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Days of End (Mans past...Mans future ), Chapter 3 |
| Written by r.e.potter | |
| Tuesday, 08 July 2008 | |
Trickles of light filtered in through the capsules radiation vent holes as the whirling gas slowed around them. They had arrived at their chosen timeslot, and it was a welcomed site. It would be only seconds more before the mass of magnetospheric neutrons would dissipate completely allowing the time crafts instruments to regain full operation, but more importantly as they saw it, their overhead light source. Once the capsule was well lit, a full list of check offs would be mandatory. From readings of charged particle accelerators and gas controlled oscillators; all the way to the simple calendar clock before the mechanical protective visor could be safely removed from the capsules main window. After the list was completed and passed; they were ready to view what this world could offer them. Hoping for answers, the two pilots were greeted only with more questions. Once the protective visor shield was removed, both pilots could only look to each other with disbelief, and both shared a feeling of utter hopelessness. The site they were beholding was far more disenchanting then what they had just left behind. This era showed mans frailty in the world. Mans past was standing there in front of them, and even more so, mans future. It was an eerie site indeed, and again, the two pilots turned and could only look to each other in disbelief.
Remnants of a once fortified Pentagon stood before them as if it were an old Roman Coliseum kept too preserve. Grass and vines; wildly intertwining each other as they wove up the sides of the structure squeezing tightly the remains. Branches of newly formed trees reached out while fallen leaves and brush covered the fallen concrete along with steel slabs that now lay at its base as the blue sky poured in from an open roof above. Opening the doors and emerging from their craft, Commander Godfrey and Lieutenant Winslow stood to their respected side of the vehicle as they looked vividly at all the destruction that presented itself. The south end of the Pentagon had completely crumbled leaving only scattered memories of the once invincible building. While to the east; only part of the wall remained leaving behind what could only be described as a skeleton shell. But to the end they were facing; the north, lie the un-denying truth. Gazing outwards in sheer silence; the two pilots held their breath as they peered despairingly through the broken walls. How small and fragile we really are lieutenant Winslow thought to her self as she removed her helmet from around her head. Walking over through the brush and stepping over obstacles, the two time travelers stood at the north end viewing with more clarity a once mighty beast.
"Not even nature stood in awe and gave her a second thought." Commander Godfrey said after removing his helmet also from around his head as he remained frozenly gazing outwards.
The nation's capitol city lay broken before them. The Washington Monument was now but a symbol of fertility as its bottom half resembled that of a trunk left behind by a fallen tree. While other once recognizable buildings; lay scattered from the weight of a dying world, only to be viewed through the growing thickness that surrounded them.
"I won't let this happen to my world, as God is my witness." Lieutenant Winslow spoke with gentleness but also with urgency in her voice.
"But what if its Gods will lieutenant, what if it was God himself who put an end to mankind."
"I don't believe it was Commander. Not even God would be so cruel to take away all aspects of life." Lieutenant Winslow spoke somberly while still gazing towards the city.
"Who are you to question God lieutenant? Who are we to even...?
"There is no God! Lieutenant Winslow now spoke with force turning and throwing her helmet against the wall. "Just look up in the sky; where are all the birds"? She spoke angrily as she pointed up through the open roof. "Where are even the rodents"? Now pointing towards the ground, "surely they would have survived Commander."
"Calm down lieutenant," Commander Godfrey now also spoke with an urgency.
"The hell I will Commander, if this whole thing started during my lifetime; I wasn't there for my family. I wasn't there for um, do you understand me?"
"Listen, this hasn't happened yet in our time period, this I know. I also know that what ever did this won't be discovered here by cursing God lieutenant. Now we only have enough mass stored on board the ship for three more stops. Now I recommend we stop looking for the needle that lies hidden under all this jungle crap and find out what caused this devastation before it even began."
"What do you suggest we do then Commander? We'll never stop at the exact time slot this began. Jesus, I'd like to see those odds," Lieutenant Evelyn Winslow sarcastically chuckled to herself. "We'll never find out what did this; who are we kidding Commander, we have failed at our mission." As she walked away she continued mumbling under her breath but loud enough to be heard. "My dear Emily, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry you or your children won't have a future."
"Lieutenant, they will have a future, but we need to find it now. Now, are you with me?"
As she stood taking in the raw truth from a city she had once called home, she laid her chin to her chest, and with a deep sigh she mumbled.
"I'm listening Commander."
"Ok the way I see it, we have enough mass on board for three more stops, with one being solely use for our return trip. We need to go back to our present era and look forward for answers. This disintegration took thousand upon thousand of years to succumb to what we see today. Whatever happened to this world; happened not too far into our future lietenant. I offer that we go one hundred years out to our future and find out if man at that time perhaps knows of any pending doom. Also, I believe, if man is still alive, they would have heard of us and will know who we are. Perhaps they can help."
Lieutenant Winslow turned away and walked over to her helmet to where it was thrown. As she picked it up, she stood, yet remained turned from her comrade and spoke in a soft apologetic tone. "commander, I'm sorry."
"Forget it," he said rather smugly, "now let's go."
Back in their time craft, Commander Godfrey set all parameters to the year twenty one hundred and fifty four. One hundred years out from their present day back home. Looking over to his co-pilot, she whispered a soft thank you as he pulled back on the lever opening up the oscillator and releasing the stored particles as they began forming the rotating mass. This time however, as they were departing the future world; the craft began violently vibrating and shaking as the colorful prisms once again appeared. But before they could worry about the cause, they were gone.
To be continued...
Copyright 2008 r.e.potter |
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| Last Updated ( Wednesday, 16 July 2008 ) |
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