Mission Origin View (Final Days Trilogy) (49 page)

“
You actually believe that’ll happen tomorrow,” Dr. Harper said-his voice sarcastic.

“
Yes. Everything that’s happened is written in the book, and there’s no reason to believe what Stephen just read won’t happen tomorrow,” Gideon said.

Dr.
Harper turned to Mary. “And what about Sipes? I thought he was in the brig!”

“
He was, and he is now, Doctor,” Mary said calmly. “It seems he can go and do what he wants, and
Lieutenant
Klaxton and I have no idea how to prevent it.”

“
Kill him, Captain!” Dr. Harper blurted out. “This space, this time, this…this whatever we’re in…has given him the ability to control our bodies and minds!”

“
There will be no execution, Doctor. He and his book seem to know what’s happened and what will happen,” Mary said.

“
Stephen, what’s the source of this book?” Gideon asked before Dr. Harper could speak again.

“
There’re no records aboard the ship about the Holy Bible. I can use QMAC to connect to Earth and access archive databases,” Stephen said.

Gideon looked at Mary for approval
. “Do it, Stephen,” Mary said.

The QMAC switched on
, but the display portion of the quantum communication system didn’t activate. “Accessing archive databases. Found and loading all information related to the Holy Bible,” Stephen said.

“
Report on the origin of the Holy Bible when you have enough information,” Mary ordered.

A few
minutes later, Stephen said, “
The Holy Bible is a phenomenal account of history, comprised of sixty-six books, written over approximately sixteen hundred years, by at least forty distinct authors. The Old Testament-Old Covenant-contains thirty-nine books written from approximately fifteen hundred to four hundred BC, and the New Testament-New Covenant-contains twenty-seven books written from approximately forty to ninety AD. The Jewish Bible,
Tenach
, is the same as the Christian Old Testament, except for its book arrangement. The original Old Testament was written mainly in Hebrew, with some Aramaic, while the original New Testament was written in Greek. Joseph’s Anna supplied me with a copy of the Christian Holy Bible, which includes the New Testament.”

“
Why didn’t we know the book exists? And does anyone on Earth or the colonized planets know about it?” Mary asked.

“
History archives indicate that Christianity, a term coined for those who believe the Bible is true, became very unpopular with world governments during the first part of the twenty-first century. Many world governments banned the reference to and use of the Holy Bible in all aspects of lower and higher education along with the use of the word
God
and especially the name Jesus. There are, however, a few small groups on Earth and several colonized planets who continue to believe and study the Holy Bible. They believe the book is true and pray to God. These groups are classified as either fanatical, terrorists, or criminals by all governments, and some governments execute Christians when they’re identified,” Stephen said.

“
There!” Dr. Harper said as he pointed at Mary. “Sipes is a fanatical Christian terrorist using some type of mind control to sabotage our mission.”

Gideon was listening to the discussion when Anna spoke into his ear
. “Gideon, Sergeant Manelly is reporting Gunny Xia has left the sick bay and is at the brig with a weapon, demanding to see Petty Officer Sipes.”

“
Tell Manelly to disarm Gunny Xia and keep him away from Sipes. I’m on my way!” Gideon said, and then looked at Mary. “Captain Bowser, we have a situation in the brig.”

***

Gideon raced through the corridors to the brig with Mary just behind him. “What’s happening?” Mary shouted as they ran.

“
Gunny Xia has a weapon, and I think he wants Sipes dead,” Gideon said.

Gideon and Mary
found Manelly holding Gunny Xia by the shoulder with his left hand and holding a Glock MMR (mini mag rail) sidearm in his right hand; undoubtedly it was the weapon Manelly had taken from Xia.

Xia was trying to pull away from Manelly
, yelling, “Let me go! We have to kill him before the aliens take over the ship.”

“
Stand down, Gunny!” Gideon ordered.

“
Sir, we have to kill him. Kill him now! I’ve seen on the video feeds what happened in the MCC, and he’s trying to control my mind now,” Xia said in a hysterical tone.

“
How’s he trying to control your mind?” Gideon asked calmly as he motioned for Manelly to release Xia’s shoulder.

Manelly released him
, and Xia stood in place. He took a deep breath and said, “Sir, he’s trying to control me by using my dreams. He’s been reading his book to the kids, and he was reading to me when I was in a coma. I had the same dream the kids in sick bay had, but mine was a little different.”

“
Different…how?” Gideon asked.

“
Instead of flying away with the kids, I stayed behind and was killed by some type of beast,” Xia said.

Gideon ordered Manelly to take Xia back to sick bay
, and Mary ordered Dr. Pettway to give Xia a sedative when he arrived.

“
Sir, I’m going to talk to Sipes again. We need to get to the bottom of what’s happening before the entire crew goes crazy,” Gideon said.

“
What makes you think he can or will give you any answers?” Mary asked.

“
He’s my friend,” Gideon said.

Ship’s Brig, SRS
Stephen Hawking

1825
—
March 10, 2372

Gideon opened Joseph
’s cell and entered. Joseph sat on his bunk, reading from a media device. “Can we talk again, Sipes?” Gideon asked.

“
Yes, sir,” Joseph said as he laid the media device on his bunk.

Gideon leaned against the wall just inside the cell and asked,
“Remember when we talked on our way to
Phobos about ourselves and our past? You pointed out that though we grew up different, we’re both orphans.”

“
Yes, sir, I remember, and I enjoyed our talk,” Joseph said with a smile.

“
Since then, I’ve considered you my friend, and I’ve come to rely on you and trust you, especially during our missions to acquire the scientists,” Gideon said. “As a friend, I want you to tell me about everything that’s happened to you and about the things you’ve said in the MCC over the past few days. It’s very important that Captain Bowser and I understand what you’re doing and why you’re doing it.”

“
Since we began this mission, I’ve had several dreams. I even told you about my dreams where my grandma told me to help save everyone,” Joseph said and Gideon nodded. “It wasn’t until a few days ago that I began to understand those dreams and truly understand the meaning of what I was reading in the Bible.”

“
What is it you understand? And what caused you to understand?” Gideon asked.

“
First of all, I know God is using me and allowing the Holy Spirit to speak through me. That’s the energy I referred to the last time we talked,” Joseph said.

A
s Joseph spoke, Gideon noticed that Joseph wasn’t speaking to him as the simpleminded man he’d met on Earth or the authoritative and dominating person in the MCC. Now Joseph was speaking as an intelligent, calm, and confident person.

“
Since the last time the Holy Spirit used me to speak, I’ve been able to not only understand what I’ve said but also comprehend what I’ve read in the Bible. And most importantly, I now fully understand the reward that awaits me because, since I was a child, I believed as a child, and I believe Jesus is indeed my Savior and that everything in the Bible is true,” Joseph said.

“
Reward? What type of reward?”

“
Eternal life.”

“
What does this understanding of the Bible and what you’ve said in the MCC have to do with our current situation?”

“
God has sent us here so he could show us creation,” Joseph said.

“
Why?” Gideon asked, trying to piece everything together.

“
So we can report what we witnessed and let everyone know God is the creator and there’s still time to believe and accept his son, Jesus, as Lord and Savior,” Joseph answered.

“
I’m sorry, Sipes, but I don’t understand anything you’re saying. Eternal life, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, believing…I just don’t understand,” Gideon said, disappointed that he wasn’t getting anywhere.

“
God has blessed you with intellect. I’m sure if you’d read the Bible and use your intelligence, you’ll understand everything,” Joseph answered with confidence.

Mission Control Center, SRS
Stephen Hawking

1032
—
March 11, 2372

“
I read the Bible last night,” Gideon said, interrupting the scientists as they discussed various theories.

Surprised,
Dr. Harper turned toward Gideon. “And what have you learned, Lieutenant?” Dr. Harper asked, irritated for being interrupted during such an important discussion.

“
I learned that everything Sipes has said and everything we’ve seen is recorded in the Bible,” Gideon said.

“
So you believe the ancient tale that a god created the universe and everything in it?” Harper asked as he rolled his eyes.

“
I didn’t say I believed it. I just said everything I’ve read has happened,” Gideon said. “I don’t think a god created anything, Doctor, but something is happening that looks an awful lot like creation as it’s presented in the Bible.”

“
Updated sensor data being received,” Stephen said over the MCC intercom. The scientists watched the image of the planet, waiting for the image to blur as the data came in to be analyzed. Instead, the image remained focused.

“
Stephen, you said new sensor data was being received. I don’t see any changes or data,” Dr. Harper said.

“
The sensors are detecting changes surrounding the planet,” Stephen said.

“
Show us what the sensors are detecting,” Dr. Harper ordered.

Stephen expanded the view of the planet to include millions of miles around it. As
Dr, Harper watched the monitor, the light with no known source went out, and a second later a sun suddenly appeared behind and to the left of the planet along with a moon that was just big enough to be seen on the display on the planet’s right.

“
Sensors report that a sun has appeared ninety-three million miles from the planet, and a moon two hundred thirty-nine thousand miles away from the planet,” Dr. Jones reported. She paused and added, “That’s the same distance the Earth is from the sun and moon!”

“
Expand sensor scans to detect any other planets in the solar system and display them,” Dr. Harper said.

The view expanded
, showing only the sun and a tiny dot representing the planet. “No other planets detected,” Stephen said.

“
There are no stars. Shouldn’t we see stars in the background?” Dr. Kastriva remarked as he looked at the display, and added, “Didn’t Stephen read yesterday there would be stars?”

“
Not if they haven’t been created yet. The Bible specifically states the sun and moon were created, and then he created the stars,” Gideon said.

“
Stephen, maximum sensor scans. Are any stars being detected?” Dr. Harper asked.

“
No stars detected,” Stephen said.

As
Dr. Harper watched the display, a sudden flash of light blinded him for a second. When his eyes adjusted, the display showed a universe of stars, galaxies, planets, moons, and every other object in the universe. Speechless, he and the others looked at the monitor.

“
Stars detected. Comparing detected star locations relative to the planet and comparing their locations to the planet as it would have been seven thousand eight hundred and ninety-two years ago to confirm that the planet is Earth,” Stephen said.

Seconds later
: “Confirmation, the planet is Earth,” Stephen reported.

“
Shall I quote what the Bible says you’ll see and detect tomorrow, Doctor?” Gideon asked, his voice laced with sarcasm.

Dr.
Harper shook his head from side to side in disbelief and frustration.

Captain Bowser’s Quarters, SRS
Stephen Hawking

1920
—
March 11, 2372

“
Have a seat, Lieutenant,” Mary told Gideon after he entered her quarters.