† Return to Sender †

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Authors Note: This is a Christian Science Fiction short story that I wrote some years ago. I hope you enjoy.

“Return to Sender”

    History states that Communism was wiped out in the early twenty-first century. What it doesn’t state is that it had found another foothold under a different name: Dominism. By the mid-twenty second century it had ensnared the world that Sean now vectored his ship towards. He pondered how a world that once treasured freedom could turn to such tyranny. He realized that it didn’t happen overnight.

    It was a slow process of taking away one freedom at a time, which then spread to taking privacy away from its citizens. Finally, it led to taking human rights away. Freedom slowly faded to a memory and before anyone knew exactly what had happened, the people were being ruled by a dictating, one world government. A power they didn’t advocate, but neither could they overthrow. One of its many atrocities to keep the people subjugated was to restrict reading, because reading spawned ideals, and ideals created radicals which, in turn, brought around revolutions.

    That was only the beginning, but Sean didn’t have time to think through the complex events that had lead to this world’s current circumstances. He needed to focus on the task at hand. Getting in and out of the solar system as quickly as possible without being detected would be an extra bonus.

* * *

    So much for extra bonuses, Sean thought as he made sure he wiped off the thick sweat that had formed on the palms of his hands before opening the hatch. He had been detected by an enforcer and promptly ordered to come to a complete stop. The enforcer’s vehicle had then docked with his and now the man on the other ship promptly came aboard without being invited. He wasn’t surprised; his ‘guest’ was a law enforcer and didn’t need an invitation. Sean swallowed hard hoping to relax the tight muscles in his throat and displayed one of his most charming smiles.

    “Good Day Officer,” he greeted and extended his hand to the other man. “You know, I could have sworn I used my turn signal when entering the system.“
Sean brought his hand back in and combed it through his chestnut hair when the officer disregarded the handshake. He couldn’t be sure, but believed he detected a small smirk in the man’s expression at his reference to the archaic traffic rule.

    “This is just a routine check,” the officer informed with an indifferent voice. He had pulled the small ship over because it wasn’t in his database. Procedure dictated to check it out. However, his shift was almost over and all he could think of was this was a waste of his time. “Don’t worry sir, I won’t take long.” the officer assured.

   “No problem, I‘m in no hurry.” Sean ran through a mental list. Rule number one: keep calm; Rule number two: never appear to be in a hurry.

   “Mind if I have a look at your cargo?” the officer asked. He might as well get to the source and check it out. Then decide if a further search was necessary.

   “Sure thing.“ Rule number three: always be cooperative.

   Wonderful, Sean thought as he continued to smile and lead the officer to the cargo bay, this can’t be good. He couldn’t keep the feeling of despair from creeping up on him. It was supposed to be a simple drop-off, a quick in-and-out. Sean tried to neutralize an overwhelming sensation of panic that started to clench its dreadful talons into him. It didn’t help that energy field-enforced bars keep surfacing in his pool of memories and thoughts. The last thing he wanted was to go back to prison. Got to keep it together Sean, focus on the mission. He brought his thoughts back to rule number one. Keep calm no matter what the situation.

     “Pretty clean hold you have here,” the officer commented. In his experience most cargo ships were a wreck with strewn items all about. This guy had all his cargo boxes nicely lined up and the equipment in their proper places.

     “It’s a newer ship -- give me a few months and I can fix that.” Sean informed as he pretended to study the lack of dust on a rack nearby. It was dustier than he thought. He briefly stepped into the kitchen to grab a moistened towel to wipe his fingers off. If nothing else, maybe it would hide the glistening sweat on his palms.

   The officer didn’t care for Sean stepping out of sight like that, but decided that he seemed to be a pretty decent guy. He maintained an eye on the door in which Sean had disappeared through as he continued scanning the walls. If this was a smuggling ship, it would have secret compartments for the illegal cargo while the crates would be filled with some common export.

     Coming back into the hold, Sean saw the man start toward the back of the bay. Desperation started to become a reality. But then a tranquil thought entered his mind with what seemed to be a telepathic sensation.

   Relax, it’s all under control.

    “What’s in the crates?” the officer inquired about the stack of containers that filled most of the back cargo area.

    Again the voice whispered direction. Just tell the truth. Sean couldn’t believe what he was hearing. It was insane, but he had to respond.

    “Just a bunch of Bibles,” he admitted to the officer.

    This time the officer’s expression did change as he unsuccessfully tried to stifle a laugh at Sean’s wisecrack. “Sure, next you’ll be telling me they’re surrounding a tri-fusion bomb.” He continued the joke. He was beginning to really like the ship’s pilot, not to mention that his levity had broke the dullness of the day‘s routine.

    “How did you guess?” Sean expression took on an air of incredibility.

    The officer just shook his head in bewilderment then stated. “My scans confirm what’s stated in your ships manifest -- a shipment of books called War and Peace. Ever read it?”

    “Can’t say I have.” Sean confessed.

    “No? It’s a book written here on Earth a long time ago -- which has me wondering why you would be hauling a shipment of them to our planet.”

    “It’s actually a return.“ Sean simply stated. In reality, it was the truth. He kept eye contact with the officer. If he were to look away, it could be seen as a sign of nervousness which could give him away. “The Galactic Book Case decided they didn’t want them.” he continued to explain.

    “I see. Well, everything seems in order here. I’ll let you get on your way, sir.” the officer closed up his instruments and made his way to the exit.

    “Thanks. Hope you have a great day officer.” He passed the damp cloth to his left hand and held out his right hand as the officer passed by. This time the man accepted it. He then departed from the ship. Sean watched him go then exhaled all the pent up tension that had been plaguing him.

* * *

    The view appeared frozen in the vacuum of cold, undisturbed space: an unbroken tranquility that could almost be heard. A blue orb hung from the sea of blackness with fixed points of lights dispersed irregularly around it, like diamonds scattered upon a black cloth. Silently the small freighter swiftly flew by heading directly towards the planet Earth. Her engines made a melodious hum as she descended into the planet’s dense atmosphere. It made an effortless landing in a small clearing deep in a jungle region.

    Once he had brought the ship to standby mode, Sean sauntered toward the back of his ship. He cautiously put down the cargo bay ramp, letting the exotic sounds and smells of the planet’s atmosphere fill the ship. The air was noticeably humid with the stench of decaying vegetation. Vibrations of deep throated amphibians sounded from somewhere deep in the underbrush, while shrill screeches came from above in the lush branches. Insects swarmed thickly about the young pilot as he aggressively swatted at the annoying pests.

    Giving up on the futile attempt to drive the bugs away, he turned, strolled back toward the cockpit, and slumped his six-foot frame into the co-pilot seat. Staring out of the cockpit view port, he saw nobody which bothered him. He looked at the console and confirmed his coordinates for the third time. His eyes drifted toward the chronometer to check the time. He knew he was in the right place; the exact coordinates his contact had given him to land. Nevertheless, his informant had said in their last transmission that he would meet Sean here. He was already ten minutes late.

    With no one around, Sean’s nerves were on edge -- especially after the encounter with the officer right outside the system. He anxiously looked out of the cockpit again when a rustling noise suddenly came from outside. Sean’s steps echoed through the hold as he quickly tramped to the back of the freighter. His hand drifted under his vest to seize nothing but air. It took a second to realize that he no longer carried his T.31 Blast-tech pistol . Sean chided himself: old habits always die hard.
Holding his breath and staying close to the ships hull, he cornered around the starboard side of the spacecraft. Suddenly, there was a high pitched shriek with the rustling of leaves. Sean quickly whirled around only to see that a couple of the indigenous monkeys chasing each other. Sean let out a sigh of relief. With his contact late, he was particularly jumpy.

     “Hello!” A man’s voice unexpectedly came from behind.

     Turning quickly around, Sean acted as though he were reaching for his weapon and ducked behind the loading ramp. It may have been a nonexistent weapon, but whoever spoke didn’t know that fact.

     “I’m unarmed!” cried the man as he lifted his hands into view to confirm that information.

   “Who are you?” asked Sean with apprehension.

     “I’m your contact.” The middle-aged man responded.

   The so-called contact appeared to come from a heavy gravity planet. The suit jacket he wore didn’t look like it would button. Sean didn’t know how the man could stand wearing such clothing in this heat, but as far as he could tell the man appeared to be a legitimate pastor. There was only on way to find out if he was the contact.

   “How He had wrought His signs in Egypt…,” Sean quoted a phrase that they had agreed on in one of their transmissions. It was the first part of a scripture from an old Bible version on Earth called the King James Version.

   The man quickly finished the password with it’s reference: “…and His wonders in the field of Zoan. Psalm 78:43.”

   “You know, sneaking behind someone like that is a good way to become a crispy critter.” He had quoted it correctly and Sean doubted that anyone else would have known it. Especially since it was an obscure Bible verse from an antiquated version. The reason it had been chosen was because it mentioned the name of the planet Sean had just come from - the planet Zoan IV.

   “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you, but you’re absolutely right. I’ll be more careful in the future.” He continued, “I’m also sorry that I am so late. Security is getting a little suspicious of my activities and I had to make sure no one was following me.”

   “A very wise precaution. I think I have some very important cargo for you,” Sean said gesturing toward the ramp of his ship.

   “There’s a cavern over to the portside of your starship that should be large enough to hide the cargo in. Would you please help me haul it over there?”

   “Sure, no problem,” Sean responded as he went back inside and picked up the crates, stack-by-stack, with a Fully Automatic Dolly. They proceeded outside as the FAD followed them. Both men unloaded the cargo discreetly into the cave.

   “Thanks, did you have any problem getting this here?”

   Sean quickly related what had happened earlier with the officer, due to the random ship check.

   “So what did you tell him?”

   “I did exactly what God told me to do.” At the contacts questioning expression he clarified, “I told him the truth.”

   “Isn’t God great!?! I want to thank you young man.” The man said with a voice ringing with pure joy. “You should know that we have our services here in this clearing, with these in our hands," he continued indicating the Bibles, "we can study and learn more about Him once again. May God bless you for risking your life to bring us true life. We truly do appreciate your sacrifice.”

   With that said he turned and disappeared into the thick, shaded jungle. Sean watched as he left and gave up a quick prayer of thanks to the Lord. He then boarded his ship, and went on his way to continue doing what the Lord had called him to do.

THE END

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