1 History (Part 1)

War, pollution, and overcrowding were only a few causes of the Earth's decline. Sadly, protecting the environment gave way to economic advancement, and the Earth has never looked back since. It reached a point where natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes became commonplace.

How could one fix a planet that was screaming far beyond its limit?

Then, something unexpected occurred—a surprising discovery.

Up north, a storm ripped open an abandoned mine, and what was found inside was a door embedded in the rock without a scratch on it—a door that shouldn't have existed. It was so unreal, like something one sees in a movie.

It hadn't taken long for the government to be notified, and they quickly sent military and scientists to section off the area for containment and further study. Knowing very well that dangers may lay within, but even more so what they could strip bare of anything useful. But alas, they had tried everything to open it but with no luck. All they could determine was that the door was made of unknown material. 

With nothing to do but seal the area up from the public, a word-like shape suddenly appeared on the door. At first, it was unreadable, but the words were shaped and reshaped until they became recognizable: "We can save your dying world; please step through." With that, the door slowly opened.

Silence resided until someone whispered what they were all thinking. "This is so fucked up; it a trap it got to be."

As alarming as it may have been, it was even more so when a scientist, Dr. Ramirez, stepped forward. 

"What the hell are you doing?" Master Warden Kelly shoved the scientist back. "You know the protocol. First, we must assess the threat. Then we…"

Dr. Ramirez scowled back, brushing the dirt off his coat. "We're not going to get a damn thing done by just standing around. We've been here for weeks. Weeks with no progress. Hell, all we've resolved was that the material from the door has similar components to the soil we tested from a thirty-mile radius." He started pacing back and forth. "Both originated from the same source. That's it!"

"So, you have no idea what the hell is going on?" The Master Warden impatiently barked out.

Dr. Ramirez rolled his eyes in exasperation. "Yes…yes. I have no idea. My point is that we have already crossed into alien territory. They could kill us where we stand, and we wouldn't know what hits us. So, our chances are the same whether we go in or not." He paused. "Although, I wonder…." He trailed off thoughtfully.

"What is it this time?" asked Master Warden Kelly.

"I'm a little concerned about why the door just opened suddenly. We were here for weeks. Nothing! Then the door substantially opened? I can only conclude that we accidentally triggered something, or someone inside opened it for us. So, like I said before, the only action to take is…." Dr. Ramirez made a sudden beeline to the door.

"Are you nuts?" Master Warden Kelly yelled at Dr. Ramirez. Stop him now!" he shouted at the soldiers. But it was already too late. All they could do was chase after the crazy scientist, but as soon as they stepped through…

"Well, Well, Well, took you long enough." A voice echoed through the darkness, sounding like many voice samples edited into one.

Then, the darkness gave way, revealing a room that looked like a lab a scientist could only dream of, and Dr. Ramirez was no exception. His eyes darted from one corner of the lab to the next, and his fingers twitched like he was trying to restrain himself from touching everything in sight.

He excitedly replied, "I have never seen anything like this before. Are those containment capsules? The whole place seemed to be contrived of organic and mentalistic components." Dr. Ramirez couldn't help himself any longer as he reached out but quickly jerked back when his hand got zapped. "What the…" Holding his hand, wincing in pain.

"Take, take, take," sneered the Voice. "I have seen what you humans are capable of, so I took precautions." Soldiers instantly raised their rifles. "Come now; I redirected a storm. Do you think I can't stop your little bullets?" The Voice yawned.

"I knew it; the storm was the lure. It's too consequential otherwise!" Dr. Ramirez exclaimed. He was still hovering around the equipment but was careful not to touch it this time.

"You started the storms." Master Warden Kelly said in a low growl, not putting his rifle down.

The Voice laughed. "Please don't blame me for your messes, big guy. As I said, I just redirected the nearest cluster of storms. Though not intentional, my actions saved lives; it was about to plow through a nearby town."

"So, what are you alien?"

"Well, duh, I thought that was obvious." The Voice sniped back. "We are better than you in every way."

Master Warden sneered, "So why the hell are you here."

"In 83 years, 22 days, 2 hours, 4 minutes, 55 seconds, all life on your planet will cease to exist, and I am the only one who can save you," they said in a sombre voice before switching to a lighter tone. "How's that for being direct?"

"Stop bullshitting me." Master Warden Kelly sneered back. He looked like he wanted to hit someone.

"Actually," Dr. Ramirez interrupted with a sigh. "The time is accurate, if more precise." He swallowed and paused thoughtfully. "I had hoped…."

"To find your so-called miracle. I mean, sure, I have everything you need. Right here, for a price." The Voice purred back.

Dr. Ramirez straightened; his face was determined. "What do you want?"

"Oh?" the Voice sounded surprised. I thought you would rattle on about how you need to talk with your superiors. Of course, your bosses need to speak with their leaders, and so on. Not to mention all that red tape you humans love so much. This makes it so much easier. "There was a sigh of mock relief.

Master Warden Kelly gritted his teeth. "This whole thing is ridiculous as fuck. We don't negotiate with terrorist threats…end of the story."

The Voice laughed. "The door was left open for a reason; all you have to do is walk out." The Voice became a bit darker. "But if you do, I will shut this place down, and you will have no access to my vast knowledge… So don't try to force your way in; that would be a bad move."

Suddenly, the room started to shake. Screaming was heard as far as the camp. Then suddenly, as it happened, it stopped. "I will bury this place with all of you as collateral damage. Just a little warning."

Dr. Ramirez slowly got up from the ground, holding his hands. "Wait, wait, wait. You wouldn't have brought us here if you didn't need us."

"Yes, I do need you, and it wouldn't be a lie to say that you're accepting my offer, which will make things much easier. But I could wait for the next sentient life form to come along after your eventual and certain extinction," The Voice merrily answered.

Dr. Ramirez turned to Master Warden Kelly, who was still holding up his weapon and pleaded, "Please believe me when I tell you that this is our only hope. I'm not lying."

Master Warden Kelly's eyes turned slightly towards the doctor. "I know it's bad, but…."

The doctor slowly shook his head. "The problem was ignored for too long," he stated sadly. There is nothing we can do to reverse the damage. But if I want my grandchildren to have a remote chance of growing up and having their own children, this is our only option. Master Warden, please. I know you have a son. Just listen. Please!"

Master Warden Kelly stared for a long time, not saying anything, but then sighed. Pointing his weapon toward the ground, "OK, I'm listening."

"Good, good. Then, I will get to the point. Those capsules contain the last semblance of a dying race, and I need your help to resurrect them." The Voice said bluntly.

After a long pause, Dr. Ramirez replied, "To be quite honest. I only have a basic understanding of this lab's purpose. Your reasons fit my analysis, but anything else is beyond my capabilities. And what you demonstrated so far, I don't see why you need us."

The Voice sighed. "And I thought it was obvious, Dr. Ramirez. Do you see a body anywhere? I am merely a voice; I cannot undertake the most delicate tasks. So, I need someone with hands to do it for me."

"That's all we are to you, slave labour." Scoffed Master Warden Kelly.

"Come now; it's not like I am not giving you anything in return. We are giving you the data to save your planet. In case you haven't forgotten." The Voice paused." But I am not a fool; I will only give you the data a bit at a time as we work on resurrecting the kiddos…."

"How do we know if we can trust you." Master Warden Kelly asked.

"You can't. I certainly don't trust you, but if this deal has any chance of preceding, here is a crumb for you." Answered the Voice. A nearby terminal activated, and blueprints appeared on the screen. "Go ahead, take a look."

Dr. Ramirez walked over to see and pondered. "This is like a negative ion generator. Although the proportions are incorrect… no, not incorrect. How can this work in such a large radius without being contained? Oh, I see. This is how…if you do this. Fascinating. I never thought it was that simple." Dr. Ramirez continued to talk to himself.

"Doctor. Doctor," Master Warden Kelly said, raising his Voice. "What is it?"

The doctor looked up; his eyes were gleaming. "The machine amplifies the oxygen output from trees and other plant life and filters through it like an advanced air purifier to the surrounding areas. The application for this is ground-breaking."

The Voice said. "I have many more goodies just waiting for your greedy little hands, plus whatever you gleamed from the resurrecting process. I think it's an excellent deal if I say so myself."

"When the project is over, what will happen to you?" asked the doctor.

"My purpose will be complete, and like all things, I will cease to exist." The Voice replied flippantly. "So, do we have a deal?"

Both men looked at each other in silent communication and said in unison. "Deal."

The Voice said excitedly, "Excellent, since we will be partners, you might as well…."

Nearly a person wearing a mask watched on a holographic screen. "…call me Cam."