2030 March 28th - Siding Spring Observatory, Sydney, Australia. Under 3 Years before Impact.
"Raj mate! Did you see the scores for the game? Getting thrashed!" I lean back in my leather seat, hands grasping the back of my head. James throws down their jacket, it lands perfectly on the back of their leather chair, practiced movements from the same action each day. 10 minutes late as usual, better have my bribe ready.
"Well, that's what happens yeah, when Mike whatsername can't bowl for shit you get knocked out of the running hah'' James puts a coffee on my desk and gives me a wink, cheeky bugger, good thing I like him so much.
"Mike Dustin" he smirks...
I know what is coming but I open my mouth anyway. " Dustin..."
The biggest shit eating grin of his life appears on his face "Yeah dustin deez n-" before it’s quickly dispelled by the entrance of our no fuck around attitude Boss.
"Gentlemen! We have been given more coordinates to check today. I know it's been a fucked bloody month, but I expect that we get our jobs done. James, don't think I don't see the building access times, you're lucky you actually know how to do your job!... Alright then get at it, this isn't a picnic!"
In and out, no fucking around, a hearty morning gesture to freshen up our morning, good wakeup call!
At both our desks is a multi-layered monitor setup, some serious tech. A science organization started buying up a lot of observatories and upgrading the hell out of them about 5 years ago. In the last year James and I got hired under 'universal localized exploration', both of us being from highly technical backgrounds with additional qualification in astrophysics. Threw us into teams of 2 and were given coordinates to search with the multiple telescopes, then used them to create 3D images of far-off locations. It feels like they are looking for something. New life maybe? would have to be something amazing with the amount of money they've put into it.
All I know is we've found a lot of rocks and a hell of an increase in pay since we started. I've worked some shit jobs, and the only bad thing here is the morning pep talk, I get the additional benefit for having some eye candy as a co-worker, the mans a wanker but he sure looks good in a tight shirt.
"H-hey uhm Raj... can you double check the coordinates and calibration for me? Sector Z2398C, I-I've calibrated it a few times and I really want to be wrong. Please be wrong..."
Throwing the coordinates in the computer brings up a 3D model of a section of space... an object is reflecting the sun in its surroundings, its large and metallic, according to the relative dimensions of the area its larger than large, its fucking massive. 3 Days’ worth of data has been recorded of this area which means either there’s a big blotch on multiple lenses or we might have a problem. Panic immediately sets in; James's reaction is not without precedence."Uhh let me check the calibration and reset the telescopes?! Although this is fucking clear as day mate... Fuck me... Possible trajectory... earth..."
"Fuck fuck shit! let me check the calibration and reset the telescopes... although this is fucking clear as day mate... fuck me... no known object of this origin has been found before, most likely an asteroid. Calculating movements and possible trajectory points... 79.93% chance of entering Earth's quadrant on initial estimates!"
I throw every reset possible known to man, I even smack the side of the server for good luck, everything reset, I throw it back in and brace myself... I-it’s still there... Of course it’s still fucking there!
"Get everything we can on it! Size, speed, possible material composition uhh fuck think fuck, its fucking huge... telemetry data on all possible Trajectories, how did we even get the coordinates??"
"Same as fucking always they send them in batch, they are probably mapping out sectors and combining it with data from other units."
"Throw the emergency switch for all the other operators to gather as much data with their observatories, we need to know everything we can!"
"Which ones?!" James is pointing to a wall of contacts in case of emergency.
"Fucking all of them mate!"
…
2030 April 14th - News Station.
"I'm going to be right next to you, holding your hand, while you tell the world we're fucked, but hey, at least you've got me!" James smiles smugly at me, cheeky bastard.
Things changed quickly when the shit hit the fan, all the observatories matched the same information, all the data was thrown together and bam. High chance of earth being fucked, but all we can do is wait until it gets closer. Too many variables in play.
James and I decided to get a drink after that day, which turned into a, we could go back to my place. When you feel that the world is ending, it puts some things into perspective.
Standing in front of the camera's, they give the go ahead that they are now live. James was never much of a public speaker, so he 'graciously' gave it up to me to do all the talking as the first ones to discover it. James is close by as promised, I feel his soft trembling hand in mine. You can tell he's never had a rough day in his life, but I think I love him for it.
"As everyone I'm sure is aware, there have been developments at observatories all over the world, James and I were the first ones to detect the object, initiate alarms and observation protocols at 0938 AEDT on the 29th of March. As of yesterday, we have ascertained with a real possibility that Asteroid Designation 2030 FK will arrive in our solar system in the next 2+ years. With exact approximation still underway, as well as its exact movements and trajectory, although it's possible that earth... will be in its possible range, due to too many variables we will only find this out in the next half year. At this point there has been a lot of panic and I understand why, please be safe, humanity will need to bond together more than ever at this point, any questions?"
Many news reporters are stunned. A few stand up dourly, I'm sure some just want to get home to their families, to make sure they are there for them at this point. This speech is being broadcast live to all countries online, the entire world is in shock, as much as I was... lying in bed cradling James as he wept for our lives once it finally sunk in.
"How... big is it..." They hesitated to ask, honestly not wanting to know for real, maybe it's small enough to not do any real damage they are probably thinking, I hate to tell them wrong…
"Current estimates put it at a size of 2-3 thousand Kilometers circumference, to put it into an awful perspective... Our moon is 10 thousand Kilometers Circumference, 200 times the size of the meteor that wiped out the dinosaurs..." A small shiver of shock runs through the crowd, the reporter who asked sits back down and pulls out her phone... quickly scrambling out of her chair, running out of the room.
"Servers have been donated from Sci-Axium for the collection and sharing of 2030 FK and will be made public to all. Hopefully, this means that we can get as much information as possible. Thank you for being here and I'm sorry for this news, please be with your friends and families, I know I will."
Stepping off the stage I clutch desperately onto James's hand and collapse against the wall at the back of the prep area. The tears that I held back for the camera come pouring down my face as James presses their forehead against mine, "You did amazing and you were so brave, I'm barely holding on and I didn’t have to talk in front of the world. I'm announcing a sick day for the both of us, Mr. Mac can go bugger himself if he thinks we are going back to work after that. I'll flip him a message, he's a cold bastard but he's not ice cold."
I get pulled into a hug and slowly pulled down the road into the company car. We set the destination for 'home', we decided, fuck it, life’s too short and I moved in with James last week, acting like a couple of U'haul lesbians at this point, but can you blame us, there’s nowhere I'd rather be...
…
2030 April 14th - Same Day
3 Gin and tonics later and I'm quietly buzzing, my brain has thankfully switched off. The phones are on silent, Matthew McConaughey is dashing and being the most badass space dad possible. "You know I think you look a bit like him, I always thought you were dashing James, a cocky bastard but still... Very dashing..." I look up at him from under his arm and kiss him on the side of his face.
"Well, I hope so since you moved in. I always thought of myself as a Matt Damon though myself!" He grins and kisses me back on the forehead.
"Do you think we are going to make it?... We don't have any gravity projects to save us... At least none that I know of..."
"I mean that's the point Isn't it? Maybe NASA is hiding a super-secret project to send us all to space, and only me and a hot guy named Raj can save us all! By. I don't know? controlling gravity and giving our boss a right spank on his bald head!" He shrugs and holds me a bit closer, both of us just... trying to find comfort together in whatever way we can.
"You know that bastard signed up for the rich fuckers in space program? saw the application form on his desk. Trying to escape before we even fully know we're doomed."
"The governments and billionaires are piling all this money into a place on the moon that they don't even know is going to be safe, for all we know 'FK' is going to knock the moon out like a snooker ball and pocket them rich fucks in a black hole."
"Don't worry, at least they are putting a 10th of the budget into bunkers... Wow thanks... We can only thank our overlords for treating us like animals instead of bugs..." I sigh and sink deeper into James' side. He's a little pudgy, but really that's how I like it. It's the most comfortable feeling I've had in years. I feel safe with him, but for how long can we stay safe?
…
2030 June 2nd - Home
"So, what you're telling me is that the proposal for deep earth bunkers has been rejected and replaced with basic city section bunkers?! Don’t give me that fucking shit! I know they are diverting resources for their fucking moon palace! And I know for a fact that several governments have constructed their own personalized deep earth bunkers and saved no fucking EXPENSE! You tell those in charge that when all this is over their necks are the ones that are going to ring!"
"Hey heyhey, it's okay honey I’m here deep breaths" The days only started, and they have already ruined it. James grabs me from behind and pulls me back into a hug, I can't stay angry when he does this, but it feels like they are really trying to kill the people they are supposed to protect!
"What am I supposed to do!? They give me a job, push me into the limelight and then tell me, sorry we can't do anything anymore and then try to bullshit why! What am I supposed to tell people?!"
"The truth Raj baby... We all know why, they can't hide it anymore, it's all over the news, they are buggered sooner or later. There are so many whistleblowers sick of it as much as you are... How about we go into work, finish collaborating the data, at least we know now that the possibility of hitting earth is much slimmer?... Any good news for the people, yeah?"
"Yeah… Your Right as usual… I need to go to the news station afterwards to report to the public... My mother would be so proud if she could see me now..."
"Damn right she would, I mean you're a champion of the people, they love you. Have you seen the comments on the video sites? You might be stone faced but you can't keep that pain out of your eyes love, they also think I'm cute" James winks at me and I can't help but smile through the tears gathering.
"Alright let's get going before I throw you over my shoulder and take you back to the bedroom."
"Damn... well there's always when we get home!"
…
2030 June 2nd - News Station
"We have good news today. The final coalesced results of the trajectory have been pathed and although it will come close to earth, 2030 FK or as its been named, 'Janus' affectionately online, with a 99% certainty will not hit earth. Obviously, this is a joy to hear, but we must stand vigilant as there have been reports of the infrastructure of Janus to be unstable, with small pieces of it breaking off constantly while it travels through space. Earth will very likely be struck by many small meteors, although militaries across the world will be collaborating to try and destroy as many as possible..." I breathe deeply in anger having to report further news.
"The proposed deep underground bunkers that were reported on last time... Have been rejected... I bring this grave news with anger in my heart! They were supposed to have started building in a few weeks’ time. Instead, cities will be provided with surface level bunkers, which I fear will not be enough to fully protect us. I was told to tell you a story about how due to time constraints and efficiency the surface level bunkers would be enough, but I know the real answer is to cut corners for the greed of the people in control! I have seen the movement of funds and it's not for the people, or for earth!”
"After the atrocities of the last war and the devastation of the earth! We now have to face another extinction event because of the people in charge!! Was it not supposed to be different this time?! I'm sorry for failing you, I can't be their fucking dog anymore, I quit" The tears freely fall from my eyes this time, I can't keep in the hatred and sadness for the world I love inside anymore. The camera person looks stunned and doesn't realize it's over, the tears of anger streaming down my nice new shirt. I hear James rushing from behind the set, grabbing me and pulling me away from all the people.
"You haven’t failed anyone, and fuck them, you are the most amazing person in the world, and they are losing their best asset!" They hold me and I start to sober up a bit more.
"I agree." A woman of Asian descent with a short bob cut is standing around the corner in a white jacket coat, just out the way enough to give privacy but enough to still be fully visible. "Apologies for the intrusion, I know you are going through a lot right now..." She turns and I see a familiar but slightly different tag on her jacket.
"Yes, we are having a moment, thank you very much!" James, my knight in shining armor comes to my aid.
"It's okay love... Sci-Axium... If you didn't hear, I don't work for you anymore..." I'm just done. I want to go home and watch Interstellar again and slag off about the government!
"Well, you don't work for our government required sector at least! there's always our private sector. Raj... and James of course, Would you like to make a real difference to Earth? We need your talents and love for this world."
…
2031 October 23rd - Sci-Axium Emergency response Center, Sydney, Australia.
"Report earth destabilization metrics please Jane" I sit in my office overlooking the large screens lining the halls, showing all possible data. A screen pops up on my console, gravitation, effects on electronics, satellite disruption, changes in general area temperatures, seismic activities, rising sea levels, categorization of possible volcanic events, all of it carefully presented and updated in real time.
"Everything is holding, please transmit the green light to command, estimated arrival time T minus 24 hours. Please advise for removal of important personnel from designated areas, we will need all hands-on board for emergency operations once it enters our gravitational field."
Finally, it's time, I've made all the preparations I could with the time we had, James has been working in another sector, he always was better with machines than I was with people, each taking our own path but still being able to be together every night of the week, every night except this one.
Bunk rooms were set up for on-board personnel, everyone needed to be ready for the final 48 hours. Reports were coming in constantly of mass panic, trying to contain people was the hardest part, most of the governments seemed to have been emptied, abandoned or in their fancy bunkers already, it was always the people that suffered during crisis, now we can only wait.
…
Red lights are flashing in the temporary bunk rooms, something has gone wrong! Fuck fuck no did I oversleep!? The clock on the wall is flashing T-minus 8 hours, what the fuck happened?!
Stepping into the command center its madness incarnate, complete disarray, "Sit the fuck down and tell me what’s happening!?" Some of the workers must have also only just woken up, they are disheveled and shaking from shock, Jane yells over to me.
"Raj it's here it's fucking here, it’s like it jumped, one moment it was still approaching and then it just... sped up?! Teleported?! I don’t fucking know, our sensors didn’t see what happened, it was just there and now it’s here! The World Bunker Initiative has been activated, please get to the evacuation site as soon as possible!"
Fucking hell everything is going wrong again! James was visiting their mother, at 72 years old they were supposed to be leaving for a bunker area today! How could we have been wrong, what the fuck is this thing!?
"Everyone! evacuate your stations, resetting countdown timer, calibrating... T minus 10 minutes until Asteroid enters our gravitational field! parts of 2030FK that break off will start falling to Earth at that time, communications blackout will start any minute! Get to safety!!"
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Pulling out my phone I dial James's number. Please pick up... Please baby... Click.
"Hey love... I've heard the sirens... Wasn't expecting it so soon..."
"Are you going to be safe?? Please say you're going to be safe..."
"I want to lie to you right now... And I hate that... But we are in the basement, I'm trying to get mum as comfortable as possible... How long?"
I look up at the estimated arrival clock, I can't see it properly through the tears, rubbing my face with my jacket, It's so close, why! Why is this happening... All my work... for nothing?!
"S...-six minutes love..."
"You better get to the bunker. N-now I know what you're thinking... And you get down there, Raj Marsey! I can't be safe here knowing I could lose you! You stubborn beautiful bastard! In sickness and health, you're not dying today!"
Sniffling comes from the phone.
"I'm going to stay here on the phone... Until the communications cut out... Okay... please... Just give me that!... I didn't have a life until that day I held you in my arms, drunk off your tits from all the gin we downed that night. The way you woke up and looked up at me, so happy... So damn cheeky with that smile... You said 'I got you raj, spoon me I need another hour of this, fuck the office' falling asleep so quickly by my side, not a care in the world, like you knew it was going to happen, I always loved you..."
At the other end there was only static...
T minus-2 minutes... Already... Please no...
Using the data pad, I open the top covering of the command center, the sky stretches out forever, Dawn is quickly approaching. It was built with the intent of facing directly to where the asteroid would pass by earth's gravitational pull and I’m glad they did that now more than ever.
"Do not go gentle into that good night... old age should burn and rave at close of day... Rage... Rage... Against the dying of the light..." I laugh quietly to myself; will we survive this? It's hard to say anymore... we have raged... but maybe this is the end? and what a deserved ending we have.
Dawn is breaking, I meet the oncoming calamity as light spills across the earth, the giant blue approaching tide of madness breaks forth over us, the ants of this world scatter and flail as the foot comes down..
The Asteroid has started to break up, flecks of blue writhe off its corpse, this creature of space, the shining blue skull reflecting the light of the sun causing a cascade of beauty over the destruction it's wrought.
The sky is filled with diamonds! There's so many... Falling... Dissipating... The atmosphere is dyed with its minerals, some of the meteors are shooting off to the sides, others are dropping down, and it's getting closer...
Will the bunkers be enough?... The Axium bunker initiative improved on the shitty government designed bunkers and tried to reinforce them as much as possible. I put so many hours into making it perfect with my teams, will it all be for nothing?!
I can only sit there slumped against the wall at the back of the command center, watching it all fall... it's more than I could ever dream of... so many are going to die no matter what we do!
I can only sit there slumped against the wall at the back of the command center, watching it all fall... it's more than I could ever dream of... so many are going to die no matter what we do!
The building goes dark as the meteors start hitting, some speed towards the city and I can only think of James' last words.
In sickness and in health... My cheeky love.
…
Beep... Beep... Beep... Beep mnnn wh-what...
God my head... It's really bright here... Beep
"He's waking up..." Mnn... James?... I-is that my James?... Where am i?...
Beep Beep Beep
"You damn idiot... Why didn't you go into the bunker like I said!?... " I must be in the hospital... Did it hit the building? I remember it going dark and then…
"I thought I lost you. I-I didn't want to be left alone. I watched, got to see the thing that has been looming over our lives for the last few years, it was... Like a god watching over ants. It was horrible and something to worship at the same time."
BeepBeepBeepBeep
Opening my eyes, James holds my hands close, so gentle, those lovely smooth hands that I need so badly. Now the most! They slip away and all I can feel is cold metal.
BEEPBEEPBEEPBEEP!
"His heart rate has elevated! Get him to trauma!"
…
The data pad in my hand shows the trajectory that 2030FK followed when it hit our magnetic field, it’s... frankly impossible trajectory. Although it's not like it could appear out of nowhere in the first place, completely throwing off our estimates that had been calculated continuously to the minute by nearly 8 hours.
It curved, and aligned with our magnetic field and followed the earth fully around until it shot off once it had completed its full tour. Something that can teleport after traveling so long to us, slow down to a crawl like a monster stalking its prey, and then align itself with us, only to leave once it hit its own entry point. It should have taken minutes for it to pass by us, instead it took 2 hours and 8 minutes before it left us, panic and destruction in its wake.
128 minutes... Like some kind of computer program. Something automated, evading notice? Evading our years of preparation, to reduce our population? Maybe it noticed our observation and decided to fuck with us, maybe it’s just a fucking rock full of crazy fucking blue metal that did weird shit just because!!
All I know is that because of it... my James is gone.
…
The Tv is Blaring. Riots, anger, hatred, littered with small stories of hope, communities banding together in this new fucked world. People trying to steal, kill and fight for the 'pretty fucking blue crystals'. The government has been confiscating it all, denoting it as 'hazardous materials' to be taken for proper disposal.
Reports of videos with all mention of it keep being taken down, something is going on. But I can't work myself up enough to care... The world shouldn't exist at this point... Janus should have wiped us all out, give the next race a shot! Maybe some fish people would do a better fucking job than our fucking race.
…
I sit up in my elevated bed, staring at the muted TV, only the beeping of the monitoring system fills the room.
It's been 2 months since I was admitted to the hospital. I've only had co-workers visit me, but it's not like I had much apart from work and James, Jane visit weekly, but mostly I just sit here in silence, hoping that the world will end... properly this time.
Sci-Axium hasn't pressured me to go back to work, but I know they need all hands on deck, I just lay here rotting every day, losing weight and sanity for each passing day that he's not in my life.
"Raj... Raj?" I've zoned out again... for a second... Or was it the day? I didn't even realize anyone was here honestly, time has lost meaning for me.
"Sorry... Jane, what were you saying?"
"Have you seen the news? It's everywhere, information about secret government findings that are being released publicly by one of the scientists working on the new crystals and minerals found across the earth because of Janus."
That's definitely something... the Asteroid that has left such a mark on earth, on my life, on so many is still causing issues?... I just want it to end at this point...
"Here, I'll put it on the TV" Jane gets up and connects her phone to the tv and turns the sound up.
"I-is this thing on? Oh, we're live?!" The woman in horn rimmed glasses and lab coat with a turtleneck under it clears her throat.
"Hello, my name is Doctor Dorothy Caster... lots of you may know me in the scientific community, for others, I am a mineral engineer and materials expert that helped oversee many of the UN special projects that helped protect Earth during WW3 and the most recent disaster. 2 Months ago, I was recruited by a combined effort of allied governments under a secret project called "Doorway", I believe this was in reference to the popular name for asteroid 2030 FK, although I was not able to get anyone to comment on it exactly. This project Doorway's goal was to hoard, analyze and figure out new uses of the mineral that has become abundant and its subsequent crystal that has embedded itself into our earth." She breathes and composes herself.
"When asked when the findings of 'project doorway' were to be released, we were told that they would be sealed and that all our findings would be destroyed, as well that our safety would not be guaranteed if anything were to be made public. We were threatened, because the world would be able to advance without them, that smaller countries would be able to be self-sustainable with our research, that they would lose power because of the advent that Janus has brought humanity!" Her passionate gaze strikes me at my core, the possibilities of such a thing, I lean up in my seat my gaze stuck to the screen.
"Oscium, as it has been designated, is an Infinitely complex crystalline mineral that is stronger than Diamonds, softer than clay, can produce heat, electricity… We are still finding out more and more of what it can do! and it can grow... It grows like a plant! all it needs is UV rays or a similar source of energy and it can be farmed like a crop! Combined with other minerals, it changes the composition of itself and the other mineral into something completely new!" They look very tired and catch themself on the stand in front of them, a man in a Sci-Axium uniform steps from behind her and gives her a cup of water, they are wearing full military garb without any facial features showing, their designation symbol is unfamiliar to me, although there are countless Sci-Axium Divisions.
"Thank you... And in all the mess of the world, they want to keep such a miracle hidden... My comrades and I were able to be extracted from the government facility by Sci-Axium under the pretense of rescuing hostages, as we were all originally contracted from them. Although we are safe, my colleagues and I are to go into hiding for our own safety. All our research data has been made public through the Sci-Axium global network, scrutinize it, analyze it, and help the world grow through it. Please come together as one people. We now, more than ever, need to treat each other with the respect and love we all deserve... please."
The stream ends, fully glued, I've pushed myself into a sitting position to get closer to the screen, is there hope for humanity yet or is it false?... I lean back in my bed and close my eyes, thankfully Jane sits quietly letting me think, she always could read the room perfectly.
Such a monstrous event now means that the world might change in a positive way! Or inversely... collapse in on itself, there needs to be change, real fucking change, Sci-Axium was already in a good place to usurp power from the governments, the people were scared and failed again and again, Sci-Axium was the only hope we had left to support us. From everything I know of the company they have spared no expense at making sure humanity has survived, but they have had constraints because of the countries holding them back.
The bunkers come to mind again, like they have so many times before... One of my proposals was to have smaller reinforced shallow bunkers scattered around smaller communities in case people couldn't evacuate in time to larger, possibly safer bunkers, one of them was proposed to be in James's hometown... They could have survived if it wasn't for them! Sci-Axium was even ready to foot the bill, but the proposal was thrown out because of arbitrary reasons, in reality it was because it meant giving up power even a tiny fucking fraction. Instead, we were only allowed to improve on existing surface layer bunkers that were already approved, the ones that should have been deep bunkers.
They are holding humanity back with their greed and want of power, we are nothing to them!
Making up my mind I turn to Jane, tears of anger streaming down my face.
"I'm ready to go back in... I want to make a change in this fucked world" She smiles brightly and nods.
"I'm ready to go back in... I want to make a change in this fucked world" She smiles solemnly and nods.
"That's the Raj I know; they've been waiting for you to get better. You've been assigned to Central Command, Gorgon Division.
I've heard the stories. I've always known Jane was special, but she followed me anyway, maybe she could see something in me that I couldn’t, even if it means my identity being erased, I will make this a better place. For the world and the people that were left behind.
…
"Commander, we have received new information in regard to breakouts of combat in several areas, it's growing, but not exceeding the level that we anticipated" Jane is relaying to me as the new developments come, I'm able to access said information but a direct flow has always made it easier for me to concentrate.
"Lead, instruct the Alpha and Sigma teams to follow Designation Taurus Protocols, here, here and... here, the rest are naturally occurring from the data we have received and should not be touched, the others are clearly pushed scenarios".
Touching various locations on my data pad I send out instructions. In the last year that I've been here we have managed to stem the tide of many pushes from government figures, damning their own people for the progress of their agendas. We are pushing slowly towards our final goal. The removal of governments entirely, their regimes will end, and the people will be safe.
My team was chosen carefully, those that had lost all their loved ones, that were willing to become ghosts for the betterment of mankind. Our work was scrutinized daily, and all actions overseen but even with that, our immediate actions were ours to control, the knives we wielded were swift and without emotion, ghosts themselves.
I had never met the Ophidia, the military subsection of designation Gorgon, they were our hands, our lifeline for the people... operating only in the dark, never speaking directly to us, never moving without command, their faces always covered, they belonged to no country and no people, only they knew who they were, before and now. They were messaged in code that only the team leader would know, the teams were all of differing sizes, ranging from 3 to 6 members, I wasn’t sure if that was due to their ability to collaborate together or how they were trained.
When I was assigned commander, I was allowed to see their effect in the field, to know their capabilities. They moved like cheetahs, as strong as bulls and could take anything thrown at them. I had to be assured they were not robots with all the A.I. technology that was being researched at the time, despite the results of A.I. and the effects of the 3rd world war.
To the outside world I was considered dead, and I might as well be, I was only the commander now, I slept and breathed my work, and I would die knowing that this fucked up world is for the better.
…
Gorgon was assigned a singular role, reduction of casualties, if it led to that, then we were doing our job right. 14% of the world's population was wiped out from 2030FK and its subsequent damages, 2 years later another 18% of the world's population was killed due to war and famine caused by failure from governments. In relation, during World War 3, 24% of the world's people were killed, because of nuclear bombs and damages caused, our population had nearly halved in the last 8 years... We couldn't lose anymore, not to those monsters.
Plans within plans were laid out, every conceivable situation leading to the freeing of the people. My teams had taken down more and more people at the top of the food chains, at least, of those that had not evacuated to their moon palace, and from the minimal and vague reports we got from up there, it should all be bombed to hell, if only to save the suffering of the people.
The last to hold out were the instigators of the 3rd world war. The countries with the most to lose, the most in power, but we came prepared. With everything we had gathered they would have been strung up like the common thieves they are. Some of them vanished, maybe trying to make new places of power for themselves with their hardcore followers. Others just upped and got in their space shuttles, when you had money only one place really welcomed you, the fucked villa for the rich and famous. Not that we had heard anything from there for a while now, for all we know no-one is left.
When all was said and done, an official world announcement was hosted at the UN Site. Those that remained had to sign our treaty, a dissolution of world borders, the protection of all people regardless of sex, race, orientation, religion etc. People were allowed to be who they were as long as it wasn't to hurt others. The introduction of A.I. as a people of their own and bills surrounding the crime of forceful creation of A.I. and of course, the overseeing of the world under the advisement of the UN for Sci-Axium. Governments would no longer have any power, was it wise to leave only 1 faction in power? for the greater good I can only hope so, at least it will give us peace, and from what I've seen they are the best choice we have.
The Axium Accord was signed on August 3rd, 2034, finally, change was coming.
…
In the next 9 years our efforts changed from military to residential relocation. Food production facilities, management of remaining animal life, the creation of central and regional mega-cities and their locations, as well as managing the people that would oversee them.
For most of the projects A.I. were brought in to help, one of the first of the naturally generated true A.I. developed from a Cad program. They called themselves Bob, I had the pleasure of meeting them. When asked about their name they said that as a joke they took on the name Bob due to a children's cartoon and it stuck. In the past they were crucial in the control of numerous automated machines and the building of housing to help people survive. Their army of machines were given full control over the building facilities and through them, the mega-cities were able to be built and born. Human hands helped with the delicate but were also guided by Bob, their designs were calculated to perfection, the most perfect habitation facilities ever built for man.
Once the central mega-cities were constructed, the underground rails between all continents were established. It was found that flying had become less stable due to extreme weather conditions the higher you traveled. Our glowing blue atmosphere possibly had something to do with that, it messed with the comms occasionally.
Once the passages were built, came the 6-year mag-rail installation plan. Able to travel at speeds of over 1000 km/h due to no wind resistance, the tunnels were likened to a void. The tunnel walls themselves, a combination of Oscium metal composite, as hard as diamonds. No expense wasted for the safety of human lives.
By 2042 Sci-Axium had created an abundance of housing and food, allowing humanity to live without working. Basic housing for those that just needed a break from life, or those that just didn't want to do anything with their lives, amenities were provided for all. Humanity was finally given a choice in how they lived, the vast majority decided to work, to better themselves or at least have something to do, find their dream job instead of being pushed into something you hate, having a place to fall back on if you needed a break was a blessing and a comfort, we would rebuilt our race for the betterment of all.
…
"Commander..." Jane stood next to me with a data pad in her hands, the final motion for Gorgon Command.
I was looking at the command screen, it showed videos from around the world. Today is August 3rd, 2043, the 9th anniversary of the 'Axium Accord', a day considered to many the day we became one people, that humanity was allowed to be that, human. The start of the good things to come.
I look over at her and smile. I'm so tired, but I'm at peace with everything we've accomplished. I take the data pad out of her hand.
"Do you think James would be proud of what we've done?" I smile and look over at the picture on my desk, everyone had pictures at their desks, to remind them of what we were fighting for, why we spent our lives here.
"I only knew them a short while... but I think they would be so very proud of us..." I nod my head and tear up a little, that’s all I needed, knowing that my handsome man would hug me and tell me that he's proud of what we've done.
"What are your plans after this, Lead?" She fusses a little with her uniform, "I'm... getting married sir..." She pulls a white perfectly folded hard paper letter with golden embossed lettering.
"I'd be honored if you could be there... If you could... walk me down the aisle..." There's worry in her voice and tears forming in her eyes. I'd always considered her as the daughter James and I never had, and it seems to her I was the father that she'd always wanted. I smile, tears building in mine as well.
"I would be honored to walk you down the aisle Jane, I would be honored... I would say this is the perfect start to my retirement" The data pad in front of me has the words 'Final Motion, Dissolution of Gorgon Command, relocation of personnel, retirement of command structure', I hit the big green button and the video on the big screen is replaced with the Gorgon Symbol, 3 sets of closed eyes rotating around a single curled up snake, we were the watchers, and now we could rest.
…
2044, December 26th.
Christmas lights spin through colors hung up on the tree, a few unopened presents lay under it for one of Jane's aunts that couldn't make it. The couch is warm, my whole body nested under a plethora of blankets. The holo-tv on with the sound low, above the simmering fireplace lay old fashioned photo frames, ones of my wedding with James, of Jane's wedding, of her adopted child, she calls me grandpa... I'm not that old yet but I'm really feeling it now.
In the end they let me keep my name, the one that lets me have that connection to my husband. I have a new life, but there's still a spot in my heart missing. I still feel him sometimes and it hurts. Without work I can think again, reading fantasy books and watching movies takes up the majority of my retirement. I have no need for anything but the comfort of my new family. I have anything I desire, but all I desire is respite, sometimes just from myself.
I get a message from Jane telling me to turn the holo-tv to the news. Of course, she expects me to be awake, she knows me like the back of her hand, even after a good day drinking.
"World Asunder Reality, the newest in leisure products from Sci-Axium will be coming out of beta and released into your homes on 21st of July 2025. The perfect late Xmas gift for your loved ones, allowing seamless control over an Avatar in this fantasy world setting. World Asunder Reality is being released alongside new capsule technology to make your dreams come true. Become anything you want to be in this new world, take a holiday from yourself, I know I am! Every wave of releases will allow another 100 million users to join, I'm at wave 3, where are you my lucky viewers?" The newscaster passes it off to her cohort, I ask for the volume to be lowered again, another message comes through from Jane.
< Check your mail for once old man, you're in wave 1, special request from above to enjoy your retirement, Merry Christmas Dad >
I chuckle and tear up... Take a holiday from myself... As usual Jane knows exactly what I need. Checking my Axi-Mail I see that my capsule will arrive in the next few months, long before the game releases, time to get used to it at least... Technology has changed so much since I was a gamer in my prime, and I was never into the virtual reality that had become so much of our world, much preferring sleek screens than something plastered to my face, at least I just have to get into a thing nowadays… I really am getting old… might even need a booster to get me in! too many years crouched over that damn Commanders desk.
A new me huh... Looking at the wedding photo of James in their black suit looking so handsome... It can't hurt, he would be loath for me to miss such a chance, he would be so jealous, my cheeky bugger.
An end to one story and a start to another.