The Caretakers

Martian Caverns, Mars, 2225 A.D.

Five fatigued, weary Earth astronauts descended from their spacecraft, Mars Endeavor II. A constant bombarding of micro asteroids made this trip to Mars extremely dangerous. For a brief time, the success of the mission was uncertain.

The astronauts stroll slowly in the direction of the extinct Martian volcano known to Earth scientists as Ascracus Mons.

At the base of the volcano, Commander John Donovan and his crew place deadly explosives. They intend to make a doorway or entrance to the Hebrus Valles' caverns.

After detonation, there was a large hole exposing the entrance of a cavern. The crew pressed onward into the dark, foreboding cavern.

Their bulky spacesuits didn't make matters any easier for them to navigate the narrow cavern chamber, and thus, their enthusiasm for exploration began to fade. Well, what did they expect, wide-open spaces?

"Let's get on with it!" John urged.

They had been in cramped situations before, but this was quite ridiculous. John was confident they would get past this obstacle, however. He never gave up. He was not a defeatist.

"Looks like we haven't found a cavern after all, but we've entered a small cave. Let's see what's ahead of us."

The cave lacked enough lighting. Fortunately, the crews' portable lights enabled them to see ahead, but they could only travel at a snail's pace.

Traveling slow, however, enabled them to see Martian symbols, which seemed to be everywhere.

Earlier Martian missions had yet to solve the mystery of the Martian symbols. Perhaps they never would.

Eventually, John and his crew broke out of the small cave to find they were about to enter a larger cave the size of a small chamber. Perhaps the chamber would take them to one of many caverns.

The lighted chamber welcomed them. Instead of four walls, there were six. Each wall had symbols etched on one side.

In addition, living pictures adorned these walls. It was clear to the astronauts that Martian history was on the walls for all to see.

They were so intrigued with the living pictures that they barely heard a swishing sound from behind them.

The appearance of the door surprised them. They had noted no evidence of any other door when they first entered this room.

John raised one arm in the air. His crew stopped in midstride. As their Commander, he fully intended to be the first to go through the opening. Once through, though, his body went numb.

John found they had entered a well-lit chamber. In addition, he saw what appeared to be grey shadows that drifted in front and around them. The shadows looked human, but not. Then, the shadows disappeared.

John couldn't quite believe what he'd seen. Since the shadows were fleeting, it was difficult to figure out what they might really be.

He found the vastness of the room to be unmistakable. The room reminded John of a huge warehouse. All indications led him to believe that this chamber, however, seemed to be a laboratory of sorts.

"Take some mental notes of this chamber," John announced.

John's navigator, Ace Gruten, stood motionless beside his Commander.

"Looks like a laboratory, Commander. It will take awhile for us to figure out what these monitors do."

"We'll work on that later, Ace. Right now, I want to see what that device that looks like a helmet does. That's most intriguing, don't you think?" John remarked.

"Looks like a helmet in the upside-down position. Let me investigate," Ace commented.

"No!" John said. "This is something you and I will do together. Come with me."

The rest of the crew watched their daring Commander plunge into the unknown.

#

John placed his hands on the device that resembled an upside-down helmet suspended from the ceiling by unseen forces.

He sat beneath the device. Once seated, the device inched down from a preset height to encompass his head. He didn't have to do anything after that.

He motioned to his crew to stay where they were while he sat down directly under the device.

He waited and watched as lights flickered on a nearby computer console. He could hear the device emitted a humming sound. Soon, the humming sound grew louder, so loud that he tried to put his hands over his ears, but he could not reach them. Then, the sound became deafening.

Unable to bear the noise any longer, he managed to slide off his chair and land on the hard-Martian floor.

Once his crew saw that their Commander was in distress, they rushed to his side. He allowed a few of his crew to help him get up.

"Are you alright Commander?" Ace asked.

"I don't know. I have a terrible headache, but otherwise, I feel okay. I shouldn't have experimented with the device, but curiosity overrode my common sense. I don't want anyone else to try it. They might not be so lucky."

Tom Fastilone, mission physician, was clearly fascinated with the device. "I wonder if this was an instrument that measured a person's intelligence level. You know. A person's IQ."

The remaining crewmembers, symbolist, Damon Chandler, and archeologist, Sondra Van Horne stood in awe.

"Maybe it's a device that teaches. We'll have to look deeper into this when we have more time," Damon remarked.

John watched the lights on the console that were now dark and cold, as if there had been no activity. He would like to have known just what the device really was. Later, he would make another attempt.

If the alien console was one example of what the Martians could create, then what other incredible achievements had the Martians accomplished in their lifetime.

Were the shadows they had seen what was left of the Martian race? Did the Martians now exist in a parallel universe? That was a possibility, but unlikely.

The next chamber resembled the previous one except this one was hygienically clean, and maintained, maintained being the operative word.

Maintained by who or what was foremost on every mind.

Repeatedly, the crew continued to see ghostly shadows that appeared to weave in and out of the ancient Martian walls. What they were seeing was a little frightening, to say the least.

If what they were seeing were Martians, the opportunity to speak to one was overwhelming.

There were other scattered caves throughout the caverns and were found to be just as interesting. Investigating and cataloging of various chamber contents was going to be exhausting and time consuming. They had a lot of work to do; and there wasn't much time left to catalog everything.

John and his crew entered yet another chamber, and once again, their surroundings were automatically illuminated. This chamber, however, housed more highly sophisticated functional computer-related equipment.

The main difference in this room was the sight of built-in sophisticated functional computers. There was no doubt that these computers were up and running.

How could these computers still be active? Then again, did there have to be 'live' persons to maintain the computers? It was an interesting question.

John mentally calculated the ceilings of the chamber, ceilings that were about nine feet high, much higher than previous chambers, and covered with mirrors. In addition, there were several metal chairs in the room with exceedingly high backs, but no legs.

John chose to sit in one of the legless chairs. The chair accommodated his height and weight, the moment he sat on it. He was amazed. Talk about advanced technology-he was sitting on it.

"Okay. It appears we have found some evidence of advanced technology on Mars. Any comments, Ace?" John remarked.

Ace stepped up to the plate. He waved his hand toward the ceiling, at the monitors and to the floor.

"Well," Ace said frowning. "I'm sure everyone here is thinking that Martians are alive and are maintaining the equipment we see in this room. I think the Martians died centuries ago. At least, I used to think that way. Now, I'm not so sure. The only time this equipment would require 'hands on' would be because of a system malfunction."

"Agreed. Would anyone else care to speculate?" John remarked.

"I pass on the equipment. I'd like to know what everyone has to say about the shadows all of us have been seeing," Sondra commented.

"Sondra is correct. Are there any comments as to what the shadows might be?" John asked.

The remaining crewmembers shook their heads.

#

Sondra shivered, and her stomach turned a somersault when she spotted the Martian shadows. She had an uneasy feeling about what they might really be.

For some inexplicable reason, Sondra had felt queasy since landing on Mars. She didn't feel as if she belonged. Then, again, she didn't feel she belonged on Earth either. The vibes were all wrong, and she could not shake the feeling of uneasiness she felt.

Chills flowed throughout her body, but she didn't have any idea as to what she truly feared.

As she trudged along, not thinking of anything or anyone, she began to hear what she believed to be a human voice. It seemed to come from above her. Then, again, the voice might be originating from behind her. It was hard to tell.

She glanced at the cavern ceilings, then to the walls of the chamber and saw nothing but smooth surfaces. She couldn't see speakers or microphones. Where did the voice come from?

#

Grottos, a superior Martian android, wanted to answer Sondra's questions, once he made direct contact with her.

Grottos had watched the Earth visitors since they landed on his home planet. That was one of his assigned duties as chosen by his Martian creators.

There wasn't much for Grottos to do other than repair internal system malfunctions. Fortunately, there hadn't been a system malfunction for millennia. During inactivity, Grottos would shut down.

IMAD, his robot assistant, was always on alert. To that end, IMAD recently alerted him of visitors entering the caverns. Once alerted, Grottos began the monitoring of the visitors' activities within the caverns.

IMAD had already scanned the visitors' spaceship and found they were travelers from a neighboring planet called Earth.

As Grottos and IMAD continued to watch the visitors, Grottos found he could not take his eyes from one of them, that of a female. Her comrades called her Sondra.

His unusual interest in an Earth woman puzzled him. Therefore, to appease his curiosity, he decided to use his telepathic abilities to find out if she could receive his thoughts.

Grottos had tried to contact Sondra earlier that day to find she could receive his thoughts, but she ignored them.

It was obvious to him that she didn't recognize her mental talent, because she could've answered his call, but she didn't know how.

Once the visitors found places to sleep, he made a special trip to the place where she chose to sleep.

He found Sondra was sleeping in a corner of a small chamber. He sensed that while she slept, she received his thoughts, and clearly resisted them. How curious.

He had found the perfect woman. He could not believe she intrigued him so. What was it about this woman that held his interest? He had to find out.

He decided that continued monitoring of the Earthlings was imperative, until he decided otherwise.

Grottos pondered about what he could do to persuade Sondra to remain with him on Mars. When he probed her mind, he found that she was a kindred spirit. She would make a good companion.

Based on his first mental probing, results impressed him, because it was clear she was a highly intelligent woman.

Was it possible that the Earth woman would provide him with the challenges needed to make his existence have meaning? He hoped so.

Moreover, as an android, he could live indefinitely, while an Earthlings' lifespan was short. However, he could replace human organs as they began to falter and die, so he could give Sondra immortality. He could use this one enticement.

He had a few ideas that would intrigue her-hopefully, to the point of staying with him. However, he wouldn't stop her from doing whatever she wanted to do.

Grotto's foremost challenge would be the Earthling called John. When he had probed her mind, he found she had feelings for this human.

Granted, he did not have the myriad of feelings a human did, but he did have some select feelings built into his positronic brain.

His assistant, IMAD, was a robot of superior quality. Unfortunately, IMAD was just that, a robot, and nothing more. Since a robot had no feelings, he sought someone who did have. Sondra fit the bill.

Still, Grottos wanted to talk to Sondra. He must make another attempt to communicate with her. To that end, he closed his eyes and concentrated. He began sending his thoughts to her.

Sondra heard the voice again. This time it was more persistent.

"Sondra, Sondra. Wake up!"

She simply had to get some sleep. Therefore, she would simply ignore whoever might be calling her.

As she continued her slumber, she could visualize the last time she had been with John on Earth.

#

John was holding her hands and gazing deeply into her eyes. When he looked at her that way, her body melted.

"No, John. I will not marry you. I can't." She stressed 'not' for his benefit.

Being halfway in love was not what John wanted. Since she couldn't give him all her love, she couldn't commit, and wouldn't.

She liked him; but love? Love wasn't in her vocabulary. Fond of him would be more accurate, but that was all. Their brief affair was over. Why couldn't he leave it at that?

John released her hands and walked away from her.

She followed him. With his back to her, she put her face on his back and the rest of her body leaned into his. He didn't move.

She placed her arms around his waist and interlocked her hands, so she couldn't let go easily. She felt him tense.

Mumbling into his back, she said. "I am sorry I can't marry you, really I am. Please understand."

John unlocked her hands and turned to face her. He put his hands on each side of her face. "So, you don't love me now. I love you for the both of us. If you will commit, we can make it work. I know we can. One day, you'll be ready. I can wait."

"No, John. Don't wait. Waiting wouldn't be fair to you. Find another woman. You're a fine man. You'll make some lucky woman a good husband. Trust me when I say that I'm not that woman."

Going to and returning from Mars would take only a few months or more away from Earth. She didn't want the complications an engagement ring he wanted to give her would entail and was glad he didn't give her one. She preferred devoting her energies to the Martian mission ahead of her.

Deep down, she lied to herself. A commitment to John, or to any other man, simply was not in her heart. It wasn't in the cards. She wanted and needed her freedom to do as she wished, when she wished. There was only one way to do that—stay single.

#

Her thoughts and dreams began to fade as, once again, an unfamiliar voice called her name. Damn, but that voice was annoying.

She turned over in her bed and put her pillow over her face. That would drown out the sound of the voice.

"Sondra! Wake up!" Drat and double drat! Someone was still calling her. That person had an annoying voice.

She reluctantly opened her eyes fully to find a tall person standing at the end of her makeshift bed. She had no idea who the person might be. She judged the person to be at least seven feet tall, with a beautifully smooth well-shaped head. The man was bald. He had hairless eyebrows. He had three nostrils at the base of his well-shaped nose. His ears were extremely small. He wore a silvery colored striped tunic top over slacks. He looked magnificent, whoever or whatever he was.

She believed she was seeing things, so she closed her eyes and tried to resume sleeping. After all, she had had an exhausting day.

Once again, her name fluttered in the air. Her body hair stood on end. He must be real. She decided to open her eyes once more.

The man was staring at her as if he could read her mind. The grin he displayed on his smooth face was downright sexy.

She should be cautious of him, as he was a stranger. Yet, he wasn't a stranger. She felt as if she knew him. Of course, that was impossible. She hadn't met him before.

She didn't leave her bed. Instead, she sat up. She drew up her blanket to her neck, so he would not see what she wore; although, she sensed he knew exactly what she looked like with or without clothing.

Her voice sounded squeaky when she managed to say to him, "Who are you?"

Grottos walked very slowly toward her.

She tilted her chin slightly upward and smiled back at him. When she noticed he might get closer, he stopped abruptly.

"I am Grottos. Welcome to my home," Grottos stated. "I am aware that you and your comrades have traveled a great distance. I also know that they want to see a live Martian. Unfortunately, that is impossible.

"Your comrades will get their wish to see me, but not right away. My priority is to enable you to comfortably speak to me. You can hear me, unlike your colleagues. Yes, I refer to transfer of thoughts from one person to another using mental transfer, or in your language, a form of telepathy. You would rate remarkably high on a telepathic scale. That is rare, but you have the capability.

"I believe you and I can be friends. I regret I cannot stay long on my first visit, but I am needed elsewhere. I must say you are a delight to the eyes. We will talk at length very soon, my sweet Sondra."

Then, as he was about to leave, he sensed she might follow him.

Sondra started to pull back her thin blanket; but Grottos put his hand on hers. He pushed her gently back down.

"Grottos, don't go yet. I have so many questions to ask you."

"I only wanted to see you and speak with you for a few minutes. Until another time, Sondra."

He disappeared into the cold darkness of her room.

She pondered on whether she should inform the others about her brief encounter with a Martian.

Snuggling back under her covers, she tried to go back to sleep, but she found sleep to be elusive.

Finally, with heavy eyelids that slowly fluttered shut, she did find blissful sleep. Then she began to dream.

Her dreams proved to be most disturbing and unsettling, the result of a troubled mind.

Sondra woke refreshed and eager to work. She had been dreaming of Grottos. She fully anticipated the next meeting with him.

She debated telling other crewmembers about Grottos. Her decision was not to tell them she had met a Martian. Hell! She didn't believe it herself.

Until Grottos returned, she still needed to know more about Mars. That would require the examination of the subsurface layers of rock in the caverns.

As an archeologist, she would be able to evaluate the many structures and come to her own conclusions as to what might have happened to the planet.

A few of her colleagues at NASA had told her that they believed the Martian subsurface contained sandstone. She needed to confirm this.

If she found evidence of sandstone, it would mean it was there because of the melting of the Martian ice cap.

Water on Mars would mean there might be evidence of biological life. Just the idea that it was possible compelled her forward.

As she started to get ready to search for sandstone, there was a hard knock on her door. When she opened the door, she found John on the other side.

"Yes, Commander?" She replied hesitantly. They had agreed not to see each other in possible compromising situations-such as this one.

"I came to check on you. That is all."

"You've done your job," Sondra uttered.

"Look, I don't intend to jeopardize our friendship by putting you in a compromising position. I really came to see if you are okay. Honest!" John sighed heavily as he leaned to one side, then he held up one of his hands as a sign of peace.

She grinned and started to close her door. He put a hand between the door and doorjamb.

"You've done an admirable job, John. Now, please go away."

"If you insist."

After she closed the door, she leaned her back and head against the door. She spoke to the ceiling.

"John, what am I going to do with you?"

#

Grottos began probing Sondra's mind. He could see her and her people as they explored various caverns.

He watched her place her hands on the walls. She enjoyed her work, and he could tell this by watching.

Grottos watched her take out a small tool to take a sample of the material. After she took the sample, she placed it in a small box. Then, she transferred the box to her pant pocket.

The shadows were everywhere. Grottos wanted to tell the shadows that the Earthlings weren't a threat. Because his fellow Martians were in another dimension, it was difficult to communicate with them. He would try anyway.

"Fellow Martians. Do not be disturbed with the Earthlings. They cannot harm you," Grottos remarked.

Grottos noted they were still agitated and were whispering among themselves. Then he noticed that they were dispersing in all directions. When they were completely out of sight, he decided to make contact with the Earthlings himself.

He had hoped he might see Sondra alone before this, but it was necessary to change his agenda.

In fact, he would send IMAD to act as an emissary.

#

John's voice fluctuated indicating his elevated stress level when he announced to his crew, "Everyone, stay where you are, and do not move an inch. I have a phaser aimed at some thing or some one heading straight toward us."

His crew stopped talking and stood motionless. As the entity came closer to them, they held their breaths until they thought their lungs might burst. It was a tense moment for all concerned.

When the object stood about five feet away, it stopped and stared. John couldn't help but return the stare. What was it-a robot? On Mars?

It appeared to be a smooth, shiny looking mechanical being of some kind. Could it be possible that he might be seeing a post-Martian mechanical being?

The object's head was oblong. He judged its height to be about eight feet. Instead of eyes, it sported a dark visor, which was about 12" wide by 4" high. Clearly, there was an eye beam directly behind the visor.

John felt intimidated by the mechanical being. This thing could be dangerous and most likely was.

"Greetings. I am a representative of all Martians who lived beneath the surface of this planet. My name is IMAD. IMAD is short for Intelligent Mechanical Automated Device. I am just that, a mechanical device. Ask your questions. I will answer them if your questions are within the perimeter of my matrix."

IMAD didn't say it was a robot, but John decided that's what it was. The robot reminded him of a robot turned android in an old Earth movie he had seen a long time ago. IMAD resembled that robot a great deal. This was an incredible feat of mechanization to find on an ancient planet.

"Who sent you? What are you doing on a dead planet?" John asked.

"I have been sent as an emissary. One of my jobs is to watch all sublevel chambers, some of which you and your people have already investigated. I answer to Grottos, a special representative of the now extinct Martian civilization. He will greet you very soon. Grottos is a superior android."

John walked around the robot and stopped a foot away from it.

"We have many questions and hope you can, in fact, answer them. You say the Martian race is extinct. What happened to them?"

"Martians were highly intelligent beings. However, they accidentally created a devastating plague. All, but a few, perished. You have already seen the ones who survived. They wander aimlessly, in another dimension, throughout the caverns," IMAD replied.

"They accidentally created a plague." John was amazed that such an advanced civilization could've annihilated themselves.

"Yes, that is correct," IMAD answered.

"That's sad, if you ask me. Can't something be done for those Martians who were caught in another dimension?" John asked.

"I do not have that information. Grottos will be able to answer that question. Do you have another question?" IMAD remarked.

"I'll talk to Grottos, if you don't mind," John said.

Well, so much for a question and answer session. Since he needed definite and conclusive answers, he would have to speak to Grottos.

John glanced at his crew. They gave him a 'we understand' look. Some of them shrugged their shoulders.

When John glanced at Sondra, he noted a perplexed look on her round face. He sensed she was elsewhere in thought.

#

John logged the current day's investigative findings into his laptop. Because the robot had informed them that the shadows were Martians detained in another dimension, he would need to describe accordingly. He asked Ace, Damon, and Tom to give their input.

"Hell, if I know," Ace said in an amused tone of voice.

"Do you really think the robot is telling us the truth?" Damon asked while suppressing a grin.

"To hell with the robot. Describe them as shadows or ghosts in your report to NASA," Tom suggested.

That suggestion received a nod from everyone. John would get Sondra's input later.

"Very well. Ghosts, it will be. That ought to raise a few eyebrows back home. I don't think they would accept shadows, anyway," John remarked.

Then, John pursued Damon on Martian symbols.

"I've discovered more Martian symbols than I care to admit. The symbols are like those I've seen in Egypt. Some of the symbols indicate the Martians used dishes for dining very much as we do now. So far, I've found that they had interests in pottery and woodworking at one time," Damon answered.

"Will you be able to decipher more of the symbols before we leave?" John asked.

Damon shook his head. "In my spare time, providing I don't have too many interruptions, I should be able to read every symbol we find. The fact that I've been able to read as many symbols as I have is exciting. The Martian civilization had a lot to offer outsiders.

"We'll see that you're not disturbed too often," John remarked.

John was intrigued in Damon's ability to read many of the symbols so far. Damon was a smart cookie. Clearly, he had underrated Damon's intelligence.

John found it interesting that Damon mentioned the Martian symbols seemed to reflect a similarity to Earth's ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics. Was it possible the Egyptians came from the planet Mars? If so, that would open a completely new line of thinking.

John spotted Sondra, in his peripheral vision, taking ground samples within the chamber. She was very absorbed in her work. He took this opportunity to approach her.

He needed to apprise her about Damon and his progress on Martian symbols.

John approached Sondra from behind. He put his arms around her waist.

"John, remove your hands," Sondra said, her voice reflecting disapproval.

He dropped his hands as if he suffered severe burns to them.

"I'm sorry."

She didn't acknowledge him as he had hoped she would. In fact, she ignored him by continuing her work.

"Anything new on the symbols? Has Damon been able to decipher any of them?" She remarked, without looking behind her.

"Yes, he has. I wanted to bring you up to speed on that."

Within a few minutes, he made her aware of the progress made. However, he had a difficult time keeping his eyes off her. What they had shared before the mission was something he chose not to forget. He was not about to let her forget either, no matter how she tried to ignore what was between them.

He'd made the mistake of letting her go once; he wasn't going to let it happen again.

#

John recalled a time before the mission when he dealt with the problem directly.

He suspected that bringing up the subject of marriage before a mission might not be a good idea, but maybe this time, he would get lucky. She might say 'yes' this time.

John had seen to Barbara's comfort by placing fluffy throw pillows behind her back as they reclined on his multi-colored comfortable sofa. They cuddled and held hands.

Sated, they were about to doze when John simply couldn't wait any longer. He had to ask her for a commitment. Enough was enough!

"Sondra, my darling," he whispered. He noted her eyes were about to close in readiness for a much-needed nap.

"Hmmm," She mumbled.

"Don't fall to sleep. I have something important to ask you."

"John. Please don't ask."

"Why not? You know how I feel. We'll get married before the mission and settle things when we return."

John was astonished that she had placed an imaginary wall between them.

She withdrew from his embrace and walked around a sofa, then stopped in midstride. She stared at him.

"I can't marry you now, John. I've told you this repeatedly. I like you, but I don't love you." She clutched the top of the sofa with one hand.

"It is said that some couples fall in love after they marry," John whispered.

"I've heard that, but most of the times, those couples merely accommodate each other's idiosyncrasies. They never fall in love with each other."

"Sondra, I think you are wrong. Many couples literally and figuratively fall deeply in love. You're afraid to fall, aren't you?"

Her face turned chalky white. He became concerned and got up to stand by her. She pushed him away.

"I'm not afraid of anything or anyone. You know that."

"Do I?" John countered. To keep her friendship, he took her hand and held it.

He looked deeply into her eyes, to her very soul. What he wanted to see, however, wasn't there. She didn't feel the same as he. He must wait a little longer. Though he wasn't a patient man, he would have to patient, and wait for her to come to him. He'd wait, no matter how long it took.

"I am rather pushy at times, aren't I? I guess you are not ready for me just yet. I'll wait. After the mission, you'll be ready to say that you will marry me. I look forward to that day."

John believed what he said and could only hope that he was right.

"I don't think you should wait for me, darling. As I said before, I can't marry you or any one else."

John tabled the total commitment subject. The mood he was now in put an end to their passion for some time to come, which was just as well. He must remember his priority, that of the Mars' mission.

John noted that his crew were thrilled and enthusiastic as they entered yet another chamber. Upon entering the chamber, they were aware that there would be another extraordinary find.

There were hundreds of cryostats containing what must have been the last of the Martians. However, upon further investigation, they found that the cryostats no longer appeared to be functioning. The cryostats no longer functioned. Whether on purpose or by accident, they didn't know. Resuscitation wouldn't be possible.

Tom, mission physician, studied several of the cryostats. John went with him.

"Well, Tom. Any theories as to the remaining cryostats? Looking through the glass window in each cryostat shows a face like the shadows or ghosts we've been seeing."

"Yes, those appear to be trapped in a parallel universe," Tom commented. "You know, Commander, perhaps these Martians had a disease that was not curable. And, just perhaps, they were distinguished Martians buried in a unique way in what could be described as a Martian graveyard."

"Sounds plausible to me, Tom," John remarked.

There were so many unanswered questions that John didn't know where to begin should he find someone who could supply the answers.

In the meantime, John and his crew went into the adjacent chamber to discover something utterly amazing. The room held shiny spheres. The spheres were about the size of large watermelons; and all of them were a shade of lavender. How intriguing and unusual.

Surrounding the spheres were touch-screen monitors. As the crew approached the monitors, the Martian symbols were clear.

John was the first to touch one of the spheres. When he did, the sphere began to glow. Then, a voice spoke. Since no one understood the Martian language, no one could decipher what the voice said.

#

IMAD scrutinized one of many monitors stored just outside the chamber the Earthlings were presently visiting.

The Earthlings had entered the Chamber of Knowledge. There was a great deal of knowledge contained in the spheres, but unless you were a Martian, you would never know this.

Not given specific instructions to train the Earthlings in the Martian language, IMAD was unable to help them. He would have to speak with Grottos to find out what he should do.

He could, however, enlighten the Earthlings about Martians, and show their symbolist how to read some of the symbols.

IMAD decided it was time to meet with the Earthlings in the Chamber of Knowledge. He entered the chamber to find the Earthlings in a huddle.

#

While the Earthlings were exploring the Chamber of Knowledge, Grottos was confident he could win Sondra over to his side, provided he could introduce her to the Martian Pool of Reflections.

He received IMAD's electronic message about authorization to train the Earth crew. This would require a mind link, something only he could set up. He decided the crew would have to wait until he found time to do this. His priority was Sondra.

Therefore, he sent another message to IMAD directing him to keep the Earthlings occupied for a short time, until he could meet the crew in person.

Grottos was finding out that Earthlings were providing him with challenges he never believed he would have to deal with. He found the Earthlings to be most interesting as well as entertaining.

He finally connected with Sondra via telepathy. They met a short time later in a tunnel outside the Chamber of Knowledge.

"We have a lot to talk about. We will share knowledge. You can consider this visit as taking a long journey with a valued friend," Grottos commented.

The archeologist side of her craved exploration and so she jumped at the chance.

Before they entered a secluded chamber, Grottos glanced at Sondra giving her a silent reassurance, and then he passed his hand over a series of unique symbols that traversed the wall before them. Magically, the walls parted, allowing them to enter.

Once inside, she could see a large pool of water, equivalent in size to that of an Earth Olympic pool.

"You are looking at the Martian Pool of Reflections. In this pool, you will see vivid shadows of Martian events that have occurred over billions of years," Grottos commented, as he stepped away from her and walked over to the pool.

A large stone retaining wall surrounded the pool. The stone retaining wall contained layers upon layers of multi-colored stones and stood at least six feet tall. There were benches placed at ten foot increments.

"Millennia ago, Martians gathered here and sat on these stone benches. It was their 'quiet time', and a time to meditate."

He watched her as she glanced up and saw skies that were the color of a rainbow, simply beautiful to the eyes. Beneath the colorful skies, there was an array of animals.

There were swans and cygnets splashing and frolicking in a small pond near the larger pool. She could not take all the sights in at one time, as there was so much to see.

When she looked up at the red Martian sky, she saw a flock of red geese flying into the unknown.

"What is next?" she queried.

He was pleased that she seemed so thrilled at what she saw. "Once you stepped into this chamber, you entered my world, a world of wonder. Come, I want to share with you the most unique vision of beauty you will ever see. You saw it when we first entered the chamber. We call this a Pool of Reflections. What you will see are Martian shadows or reflections of what was."

He took hold of her small hand and pulled her toward the large pool of light red water.

"Please sit."

She did sit, noting that the water was about a foot away from her. She had a feeling of peace and serenity.

Grottos liked to watch Sondra's facial expression. Now he had only to decide on what course he should take to get her to stay with him.

#

As Grottos stood behind Sondra, he watched her while she examined the pool and its rambunctious waves that swirled in a spiral fashion. She was able to relax her tense muscles as she watched the swirling water.

Grottos smiled at what he saw even though he didn't fully understand what it was like to relax.

"Touch the water with one hand. Then, remove your hand as quickly as you can. Once touched, you will see reflections or scattered shadows of the Martian past. I will explain to you what you see. Are you ready to begin?"

"Ready!" Sondra announced.

She touched the water lightly and withdrew her hand at once. The pool of water came alive before her eyes!

Shadows appeared from the pool. She could see them clearly. It was like viewing a slide show. Each scene reflected the feel and texture of the image.

Martians danced to their music. Some Martians were engaged in speaking to one another. She'd never experienced anything like this before and wouldn't in the future. The images were so real that she thought she lived their activities with them.

There were scenes of different types of Martian construction from various canals, which carried life-giving water to all parts of the planet, to construction of their see-through translucent homes.

There were scenes of manufacturing facilities, which made their various modes of transportation and so much more.

Grottos reiterated about the thousands of volcanoes spewing volcanic ash into their atmosphere and poisoning their air.

"Even they couldn't control all the elements. Thus, because of the constant volcanic eruptions, the Martian atmosphere degraded to the point that breathable air was almost exhausted.

"This was a beginning of early Martian evolution. Adaptation over millennia involved a robust race of people degrading to an extremely fragile race of people with little endurance."

"How interesting," She commented.

The pool also supplied an insight to what their surface conditions really were at one time. Huge, dynamic craters were visible. No matter where you look, there they were. In addition, there had been a great deal of asteroid activity resulting in extensive surface damage.

"Grottos, this is utterly fascinating."

Grottos assumed a standing position at her side and began to explain the shadows floating before them.

"The Martians who survived a cataclysmic plague entered into another dimension. Unfortunately, they became trapped in that dimension.

"Before that, the Martians helped to construct the Pyramids in Egypt; they had constructed Atlantis, the Lost Continent; established the Aztecs, Mayans, Egyptians, and so many other lost civilizations."

"What became of these civilizations? We have yet to find out what happened to them," Sondra asked.

"Good question, and answerable. They became so corrupt and power hungry that we exterminated them."

"How could you? You weren't gods," Sondra stated.

"At one time, we believed we were."

"I see," Sondra remarked, not really believing what he said.

"Going forward, however, the Martians dedicated themselves to the exploration of the universe," Grottos explained.

"The Martians continued to evolve. In doing so, Martian descendants became extremely fragile beings. They vowed, however, that their fragility would not interfere with their cultural development. Most interesting, however, was the eventual demise of the Martian race."

"Just how did they become an extinct race?" Sondra's expression changed to reflect her thoughts.

"It seems the Martians had unintentionally created, in our own laboratories, a bacterium referred to as a Martian Contagion Plague. This plague killed nearly every Martian on Mars.

"Before the remaining Martians met their fate, however, there was a brief period in which to prepare to save some of their culture by utilizing robots and androids. Therefore, they, the creators, made IMAD and me. Since the Martians had seeded other planets in the solar system, a few Martians are still very much alive on those planets."

Sondra was beginning to tire and got up. She began to walk away from the pool. Somehow, the pool sensed her departure. It shut down. All shadows displayed, vanished. The pool became calm once more.

"Come, let me take you back to your people. I'm sure the Commander is expecting your expedient return."

"Yes, Grottos. In fact, I'm glad I told him what I intended to do. He knows that I'm with you."

"Sondra, I'm your friend. Don't worry about anything."

He hoped that he had reassured her that she was in no danger.

#

John had reluctantly granted Sondra's request to meet and be alone with the mysterious android called Grottos.

He instructed Tom to follow her and Grottos at a discreet distance.

A short time later, Tom reported his findings to John.

"I found nothing wrong in their meeting in one of the chambers. I did hear Grottos tell Sondra he would see her tomorrow. Otherwise, I didn't hear anything that might be considered earth-shattering."

#

John, Ace, and Damon were sitting at a makeshift table. The discovery of the spheres was the topic of discussion.

"The Martian spheres are the most important find so far," John commented as he placed his hands on the table.

Ace clasped his hands together. "I certainly agree. Knowledge contained in them might provide Earth scientists with possible cures for many of our unsolved medical problems."

"Do you think the robot and the android might teach us the Martian language so that we can understand what the spheres are saying?" Damon remarked.

"We'll have to persuade them that it's in the best interest of the deceased Martians and of those that live in the other dimension that we take back something from this ancient planet. The information will help humankind. Surely they would want that."

Would the Martians want that, however? That was the unspoken statement at the table.

To change the subject at hand, Tom gave a report on the medical histories of the crew. He had just completed their physical examinations.

"Yes, by heaven, you're all in good condition. However, all of us need more exercise." The crew responded good-naturedly with moans and groans. Then they laughed outright.

"Be aware that Sondra has met an android called Grottos. They are exploring a chamber we haven't seen." John commented.

John reassured them that Sondra was going to secure as much information as she could from Grottos and would report on her findings.

"I am confident she will give us a full report," John added.

"I saw them enter and exit an unexplored chamber. Sondra should have learned something." Tom said.

"Well, as you know, our mission is at an end. We have enough information to take back to Earth to satisfy NASA and the experts," John commented. "The chamber Sondra is investigating will just about summarize my report on our findings. Therefore, we can relax a little at this point. We should be heading back to Earth within the next three days. Let's begin to pack so we can go home."

He added, "When I talk with Sondra, I will see if she can help me meet Grottos. Then, I can ask him about the cryostats and the spheres."

#

Before the round table discussion went any further, everyone was a little surprised when Sondra and Grottos walked in. They stopped talking at once. Good manners dictated they stand, and they did just that.

Grottos walked slowly toward John. Sondra headed for the crew and joined them. Only John and Grottos were standing. It looked like a showdown from an old Western movie.

Grottos stopped in front of John and extended his hand for a universal handshake. John returned the gesture of friendship.

"I assume you are Grottos."

"Your assumption is correct. I am sorry for the delay. I understand Sondra told you that I wished to show her a chamber yet unexplored. I have done this. She will provide you with a detailed report.

"You have already been in contact with a robot called IMAD. He, as you have no doubt found out, cannot answer all your questions, but I will be able to. May I sit with you and your crew?" Grottos said without preamble.

"Please, join us," John remarked, although there was a touch of skepticism evident in his strained voice. His jealous feeling toward an android was ridiculous, but he couldn't help it.

Grottos sat down without saying a word. He placed himself in a strategic seating position, which enabled him to watch Sondra. He awaited a question.

"First, I'd like to know what you, an android, and IMAD, a robot, are doing here beneath the surface of Mars?" John asked. The crew sat anxiously awaiting a reply from Grottos.

"We are maintenance crew members for various chambers you have recently investigated. There of hundreds of thousands of chambers scattered throughout the planet. As you have already discovered, all chambers are maintenance free. However, on occasion, internal structural fluctuations occur.

"IMAD and I repair these fluxes, when necessary. Before the great Martian leaders died, they had foreseen possible internal breakdowns. Therefore, IMAD and I were created to watch and maintain those systems."

John and his crew were able to clearly understand. Sondra had a tight smile on her face when she glanced at Grottos.

She sent Grottos a silent message of regret. He, in turn, made eye contact with her, which make her stomach do flip-flops.

She had to remember he wasn't a human being. Nevertheless, she did like him, much more than she should.

"What did happen to the Martians?" John asked.

"They had unintentionally created a monster, that of a devastating disease you would call the plague. Once unleashed, the bacterial infection infected every living thing on the planet. It did not discriminate.

"In my memory banks are the thoughts and feelings of the Martians, especially during those final days. I am aware of their agony, misery, frustration, pain, and any other emotion you could name. Fortunately for me, I cannot feel what they experienced. I believe I am grateful for that. To think that they looked forward to death would be an understatement."

For a moment, he let Sondra and her colleagues absorb what he had said.

"You have recently visited our Chamber of Knowledge. Encased in the spheres is the essence of our educators and all that they were. You tried to communicate with them. I would like all of us to return to that chamber and learn. I will help you with that. There is limitless knowledge contained in the spheres. I will make it possible for all of you to understand our language."

This took care of one of John's questions. He had a few more he would like to have answered. Perhaps Grottos would answer them before he found it necessary to ask.

"This will be accomplished by a mind link. Your symbolist, Damon, will be better able to decipher all the symbols you have seen once trained to do so. Do you find this acceptable?"

"Frankly, I'm surprised that you are willing to teach us. However, I can't turn down the gift of knowledge. Earth will benefit from the information we receive. We need to know what we have been seeing floating through the chamber walls. They are unable to communicate with us. What are they, who are they?" John asked.

Grottos hesitated before answering. He had to decide how much information to give them. He accessed his memory banks for the best possible answer.

"Some of the Martians were caught in a parallel universe during our evolution. The parallel universe is not a place even I would care to be in. They have no way out, no outlet of any kind. And, because of an invisible barrier that surrounds their universe, they cannot communicate with us; and we cannot communicate with them."

Everyone became quiet and withdrawn. Talk about a death sentence. It was at that moment IMAD entered the chamber. Telepathically, Grottos sent IMAD new instructions.

Grottos had decided it was time for the Earthlings to experience a mind link with the spheres that would enable them to learn more about the Martians. Soon everyone would enter the Chamber of Knowledge.

The crew waited patiently for Grottos to say something to them, but it was clear that IMAD and Grottos were communicating. IMAD's visor was glowing as he received transmitted messages.

The crew was in for a new adventure and for another view at what was once a superior race of people.

#

Grottos and the Earth crew followed IMAD into the Chamber of Knowledge. IMAD had everything in place for the mind link based on instructions from Grottos.

Once inside the chamber, each member of the crew went to a circle of blue flashing lights. Grottos had previously informed them that this would be the procedure. Therefore, each member of the crew entered an available circle. Once they stepped in, the link was established.

Once everyone was in place, Grottos walked over to a huge panel of incandescent lights. He waived his hand over a few symbols that extruded from one of many panels. Once he withdrew his hand, the symbols became one with the wall. Once that happened, the circles stopped flashing.

At that point, Grottos turned away from the panel and asked the crew to step out of their circle, which they did. Then Grottos walked toward them. Members of the crew were lightly massaging their heads.

"You might have a slight headache because of the mind link. All of you can now speak to your sphere of choice, mentally, and you will receive your answer. You will be able to now understand the Martian language," Grottos explained.

"If you have questions the spheres did not answer for you, which I doubt there will be, I will be here to answer them for you. Unfortunately, IMAD cannot help you at this point."

The crew glanced at IMAD, who stood in a remote corner of the chamber.

John and each crewmember approached a sphere. Very soon, all were communicating with Martian creators, more precisely, those who created Grottos and others.

#

John and his crew spent a few hours using their mental powers to receive information from the Martian spheres. It didn't take them long to realize they were exhausted after they had their fill of information.

John watched his crew go their separate ways. His eyes eventually settled on Grottos, who waited patiently in the chamber with IMAD at his side.

He decided to ask the one question that would tell him why Grottos was interested in Sondra.

John approached Grottos and IMAD.

"Well, Grottos, I have to thank you on behalf of myself and my crew for giving us an opportunity to better understand what the Martians were really like and how they lived. Why did you let us communicate with the spheres?"

Grottos signaled IMAD that he could leave. He wanted to be alone with the Earthman. IMAD left the chamber at once.

"My creators would have condoned my actions. Earthlings are a strange race of people; and they are more intelligent than we had believed." Grottos said.

"Communication with the spheres was necessary for your mission and for your mental wellbeing. I wanted you to take back correct information. Now, you will do just that.

"I detected Sondra was able to hear me, telepathically that is, some time ago. She has been able to hear me from the moment I first met her. Once I found this out, she became of great interest to me as she is of Martian descent and has the inherited telepathy trait. Does that answer the question I read in your mind?"

"Yes, it does. However, did I hear you correctly? She is of Martian descent." John asked, not believing he'd heard Grottos correctly.

"As she and I became acquainted, I was able to get to know the real Sondra. She is not what you think or whom you think. There is a great deal of Martian in her being, more than you know. Because of that reason, and only that, I have tried to convince her that it would be in her best interest to stay on Mars, but I know this is not what she wants.

"I also know you love her, and I find that I, too, love her. My definition of love is not the same as yours; I am aware of this. Still, she is special. I chose the mind link for you and your crew because I wanted to see how she would react. She did not disappoint me.

"When Sondra is ready, she will tell both of us what she is going to do. Believe me, John, when I say that I am not a threat to her or you. The woman we both love has a great future. Unfortunately, we are not included. She will go forward and take destiny into her own hands.

"John, let us be friends. What is about to happen was preordained. We must make the best of it. As you travel back to your planet, you take with you a great deal of knowledge. However, you also take back our history and our legacy. I hope that your people will not make the same mistakes we did."

John was relieved and now believed Grottos to be sincere that he was not a threat to him or Sondra.

He still had a question to ask. What about the cryostats?

"I see you still have a question concerning the chamber containing cryostats," Grottos said.

"Yes. I do," John replied.

"Those cryostats contain elite Martians who were cryogenically frozen for posterity. Regrettably, the units shut down before IMAD and I could restore them. Resuscitation is not possible. They are all dead."

"Then, you and IMAD will stay here. You could return with us," John remarked.

"As caretakers, we do take our responsibilities and obligations as seriously as you do. Rest assured; I would not stop Sondra from doing what she must. I must warn you though that you might not like her decision. And, IMAD and I have much to do after you leave.

"I suggest you return to your crew. They have need of your leadership."

John couldn't argue with Grottos, so he left the chamber, where Grottos remained.

#

Sondra fell onto her makeshift bed completely clothed. Her experience with the sphere drained her of any energy she had. Now she was completely exhausted.

She had never asked so many questions in all her life. It had been an overwhelming experience.

There were other places, in addition to Mars, that she needed to see. Mars was just the beginning and not the end of her journey.

Without removing her clothing, she fell fast to sleep.

#

The crew was in a room they called their lounge where they relaxed and talked about the mission.

They now had evidence of Martian culture.

Tom was most enthusiastic, because he was taking back medical cures for some of Earth's incurable diseases.

John and Sondra were taking a leisurely walk toward a chamber that housed various Martian artifacts. Some of the Martians were indeed excellent artisans. Some of their artwork was unbelievable.

Sondra was holding a glass dish with gold Martian symbols placed around the outer rim. She ran her hand over the symbols while holding the dish securely with her other hand. She had to admire the Martians' creativity.

John stood near her. It seemed clear Grottos knew her better than he did. She showed a genuine interest in the Martian dish. Could she really be of Martian descent?

She placed the dish on a nearby surface and leaned against a wall. She looked into John's eyes and the look she gave him was not one he wanted to see, but it was there, nonetheless. It seems destiny was about to rear its ugly head.

"I am not sure I can say what I want to without hurting you, John. We are ready to return to Earth, but I cannot go back with you."

John started toward her, but she shook her head.

"Please, do not come closer, John. I have to say this now, because I won't be able to later."

John stopped. He was only a few feet away from her.

"You and I could have married on Earth, but I was not ready. Marriage is not something I could entertain then, now, or in the future. There are places I need to see and things I must do. I feel the need to do this. Can you understand?

"I didn't want to come to Mars, but once I stepped on the Martian soil, I sensed something wonderful was going to happen to me. At first, I did feel a sense of dread. Later, however, dread changed to excitement."

Then, she approached John and placed her hand on his chest. He put his hand over hers.

"John, you offer me your love. Grottos offers me immortality. Both are very tempting offers. However, I cannot accept either offer. I must explore beyond Mars, beyond Earth-the universe is my destiny. Say you understand."

She stopped for a moment to gather her thoughts. John simply stared at her.

#

He was unable to accept what she said to him. He was about to lose the love of his life. He did not think he could bear it. As to other women, he cared nothing about them. His life revolved around her. He wanted and desired her.

Deep down, he had to admit that Grottos was right, but he did not have to like it. He released her hand and backed away. The pain was more than he could handle. He must somehow come to terms with her decision.

Sondra simply stood motionless. John looked so lost and in so much pain, she could have cried, but she did not. Instead, she walked away from him and went back to her private chamber.

She began to pack her belongings and the more she packed, the more excited and thrilled she felt. A lifetime of exploring lay ahead of her. She felt exhilarated and was giddy with excitement.

She would always remember John and Grottos. They would live in her memory until the day she died.

#

Grottos stood next to IMAD in a secluded, private chamber, located miles away from the Earthlings' chambers. The Earthlings would be returning to their home planet shortly.

He must provide his friend, Sondra, with transportation she would need to explore the universe. It was her destiny to do so.

Unfortunately, for him, his duties demanded he stay on Mars until he received orders to the contrary.

He decided to send IMAD with Sondra as she made her way to distant horizons. She would need the robot for his knowledge, his mechanical strength, and most of all, his protection. She would be safer with him than with anyone else.

He also sensed his directives were going to change, but he was not sure how he knew that; he just knew.

Grottos had just informed IMAD of his new duties, that of accompanying Sondra into outer space. The robot merely acknowledged the commands and headed for one of the concealed interstellar flight pods.

Grottos entered Sondra's flight pod. IMAD would do a final pre-op check soon, but in the meantime, he looked around the pod. It would hold two occupants easily.

He waved his hand over one of the many consoles. The console came to life for him. When he came to what he wanted to change, he stopped, and his hand paused in mid-air. Should he send her there? He was not clear on that, as he had no one to guide him on this question.

He entered her destination. Even IMAD could not override the command. Yes, all would work out for the best.

She would go where her ancestors would have wanted her. A small planet in the Orion cluster would be her new home. She would meet and be with her own kind. All would be well.

Now that the programming was in place, he promptly left the flight pod. He had one more thing he must do.

In an anti-chamber that was next to the chamber that housed the flight pods, was an area originally designed for Martians to gather before they left on any interstellar flight. They would relax by reading, meditating, dining, and listen to music.

Grottos had already mentally invited Sondra to the room. Because John was unable to hear telepathically, Grottos asked Sondra to invite him. He had an ulterior motive for doing this.

The Martian music filtered through the air into the chamber filling it with sounds dear to Grottos' positronic brain. He liked the music but wasn't sure why. It seemed to be soothing to his ears, to his brain.

Sondra and John were coming; he could sense their presence. Then, they were standing next to him.

"Grottos. You have summoned us. For what reason?" Sondra asked.

"A final farewell to my friends, you and John," Grottos replied.

"I believe the next statement is: 'May I have this dance?'" Grottos asked as he extended his hand to her.

Sondra smiled at Grottos and glanced at John. It was obvious John was not having difficulty with the request.

For an android, Grottos danced very well. He was not as flexible as a human was, but he came close. As they danced, he kept his eyes glued to hers.

"Grottos, I get the impression you want to, how shall I say this, that you want to absorb my image into your positronic brain," Sondra said.

"Yes, that is what I am doing. I will always remember you. You can be sure of that. I will remember every moment we spent together. Those moments will be in my memory banks for all time, no matter what happens to me."

A chill ran down her spine. What was he really telling her?

"No," he said. "Do not think about what might or might not happen to me. It is unimportant and something that you should not worry about."

After he and John had danced with Sondra, they said their farewells via handshakes and hugs.

Grottos requested Sondra come with him in order that he would introduce her to her flight pod.

Grottos had explained how the pod worked to John, who merely nodded that he understood. Unfortunately, John had still not accepted that Sondra was not returning with him to Earth.

Before Sondra went with Grottos, she asked him to give her a few more moments with John, which he did. Grottos exited the chamber and waited for Sondra.

They were now very alone in a huge chamber. How did one say good-bye to a good friend and a lover, which is what John was to her?

"This is it beautiful. I do not think what you are about to do has to do with destiny. Grottos believes this; I do not. I guess it is real or you would not be leaving. I really cannot fathom that you are not returning with us to Earth. I don't want you to go, but I cannot stop you. Are you quite sure you're doing the right thing?" John remarked while coaxing Sondra to sit down next to him.

He was in anguish over her decision, and she could not make it easier for him, because she didn't know how.

Sondra stood then and glanced down at John. Chances were, she would not see him again. She placed her hand on his left shoulder.

"John, there is nothing I can say to you that will ease your pain. Remember, if this helps you, that I'm pain, too. I care about you; and I will remember you as long as I live. Kiss me and remember me."

He kissed her with pent-up emotions he had stored for a long time. He could never forget her, and he wasn't about to try.

He struggled with himself as he gently pushed her away. For some strange reason, he did not believe he would never see her again. However, he would not give up hope. Someday, they would meet again; he was sure of this.

They parted, not knowing what the future really held for either one, just hoping their feelings were guiding them in the right direction.

#

Grottos and Sondra were approaching the flight pod that would take her and IMAD on a long journey. Sondra was relieved that IMAD would be going with her although she did not say it aloud.

"Take care, my friend," Grottos whispered, as he gave her a hug.

IMAD and Sondra entered the flight pod. The outer door to the pod closed quietly.

If Grottos could've cried, something he couldn't do, he would have. His friends were leaving; and he had to let them go.

The flight pod was now gone. The Earth astronauts had left a few hours prior for their home.

For the first time since, Grottos believed he was experiencing the feeling of being truly alone. It was a strange feeling, and it was a feeling that he did not like at all.

Lately, he was thinking that he might be going through a new phase in his development as an android. One day, he might be human.

Only his creators could do that for him. It disturbed him that he experienced emotions not familiar to him.

He was vaguely aware of the methodic hum of the ancient Martian machines, which maintained all that lived beneath the surface of the planet.

IMAD, however, was on a new mission, that of going with the Earth woman to new horizons and new discoveries.

Suddenly, he found himself standing in front of a door to a very remote chamber very unfamiliar to him. He hadn't been in this chamber before.

He passed his hand over a specific and unique Martian symbol. The door opened at once. Once inside, he experienced another strange feeling, that of curiosity.

It was at that moment he spied a small pool of water, like the Pool of Reflections. He walked over to the pool and sat down.

He glanced into the pool's serene-appearing water. The water in the pool began to swirl rapidly and he had yet to touch it. Was this some form of magic?

Suddenly, he could see his creators in the water. At the same time, they sent him, via telepathy, new directives.

When his creators ceased communicating with him, he was once again aware of his surroundings.

Then he saw his fellow Martians, referred to as ghosts or shadows by the Earthlings, hovering about him. Did they know what he was going to do for them?

The shadows hovered near him, he considered touching them. He decided not to give in to temptation. Just a touch might disturb their dimension and could result in repercussions.

His new directives continued to filter through the thousands of pathways in his positronic brain. He experienced another first-that of a feeling of purpose.

It was clear to him that once he carried out his new tasks, he would be able to join the remaining Martians, those select Martians who lived on another planet, in another solar system.

He was pleased to know that a few of his creators had been able to escape the devastating plague that had wiped out the Martian race.

His new directives clearly showed what he must do. All he had to do was form a plan on how to carry out his tasks.

Once his tasks were completed, he would disembark in one of the remaining Martian interstellar flight pods. Then, he would travel to his final destination and new home.

Leaving Mars would be a new adventure for him and one that he welcomed. He was more than ready for new challenges.

As he left the small chamber, he walked with his head held high and confident in his abilities to complete his mission without mishap.

He was going to be the instrument that would release the Martian shadows from their confinement. To carry out this, he would permanently seal off the caverns. No living entity would be able to ever enter the caverns again.

Grottos was delighted that his creators had chosen him for a most admirable mission. He was now an android with a purpose.

"Home. Soon, I will be home," Grottos remarked as he glanced up at the red Martian sky.

THE END

Bio: Gerri is retired and lives in Crest Hill, IL USA. She enjoys creating stories that will challenge her readers. Her work has appeared on Amazon.com and in a few literary journals. You can follow Gerri on http://www.facebook.com/gerri.zimmerman.5 or www.linkedin.com/in/gerri-zimmerman .

E-mail: Gerri Zimmerman

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