Earth

Chapter 1

Though the bottom of the ocean had never been touched I knew exactly what to expect. A dark wet place with terrifying fish and sand. Lots and lots of sand. It was just another ocean I told them. It isn't just another ocean, They told me, It's the lowest point in the ocean known to man.The lowest point on the earths crust.. We are lucky to have the technology to explore it already. The pressure will be great and it will be painful but the person who dives down will have to put up with the pain in order to win the title of the first man to be at the bottom of the ocean. That's why they chose me. Two time afghanistan war veteran, ocean explorer, father of 3, husband. It's all a very difficult task. This would be like a simple swim for me. Literally. A swim. I can handle anything. So on the morning of June 1, 2029 I boarded a submarine with a 3 person crew. The goal was to get as far as possible. For me that meant the bottom. The crew was two women and a man. The one woman was a short young redhead who went by the name of Patrice. Her smile reminded me of my youngest daughter Penelope who was only 6 but already told me she wanted to be just like her daddy. The other woman was Padma. She was only a bit older than Patrice. She stood much taller and her dark indian complexion reflected in the sun a way that I'd never seen skin reflect before. Her hair was long and dark and she pushed it all behind her shoulders in order to keep it out of the way of her quick writing on her clipboard. The man, Mr. Kenton, was much older than me. He once was going to be the greatest ocean explorer but he injured his leg in a severe car crash involving a drunk driver. He was paralyzed from the waist down but he was useful and knew more than any other person I'd ever met. I looked up to him. I hope that one day people may look up to me the same way.

"The ship can only go a few more miles down. We'll have to let you off from there. How are you feeling?" He asked me in a calm tone.

"It's just another swim. No big deal." I shrugged my shoulders, hiding my true excitement. I, Phillip Jansen, would be the first man to ever touch the lowest point in the ocean.

"Just another swim? Are you crazy? This is amazing. I wish it could be me out there." Patrice said with a sad tone in her voice. She was dying for the chance to dive but she just wasn't ready for depths like this yet. Then again no one really was.

"1 minute to exit Phillip. You better be ready. We don't have all day." Padma barked at me. She was beautiful but she was strict. Like my wife. I began to put on my suit. Oxygen tanks ready, goggles in place. The sub began to beep as if it was begging for mercy under the pressure so I gave in. I climbed into the escape and when the first door closed I took a deep breath and opened the next one. As I pushed off of the sub I looked down at my goal and realised exactly how hard this would be. It really wasn't just another expedition. This was the expedition. The dream adventure. I may be the luckiest man on the planet. I swam down and down and down. My head began to throb, my limbs felt like they were being pulled in 4 different directions. I fought through the pain. It was bad but it would never be as bad as the pain of being this close and not making it. As I swam I sang small songs in my head I used to calm my daughters. I sang and sang until the pain became too much to bear and the throbbing felt like the bass at a rock concert. I felt the beat surround my body. I worried I may faint here. I once read a person can not handle more than 45 units of pain. If 45 was the maximum than this must be at least a 44. It was unbearable. Just as the pain began to get worse I saw a bright light and I imagined it must be a god bringing me in, something I'd never believed in. It must be true. If only I had listened to my wife and gone to church with her. I at least could have said grace at dinner or thanked god for miracles. There was no way I'd be able to explain my behavior to him now. Just as soon as the light appeared it trailed off into darkness and I knew it must be death.

When I opened my eyes I was greeted by a harsh white light. If this was heaven it was nothing like we expected. In my attempt to cover my eyes I found that my wrists are strapped to the cold table I lay on. Where am I?