Worlds Without End: The Mission (Book 1)

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  Jake and Skip made their way through the ship to the flight deck. They entered through the hatchway and saw Taylor sitting at his copilot's station. Taylor Young, a brilliant computer programmer chosen as the third member of the mission, looked at Skip and Jake with excitement in his piercing hazel eyes. Skip floated to his station and buckled himself in his seat behind Jake's. Jake floated to his seat and secured himself in as well. They both looked through the flight deck's plasma shield and saw the red planet growing larger as they approached.

  Jake had a feeling of calm come over him. He felt that his dad was near. It was a strange feeling, one that he could not explain.

  Taylor turned and looked at Jake. "Well, Jake, you're the commander. What do we do?"

  Jake felt a little weird giving orders to Taylor and Skip. Skip was already a dear friend. And on the three-month journey, Taylor had become just as true a friend. Taylor was a little more reserved and quieter than both Jake and Skip, but when he did have something to say, it was always positive. And Jake and Skip both respected him for that. Jake didn't consider either Taylor or Skip his subordinates, so when it came time for proper protocol, they all seemed to mock the system.

  Taylor spoke again. "Mars II to Commander. What do we do, sir?"

  Jake, looking at Mars as he spoke, said, "We follow protocol. We do what we have been trained to do. I'll put this thing in orbit around Mars. Taylor, you make sure all computer systems are working properly." He then turned around and gave Skip a small smile, letting him know everything was all right between the two of them. Skip seemed to relax a little and smiled back. "Skip, will you set Mars II's computers to scan for any gravimetric anomalies, and see if we can't find this wormhole?"

  Skip softly slapped Jake's back. "Yes, sir. Computer ?"

  "Yes, Doctor Hendricks," the computer replied.

  "Retrieve program 'Operation Wormhole' ? authorization code nine-four-three-dash-alpha, and activate it."

  "Yes, Doctor Hendricks."

  "Are you sure that program that you guys designed at NASA will find this so-called wormhole?" Jake asked.

  "Don't worry, Jake," Skip said. "We used data from the probe that we sent to find your dad when he disappeared. The program is designed to indicate any gravimetric anomalies."

  Jake turned back to face Mars. "I hope you're right."

  Taylor looked at Jake. "Don't worry, Jake. Everything is going to be fine. We'll find this wormhole, go through it, find your dad, and come back."

  Jake gave Taylor a skeptical look. "You're a little too optimistic for me. I haven't told you guys this before, but I don't have a lot of confidence in this mission."

  Skip and Taylor glanced at one another. Skip spoke first. "We've traveled millions of miles to Mars, and you tell us this now."

  "I'm sorry. I just don't know if I believe in your theory, Skip."

  Skip put his hand on Jake's shoulder. "You're lucky, then."

  "What do you mean, 'lucky'?"

  "You're lucky that I believe in it enough for the both of us, and Taylor believes it too. Don't worry. You just do your job and pilot us through this thing if we find it. You don't need to worry if it exists or not. That's my job."

  Jake shook his head. "That's just it. If this thing exists and we enter it, how do you know we won't be crushed to death or shot clear across the universe?"

  Skip smiled and said, "I don't."

  "That doesn't help me, Skip."

  "I know. Sometimes you just have to have faith."

  Jake gave Skip a funny look. "Faith, huh. Faith in what?"

  Skip laughed. "You know. Faith that God will get us through this."

  Jake turned his seat back to face Mars. Deep down, he knew that Skip was right, but he couldn't bring himself to admit it. If they were going to survive this, it would have to be God that helped them.

  Taylor piped in, "Yeah. Faith, Jake. That's all we have besides us."

  Jake glanced at Taylor and then at Skip. "You know what, guys? I couldn't have asked for better men to go on this mission with. It's an honor."

  Taylor and Skip nodded their heads in acknowledgment. They all had grown extremely close. In fact, each man knew that he would give his life for the other if he had to.