The Wastelands

War, pollution, and overcrowding were only a few causes that were destroying the Earth. The sad part was that nothing much was done to prevent it.

Now, natural disasters such as; hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes were frequent. How could they fix a planet that was screaming far beyond its limit? Was it too late?

Then, up north, after an earthquake, which ripped open an abandoned mine. A door was found embedded into the rock, without a scratch on it.

It was so unreal.

It didn't take long for both military and scientists to section off the area for further study. But also to prevent public interference and potential contamination.

They were studying it for weeks then suddenly a message appeared on the door. Shaping and reshaping until the words became readable. It said, "We can save your dying world; please step through." The door slowly opened.

It was alarming. 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. Our chances are the same, even if we go in or not." He paused. "Then there is the matter of the door opening…" 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 studying it constantly and nothing, then the door opened? I can only conclude that we either accidentally triggered something or someone inside opened it for us. So, 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 back. "Stop him now!" he shouted at the soldiers. But it was already too late. All they could do was follow.

"Well, Well, Well, took you long enough." A voice echoed throughout the Lab. What the heck! "I have been waiting forever." The Voice sounded like a lot of voice samples edited into one.

Dr. Ramirez ignored the Voice, and 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." He reached out but quickly jerked back when his hand got zapped by electricity. "What the…" Holding his hand, wincing in pain.

"You can't 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. Still hovering around the equipment but being 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 cl.u.s.ter 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 snapped back, "So why the hell you are here and be direct about it."

"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," said in a sombre voice. Then in 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 determined. "What do you want?"

"Oh," the Voice was surprised. "I thought you would rattle on about how you need to talk with your superiors. Your superiors need to speak with their superiors and so on. Not to mention all that red tape you humans love so much. You make it so much easier. "A sigh of mock relief.

Master Warden Kelly gritted his teeth. "This whole thing is ridiculous as f.u.c.k. We don't negotiate with terrorist threats…end of 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…Oh, and 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, 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 up 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, accepting my offer, will make things a lot easier for me. But I could wait for the next sentient life form to come along after your eventual and very certain extinction," The Voice merrily answered.

Dr. Ramirez turned to Master Warden Kelly, who was still holding his weapon and pleaded, "Please, when I tell you that this is our only hope."

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

The doctor slowly shook his head. "We ignored the problem for far too long," he said with a sad look in his eyes. "There is nothing we can do to reverse the damage. Making a deal is the only way. If I want my grandchildren to have a remote chance of growing up and have children of their own, this is the only way. Master Warden, please, I know you have a son. Just listen."

Master Warden Kelly stared for a long time, not saying a thing, then. "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 b.a.r.e understanding of the purpose of this Lab, and your reasons certainly fit in my analyze, 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 just a voice; I am not capable of undertaking the most delicate of tasks. So, I need someone who has 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 little 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 really, I certainly don't trust you, but if this deal has any chance of preceding then 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, but the proportions are incorrect…no not incorrect, but 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 gleaming. "The machine is amplifying the oxygen output from trees and other plant life and filtering 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 little goodies just waiting for your greedy little hands, plus whatever you gleamed of the resurrecting process. I think it's an excellent deal if I do 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 in an excited tone, "Excellent since we are going to be partners, you might as well…"

A place close to the site, a person, shaded in darkness, was watching the people on a holographic screen. The Voice said. "…call me, Cam."