( 29 )

The Future Possible

Maria sat alone in her semi-permanent quarters aboard the Rakbu. Richard Holcomb’s sudden and frightening death rocked her hard. She wondered how a man, so vibrant and young for his age, could suddenly die that way. Moments before, he engaged her in fervent discussion about alien intervention in human history.

Then he was gone. Moreover, without Holcomb’s interpretation of the evidence, who could corroborate this information when it came time to prove it?

Mason allowed no ambulance on his estate. His personal physician declared Holcomb dead right in the room where they met and debated. Mason’s doctor used a handheld medical device that reminded Maria of a Star Trek medical tricorder to determine the cause of death—a sudden and catastrophic aneurism.

In the commotion, the disputed stone disappeared. Finger pointing and accusation ensued, but no one claimed responsibility for taking the artifact. Mason informed guests the county coroner was on the way and advised them to leave for their own anonymity. Maria was reluctant to leave without the stone, but Reggie worried the authorities might lock him up and Jaypee was in the United States illegally. They persuaded Maria to leave.

Inanna transported Jaypee to the Philippines. Reggie returned to Rakbu for his protection since his cabin was heavily damaged and no longer safe.

The presidential press conference loomed just 36 hours away. Maria now faced it without a key witness and her most credible piece of evidence. She had Reggie’s images of the stone, but that wasn’t primary evidence. An image is easily altered and debunked. She had the dating documentation, but not the stone it purported to date. Part of her wanted to run and pretend she knew none of this. Who was she, to be humanity’s messenger for this information?

Maria had comforted herself with Inanna’s perceived control of the situation. Now Inanna had proved fallible. She was surprised by the helicopters at Reggie’s cabin and surprised by Cutler’s absence at the roundtable. Clearly, Inanna had limits. She was not all knowing and all seeing. Who knew if she could deliver on her promise to ensure a question for Maria at the press conference?

The door chime sounded. “Enter,” Maria said.

Inanna entered the room and joined Maria at the window overlooking Earth. “Such a beautiful planet, isn’t she?”

“Yes,” replied Maria.

“If you knew how rare and precious Earth is in the known galaxy, you would understand why she is such a focus.”

“I can’t get Holcomb’s death out of my head, Inanna. One thought keeps spinning through my mind—does any of this matter? Aren’t we all going to die one day? Who cares?”

“Oh, The Belly of the Whale, is it?”

“I’m sorry . . . the Belly of the Whale?”

“Your mythologist, Joseph Campbell, talked about it in his concept of the hero’s journey. It’s the moment the hero experiences big doubt because she is about to cut ties with the world as she knows it and choose the new world.”

“Haven’t my actions already proved my commitment to this journey? Haven’t I already chosen?” asked Maria.

“Yes, but until now you have been able work in the shadows—without having to be the face of these ideas. Tomorrow night you are going to take this information public. People will point and stare and call you the alien lady. The status quo is going to turn its back on you and you will have to continue this journey alone.”

“I suppose you’re right. What’s bothering me more is . . .what’s the prize? This started as a personal question. I feel like I

have my answers. Is it really worth going public? Can’t others find their own answers?”

“Maria, what becomes of humanity, if it continues on its present course? People continue to live in the dark without the information they need to make decisions about their lives. Is that what you want?”

“No.”

“Your planet and your species are run by a few men from the shadows for a distant tyrant. Worst of all, much of humanity continues behaving like slaves before an all-powerful god—ready and eager to send them to eternal damnation. Being human is a crime. Can your species be free? Can progress be made while people believe such things?”

Maria stared down at the earth. Seven and half billion people lived down there. Most of them believe they are shaping their own destiny in a game rigged since the dawn of history. She turned from the window, paced to the middle of the room, and turned to face Inanna. “I guess the question is, why me?”

Inanna smiled as warmly as Maria had ever seen her smile. “That’s always the hero’s question, Maria. You see, the hero finds nothing special in her actions. She thinks she is like everyone else —only she’s not. The hero has traveled beyond the horizon and back with vital information for the tribe. This is always the moment of decision for the hero. Do I share what I have learned or do I keep it to myself?”

“And where do you stand on the question, Inanna?”

“Hundreds of thousands of earth years ago, I faced a similar choice. My race perpetrated a grievous injustice upon a sentient species. My choice was to act or remain silent and go along. Acting meant turning my back on my father, my brother, and my position within the Anunnaki elite. My choice to act doesn’t make me a saint, but it allows me to live with my role in this universe.”

“So, help me make the right choice, Inanna.”

Inanna shook her head. “The days of someone else making the decisions for you—for humanity—are at an end, Maria.”

“I hope I’m ready.”

“Trust me, Maria. Ready you are!”

Inanna walked right up to Maria. “I won’t make the decision for you, but I can help make your decision easier. They say lies are best hidden in plain sight. Before your press conference, I need you to see the scope of the lies arrayed against you. You must understand the self-determination of your species hangs in the balance.”

Inanna called out, “Commander, Enka, please prepare my Vimana for Maria and me.”

“Right away, Mistress.”

“May what I show you tonight outrage you and seal your determination.”

Maria and Inanna transported aboard the Vimana. Inanna ordered the pilot to set course for Mars at 1 C.

“1 C?” Maria asked.

“Yes, C is the speed of light,” replied Inanna. “It is the maximum

safe cruising speed for this vessel within a solar

system. The trip to Mars will take about 40 minutes. Let’s adjourn

to my observation lounge.”

THE FUTURE POSSIBLE [ 287 ]

Maria had been aboard Rakbu several times but hadn’t experienced actual space flight. Her mind boggled at traveling the speed of light. She felt a slight disorientation and a bit dizzy.

“It takes a few minutes to get adjusted,” said Inanna, noting Maria’s discomfort. “The ship deploys technology to offset the inertia created by high velocities, but it cannot fully compensate.”

“So, why are we going to Mars?”

“I know. Everyone has been to Mars,” Inanna replied, trying to affect some humor. “There’s something there you need to see.”

“What?”

“If I could tell you, I wouldn’t need to show you.”

The Vimana achieved orbit around Mars. “Mistress, what are your orders?” asked the pilot.

“Engage the heat shields and take us to the surface coordinates I’m transferring to you right now.”

“Yes, Mistress.”

The ship veered sharply and headed into the Martian atmosphere.

“Hang on,” Inanna instructed, “even though the Martian atmosphere is thinner than Earth’s, it is rougher than spaceflight.”

For the next several minutes, the Vimana jostled violently and the temperature rose significantly within the ship. As suddenly as it began, the shaking stopped. The ship glided gently a few hundred feet above the planet’s surface. The iconic red surface rushed past below, but something seemed wrong. Maria noticed a bluish tint to the sky. The Vimana pointed toward a large flat plateau and came to rest atop it.

“Pilot,” Inanna commanded, “prepare my surface vehicle.”

Inanna led Maria to the Vimana’s aft bay. The pilot was already seated in the driver’s seat of a high-tech dune buggy. They climbed into the back seat. The bay doors lowered and became a ramp. The buggy eased down the ramp and out onto the Martian surface. For a moment, Maria forgot about tomorrow’s presidential press conference and everything else back on Earth. She was dumbfounded to be rambling across the Martian landscape.

“Inanna, this is amazing! Thank you for bringing me, but why are we here?”

Inanna did not answer. Instead, she pointed to a series of large structures ahead. The buildings seemed purposely camouflaged

to match the Martian surface. As they approached the massive complex, Maria could see they weren’t made of dirt or rock. Their composition was a combination of metal, stone, and other materials cleverly mixed to blend into the landscape.

The driver pulled up in front of the largest structure. “Let’s go inside,” said Inanna encouraging Maria to follow her.

“Isn’t it too cold?”

“It is summer,” Inanna chuckled.

“What about oxygen? Don’t we need space suits?”

“That’s part of what I need you to know.”

The top of the buggy slowly flipped open. Maria held her breath, not sure what to expect. Inanna was already outside the vehicle walking around. Maria followed her on a leap of faith. In the distance, the sun looked pale and bluish in the Martian sky. The temperature compared to an early spring afternoon in D.C. She cautiously opened her mouth and slowly inhaled and exhaled. To her surprise, she could . . . breathe.

“Pace yourself, Maria, there is far less oxygen than on Earth. You will tire easily, but it is breathable.”

“It reminds me of my trek to a Himalayan base camp in Nepal,” Maria shared. “How is this possible? Mars is not supposed to have a breathable atmosphere.”

“Take your foot and scratch the surface,” Inanna instructed.

Maria took her right foot and kicked the dirt beneath her feet. The red dirt was only a few millimeters thick. Beneath the red veneer, the soil was volcanic black. She looked back up at Inanna in surprise.

“Do you understand the paradox, Maria? The red dirt is oxidized. Your scientists believe the oxidation occurred eons ago when—according to their theories—Mars had water and a more substantial atmosphere. Yet, the same scientists readily admit the planet is prone to huge dust storms. So, tell me, Maria, how does the planet maintain this thin layer of ancient red dirt when it’s being blown around constantly?”

“I don’t know.”

“The oxidation continues. It’s happening right now. There is less than when we first came here two million years ago. There is far less than when one of your ancient Earth civilizations built the structures you’re looking at right now, but the rocks and the dirt continue to oxidize. There is breathable oxygen here!”

“This is astonishing, Inanna, for sure. I’m not seeing the significance.”

“If the people of Earth knew their nearest planetary neighbor was more hospitable than they had been told, don’t you think there would be a bigger demand to come here?”

“I suppose.”

“To become a spacefaring race is the next natural step for humanity, but you have been purposely bottled up by planted paradigms rife with disinformation. The first paradigm holds Earth has too many problems to waste resources on space exploration. The second asserts there is nothing to see out here—just desolate, lifeless worlds.”

“I don’t understand the purpose of the deception.”

“My government doesn’t want humanity taking those next steps into adulthood or to understand its heritage. It immediately discredits the ideology, claiming Earth people are inferior. Because my government doesn’t want it and it controls those who control your governments, your governments have followed suit—publicly at least—with this cover up.”

“What do you mean publicly?”

“The public space programs on Earth are not the real space programs. They have been set up to perpetuate those two lies—that there are better uses of your resources and there is nothing to see out here. Meanwhile, governments have secretly been exploring the solar system and even trying to create small bases on the Moon and Mars. I know you were young, but do you remember the long string of ‘accidents’ on public Mars rovers back in the 1990s?”

“I remember reading something about them.”

“Those American and Russian probes were destroyed because there was a virtual war going on around Mars. Your governments wanted to establish a covert presence here and my government was determined not to allow it. So, instead of the truth you were told stories like some grad student did the math wrong on a mission planned for ten years and the vehicle crashed because of that miscalculation.”

Maria looked up and around taking in the view of the massive structure in front of her. She could see others grouped together

in the distance. The color of the structures matched the Martian surface. The oddly shaped roofs caused them to blend with the planet’s surface features.

“You said people from Earth built these structures?”

“Yes. It was one of the civilizations before Lemuria. These structures were built when Mars was still a moon of Tiamat. That

civilization possessed highly advanced technology—technology beyond what the Anunnaki possess today. They towed Mars into

its current independent orbit. They also captured Neptune’s moon Triton in the outer solar system. They towed Triton into orbit around Neptune. They were trying to test a theory to determine whether a moon orbiting opposite its planet’s rotation would create enough pull on the moon to heat its core, warm its surface, and create a habitable atmosphere.”

“Incredible!” Maria responded, taking note of the details around her as she listened.

“The changes disrupted the orbital balance in the solar system. Tiamat got too close to Jupiter. The gravity pulled it into an orbit causing it to collide with one of Jupiter’s largest satellites. This created your asteroid belt and caused a rain of rocks to hurtle towards the earth and it wiped out that civilization.”

“How do you know all of this?”

“The Lemurians were very aware of their history. They were capable of technology. They simply chose a different path for their civilization. Records survived the cataclysm and when remnants of their civilization merged with us, those records were taken to Nibiru.”

Maria was awed. How could such a false paradigm be created and perpetuated? “Can we go inside?” she asked.

“Absolutely, this is part of your heritage. Be careful when you begin walking. You’re going to feel rather light-headed.

Deep slow breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth.”

Maria stopped to catch her breath several times on the short walk to the main entrance. Inanna appeared unaffected.

“You should be able to breathe better once we are inside. We don’t understand how, but the structures generate artificial oxygen bubbles that encase the entire building. However it was done, it still functions today.”

The main entrance was massive. Maria estimated it to be nearly 100 feet high and 200 feet across. The stones forming the base of the building were Mars-colored and each the size of a large house. The entrance was open to the outside and revealed a long voluminous corridor running the length of the building and terminating in a similar entrance on the far end.

Maria immediately felt the difference in the air as they moved inside. Breathing became easier and she scanned the massive hallway. Being open to the elements, red dust covered everything. However, there were bare spots on the floor revealing exquisitely ornate tiles 10 feet squared. Catacomb rooms climbed the walls on either side of the corridor. There were 12 levels each containing dozens of rooms. The ceiling that seemed to blend with the Martian landscape from above was transparent from below. It magnified the Martian sunlight, giving it an earth-like intensity that filled the corridor.

Inanna caught Maria’s mouth agape. “Astonishing, isn’t it? People from Earth created this millions of years ago.”

“Were they a completely different species or were they human?”

“They were an independently evolved humanoid species, but you carry part of their DNA.”

“How is that?”

“After the reptilian invasion, the Lemurians were absorbed into Anunnaki society. The two species were sexually compatible and soon our two races became one. Through intermingling, their DNA mixed with ours and eventually became part of your DNA through our intervention with your species. This interbreeding of Anunnaki and Lemurian is revealed in mythological stories about the sons of heaven mating with the daughters of earth.”

Maria shook her head. “Why would they want to keep this heritage from us? Why hide these truths?”

“My father and my dear brother have insisted on a policy of human containment and control. They have used their functionaries on earth to ensure you are deceived and denied this knowledge. My Uncle Enki tried to share some of this knowledge with humanity, but his attempts became demonized in your mythologies. From the beginning, human awareness of this information was considered dangerous by my government.”

“This cannot stand! People must know!” declared Maria.

“That’s why I brought you here. That’s the indignation I wanted you to feel before you go into the Belly of the Whale and confront the president tomorrow night.”

“Does President Paxton know about these things?”

“It’s very unlikely. Powers above government have always controlled this information. Some in government know enough to carry out their functions. Presidents have been considered too transient to be brought into the inner circle.”

Maria spun around 360 degrees. “I don’t want to leave here. It’s so beautiful, but I need to prepare for tomorrow night.”

They climbed back into the buggy and drove back to the Vimana. Inanna led Maria back to the lounge. Maria sat riveted at the window as the ship pushed against the planet’s gravity and quickly ascended through the atmosphere. Within moments, they were free from Martian gravity and racing back across the solar system at 1 C.

Inanna’s personal attendant appeared with two large coffee mugs. Inanna drank tea, but Maria found her mug filled with a delicious hot caramel macchiato. They sat in silence for a moment sipping their drinks and watching the distant stars slowly pass. Even at the speed of light, the great distances to the other stars caused them to creep across their field of view.

“You know, Maria,” began Inanna, “what you’re doing is not just about uncovering the past. It is about creating the right future for humanity. I have heard The Father Creator call it The Future Possible. He sees tremendous potential in humanity, if only you can awaken to your true potential.”

“I want to believe that about us, Inanna. Yet, I look at events around the world every day and I see all the hurt we bring to each other. It’s why Jack and I have not had a baby. I’m not sure I want to bring one into this world.”

“I hope you will change your mind about that, Maria. You would make a remarkable mother. What you’re choosing to do

is so courageous. I’m not sure you even realize yet how brave you are.”

“What is possible for us, Inanna, if we pull our act together?”

“The first thing is a clear understanding of your rich heritage. We are not the only race to intervene genetically in your species. We were just the first and we have remained the most involved in your development. You represent the best and the worst of

several races in the known galaxy.”

“Is that where our ethnicities come from? Is that the influence of various alien races?” Maria followed.

“There is some information you are not prepared to know yet, Maria. You would use it against each other in destructive ways, rather than understanding the true significance of it.”

“OK. There you are hiding information from me again,” said Maria only half kidding.

“This one is for your own good. Knowledge of your full history would only flame the fires of ethnic and religious differences. Some people would use it to claim ethnic or racial superiority for their group. I’m not going to tell you that whole story—not yet.”

“All right,” Maria huffed. “What would this change mean here and now?”

“One big benefit that would transform your planet is the advancement of energy on your planet. Cheap, practically free, and ubiquitous energy would drastically change Earth’s economic dynamic. Energy cost and access are two of the greatest barriers to modernization and equalization on your planet. This ship literally runs by drawing energy right out of the vacuum of space. Some of your scientists identified a crude method for achieving this over a century ago. Knowledge of it remains hidden. Some people have referred to this as zero-point energy, but the name is a little misleading.”

“Follow the money,” Maria commented ironically.

“What?” asked Inanna.

“Nothing. It’s just an old journalistic axiom. And what about The Future Possible? It sounds rather romantic.”

“The sky is the limit for humanity. If you can see your true potential and transcend the psychological limits we have placed upon you, nothing is impossible for you. That’s what worries my government and their allies most of all—human potential.”

A tone sounded and pilot spoke, “Mistress, I’m sorry to disturb you, but a Z-vessel is following us. It is the same vessel we intercepted leaving Earth a few weeks ago.”

“Course, distance, and speed,” Inanna called out.

“They are on direct intercept course. Distance is 730,000 kilometers and speed 2 C. At our present speed, they will reach us

in about 45 seconds.”

“How long until we reach Rakbu?”

“18 minutes.”

“Increase to maximum speed, raise our shields, and take evasive action. Rakbu, this is Princess Inanna. A Z-Alliance vessel is tracking and threatening us. Please move to intercept us at maximum interplanetary speed.”

“Enka here, Mistress, acknowledged. We will reach your position in 7 minutes 50 seconds.”

“Pilot, update!”

"The Z vessel continues to close. It is now within 100,000 kilometers. It has raised its shields and activated its weapons.”

“Ready a spread of torpedoes. Set them to detonate in their path and blind them. Open a channel to the Z vessel.”

“Open, Mistress.”

“Captain Kotz, this is Princess Inanna of Nibiru. You seem to be threatening aggressive action against a vessel carrying a member of the Nibiruan royal family. Break off your pursuit or face the consequences.”

“Greeting, Princess, I didn’t expect to see you so soon again.

Now you claim your ties to the Nibiruan crown. From what I have heard, your brother the king would probably give a reward to the captain who destroyed you.”

“This is your last warning, Kotz. The Rakbu will be here in minutes.”

“In minutes, they will find only the debris of your craft. Target weapons on that ship,” Kotz commanded.

“Fire,” ordered Inanna.

The Vimana let loose five high yield torpedoes that exploded directly in the path of the Z ship, forcing it to adjust course. Meanwhile, Inanna ordered her pilot to change course to delay the Z ship’s ability to locate the Vimana.

“Enka, how long?” shouted Inanna.

“Three minutes,” came the reply.

“Pilot, set a direct course for the Rakbu—maximum speed. How long until we reach them?”

“Seventy seconds, Mistress. The Z vessel is closing and firing. Brace for impact.”

The Vimana shuttered violently. Maria fell to the floor. She was still there when the second impact came.

“Mistress, our shields are down. One more hit and we will be disabled.”

Inanna reached for Maria and pulled her off the floor. Smoke filled the lounge. “Target them with a full spread of torpedoes

and fire!”

There was a slight pause, “Direct hit, Mistress, but their shields are still intact and they are firing.”

The next impact made a horrific sound. The Vimana seemed ready to come apart. It listed and came to a stop—dead in space.

“We cannot withstand another hit!” said the pilot.

Inanna embraced Maria and shouted, “Rakbu!”

The Rakbu roared past the Vimana and toward the oncoming Z vessel, firing her weapons as she ran. The massive ship’s

firepower lit the surrounding space and pounded the Z vessel, forcing it to turn and run.

Kotz left still taunting and promising “We shall meet again, Princess. Perhaps next time you will not be so fortunate.”

“I showed you mercy at our last encounter, Kotz. Don’t count on it next time,” Inanna shot back.

“Mistress,” a worried sounding Enka called, “are you all right?”

“We’re fine, commander, but I think they broke my toy,” Inanna attempted some Earth humor.

“Mistress?” inquired a confused Enka.

“Nothing, commander.” Inanna smiled at Maria, sharing the joke.

“Mistress, Earth Space is not safe. You must secure a fighter escort for your little adventures.”

“I will take that under advisement, commander. Please tow the Vimana into a bay and transport us aboard Rakbu. Then make best possible speed to Earth. Maria has an important date with the President of the United States.”

Maria’s adrenaline rush slowly subsided from the battle. In the wonder of the visit to the ancient Martian structures and the terror of the battle, she forgot about the president. Inanna recovered from the excitement of the battle more quickly than Maria. She always seemed to transition more easily than a human did. Even in a moment that might have been their last, Maria noted how protective Inanna was of her. Inanna had wrapped Maria tightly in her arms, but with the gentleness and affection of a mother.

Inanna could see Maria was lost in thought. She verified Maria’s readiness for the press conference. “How do you feel about tomorrow night? Did our adventure restore you confidence?”

“Restore?” Maria laughed. “I’m not sure I was ever confident about the press conference, but I am resolute. I see The Future Possible. I want that for humanity. I want that for my family and me. I want it for you, Inanna.”

Tears welled in Inanna’s eyes. Maria didn’t even know if the Anunnaki cried, but Inanna appeared on the verge.

“You have come so far, Maria. Tomorrow night is not an ending, but a beginning. You have been in training for this moment for a long time. I believe in you.”

“How can you be so sure?” asked Maria.

“Our Book of Possibilities reads The Sun knows when to shine. The rose knows when to bloom. So, too, will you know when it is your moment. This is your moment, Maria.”

Maria choked up. “That’s . . . beautiful, Inanna. Thank you.”

The two women embraced. “The Future Possible,” whispered Inanna.

“The Future Possible,” repeated Maria.

Maria climbed onto the transporter and vanished in a bluish beam of light, still holding Inanna’s gaze. She materialized in a D.C. hotel room. Tomorrow was a big day for her—for humanity. Was she ready to be a hero? She couldn’t say. She only knew she was determined to do her part.