STL Writers Connect

The plan?  I think.  Plan for the end of the world?  “Ha.  You think you have a plan?”  I say incredulously.  “This should be good.  With all due respect I don’t think the time machine can help save us from the possible extinction of the human race.”

“I know you must be overwhelmed.”  Wells says to me.  “Just take a breath.  And there are many who believe 2012 is not the end of the world or even of the human race.  Rather there are many who suspect it is the end of life as we know it, but not the end of life.  You’ve heard of the theories suggesting that whatever ‘catastrophic event’ takes place may just be a way to bring humanity to a new level of enlightenment, right?”  I nod.  I’ve heard this.  But I’ve also heard the theories about the end of the world.  Man being punished for all of our sinful ways.  At this very moment I began to regret every bad thing I may have ever done.  I used to think I was never a ‘bad’ person.  But I did steal once, a candy bar.  Granted I was only five and I thought I could have it.

I realize while I’m off in my thoughts that Wells and Ziggy have not been talking.  Rather, they are watching me.  I realize they are waiting for me to come back to reality, if this is actually reality, and join in the conversation on this grand plan of theirs.

“Sorry.  Right.  I’m not panicking.  I’m here.  Continue, what’s with this plan?”  Ziggy takes a breath before speaking.

“I know it seems like we have no shot here.  And perhaps we don’t.  Maybe the future is already set.  Perhaps the future is already based on the time machine and us traveling back and forth and tweeking little things.  Then again, maybe not.  How can we tell?  Once you begin time travel it is truly difficult to track all that happens and how each detail of each event will really play out.  You follow me?”

I eye him with a stare like “Oh sure I do.”  He gets my point.  Wells continues.  “You see there’s no limit to what we can do here with our ability to time travel.  The plan is not to go in the future rather travel to the past to find out more about what this prophecy really entails.  It is true that there are several theories and ideas but these are taken from person to person over the years.  With each translation something is going to be different.  Even without intent.  So, lets get it straight from the horses’ mouths.  So to speak.”  Wells smiles a bit seeming very proud of his plan.

“And then what?  So these ancient people tell us of their prophecies and then what?”  I try to calm my nerves and not to get snappy, but I can’t help it.

“Once we do some digging we can find out what the reasons are.  Is this really punishment for our sins?  Or is this just a natural process of evolution?  Consider for an instance how self destructive the human race has been over the centuries.  War, crime, murder.  And if we aren’t killing ourselves we are certainly busy in destroying the world around us.  Tearing down trees, killing animals, polluting the planet, building new things.  I mean, I can’t say I’m all against technology, obviously.  But it seems we are moving in a very distinct pattern.  To the end.  Whatever the end may be, is yet to be determined.”  Wells and Ziggy seem almost giddy.  They look at my while I take this all in. 

I wish I could sound as happy as they are but I’m feeling rather queasy.  Then Wells says to me.  “So, what I want to know is will you travel with us?  We could really use your expertise.”

Any time now alarm clock!  Any time you can wake me!