The NASA Film

Hawthorne watched the film, where he saw a man wearing a lab coat come into view on the screen. He waited to see what this was about, and why a film can, projector, or screen would even be in an ancient temple like this. It was just strange and hoped this film would give some explanation. This was all too weird, finding a cave with ancient markings and Bible scripture, and now a Egyptian style pyramid with an old NASA film.
''Have you ever wanted to see the prehistoric era.'' said the scientist in the lab coat. ''Or see the construction of The Pyramids and Stonehenge?''
He noticed still photos accompany his words. Still photos of the ancient sites he mention. Yet he had no idea what these ancient feats would have to do with space travel and astronauts. However, he tried not to think about it too much. He just wanted to see what this film was about, and what was behind the whole thing. Then new still photos appeared in composite with the scientist's voice accompanying them.
''NASA's new beta program is the right way experience these ancient wonders.''
In all the years he worked for NASA, he never once heard of a something called a ''Beta'' program. Such a thing did not strike him as being familiar. His father also worked for NASA, but died in a training accident when he was small. Hawthorne barely even remembered his own father because of how he died when he was so young. This was one of the reasons he joined NASA, to reconnect with his father and understand his legacy.
Even though his mother was against it, not wanting him to end up the same way his father did. Yet so far he had not. He was successful and went on a few space flights. While his father never got to go on a space mission even once, and just had a career full of training missions and worked as a technician. His own career at NASA went beyond what his father's ever could have been in a million years.
''This will be our conduit.'' the scientist said. ''What we'll use to conduct our experiments.''
On the screen, Hawthorne looked at a filmed image of a pod with two pairs of test subjects walk inside and then disappear. First, two male astronauts and a chimpanzee, and then two more astronauts, a male and a female. Was this evidence of what he found at the cave? Were these the two astronauts and the chimp depicted in the markings on the wall? Along with the scripture that referenced Adam and Eve and the beings of light in the sky? Could that have been the male and female astronauts?

All these questions ran through his mind while he watched the film. Did NASA's secret program have something to do with what was here on the island? Hawthorne sat there with no idea why this was kept secret for so long. Or why they would be done on some island? What about Huntsville, Titusville, or Houston? The facilities where NASA often conducted their experiments.
''Remember you will need to use an alias during your travels.'' said the scientist. ''You will be provided with a new identity and a false occupation when you get there.''
Hawthorne's eyes widened when he heard this and watched the scientist in the film holding up a photo ID. Why would anyone from NASA need a false identity or to hide their occupation when they traveled to those places? Above all, why were they traveling to ancient lands in the first place? Was this the reason why the phrase ''Time Travel'' was inscribed underneath ''Space Aeronautics'' on the exterior of the pyramid?
What would NASA need with time travel? No such thing even existed! Or were they attempting to see if it did? Yet Hawthorne still did not see how it made sense. They did missions in space, had astronauts walk on the moon, and investigated life on other planet. Why would they even bother with time travel in the first place? The name NASA stood for National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Not National Time Travel Administration.
''You shall you record everything you see and hear in these notebooks.'' said the scientist. ''Your entire journey will be on record for NASA and those in charge of the beta program.''
Hawthorne figured he could find one of those notebooks the maybe he could discover more of what these experiments were about. Along with what went on and why they took place. It must have been top secret, since no one he knew at NASA, much less anyone in general, even knew about this. Hawthorne just could not swallow the idea NASA was once involved with time travel. Even as he watched the film at this second with the scientist displaying composition notebooks.
''NASA's beta program serves to help those who could not make it.'' said the scientist. ''This concludes our demonstration, thank you for your attention.''
The film cut off, and Hawthorne unloaded it from the projector not knowing what to think. He found out the purpose of these artifacts he found on the island. Along with any questions that needed to be cleared up. Only now there were even more questions he now had after seeing the interior of this pyramid. Along with the confusion he experienced from viewing this old film from NASA.