Martian Rebirth

by Walt Trizna

conclusion

Tom examined the Martian ice for signs of life by gently melting a quantity of water, then passing the solution through two filter sizes. The first filter would trap any bacteria present. These filters were subjected to various growth media to see if any colonies would form. He centrifuged some of the water to concentrate any bacteria present to observe microscopically. However, no pellet formed — no vast amounts of bacteria were present.

The second filter would be used to detect viruses. Samples from the surface of the filters were injected into eggs to see if viruses could be made to proliferate. During these studies Tom wore a special biosuit to protect him from any life form present. Samples of water would also make the return trip to Earth for further study. Tom ran test after test, knowing his research might take weeks to yield results, hoping something would be revealed before they departed for Earth.

Jeff spent days roaming the Martian landscape while Tom remained in the spacecraft. He drove the exploration vehicle to distant geologic formations, taking samples and making measurements. He had never felt such deep peace knowing he was alone, studying, charting and sampling the alien landscape. In formations containing minerals that might support life, all the tests were negative. He could not believe the universe was sterile, with the exception of the Earth.

The time to journey back to Earth rapidly approached. The astronauts had spent over three months working extremely hard in their quest to discover life. Jeff had obtained samples from various rock formations and found no evidence of fossils. Tom had not been able either to observe or grow any bacteria; all tests for viruses were negative too.

Days before their voyage home the crew orbiting Mars ran into their first major problem. The fuel cells’ mechanism used to manufacture water on the orbiter broke down. They would still be able to process their urine into potable water but their bodies used water. They would never be able to survive the seven-month journey home on the dwindling water their urine yielded.

Mission control was notified. Jeff and Tom had fuel cells on their surface module to manufacture water while they were on the planet’s surface. But the part of the craft that contained the fuel cells would remain behind. They could not manufacture enough water to last the return trip.

The solution was obvious, a solution the astronauts had already decided upon but waited to be confirmed. The voice from mission control said, “You are sitting on a vast amount of water. Fill your storage tanks with filtered water; filtered twice, it will be free of bacteria and viruses — sterile. That, along with your processed urine should provide enough water for you to return home.”

The Martian water’s pH was tested and found to be nearly neutral; water on Earth was slightly acid due to dissolved carbon dioxide. Atomic absorption analysis was also run to discover if there were any dissolved minerals present. The water contained fewer trace minerals than water found on Earth.

Later, as a mission control scientist studied the analysis he commented, “The Martian water is purer than what comes out of my faucet and probably tastes better, too.” Tom spent the last days melting and filtering water, then filling all the storage tanks to the brim.

The time came to depart Mars. As the two men watched the orange surface recede into a red disc, they felt a twinge of regret. Their capsule coupled with the orbiter that would take them home. As they departed Mars’ orbit Donald Summers said to his crew, “We did not discover the signs of life we had hoped for. We still have an enormous amount of data to review and the soil and water samples we’re returning to Earth may still yield some indication that life once existed on Mars.”

Jeff and Tom agreed with Summers that their samples might still yield some clues of life on the red planet. But each crew member secretly harbored the fear that Mars was a sterile world. Perhaps mankind was a unique product of fortunate circumstances in an otherwise sterile infinity.

Four months into their return flight they found it necessary to begin consumption of the Martian water. Tom was first to sample it. “Bottoms up,” he said. He took a long drink then said, “This water does taste great but, is it my imagination, or does it have a strange aftertaste?” Bill responded, “You’re right. But I can tolerate the aftertaste for three months if the alternative is dying of thirst.” The four men learned to ignore the strange taste, knowing the water was pure, and looked forward to returning home.

Jeff was the first to notice the beginning of the change. His thick blond hair had begun to thin; in fact, all the hair on his body began to disappear. He took to wearing a baseball cap to hide his change in appearance. One day Tom saw him without his cap and asked, “What the hell is happening to you?” His questions ceased when he found clumps of his own hair in the sink. Soon all four of the astronauts suffered the same malady, complete loss of all hair.

Bill and Donald both had families, which lead them to experience more anxiety than the two single astronauts. Bill said to Donald, “I have no idea what is happening to us. I try to think of my family but I’m beginning to forget them.” With a weary look Donald responded, “I am too. I don’t know what’s going on.”

In addition, they experienced a decrease in their musculature. Their arms and legs lengthened and became exceedingly thin while the little fingers of their hands withered and were lost. Fear of all the changes they had undergone was short lived for their brains were changing as well.

Five months into their journey home all communications with mission control ceased. The minds of the astronauts were confused, not able to focus. They found the words communicated to them alien, but were able to read the thoughts behind the words. Their thoughts remained confused until they crossed the boundary from human to Martian. They were now at peace knowing the mission they were sent to fulfill. The four beings sat perfectly still and studied one another with their huge black eyes. They felt no alarm as their skin turned a grayish hue and their skulls enlarged to become huge cranial domes.

Back on Earth, Emma Griss and Rhonda Summers, wives of the two astronauts, talked often. During one call, Rhonda told Emma, “It’s been so long since we’ve had any word from the capsule. I’m sure there must be some kind of telemetry being received from the spacecraft. I wish mission control would give us more information.” The two women continued to call each other on a regular basis but their mutual hope was rapidly replaced by fear.

* * *

The space capsule separated from its booster and began its fiery descent to the Pacific Ocean. A fleet of naval ships was on hand for retrieval. The parachutes deployed and the craft landed precisely where intended. The computers had functioned flawlessly. Divers from a hovering helicopter jumped into the water to attach a cable to the capsule that delivered it to a nearby aircraft carrier. A specially trained technician opened the capsule’s hatch. With no word from the crew for so long he feared all he would discover upon opening the capsule would be four corpses. The sight that greeted him repulsed him. He immediately shouted for aid to remove the four.

* * *

A week after the four astronauts returned to Earth, after the most important space voyage ever accomplished by mankind, the world still was deprived of greeting the heroes. The press clamored for information. Speculation ran rampant about the outcome of the expedition. There were theories that they had remained on the surface of Mars, or that they had not survived the trip.

George Fredrick, head of NASA, arranged a meeting in the building housing the astronauts with members of the media to end all conjecture.

The auditorium was packed with international press. A remote feed to a larger room in another building held the overflow. The tension was palpable as the NASA head approached the podium.

“Ladies and gentlemen of the press, I have called this meeting to end all speculation as the outcome of our Martian expedition and to introduce you to our gallant astronauts.

“Before I present them, I would like to say something about the conclusions formed from the information Jeff and Tom obtained from their exploration of the surface of Mars. Although no signs of life were found, there is an extremely strong possibility that civilizations have existed there in the past.”

George Fredrick waited for the uproar of the audience to die down. “In a sense, from what we can determine, there may never have been true Martians. Mars, silently awaiting visitors, transforms them according to its own design.

“As you all know, the one major problem experienced on this mission was the breakdown of our water-making capabilities. Because of this, our astronauts were forced to drink filtered, sterilized Martian water. We know now that even though this water was sterile, it was not pure.

“We have analyzed the Martian water and found that it harbored alien proteins. In fact, their kind is known on Earth: they are sub-viral particles called prions. As you know, prions cause mad cow disease and its human counterpart, Creutzfeld-Jacob Syndrome. All prion-related diseases are fatal. ”

Fredrick next showed a slide of the Martian prion protein structure.

“These prions can apparently function as some sort of super virus. By a manner not yet understood these prions have the ability to take over the biochemistry of whatever creature consumes them and convert that creature into what can only be called a Martian. This finding was truly unexpected.

“The reason I say that Mars may have harbored life in the past is because, in the study of nature, we know that nature does not expend energy without a plan. These prions are there for a purpose. They harbor the unique property of creating Martians from any being that ingests them. They possess the total consciousness of the planet.

“Our voyage to the red planet may have been the first time it had been visited, but I find that doubtful. The discovery of these prions demonstrates there are forces at work in the universe that we can only begin to comprehend.

“One aspect of our astronauts’ return trip was puzzling. Why did they not contact mission control when they noticed the first physical changes? On Earth, prions affect only the brain. It is only conjecture, but we feel that long before any physical manifestations occurred, the brain was first affected. Once they had all ingested the prions, the brain was immediately altered. We feel this is a protective mechanism preventing communication with any other beings except their fellow Martians. Now that the process is complete, we hope to find a way to communicate with our astronauts.

“Without further delay, I would like to introduce to you Jeff Granger, Tom Nariba, Bill Griss and Donald Summers — Martians.”

The door to the isolation chamber opened and there sat the four Martians with their huge black unblinking eyes. The reporters present reacted with horror and wonder.

The four Martians quietly sat as they read the thoughts of the crowd. Each had in his possession a secreted vial of concentrated Martian water thick with prions to transform the Earth into their home.