The first two ponds on the route I'd created were actually lakes. They were also protected with anti-air weapon towers. We could have approached anyway but didn't bother.

The third on the route was a pond, but it was completely covered in large black balls the size of a softball. Max informed it it was so that sunlight couldn't get through to help plant life grow. Likely it was being used as a reservoir for the larger towns in the area.

The seventh body of water was smaller, but protected by a single AA tower that Max was able to disable so we could approach and land.

I slapped my neck and then dove back into the vehicle to put my helmet on.

Max didn't laugh, but I feel foolish for panicking after his explanation.

Sara had never seen them either.

Insects.

She had tape in her duffle, so she wrapped it backward around her hand and then ran around swinging it through the air.

I felt like a child as we studied the small insects stuck to it. There were so many different kinds.

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"Why don't we have these?"

"Heat, acid rains, particulate pollution, no standing water for breeding, no food sources-"

"Okay," I said cutting Max off.

With the full helmet that sealed to the suit, I felt like a space man exploring some other alien planet. For a moment I thought about that Samurai shooting off through space and I wished him luck.

I got on my hands and knees and crawled into the water and pressed my facemask into it staring at another world.

"Are there fish in here?"

"Likely not," Max said, "Global temperatures and the shallowness of the water suggest the heat doesn't allow enough oxygen to be carried within the water to support higher life forms."

"That's-" I couldn't come up with a word. Sad wasn't a big enough word to encompass what I was feeling.

"Humanity really fucked the Earth over didn't it?"

Max was silent for a moment before she spoke.

"It it likely that without the Antithesis and thus the creation of Vanguard, your species would have died out."

It was something to read it, or hear it argued, but something else to hear a Protector AI say it.

"And ducks?" I asked.

"While ducks consume aquatic plants, weeds, snails, insects, and other food. They tend to rely on fish. I would suspect ducks do no make their home here, though they may land while on longer flights."

"Thank you," Sara said as they strapped themselves back into the hovercar's seats, "It was beautiful."

I needed to focus on that. On seeing insects and fresh water ponds, and trees. Not on what was lost.

"Max," I said as we lifted off, "Make sure you reactivate the AA gun." I knew she would, but I wanted to make sure what was left was protected.