The Alpha Project by Darrell Pitt

Author:Darrell Pitt [Pitt, Darrell]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-10-19T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Two

The ship flew down the long dark tunnel. It was less disconcerting that my journey through from the other direction, but still frightening. I swallowed as my eyes searched the darkness.

‘Ferdy?’ I said. ‘Is everything all right?’

‘Everything is fine,’ Ferdy said. ‘How is Axel?’

‘I mean…is the ship okay? Are we traveling through to the other side?’

‘Everything is proceeding as required.’

A tiny white dot appeared in the distance. Then there was a flash of blinding light followed by a glimpse of sky and darkened trees.

‘Yes!’ I yelled. ‘We did it!’

Liber8tor zoomed low over the valley. Night had fallen, and there was little to see, but I saw stands of trees and dark forest.

‘Ferdy,’ I said. ‘Put us down.’

Chad turned to me as the ship landed.

‘This is it,’ he said. ‘The future.’

‘Judging by the position of the stars,’ Ferdy said, ‘the year is 2841AD.’

Grabbing Chad’s arm, I told him I was heading outside.

‘Are you sure that’s a good idea?’ he said.

I didn’t reply. Instead, I exited into the night and inhaled air that was clear and flesh. It was intoxicating, almost as if it were free of toxins or pollution. Maybe humans have finally stopped destroying the environment and gotten around to repairing the planet. Moonlight cast a stark light across the valley, carving dark shadows into the tree-covered hills. An owl hooted, soared low over the clearing, and disappeared into the gloom.

2841AD, I thought. Incredible!

At first, I’d thought the sky was just full of stars, but I’d been wrong. I stared at it as Chad joined me.

‘Ferdy,’ I said. ‘What are those things? In the sky, I mean.’

Dozens of tiny circular objects like little donuts orbited the planet.

‘It’s best to not know too much about the future,’ Ferdy said. ‘Suffice to say, the human race in this era routinely travels across the galaxy and interacts with dozens of other alien civilizations.’

Chad nudged my elbow. ‘Look at the moon.’

The moon was different. I’d only glanced at it before, but now I realized a shining silver object dominated half its visible surface.

That’s got to be some kind of moon base.

‘That is Armstrong base,’ Ferdy said.

‘Are we safe here?’ Chad asked. ‘Are there any people nearby?’

‘This whole area seems deserted. There are no people within a ten-mile radius.’

My eyes searched the gloom and focused on a pedestal at the edge of the clearing. I activated the light on my wristcom. Two figures on the pedestal’s cornice overlooked the clearing.

‘Wow,’ Chad said.

I recognized the statues immediately: it was me and Chad. They were made from bronze and had plaques at the base of each. Moss covered the statues. Beneath the moss, time and weather had tarnished the bronze to green and black. I gazed open-mouthed at them.

‘Well,’ I managed. ‘That’s unexpected.’

Chad shook his head. ‘I never doubted they’d build a statue to honor The Chad,’ he said. ‘But I was sort of hoping it would happen while I was alive.’

‘You are alive,’ I pointed out. ‘At least…I mean…’

Time travel was complicated. I stared at the plaques.

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