Where do go to find who we truly are? Do we look inside, into a mirror. Peer inwards through the pores in our skin. I often stare so deep, that I swear, I can see my soul. I still have the same feelings as before. I still feel love for my family. But my hands no longer can touch the same face. My hands don't even look the same. Giant wings. Large ears. Hair covers my body. I don't want to look. I don't want to see whatever I have become. Whatever I have become.
"Yes. I know. It wasn't our people who leaked it."
I over hear them trying to react. Kippling. Goodwin. The syndicate of scientists who tried to keep the plague a secret for so long. News teams were told the domes were weather experiments. Measuring the ozone content. Trying to determine if there are ways to stop global warming. As if we could ever stop anything. Especially, the problems we help create.
"I know what this means. You don't need to remind me. We are ready. Don't worry. We're ready."
Underground shelters were constructed. Not everyone believed Goodwin. There isn't much to dispute his claims. Yet, if you sided with Goodwin, there was so much unknown. Many people believed they could freeze themselves in time before infection occurred. York had many followers. Presidents, Kings. Noah's Ark meant you would lose everything, even as you stayed alive. Many people had to ask themselves if life meant more than losing, their humanity.
"There are solutions Mr. President. Goodwin and his people don't know everything. I can offer you a chance. Your family. The American people."
"Yes, but will we survive?"
"There is always a risk, sir. Always. We are taking the necessary precautions. My team is staking out geological sites which we feel will best harbor our sleep."
"These sites, will they withstand the cataclysm?"
"The movement of the Earth's crust is slow, but predictable. Our greatest enemy won't be the elements, but the virus itself."
Pompeii became infamous for a city frozen in time. The lava
sealed a moment. Slowly cooling to steal a time. The culture
preserved for archeologists to discover centuries later. The graffiti
still left on the walls. People still eating dinner. No one
can warn you that the end is near. Even if someone did, would you
believe him? I remember the way I took it. I remember telling
my wife. I remember laughing as I told her. Not because I thought
it was funny. But, I couldn't believe it was happening so fast.
"York is gone Goodwin."
"Yes Jules, I know."
"He is surely taking some of our ideas."
"His usefulness had grown tired. Constant bickering and whining. We needed him to get the chambers ready. He served his purpose well."
"You're not listening, as usual Goodwin. York will let others in..."
"Yes I am Jules. This is to be expected."
It will be worst in America. The virus is already spreading. We can't be sure how long until the whole Earth is covered. Everyone is exposed. Goodwin says a matter of hours. Kippling, a matter of weeks. There is so much chaos now. It doesn't matter that the virus hasn't spread. Chaos already has.
"The domes have been breached. The rest of the world will be, infected. Do you hear me Kippling?"
"Goodwin is aware of the situation."
The virus would only wait. Dormant in its frozen state. There are thousands in the cave. All await their death. All are without hope. Women, children, men who wouldn't listen.
"Are we ready?"
"The process is operating. Not to our liking. But it is operating. We have several subjects who have, withstood the transformation."
"When can you start taking us?"
"You understand there are no guarantees."
"What other choice do we have?"
"Yes. We will be expecting you shortly."
"Indeed you will."
The Earth is slowly moving. Changing. Earth's complexion was different before man ever was. Slow changes produce large effects.
"The chambers are ready. Kronos has been activated."
"Good. Good."
"I'm ready sir. I'm ready to be injected."
"You've done well Jim. You've done well. Kippling will make the injection."
"And you sir?"
"One of us has to stay behind. Kronos can't do it all on her own."
Our houses are all empty. The streets are quiet. We all must be careful where we sleep, for tomorrow, the land we dwell on, might not be there to support our weight.
"Smittie concentrate. Dammit Smith, fight it."
"I....I can't. I can't. I can't hold on..."
At least his memory will be preserved in the machine. His ghost will live on. Not as him, but the way he programmed her to be.
"I...I.. AH...DAVID HELP ME.."
"He's not going to make it sir. He's not going to make it."
So disjointed are my thoughts. The slumber has gone on too long. Have I said this before? My thoughts are stagnant. I can't be sure. Too much sleep is pushing me over, the edge inside my mind. I stare into the abyss only to see my own reflection. I see myself as I once was. As I once was a man before the beast.
"You know what to do with him Jim."
"Yes sir, I do."
The smell of flesh burning. Of rotten flesh skating across the heavens. Many died in churches, synagogues, temples. Leaving the streets empty. Where once we busily spent hours driving, now seems vacant. Even to those on the outside.
"So Marcus, I see the caves are going well."
"Please. Dr. York."
"Yes. Dr. York."
"They're right on schedule."
"Good. We can start construction on the chambers earlier than expected."
"Yes. I wish there was more time."
"For what?"
"To build more units."
"There just isn't, Dr. York. We need to step up the programming on Kronos. Then there is the drug."
"Actually Goodwin. I wanted to talk to you about that."
"What is it."
"Do you really think it is necessary?"
"Yes Marcus. I do."
Evolution will take a step ahead. The species who hold the Midas gene will use our battle fields as playgrounds. Temperatures will change. The Earth will no longer look the way I remember. The way no one soon will forget.
"I'm sorry Darius. I'm sorry you can't be a part of this."
"There are no times for tears Goodwin. He did his part"
"I know that Jules. Now, leave me alone."
The underground network runs for miles. The passages had been built during the second World War. Few knew of the tunnels. Fewer still, knew of their strategic importance. Geologic isolation. Or isolation from geological turbulence. There is no telling how long we will sleep. How long Kronos will keep us under. When the virus is gone. When there are no more hosts left. Our sleep will be over.
"Watch your head."
"Will I dream?"
"For a moment, you might. Your dreams will only last a while."
That moment might seem like an eternity.
"Everyone is in his, or her, chamber Goodwin."
"It's time Jules."
"I know, David."
"You'll make it. I have a feeling."
"And if I don't, you know what to do."
"I won't treat you any differently."
"No sympathy David. If it comes to that. Make it clean and quick. Understand?"
"I understand Jules. I really do."
There are many thoughts racing, even in my dreams. I wonder how in the end, you can't remember the beginning. The way life, your life, was so full of joy. So full of laughter. Towards the end, there is this immense grief. A sadness which shrouds your eyes. Prevents you from gazing back to the good times you once loved so much. And for now, can't remember.
"I can think. I can hear. I've made it sir. I've made it."
"Yes you have Jim. Yes you have."
A virus which kills its everything, itself, cannot survive for long. Nature must have a reason for creating something that can cause so much destruction.
"Kronos to begin count down sequence. Authorization required."
"This is David Goodwin. Pass code Noah One."
"Authorization accepted. Phase one initiated. All chambers within regulatory temperatures."
"Vital signs?"
"Calculating. Vital signs all in the green."
"Continue to monitor status Kronos. Continue to announce. I want to hear another's voice"
So tired. I just want to sleep. I wish I could go with you Jules. I wish I could. This old man has seen enough. I've seen humanity take the first step into, infinity.
"Where is your God now Goodwin?"
I've defied you. You know that? I've defied everything you stand for. There isn't anything I can't....No..not now...please, just a little longer.
"Sir, will you be joining us?"
"No Jim. This is one voyage, you will have to make on your own."
"Now it is happening: threat gives place to performance. The earth rocks; thunder, echoing from the depth, Roars in answer; fiery lightings twist and flash. Dust dances in a whirling fountain; Blasts of the four winds skirmish together, Set themselves array for battle; Sky and sea rage indistinguishably. The cataclysm advances visibly upon me, Sent by Zeus to make me afraid. O Earth, my holy mother; O sky, where sun and moon; Give light to all in turn; You see how I am wronged." --Aeschylus