Cosmic Energy

Chapter 7: Mars Prisoners

 Shows SKIZZY and TIPPER rotting in their cell. SKIZZY and ALGA are on the bed, SKIZZY reading the Bible, and TIPPER is pacing.

MYALS suddenly comes up carrying some food.

MYALS: Is everything okay?

SKIZZY (Looking up): You know, this bed is surprisingly nice for a jail bed.

TIPPER: That's because beds aren't normal here, and the only bed they have is soft. As for me, I have been sleeping on the floor for a whole week. I want to go home.

MYALS: I decided to forgive you, and am bringing you a bed soon.

MYALS sees SKIZZY reading his Bible.

MYALS: What's that?

SKIZZY looks up.

SKIZZY: This? That I'm reading?

MYALS: Yes.

SKIZZY: Well, it's the Bible...

MYALS: What's it about.

SKIZZY: It's, uh, the story of Jesus, and, uh, about how he sent his Son, I mean, uh, God sent his Son, Jesus, to, uh, save us from our sin, and, uh bring us Salvation on the Cross, so we could be forgiven. (He clears his throat) Uh, let me rephrase that.

But MYALS is standing frozen, looking at him.

MYALS: Let me get someone.

With that, MYALS rushes away from the cell, and down the hall.

TIPPER: What was that all about?

MYALS comes back a moment later, talking to a guard in Martian. She points to SKIZZY and TIPPER, and he looks at them. The guard goes to the door, and unlocks it, gesturing for them to come out. SKIZZY looks at MYALS.

MYALS: They want you to speak about this Salvation.

SKIZZY: What?

MYALS: There is prophecy about other-worlders bringing news of Salvation someday, to save us from sin. You must be the ones.

TIPPER: Huh?

SKIZZY: So you want me to tell people about this Salvation?

MYALS: Yes.

SKIZZY: How hard could it be?

Next thing SKIZZY knows, he is standing on a stage with TIPPER and ALGA, in front of the whole population of Mars.

SKIZZY: I thought I would be talking to people one on one.

MYALS (Coming up next to them): I'll translate for you.

SKIZZY takes up a microphone.

SKIZZY: Uh, hi, my name is Skizzy, and I would, uh, like to thank you for the hospitality that I have received in the, uh, prison. Today, uh, I am being forced, uh, I mean, uh, it's been on my heart lately to, uh, speak to you about Salvation. Uh, so back before Jesus came, people had to kill animals to get Salvation, but then God decided to send his Son, Jesus, to be born on Christmas in the city of Davis, I, uh, mean, uh, David, to uh... (Clears throat, and MYALS looks at SKIZZY), Uh, so, God had us kill animals, but he killed his Son who never sinned instead, so, uh, the animals could live, and, uh, can I start over. Uh, God loved us, so, uh, hm. I'm not good at speaking, so, at least you can rest assured that you have Salvation.

TIPPER takes SKIZZY's microphone.

TIPPER: And I don't believe in God.

MYALS glares at TIPPER, and doesn't translate.