t budge and kept his pistol trained on Marc, but his voice took on a more conciliatory tone. “I don’t think so. Be reasonable. You’re vastly outnumbered. And you should be grateful we are here. We just kept you from being overrun by the cyborgs. They’re still out there somewhere, waiting for you. In fact, more of them are probably already on the way. I suggest you let us get you out of here, and then we can talk. Sorry I had to strike you, but you weren’t paying attention.”

“Put your weapon down, Sienna,” Marc instructed. “If what he’s saying is true, he’s making a lot of sense. I don’t like it, but it sounds like we don’t have a choice.”

Sienna ignored Marc’s command and continued to point her weapon towards the intruder. She wasn’t ready to surrender just yet.

“Is this vessel still operational?” the man asked Marc, ignoring the fact that Sienna still held the automatic rifle and pointed it at him.

“I don’t know,” Marc replied. “I need to re-ignite the engine to find out.”

“Then do that and get your friend to put her weapon away. I won’t ask nicely again.”

As Marc made his way to the console, he took a last look over the mountain tops. Marc saw what appeared to be a dozen more sleds in the sky, heading their way. “It’s alright, Sienna. Put your gun away. He’s right; more of those sleds are on the way right now. We’re going to have to trust him, I don’t see another option right now.”

Based on what Marc said, Sienna decided they had no choice either.  With a sigh of resignation and frustration, she complied by dropping her weapon on the floor, and the humanoid made his way into the pilot’s seat. “You start it, I’ll fly it,” he directed Marc.

Marc started the ignition sequence. Fifteen seconds later the engine was up to full operating capacity. “It’s all yours; I assume you know how to fly it.”

The man demonstrated he did, lifting the PT off the ground and turning it around. Then he accelerated the craft heading away from the city. All the while, however, he kept his pistol pointed at Marc.

“Is that still necessary?” Marc asked, pointing at the weapon. “You have our ship under your control.”

The humanoid didn’t answer, concentrating on his flying but still keeping a wary eye on Marc and Sienna. The time passed and Marc felt his anger and concern rising. He still didn’t know who this guy was, where they were going, or what their fate might be.

“Where are you taking us?” Marc asked the humanoid, while wiping the blood off the side of his face. When the man didn’t respond the second time, Marc could feel his anger increasing. He was now regretting that he had so quickly relinquished control of his craft to this alien stranger. “You’re a real asshole, you know!” Marc growled at the stranger, losing control of his emotions.

Then the man spoke. “We are in a war with those that have taken over the governance of the city. That bombed city you saw back there was, until quite recently, ours. I struck you because you lied to me. We did not have time to play your games. You could have cost me my life. You should be grateful I am trying to save you both. The cyborgs intended to kill you and they would have done so. Did you see their numbers? Here is my brief explanation, which will have to do for now. We need to commandeer this shuttle craft. So, for the time being, you will either be considered prisoners of war or compatriots. It shall be your choice. Welcome to our army, such as it is. And do not call me names. It is rude and unseemly and, in the future, you might regret it. My name is Dreyon.”

The shuttle sped on, leaving the valley floor, crossing a plain, and finally reaching a high mountain range. Dreyon turned the craft so that it appeared to be heading directly towards the mountain and continued to race forward, not slowing his speed.

Marc nervously watched as the mountain grew larger completely filling the view screen. “It’s time to either slow down or go around that mountain,” he yelled at Dreyon, clutching the sides of his seat and preparing for a head-on crash.

Sienna, watching their progress from a seat behind Marc, screamed in fear.

As it appeared they were about to slam into the side of the mountain, Dreyon merely smirked at their distress. “Hold on!” And the shuttle craft hit a wall.

Chapter 3

Captain Novak turned to Mr. Mojo, “What the hell happened? Where did they go?”

“It appears to be an anomaly. I suspect it is caused by the structure itself. They may still be there, but we cannot see them.”

But an hour went by without communication and the PT and its passengers did not reappear. Now Novak questioned Mr. Mojo in a different vein. “How could they just disappear like that? What happened to our communication with them?”

Mojo answered, “I think it is obvious that they must have gone somewhere else.”

“You bet your ass they have gone somewhere else, Mojo, even I could have come up with that by now.”

Considering that Mr. Mojo lacked real emotion, it was quite easy for him to see that Captain Novak was shattered by this event. It was quite possible, almost a certainty, that the structure was responsible for this event. The appearance of it, rising up so suddenly as it did, suggested a trigger mechanism surrounding it, a sensory device perhaps that detected large objects or people. He couldn’t be sure without investigating it. Even as they had been continuing to watch it over the past half-hour, he noticed that the ‘Stonehenge’ had retreated back into the sand. This confirmed the robot’s assumption that it was activated by the shuttle coming within range of a sensory device.

Mojo concluded that it must contain a tremendous energy force located within the structure itself. Perhaps it acted like a wormhole or black hole, sucking the nearest objects into its core. He doubted Marc and Sienna were still alive, but on the other hand, this object’s function was outside his current knowledge data base. “Sir, I suggest that you send me down to investigate this phenomenon, alone. I may be able to detect more information from the area around the structure.”

“Negative on that, Mojo. First of all, I can’t afford to lose you. IMC would have my ass if I did. Secondly, this is above my pay grade. I need to report what has happened to headquarters and let them help decide the next course of action.”

“That seems wise, sir. I’ll send the video feed when you are ready to submit your report.”

“Yeah, well, we do need to do that too. Give me some time to collect my thoughts and then we’ll send it off.”

Novak thought Mr. Mojo’s suggestion regarding sending himself was a good one. The robot could access a great deal of information much more rapidly than any humans and his quick computation of data would arrive at possible solutions or an accurate assessment of what had occurred in this highly unusual event. Unfortunately, IMC wasn’t going to consider that option; of that he was totally certain.

Novak knew that ‘Platinum Explorer’ was only a few days away now and he also knew Jeremy Holland, the Explorer’s captain, from the space academy. They had hung out a lot on weekends with the same preference in women and booze. Novak sent an encrypted message to his friend Holland with a plea for help. He was certain Holland would be up for the plan.

The Explorer was a delta class ship, much larger, with a twenty man crew and a lot of equipment. Novak asked his friend, Captain Holland, if he would approve sending a few of his crew down to the surface to investigate Marc and Sienna’s disappearance. He would recommend to IMC that they send five of Holland’s crew down with him and the monster rover, a ten wheeled vehicle that could practically climb a mountain if it had to. Instead of flying into the structure, they would approach it on the ground. Should be safer that way, he reasoned. Holland could remain onboard and supervise both ships in his absence.

An hour later Novak sent off his report with the video feed. In it he explained the perceived fate of Marc and Sienna and the fact that there appeared to be no sign of the missing miners either.

The deliberations at IMC took another twenty-four hours before they sent a rather lengthy and legalese return reply. “Plan not approved.” The reasoning for the decision centered on the potential for future loss of life; which did seem reasonable enough. It was “most unfortunate”, as the IMC message worded it, but any human crew sent to follow in the path taken by Poland and Love would most likely meet disaster as well. IMC did not want the lives of more crew members forfeited. The message ended with this stark sentence. “May have to consider the two individuals in question a possible casualty of exploration, as well as an unexplained desertion by the mining team.”

“Son of a bitch,” Novak shouted, banging the desktop, when he read the wordy reply. The phrase, “casualty of exploration” really got under his skin. So that’s what they think, probably would cause a major catastrophe in their estimation if Mr. Mojo was lost, but two of my crew, as well as a complete vanishing act by the mining team, well, no problem…apparently.

Mr. Mojo had read IMC’s reply and was not surprised at his captain’s hotheaded reaction. “I’ll be damned if I consider members of my crew ‘casualties of exploration’,” Novak kept muttering to himself.

Humans are so emotional, the robot thought. IMC sent back the most logical, rational response, but I fear Captain Novak will disobey their orders. Mr. Mojo was right again, as usual.

Chapter 4

In less than a heartbeat, the shuttle craft cleared the “electronic wall”, slowed, and descended to a cavern located directly in front of the mountain. Dreyon told his pale and panicked passengers that what they had just passed through was an electronic form of camouflage created to ward off the enemy. “Your reaction was a normal one. The ‘wall’ makes the mountain appear closer than it is. Most pilots would divert around the mountain, which is exactly what we want them to do. The cavern we are entering is also camouflaged electronically. You can’t see the mouth of the cavern until you break through the electronic wall.”

Dreyon slowed the craft to a gentle pace and maneuvered into the cavern, landing in an area created for aircraft parking. “We lost most of our aircraft in previous battles with the cyborgs and cybots. These are the only ones left.” He pointed to the four aircraft positioned in the reserved area on the forward view screen. “But now, thanks to you, we have one more.”

Marc noted that Dreyon’s fleet looked more like fighter aircraft than the shuttle. They were sleek in design, and had short, stubby wings and a small tail. The PT looked like a rectangular box in comparison.

Dreyon landed the PT and Marc shut it down. “This is our temporary camp until we regain control,” he explained.

“How long have you been fighting?” Marc asked.

“Two long, hard years.”

“Who’s winning?”

“They are right now, but we are working on some plans to change that. Get out. I’m going to put someone else in charge of you for now. I must go and confer with my other commanders.”

Marc noticed that Sienna had a look of resignation on her face. He knew she wasn’t at all happy about their situation. He wasn’t either. But until they had some alone time, they weren’t in a position to discuss the situation and plot their next move. Marc and Sienna exited the PT followed by Dreyon. He had finally put away his pistol, apparently confident they weren’t going anywhere on their own.

“We’re going over there.” Dreyon pointed to a door on the other side of the cavern. As the couple walked alongside Dreyon, both took mental notes of the layout. The aircraft were positioned behind them, the rest of the cavern seemed to be taken over by vehicles and equipment. It was all dimly lit. They heard a lot of noise coming from an area they couldn’t see very well, as it was located behind the vehicles. It sounded like there was a small factory of some kind in operation. Every now and then, they would see a red glow reflected on the walls, brightening the dimness. Marc assumed the light came from the noisy operation.

“What’s going on back there?” Marc asked, wanting to find out as much as he could from their not very forthcoming escort.

“Just repair work, that’s all. Nothing that concerns you,” Dreyon replied rather tersely.

They reached an elevator door and Dreyon motioned for them to get in. The door slid shut and Dreyon asked for Level 4. The elevator was moving downward. Marc assumed that the building they were in existed below the mountain.

They promptly reached the fourth level and the door slid open, revealing a corridor lit by wall lamps and smelling rather dank. It was very cool in this place. Dreyon ushered them ahead to the left. They passed many doors on both sides of the corridor and, after a five-minute walk, were led through a door on the right. This was a small room holding very little except four beds, arranged in groups of two bunk beds positioned on each side of the wall. Dreyon informed that they should wait here and someone else would be around in a while for their orientation. “Don’t bother hoping to escape. I’m locking the door after I leave.”

As soon as he left, Marc exploded, “Can you believe this shit? I’m so sorry, Sienna. I really screwed us up. I don’t know where we are or who these people are. They have stolen our PT, our only way back from here. What a freakin’ nightmare!”

“You need to calm down. Getting all worked up right now won’t help us. We need to focus our anger and energy on getting the upper hand and getting out of here.”

“You’re right. Sorry, I just needed to vent a little. As a start, let’s compare our observations, okay?”

“We were on Mars. Then, we went through what I would call a wormhole, although no one I know of has ever been through one. All I can think of is that void we passed after entering ‘Stonehenge’ was the closest thing to one I can imagine. Now we’re here. My guess is this is an alternate universe or some other dimension that exists on Mars. What do you think?”

“That’s as good an explanation as I can come up with. Too bad Dreyon isn’t around to verify it.”

Eventually the door to their room was opened by a woman who was dressed similarly to Dreyon in black battle fatigues. She was very striking and very human looking, with long, dark hair, blue eyes, and full lips. Marc noted that both she and Dreyon looked quite thin and tall; he estimated her to be about 6 foot 3 inches and weighing about 150 pounds. He suspected the body structure might have something to do with the atmosphere or diet of this place, or perhaps the race of these humanoids.

She told them her name was Adria and she seemed to be more talkative, as opposed to the less than forthcoming Dreyon. She explained that she was assigned as their liaison and wanted to make their stay comfortable. This was their room where they would be sleeping. She apologized that it was not more accomodating and explained that the toilet and washroom were communal. Both of them immediately asked to use this facility and Adria had no problem ushering them to this room two doors down and to the left.

Marc said he needed to clean up his face, still bloody from the incident with Dreyon. “No need for that. As soon as you finish with the toilet we will go to the medical center. The technician will take a look at you and repair any damage.”

Sienna was relieved that Adria was being polite and solicitous to their needs. Yet she noted that her speech was direct, and to the point, and that she, like Dreyon, revealed very little beyond what was necessary. Sienna felt she acted a little robotic. It’s probably their way. Dreyon seemed the same.

Adria escorted them back to the elevator and they took it up to Level 2, a floor that was entirely devoted to the medical center, according to Adria. They entered a nursing station. There were quite a few people bustling around, all dressed in dark blue battle fatigues and black boots. Adria whispered to one of the attendants, and he directed her to a room down a long corridor. Adria ushered them into a room on the right. It contained examining tables, with rows of cabinets on the wall. Immediately, a woman came into the room through the same door. She introduced herself as their medical technician, Mamiami. In a few minutes she had cleaned Marc up and applied something to his wound. “It will heal by tomorrow,” she assured, without further comment. With the task completed, Adria escorted them out, back towards the elevator, and presumably back to their little sleeping room.

On the way, one of the many doors lining the corridor slid open and another technician emerged, holding the door ajar for a while as he conferred with his colleague. Marc slowed his pace almost to a halt while he looked into the room. What he observed, before the door closed, caused him concern.

Adria saw him lingering and pulled him along. “We need to go back,” was all she said, but Marc felt he might have seen something they didn’t wish him to see.

Adria returned them to their room. “You must be hungry; I will send someone here with food.”

“Hold on a second, Adria, do you have time for a few questions? Marc asked.

She hesitated before replying, “Not much time, but some. What do you want to know?”

“Where are we? This morning we were on the surface of Mars, now we’re here. We don’t understand where this is, can you explain it?

“I don’t know where Mars is. I was born here, on Atlantia. I’m afraid I can’t answer your question.”

Sienna and Marc just looked at one other with quizzical expressions. Sienna tried to take over for Marc, refusing to let the conversation drop. “So, you’re saying this land is Atlantia. What is the name of that city we saw this morning that looked bombed out?”

“Cerulean. I must go now and take care of getting you food.”

“Hold on a minute, Adria,” Marc interjected. “What about getting us a change of clothes while you’re at it, and something to wash with and brush our teeth.”

“I’ll see what I can do.” Adria walked out and left the two alone for the first time since they were apprehended.

“Something isn’t right about these people, Marc. I don’t know if I would trust them.”

“Yeah, you got that right. When we were up there in the medical facility hallway, do you remember Adria pulled me along?”

“Yes, what happened?”

“I was looking in the room for a second. I saw, well I think I saw, a guy I remember from my last Mars trip. The guy had a big mop of bright red, frizzy hair so that’s how come I remember him. I swear the same guy was strapped on a table in that room. He was also dressed in an outfit like the mining techs wear.”

“You’re kidding! You think they ended up here, too?”

“I’m afraid so. But that isn’t the real problem. The guy’s brain cavity was exposed, like his head had been opened up, and a bunch of wires were connected to it going into a machine. It looked like they were experimenting on him or something.”

Sienna went pale at his words. After some thought she said, “Do you get the impression that these people are a little robotic? And I wonder how come they can understand our language and we understand them? They don’t even have an accent.”

“They have their own language. I heard the tech talking to a colleague when I lingered by that medical doorway. I agree with you that their speech patterns are certainly clipped and unemotional, much like Mr. Mojo. He can speak several languages. I heard he can listen to someone from a different country and assimilate their language after twenty minutes, using some algorithm his designers built into his brain.”

“We need to figure out how to get out of here, and soon, before we get hooked up to some medical gurney.” Sienna was whispering now, suddenly fearful that they might be monitored.

“Yeah, my thoughts exactly. That’s why I asked for some extra clothing. I hope we get some of those black battle fatigues. It could help us fit in and maybe we can sneak out easier.”

Soon there was a knock at the door and a young man came in with two bottles filled with a gray liquid. “Your food.” He handed them the bottles and left.

“What the hell is this?” Marc said, as he opened the bottle top. “It smells strange, that’s for sure.” He took a small sip. “This stuff tastes awful. I don’t know how we can drink it.”

“Let’s not; it might be drugged. I don’t want to wake up tomorrow with a bunch of wires coming out of my head. Let’s take them to the bathroom and pour the liquid down the toilet, so they’ll think we drank it.”

Marc took her bottle and walked to the door, but it didn’t open. “We’re locked in.”

They sat forlornly on the bunk beds and, after some time, Adria walked in with the promised change of clothes.

“I see you have received your food. Good. Here are some clothes for you. I hope they fit.”

“Why is the door locked, Adria? What if we need to use the toilet?” Marc asked as she turned to leave.

“I will ask Commander Dreyon. That was his decision.” Then she walked out.

Marc and Sienna looked at the clothes. “The legs are too long for me,” Sienna remarked, “but I can roll them up, I guess.”

“Yeah, mine are too, and very tight. Everyone here seems to be tall and thin. The good thing is that we now have the same clothes everyone else is wearing.”

“Looks like getting out of here will be a problem, Marc. We can’t even get out of this room.”

Marc began whispering again. “We’re going to have to overpower the next one of them that comes in. We’ll tie them up using our old clothing. I have a pocketknife. We can use that to cut strips of cloth to bind someone up and gag them.”

“Then what?”

“We use the elevator, go up to the main cavern, power up our PT, and fly out of here. We need to go back and find the ‘Stonehenge’ structure we came through to here on Atlantia. The onboard computer will guide us back.”

“Providing we don’t get caught or blown up by them as we try to escape. And what about the sled people? They didn’t look too nice either, by the way. They seemed even more robotic than Adria and Dreyon.”

“It’s worth a try. I’ll take that over having my brain wired up.”

The duo began shedding their old clothes and trying on the new fatigues. After a little pulling and tugging here and there, plus rolling up the pant legs, they began to somewhat resemble their captors, except for their footwear. Marc then proceeded to cut strips of cloth out of their discarded clothing to use as restraints. He had just finished, as the door opened again and in walked Adria. Marc stood up quickly, as did Sienna, with the intent of overpowering Adria. Just as Marc closed the distance and was about to reach for her, Dreyon came into their room.

Chapter 5

Captain Holland guided his ship near the ‘Platinum Raider’ and placed it in orbit around Mars. He was anxious to meet with his old academy chum again. He looked forward to reminiscing about some of their fun times when they were students, but he held several reservations concerning Novak’s plan, as it had been laid out.

Holland took a small shuttle over to the Raider and docked it in their shuttle bay. Novak was there to greet him and they fist bumped like they did back in school, and then gave each other a hug, followed by a slap on the back.

“Well, you don’t look too bad Holland, for an old guy.” Holland was a few years older than Novak, a source of familiar jokes by Novak taking advantage of their differences.

Holland had a retort ready about Novak’s hair turning prematurely gray, but then thought it might not be wise to go there, given the seriousness of the matter facing Novak. He had lost two crew members. He felt Novak might be uptight, considering that IMC probably had not taken the loss of them plus the miners very well. Whereas the loss of the miners could not be attributable to his actions, they might construe Poland’s actions a result of a failed command. Holland knew that the accident might cost Novak his job.

“Good to see you too, Novak. Got a bottle of Jack Daniels standing by for an old chum?”

Both men knew IMC didn’t allow alcohol on board except for the celebratory reunion with the ‘Iron Maiden’. It was considered a serious infraction. “Oh hell no, you can’t hold your liquor, remember?” This was true. Holland was a bad drunk. Novak had held him over the toilet on more than one occasion on weekends at the academy.

Holland laughed but he noticed that his host seemed tense, as he escorted him to his captain’s quarters. “We can talk in private here,” Novak said.

“So, you want to take five men and the monster rover down to Mars and search for your people, and any sign of the missing miners right? Was any of this sanctioned by IMC?”

“Here’s what they sent me. You read it and tell me what you think?”

Holland read the reply. It was chilling he thought that IMC could regard the loss of life so callously, but everyone knew space exploration and space mining was a very high-risk job. If you succeeded, the rewards were great; but many a mining tech had been lost due to equipment failure or accidents.

“Okay, I see what bothers you. It bothers me too, but is it worth risking your job for?”

“You know it is. What if it were you or me? Wouldn’t you hope someone would at least try to find you?”

“I would have to say yes.”

“Well, here’s the thing Jeremy. According to Mr. Mojo...”

“Wait a minute, who is Mr. Mojo?”

“Our AI robot, you know the Magellan Robot. Don’t tell me you call yours Magellan?”

“As a matter of fact we do, but go on.”

Novak laughed ruefully. “Oh boy, I can see I need to loosen you up, Holland. Too bad I don’t have some Jack. Anyway, to continue, Mojo thinks there is the possibility that they may be in the middle of this structure down there. I sent you the video on it. We just can’t see them, for whatever reason. Maybe if we are down there, we can. That’s all I want. I think it’s worth a try.”

“Of course I did see the video and what occurred was really strange. It’s something I have never encountered before in my space travels. I agree a look-see might not be so bad, but I just hope that, if you don’t see them, you aren’t planning to enter that structure. Obviously, it is something we don’t understand. Going into it is out of the question, as far as I’m concerned.”

“I agree with you. If they did disappear, then God knows where they are or even if they are still alive. I won’t take that chance.”

“This guy, Poland, was he a risk taker? Why do you think he put the shuttle in there? No one ordered him to do it, right?” Holland took a hard look at his old friend.

“Right, his job was to circle around the drilling site, look for any sign of the miners and return. Simple. I only wish that had happened. I don’t get it. Marc Poland was a real level-headed guy, great weapons officer. With a little more training and time in grade, he could have captained one of these ships.”

Both men looked puzzled as they thought about Novak’s statement. “So what are you going to tell IMC then? Aren’t you expected to be returning in another day?”

“Yeah, I am. I could tell them the load operation was taking longer than expected, but the truth is, all the platinum is already aboard. The crew on the ‘Iron Maiden’ has probably already told IMC that.

“Well, we damn well better come up with something. I got it! Get your robot to temporarily disable the Ion Synthesizer.  That would do it. You would have to wait until it got repaired. The onboard diagnostics would tell IMC the same thing.”

“That’s not a bad idea, except for one thing.”

“What’s that?”

“Mojo is a real straight arrow. He probably wouldn’t do it if he thought it was against IMC’s policies. They’re all programmed that way you know, a double check on the crew and captain.”

“Tell him to do it or we shut him down. I know how to do that. I did it to our robot once, when he tried to countermand one of my decisions.”

“You’re bullshitting me, right?”

“No, I’m not.”

“I love you man, still pulling the same old shit. I knew I could count on you.”

The next day Mr. Mojo reluctantly shut down the ion synthesizer and Captain Novak reported a need for several days delay while it was being repaired. Mr. Mojo, despite his lack of emotional response, understood the logic behind his captain’s request. It seemed reasonable to him to at least verify if Poland and Love were still present on Mars, but perhaps trapped in the structure itself. The question of what happened to the miners also puzzled him. Until more data was received, he felt it was logical to investigate further. He wasn’t sure how to interpret the threat of temporarily suspending his functions. Constructed to think logically, he didn’t see why that was necessary since he agreed with the captain’s reasoning. He saved the communication, nevertheless, in his data bank for future reference.

IMC quickly responded to the Raider captain to expedite the repairs because they needed the latest load of platinum to meet demands. At the end of the urgent message was a sentence that caught Novak’s attention.

“Sent video of ‘Stonehenge’ to Space Command for their review.”

Novak hadn’t considered that factor. He wondered what Space Command would think.

Chapter 6

When the video of the ‘Stonehenge Portal’, as it later became referred to by the United Space Command, was received by their intelligence committee it immediately peaked their curiosity.

“Could be the first possible confirmation of alien intelligence,” one analyst remarked. “When NASA took all those photos in the early twenty-first century of Mars and sent probes like the rover ‘Curiosity’, they came across some structures resembling an intentional collection of stones, much like the configuration of the real Stonehenge. I don’t think much came of it though, other than raw speculation on the part of a lot of conspiracy theorists and the UFO crowd.”

“I remember that too. I think you’re right, however,” said another. “We need to take a closer look at this. Let’s bump it up the chain of command this afternoon. I’m going to recommend they delay any orders to the ‘Platinum Raider’ to return right away. That Captain Novak and his AI may be able to shed more light on this, until we can get someone more qualified there to do further research.”

A report of their findings, together with edited video footage, was sent forward to a higher level that afternoon. By the next morning, the idea of ‘alien intelligence on Mars’ had become the latest buzz among those with a need to know. The entire project had been given an acronym, AIM for alien intelligence on Mars, and was classified top secret crypto. IMC had been given a directive to hold the Raider in orbit for a minimum of five days until they determined the next course of action. IMC brass fumed at being told how to run their business, but willingly complied, as the government was one of their biggest customers and secretly helped fund some of the exploration.

Vice Admiral Ramirez, one of the three in command of the coalition representing the United Space Command, personally took charge of the project and convened his top level staff.

“Gentlemen, it looks like we finally, after many years, have direct evidence of an alien intelligence on Mars. This certainly will be welcome news to all scientists on Earth who have been hoping for a long time for some evidence of inter-planetary life. I can’t say I expected we’d find anything but mineral’s on Mars; I always thought our first contact or that sort of thing would have come from further out in the galaxy.”

There was some further questioning among the clearly intrigued staff, and then Ramirez stated that he was going to play them some “remarkable” video footage. The video ran for twenty minutes. Not one word was spoken by anyone until it concluded. “We are calling this the ‘Stonehenge Portal’ and I believe you can see why very clearly.”

After viewing the video, the room was opened to further discussion. General Porter spoke first. “We need boots on the ground up there, Admiral. Gotta see what’s going on. Send a real combined force there, Army, Navy, Marines, Space Command.”

“Are you suggesting we send them into the structure itself or just have them there, in case something else develops?”

“Well, er…I’m not sure. We need a committee or panel of experts to decide on that.”

The group batted dozens of ideas and scenarios around for the next hour, until Ramirez cut them off. “Okay, here’s what I think we need to do in view of all of the suggestions. If you don’t agree, let me know, but here’s my suggestion.”

Ramirez laid out his plan to send the battle carrier ‘Guardian’ to the scene. The ‘Guardian’ was the newest, most formidable space vehicle the Space Command had at its disposal. It was conceived after the China Wars as an orbiting sentinel for the planet. It contained a fleet of hypersonic drones, stealth space craft fighters, and other advanced weaponry that could be deployed together with three battalions of marines for ground support anywhere on the planet in one hour. It was a true deterrent to the global skirmishes and wars that had plagued Earth for decades. The Space Command itself was a coalition of European, Russian, American, British, Australian and Japanese forces combined into a single fighting unit.

The ‘Guardian’ had been so successful as a deterrent, that a second space vehicle, ‘Sentinel’ had been placed into service to allow down time for the ‘Guardian’. Fresh from a recent overhaul, the ‘Guardian’ had recently been allowed to venture further into space and was now partway to Mars on an exploratory mission. It could be available as a resource in three weeks.

“My thinking is to take advantage of Captain Novak’s first hand observations and send a small recon team down to the structure. I would consider using drones to enter the structure to get an idea of how it operates. Once we get a better picture of this thing, we’ll be in a better position to take the next steps.”

The group concurred with the Vice Admiral’s plan. The ‘Guardian’ had the best resources available. Only one person disagreed, Admiral Hiroshi of Japan. To quote a famous Chinese philosopher, “A rat who gnaws at a cat's tail invites destruction”.

“Point well taken, Admiral, but I think we have enough exotic weapons at our disposal that we could stop the cat if it does get riled.”

“I hope, for all our sakes, we do, sir. But a battlefield without intelligence is usually lost to those that do.” His point wasn’t lost on the assembled group or the Vice Admiral.

Vice Admiral Ramirez dismissed the group and turned to his aide. “Alert the ‘Guardian’ to make full speed to Mars, and then hold in orbit until further instructions. Contact IMC. I want Novak to get a closer look for us in advance of ‘Guardian’s’ presence. I know him by the way; I knew his father. Novak is a good man. Sorry we weren’t able to use him.”

Chapter 7

“Going somewhere, Mr. Poland?” Dreyon asked as he entered, sensing Marc was about to bolt out the door.

“No, just bored with sitting around, that’s all.”

Dreyon surveyed the room, immediately noticing the shredded clothing lying on one of the beds. He casually strolled over to them and picked up one of the strips of cloth, holding it out in front of him, and then turned to Poland. “Interesting,” he commented, with a smirk.

“You didn’t give us any boots to wear,” Sienna interjected, worried that Marc might not come up with a suitable explanation. “I need those to tie up these pants, they’re too long for me.”

In response, Dreyon simply lifted one eyebrow and stared at her with amusement.  Marc knew Dreyon didn’t buy her explanation, but held back further comments.

“We’ll soon get you something that fits better. In the meantime, follow me. We need to go over some details about your shuttle.”

They followed him out the door to the elevator and then back up to the main floor; the cavern entrance. Adria didn’t go with them. As they walked to where the PT was parked, Marc took full advantage of the opportunity to look around. He wasn’t completely sure, but he thought he saw part of one of the miner’s rovers behind several of the weapon carriers they had used to defeat the sled people that morning. He kept that to himself.

When they reached their shuttle, Sienna asked Dreyon if they could retrieve some food that was stored on the shuttle. “I don’t wish to offend you but the gray liquid that Adria brought for us is just not palatable.” She made a face that implied it was all of that and more.

“I understand. Take what you need. When it runs out though, you’d better acquire a taste for our food. It is made for nourishment not flavor.”

Dreyon asked Marc and Sienna to run him through the operation of the shuttle, from start-up to diagnostics to weaponry. “We may cannibalize some of your vehicle. I’m afraid it’s of little use to us in its current form. Sorry about that, but we need it more than you do.”

“Well, that sucks,” Marc said. “I take it we’re your prisoners then. And there is no hope of getting out of here and getting back to our ship.”

“I told you before, there’s a war going on. When we win, and we will win, you’ll be returned. You have my word. In the meantime, you’re going to have to work with me. Do as I say and you won’t have any problems. Understood?”

Marc and Sienna just looked at each other. Sienna replied for them. “Understood.”

“I’d appreciate hearing it from him, also,” and he pointed at Marc.

“Yeah, I understand, Dreyon. But take this as a formal complaint. I don’t like it, I have not given permission for you to take my shuttle craft, and we are complying under duress.”

They spent the better part of two hours going over the shuttle craft and educating Dreyon. Marc saw little use in trying to be secretive about anything to do with the craft’s operation, and told him what he wanted to know. When they finished, Dreyon gave them a hand in carrying food back to their room.

“There is no chance of escaping, Marc. Your shuttle will be useless by the end of tonight. If you try, I won’t even bother trying to find you. There are things out there, sent by the other side, that will kill you both instantly. The only protection you have is to stay here with us. Here you’re safe,” and he waved his hand indicating their room and Marc assumed the entire camp. Dreyon pointed in the general direction of the valley, “Out there, on your own, you won’t last two hours.”

“You said when you first captured us that you were at war with those who have taken over your city. So, what gives, who are you and who took over your city?”

“A reasonable question. That city is Cerulean, the capital of Atlantia and seat of our government, and located in the Province of Cerulean. Unfortunately, that province is running out of financing while other provinces like Solonia are doing well. Cerulean’s remedy to fix their problem was simple, tax Solonia and others more. There are many of us who disagree with this solution. Until the Cerulean government is taken down, there will be little hope for Atlantia’s future.”

“Who’s winning?”

Dreyon didn’t answer Marc directly, but instead smiled and told him there would be time for answering that question later. Before leaving them, Dreyon told them the door would now be unlocked, so that they could use the toilet facilities and shower area down the hall. They both took advantage of this new freedom to get cleaned up. Feeling refreshed, they returned to their room to partake of some of their food supplies. And then they sat on their beds, staring at one another, and wondering what they were going to do.

Marc was the first to speak. “Well, so I guess we’re caught up in their little civil war. Great! We’ve got to get out of here. If they were winning, they wouldn’t be holed up in a cave somewhere."

“I agree. I don’t know why he took us either. I mean why not just help us get back?”

“I don’t know. He wanted the shuttle craft to add to his resources. Shows you how desperate they probably are. I take it from all of that, he and his group aren’t winning.”

“What are we going to do then?”

“First, tonight I’m going to do a little reconnaissance up above. The shuttle may be useless, but I thought I saw one of our rovers parked out there.”

“The vehicles used by the miners?”

“Yes. There were actually two of them parked in the back, near our PT. I’m sure of it. Maybe we can use one of them to get away.”

“You heard Dreyon. He said something about ‘bad things out there’ and we wouldn’t last.”

“He might have been trying to scare us or demoralize us.”

“Do you think they have hall cameras or are monitoring us in some way?”

“I don’t know. But I still think we should take our chances. We can’t just sit here.”

“Then what do we do when we get back to where we came in?”

“We find that portal entrance back on the grassy plain where we entered. We’ve got to see if there is a similar ‘Stonehenge’ structure, like the one on Mars. I believe that is the key to our return.”

Chapter 8

IMC responded, as ordered by Space Command, sending a message to Captain Novak to remain at his current position until further notice, even once his ship was repaired. In addition, Space Command requested he take a closer look at the structure, but not to try and enter it under any circumstances.

When Novak received the message, he whooped with joy. He felt vindicated regarding his plan to reconnoiter the structure with the monster rover. Apparently, Space Command was sending the ‘Guardian’ to take a look also. He knew that ship and had always wished he could have been a part of it. Now, in a small way, he could. That pleased him to no end. He was so excited that he immediately messaged Holland to let him in on the news. Holland replied back, “Well done, ready when you are”.

The next morning, Novak began assembling his team from the ‘Platinum Explorer’ with Holland’s help. He wasn’t sure he needed five men, but he requested them anyway, feeling there was always safety in numbers if trouble should occur. The monster rover was indeed a monster. One shuttle craft could not take it to the surface. It had to be decoupled at the sixth axel and taken apart, allowing the two modules to be shipped separately. That took an entire day in itself to disassemble it in preparation for shipment. The reassembly on Mars would take equally as long. That meant, they would not be ready to explore the area until day three.

The lengthy process bothered Novak and he wondered if they needed to change the plan. He conferred with Holland on the matter that evening.

“Using the monster rover will eat up a lot of time, Jeremy. Every hour those people are down there, if they are still down there, poses a problem for them.”

Holland agreed, but wondered what wild plan Novak might be about to propose.

“I’m thinking to do the intelligence gathering, maybe we should just take one of the shuttles down instead. It would be a hellava lot easier and faster.”

“I’ve thought about that, too. The rover is great if we are going to negotiate really rough ground to get there, but the terrain isn’t that much of a problem. The shuttle could fly right down to the Stonehenge area from here. That is unless you want to continue to investigate the underground mining camp.”

“You know, not a bad idea. Why don’t we split the five man team. Two men can take another look underground, just in case. The rest will come with me to take a look at the structure. What do you think?”

“Sounds like a plan. Let’s do it, but keep the monster rover option open. We might need to use it later, who knows. I think we should get it ready for shipment, just in case.”

“Good idea. Man, I’m glad we’re working together Jeremy. Feels like old times!”

The next morning Novak assembled the men and explained the mission ahead. “Johnson and Chavez will be assigned to explore the underground habitat. The rest of you will come with me to take a look around the structure. We’ll set the shuttle down around fifty feet in front of it and go up to it on foot. Consider it an exploration. Under no circumstances do we enter the structure, is that clear?”

Everyone had heard about Poland and Love. They didn’t need any convincing. “Okay, so suit up and let’s get down there and do our job.” Thirty minutes later, the shuttle craft called ‘PT Excelsior’ led the team down to the surface. Mr. Mojo recorded the event using the video feed and telemetry aboard the Raider. Holland moved over to the Raider temporarily to take a look with him.

Novak took over the job of piloting ‘Excelsior’. He missed the feel of a small craft like the shuttle. It reminded him of his days in the cockpit after the space academy. Novak was a “hands-on” type of commander, and being able to physically fly the shuttle rather than have Mr. Mojo pilot it for him gave him intense satisfaction.

He planted the shuttle right next to the mining camp. The surface winds were blowing twenty miles per hour with gusts up to thirty. He hoped they wouldn’t go any higher. The shuttle craft was a little too lightweight, particularly in the lower gravity of Mars. This one lacked the armament and light armor of Marc’s PT. As soon as the two men exited and got out of the exhaust blast, he powered up again and made his way to the structure. This time, he traveled counterclockwise around the robotic drilling equipment, the route not taken by Poland. He knew it was a long shot, but he hoped he might pick up a clue as to the disappearance of the miners.

As he flew past the four robotic drilling rigs, he could see that three of the four were still operating and bringing up material from their excavation. Holland noted it too and called him on the ship’s communication system. “Bill, why are the rigs still going, if the mining techs aren’t around to monitor them? That’s not good procedure, right?”

“I agree. IMC can remotely monitor them. I’m surprised they don’t ask us to shut them down. It’s a good way to lose a rig.”

“I’ll send them a ‘wake-up’ message. For the time being, there isn’t any reason to keep drilling away.”

Novak agreed and continued with his flight plan. Neither he nor any of the three men with him saw any signs of the rovers or the men assigned to the habitat. Novak began to wonder if they could have experienced the same fate as Marc and Sienna. But why would they all climb aboard the rovers and travel out to the structure in the first place. It was highly doubtful they saw it from the area of the rigs.

When he was in the vicinity of the structure, but still a distance away, he noted that only the very tip of the rocks were showing above the Mars’ surface. “Mr. Mojo, can you see the structure from your screen?” he asked.

“Yes, barely. The structure blends into the surrounding sand so cleverly, it is hard to see unless there are shadows. Nevertheless, I would approach it with caution.”

“Roger that Mojo, caution is my middle name.”

“Not so much,” countered Holland, chuckling as he listened in.

Novak put the craft down a good seventy feet away from the structure. He shut it down and asked the men to proceed with the goal of encircling the structure, taking pictures and video of it from each angle. It was minus 50 degrees right now on Mars and the wind was still blowing 25 mph, but the EMU suits were well equipped to stand up to the frigid air. Traversing the ground though was more difficult, due to the loose sandy soil and the wind. They weighed thirty eight percent less on Mars due to the lower gravity, and this made it difficult to keep upright in a strong wind.

The idea was to start encircling the structure from seventy five yards away and then equally walk closer, but in no case would anyone enter the structure. Novak felt all was going well so far, and Mr. Mojo affirmed his observation from the Raider.

Suddenly, all hell broke loose when Ryker Jeske, who was directly facing the entrance to Stonehenge, apparently came too close. The structure began to slowly rise up out of the sand. Novak swore it made a distinct humming sound. He watched, helpless, as Jeske seemed to be drawn in, despite warnings from both he and Mr. Mojo to back away. The other men had already withdrawn on Novak’s orders, but Jeske inexorably kept walking toward the center, as if in a trance. Then he disappeared. Both Mr. Mojo and Novak were watching this event closely, unlike the first time. Both noted a slight shimmering in the air around Jeske, just as he evaporated from view.

Novak hollered for the other men to move even further away and then ordered everyone back to ‘Excelsior’. He waited until they were all safely inside and then climbed into the pilot’s seat.

“What are you going to do now?” Holland asked in a slightly raised voice, because he was concerned for Novak’s state of mind and astonished by what he had just seen.

“I’m going to go get him back.”

“No fucking way, what’s the matter with you!” Holland screamed over the comm net. “Don’t do it, Bill. You’ll be lost too.”

Captain Novak had already powered up Excelsior and had lifted off the ground. “Okay, I won’t right now.” He respected the stern warning of his friend, Holland. “I’ll take the others back to the habitat. Send down another shuttle to get them, in case I don’t come back.”

Mr. Mojo actually made a groaning noise, an unusual thing for a robot to do. Holland was beside himself. “That bastard is really going to do it! Oh man, is there some way you can override the shuttle from here, Mojo?”

“Yes, but Captain Novak has already defeated the remote controls. I can’t do anything at the moment. I suggest you prepare another shuttle to pick up the men.”

They watched helplessly as Novak dropped the three men off at the habitat and then sped back towards the Stonehenge structure, which was now fully risen out of the ground.

Chapter 9

Marc and Sienna stretched out on their bunk beds early. Marc set a silent alarm on his phone for a wake up vibration at 3pm. Sienna had her phone too. But other than a reminder of their time, they were useless in this dimension.

“These beds are uncomfortable, Marc, don’t you think?”

“Yes, too firm for me, sort of like sleeping on the floor. But, I’m going to try to ignore it and hope this is the last night we spend here in this little prison. Anyway, good night, Sienna.”

The pair were soon asleep, exhausted from the entire events of the day, but Marc woke up, just as his alarm went off. He woke Sienna, telling her, “I’m going now. Wish me luck, okay.”

“Okay, I hope you find something that will help us,” and she gave him a quick, but tender kiss, which surprised him.

“Thanks.” He left, their room door sliding open as Dreyon said it would. No one else was stirring; at least he heard no noise. As far as Marc could tell, in this wing on Level 2, they were the only occupants.

He used the elevator to go up to the main floor. He tensed his body as the elevator stopped and the door opened. He hoped no one else would be waiting there and there would be no sentries about. When the door slid back and he walked out, he could see that the cavern was empty and dimly lit, except for the red glow off the walls to the rear of the cave. Even at this late hour, he could still hear noise coming from something going on back there.

Dreyon had said their PT was to be cannibalized, so Marc crept around to look at the vehicles, specifically to ascertain if the IMC rovers were there. Behind one of the weapons carriers, he saw the two rovers. They looked serviceable from the outside. He climbed into the first one and switched on the power. “Yes,” he silently said, as power was available. He assumed it must be totally functional, but it would be tricky getting it out of its tight parking space.

Marc climbed out of the rover and then edged forward, closer to the source of the noise and red glow. Partially concealed, he looked around a vehicle near the source of the noise. Ahead, there was a major operation going on. He couldn’t count the many robots working together building what looked like other robots and weapons. He knew in theory that robots could be programmed to build themselves, as long as a spare parts bin was available to begin with. With that, they could not only build more robots, but more spare parts too. The problem was programming them to use intuitive intelligence when a problem arose. So far, that hadn’t been too successful on Earth, so the theory hadn’t been tested. However, Marc could see that these robots were fully capable of working independently and moreover, they apparently worked 24-7. No doubt this is part of Dreyon’s plan; create a massive robot army and storm the city.

Marc’s curiosity was peaked. He wondered what other things he could discover. To the far left, there was another door. He questioned if it led to an elevator or some other facility. He decided to find out, moving cautiously behind some of the parked vehicles and weaponry that were staged in this part of the cavern. Reaching the door, he entered.

Initially, it seemed to lead nowhere. He couldn’t see anything in the darkness ahead. Marc reached with his hands and swept both sides of the wall next to the door searching for some kind of switch to illuminate the hallway or whatever lay ahead. Finding none, he took another pace forward and bright lights, activated by a sensor, automatically illuminated what appeared to be an almost endless cavern in itself. He felt a sense of awe as he stared at row upon row of robots covered by their gleaming metal exterior; each one was holding some kind of automatic assault weapon. Their heads were devoid of features, except for a narrow window that wrapped around their foreheads beginning at the temple. He assumed it was some type of vision device and probably a sensor as well. He moved forward to examine the first one directly in front of him. Its vision device suddenly activated displaying a green light, and then every robot in the row did the same.

“Holy shit, I shouldn’t have done that,” he whispered out loud.

“No you shouldn’t have, Marc.”

Standing directly a few paces behind him was Adria. He never heard her approach.

She must have been watching me the whole time. Now he tried valiantly to recover the situation. “I couldn’t sleep so I got up and took a walk. Heard a noise in here and thought I’d see what’s going on, that’s all. Sorry to have caused a problem.”

Adria stared at him, apparently not buying his story. “You must come back with me.”

As they exited the room, Marc noticed the robot’s green lights dimmed and then the light completely extinguished. No further words were exchanged with Adria until they entered his sleeping room.

“I am going to call Dreyon to see what he wishes to do. I am locking this door until then.”  Adria left them, giving Marc a moment to tell Sienna all that had happened.

“Well, Marc, I guess you got just a bit too curious. Now we’re in a fix.”

“I guess I thought the more we knew about this place, the better. I was hoping it would have helped us if we attempted an escape.”

Sienna was apprehensive. “Dreyon will most likely be furious. What will he do?”

As if on cue, Adria walked back in. “Come with me, you are being moving to Level 3.”

Chapter 10

As soon as Captain Novak dropped off the three mining techs at the habitat, he returned to the site of the structure. Holland was imploring him to return to the Raider, but to no avail.

“I want to take a look. So far as I can tell, we have lost three people through what seems to be a portal of that structure. I think, and I don’t have anything to substantiate this, the mining techs from the habitat may have met the same fate as our people have.

“You’re not making any sense, Bill, what good will it do for you to disappear too? At this point, all those people are gone, haven’t come back, and maybe never will. We don’t know enough about what’s going on; whether it’s a portal, a black hole, or what. Unless you have a death wish, I think you had better get your ass back here. Let someone else be the hero.”

“Something has to be done. Someone has to do it. Why not me?”

“Hold on, Mojo has an idea.”

So, Mr. Metal Brains has a better idea, I can hardly wait to hear this one.

“Marc, I have come up with a possible solution. I will program one of the Raider drones to enter the structure, and then fly around in a one hundred and sixty degree circle for one minute in what I think is possibly another dimension. Then the drone will go back to the exact spot it was when it arrived there. If there is something there that can be activated to bring it back, we will find out. I think this is better than losing another human. I hope you will agree.”

Novak had to agree that it was a better idea. If a portal existed in the other dimension, logically it would be where you found yourself when you got there. If the drone returned, it might prove a point.

“There is some energy source at that structure. I felt it and heard it. What happens if it destroys the drone’s electrical system, how could it get back then?” Novak questioned.

“It could not, obviously. Give me more time to think about a solution.”

“Mojo’s right, Bill. Come on back, buddy, and let’s talk about it. It’s worth a try.”

“Okay, I give in, but not forever. If that drone makes it back, I want to go myself and try and get those people back.”

“Roger that. I’ll support you on that, but I wish you would wait until the ‘Guardian’ arrives. They have better equipment than that piece of tin you’re flying.”

Novak returned to the habitat and picked up the four men. They lifted off and flew to the Raider.

While he was doing that, Mr. Mojo had already left the bridge and was programming one of the three drones aboard the Raider. He picked one that had some armament and was used to ward off pirate ships. It had the best camera setup with systems for infrared imaging, thermal imaging, spectroscopy, low light imaging, and night vision. In addition it was lightly armored and carried two mini-laser guided missiles, as well as a mini-gun that spit out armor piercing, uranium tipped bullets at a rate of 4,000 per minute.

The robot took some parts from a second drone to provide electrical backup power that he then shielded with defensive depleted uranium armor taken from a third drone. Five hours later, he was satisfied with the results and announced the drone was ready to be deployed.

Novak and Holland went to the bridge while Mr. Mojo took command of the drone launch from the shuttle bay. He piloted it down to the structure and thirty minutes later it circled the structure until its presence had activated the Stonehenge appearing structure once more. Then Mr. Mojo initiated the pre-programmed commands, and the drone flew on its own directly into the structure and disappeared.

“Anyone want to take bets on whether it comes back or not?” Novak quipped.

“Yes, I would like to bet,” Mr. Mojo said. “If I win, I would like a new computer upgrade.”

Novak and Holland looked at each other. Novak threw up his arms in the air and shrugged his shoulders. “What was that, a robot joke?”

“It was a robot joke,” Mr. Mojo interjected.

“Hey, Holland, who knew robot’s joked?”

“First time for everything, Bill. Stick around, maybe they’ll host a late night show, too.”

“Okay, Holland, here’s one for you.

“What do you say to a dead robot?”

“Okay, I give.”

“Rust in peace.”

Mr. Mojo responded, “Are you expecting me to find that juvenile comment humorous? Very well, ha, ha.”

Both men laughed at their own humor and unfortunately missed the sight of the returning drone, now sitting on the surface of Mars near the structure, awaiting Mr. Mojo’s next command.

Chapter 11

The pair discovered that Level 3 provided much tighter security. In essence, it was a locked ward. Escape would be very difficult. At least Adria had allowed them to take all their food and clothing to their new quarters.

In the morning Dreyon entered their new quarters and admonished Marc for wandering around on his own. “I don’t know what you had in mind, but I question whether I can trust you to follow my orders. You seem to lack a sense of self discipline. I had hoped we could use you in the upcoming campaign we are planning, but now I have reservations.”

“Dreyon, we’re thinking people. We’re not a pair of robots like some of the staff we have seen you using here. You can’t expect us to sit still like two little children and not question what is going on, and to not access our chances of survival.”

“Well said, which is why you are now here. Follow orders, and I will consider moving you back to Level 2. Disobey me, and face painful consequences.”

Dreyon left as fast as he came in. “Well, at least we’re still alive to face another day, Sienna. And we have enough food for a week if we make it last. That’s about it though.”

“I wonder what he meant by using us in the upcoming campaign?”

“I don’t know, but I don’t feel like becoming a soldier again so I don’t plan on hanging around to find out.”

Marc held back more of his feelings at that point. He felt a sense of rage and a sense of helplessness, but he knew he couldn’t show it. He thought about something else too. During the voyage, he had lusted for Sienna and now he was with her as a partner, but under arduous circumstances. Had the timing and place been different, he would have allowed himself to truly appreciate her company and take the time to really get to know her as a person. Unfortunately, their very survival seemed to be at stake.

Dreyon had told the couple that there was a communal toilet for their use in this ward and their room would be left unlocked so that they could access it. Access doors and elevators leading out of the ward were, on the other hand, securely locked. Marc and Sienna went there to utilize this ward shower, only to find that someone else was ahead of them.

A human eventually emerged from the shower stall, to their surprise. The man was around Marc’s age, a little under six feet tall, and looked quite emaciated and haggard. Could this be one of the lost mining techs?

Marc immediately introduced himself and stated that he worked for IMC and asked the man if he was one of the miners at the Mars facility. The other man reacted equally surprised and explained his name was Eric Larson, and he was one of the mining techs. “How did you get here?” Eric blurted.

“I’m being held prisoner here,” Marc stated. “What about you? Were you captured when you went through the ‘Stonehenge’ structure?”

Larson spoke slowly and appeared to have a problem remembering too many details. From what Marc learned, Larson’s group was originally twenty in number. He explained how the alien beings had shown up at their Mars habitat one day and took them, at gunpoint, to the structure that Marc was describing as ‘Stonehenge’. “Then everything went black, we all felt dizzy, and suddenly we were somewhere else and our space suits were no longer necessary. We were all astonished. They told us we were in Atlantia. They brought us to this building, we actually seemed to fly through a mountainside to get here, and they separated us into groups of four. I’d guess this all happened about three weeks back, I think; I’m having trouble remembering right now. One miserable day seems like another. Since I’ve been here, my three mates have been taken away about every few days, one by one, and have not returned to my room. I certainly don’t think these people mean us well.”

Marc then explained his own situation, and introduced Sienna who had been silent the whole time. She bluntly told the miner that he did not look well and asked what he had been eating.

“It’s some kind of gray liquid that smells like shit and tastes about the same. Dreyon explained to us it was supposed to be healthy for humans, full of vitamins and minerals, but none of us could stand the stuff and, we only drank it to keep from starving. I think I’ve lost about twenty pounds.”

Marc forgot about showering and immediately invited Larson back to his room, while Sienna stayed behind to get cleaned up. While Larson sat down on the bunk bed, Marc foraged in the food supplies. “I think I’ve got a treat for you,” Marc said smiling, and handed the thin, hungry man a large energy bar.

The miner grabbed for the Earth treat and gobbled it down. When he finished, his eyes were wet with tears. “That was delicious. I had almost forgotten what decent food was like.”

“When was the last time you saw anyone else? Have you been able to walk around this ward and talk with any other miners?”

“When we first arrived, we saw each other every day, for the first few days. Then slowly, the number of men seemed to drop, every one noticed, but no one knew where they went. Adria would just come into a room and take someone. That’s the last we would see of them.”

“So you’ve been able to walk around this level, check out all the rooms?”

“Yes, at first. But then Dreyon warned us not to go wandering around. He beat one of the men in front of all of us, to demonstrate what would happen if we disobeyed him, and dragged the poor guy away, all bloody. After that, we were scared and just stayed in our rooms and only occasionally met one another in the washroom. And then, two days ago, ‘Carrot-top’ the last of my roommates, was taken away. I guess I’m next. I tell you, I’m getting damned scared. I don’t know what they’ve got in mind for us but I’ve got a feeling I’m sitting here like a lobster in a tank, just being kept alive until… I don’t know what.”

“I don’t want to get you more upset, but I think you’re right. It’s not good. We were on Level 4 yesterday, it’s the medical level, and I got a chance to briefly look in one of the rooms there. I think I saw one of your miners strapped on a gurney, a guy with bright red hair, and now with all sorts of wires and tubes poking out of his head. If what happened to him is what they have in store for us, we’re as good as dead.”

“Oh, God!” the miner cried, putting his head in his hands.

Sienna who had come into the room while Larson was talking, looked at Marc and he saw fear reflected on her lovely face. She had just heard the last part of their conversation. Larson’s story brought chills up his spine, too. So much for Dreyon’s talk about recruiting them into his army.

“We’re going to have to take some chances if we want to get out of here,” Marc said. “Have any of you tried to escape? Obviously something bad has happened to the other men and it’s going to happen to us too if we stick around.”

“There’s no escaping from this locked ward. I was hoping you two might be part of a large rescue party. Does anyone from Earth know we’re here?”

“We’re part of the crew on the ’Platinum Raider’. They certainly know that Sienna and I disappeared once we entered that structure. They must know all of you miners are missing too.”

“I’d better go back to my room now,” Larson suddenly said, dejectedly. “Dreyon might be angry if he found me here.”

“Okay, but rap on our door when you’re ready to head back to the toilet and we’ll talk some more. Also, we’ll give you more of our food supplies.” Marc then handed Larson some dried dinner mix that only needed water blended with it to become a meal. “A gourmet feast,” Marc joked. But Larson took the food offering with profuse thanks, as if he had been handed the most wonderful, precious gift.

When Larson left, Sienna turned again to the main topic of what they were going to do. “I think we’re running out of time, Marc.”

“Yeah, it looks like it.”

“I don’t think Larson will be of much help to us, what do you think?”

“I agree. He’s probably sick from that crap they’ve been feeding him. I think he’s so demoralized he’s lost the will to survive. Listen Sienna, I don’t think we have any choice, but to overpower Adria and try to escape from the cavern. There are some weapons possibly still in the shuttle. I never showed Dreyon the weapons locker on purpose. It opens on combination. He might not have tried it yet. I think we should go for the weapons and use them on anyone trying to stop us.”

“I agree with you. I would rather die trying to escape than meet what I think is going to be a terrible fate. When do you want to go for it?”

“Let’s rest and get plenty of food in our bellies to keep up our strength. We go as soon as Adria comes in here alone, but not if Dreyon shows up, too. We can’t take them both on.”

“What about Larson? And do you think there are any other miners in this ward?”

“We have to try and take Larson. It sounds like he’s the next one marked for the medical room. But he might not have the strength in him to run; sure didn’t look too healthy.”

“Yeah, but he’ll certainly die, and soon, unless we include him. I don’t see how we can’t take him Marc. At the very least, we should make him the offer.”

It was quite cold and damp in the facility where they were being held and, that evening, Marc asked if he could join Sienna on her bed and cuddle up for warmth. They had only been supplied with two thin, worn blankets and Sienna was amenable to Marc joining her, holding her, and bringing his own blanket to drape over her own. Marc slept well that night, holding Sienna tightly in his arms. He vowed then that he would do everything he could to make sure that she got out of this place alive and safely back to their ship.

Chapter 12

Mr. Mojo gave the drone the commands to upload all of its data to the Raider. Holland and Novak watched the video and camera feed as the drone entered ‘Stonehenge’. For the first ten minutes, there was nothing to see. Novak wondered if the system had failed and the cameras had been rendered useless, but Mr. Mojo believed they should be patient.

The blank screen was suddenly filled with a vision of a planet from the aerial view of the drone. They could see the drone was flying in a valley surrounded by high mountains. The ground below revealed an Earth-like environment of grass, trees, and bushes. Then the camera focused briefly on the partially destroyed city. There were still many remaining buildings, some of them reached three thousand feet according to the data on the left of the screen.

As the camera panned, they could see the sky was purple, not blue, and the distance to the sun was the same as it was on Mars. Based on that piece of data, Mr. Mojo believed that they were looking at an alternate dimension existing on Mars, and the structure was evidently the portal to it. The drone had made three circling passes. On the second pass, they noted tall mountains to the east of the city, and on the third pass they noticed objects, which could be vehicles of transport, in the purple sky. Then the drone landed on a parcel of grassy ground and they watched as another ‘Stonehenge’ type structure appeared around it. Finally, the screen went blank, showing the red and dusty surface of Mars once again.

“I have to hand it to you, Mojo, that was a brilliant move. At least we got to see where their PT went, and now we know we can come back, too. Too bad we didn’t see Ryker Jeske. He must be there somewhere.” Novak said.

“Thank you, sir. I would like to run the video back for a moment. I noticed some objects in the sky near the city. I wish to bring them closer so we can determine what they are.”

Mr. Mojo gave the computer instructions and the screen filled again with that particular sequence. Only this time, the objects were magnified and brought forward for a closer look.

Holland remarked that the objects looked like a kind of flying device, somewhat like the air sleds used by the paratroopers and Navy Seals to glide into a battlefield. “But what is that thing on it, it doesn’t look exactly human?”

Mr. Mojo agreed and magnified one of the sky sleds fully to take a closer look. “I believe it is a cyborg or a cybot, it is hard to tell which.”

“What’s the difference? Novak asked.

“The cybot is a robot with mechanical and electronic parts. They can be easily reconfigured for many purposes and parts added on or changed out depending on the assigned mission. I am a cybot. A cyborg on the other hand incorporates organic material. Some humans are now approaching being classified as a true cyborg, due to our latest medical advances. If you were able to enhance a human’s brain so that it could retain enormous amounts of data and retrieve them at will, it would be a breakthrough. So far, only small advances have been made in that direction, but it is possible in the future. Therefore, it is possible these are cyborgs.”

“Well, their faces are ugly. Looks more like a cybot to me. Excuse my adjectives, Mojo, I don’t consider your face ugly, but on a human it would not be a good thing.”

“I understand and agree with you, Captain. I have no emotional feelings of vanity.”

“I wonder what their purpose is?” Holland asked, closely studying the magnified images.

“I am going to assume a military or transport function. The city was obviously damaged. Perhaps they are there as protection for the city. Probably they have a weapons system incorporated somewhere on the sky sled,” the robot replied.

Novak nodded. “That means when we go there, we need to be armed and prepared if we want to find Marc and Sienna and the rest of the miners. They may interpret our entry as hostile.”

“So how do you want to proceed?” Holland inquired.

“I think we need to wait for the ‘Guardian’. I understand they have sent several of their faster stealth space fighters ahead of the main ship. They will be here in two days. If they led the way, I could follow in the shuttle.”

“If they go along with that,” Holland interjected. “They may not want to commit one of those billion dollar aircraft on your say so. Not that it isn’t a good idea.”

“True, but I can ask for it. After all, the longer we wait, the less likely Marc and Sienna will be found alive. I wish the camera had picked up an image of them or their PT. They should have been able to come back through the portal if they wanted to, just like the drone did.”

“I think the next move must be to send the video feed to the ‘Guardian’,” the robot declared. “Let them respond. Also, I must tell you that it is just as likely that Marc and Sienna are somewhere else, other than the city. It has been several days. Perhaps their shuttle was disabled or they may have been taken captive.”

“Okay, send off the info right away, and I’ll contact them a few hours from now if they haven’t already contacted me. I think the next thing ought to be to send the drone down once more and fly closer to the city. Let’s see how those cyborgs or cybots respond.”

Mr. Mojo proceeded to prepare the necessary commands to send to the drone.

Chapter 13

At first, Ryker Jeske was totally confused and disoriented after coming through the portal to this new dimension. He hadn’t wanted to walk into the strange structure. Captain Novak had made it clear to stay away, but for reasons that didn’t make sense to him, he felt almost as if the structure was an entity in itself, beckoning him and willing him to walk forward and into its center. He felt as if he had lost his free will to this unknown entity. Now he was standing on a strange plain, which resembled the prairies of his boyhood home, looking up at a strangely colored lavender sky, and he felt frightened and very alone.

The sensors in his EMU suit told him the atmosphere around him was breathable, so he cautiously extricated himself from the suit. Dazed and confused as he was, it didn’t occur to him to try and find the portal he just came through and go back. He eventually did take a harder look around but, by this time, the structure was partially concealed in the tall grass around him, and he stumbled past it, never noticing it was fast disappearing into the ground.

Ryker saw the city ahead of him, and questioned if that was where Marc and Sienna had gone. He decided to set out on foot to find out. Walking along, he noticed the gravity was not as weak as it had been on Mars. Wherever this was, its gravity seemed similar to earth, with similar vegetation as well. The city looked like it had come under some kind of attack. Several of the tall buildings were partially destroyed, their topmost structure jagged and open to the elements. Black streaks ran down the sides. He thought he could see gray smoke still emanating from one of the closest buildings.

An hour later, as Ryker approached the city, he saw the strangest site. It looked like some kind of aircraft, much like a sled with a person lying down and flying towards him. He became so distracted observing this object that he failed to notice the robotic dogs bounding his way. When he stopped to take a rest for a moment on a nearby rock, he found himself suddenly surrounded by three menacing six-legged dogs baring their metal, pointy teeth and growling angrily. What really spooked him was their glowing, red eyes. They looked as if, in their frenzy, they were possessed by some demon. He remained frozen in place, not daring to move.

Very shortly, two sky sleds appeared and descended. Robotic looking men were piloting these craft and they landed the sleds a few feet away from him. They were the ugliest robots he had ever seen. Their faces bore some resemblance to a human form, but with a metal mouth, nose and ears. Their eyes looked like someone had jammed a pair of binoculars onto a human face. Each lens protruded a good three inches away from their face. Although clothed in uniforms, the parts of their bodies visible, such as hands and necks, appeared covered in human-looking skin.

The robots controlled the dogs, not by voice command, but by seeming to will them off telepathically. Their growling stopped, their mouths shut closed, their menacing eyes lost their red glow, and the dogs appeared motionless.

The robots then approached Ryker, saying nothing, and one of them slung a thick-roped net over him. Jeske didn’t resist. He didn’t think he had much of a choice given his circumstances. The robots worked together and pushed him down onto the ground. They wrapped the net completely around his body and tied it securely, so that he couldn’t escape. Then they each took a tether that was attached to the net and returned to their sleds.

“What are you doing?” Ryker pleaded with them while they worked. He was, by now, very fearful for his life. “I mean no harm; I’m looking for my friends.”

The cyborgs didn’t respond, but rather fastened the tether to their sleds and then ascended, side by side, with Jeske suspended in the air like a sling load from a helicopter. They flew back in the direction of the city; Jeske in tow and swinging high in the air.

Entering the city from fifty feet in the air, Ryker Jeske got a bird’s eye view, although he was restricted to just looking at what was directly in front of him. From his vantage point, it looked like an ultra-modern metropolis built by a highly intelligent society. He could see beings bustling around below and odd looking, powered vehicles that were obviously carrying some of them to and fro. The sky sleds continued to fly directly into what appeared to be the city center and descended into a wide area dominated by a circular building with a rotunda in its center.

After landing, the cyborgs proceeded to extricate their captive from his secure web harness and stood him onto his feet. He was trembling from shock and fear and could hardly stand. Holding him up by either arm, they marched him passed the circular building, down into a side tunnel, and took him into what appeared to be their medical facility.

The facility was bustling with human-appearing people, wearing identical uniforms and speaking a strange language. All stopped what they were doing to stare at Ryker as he was closely escorted by the cyborgs along a brightly lit corridor. Finally they entered a room where a large, impressive looking machine dominated the central floor space. An attendant there motioned to the cyborgs to bring the captive toward the enormous device, and then he was lifted up, quite effortlessly by the powerful robots, and buckled onto a sliding gurney. Without comment or explanation from anyone, he was slid into the depths of the machine. Ryker dared not protest and part of him was resigned to his fate, including his own death.

The machine whirred and hummed for several minutes and a mechanism revolved around Jeske’s body. It reminded him of the imaging machines on Earth. He felt no pain and was relieved when the gurney automatically slid backwards, and he was helped up to his feet by the cyborgs.

The human attending to the event now offered a smile and spoke to Ryker in English. “Do not be afraid. We treated you harshly because we did not know what you were or where you have come from. Our drones must have seen you wandering outside our city. This would have been considered highly unusual and security ordered the cyborgs to bring you here. I will inform them that the scanner shows you are not from Atlantia. They will wish to meet with you now.

Without further conversation, Ryker Jeske was again escorted through the hallways, with a number of gawkers lined up along the way to catch a glimpse of him. This time the cyborgs were more gentle in their escort duties as they hurried him along. He was brought outside and taken to the Cerulean security building.

Security was waiting for his arrival. The cyborgs were dismissed and Ryker was taken into a small room containing a table and a few chairs and not much else. It reminded him of an interrogation room. A man walked in and introduced himself as Nitto. Ryker responded with his name and told him he needed help.

Nitto said he would like to help him, but first he wanted to hear how he had come to wander around in the plains outside the city. “Tell me everything, Ryker, and don’t hold back as much depends on your truthfulness.”

Ryker told him the entire story beginning with looking for his comrades and coming through some kind of portal on the surface of Mars. He stressed he had come here by mistake, had no idea where he was, and wanted to go back to his ship in orbit above Mars.

Nitto was silent as Ryker reiterated his story. He already knew much of it was true because they had seen his comrades taken away by Dreyon. Ryker confirmed for them what they didn’t know, such as the origin of the people and their reason for being here. Nitto felt a little sorry for Ryker. It must have been quite an ordeal for him so far. He wondered how he would have handled it himself. Fortunately, for Ryker, they had the resources to send him back to the surface of Mars. His comrades from Earth wouldn’t be so lucky.

“Okay, Ryker. Thank you. It was an interesting story. I apologize for any mistreatment you might have received so far, but it was necessary. I think you could see some of the destruction this city has received. We are taking serious precautions now with anyone we believe is not from Cerulean.”

“So what happens now?”

“This is the last you will see of me. Now you will be taken and introduced to the high council that rules here. They have expressed interest in meeting you, provided we determined that you are not a threat to us. I now believe you to be an inadvertent visitor from another planet.”

Ryker was brought to the circular building. The outside of the building was five stories high, but the central rotunda reached ten stories high. Positioned outside the front entrance was a marble like column stretching upwards twenty feet into the air. On top of the column was a revolving, circular sculpture and two globes, attached to the scupture’s circumference, moved clockwise around its center. Jeske thought this sculpture might be ten feet in diameter. In the center of this circle was the outline of a man and woman standing back to back with arms and legs outstretched touching the inside circumference. Revolving 360 degrees around them were the two globes, each one seeming to depict a different planet.

The décor inside was nothing short of incredible. Sunlight streaming through the upper glass panels of the rotunda reflected off polished gold mirrors, situated around the second floor perimeter and lighting up the interior. It created a dazzling effect. The very top of the rotunda was colored in a brilliant purple, no doubt representing a deeper hue of this planet’s sky. The floor was decorated with a colorful mosaic following the same motif as the sculpture outside.

The cyborgs brought Ryker to a chamber in the actual heart of the rotunda and, when its heavy door slid open, he was escorted forward to face a group of four men and four women, all wearing the same style colorful blue robes trimmed in gold piping. They each were engrossed in the information before them, busily conferring, while seated at a long, highly polished marble table. The entire desktop of the table appeared to contain computerized screens with flashing lights and flickering, fleeting images. The panel members seemed to control the information on these screens by waving their hands back and forth over certain areas.

What Jeske thought must be a flag of Atlantia hung across the wall behind the assembled panel. The flag held a solid blue background, but the center was emblazoned with two, white circles, each intertwined with the other. Wherever the circles bisected each other, the color red adorned that space. The room appeared to be illuminated from a warm glow coming from glass panels in the ceiling. And, although he had been freezing as he was hurtled along in the netting, high in the air, the temperature inside this room was comfortably warm.

A leather chair was placed in the middle of the polished stone floor facing the panel of eight, and it was fairly obvious they expected Ryker to sit there. His cyborg escorts wasted no time in taking him to the chair and seating him. Then they retreated into the background.

As soon as Jeske was seated, the eldest man in the group, with short grey hair, introduced himself as Truon. Jeske was relieved that this elder could also speak English, and that everyone he had interacted with in this city, with the exception of his guardian cyborgs, appeared to be human-like.

“We apologize for your rough treatment, but we had to make certain you were not sent by our enemy. We will explain more about that later, but to begin, what is your name and from where do you come?”

“ I am Ryker Jeske from the planet Earth.”

“Well Mr. Jeske, you have arrived on Atlantia. We assume you came through our portal, is that correct?”

“Yes, I guess so. But I didn’t mean to. It seemed like it brought me to this place, not the other way around. Am I still on Mars?”

“You are on an alternate dimension of Mars. I completely understand your plight. We will try to make your stay here brief but comfortable, and then return you to the other dimension you came from. Know for now that you are among friends; we do not wish to harm you.”

“But what’s going on? Who are you people?” Ryker was beginning to relax more and acclimate to the bizarre situation he was in. He felt he must seem to these people like the alien being that he had seen so many times as a kid in science fiction movies and video games. “Take me to your leader,” he almost wanted to blurt out. But these folks did seem to be the leaders, and he apparently was filling the role of some sort of ambassador or emissary from Earth.

“Our time here with you will have to be brief. Unfortunately, we have other very important matters to attend to right now. But there is much that you can learn about us and our planet. You will have to ask your questions of Iken. He will be appointed to look after you today and you will be treated well.”

A great feeling of relief came over Ryker. What had appeared only an hour before as certain death, now seemed like it was turning into the adventure of a lifetime. “Thank you,” he stammered to the assembled group, hoping he had turned his mouth into something of a smile. He still was incredibly nervous and more than a little frightened.

“In the meantime, our friends here will escort you to your quarters,” and the elderly man pointed to the cyborgs standing near Ryker’s chair. “Tonight you will be fed and have a refreshing rest, courtesy of Atlantia. If it is safe, tomorrow we will take you back to the portal and you may return to where you came from. But I assume you will need a special containment suit, do you have one perhaps that you left near the portal?”

“Yes, I did. I must have that in order to go back.”

“Don’t worry, if it is not there, Iken will arrange something that will work as well.”

The conversation was apparently over and Jeske was escorted again, from the chamber to one of the strange vehicles waiting on the street. This one was no more than seven feet long, and five feet wide, with an air bladder beneath. A fully enclosed clear bubble covered the first five feet, the remainder was covered by a small, colored housing, in this case dark red. One of the cyborgs pressed a handheld device and two doors slid back on exposed tracks. He crossed over and got into the seat on the left side. Ryker assumed he was to get in and climbed into the seat on the right. The doors slid closed, and the cyborg pressed a round button on the small center console to their front. The bladder must have filled with a lighter than air gas because the vehicle rose up and then, using a small joystick jutting out just below the gauges on the console, the cyborg twisted the top half and pushed it forward causing the vehicle to move ahead silently, making only a slight “whooshing” sound behind him.

After driving through the city to its outskirts, the cyborg parked the vehicle in a space facing a three-storied glass paneled building. This building reminded Ryker of the condo-style  used on Earth, because each of the recessed glass panels were equally separated by stone slabs and it appeared that each panel offered its own balcony.

Ryker was asked to disembark the vehicle and was taken to the front entrance guarded by a cybot. He was led to his temporary living quarters where, to his relief, a human awaited and introduced himself as Iken. Ryker’s cyborg escort returned to their vehicle and Iken led Ryker through the door into his quarters. Its layout was fairly simple in design providing a large open room that was a combination living room, dining room, and kitchen. A huge video screen adorned one wall facing a very, sleek, modernistic sofa, covered in a black, leather-like material. It all appeared very similar to what Ryker was used to on Earth.

Iken explained that he was tasked to provide assistance and answer any questions Ryker might have, of which he assumed there were many. Ryker’s first question was about the toilet facilities. He had already soiled his clothing once, out of sheer terror while flying in a net high above the landscape, and he was badly in need of a shower and clean clothes. As if reading his mind, Iken directed him to the bathroom which, with some differences, seemed to resemble the facilities on Earth. He also provided a change of clothing and closed the door.

Ryker immediately relieved himself and then examined the showering device in his bathroom. It was a glass cylinder about seven and a half feet high and four feet in diameter with little nozzles positioned around the circumference of the cylinders inside. He undressed and entered. Once inside the cylinder, a glass door slid forward and closed behind him; because it was transparent, he hadn’t noticed it before. Then water in a very fine mist spouted from nozzles positioned from ankle height to his hair, spraying him all over. A second spray ensued, this one with a foamy mixture that had a pleasant scent. Ryker felt almost as if he had entered the alien equivalent of a car wash. The spray stopped and a rinse cycle followed. A slight sucking sound seemed to blow him dry, after which the door opened, and he stepped out. Ryker dressed in the clothes provided, which consisted of a white tunic top over white loose fitting and comfortable pants, very much resembling a sort of martial arts outfit.

Ryker, feeling much better, now emerged from the bathroom and took a better look at his surroundings, which amazed him in their similarity to a modern Earth apartment. Iken sat waiting at the contemporary style dining room table, which was set for two, and motioned for Ryker to join him. Before him was a platter of fish, that Iken explained was called ‘Capria’, and vegetables. To Ryker’s surprise, Iken also produced a bottle of white wine. Ryker wasn’t particularly a wine drinker, but he appreciated the gesture.

Ryker ravenously partook of the food. It had been a while since he had eaten, and it all tasted very delicious and satisfying. There seemed to be plenty available and, when he was sated, he sat back sipping at the wine, ready to ask questions and get some answers.

“Iken, are you human?” was his first question. “You can speak our language. Are you and your people the same as we humans on planet Earth?

“Not exactly. Our DNA is probably slightly different. I believe we have common ancestors from way in the past, our scientists are not exactly sure. But as you can see, we look very similar to you – perhaps a little different body physique, taller and thinner, but otherwise very similar. A somewhat elevated IQ from yours…” and Iken smiled slightly. “You see, our people once inhabited your Earth. Some of us still travel and secretly visit there.

To help us communicate with different cultures, an implant is widely available; it is a simple medical procedure really. With it, we can listen to and translate over a hundred different languages. It tells us what to say before we say it. I believe your Earth dimension uses something similar, but it is in a much cruder form. Ryker knew he was referring to the electronic translators available as a phone app.

Ryker became quite fascinated with the direction of the conversation and immediately wanted to know more. So Iken went on to explain that his race was a very ancient one, originally from the barren Mars surface he and his fellows were mining. Eons ago it had been a temperate place, with life supporting air and water; actually quite beautiful. Ryker was quite surprised to hear this, mentally comparing Iken’s image of ancient Mars to the now desolate, wind-swept, inhospitable world he knew. Iken explained that, with time, the atmosphere, water, and land began to decay. It became obvious that a new home was needed. The advanced civilization of that time left Mars in small colonies to find a new home, and the obvious choice was their close neighbor, Earth. There they found abundant animal life and lush vegetation and an environment similar to the one they had known, albeit a much warmer, more lush, and fertile planet with abundant wildlife. And so they happily colonized there, some eventually interbreeding with the primitive, humanlike inhabitants of Earth. The Martians founded a civilization called Atlantis. And for centuries all was well.

Most Atlantians wished to remain aloof from the more ape-like and few early inhabitants; Ryker’s Earthling ancestors. The Atlantians felt safe in their comfortably advanced world. But others wished to spread out, intermingle with the Earthlings, and help them progress toward a more civilized and more advanced lifestyle. But eventually, something bad happened to their Atlantis, a large island in the middle of the vast ocean. Iken said there are still legends regarding the destruction of the place, caused by either an asteroid or, as some say, massive earthquakes and tsunamis. The survivors opted to try to return to their Mars homeland. On the way, they entered a wormhole that led to the discovery of this dimension which they currently inhabited. This dimension offered them a new uninhabited world in which to flourish. This new world was named Atlantia, very similar to the Atlantis of Earth. Eventually, they created a portal to replicate the effect of the wormhole so the remaining inhabitants of Mars could be taken to Atlantis. “That is the same portal that brought you here, Ryker.”

“Many on Earth still believe the legend of lost Atlantis,” Ryker informed, as he listened intently and drank wine with his host. “Too bad I have to go back tomorrow. I would like to see more of your dimension. This city by itself is fascinating and I’m intrigued that we share a history.”

“Maybe one day you can return. But this is not a good time. It is dangerous for you here.”

“Yes, I noticed that some of your buildings appear recently destroyed. What’s going on?”

Iken explained that they were at war, which was why Ryker was examined so thoroughly and treated rather harshly. “We wanted to find out if you were a cyborg. The enemy has been infiltrating our city with them. They come here, looking much like us. That is, they appear as humans. But they are programmed and no longer fully human. They blow up our buildings, our community transports, monorails, anything that might hurt a lot of people. We had to find out if you were one of them.”

“So who is the enemy then? Is there another country here on Atlantia?”

“No, we are all one race actually. There are other cities scattered around the planet, but Cerulean is the capital city. You met with some of the high council today that rule all of Atlantia. No, the enemy unfortunately is one of us. A person named Dreyon. He used to be one of the members of the council, but he took issue with them. He wanted to change our form of government, and the rest of the council disapproved. Drawing a following of some of our military and other politically minded and disgruntled folk, he left our city, on bad terms, vowing to return and take over Cerulean and eventually all of Atlantia.”

Ryker was stunned. Atlantia sounded a little like Earth, with all of its conflicts. “How could Dreyon possibly have an army big enough to do that?” he asked.

“We don’t know, exactly. The problem is Dreyon took one of our most improved cyborgs with him, a highly advanced female cyborg named Adria. Dreyon was also our leading scientist. We think he may be trying to create a cyborg army or maybe even a cybot army, we aren’t sure. We do know that some of your Earth people working on Mars surface were captured by him several weeks back. He brought them through our portal. Our guardians in the sky, our own cyborg air sentinels, saw what they were up to, and reported it to us.”

“That would be our miners. I am from an Earth ship and also part of a military unit that is being tasked to find these miners, plus two people that came through in a shuttle vehicle several days ago.”

“I believe Dreyon’s forces have them all. When that little shuttle appeared, we sent out our cyborgs and some of our advanced weaponry to destroy them. We actually thought they were part of Dreyon’s army. However, Dreyon managed to defeat us temporarily, and he took the shuttle craft and its passengers to his encampment.”

“Do you know where that is? We will want to get them back.”

“That is the problem, we are not exactly sure. We think we know where it is, but until we are absolutely sure, our commanders do not want to launch an attack. They are trying to locate it now, particularly after we saw Dreyon take your Earth miners. We know he is up to no good and I suspect he has been using these people to cause some of the havoc you see now in our city. I am sorry to have to tell you this, but it is likely your people are being turned into cyborgs as part of his saboteur network. He will be no doubt sending them into our city, where they appear as humans like us, but they have been programmed to destroy us.”

Ryker thanked Iken for his forthrightness even though it was far from good news. “When I go back tomorrow, I will let my commanders know all that you have told me. If they should decide to come here to help find our people, please ask your defense officials not to shoot at them. I promise you that we have no intentions to harm your planet or this dimension, only to recover what is ours.”

“Understood. I will convey your thoughts. In the meantime, it grows late and I must bid you goodnight. Tomorrow, if it is possible without a fight, we will take you back to the portal.”

Chapter 14

The information sent by Mr. Mojo reached the ‘Guardian’ and was immediately forwarded to Vice Admiral Ramirez. He quickly convened a meeting of the United Space Command and distributed the information as an update on the ‘Stonehenge Portal’. “So gentlemen, we now have a first-hand observation of what lies beyond the structure thanks to Captain Novak, Captain Holland, and the AI. Apparently there is another world, much like our Earth in atmosphere and vegetation, existing right there in another dimension. This alternate place is where our people vanished to, but whether they are still alive we don’t know. An advance force of two of our stealth space fighters are expected to arrive late tomorrow or the next day at the latest. They will link up with the ‘Platinum Raider’ and the ‘Platinum Explorer’ to provide immediate backup. The floor is now open for comments.”

General Porter was the first to speak. “I say we go in with a full battalion of Marines, let them know we mean business. Use the stealth fighters first, soften up their defenses.”

Vice Admiral Hiroshi jumped in. “With all due respect, we don’t know who we are fighting yet, General. Until we have a clearer picture of the nature of our enemy or indeed, if they are even our enemy, I think prudence is better than force. I suggest a small force, maybe a counterinsurgency unit to go in and establish contact with the locals. We must not be rash; we need to take time to first discover more information.”

The Marine commandant chimed in. “Hell, Porter, we don’t even know what language these sled-people speak. I agree with Hiroshi. We need to get more intelligence first before jumping the gun.”

The men and women representing the USC batted around suggestions for the better part of the afternoon. Finally, to bring the meeting to a conclusion, Vice Admiral Ramirez cut them off with his summation of their ideas.

“Okay, so as I understand it, we need a recon mission first. That seems to be the consensus. Makes sense to me. This is huge, exciting. Our first alien contact in modern human history, and we don’t want to bungle things. Do you realize what the press will do with any information about life on Mars, if this were to get out? I don’t need to mention that all of this is to remain top secret. All of this information will be offered, with the greatest secrecy, to our world leaders. They will have their own ideas about it, as you know. So until we hear from them, we will continue with our current plan.”

Ramirez carefully put together his report and sent it off with the video to his superiors, the higher world authorities. No matter how carefully we lay it out, they, more than likely, will have a unique way of screwing it up. Afterwards, he sent a brief message to Captain Novak and his team. “Good job, keep going. Ramirez.”

Chapter 15

Eric Larson knocked on Marc and Sienna’s door early in the morning. The pair had just finished eating one of their reconstituted breakfast foods. Marc knew it was Larson because Adria and Dreyon weren’t particularly polite, never knocked before entering and would just barge in. When Larson entered he looked slightly improved in his complexion from the day before. Sienna noticed it right away. “You look better today, Larson. Did the change of diet help?”

“I think so. Have you got anything else you could share? I think even my mind feels clearer this morning.”

“Here take this,” Marc said as he offered Larson a large food packet from their dwindling supply. I suggest you stay here and eat with us.” He had provided Larson with a very filling mixture that packed a lot of calories and provided quick energy.

“But Adria might catch me here. I’m afraid I’ll be punished. I think I should go back and eat this in my room.” He pressed the food packet to his chest and made as if ready to leave.

Marc stood in his way. “We’re planning on leaving today, Larson, at the first opportunity. I hope Adria does come looking for you, because when she does we have to overpower her. Then we can take her little gizmo she uses to lock and unlock the door and the elevator. We can try for an escape or we can stay here and wait to die. I hope you will want to go with us.”

Larson thought for a moment, then simply nodded his head.

“Good, because it may take all three of us to subdue her. We’ll need your help, understood? So eat what we have here and then make up some more of what we gave you. If you want to get out of here, you’re going to have to be strong.”

“I’ll try to help, I promise, it’s just that I still feel so weak. Maybe you should just go without me. I’m not sure I can run or anything.”

“If you stay here, you won’t live past this week, I’m sure of it. So what’s the difference? You may die either way, but on the other hand, if you come with us, you might live.”

Eventually, they convinced Larson to go with their plan. He wolfed down his breakfast greedily. And sure enough, not long after he finished eating, Adria barged through their door.

“There you are, Larson. I thought you were warned not to fraternize. You know you don’t belong here. It’s time for you to come with me. You’re not supposed to be eating their food! We are going to have to take you for medical improvement.”

Larson stood up, as if he was preparing to follow Adria. Believing him to be compliant, she turned her back to him and spoke to Marc and Sienna, “Dreyon will come here in a short while to talk with both of you.”

But she was caught off guard, as Larson moved forward and threw one arm around her neck trying to put her in a stranglehold. Before Marc could assist, Adria easily pulled his arm off from her neck, wheeled around, and struck him with such force that Larson slammed into the wall. “That was stupid, you will pay for that,” she spat in a measured tone.

Marc and Sienna rose during this confrontation and as soon as Larson was thrown off, they both attacked her. Sienna led the attack. Easily fending Sienna off, Adria grabbed her by the hair and swung her around propelling her into the nearest bunk bed. Sienna cried out in pain, as she was hurtled into the bedframe. Marc realized then that Adria was almost superhuman in strength. She must be a cyborg; this isn’t going to go well. He had maneuvered behind her, while she was engaged with Sienna. He knew he had one chance and remembered his training from the military. He grabbed her head, instead of her neck, and snapped it back and then sideways using both arms and all his strength in an attempt to break her neck. Her neck didn’t snap, but her body came apart at the juncture of her neck and shoulders. Sienna looked on with horror at the sight of Adria’s tubes and wires running up her man-made spine. Adria was still struggling, her legs were kicking out and she was flailing her arms in an effort to strike someone and free herself of Marc, who was still holding her from behind.

Larson moved forward, a little dazed but unhurt, and reached into the small opening on Adria’s neck and pulled out a wire cable. Immediately, Adria slumped to the floor, her body twitching in spasms. Her eyes looked dark and lifeless as she lay broken at their feet.

Marc wasted no further time and searched her uniform pockets for the gadget that activated the locks. He found it in one of her side pockets. “Let’s go, we don’t have much time.”

The trio exited the room and went directly to the elevator. “Larson, when we get to the main floor the first thing we are going to do is go to the shuttle. According to Dreyon, it won’t work now, but there are weapons inside. We need to get them. As soon as we take them, we are going to the rover that you used to come here. It’s parked nearby. Got it?.”

Larson nodded his head to show he understood. The door to the elevator swung open and Marc stuck his head out searching for anyone that might immediately spot them. No one was around, except for the work going on by the robots. “It’s all clear, let’s move.”

They made their way to the PT and had no problem getting into it. Marc saw that the control panel had already been cannibalized; now there were just vacant holes with wires dangling marking the spot where they used to be. Marc went right to the weapons locker. It looks like Dreyon hasn’t got into it yet.

Marc entered the combination and the door swung open. He took three of the assault rifles and loaded them with magazines, then took as many as the three could comfortably fit into their pockets for spares. He gave each one their weapon and took two fully loaded pistols, giving the second one to Sienna. “Okay, let’s move as quietly as we can over to the rover. I’ll lead the way. Once we start it up, we can expect trouble. I just want you all to be prepared.”

They crept along the side of the PT and then had to cross an open zone between the shuttle and the rover. Movement at the elevator door caught Marc’s eye as they made their way across the cavern floor. No! It can’t be! It looks like Adria, and she is coming right towards us.

Sienna saw her too. “Oh my God,” she cried, “it must be a clone. One Adria is enough for me.” She fired her pistol, aiming for Adria’s head. Sienna was a marksman during her stint in the service and her first bullet struck Adria in her neck. Adria kept on coming. Sienna didn’t panic and took a second shot, this one struck Adria dead center in her forehead. The Adria look-alike pitched forward and smacked the cavern floor; sparks flying out from the large hole in the back of her head, followed by a little dark smoke.

The group made its way afterwards to the rover. As they were climbing in, Marc noticed several of the robot factory workers had been alarmed by the gunfire and were approaching to investigate. “We’ve got trouble,” he shouted, pointing in the direction of the advancing robots. “Quick, get in and lock the door. I’ll try to get this thing moving.”

They tumbled into the rover, Larson in the nearest rear seat, Sienna sitting in the front passenger seat. Marc powered up the rover and began to back it out of the space. It was tight and he knew that, but used the powerful torque of the rover engine to push another vehicle blocking it enough so that he could clear it and make his way to the entrance. The rovers weren’t built for speed and took time to accelerate. They were moving along at 25 mph and still twenty feet from the exit when two of the robots caught up with them and climbed onto the top of the rover.

“What the hell,” Sienna screamed. She could see them through the top view port. She noticed that one of them had a kind of prosthetic circular saw blade attached to its arm, in place of a hand. “Son of a bitch, that bastard is going to try and cut his way into our rover.”

Larson saw the problem too. He looked scared out of his wits, but surprised Sienna when he shot his assault weapon on full automatic through the viewport at the nearest robot. The sound of his weapon firing in their enclosed space was deafening, but the force of the bullets easily shattered the thick glass that formed the viewing port. When they struck the robot, they tore multiple holes in its chest cavity. The impact of the high velocity bullets sent the robot tumbling off the rover, and he landed on his back right in front of it, spewing an oily liquid. The rover ‘thumped’ over the disabled robot and reached the exit. The second robot had apparently given up during the fire fight and jumped off.

“Nice going Larson,” Marc said. “Keep an eye out everyone, they will come after us now and they’ll kill us if they can.”

But it was the whiteness of the electronic wall ahead that almost mesmerized the team. You couldn’t see anything ahead of it, just the ground immediately below and the cavern entrance directly behind. “Do you think we can just go through it, Marc?” Sienna asked, obviously unnerved by the dramatic turn of events.

“It’s our only choice. I think it’s just a device, a mirage; there’s really nothing there. The rover is still moving; we’re going.”

The rover blasted through the wall at its top speed of 40 mph. For a split second, Marc couldn’t see anything. It looked like they were in a winter whiteout. Suddenly, the sunlight was visible in the purple sky, and they could see the valley floor, and the mountains beyond.

“Which way?” Sienna excitedly asked Marc, wanting to have some sense of what they were doing.

“I’m not sure, but the sun was directly in front of us when Dreyon drove here, so I’ll keep it behind us. The problem now is finding the portal and staying ahead of Dreyon. He’ll try to run us down for sure.”

They bumped along the valley floor. There was no road. Marc had to negotiate around large rocks and copses of trees, but the rover was built for off-road use, and it handled the rough terrain quite adequately. Soon they could vaguely make out the highest buildings in the city, like a mirage in the far distance. So far, there was no sign of Dreyon or his cyborgs. It occurred to Marc that Dreyon might use those aircraft he saw parked in the cavern to attack them from above. He asked Larson to keep a look through the viewports in the ceiling of the rover for any sign of an aircraft.

“How are we going to find the portal, Marc? I’m worried. We can’t just drive around out here.”

“I don’t know, Sienna. Try to remember any landmarks we saw when we came here. The portal had to be right where the PT landed when we arrived. If we hadn’t been attacked right away, we probably would have seen it.”

“I remember something,” Larson said. “When we were taken here, there was an old, partially dried up stream bed we crossed shortly after we went through the portal. I remember it because it was not as shallow as we thought, but the rover handled it with no problem. I think it was only a few minutes away from the portal. If we can find that stream, we could follow it.”

“Thanks, Larson. I’ll keep an eye out for it.”

While Marc drove, Sienna watched the rear camera view on the rover console. “I see something, Marc, I think they’re behind us now.”

“How many vehicles?”

“Three of them, and they’re closing the gap between us. Can this thing go any faster?”

“I wish. How far away are they?

“I don’t know. I’d guess about a mile anyway.”

Marc kept his cool and pushed on, looking for any sign of the old stream bed. The city was now looming closer, and if his memory served him right, it was now about at the same distance away as when they first arrived. He turned the vehicle in a diagonal direction, hoping to intersect the stream bed.

“What are you doing? Why are we going this way?” Sienna cried. Her voice was high and it was obvious she was close to panic.

“I have a hunch, that’s all.”

“I hope you’re right. Dreyon’s crew is closing on us, probably a half mile away now.”

“We have to be prepared to fight; this may be the end of the whole thing.”

“I am not afraid to die,” Larson shouted. “If it hadn’t been for you two, I might be dead now anyway.”

Marc hoped it wouldn’t come to that. And then he looked up in the sky, as something shot across his line of vision. “Those sky things that attacked us the last time are right here!” He pointed up through the forward windscreen to a squadron of sky sleds coming right for them.

“Oh, no!” Sienna yelled. “Attacked from land and sky! What are we going to do?”

“I hear them firing now, but they’re not aiming for us. What’s going on?” Marc declared in astonishment, his adrenalin freely flowing. He didn’t know whether to push on or stop and make a final stand.

Sienna looked in the rear screen. “They aren’t firing at us because they’re after Dreyon’s robots! I can’t believe it! His forces are turning around!”

As soon as Dreyon’s army retreated, four of the sky sleds flew directly alongside the rover, but kept a safe distance. Marc could clearly see the cyborg that piloted the sky sled. He was pointing at Marc and then at the city. Marc understood, he was to follow them. They were going to that city under escort.

Sienna saw it too. “Well, it looks like we aren’t going to die yet anyway, but we aren’t going home either.” She began to cry, not because she was feeling sorry for herself, but it was just the normal reaction of a body under extreme stress and temporarily relieved.

“Weren’t these the guys who were shooting at us a couple of days back?” Marc exclaimed. “I wonder what they’re up to now.”

Larson who had been unusually taciturn the entire time, replied, “I don’t care. They saved us from those robots and what they have planned for us can’t be much worse than that prison we were in.”

Chapter 16

Ryker had a hard time falling asleep that night despite the effects of the wine. He kept replaying the entire events of the day before over and over in his mind. He realized he was lucky to have been captured by the people of Cerulean and not the forces of Dreyon. He wondered how the miners and Marc and Sienna were faring. Based on what Iken told him, he guessed not well. I wouldn’t want to be turned into a cyborg; I hope they can be rescued in time.

Iken came to his quarters quite early the next morning, shaking him awake and offering a quick breakfast.  “I don’t mean to rush you, but I have been told we see no sign of any enemy activity near the structure. Now would be a good time to depart.”

“Thanks, Iken. I’m ready when you are. But I’ll need some kind of pressurized suit to wear when I go through the portal to Mars, and some way to contact my ship.”

“We will have that waiting for you in our shuttle craft. You can change on the way. Come, we should go now.”

Ryker followed Iken to a sleek shuttle craft waiting like a taxi for their departure. Iken helped him aboard and after they lifted off, he helped him into the Atlantia space suit. “How many hours of oxygen does this have?”

Iken smiled. He could appreciate Ryker’s apprehension about the return. “There is enough for seven days, more than enough time to find your friends. When you arrive, this is the communication device you will use,” pointing to a membrane pad on the external arm of the suit. “Push that icon when you wish to talk. What frequencies do you want me to set it for?”

Ryker reeled off several of the communication frequencies they used to contact the ship and Iken input them into the suit system. “You can change them by pressing that icon. The display will show you what frequency you are transmitting on. If you don’t get rescued by tomorrow, or if the winds are too strong on the surface of Mars, come back. When you do, press this,” he pointed to a separate red colored button on the membrane pad. “It’s an emergency distress call. We can send someone to retrieve you.”

Ryker thanked him and finished suiting up just as their shuttle craft touched down. “You must walk back through the dimension portal, much as you came here,” Iken explained, mentioning that they did not want to fly Ryker through and back to his ship. “Your people might misinterpret our intentions. They have not seen this type of craft before. We are not sure how they would react.”

Ryker was helped off the craft and bid Iken farewell, as he walked toward the ‘Stonehenge’ structure which had fully risen from the ground. He was instructed that the portal would automatically activate the moment he stepped inside, which it did. He entered the black void again and, afterwards, found himself on the surface of Mars once more. He hastened away from the structure there, remembering how it seemed to draw him in when he was too close.

Novak and Mr. Mojo were busy above monitoring the drone from the Raider. The drone had left for its next mission and was a few minutes from touchdown at the structure again. “There is someone standing there, Captain Novak. Look. Outside the structure. It is not one of our people, as I do not recognize the EMU suit that the being is wearing,” Mr. Mojo said.

“Yeah, I see it. Hold up on the drone, Mojo. Set it in front of this guy and let’s take a closer look.”

As soon as the drone landed and powered down, Ryker walked up to the camera system and waved. Over one of the ship’s open frequencies they heard, “Hey fellas, it’s me, Ryker Jeske. Can you hear me? Come down and get me.”

“We hear you Ryker. This is Captain Novak. Wait forty, we’ll be right down in the shuttle.”

Novak sent the message to Holland that Ryker was found.

Novak personally piloted the shuttle craft back to the surface. As soon as Ryker climbed in, Novak lifted off and returned him to the Raider, where Ryker was immediately escorted to a decontamination chamber. Once he checked out there, he was taken to be greeted by the entire crew, who had all heard by then of his rescue. Captain Holland heartily shook his hand and assured him that they had many questions to ask of him.

Ryker was debriefed in Novak’s quarters, with only Holland and Mr. Mojo as the other two present. With great detail, Ryker spilled out his recent adventure in the alternative dimension.  No one interrupted until he was through, as they listened with rapt attention. The fact that he had made contact with intelligent life on Mars was going to make headlines on Earth and turn Ryker into some sort of “space hero”. But, as they listened, they realized that what he was telling them also indicated a real problem for further mining operations on the surface of Mars, and also the dilemma of retrieving any still living miners plus Marc and Sienna.

“So, Marc and Sienna and the other guys, if they are still alive, might have been turned into some kind of cyborg,” Novak reiterated, beginning to wonder if Ryker himself might have been tainted or reprogrammed in some way by these Martian humanoids. Unfortunately, there seemed little time for testing him. They would have to fully trust that his story was accurate.

“When the ‘Guardian’ gets here, we could ask for some help from the military,” Holland said. “In the meantime, maybe you and Captain Novak ought to make a visit back to Cerulean.”

Novak immediately jumped on this suggestion. “Sounds like a plan. Sorry Ryker, but I think you’ll have to go with me, to act as a guide. It’ll make it a lot easier.”

Holland hastily cut in, speaking sincerely to Ryker, “Since you, Ryker, are on good terms with their leadership, as you already explained how cordial they were to you, maybe you can tell them that we wish to help them in their efforts against this Dreyon and his cyborgs. Of course, our main objective will be to retrieve any of our own people. I know you must be exhausted from your recent ordeal, but do you feel up to this task?

To Holland’s relief, Ryker was indeed the stuff of hero’s. He seemed completely on board with the idea and as eager as Novak. “When do you want to leave? I’m up for it.”

“Good man,” Novak responded, “rest up today. We’ll plan to head off at 0700 tomorrow morning.”

Chapter 17

Marc followed the sky sled right to Cerulean’s city center the site of the circular government center. After his ordeal with Dreyon, he was quite worried about how they would be received. Their vehicle was halted by a man dressed in black fatigues, reminiscent Marc thought of Dreyon’s bunch. When they exited the rover they were escorted by two men who did not look like cyborgs, yet still behaved in a rather cold and unemotional way, and directed into a nearby building. It was the same medical center that had received Ryker the day before. No one spoke to them, but their gestures made it clear they were to follow them as they led them down a hallway into the medical examining room.

A technician, dressed in blue hospital type garb, greeted them rather clinically in tone.

“We are going to do a simple body scan on each of you. It will be painless and will not take much time. Please cooperate while we perform this procedure.”

The two robots assisted the technician in placing them, one by one, into the imaging machine. “What’s this all about?” Sienna asked Marc, while Larson was being placed into the machine.

“I don’t know. I guess we will have to wait and find out. They haven’t threatened us yet, that’s a good sign.” Then it became Marc’s turn. Sienna noted that Marc’s scan took much less time than Larson’s. She wondered why, but since she didn’t understand what they were doing anyway, she figured it didn’t matter.

When their testing was completed, the technician conferred with the men in black fatigues. They then briskly took Larson away from the scanning room. Marc’s protests that Larson was with them seemed to have no effect. The men took Larson away ignoring Marc’s objections.

The technician turned to the remaining pair and held up his finger, as if to tell them to wait a minute. Two more security types appeared and then Marc was the next one to be manhandled out of the room. After another minute passed, they came for Sienna. When Sienna was brought outside, she was taken directly to a vehicle waiting at the curb. The vehicle lifted off and shot ahead. She assumed the same fate had befallen Marc and Larson. Twenty minutes later she was taken from the vehicle and escorted into a building with no windows.

All three of them were placed in separate cells within the building, which was essentially a combination detainment and interrogation center. The isolation cells were no more than eight by ten foot rooms with a bed bolted to the wall and a toilet. The doors were locked from the outside. There were no windows, only indirect lighting, and no sound.

Marc was the first to be taken to the interrogation room, he later learned. He was brought there within thirty minutes after being placed in his cell. He hadn’t been abused, but he hoped the same was true for his companions Sienna and Larson.

When he was brought into the interrogation room, he discerned that it was another airless room designed to promote discomfort. Simple chairs, a table, and a machine at one end of the table were the only accoutrements to be seen. Marc was pushed roughly into the chair by his captors. He didn’t bother to resist; it seemed pointless.

Soon another man entered the room and introduced himself as Iken. Iken was more than the diplomatic and most pleasant liaison he had purported to be when he cordially entertained Ryker Jeske. In fact, he was the top intelligence operative for the local directorate and was in charge of collecting any and all intelligence pertaining to the rebel forces led by Dreyon.

“We know you were with Dreyon’s people,” he said without further introduction. “We saw you lead his forces this morning on another attempt to disrupt our city.”

“Whoa, back up there,” Marc immediately protested. “We weren’t leading his forces. On the contrary, we were trying to escape from them. We were grateful that you rescued us. We most certainly were about to be killed by Dreyon. You need to get your facts straight.”

Iken offered his captive a slight smile. “Alright, then. Please feel free to enlighten me. I want to know everything you can tell me. Cooperate and it will go well for you. Otherwise, you may be sitting here for quite a long time. That machine,” he pointed to the one positioned at the end of the table, “will be used to verify everything that you say. If you lie to me, I will know instantly. You will best help yourself and your companions if you tell me all that you know.”

A woman, as if on cue, entered the interrogation room. She looked a little severe, with her hair pulled back into a tight bun, and was dressed in a light blue tunic and pants that were fairly form fitting. Marc noted that she too was tall and thin, but looked very fit. Without speaking a word, she dabbed an ice cold solution onto Marc’s forehead and temple. Then she placed a headset device on Marc, attaching a cable running from it to the machine on the table. The headset was designed with two probes. She attached one probe to his forehead and one to his temple. Her job completed, she exited without having spoken.

“Don’t worry, it is painless,” Iken said to reassure Marc, who was by this time looking very nervous. “It simply records your brain waves while you talk. Please start from the beginning and tell me everything that happened, from the day you arrived here until the moment we found you.”

Marc relayed his story, while Iken carefully monitored the lie detector machine. It was obvious the details he heard were true. Iken spoke not a word in response the entire time and, when Marc finished, Iken merely thanked him and called for an attendant to return Marc to his cell.

Two hours later Marc was taken to a more comfortable, conference-style room and requested to take a seat. Here the chairs were plush and comfy, a good sign Marc noted. Within a few minutes, Larson and Sienna joined him in the room.

“Are you alright?” they asked each other with genuine concern. Sienna expressed worry over what had befallen them in this city. Yet Larson remained characteristically quiet during their exchange of relief. Larson looked strangely disgruntled. Marc merely assumed Larson was stressed out from his entire ordeal since his kidnapping from the mining camp, which had resulted in a much longer time in captivity than Marc had experienced.

Iken walked into the conference room and asked, “Who is the leader here?”

Marc volunteered that he was in charge. “Okay Marc, here is our plan of action. Since you know the exact location of Dreyon’s cavern and many of the details of the layout as well, we will need to utilize your expertise. We will return Sienna and Eric to your ship, but we need you to stay with us. We want you to lead us to Dreyon. It is imperative that we destroy his robot army before it is unleashed on us. You know exactly where it is located. That is the deal I am offering you.”

“Why not just send in a missile loaded with explosives? That would destroy the cavern, maybe drop a ton of rock on the entrance and seal it off forever.”

“That would be easy, yes, but how do we know that Dreyon will be there? You said it is an underground facility; can we be sure that we have destroyed all of it? How do we know he doesn’t have a back entrance or some way out of there. Dreyon is very clever. We need to bring him to justice, and we need physical evidence to assure that we have destroyed his army, for good.”

Marc thought about it. If he agreed, it would ensure Sienna and Larson got away. Her safety meant a lot to him now. He felt he had to do it for Sienna.

“Okay, I’ll help you, but only if you give me some kind of assurance for Sienna and Larson’s safety and return.”

“Fair enough. You can go with them tomorrow to the portal. You’ll be able to watch them leave.”

“I’m not going,” Sienna suddenly declared.

“What? What are you talking about, Sienna, of course you are!” Marc said, raising his voice for emphasis.

“No, I’m not. If you have to lead them back to Dreyon, you need me too. I have as many details about that mountain hideout as you do. And if you recall, I can take care of myself as well as watch out for you.”

Marc remembered the incident with the Adria clone. She was right. She didn’t need him babysitting her.

“Okay, Sienna’s in. What about you Larson?” Marc asked.

“I’m in, too. I want to kill Dreyon.”

“No deal on that I’m afraid. Dreyon comes back with us,” Iken sternly interjected.

Larson went quiet again; a frown distorting his features.

“So, you are all volunteering to help. Very well then. We start tomorrow and begin planning. We don’t have much time, from what I have heard from the three of you. I think this whole thing will be wrapped up in two days’ time, and then you can go back. In the meantime I will take you tonight to a place where you can rest and nourish yourselves with good food.”

Iken escorted the trio out of the room and down the hallway to the front entrance where there was a vehicle standing by. He hadn’t bargained that all three of them would help with the mission, but it didn’t matter, as long as they didn’t get in the way.

On the street, Iken politely opened the door for Marc and Sienna to get into his vehicle. Larson quietly remained behind him, waiting for his turn. Then, without warning, Larson attacked Iken from behind.

Chapter 18

When Dreyon saw the sky sled cyborgs spread across a wide front and closing on the rover with the three escapees, he assumed they would first attack it, demolish it, and then come for his three armored vehicles. So it was a total surprise when that didn’t happen. The sleds seemed more interested in capturing the rover’s occupants than killing them. Dreyon realized that if he continued his pursuit, the sled cyborgs would most likely attack his hunting party. Given enough time, he could hold off the sky sleds; he had done so in the past. But his main objective was to re-capture the rover and specifically Marc and his teammates. He couldn’t do both, however, so he chose to retreat. He was only a few days away from launching a major attack on Cerulean anyway, and he needed all of his equipment intact and fully operational. As soon as Dreyon turned his team around, the nearest sky sleds retreated and focused on the rover.

Dreyon didn’t know that the cyborg pilots had been given orders to capture at least one of Dreyon’s forces. After the last debacle, Iken had made the request to the commander responsible for protecting Cerulean. He badly needed more intelligence. The cyborg people that Dreyon had sent to Cerulean as saboteurs unfortunately destroyed themselves in the process of blowing up their targets. Thus, no useful intelligence had been gained from them. Iken needed some of Dreyon’s people to interrogate. Therefore, when Iken was informed that a vehicle containing three people had been effectively captured that morning, he was elated. He thought he would soon have the information he needed to mount an offensive against Dreyon.

Returning to his cavern hideout, Dreyon was greatly dismayed with this turn of events. He was angered with himself for handling his latest Earthling captives incorrectly. Initially, he thought the man and woman would be easy marks for his cyborg saboteur program. They, like all the others, had been disgusted with his liquid nutrient that would slowly assist in altering their DNA and make them more compliant and susceptible to his wishes. He castigated himself for acting too much like the good host and not locking them on Level 3 immediately. He also regretted allowing them to eat the food they had brought on their shuttle. Of course his plan all along had been to use them to eventually spread disinformation to his enemies in Cerulean and he had hoped that if they believed they were being befriended rather than imprisoned they would be more amenable to his needs. But allowing them to escape and now fall into the clutches of Truon was going to totally botch his plans.

Plus, he could hardly contain his anger over the destruction of Adria. It was unfortunate because she was his closest aide; she was his original prototype. He had built her himself when he was living in Cerulean. Marc and Sienna had caused considerable havoc with his staff by eliminating this Adria and one of her clones. There was no time in his schedule right now to re-build her.

Dreyon also had no more Earthling miners to work with. Too bad Adria didn’t get to finish the job on Larson, he mused. His only hope for the last miner was that the liquid feed had done enough damage to the man’s thought process to cause him to provide inaccurate information to his captors, who were likely interrogating him that very moment.

Time was running out, Dreyon believed. He felt it was only a matter of days before the Cerulean defense forces would launch their offensive. He had to attack first, overwhelm them and force the Cerulean defense to capitulate. The robot army would be ready within the week. They had been working around the clock to finish the weapons and ammunition needed to launch their attack. When they see a thousand armed robots marching into Cerulean, they will be forced to surrender.

His plan was simple. He would bring the robotic force to do battle during the night and surround the unaware city. Right now, they thought all he had was left over elements of the Cerulean military that had come with him and a few of his loyal supporters. They would never suspect he had been building an army of his own. They thought when I left Cerulean, they had seen the last of me, well the joke’s on them. After Cerulean, I will increase the size of my army, and then all of Atlantia will be mine.

Chapter 19

When Larson slammed Iken’s head into the side of the vehicle and then wrested him down to the pavement, Marc was stunned. What the hell has gotten into Larson? Before he could even react, Larson was running away down the street. Marc got out of the vehicle and helped Iken to his feet. He could see that Iken’s face had been bloodied and bruised. Iken waved him off. “I’m okay, just a minor injury.” Then Iken pulled out a small pocket phone and spoke urgently in his Atlantia language to someone. Neither Marc nor Sienna could understand a word of what he said and were fearful for Larson’s life, after he pulled such a stupid stunt.

“Larson won’t get far. I have alerted security. They should be able to pick him up in a few minutes,” Iken explained to Marc and Sienna.

“What’s going to happen to him? He didn’t look right this morning, after you had been questioning him.” Sienna’s face reflected her concern. She had a soft spot for Larson, realizing what he must have endured on Dreyon’s Level 3. His mind had to have been messed up while watching his comrades vanish, one by one, and imagining their terrible fate might soon be his.

“He will be taken to our medical facility again. We should have done something sooner, but we weren’t sure. It is not our questioning today which has altered his brain. Unfortunately, as we suspected, there is something else which has affected him. From what you three mentioned, it must be the contents of that liquid diet which Dreyon has been feeding his captives. When we did the scan on Larson, his brain function was quite different from yours. We suspected it had something to do with Dreyon’s work, but we could not be sure, since we don’t know Larson. We thought it possible that his brain was just registering at a lower level, which might have been normal for him. But now we know that is not the case. Better that we found this out today.”

“You aren’t going to kill him are you?” Sienna asked. She felt quite alarmed at this turn of events, yet also thankful that she had not imbibed any of Dreyon’s protein drinks.

“Don’t worry, Larson will be alright. They will filter his blood tonight and tomorrow to remove any of the impurities Dreyon gave him to alter his state of mind. He should be fine afterwards. We will keep him under close watch though, until you both finish your job and are ready to leave. Then he can go back with you.”

“Okay, well that’s a relief. So now what? I can assure you we drank none of Dreyon’s beverages,” Marc stated.

“I’ll take you, as planned, to a place where you can rest and recover. Tomorrow I want you to meet with our special unit team. They will be going with you to Dreyon’s camp. I will ask you to make drawings of the layout so you can explain to the men where the robots you talked about are being stored. Then we will develop our plan of attack and rehearse it until we are satisfied it will work. Tomorrow night, you and the team will be inserted nearby and make your way into his cavern.”

“So, it’s going to happen fast I take it,” Marc said. “You’re wasting no time.”

“It has to be. Even though our military has been moving into defensive positions around Cerulean, the number of robots you described would represent a formidable threat. We might be forced to use very dangerous munitions to stop them. These might pose a threat for Cerulean’s population. We would have to evacuate the city. If you are successful, we will have avoided losing a lot of Atlantian lives.”

True to his word, Iken took Marc and Sienna to the same quarters that had been offered to Ryker. He showed them around and explained that food would be brought to them within an hour. He would pick them up tomorrow at seven thirty in the morning he explained, and then he left them alone.

As with Ryker, a gourmet feast had been set out for their pleasure and both Sienna and Marc appreciated a good bottle of wine. As they relaxed, after eating their meal, Marc could tell that Sienna was enjoying his company.

Sienna smiled at Marc quite often, as she sipped her wine and assessed him. His coolness, under pressure, made her realize what a strong personality he possessed. Also, he was quite good looking. It was obvious to Sienna that he was sexually attracted to her, and Sienna felt she needed a stress release after all that she had been through.

“I’m taking a shower,” Sienna said, “and then I’m off to bed. Care to join me in the shower?”

After a refreshing shower, the couple made love. “That was wonderful,” she purred.

“If we get back in one piece, how do you see this going between us?” Marc asked.

“Well, with all those months we’ll have ahead of us, heading back to Earth, I see a lot more communal showers.” She was smiling at him in a way that made him want even more of her, if he wasn’t so exhausted from the events of their day.

“Well, that’s encouraging to hear. No more lesbian talk on the ride home, right?”

“If you think, after all we’ve been through, you’re getting rid of me, mister, you have made a big mistake.” Sienna was laughing now. She had almost forgotten about her lesbian ruse.

Marc smiled. “Yeah, well that’s good because I’ve fallen for you, too.”

Chapter 20

Captain Novak launched ‘PT Excelsior’ with Ryker aboard at 0700 as he promised. They entered the Martian atmosphere and then headed directly to the Stonehenge structure. “You’re sure they won’t fire on us once we land there?” Novak asked for the third time that morning.

“Hey, I can’t be absolutely certain that they won’t, no, but I think they won’t based on what that guy Iken said. I still think the best idea is to press this button on the suit they gave me. He told me it was an emergency signal to them. They’ll recognize it and come get us.”

“Okay, I’ll go with that. I don’t need to have them putting holes in ‘Excelsior’. We already lost the other PT. IMC might try to garnish my pay if I did,” Novak said with a wry smile.

Around forty minutes later they entered ‘Stonehenge’ and passed through the black void to the surface of Atlantia. Ryker thought the grassy plain and the clear purple sky looked fairly quiet at the early morning hour. He did not see any sign of the sky sled cyborgs. “Okay, I’ll try the emergency button first. I don’t know what Iken meant exactly by coming to get me. We’ll just have to find out.”

Thirty minutes later a shuttle craft, very similar to the one that took Ryker to the structure for his return to the Raider, appeared in the sky. Ryker got out of ‘Excelsior’ wearing the Atlantia EMU suit and waved at the craft, hoping someone might recognize him. The craft descended nearby and a man dressed in a black military-style uniform approached him. “I assume you are Ryker Jeske, but why are you here with your shuttle? Is there anyone else with you?”

“Yes, I’m Ryker. I returned to my ship, but I have brought my captain back with me. He wants to talk with Iken.”

“Ask him to get out please, and then follow me.”

Ryker went to the shuttle door and told Novak the news. “I think everything is okay. Hard to say, I don’t know this guy. He wants us to go with him though. Leave our shuttle here.”

“Let me talk to him first. I’m not comfortable leaving ‘Excelsior’ just sitting here. From what you told me, that Dreyon guy might try to take it. It’s too exposed sitting out here.”

Novak got out and walked a short distance to greet the Atlantian. He held out his hand in a friendly gesture and identified himself. The man introduced himself as Unuro, an official from the Cerulean security and defense forces. “We were not expecting you, Captain Novak, but come with me. I will notify Iken you wish to speak with him.”

“Hold on Unuro. I don’t want to leave my craft right here. Would it be possible to follow you to your destination? One of your people could ride along with me, if this gives you concern.”

“I understand, fully. Actually it is a better idea. Please, just follow my ship to our city. We will set down where there will be room for your craft, too. Then we will take a vehicle into the city to meet with Iken.”

Novak went back to his ship, followed by Ryker. “Well, that went well, at least I hope it did. He seemed like an accommodating chap.”

“Yeah, he did, because he’s human, pretty much like us. But the cyborgs they use aren’t a lot of fun and none too friendly. No personality.”

“Sort of like a grumpy Mr. Mojo I take it.”

Ryker laughed. “Yeah, sort of like that. They apparently use a lot of robotic help in Atlantia. It’s almost creepy, in a way. With some of them, you can’t tell at first who is human and who is not.”

Novak powered up and followed the other craft, keeping a safe distance. As they got closer, Novak marveled at the modernistic look of the architecture. Some of the buildings towered high into the air, much higher than any skyscrapers on Earth. Most appeared made of multi-colored glass, shimmering in the sun. Some were oddly shaped, like corkscrews or oblisk-like. “This city is amazing, Ryker. Too bad some of those buildings took a hit. I would love to spend a few days here. It would be a story worth a few free drinks in any bar, that’s for sure.”

Novak finally set ‘Excelsior’ down near the sleeker shuttle carrying Unuro. Then they were herded into a vehicle with Unuro and his driver and taken into the city center. “Welcome to Cerulean, Captain Novak. I only wish you could have seen this city a year ago. It was a gleaming, bustling place, with no smoldering ruins and frightened citizens.”

“I’m sure you will rebuild,” Novak stated.

“Yes, Cerulean will once again become whole and the proud capital of Atlantia.”

The vehicle stopped at the city center, next to the large circular building. ”I’ve been here before, Captain,” Ryker explained. “If that’s where we are headed, you’ll be impressed. It’s spectacular inside.”

The pair were shepherded by Unuro into the capitol building and then into a conference room off to the side. Iken was waiting for them inside, conferring with his military team and with two other people who looked very familiar. Novak was surprised to see Marc and Sienna turn from the computerized viewing screens built into the conference table and look up to see who had just entered the room.

“Captain Novak!” Sienna called out joyfully. “You don’t know how good it is to see you!” She hugged him enthusiastically, while Marc walked over to shake the captain’s hand.

There were introductions all around. Besides Iken, there was a Commander Isi and Vice Commander Nura busily planning the military mission.

“Good to see you again, Ryker,” Iken said in his cool way, marveling at Sienna’s burst of emotionalism. “I must say, I didn’t expect you to return. What brings you back?”

“Marc and Sienna primarily,” Novak spoke up, cutting off Ryker. “I wanted to learn if there was anything we could do to help recover them. I’m glad to see you’ve taken good care of them. We can take them back now with us to our ship.”

Iken hesitated for a moment, turning to Isi and Nura and speaking in the Atlantian language. He then spoke to Novak and Ryker.

“I would like to speak to you both in an adjoining room. I have much to explain to you.”

When the three men entered the smaller conference area Iken got immediately to the point, “We will need the services of Marc and Sienna for two more days, if you don’t mind. They have first-hand knowledge that will help us defeat a terrible adversary of ours; he is responsible for the destruction you perhaps saw as you came here. Ryker must have told you about Dreyon, correct Captain?”

“Correct.” Novak was perceptive enough to realize it wasn’t going to be a case of merely becoming a taxi service for Marc and Sienna. In addition, he wanted to know more about the miners that had been taken here, also. Iken briefed both men on their upcoming plans to insert a special team into the cavern. Marc and Sienna would be part of that team.

“Sounds dangerous,” Ryker stated. “You know Sienna has limited military experience, although I believe she is a trained marksman.”

“I realize there is risk, but she has volunteered. My squad will do their best to protect both of these individuals. However, I admit that the operation is dangerous and quite risky.”

At these words, Novak spoke up, his voice taking on a tone of authority. “As their Captain, I can’t allow them to participate in your operation. Even without the consideration of the risk involved, these two people are not on loan to your government. I know this may sound a little overbearing to you, but they are under my command, and we are responsible to our company who is paying them handsomely for their services and wants them back. I don’t consider this negotiable.”

“I feel I must tell you that Marc and Sienna are helping us, but not entirely of their free will. It is part of the condition upon which we would insure their safe return to you. I doubt if you will like to hear that, but we had little choice. We have a special weapon that can be used to disable the thousand cybots Dreyon has built, but this device must be placed near them. It is no good to set it off outside the cavern. The walls of the cavern would block its effect. That’s why we need your Marc and Sienna. Marc has seen the exact location of the cybots. Even though he could describe it to us, and we could hope we move to the location he would describe, his being with us will insure that a mistake is not made.”

Novak considered what Iken said. A thousand cybots, my God, that’s more than a battalion of armed men. He understood their concern and need, but he deeply resented what was obviously a veiled threat to impede their return.

“When I came here I thought, based on what Ryker had told me, that we could be friends and that your intentions were to help us find our people. However, it is clear that you are considering us as your hostages.”

“We have tried to be good hosts to your people, but we never invited you to come here. I don’t think you appreciate our position. With Marc and Sienna’s cooperation, we finally have the capability to end the two-year struggle and systematic destruction to Cerulean. What would you do in our place, Captain, if the roles were reversed?”

Novak pondered this question. “I understand your position, but I want to hear from Marc and Sienna before I give you a definite answer as to whether we will stay. Don’t underestimate us, we have significant military resources waiting to come to the rescue of our people which brings me to a second point. What about all those miners? Where are they?”

Iken responded to his last question first, and told him the unvarnished truth. “Some of them were used as saboteurs. Most have probably been turned into cyborgs. Once that is done, there is no turning them back. They must be considered lost forever, unfortunately. We do have one miner though, a man named Larson. He is getting treatment now, as we speak. We were able to help him in time.”

Iken then told Novak he would call Marc and Sienna in to this room and Novak could talk with them privately. “You may change your mind, Captain, after you listen to them.”

Iken then left the room, returning with Marc and Sienna and two waiters who brought the four a decent lunch. Novak wasted no time eating but immediately got right to the issue of them all returning to the Raider. He reiterated the same position he took with Iken, and as much as demanded that the two return with him, Larson, and Ryker that afternoon. “If you two don’t go back with me, I want you to realize this will be your last chance, in all probability, to ever see your home again or your friends and family. IMC isn’t going to come back for you once they hear you voluntarily left their employ to stay here.”

“I think you need to calm down a little, Captain. Sounds like your blood pressure is a bit high,” Marc answered sarcastically, resentful of the overbearing nature of Novak. He knew he meant well, but he had a funny way sometimes of showing it. “Has it been a pleasant experience here so far? Hell no! Do I want to go back, hell yes! But this guy Dreyon and his crew are really evil people. You heard what he did to the rest of the miners. Don’t you want a little payback, too?”

“I’m not a hotheaded young buck like you. I’ve had enough fighting in the China Wars to last a lifetime. I don’t need any more payback; staying alive is payback enough, thank you. I’m surprised, considering what you’ve been through, that you would even give this serious thought.”

Sienna had been quiet during the Poland-Novak exchange, as had Ryker. She spoke up. “I don’t want Marc or me to have to take this step either, but when I look around at this beautiful city, the chance to help make a difference seems worth it to me. This whole experience of finding another dimension has changed me, I guess. I’m not so eager to just strap on my responsibilities to IMC and forget I ever came here.”

They continued to argue back and forth at lunch and Novak knew he had lost the argument with the pair of them. He could either simply command them, which he doubted would work, or wait another day until their operation was over. He decided to do the latter, with one provision. “If something happens to you, and you don’t come back, I won’t say you died as hero’s for Atlantia. I’ll say I couldn’t find you. I still have my job to worry about, even if you two apparently don’t care about yours.”

“Captain Novak, I want you to know this is not how I thought it would go, this conversation I mean. Both Sienna and I were elated to see you and your concern for us touches us both. You risked a great deal to even come here and try and rescue us. Don’t think we don’t appreciate that. I know I speak for her also when I say thanks.”

The pair then told him they agreed with his decision and the four continued in silence with their lunch, each lost deep in their own thoughts. When lunch was over, Novak asked to see Iken again.

“Here’s the deal, Iken, I’ve agreed to let them participate. When they return, I take them back, no more delays, agreed?”

“Yes, I agree. Thank you, Captain.”

“If they don’t come back, we’re leaving with Larson, agreed?”

“Yes again. Understood.”

“Okay, then Ryker and I will need quarters tonight. We could stay on our transport, but it would be more comfortable, from what Ryker told me, to stay around here. I assume you will help us in that regard.”

“Of course. I will take care of it right away. Would you like to join Marc and Sienna this afternoon for the operation rehearsal or be taken to your quarters?”

“We’ll watch the operation. I want to see how you are going to do this. I still consider them my crew, Iken, they’re just on temporary loan to you and that loan has an expiration date.”

Chapter 21

The team that would lead the raid on Dreyon’s hideout rehearsed with Marc and Sienna much of the afternoon. A mock-up of the cavern layout had been hastily constructed in a nearby warehouse. Marc took them through, leading the way, with Sienna right behind him. Actual vehicles had been brought in to give a realistic feel. Chalk marks were used to outline the position of the few aircraft in the cavern. Novak and Ryker watched the rehearsals as spectators only.

The plan was to first enter the cavern using an elite special team comprised of ten men plus Marc and Sienna. Their primary objective was to secure the main floor and insert the special weapon designed to destroy the secret robot army which Marc had seen. The team leader, assisted by Marc, would personally be responsible for locating and neutralizing the robot army. Once this was accomplished, follow-up teams would enter and do a level by level search and destroy mission. A medical team would be standing by as well.

When Marc first took part in the planning of the operation, he handed over the special device Adria had used to gain elevator and room access. Iken passed this device to a technical team that made replicas of it for each of the participants. Marc and Sienna were given a special body armor to wear. This was commonly used by the Atlantia defense forces. Because they were more familiar with their own Earth weapons, the ones they took with them in the rover were returned to them at the rehearsal, along their pistols and spare magazines. These were automatic assault weapons loaded with armor piercing ammunition. They were given special night vision equipment, too and briefed on how to use it during the rehearsal. The special team had their own weapons, unique to their missions with similar capabilities.

The rehearsals went well, but Commander Shiru, the team leader, in the final team briefing cautioned them that the rehearsal was conducted in the absence of enemy resistance. “We are not entirely sure of the strength of the enemy, therefore we must be mentally prepared for a difficult battle the moment we enter the cavern,” he warned.

Afterwards, Iken took them all to an early dinner at a special room used for visiting dignitaries in the capital building. Commander Shiru, who would lead the twelve man raid, joined them. Toasts were made to their hoped for success and victory. Captain Novak asked Iken what the plan was as far as Dreyon was concerned.

“Commander Shiru wants to take him alive, of course, but if we can’t, so be it. Dreyon will not go down without a fight, believe me. He might take his own life before allowing himself to be captured. But, if he is brought back here, he will go before a special tribunal. There will be no mercy. The people of Cerulean want revenge for the deaths of their families and loved ones.”

The dinner was very early and over quickly, and then Commander Shiru excused himself to make last minute preparations. Marc and Sienna asked to be taken back to their quarters. They too had an early morning wake-up call. The team would be assembled at 3:30 am and inserted at 4 am outside the cavern entrance.

Novak and Ryker were assigned to quarters in the same condo that housed Marc and Sienna. When Iken showed them to their rooms he suggested the possibility of additional entertainment for them, if they would be interested.

“Like what kind of entertainment? Are you inviting us to some club or something?” Novak replied, when it came up.

“Well, we have various escort services available. I could send over a pair of lovely women for an evening of companionship. They are specially trained to make your evening enjoyable and memorable. But please do not feel forced to accept, it is only a suggestion.”

“What do you think, Ryker? Sounds pretty good to me, actually, after months on a ship with no female ‘companionship’. I could use some quality entertainment right about now.”

“I’m in, you don’t need to twist my arm.”

Iken said he would make arrangements and they could expect the ladies to arrive within the hour. “There are plenty of wines and other beverages at the bar in your rooms. Feel free to help yourselves and enjoy your evening. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Novak took a shower and then went down the hall to Marc and Sienna’s quarters. They had been excitedly talking together about the mission planned for the next day.

“Are you sure about this, Sienna? You don’t have to go you know,” Marc said.

“I already told you, Marc, I’m coming with you. That’s that; please don’t bring it up again. You make me feel like you don’t think I am as qualified for this fight, and I am.”

“Sorry, it’s just that I’m concerned about something happening to you… well, forget it, there’s no point in pursuing that anyway.”

“You don’t think I feel the same way about you? I do you know.”

“Okay, I’ll drop it. Just wanted to make sure, that’s all.” At that moment Novak rapped on their door.

Marc was somewhat surprised to see him, wondering if he was going to continue to try to talk them out of the planned mission. “Come in, Captain,” he offered hesitantly. “I have to tell you, we can’t stay up very long. It’s going to be a short night’s sleep for us tonight.”

“This will just take a minute. I just wanted to make sure you both still want to go through with this, that’s all. We could sneak back to ‘Excelsior’, it’s parked right here in the city, and go back to the Raider tonight.”

“Yeah, we could, but I thought we went over this before. We were just talking about this topic, between us, before you knocked on the door. We’re both committed to going on the raid tomorrow, crazy as it might sound to you.”

“Our only concern is about Larson?” Sienna piped up.

Novak shook his head. “They might let us take him back with us; I sure hope they do. But we have to accept, since we haven’t seen him since they took him to their medical unit, that he might become a casualty of war. I’m more concerned about you two right now. You’re my crew and your health and safety are my responsibility.”

“You’re a good man, Novak, that I can say. IMC is lucky to have you.” Marc heartily shook his hand. “Don’t worry, I’ll be careful and I’ll watch out for Sienna.”

“Personally, it does sound a little insane, what you’re planning to do. You don’t really know these people or what is really going on with them. But I see I can’t convince you, so I have to accept your decision. Have a good night and good luck tomorrow. I plan to be at their mission headquarters listening to the incoming reports.”

Novak returned to his quarters feeling a little down. He felt he should have been able to convince them to go. There was something about the people in this city that made him uneasy, but he couldn’t quite figure out what it was. And, without Marc and Sienna’s cooperation, he really was powerless to alter the course of events.

When Novak returned to his room, two lovely, Cerulean women were there to welcome him. They were attired in colorful, flowing, diaphanous dresses and their eyes were heavily made up, with golden, sparkly eye liner and eye shadow. They were not talkative, but they were certainly attentive to the needs of the two men. Ryker was already lounging on the sofa, shirtless and with his fly unzipped, while one of the women was busy fixing him a drink. The arrival of these young women worked wonders on Novak’s mood and, as the night wore on and the drinks were served, he began to wonder why he had been so distressed in the first place.

Marc and Sienna lay in bed together for a while and then fell asleep. Their alarm went off at 2:45. They hurriedly dressed in their battle attire and waited outside for a ride to the assembly point. One of the team members came for them, as planned, and they were taken to the stealth shuttle to be used for the raid.

At 4am they disembarked with the other ten team members. Marc led the way through the electronic wall followed by Shiru and Sienna. This mirage wall still presented a mystery to him. On the one side, facing to the outside world, the mountain appeared to be dead ahead but, in fact, there was nothing there. It was all an illusion, like a magic trick.

Commander Shiru assembled his team on the inside of the electronic wall. Nothing was said; there was complete radio silence. They used hand signals. Everyone had previously rehearsed what they were to do. The team split up and began the trek into the cavern entrance, weapons ready.

Unknown to the raiders, the second they crossed the cavern threshold, a silent alarm went off. Within a minute or less, twenty armed robots appeared to challenge the invaders. They wasted no time gunning some of the raiders down. Two of Shiru’s men were lost within the first five minutes and another was wounded. Ten of the robots were disabled by returning fire. The raid was meeting intense and unexpected resistance and their momentum was being stalled. Commander Shiru, who was also the special weapons expert and had the device that would disarm the robots, was pinned down along with Marc and Sienna on the left side of the cavern. This was the area where their PT had been parked. There wasn’t much cover there and they were forced to move back outside the cavern entrance. The remaining nine men on the right were keeping the dwindling number of robots remaining pinned down temporarily, but Shiru knew it was only a matter of time before Dreyon reinforced them. So far, Dreyon had not been spotted.

Commander Shiru told Marc he had to go in and make another try to get to the robot staging area. He asked Marc to cover him while he ran to a nearby parked aircraft, in hopes of getting closer to his quarry. He and Marc moved inside the cavern again, staying low to the ground. Marc gave cover while Shiru made a dash for it. As Shiru ran to cover by the aircraft, he was wounded in the leg, forcing him to drop to the ground. Quickly checking the extent of his leg wound, he got up and began to hobble along, firing as needed to keep the robots pinned down. Marc realized that the commander needed help. He ran towards him, followed by Sienna. They were firing their weapons on full automatic as they dashed out in the open to help him. When they reached Shiru, they each took an arm and pulled him to cover.

“You showed me in rehearsal how to use that device. Give it to me; I’ll take it the rest of the way,” Marc said. “Sienna, stay here and cover for Shiru. I’m going.”

Marc made a run for to the nearest vehicle for cover. So far, this part of the cavern, further in, was unguarded. No one was taking shots at him. The factory was ahead, to his right. He couldn’t tell if there were robots in there or not. He couldn’t hear any noise, as the entire room was a cacophony of weapon sounds and grenade explosions. Marc searched ahead for the door on the right leading to the robot staging area. It looked clear, and he ran for it.

Unfortunately for Marc, Dreyon was waiting for him just inside the door, protecting his precious robotic army. Dreyon stood momentarily in the doorway and opened up on Marc, hitting him square in the chest. Miraculously, Marc was knocked down but not injured. He was saved by the very advanced body armor that Iken had provided for him. He rolled to his left and began firing, driving Dreyon further back into the staging area. Marc got up and moved to the entrance and then tossed a live grenade through it. He waited for the explosion and then cautiously stepped through the open doorway himself.

The smoke hadn’t cleared yet, and Marc did not see him at first because Dreyon was lying on the floor. Dreyon had been wounded, a portion of his face shredded by the grenade, but he was still alive waiting for Marc to advance. Marc was still partially blinded by the smoke, but he was in a hurry to set off the special explosive. He began to move ahead.

From his vantage point, Dreyon could see Marc coming forward and rose from the floor aiming his weapon at Marc. Sienna had now come through the doorway, just behind Marc. She saw Marc and then movement off to his right. It was Dreyon and he was drawing down on Marc. She aimed and shot Dreyon through the torso and head with a quick burst from her automatic weapon.

“Sienna!” Marc shouted in surprise, “I  thought you were covering Shiru? What are you doing over here?”

“Trying to save you, Marc. Looks like I did a good job, too.”

“Thanks, but you took a crazy risk running over here to help me.”

“Shiru’s remaining men have cleared the cavern, so I didn’t have too much to fear.”

“Thanks, but from the looks of things, we have a whole other problem. We need to set off this special device right away. Look!” Marc was pointing toward the staging area. Its interior suddenly glowed an eerie green, lit up by a thousand robot eye sensors. Apparently Dreyon had begun activating them before Marc appeared on the scene. They were running through their software routines and coming to full power, ready to march forward.

Sienna took defensive action and moved ahead, blasting the nearest robots with a hail of armor piercing lead from her assault rifle and shredding their bodies. Marc pushed the arming switch on the special explosive device and tossed it deep within the cavern, toward the awakening robot army. Then Marc and Sienna ran as fast as they could out of the special staging area, hoping to avoid the power of the blast. The powerful explosion went off and the force knocked them off of their feet.

During their rehearsals, Shiru had briefed them about the nature of the special device and they understood how it would work. It would use a special electronic energy to overpower the robotic circuits rendering them useless; so it was the technology of the device, not the explosion itself, which was hopefully defeating the large robotic army in the cavern.

Marc and Sienna didn’t stick around to find out what might be happening. They got to their feet quickly and made their way back to the cavern entrance. Upon exiting, they discovered that all of the defenders had either been destroyed by the raider weapons or had given up. There was no more opposition.

Helped by his lieutenant, Shiru hobbled back to the robot staging area to verify that the raid was a success. It had been. A thousand robots lay on top of one another, heaps of useless metal and electronic components. Dreyon was dead, so there was no need to take him back for trial. The lieutenant recorded the scene for his commander on the live video feed so those back in the Cerulean command center could see the success of their mission. But the battle for the rest of the complex was not over.

Chapter 22

The reinforcements from the Cerulean defense forces arrived as back-up moments after the raiders entered the cavern. When Shiru gave the all clear signal on the main level, teams from another special unit entered. Their responsibility was to go level by level and flush out any cyborg, cybot, or human combatants. They each carried a replica of the device used by Adria to lock or unlock doors. Marc and Sienna were not asked to accompany these teams nor did they desire to get involved, as this action was as equally dangerous as the raid had been. Dreyon’s cavern turned out to be a labyrinth of sorts, and there was some discussion during the planning phase to not bother doing this if they were successful on the main level. One idea was to put a chemical agent into the ventilation system and flush the human occupants out, but this would not have affected robots or cyborgs, so that idea was scrapped.

On the main floor, all of the remaining weapons in that area were confiscated and any of Dreyon’s robots still in service were deactivated until further analysis of their systems could be made. There was some fear that his design incorporated a ‘sleeper’ element in the event of his capture that would cause his robots to resist re-programming and become “rogues”. This had been used by Ceruleans against other enemies in the past, with the idea that the captured rogue would then, acting on its own, wreak havoc on others. Until analysts could take a closer look at Dreyon’s design, his robots were disarmed, deactivated, and taken away to a special containment unit.

The newly arrived reinforcement special teams began their task of a room by room search. Based on Marc and Sienna’s intelligence, they knew there were Atlantians living in the complex with Dreyon. Precisely how many was unknown. They knew of several key people that joined Dreyon when he initially fled Cerulean in his act of open rebellion, but they were not sure of how many others may have been added to his group since that time. During the raid, Shiru’s team did not see any of these people joining the fight on the main floor.

Each special unit team was assigned a different level. When the fourth level, the medical ward, was located the team leader discovered another secret elevator, disguised as part of a wall unit, which led down one level. The discovery of a fifth level in the complex became an unexpected factor. A fifth level team was hastily assembled from some members of the special units, and was assigned the responsibility for investigating this level.

Shiru, who returned to the scene having received emergency medical treatment, heard the initial report of contact by the Level 5 team leader over his comm. The special team had found all of the rebel human Altantians hiding  there. Fortunately, they were not armed and gave up without resistance. The fifth level was largely a complex established with sleeping quarters, an entertainment center, and cafeteria. Dreyon’s personal quarters were located there as well and contained a wealth of information regarding his sources of finance as well as plans for taking over Atlantia. The people found there were held, under guard, until the levels above were declared cleared and safe.

Armed cyborgs were another matter. There were, at final count, some twenty of them and they were armed and hiding throughout Levels 2, 3, and a few on 4. It took several hours of room by room searches and fighting at close quarters to rout them out. Five men from the Cerulean defense force were killed during this action. All of the cyborgs were eventually eradicated. The plan had been to eliminate them anyway because they were Dreyon’s creations, loyal only to him, and their brains could not be altered or rehabilitated.

The saddest moment came for the team responsible for Level 4. This was the medical ward. They found a cloning operation in play here with several ‘Adria’ clones in various stages of growth, awaiting operations to create an Adria cyborg. Another room housed preservative tanks containing ten of the previously captured miners. They were left in a state of stasis, awaiting their final use as cyborgs or parts for cyborgs. The tanks would have to be drained and the miners, who were technically dead, buried in a mass grave outside the cavern together with the clones. Shiru passed along this information to Marc and Sienna.

“It’s a good thing Larson wasn’t with us on this mission. It would have torn him up pretty badly if he had, by some chance, seen his former co-workers stored in tanks or now part cyborg,” Sienna commented sadly, thinking as well about how close she came to possibly being a part of an Adria cyborg.

Four hours passed before the team leaders reported that each level had been cleared. The rebel Atlantians were brought up from Level 5, restrained, and placed under guard in a special personnel carrier that would take them to a confinement center in the city.

“It is finally over,” Shiru announced to Marc and Sienna, as the rebels were led away. “I don’t know how to thank you. Your deed will not be forgotten.”

“Thanks Shiru,” Marc replied, “What’s going to happen now to all of this?” he pointed to the cavern complex.

“Ultimately, the cavern is destined to be sealed and closed forever. Any equipment that is considered useful will be taken back to Cerulean. The rest will be sealed in the cavern. The Atlantian rebels will be taken back and held in a confinement facility, interrogated for any intelligence that can be gleaned, and they will be prosecuted by the Atlantian high court.”

Chapter 23

Late in the afternoon, an exhausted Marc and Sienna were sent back to Cerulean. Iken, Novak, and Ryker greeted them at the shuttle landing site.  After a lot of warm congratulations, the four Earthlings were taken back to their quarters to rest and clean up. At the door to their room Iken informed them that special formal attire was hanging in their closet for them to wear the following day. Marc and Sienna were surprised at this announcement. They had been assuming they would be putting on their special suits to prepare to return to the surface of Mars. Iken then told them that a banquet and award ceremony was planned for the following afternoon.

Marc and Sienna thanked Iken for the offer but immediately declined, saying that they had delayed long enough and Captain Novak would surely want them to leave that day and head back to the Raider. To their further amazement, Iken told them he had already cleared this with Captain Novak. He went on to explain that it would mean a great deal to the rulers of Cerulean and their people to give thanks to the returning defense forces. Of course they wished to pay a special tribute to their Earthling neighbors, Marc and Sienna, for their heroic actions. Novak and Ryker would participate as well, and Captain Novak would receive an award of thanks for allowing his crew members to help Atlantia.

With this assurance, Marc and Sienna accepted Iken’s offer to stay, but as soon as Iken disappeared down the hallway, the couple hastened down the hall to Novak and Ryker’s suite to confirm what they had been told. Both men welcomed them into the room and seemed in unusually high spirits. Novak slapped Marc on the back and gave Sienna an uncharacteristic big hug, telling them again that they had performed a marvelous service for the people of Atlantia and he was incredibly proud of their bravery.

Novak went on to explain that he believed it was important to maintain good diplomatic relations with the people of Atlantia. “Your careers are made. No more shuttling back and forth for months on platinum ships to shitty locations like the moon of Mars. Once we return to Earth, I’m sure any job or position you want will be yours. This will even boost our careers.”

Sienna marveled at this change in her uptight captain’s personality and thought to herself that he had actually become handsome now that he had discovered how to smile and relax.

And, as he thought about Novak’s words, Marc could see that what his captain was saying might possibly be true. How many people on Earth had had dealings with interplanetary beings? They would be giving lectures and writing books for years, and probably be in demand everywhere once their story got out back on Earth. However, he was surprised by Novak’s sudden change in attitude from the previous day.

Before his enchanting escapade the previous night with the beautiful escort named Eliana, Novak would have insisted they skip the banquet and head back to the surface of Mars. Now, he saw things in a different way; as a wonderful adventure that was going to make all four of them very successful in the future. He felt they could afford one more day in this enchanting place. After all, it had ended well, and Marc and Sienna had returned unharmed. What difference could it make anyway? It’s only one day. I can give a full report then and explain that we needed the extra time for reconnaissance and to get details for a more accurate description of our surroundings and the outcome of the mission.

Convinced that their captain was now truly on board with a longer stay, Marc and Sienna entered their quarters, stripped off their filthy clothes, and gratefully headed right to the shower. “Let’s make love in the human car wash again,” Sienna teased.

“I’m glad you have the energy. I’m nearly done in.”

“Oh, no you don’t, you get in here, mister. This body needs you.”

She pulled him into the shower and the door automatically shut. The shower finished its job long before they did.

“Hungry?” Marc asked later, waiting for Sienna in the kitchen and casually sipping the wonderful Atlantian white wine.

“Starved, what’s for dinner?” Sienna asked. She sauntered in to the kitchen area, all buffed up and dressed in a robe the staff in charge of the transient quarters had thoughtfully provided.

An entire gourmet meal, with several bottles of wine to choose from, was sitting on the counter. A bouquet of roses rested on the dining area table with a note which read, “Compliments of Atantia. Thank you for your service in our time of need.” Marc read Sienna the note, and then brought the food to the dining room table.

“That was sweet, but I don’t recall seeing it when we came back.”

“It wasn’t. Must have brought it here when we were, umm, doing, you know.”

“And the bedroom door wasn’t closed, oh my, well…,” Sienna giggled.

The two lovers ate the food and then hopped right into bed. “I’m exhausted,” Marc said, “how about you?” He looked over, Sienna had already fallen asleep.

The next morning they arose at leisure, made love, and then ate a breakfast that had also miraculously appeared. “They don’t believe too much in privacy, I guess,” Marc commented.

“Apparently not, but, hey, I’m not complaining. Their food is delicious.”

“Yeah, but where is the grey liquid Adria wanted us to drink?” Marc teased.

The couple lounged around in the morning. The ceremony and banquet didn’t start until early afternoon. They figured out how to use the huge video screen adorning the living room wall. Unfortunately, all the programs were in the Atlantian language, and they couldn’t understand a word. However, they watched anyway, curious about this new and alien world.

“Hey, what’s that?” Sienna asked, pointing to a specific footage now on the screen.

“It almost looks like Venice, Italy. Do you think they were videoing Venice for some news broadcast or something?”

“I don’t know, it sort of looks like Venice. I went there on vacation once, but it’s not the Venice I remember. Looks different in many ways, sort of like a Disneyland version of Venice.”

“Maybe it’s Vegas. But there seems to be too much jungle-like vegetation for that.”

Then they kept hearing the word ‘Intoxia’ mentioned, as a very enticing destination was displayed on their screen for about ten minutes. Happy, tall, thin Atlantians were shown enjoying themselves in pools, having massages, eating, and making love.

“It must be a place they have here?” Sienna said. “Looks like a travel advertisement for it. Wow, it really looked terrific, although those love scenes were a bit graphic for an ad.”

“Yeah, looks like even more fun than Las Vegas. Now they’re showing pictures of people holding hands and going on gondola rides. Look at the gondoliers though, they look like autotronic robots.”

“You’re right, I think they are. They appear pre-programmed for one function. Look at the crazy costumes they are all wearing.”

Marc and Sienna continued to watch the ad for Intoxia and other programs for a while. Then Marc began caressing Sienna. “Hey, my horny hero, do you realize we have to go in thirty minutes?”

“You’re kidding! Oh, you’re right. What are we wearing anyway?”

“They left us some new clothes, remember, so we’ll fit in with the Ceruleans. I already looked them over in our closet. Wait till you see your colorful get-up. Come on, let’s get moving. We don’t want to disappoint our hosts.”

Marc and Sienna were picked up at their quarters by Iken. Novak and Ryker were with him. “Remember guys, we need to leave right after the party,” Novak reminded everyone.

“No problem, we’re good to go,” Marc responded.

When they arrived at the banquet, being held in the capitol building, it was a spectacular sight. All the top officials from Cerulean were in attendance, dressed in their finest attire with special hats and decorative collars that apparently displayed their titles and rank. Then the remaining men who had survived the raid with Marc, plus the commanders of the entire military operation involved, marched into the hall. Multiple tables had been set up, with a dais at the head table for the Atlantia ruling council.

There was a live band playing in the background, and many beautiful young Atlantian women threading through the crowd serving wine, cocktails, and delectable treats displayed on silver platters. Marc experienced a déjà vu moment when a particular woman offered him a glass of champagne. “Sienna, did you take a good look at that server?”

“Yes, I think I’m going to faint. She looked just like Adria, only with a different hair color.”

“You got that right, but it must be a coincidence. How many people can there be that look like Adria?”

“Apparently a lot. I’m sure you noticed that all of their servers are obvious cyborgs, not people,” Sienna laughed.

The cocktail hour went on for thirty minutes and then all the guests were requested to sit. Iken took charge of the four people from Earth, and they were treated like exotic and celebrated guests. The four noted they were seated right in front of the dais, which was a highly prized seating placement. One person was missing, of course. “Where is Eric Larson?” Sienna asked Captain Novak.

Novak responded he had been told by Iken that unfortunately the blood transfers and other special procedures used to treat Larson were taking a bit longer to produce the beneficial effects. Iken assured them that Larson, who wasn’t quite well enough to attend the banquet would be in good enough shape to head back with them after the banquet was over.

Eventually the music fell silent and their supreme leader, Truon, spoke. “People of Atlantia, brave soldiers of our military, Marc and Sienna from Earth and your companions, this is a momentous occasion. For months, we have been devastated by the traitor, Dreyon. He has tried to destroy us, but he did not succeed, thanks to many of these brave people sitting before me. The entire planet of Atlantia thanks you all. Also, our entire community owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to these very heroic people of Earth.  Please, Marc Poland and Sienna Love, Captain Novak and Ryker Jeske stand up. We wish to salute you for your service to Atlantia.”

There was a thunderous applause that resonated throughout the banquet hall. Then all of the attendees stood up with their glasses of champagne and shouted “To Atlantia”. They toasted the four people of Earth as well as all the other battle participants. Next Truon asked Marc and Sienna to come forward. When they moved to the dais, his Minister of Defense stood up to present two medallions, placing them around the necks of Marc and Sienna.

Facing the audience once more, Truon spoke. “We are honored to present today to Marc and Sienna, our ‘Medal of Sacrifice’. A medal reserved for those who have placed serving our country above regard for their own life. We salute you.”

With that the orchestra began to play the national anthem and everyone stood up, placing their right hand over their heart. Marc and Sienna were overcome with emotion. Sienna tried to hold back her tears, but could not. Marc kept thinking that he would most likely never have an adventure of this nature again in his life. He thought of the stories he might tell his children someday, and the children he envisioned began to look a little like Sienna. He also thought about how, back on the ‘Platinum Raider’, nobody would ever believe what he and Sienna had experienced in this world.

Then the meal was served and Marc and Sienna were constantly interrupted by well-wishers expressing thanks for their service. It was a whirlwind of people and congratulations for the pair, but Sienna began to notice something strange. Nobody seemed to be older than their mid-30’s. The faces held no wrinkles, the bodies of both men and women were taut and firm. Only Truon sported gray hair and appeared in his late 50’s, but everyone else was young. Sienna remarked on this to Marc, who in the elation of the moment had not noticed this oddity. The couple began speculating as to why this might be, as they looked around the room to see if they could discern anyone who might be showing some age and wisdom, if only in their eyes. Sienna guessed they might be utilizing plastic surgery or even some cyborg-like treatments to retain their youth. Marc, on a more sinister note, wondered if everyone was eliminated once they attained a certain age. But, as the adulation continued around them, they soon dismissed these thoughts and enjoyed their moments of being honored.

After the ceremony died down and the meal was over, Iken approached the couple. “I have been asked by Truon to discuss something with you. He thought that, given the duress you had been through, you might consider spending a week at Intoxia, a resort of unimaginable proportions and pleasures. This is quite an honor, by the way, as only our elite citizens are entertained in this garden of delights.”

“Is this place here in your city?” Marc asked.

“No, you must journey there. It is built quite close to the province of Solonia.”

Sienna reacted with enthusiasm. “Actually, I would love to go. Intoxia is the place we saw earlier today on the video screen. Remember, Marc?”

“Oh, yeah. That did look inviting,” Marc said, remembering full well that it appeared to be some sort of honeymooners’ paradise. “Great idea.”

“Wonderful! I will convey to Truon that you accept his offer. As it is his gift, everything will be taken care of for you. Our government will even provide transportation back through the portal to your ship. You needn’t do a thing but prepare tomorrow morning to be transported to a week of blissful, stress-free entertainment.”

“Marc, this is incredible, don’t you think?” Sienna asked, giddy with excitement.

“Yeah, it is. But hold on, Iken. We need to confer with Captain Novak. Remember that he is planning for us to head back to the Raider once this dinner bash is over.”

“Talk him into it, Marc. Surely they can do without us for a week,” Sienna pleaded.

Marc and Sienna excused themselves from Iken, who now wore a less than pleased look on his face. “I hope we haven’t offended him by not instantly jumping on Truon’s offer,” Sienna whispered to Marc. They had located Novak slouched on a plush couch in a corner of the hall. He was obviously enjoying himself, laying practically in the clutches of a gorgeous woman who seemed to be stroking his graying hair and appeared to be totally amused by some joke he had just told her.

“Ahem, Captain Novak, can you spare us a moment,” Marc said, teasing him.

“Hey, my heroes of Atlantia! What gives?” Novak was red in the face, and his speech was somewhat slurred. It was obvious that Novak had imbibed too much fine Atlantian wine.

“Listen, the Atlantian people want to take Sienna and me to Intoxia, one of their resorts, for a week. It’s a gift from them to us. We’d like to go. Do you think you could go back and tell IMC we will be delayed a week? If you have to return to Earth, we could maybe catch the next re-supply ship. After all, they arrive every month.”

Novak hesitated, trying to absorb the information and change of events. His mind was quite muddled from his inebriated state. He was beginning to think he would have to spend another night in Cerulean anyway, just to recover from the banquet. And, it appeared that his lovely companion had ideas for him after the party, as well. “I’d almost like to go to this resort place with you. Sounds great. But, I do have my responsibilities. I’m thinking I may not head back this afternoon. Might leave tomorrow morning. Better for Larson, too; give him more time to get well. Looks like Ryker found someone to enjoy himself with, too. Yeah, me, him, and Larson will probably take off tomorrow morning. But I understand your reluctance to leave.”  Novak thought about it a bit longer, while his lady friend continued to ruffle his hair playfully. “I’m starting to feel like an old man. Did you notice how young all these folks are?”

Sienna acknowledged that they had noticed, but countered that it was not for them to speculate on alien cultures and their ways. “Maybe they take pills to keep them forever young,” she quipped casually.

“I’ve really enjoyed checking out all the ‘hot women’ in this banquet hall. But I feel like gramps compared to them.” Novak snickered and his woman friend bent towards him, offering a kiss. “Yeah, I think that is actually a great idea for you two,” Novak resumed. “Go ahead. Enjoy yourselves, you only live once. I’ll cover for you, try to smooth things over with the command back at the ship; maybe say you’re exhausted and need to rest up before you can experience the rigors of heading back through the portal. I wish I could join you at that resort. I’ll report back and just say that you needed to recover, that’s all.”

“Great! Hey, thanks a lot. The Atlantian government will take us back when our holiday is over.”

Chapter 24

Marc and Sienna were whisked off to Intoxia in a one of the unusual vehicles that dominated Atlantia. According to Iken, it was a sort of government taxi, arranged just for them. Their journey took them far away from the capital city, along valleys filled with strange-looking flowering trees, high-peaked mountains, and passed an enormous lake, the color of deepest azure. Large golden-winged birds flew overhead as they journeyed on. Yet, there did not seem to be any little villages or farms along the way. Everyone seemed to live in the big city, and the land beyond was wild and uncultivated.

Their vehicle was propelled from a turbine set in the rear and glided through the air, several feet off the roadway, providing a very smooth and rapid ride. An expansive transparent bubble protected the passengers from the environment, while affording maximum visibility.

The driver was an affable young man named Isha, who offered a running commentary the entire way. The news regarding Marc and Sienna, as two heroes from Earth, had been the top story on the daily news for two days now. Isha was very familiar with their participation in the raid on Dreyon’s cavern, and very pleased that they had volunteered to help save Cerulean. He asked for many details about the raid as they went along, until Marc told him he didn’t feel he could disclose any more information as it might be considered top secret. After that, Isha complied and simply continued to babble on about his wonderful life and family in Cerulean and how much he appreciated the firm, guiding hand of their beloved leader, Truon.

After a good hour’s drive, when Marc and Sienna felt Isha had talked them nearly to tears, they descended a steep hill leading down to the resort of Intoxia. From their vantage point high above, Marc and Sienna could see the domed complex itself bordered a large lake, this one almost emerald green and magnificent against the lavender sky. Canals feeding off the lake wound around the city. As they drew closer, they could discern power boats and a few small sailboats plying the waters of the lake.

Oddly, although the city was almost a replica of Venice, Italy, Isha had never heard of Italy on planet Earth and didn’t understand what they were referring to. He told them the beautiful city had been designed from the artistic talents of Truon, who was an inspired artist and inventor as well as their political leader. It was domed to provide a consistently warm climate, which allowed exotic vegetation to be planted along the walkways of the resort and also allowed the pampered patrons to sun-bathe and swim in the enormous pools dotting the complex. As Marc and Sienna had already noticed, the climate of the rest of Atlantia tended to be rather cool.

Once they arrived at the drop off point, Isha shepherded them to the sleek power boat, that resembled a cigarette style boat on Earth. It would take them from the lake into a canal and to their hotel. Sienna told Marc, who hadn’t been to Venice, how much it replicated her earlier experience in Italy. “They must have copied it down to every detail. This place is amazing. I wonder what other surprises Atlantia holds?”

“Probably more than we want to think about right now,” Marc said, wanting to get to the hotel and relax. “I have to admit, this is beautiful and should be a lot of fun. I guess I didn’t know what to expect, really, from this quite different planet. If I relied on all the sci-fi movies I’ve seen, we would have been already eaten by vicious monsters.”

Sienna laughed. “Adria was enough of a monster for me, and Dreyon, too. Maybe they didn’t have monster bodies, but their heartless treatment of those miners showed them for what they were.”

The power boat roared across the waters of the lake and soon entered a long canal through a portal in the dome. They could see other people walking along the narrow streets and over the many bridges which crossed this canal. All were dressed beautifully, in odd Atlantian fashions that made them appear like colorful birds as they lingered by the canal walkways, sipping drinks at outdoor cafes or staring blissfully at the passers-by boating along the canal. They appeared like tourists on Earth, totally enjoying a marvelous vacation spot.

The power boat pulled up to a dock in an area that could be a replica of St. Marks Square, according to Sienna, but thankfully minus the pigeons. The couple were helped off the boat by waiting cybots and ushered into the hotel lobby by two more uniformed cybots. Immediately, a woman appeared, introducing herself as Shekia and announcing herself as their host and guide. She smiled in surprise when Sienna mentioned the similarities of this place to Venice, Italy. Shekia explained that their hotel was indeed a replica of an Italian hotel and was very popular with the elite families of Cerulean, who wanted to partake of an Earth-like experience. She showed them to their room and it was obvious that Marc and Sienna were in for a wonderful treat in this enormous suite, with a huge hot tub in the middle of the floor, and a roaring fireplace near the canopied bed that looked like it was a super-king size.  Sienna was overwhelmed by the generous gift of fruits, cheese, wine and other assorted goodies in a ribboned basket, accompanied by a note from the staff, again thanking them for helping the people of Atlantia.

The week passed quickly. Marc and Sienna acted like any young couple in love, taking strolls around the city, making love in the lazy afternoon, swimming in an enormous heated pool, taking boat rides, getting total body massages, visiting little shops where they were presented with any jewelry or clothing they might fancy, and eating and drinking fine wine and food. While some of the food was Italian in flavor, much of it was indigenous to Atlantia. Most all of it was wonderful, and they had a hard time finding anything not to like in their stay, except for one thing.

Unlike the banquet in Cerulean, where they had been the center of everyone’s attention, nobody spoke to them here. They only dealt with robotic staff members who, although infallibly polite, nevertheless showed no personality beyond the expected courtesies and the immediate attempts at granting the couple’s every wish and whim. It was strange. All the other elite folk who populated the place seemed to go out of their way to avoid them.

One night, while the couple was having a margarita-style cocktail at their hotel bar before dinner, they tried striking up a conversation with one of the patrons sitting on the stool right next to Sienna. Despite Sienna’s winning smile and benign attempt to discuss the amenities of their lovely hotel, the patron turned outright belligerent, surprising her by hissing, “Not everyone thinks you two are heroes, you know. You both need to wise up.”

“Excuse me, what is your problem?” Sienna asked, obviously annoyed.

“I don’t have a problem, but maybe you two do,” the young man snickered, as he immediately got off his stool and left them alone.

“What the hell was that all about?” Marc wanted to know.

“I don’t know. That was really odd… I think he must have been drunk or something.”

“Let’s forget we heard him, okay?” Marc replied, “I’m not going to let that spoil our evening and you shouldn’t either.”

Sienna agreed to drop the subject, and they moved on to their dinner in another restaurant nearby.

By the fourth day though, Sienna worried that she was definitely noticing a thinly disguised coolness to them from all of the patrons and wondered what was going on. Marc blew it off, by commenting, “Who needs them anyway. We have each other, and this has been like a honeymoon for me.”  To which, Sienna agreed, but it didn’t allay her concerns.

While the loving couple was experiencing Intoxia, Iken and his staff were busy poring over the intelligence gleaned from Dreyon’s quarters. After several days, Iken sent an interim urgent report to Truon because he felt some disturbing information demanded immediate attention.

The report said, in part, “We have discovered that the source of Dreyon’s financing has come from a conspiracy within the province of Solonia.” It named the players and the companies involved in helping to fund Dreyon’s treason. Solonia was a neighboring province, but many of the population were apparently dissatisfied with the policies of the Atlantia government. This was well known and had led to minor skirmishes at election time two years back. These dissidents felt their voices were not well represented in the Atlantia parliament and wanted more representation, as well as less spending on the part of the government led by Truon. However, a conspiracy to take down the government was almost unthinkable by Atlantian standards.

At the end of the report there was one more disturbing find. “Our DNA test of Dreyon’s body was inconclusive. However, we believe it most likely to have been merely a clone.”

At the end of the week, it was time to depart. Marc and Sienna both expressed that they would find it hard to leave such a paradise as Intoxia. Sienna even mentioned that she could stay there and spend the rest of her life with Marc. This declaration filled his heart with joy.

“I feel the same as you. This has been an experience we will never forget. I wonder if there is some way we could stay on, not necessarily here, but in Cerulean, getting to know Atlantia.”

“Well, we can always try to renegotiate with Truon,” Sienna suggested. “Maybe he will let us stay a little longer.”

“I don’t know. He made it clear, through our friend Iken, that once we leave, they’re going to restrict access through the portal, so there will be no more visitations to any of our people from future kidnappers like Dreyon. But I also wonder if the Atlantians might want to keep out any Earth visitors.”

“Well, I guess I can understand that. What if every yahoo on Earth decided they would like to vacation in Intoxia?” Sienna smiled at the thought of it.

“Maybe that’s why the folks here seemed so stand-offish toward us,” Marc suggested.

“Yet they seem to have this strong relationship to our Earth. In the distant past, like we were told, but also in the present. Obviously this resort is a mock-up of a city on our Earth. So they go there and observe us, but we are not aware of their presence. Maybe they think of us as lesser beings,” Sienna mused.

“Well, come to think of it, would Earth’s people respect the Atlantian culture? I highly doubt it. Atlantians probably figure it’s just as well to keep their distance.”

They were taken by the same power boat and shuttled to another taxi waiting at the dock, the entrance and exit into Intoxia. This time they had luggage. Sienna had taken advantage of the offer of free Atlantian fashions for her and Marc. The uniformed cybots loaded the luggage area of their taxi shuttle vehicle, while the driver remained impassive in the front seat.

Sienna wondered whether this driver would be as talkative as the one who had brought them to their vacation destination. “This is a taxi back to the city of Cerulean, right?” Sienna inquired of the rather slender driver, who appeared to her to be a woman.

“Correct. I have been sent to retrieve you. I apologize for not getting out and welcoming you, but I was busy with a message from my superior.”

“No problem,” Marc replied.

The taxi lifted off and drove for twenty minutes before shunting off to the right, onto a small side road. Marc didn’t recall that they had taken this route when they came to Intoxia. “Are you sure this goes to Cerulean?  I don’t remember going this way,” he questioned.

“It is a short cut. You come here one way and go back another route. Not quite as scenic. Do not worry, I’ve been doing this for years. You will get where you are supposed to go.” The woman was smiling broadly as she stated this.

“She’s rather quiet, compared to Isha, don’t you think?” Sienna whispered to Marc, as they traveled along for another ten minutes in total silence.

At this, the woman driver, who had never identified herself, then took off her chauffeur’s hat and shook out her thick hair. Sienna gasped. “Marc, she looks just like Adria!”

Marc didn’t know what to think. He had to agree with Sienna. “Must be a coincidence Sienna, but the resemblance is remarkable.”

The woman slowed the taxi, and then pulled onto yet another side road leading to a clearing. Here there was a shuttle apparently waiting for them. “Sorry, there’s been a change of plans.”

“Oh, what’s that? Marc asked, apprehensively.

“We’re not finished with you two yet.” Then Adria donned a face mask and sprayed them with a sleeping agent.

The End