Chapter
3
ForgingArmageddon
“Mindyis one of our younger generations…”
TheOracle sighs. “Her broad perspective and kindness will get her along way in our soon to prosper society. But forgive her, she fanciesyou a bit more than I anticipated. I can’t allow her to form aconnection with your kind… because in the end, it’ll be adevastating blow to her young heart.”
Inher continuous gabber, my mouth continues to drop inch by inch. “AmI missing something? She’s what was it, eighty-nine or somethinglike that.”
“She’sseventy-eight. That’s considered young in our time and in our race.Imagine a nineteen to twenty-five year old, that’s her currentgeneration in your humankind timeline.” The Oracle points behindme. “Eat, you need real nutrition. After you’ve had your mealwe’ll exit and I’ll explain things a bit more thorough aboutwhat’s to come of you.”
Iglare back and see the plate composed of two sandwiches, a carton oforange juice, and a bread roll.
“I’llreturn shortly.” She says
Iroll over, grab a sandwich and stuff it in my mouth. The contents ofsmothered creamy peanut butter and jelly has never tasted better. Ibreak the seal on the carton and swallow the orange juice in onegulp. I feel the refreshing cool taste slip down my throat.
FifteenMinutes Later…
TheOracle steps inside the room with a black cloak over her shoulder.“Put this on over your clothes, we’re taking you to a more securelocation. We must hurry.”
Irise and take the cloak from her. “What’s happening?” I slipthe cloak on and cover my head with the hood. “Am I being hunted?”
“TheHeir Council and Oracles wish to have an audience with you face toface. Unfortunately, my post remains here and I’m unable toaccompany you on your transport.”
“W-Wait,wait,” I pause and take a step towards her, my face an inch fromher mask. “Wait a minute, tell me what’s happening? Why am Ihere? Why the f*ck am I lodged in this place like a prisoner?”
“That’swhat you are Wes, you’re but a petty captive in a nest that’scomposed of your enemy, us”—
“SoI’m pretty much getting my ass into that transport to get my headchopped off?”
TheOracle shakes her head. “You’re too valuable to be disposed of sofoolishly. There’s a bigger picture at work. Take my hand Wes, I’llexplain everything while we wait for the transport.”
Herhand slips to mine. I close my eyes and arch my head forward until myforehead touches the silk veil masking her face.
Sheplaces her other hand on my heart. “There isn’t a reason to beafraid Wes, you’ll be fine, I can assure you of that.”
Itake a step back and nod. “Let’s go then.”
Buteven with her assurance, it doesn’t stop the fear.
“SoWes is it, when did you find out your real name?”
Ourpace down the vacant hallways is more of a stride than a walk. I havethis hunch there’s a price on my head in this place… just becauseI had to speak out of line towards that one Professor in thecafeteria. I actually felt pity for saying those words too.
Butthen a different side of me doesn’t give a f*ck. A side of mebelieves he deserved what I said. No, no, what am I saying, I need tofind some calm in the mess of this.
TheOracle stops and I bump into her.
“Isthere some secret you’re not telling me?”
Iscratch my head. “What are you talking about?”
“Yourname”—
“Oh,sorry! Yeah, I forgot to tell you, I had some strange dream... wellperhaps it felt more like a recollection.”
Shefaces me. “Your age seems uncertain to me, but I’d average aroundearly twenties. Do you recall your age, what you were doing?”
Inod. “Well I believe I was twenty-two in that dream. I slept in toolate and I missed class… I recall staring out the window and seeinga big mushroom cloud over the city my college was at… it rested inshambles, only the cloud brought an ounce of color.”
“Detailis irrelevant. Can you remember the name of this city?”
“Yeah,Birmingham, Alabama.”
TheOracle closes her eyes. “If I’m correct, I might needconfirmation, but Birmingham, Alabama was some kind of militaryaccident before my kind landed on Earth.”
Igasp and take a step back. A military accident caused that disastrousconclusion? No, that can’t be, that can’t be possible.
“Thatdoesn’t make sense, h-how could the military misfire that”—
TheOracle lifts her index finger to my lips. “That doesn’t matterand it isn’t important. That event happened three months ago tothis day and it’s a past buried with its dwindling remnants.Recuperation is in order for most of the Southern Realm of the NorthAmerican continent.”
Threemonths since that occurred, three months… what of Ronald and Andrewwhat happened to them? I cover my mouth. What of society? What’shappened? Why can’t I remember any of this, why can’t… grr, myaggravation is gnawing.
“Ifyou’re wondering, it’s August 21, 2013.”
“W-Whatbrought this overturn on Earth? What did we do?”
TheOracle turns around and continues forward towards two stainless steeldouble doors entitled: Transport Bay. She opens the door and shakesher head.
“Notin here.”
Istep outside to a brisk breeze and a night sky. Ahead of me a largestreak of road and nothing but barren plains carpeted the shroudedarea beyond the sleek black road.
“Whereare we?”?
“Thisis the landing pad, the transport is an aircraft.” The Oracle saysand then I feel her hand clutch my shoulder. “We’re still in thewhat use to be the state of Florida,” She pauses, moves ahead ofme, and steps off the sidewalk onto the landing pad. “This placewas an old College Campus we converted into a headquarter for ourgovernment.”
What’sthis mumbo-jumbo bull shit she’s talking about? I did consider thisplace some kind of school… but that doesn’t matter to me, whatdoes matter is the consequence that brought this outcome.
“Beforeyou go on. Tell me about what happened to humanity?”
TheOracle faces me and presents her arms. “We are humanity.”
“No,no, I mean my race,” I pinch my skin, “Made of flesh and blood,what happened to my kind.”
“They’rethe next endangered species.” Her eyes connect to mine. “Butwe’re not monsters, we value past architectural masterpieces, sowe’re preserving small remnants. We heeded our coming Wes. We gavesigns that our return was immanent. Your race just failed tounderstand the signs.
Igroaned and slammed my foot down, “Goddamn it, but what does thatmean?”
ThereI go again, speaking out of line as usual, because I feel enraged,yet I’m not sure why. Because these human lookalikes took over whatwas rightfully ours? Was it even ours to begin with? Was there anexpiration date applied to the time ruled by the human race?
SeeI have hunches, my brain understands certain things, but my mindcan’t comprehend the past, I can’t comprehend because I can’tremember. I want to yank my hair clean off my scallop, because I'm soroyally pissed off!
“OurEden. Earth. We’re the reason your humankind went as far as it’sgone. Nature has a mind of its own, and it could have gobbled up yourspecies a long time ago without our guidance.” She pauses andcrosses her arms. “We’re re-forging a new Armageddon.”
Armageddon…destruction? An erasing of the kind that once ruled the Earth…
“Whatdo you mean by that?”
“Destroyin order to rebuild a more perfect civilization. And you,” shepoints at me, “Will help us. And if you do, we’ll grant youriches beyond your wildest dreams, live a prolonged life side-by-sidewith my humanity.”
Iwince and rub my eyes. I’m in their plan… but what can be instore for me?
Asmooth hum approaches. I glance at the sky and see an airplanecircling the landing pad.
“They’vearrived.”
Isigh and fall to my knees. I glare up at her. “This is the end ofthe line?”
TheOracle bows. “This isn’t the end of the line Wes, it’s only thebeginning. History is written by the victor, an ending to one thingis the beginning of another. Humanity as a whole has evolved into amore perfect civilization catered by us the real human race. You see,we too are composed of flesh and blood, but we’re more refined.”
Streaksof tears roll down my cheeks.
Thedoor behind me opens. I take a glance and see Mindy standing in thedoorway with a duff bag slung over her shoulder. Her hair, in aponytail, and blue spaghetti strap one-piece dress glazes like wetpaint in the shone moonlight.
Herlips string to a smile and her honey gold eyes connect to mine, “HeyWes!”
Isniffle, rise, and straighten my posture. “H-Hey Mindy.”
“I’veentrusted Mindy to be your guide and guardian.”
Igive a dumbstruck stare at the Oracle… why the f*ck did she dothat? Isn’t she the one worried that Mindy likes me too much?
TheOracle bows before Mindy. “Thank you Mindy for volunteering in theHeir Council’s Restoration Effort”—
“Wait,wait, I’m part of the restoration effort?”
“I’mnot fond of deceit, so I’m not going to start here—yes, you’repart of the Restoration Effort.”
Mindymoves ahead of me and sets the duffle bag at my feet. She does aquick glance, winks, and then skips towards the Oracle.
“Andwhat’s this restoration effort composed of?”
TheOracle points at me. “You. But the Heir Council will go over thedetails. I’m not in my power to give you that information withoutthe Council’s consent. Please forgive me.”
Ihear a skid on the landing pad. The hum of the plane engine lightensup as it comes to a steady stop.
“It’shere finally! I love flying!” Mindy yelps with excitement.
Islide the hood off my head and stare at the sterling silver finish ofthe plane’s smooth coating. It isn’t a big thing either, it’smid-sized, and fancy, nose jagged and wings finned in an arch.
Astaircase slings down from the door.
“Youtwo load up and be safe. I’ll be in touch with you Mindy and I hopewe meet again Wes.” She takes a step towards me and outstretchesher hand.
Ishake her hand. “Thanks Oracle.”
Shewinks. “There isn’t anything to thank me for Wes.”
***