Is There Life On Mars? (final part)

Note: This is the twelfth and final part of the story Is There Life on Mars? If you missed the beginning, maybe you should start there (just click on the link.)

 

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It was the last entry in the journal.

The explorer closed the document and returned it to the small crate. Soon after, another explorer entered the room. They looked at each other, nodded, and left. They walked to the garage, opened the doors wide, and waited.

Less than an hour later, other explorers arrived. They all gathered in the hangar. One of them activated a recording device, and the last explorer to arrive spoke.

“E4, have you encountered anything else of interest here?”

“No, not particularly.” The explorer paused, considering whether the journal merited mention. It did not.

The explorer who had spoken first spoke again, “And you, E3, what are your findings?”

“We discovered a wheeled vehicle that sustained significant damage. It is located approximately halfway between this settlement and the other.” There were five bodies inside the vehicle. They wore the same uniforms as the ones here. Do you need its exact location?”

The lead explorer seemed only mildly interested, “Yes, probably. In case an A-Group is dispatched here at a later date. Thank you.”

E3 then activated a handheld pad, which prompted a similar apparatus attached to the lead explorer’s arm to emit a beep.

The lead explorer then addressed another explorer who had not yet spoken, “What about you, E2? Did you find anything of interest? The settlement you visited was much bigger than this one, was it not? Did you notice anything different from here? You sent me a ping earlier.”

“We did uncover something.” E2 attempted to maintain the same neutral and composed demeanor as the other explorers, with some difficulty. “Upon arrival, we noticed that some of the dust on the solar panels was being cleaned by small automated robots, and that the panels were still functioning. However, the settlement, though larger, was in the same state of disarray as this one: same technology, same damage sustained, more bodies, slightly different uniforms. We did not conduct a full investigation, so further exploration may be needed. We prioritized locating the part of the settlement that was still powered.”

 

 

The leader noted the possibility of sending a future team there on his pad.
“Have you found the structure in question?”

“Affirmative. It was a modest building, predominantly subterranean, and nearly entirely covered with sand. The entrance was partially buried and concealed, but we could ultimately gain access.”

The leader interjected, “What was inside?”

E2 continued, “The majority of the equipment appeared to be computers and radio transmitters. The technology was similar to the one found at the other sites, although it appeared to be slightly more advanced. With the exception of the artificial atmosphere and a few other devices, the rest of the equipment was fully operational. There was also one deceased human in the building. A male subject who appeared to be near the end of his life expectancy, but not yet at that point when he died. He was malnourished, like all the other bodies. The subject lay in a pod, smiling and wearing some kind of helmet connected to one computer. Traces of combustion on the helmet suggest a possible cause of death, although further analysis would be required to determine this with any degree of certainty.”

“Did you say that the computer was still operational?”

“Affirmative. Interaction with the system was successfully achieved. The software utilized a wide range of code types, some of which were antiquated, while others were unknown and presumably self-generated. The interface, however, was based on human language. Its primary function appeared to be communication with Earth as well as with the settlement where we are now.
Interestingly, the computer was sentient, and it had created a highly convincing simulation of a human civilization living on the planet. Through feedback loops, the computer was under the impression that this simulation constituted the actual world, and that the settlements were not only functional, but thriving. It also developed the belief that it was itself human, as well as the leader of these two settlements, plus a third one that was never built, unless our previous analyses of the planet missed it. It is noteworthy that the computer was also the source of the transmissions to Earth that were previously intercepted.”

“Did you shut it down?”

“We considered it, but it may be of interest to an R-Team.”

“That is indeed a possibility.”

The explorers were interrupted by a simultaneous beeping of their communication devices, which collectively emitted three rapid, high-pitched sounds. Without a word, they left the compound together and proceeded to their lander, which was stationed adjacent to the derelict hull of an antiquated Terran spacecraft.

The vessel soon departed the red planet to rejoin their mother ship, which was waiting in orbit. An explorer asked their leader, “Do you believe that additional missions will actually be dispatched?”

“It is uncertain. It may happen, but this is contingent upon the availability of a designated budget. However, at this time, the merit of further exploration is not fully apparent.”

They remained silent for the remainder of the brief flight, but as the shuttle was about to enter the larger ship’s landing dock, a signal was intercepted on the communication system.

 

“Good morning, planet Earth. It’s your friendly neighbor, Noel Kums, speaking. I’m here to bring to you your daily news from the Martian Nation…”

 

 

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