Depth Charge - illuminations

Epilogue

Multitudes of irregular shaped rocks of harsh appearance lay before them, embedded and scattered along the surface of Mars in a blanket of rusty iron oxide dust. Selena began to ponder if the rocks had fallen from outer space and impacted into the surface, or if they had been pushed outwards from within the planet. In her mind, she chose to believe that the rocks were being pushed out from within the planet; trying to escape some evil force. Escape! At least they had escaped the dreaded trap of the deep sea creatures on Earth. Maybe the rocks were the lucky ones on Mars; heavy inanimate bystanders to some imagined evil lurking terror.

Trying to focus on something more productive, Selena began having a silent debate within herself, reasoning on the positives of having a new beginning. Well, the surroundings were new; every day, more and more discoveries were to be made. Not that rocks in rusted dust and digging excavation tunnels for human inhabitation were Selena's idea of fun. The people still seemed to stay the same though. The extent that the government had gone to in preparing for living on Mars had astounded her father. Numerous missions had been conducted to Mars, years before the deep sea creatures had attacked on Earth. A virtual colony had already been started; machinery transported; a system for establishing a liveable environment; it was all underway. Colonel Hardy wasted no time in making his authority known. No one seemed to contest his rise to power. Besides, he knew the plans better than anyone.

Bill looked at the disappointed expression on Selena's face. Why was everything so desolate? There were no lush parks; no blue skies; no ocean ... Well, maybe the no oceans part was a relief for the time being. Water was still to be found on Mars, underneath the ground, and at the polar caps. The terra forming needed to commence, but it would take a while for minerals to be extracted and the necessary infrastructure to be completed; long after he had passed, Bill thought. Eventually Mars would have some watery expanses, but no sea creatures to contend with. Their underground dwellings were essential against the harsh environment of the planet. Eventually the halo shield would be established to protect them against the extremes in weather and debris from outer space. Given the extremes of this planet, the halo shield may have to stay in place even after a liveable atmosphere was formed.

Earth looked so blue; terrifyingly so. Bill didn't want to dwell on the past though. Looking at Selena again, he saw her facial expression change to one of excitement. He smiled. She was eighteen now. Bill felt pround as he reminisced on all the effort he had put into ensuring his daughter had the best start to life. Seeing Marie next to her, he smiled again. They had done a good job in raising their child to live a life; a life that was nothing of what that they had first envisioned when Selena was born. They had originally dreamt of their daughter living in a country dwelling, or maybe a seaside lifestyle. She was going to be a doctor, or an artist; maybe both.

Bill's original dreams had passed on like the fine red dust that floated out from underneath of Selena's space boot as she took a step away from him.

"Are you sure you both want to do this? I'm not really keen on the idea."

"We've been through the procedures with Mark, Dad. He says we'll be fine."

"Hmm, well, I just ... I just don't understand why you both want to do it? It's ..."

"I didn't expect that you would understand," remarked Marie. "It's kind of a mother and daughter thing."

Bill scratched the back of his head. He didn't think that this was the type of outing that mothers and daughters usually undertook. "I just worry about you both, that's all."

Marie looked at him with an adoring smile from within the state of the art helmet that she was wearing. "I know you do, darling. It's not like we can spend a lot of time at the shops like we did on Earth, is it?"

"But, it's such a long way up. Isn't there somewhere else you would like to explore first that is ... less daunting?"

"These suits are top of the line. At least, that's how Mark explained them. We have more than enough oxygen, and the jet boosters will make our ascent like a ... walk in the park." replied Selena.

Bill looked at them both, all suited up, ready to make a trek that was three times higher than Mount Everest formally was! "If you're not back in time, I'm taking the shuttle up to get you."

"Relax, honey, we'll be fine."

Bill turned back to return to the base. Marie and Selena smiled as they watched him walk away. Looking at each other, they did not even know within themselves why they had decided to make this trek. It just seemed like something they had to do. They gazed upon the horizon of their new home planet; a red earth. Looking back at each other, a soft red glow formed behind their eyes; a reflection of the horizon that dawned before them.