The Folly of Exile

John Hampton taught High School Science and Math. Later in life, he obtained his Master’s and Doctorate in Exoplanet Terraforming. When he began his career, he taught Third Graders. Now, He would teach Mars survival skills to 35 high school miscreants. However, these Miscreants were bright, so brilliant that the rest of the world feared them. Their intelligence was at a level that made them seem clairvoyant. Hopes that they might learn how society operated and how they ought to behave within it were wild dreams never to come true. John understood why he was here. He shared this new evolutionary trait with the 35. However, John Hampton lived and matured in a loving, caring family. His parents and extended family nurtured and instructed him to hide the oddness while excelling in every other facet of life. Later in college, he let it all out. But at the university, his intelligence was celebrated and awarded. Unfortunately for the world, this group of characters grew up in dysfunctional, abusive families with absent or, worse, negligent parents. Sending them to Mars seemed the right thing to do at the time. Give them all the tools necessary to survive and begin the Terraforming process. They will survive if they live and work together as a tribe. Twenty years on, it appeared the plan was successful.

The group declared themselves Martians, declared Mars an Independent, Sovereign Planet, and built ships, robots, and satellites. They slammed asteroids into mars and a gigantic comet that was primarily H2O. Measurements from Earth showed the Magnetosphere around Mars intensifying. They built a large building. It billowed smoke continuously. All seemed well until communications with the colony ended. When Earth sent a spacecraft to Mars, the Martians would hijack it. Later a Volcano erupted. The temperature on Mars rose to above freezing, standing bodies of water formed, and patches of green. Still no open communication. Leaders of Earth called on John to journey to Mars and attempt to communicate with the Martians.

“Martian one, this is John Hampton. Do you read me over?”

“John Hampton? Is it really you?”

The Voice was Ann Platt’s. Hearing Ann gave John hope as Ann was manipulative but reasonable.

“Ann, thank goodness, we have been trying to communicate with you for years now. Can I land and talk with you all?”

“Still doing the bidding of your masters, I’m disappointed in you, John,” The new voice was Albert’s. Albert was the opposite of Ann.

“Albert, Earth is amazed by the group’s progress in Terraforming Mars. I would enjoy seeing the amazing work firsthand.”

“Sure, Teach, come on down. I’ll give ya the guided tour,” Albert said.

From the log of John Hampton. Sent to Earth just before his disappearance.

“I received a tour of the facilities that the 35 castaways from Earth have created on Mars. Given the relatively short period they have been here, the facilities are expansive. They are made possible by a hundred or so sophisticated Robots that the Martians were able to create. Albert has been named Sovereign of Mars. They plan to build more ships and more robots to conquer Earth. I am going to try and change their minds. Point them to a peace-oriented solution.”

Albert, Sovereign of Mars, contacted Earth 5 years after John arrived at Mars and their subsequent disappearance.

Here is what he said.

“Attention, Peoples of Earth. Mars is accepting applications for immigration and citizenship. Attached are video logs of the transformation of Mars to where we are now. Additionally, we’ve attached our legal code and the criteria for immigration acceptance. The Earth Ambassador to Mars, John Hampton, will soon be communicating with the governments of Earth.”

They dined in the first surface park on Mars at lunch that day.

“Well, teach, if this works, you have spared Earth. Cross your fingers.”

John laughed out loud. “Cross my fingers? Albert, you know me; I have done the math. The only thing that prevents Mars from having over a million immigrants is the ability to get them here.”

“Well, John Hampton, remember those ships are battlecruisers and immigrant transports. It would be smart to use some of that teachery persuasion stuff on the so-called leaders of Earth.”

“It is my greatest desire, Sovereign, that Earth and Mars live in peace as dual populations of humanity,” John replied.

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© 2022, T. Mark Mangum

I am T. Mark Mangum. From an early age, I was hooked and addicted to the imagined, unfathomable worlds of Star Wars, Star Trek, Conan, the Lord of the Rings, and many others. I love writing fiction tales. I love writing in multiple genres. However, my favorites are Sci-fi and Fantasy fiction. I am a father of six; we have two cats and two dogs. Tabletop gaming is a passion.