| ALPHA 1 | ||||||||
| "Forty solar hours until arrival on Earth," ship navigator Jenkins said. "It still strikes me funny that we're measuring time by Earth's sun, even though we've been billions of miles away from it." "Well, we had to chart time in some way. NASA decided that it would help promote some kind of normalcy if we maintained familiar routines like using our own solar time. ...Normalcy..." Burgess paused to reflect. The word tasted hollow as he rolled it around in his mouth. "There hasn't been much of that since we left Earth 85 years ago. 85 years to them anyway; 13 months to us." Burgess was always good at seeing the bigger picture. Maybe that was one of the reasons he was captain of the team of three astronauts. As excited as the men were to be finally returning back home, each man also shared an unspoken apprehension as to what actually awaited them back on Earth. To allay their underlying nervousness, the astronauts had engaged in more personal conversation during this last leg of the trip than they had the entire rest of the voyage combined. Captain Burgess was a taller man, dark hair, hazel eyes. Besides his extensive science background, he had a degree in theology as well. A balanced left side, right side brain. His composure was steady and mild. He often contemplated before speaking. Science officer Atkins, on the other hand, was easily roused. "When we get back, I don't think I'll know one person," Atkins chimed in. He already knew that before he left on this flight. "Sure, I'll meet somebody's grandkids that I used to know, but it's not really possible that anyone will still be alive that I knew when we left." It had always bothered Atkins in the back of his mind that everyone he used to know would be dead when he got back to Earth. All of them had understood that before they signed up for this mission to the stars. Seemingly overnight, hyperspace technology had been developed, and the new hyperspace ships required a certain kind of astronaut. Of the many selection criteria that had to be met for this mission, having no spouse or children was one of them. Not even a brother or sister. It was better this way. Avoiding emotional loss of loved ones was another foresight NASA had planned for. Being the youngest of the team, Atkins still secretly wished that he would know someone when he got back home. "I wonder where Earth will be technologically when we get back," Jenkins mused. Jenkins's early graying hair made him look much older than he really was, but in fact he was barely older than the captain. Well-liked by all who knew him, he was a unifying presence on the trip. Jenkins never wanted the spotlight. He was just glad to be part of the team. "When we left, computers were everywhere once they had become portable - homes, work, cafes, you name it," Jenkins continued. "And god, cell phones looked like they had taken over the world as they evolved into computers themselves. Everybody readily connected to them. 85 years later, who knows where they'll be. "And the kids. Even young kids had cell phones. They'd have their faces in them every waking minute if they could. They were literally attached to them. We adults were the last generation to know a time without such technology, but those kids were just born straight into it unquestioning." "Last time I was in New York City, "Atkins recalled, "everyone was using their cell phone as they walked. Before cell phones, everyone intentionally ignored everyone else, but then with cell phones I think they were actually unaware that they were walking among other people." "It makes you wonder where the human race is headed," Burgess continued the train of thought. With his background in theology, Burgess often tied religion into his ideas. "Christian writings always speak of being mindful of others and having concern for fellow men. Interacting with others for the common good and showing love. Heck, with those cell phones and ever-expanding technology in human life, I think people were becoming less connected to their brothers every day. True human interaction was going by the wayside." "Just before we left they were putting technology into clothing and eyeglasses to free the hands. Where will they put technology next?" Atkins added. "Technology sure took a grip of us", Burgess reflected. "It's like we couldn't stop it, but we didn't care. We just gulped it down."
Atkins knew that they had dropped out of hyperspace. The view from the portal had changed from a constant bright glow to discernible stars. Now the ship's arrival beacon would be activated, alerting NASA of their return. Burgess emerged from his deep praying. As he often did before major junctures, Burgess had closed his eyes and breathed deeply as in a meditation, and opened himself up to divine energies. He imagined a loving, guiding force entering his heart and mind. Burgess had learned long ago that having this quiet time allowed him to separate from the nonstop distractions of the outside world; distractions that constantly drew his attention and thus control his every thought forcing him to be a responder. He was now better at being conscious of his mind and body, and his actions were more likely to be of his own volition. Jenkins called out their status as they approached Earth. "Decelerating...Looking good...Touch down in...5...4...3...2...1..." "We've landed Captain," Jenkins announced. "Exact NASA landing site coordinates." It took almost 30 minutes of system shutdown procedures before the captain finally okayed opening the hatch. Looking out a portal, Atkins muttered, "It's funny." "What's that?" asked Jenkins. "It's funny," Atkins repeated. "No one to greet us?"
Helmets in hand, the three astronauts disembarked from the ship. Atkins first, then Jenkins, the Captain last. They were so excited to be back on Earth that only Burgess noticed the landing site seemed in disrepair. Curious, he thought. Still no one to greet them. They followed the cracked and pitted road that led from the landing site. Its maintenance clearly ignored for some time. The astronauts anxiously trotted over to the landing reception station, the lone building in the expansive wide-open fields. It was abandoned, its three rooms lacking any indication of recent use. Cobwebs, doors ajar, silence. They walked on in increasing bewilderment, heading away from the landing site. "I don't get it," said Jenkins. "What do you think, Cap'?" Burgess remained silent. His mind taking in observations, compiling, seeking an answer.
Several miles away from the landing station they reached the outskirts of a city. As they neared they finally started seeing people. No one on the streets seemed to take notice of the astronauts as they approached. "Hey you all!" Atkins shouted in glee. "We're back! Alpha Ship 1! We're back!" No response. No acknowledgement. Not even a glance. The astronauts clearly stood out, still wearing their spacesuits. The people just brushed right by them. Each person walked singly. Clearly their minds are elsewhere, thought Burgess. No one they approached even looked at them, let alone talked. There was actually no one they encountered talking, anywhere. No interaction with others at all. After several minutes of not being acknowledged by anyone in the city, Burgess paused his team. "Okay. We need to spread out and reconnoiter. Let's meet back here in 2 hours," Burgess instructed. "Let's find out what's going on." Burgess continued to observe and record, his mind still churning.
They sat down under a large shade tree to compare notes. The story was the same for all three. All attempts to interact with anyone or anything had failed. "Atkins. Let's hear your report. What did you find out?" Burgess pressed. "New architecture styles. Buildings are generally one story and seem more recessed in the ground. I suspect they may go several floors underneath. Perhaps a response to worsening weather conditions on Earth. But I couldn't even get into one of them to take a look around, although everyone else seemed to have no problem walking right inside them. None of the buildings' entrance doors would slide open for me. "Vehicles have no steering wheels and are uniform in shape. They appear to hover as they move. Almost soundless. When they're lined up moving in the street, they resemble the segmented body of a centipede. "Different clothing styles than we know. Material looks different, probably all synthetic. "And no one communicates!" Atkins shouted exasperated. After allowing Atkins's words to linger in the air, the Captain turned towards Jenkins. "Jenkins?" the Captain prompted. "No visible land lines of any kind - no electric, no cable, nothing. Everything must be underground or wireless," Jenkins speculated. "And no one with a cell phone, anywhere. I didn't think anything about it at first, but I kept noticing everyone's hands were free. I thought it odd until I realized no cell phones." Jenkins quieted, and after a few moments Burgess knew it was his turn to share. "I saw what appeared to be some kind of public transit - a bus I assumed, for lack of a better word. It was cylindrical in shape, windowless, and glided down the center of the street. It too didn't seem to touch the ground. At one location I saw people in a line boarding it, so I quickly joined them and got at the end of the line to investigate. They all walked up an inclined plane one by one as they boarded, but when I placed my foot to step on the ramp, my foot was physically repelled by some kind of invisible force. I lost my balance but got a quick glimpse inside the bus while doing so. I saw people standing in rows, completely ignoring my near fall. After I righted myself, the ramp had already retracted and the bus was on its way." "I've been watching their faces," Burgess continued. "They're not looking at anyone else. They're acknowledging no one. They're not zombies obviously," he joked, "but they sure act like it. They literally seem like they're all in their own heads. "People on the street would have actually walked straight into me if I hadn't stepped aside. They're distracted; completely blocked off from the outside world. It's as if their minds are encased within a wall of thought forms." "But no one's talking!" Atkins ranted. "They've got to be communicating with one another somehow, don't they?" "Captain," Jenkins interjected. "I'm sure you both must have noticed that everyone's head, both male and female, is almost completely shaved. "Well, when I looked more closely at their faces, I thought it was a tattoo of some kind at first, but did you notice a mark on their foreheads? I think they all have it." A wisp of malevolence seemed to drift across the back of Burgess's neck. An idea flickered within him. A verse from the Bible came to mind. And he causeth all...to receive a mark...in their foreheads. The seed of the idea now taking root, germinating. "None of us could gain access to any structure or transport," Burgess whispered. No man might buy or sell, save he had that mark. "Are they communicating?" Jenkins mulled. "And if so, who are they communicating with? And through what technology?" Burgess slowly sounded the words as if in a stupor, "Is it possible that they accepted this, willingly?" "Accepted what, Captain?" the other two asked almost in unison. "Could it be they all have some type of device attached to their cerebral cortex? The cerebral cortex is located right under the forehead. All thinking and communication is centered there. It's one solution for eliminating the need to carry technology externally. It would be the most portable computer interface of all." "Of course!" Burgess shouted, the pained realization now dawning on him. "How would they have been able to describe it?" "What are you talking about, Cap'?" Atkins pressed. "The Bible prophecies...They gulped down the technology willingly, without restraint and were slowly ensnared." And all who dwell on earth will worship it...It shall devour the whole earth. Burgess's theological side was now fully meshed with his scientific side. "A device that allows, nay controls what they do and what they think. "They are solely focused on their own inner world and their hearts and minds are closed off to the outside world of their brothers. That's the opposite of being a Christian." He will exalt himself over everything that is called God, or is worshipped. "The compilation of the New Testament underwent evaluation and selection over a few hundred years before it was actually finalized. Some scholars agree that the idea of reincarnation, for example, was all but completely eliminated from the initial writings. So the scriptures may be an incomplete assemblage. "How could someone 2000 years ago conceive of or even describe the technology that we used when we first took off, let alone of today's world 85 years later? Descriptions of the players in scripture need not be taken so literally then, and really need a more modern interpretation. "Imagine what kind of computer system could handle all of this technology." Let the person who has insight calculate the number...that number is 666. "Calculate...calculate...666 could represent a number sequence which expresses the enormity and power of the number of commands it can issue. "Their brains all flowing through a connection to a central unit. A never-ending bombardment of impulses and stimuli. And it could be so easily controlled. Oh, the deception!" "What are you saying?" Atkins demanded. "What we're witnessing now. Human interaction solely through technology," Burgess answered solemnly. "This may be what the Book of Revelations predicted...The suppression of true awareness...The enslavement of the conscience...The blocking of divine energies...A world devoid of Christian concern for their brothers...It's the perfect environment for evil...and the Beast and rise of the Antichrist as predicted in the Bible. "Maybe the Beast that subjugates mankind...is computer technology itself!" Bible verses in order are as follows: Revelation 13:16 Revelation 13:17 Revelation 13:18 Daniel 7:23 2 Thessalonians 2:4 Revelation 13:18
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