The Martian Dream

1

Mars shone brightly in the night sky. Not as bright as Earth’s moon, but unlike that moon, Mars had over the course of three centuries become a beacon of civilization and prosperity throughout the solar system... something Earth’s moon was not. For that matter, neither was Earth. Earth – the original home of humankind was now an impoverished and war-torn world. Carmen Santori knew this well, for she lived on Earth with her sons... the most dear of her possessions. Like so many people on Earth, she had her eyes on Mars. She sought to go there not just to secure a better future for herself but for her two sons. As a matter of fact she had a plan which if it went right would allow just that.

“I see you came. Shall we get business underway?” said a stranger in a black fedora, trenchcoat, an sunglasses. His entire face was bandaged, as if it were disfigured horribly. Carmen knew that something like that could be fixed easily if one could afford the surgery, so it couldn’t be that. More likely was that the stranger didn’t want anyone to recognize him. And who could blame him, given that what he was about to provide could only be legally given by the Offworld Transport Board? In his briefcase were the immigration papers needed to be recognized as a Martian citizen. The Stranger wanted something more in exchange for handing her that briefcase.

Carmen just didn’t know what yet. After presenting the payment, she asked,

“What do you want me to do?”

“You’ll find out when you’re on the transport to Mars.” To this Carmen remarked grimly,

“The better to keep me from turning back.”

“Do you still want to go through with this?”

Carmen hesitated for a moment. She didn’t trust the stranger, but she also didn’t want her children to grow up as she did; always hungry wondering where the next meal would come from or if it would come at all. She’d done things which if they came up when the O.T.B reviewed her files would secure her and her son a one way trip back to Earth. In the end, her choice was no choice.

“I do.”

“Then here you do. Your flight leaves at 10:00. Once you get to the space station there is a two year voyage ahead as it cycles

“Welcome, weary traveler, to Mars – a bountiful world where you can enjoy a bright new future... as long as you are willing and able to contribute to the greater good. Through biological alteration and steadfast discipline we rid ourselves of the evils which have plagued your world throughout it’s history: selfishness, war, and irrationality. Meanwhile Earth’s nations are engaged in endless war, and for what? So that your elites can keep the life of luxury which they have been accustomed to. Meanwhile you who are not they toil and die for their luxury. Do you not seek better than this.

If you do and can prove you are worthy... then don’t wait, immigrate! You too can achieve the Martian Dream!

Advertisement from the Martian Immigration Agency

Getting past the spaceport’s security proved rather easy. The stranger had given Carmen the genoprint of someone named Julie Davis. Having injected it into her bloodstream, Carmen would be all but indistinguishable from the woman she’d be impersonating as long as the genoprint lasted. After that she would need to take another one. Combined with the passport and immigration papers she’d gotten from the Stranger, there was little chance of the authorities seeing through the disguise. Kale and Jonah would be Julie’s adopted children and would have no need for a genoprint. They could be themselves as much as they want.

This would be a problem.

“You know what I think?” Kale asked Jonah... Kale’s twin and opposite.

“What?” He knew the answer would involve some hair-brained stunt which would get them both in trouble, but he also knew that if he refused Kale would be calling him chicken for a long time to come. This he could not stand.

“With this skateboard, I could totally make it through that crowd of people, past the security guards, over the fountain, and then land between those two benches. In a less than eager tone Jonah noted,

“That could get us both in a lot of trouble if we did it. To this Kale replied with a devilish smile,

“Then it won’t be we. I’ll do it. You go peck corn with the other chickens. I’m sure it’s an easy life. Probably one that will last longer. But long and easy doesn’t get you scores of adoring fans. That’s what I’m going for. Sure it’ll probably be shorter... but at least my name will be remembered. Can you say the same about yours?”

Jonah was silent. To this Kale just said scornfully, “That’s what I thought.” He proceeded to get on his skateboard and ride through the crowd of people just like he said he would before Jonah had a chance to persuade him to postpone his daredevil stunts. The crowd, seeing some punk kid riding towards them, did their level best to avoid him. Looks of irritation shown on all their faces. Many of them shouted at Kale and a few even shook their fists. But Kale was oblivious to all of it. He was not aware of the trouble he had brought on himself and his family until he landed between the two benches.

It was then that the security guards caught up.

“Do you have any idea what kind of trouble you’re in?” One of the three asked.

“I’m starting to get an idea.”

“You ran roughshod through a crowded area performing your stunt, endangering the safety of everyone present. I don’t suppose you have family here with you?′ Kale could see where this was going. They would chew his mother out for what he’d done, who would proceed to chew Kale out for endangering their chances of getting to Mars. While he was thinking of some way to reduce the damage, the security guard who’d been speaking asked him again.

“Kid, I’ll ask you this once more and then you’ll be in even deeper trouble: where are your parents?”

“Lucky for Kale, John finally worked up the nerve to intervene. “I’m sorry for my brother’s stupidity. Our mother is waiting at A14.”

Kale looked at Jonah with a glance that spoke for him: “Traitor!”

Jonah noticed this, and just rolled his eyes.

Meanwhile, Carmen was waiting for the craft which would take them to the other part of the spaceport where they would wait until a shuttle designed for travel in LEO (low-earth-orbit) arrived. It would bring them to a orbital terminal. The cycler station would eventually pick them up as it made it’s endless loop between Earth and Mars. Now she was wondering where Kale and Jonah had gone off to. For a while, she’d been patient. Now that patience was starting to wear thin and Carmen was worried. This was something serious, an issue that was resolved upon seeing two security guards bringing he sons toward her. Inside, a feeling of dread and frustration came over Carmen.

“Before we can even get on the f**king transport. Unbelievable!”

As the guards approached, Carmen managed to retain enough composure to ask, “What’d they do?’, without bursting out in a fit of rage.”

“This one,” one of the guards said as he pointed to Kale. “was seen performing a reckless stunt in the middle of a crowd with this skateboard I confiscated. As for the other one, I don’t have anything on him. But you’d better keep a closer eye on both of them, or I’m afraid you won’t be going to Mars.”

“Thank you, Officer. I will.” Once they were gone, she glared at them in such a way that both that they were in trouble.

“You’re not leaving my side till we are on that spacecraft. Is that clear?”

They fearfully nodded, and that was the end of it.

The push for space in the early 21st century was led by private enterprise, as earthbound nations were preoccupied by a multitude of armed conflicts within and between them. Companies such as Virgin Galactic would provide the transportation for those who could handle construction in orbit and on the lunar surface. Fabricators made this possible to anyone who could supply the blueprints and materials. The habitats which proved successful attracted many laborers and eventually colonists.

Mars... proved a different sort of challenge. It would be a monumental, collective effort to make that barren wasteland habitable. This was possible only once the conflicts of the early 21st century had run their course and the environmental crisis been partially managed. America – despite the initial reluctance of one administration – took the lead. It was a bright and shining moment in human history in which man mobilized for common purpose. Sadly, this did not last.

Excerpt from “History of Solar Civilization Vol. 1”

15 minutes later they boarded the transport. There there waited some more until boarding the space-plane. It was an exhilarating experience... being in space. Neither Carmen, Kale, or Jonah had ever seen anything like it. As they looked down upon the Earth, they could not help but feel a sense of wonder. These -even though she was not what she used to be – was still the place where humanity was born and from which the fledgling species after many hard millenia spread. Arriving at the station brought more waiting, and it was clear the two were getting restless.

With a sigh, Carmen set towards calming them down.

“When we get to Mars, you’ll be free to do what you want. Before that point... those antics will get us into serious trouble. You’re probably hungry, right? Let’s see where those snacks are. While they were in line for ice cream, none of them knew that someone was watching. The genoprint gave her the face of someone else...yet someone knew she was not that person. A number was dialed and four words were said,

“We have a problem.” To this a steely voice gave on question.

“How bad?”

“I’m looking at Julie... except it can’t be Julie. We both know she’s dead.”

“Should we alert the authorities?”

“Negative. That kind of scrutiny might endanger our operations.”

“Get close to this person and find the answers you need. The job I sent you on can be completed once you get to Mars.”

After Carmen got her kids some ice cream, they sat down to enjoy it. This was a crowded place and it would be quite a wait. The cycler station took five months days to make it’s voyage. While they waited, Jonah asked his mother a question.

“What can you tell us about our father?” A smile shone on Carmen’s face like the sun in the sky hearing of him. She stood in the guise of Julie – red and flowing hair with cream white skin and soft in voice.

“I was a killer. He was a man of peace. Despite myself I came to respect him and later love him. Swore I’d change for him.” Then she looked at Jonah and told him bluntly,

“Don’t bring him up again while we’re here. As far as anyone else should know, I’m Julie and you are my adopted sons. Do you understand?” Jonah quickly nodded.

They didn’t have to wait too much longer for the cycler station to arrive. Only a few hours. Many had been waiting for much, much longer. The rotation provided gravity as was true of the terminal. As they made their way down the platform they couldn’t help but be hopeful. Seeing the inside of the cycler station was like seeing the inside of a hotel or cruise ship. It was nice, clean, and tidy. It was meant to be a place where they could enjoy themselves – with food and recreation – so long as they behaved.

There were security guards posted in the event that some did not. In shining white and red plating they gave a feeling of menace. Their guns were not firearms. That was certain. It would be too dangerous to fire bullets on a space station. Instead electricity was used.... a potentially fatal shock. “We don’t want to hurt you,” they said without speaking, “but if you give us a reason we won’t hesitate to do so.” This much Carmen could tell as they were all herded to the Orientation Center.

A man stood before them; tall and slender with hair white as snow... not that many of them had ever seen snow. He had a few wrinkles to show that he’d aged and yet when he spoke he couldn’t have seemed more alive.

“I am the Pursor of this station. What is that, you ask? It’s really simple. The Captain is normally the one who runs a vessel. But this is more a hotel than a vessel, and I am the one who sees to the guests while the Captain makes sure the vessel arrives as scheduled. You are hear because you want to leave the dying Earth behind for what you hope will be a better future on Mars.

I promise you... that future will come. If you don’t cause any trouble while you’re here you’ll arrive at the Martian spaceport without being sent back. While you’re here, there is plenty of food and recreation to enjoy. For those of you who want to know what to expect when you get there we have a computerized aide in all guest quarters. These aides will teach you everything you need to know about your new home.

Presuming you have any problems... do not hesitate to ask security for help. They are here to make sure your trip to Mars is a safe and secure one. We’ve tried to make sure no weapons could be brought on-board.... but we haven’t always been successful. Rest assured,our security staff are capable of dealing with any threat you are likely to deal with on this trip.

Do I have any questions?”

Before she could hear the rest of the orientation, Carmen received a sudden call. The communication device on which she received it was a variation on many that had existed during the 21st century. The demands of the market had made many changes and new apps had been designed for many purposes but basic internal functioning had changed very little.

She got up and made her way past many of the people sitting next to her to one of the corridors. Walking down that corridors and attempting to get out of sight, Carmen went almost completely unnoticed. Finding a place to hide in a nearby restroom she took the call. The former killer-for-hire knew exactly who this was.

The Stranger spoke to her in a smug, confident, and satisfied way.

“I’m glad you’ve made it onto the cycler. It would have been most unfortunate if you had failed to do so.”

Carmen got right to the point.

“I’m here. What do you need me to do?” The Stranger answered a question with another question.

“Do you still have the briefcase?” To this she replied simply,

“I’ve got it next to me.”

“Good.”, noted the Stranger before getting to the point.

“You’ll need the weapon hidden in a compartment within that briefcase to do this job. We took special care to make sure the authorities couldn’t scan and detect it. There’s someone where you are that we need you to kill. The full profile will be sent shortly.” At the moment when the Stranger’s speech stopped, so did the call. Carmen stayed in the restroom for a few moments. There was something about this that bothered her.

Taking out a picture of a man she used to know and love from one of her pockets, she looked at it for a few moments. Memories buried surged to the surface How he’d been younger than her and a gringo. He’d been an activist crusading for a better world. How she’d thought him a naive fool at first. There was nonetheless something about him which the killer-for-hire loved any way.

On the back of the photo of him she’d kept of him all those years was written the promise she’d made to him shortly before he died.

“To honor my memory, try to find another way than the one you’ve lived till now.”

It was at this moment the woman who’d found redemption cried. Softly she spoke,

“I’m sorry Danny. I know I’ve broken my promise. To get our children a better future... they needed a better world. There was no other way I was going to get there. Once we’re there... I’ll try to return to the life you wanted me to live. I promise!”

There was no reply from the afterlife. Just cold silence. Suddenly someone knocked on the door. It was a man who’s voice suggested he was of Indian descent.

“Hello? Anyone in there?”

“Let me make this perfectly clear.

These transhumanists are no different from the Bolsheviks or the Nazis of previous eras. It started as an idea which existed only on the fringe. As technology advanced, what they proposed became an actual possibility. Then transhumanism gave rise to mass movements. For those of you who harbor the delusion that this can be a peaceful occurrence, let me rid you of it. They want to remake human nature... create a New Man. Only unlike the Bolsheviks or Nazis they have the power to actually do it!

Biotechnology has given them that power

Already we can see the armed insurrections underway on Mars. This is only the beginning for Totalitarian Transhumanism!

Vic Sternholm – Political Commentator of the Mid-2300s

Kale was alone in the room his mother had picked out for them. The place was clean, tidy,and – by the reckoning of Kale at least – boring. The unruly fifteen year old didn’t dare get anything out of order lest he invoke his mother’s wrath again. Jonah was off enjoying him self in one of the recreation halls. Kale had considered joining him... but hadn’t. Clearly the boredom wasn’t his real problem. For lack of anything else to do he decided to turn on the computerized aide that lame old man had mentioned.

Swiftly grabbing the remote, he turned on what was a combination between computer and television. The aide was known in other terms as a synthetic intelligence, or SI. The name had stuck as artificial intelligence fell out of favor... it had become insufficient to describe what it had been meant to describe.

It was still debated whether they were truly self-aware but they were as capable as human mind as far as rational thought. The SI presented before Kale appeared in the guise of a petite young woman with sleek and polished blond hair. She smiled as she directed her guise to Kale before asking him one simple question.

“Hello. I’m Carol! What can I do for you today?”

“I want to know more about the place we’re going to.”, he replied bluntly.

To this the SI which called herself Carol asked?”

“Be more specific. Would you like to know the history, geography, or culture of Mars?” Kale took a few moments to think this through.

“Culture.”

“Alright!”, The SI which called herself Carol shouted gleefully before continuing.

“First a brief overview. If you want more detail, please specify. Mars has been governed as a meritocratic technocracy since the year 2356. All power is trusted to those who can advance through the hierarchy.” It was at this point Kale asked the first of his questions.”

“Are there any rebellions?” The SI which called herself Carol told him flatly and politely,

“No.” Now Kale was having trouble believing what he was hearing.

“Why does no-one fight back?”

“There is no need to. The Overseers provide us liberation from many of the evils which have afflicted mankind for millenia; selfishness, aggression, irrationality. This is done in the first place by biological alteration and then by constant discipline which is taught from a very young age. All they ask for this great improvement is our loyalty” Now Kale gritted his teeth.

“You mean they change us... then brainwash us... till everybody’s okay with them being in charge.

The SI which called herself Carol hesitated a moment before answering.

“That’s one way of putting it.”

“Does everyone have to accept this change?” This this Kale got one simple reply.

“No... but it is preferred that you do so. Otherwise you can’t rise as far up the hierarchy.

It was at this point Kale punched the wall. Furious with what he was hearing, he honestly didn’t know what to do about it. His next thoughts were of his mother. Now Kale was furious with her for bringing them to a place where he didn’t think he could stand living.

“Are you well, sir?” The SI which called herself Carol asked him with what sounded like genuine concern.

“Just fine. I have to go talk to my brother about something. If my mother comes back, tell her I’ll be back soon.

Meanwhile, his mother was tending to once crucial bit of business. From the file which had been sent to her, Carmen learned everything she needed to know about her target. He was Gustav Karlson, a witness to the crimes of the syndicate which employed her. After witnessing one of their crimes, he eventually came to the conclusion that the governments of Earth did not have the power to protect him. That was why he was going to Mars. At that moment, he was relaxing at one of the cycler’s spas. Except even then – in such an apparently safe and secure environment – he could never truly relax.

While he sat by a pool, Carman hid in a distant corridor. Seeing him from one end of the scope of her rifle, it would be apparent that he was a middle aged man with dark-blonde hair and an average build. Not so muscular, not too skinny. Maybe he had a family at some point. Evidently he’d been running for quite sometime. What mattered to Carmen was that he be eliminated as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Suddenly, before she could pull the trigger, Carmen was accosted by three strangers. Two of them held her and one of them pulled out a knife. Then he spoke in a steely voice.

“You look like Julie. You talk like her. You can’t be her, because we eliminated her. Too many loose ends is bad for business. So how come you look so much like her?”

Carmen just scowled.

“Everything that matters to me depends on that man I was aiming for being killed. You are in my way! I strongly recommend you change that fact.”

The man with a steely voice just chuckled.

“So you’re trying to sound threatening. That funny. It looks to me like you’re the one in trouble. I’m going to start carving off bits of you until you start giving me answers.”

Before he could get close enough Carmen kicked him in a place no man likes getting kicked in. Struggling to break free of the other two, she managed to grab the knife he’d dropped. Then the seasoned killer for hire stabbed one of the two which had been holding her in the neck. Seeing the blood, the one which remained ran as fast as his two legs could take him from the scene. The man with a steely voice just shook his head with disgust. Carmen picked up her rifle and could have shot this interloper... but that wasn’t what she’d come there for.

“Get lost.” She told him. He began to walk away... and then said, “This isn’t over.”

By the time she had the rifle aimed where it had been... Gustav wasn’t there anymore.

It could be said that Kale and Jonah visited their mother that night... except for the fact that they were in an artificial environment traveling in space. There is no night in those circumstance, and one has only one’s biological clock and prudence to guide when to rest. On their way there, Kale made perfectly clear his intention once they arrived.

“This whole time, she spoke of Mars as some sort of wonderful place. Earth was a cruel and brutal place... but at least we were free! I’m going to give her a piece of my mind.”

“Are you sure?” Jonah asked, unsure of this approach.

“Totally.” He opened the door, and soon after was witness to a side of his mother he hadn’t seen before.

“The room was darkened and as she lay on one of the beds Carmen noticed their presence and said in a weary and depressed tone,

“You’re back.” This was not how they’d known her to be. When Kale and Jonah thought of her the thought of energy, ferocity, passion, protection. Now she seemed like she’d been extinguished.

Immediately Jonah asked, “Did something go wrong?” Carmen sighed.

“Something went very wrong.” After looking at their worried faces, she got to the point.

“To get here it took a deal with some very bad people. I told myself that if I do this one job, that’ll be it... we can move on. The truth is the syndicate will hold this over us. If I don’t do what they say what I’ve done and what I’m going to do will be leaked to the Martian authorities.” It was at that point she broke into tears. After sobbing for a few moments she said to her two sons,

“I’m never getting out of this life.”

They came closer to her and she lit up a bit. Gazing at them as she she lay on that bed, Carmen said something with smile that struck Kale to the core.

“The one bright spot to this is that I get a shot to provide you a better life than I could on Earth. That’s the only thing keeping me going.”

Kale sighed for a moment. He put aside the speech he’d planned on how what he’d learned about Mars disgusted him and at least they were free on Earth.

“You’re right, Mom.”, he told her in the best smile he could forge. “I think we’ll have a great life there.” In the span of a few moments Carmen lit up again. The full passion and ferocity which they’d known from her was back as she got up and gripped them in a tight embrace. The two of them laughed as the three of them enjoyed a happy family moment.

A few days later all guests were called to gather in the same place where they’d seen the speech from the Pursor. It wasn’t quite clear to them as they made their way to their seats what was about to happen but it was suspected by many to be about something serious. A nervous tone pervaded the tone of conversation, concealed by a veneer of etiquette. After much waiting, the Pursor emerged on stage.

“I’m sorry about the delay. I’ve been speaking with my advisory staff and it now seems certain there can be no doubt: there has been a murder on this station!” There were many frightened gasps from the people in the audience... with the exception of Carmen, Kale, and Jonah. The Pursor continued.

“The murder took place within the boundaries of one of our spas. It is not yet certain who committed this murder... but we have drafted two special investigators for the purpose of finding out! Any murder is an assault of the safety and stability necessary for the proper functioning of this vessel, and I assure you, her or she will be brought to justice. The crowd began to cheer, and as soon as they did, Carmen, Kale, and Jonah got up and made their way somewhere they would hopefully not be seen.

As they did so, Carmen said three simple world with resolute determination resounding through her voice:

“This changes nothing.”