He decided to take two flyers southwest to the nearest
location with highest altitude on his map system, linking them up so they
followed each other, he could extend the range they flew each day by
alternating aircraft, since one would have twice as much charge since it had no
cargo. Still, he would only make about a hundred miles a day due to the need to
park the Drones in the sun for charging. It would have been probably as quick
on horseback since he could travel twelve hours a day, and he had grown very
fond of Killer. But he would have required looking after as well. He had
reduced his gear and only brought a pistol and a katana. Of course, he still had
the Hat, it was required. Ten days later he finally reached his destination.
Landing on a flat
spot that was probably an old road bed near the peak, he began ascending on
foot to the top, there was an easy trail to follow, with many switchbacks,
after about four miles of walking the trail became more difficult, large roots
and wet rocks, he finally arrived at top, fortunately it was rather flat.
He stopped to admire the vista, so lush and green in
all directions. Then he called on GOD, thankfully the response was almost
immediate. Michael, we have much to discuss, I have some very bad news for you,
GOD said, listen closely, the damage to our atmosphere from the pollution and wars hundreds of years ago, has recovered but
it is still very much out of balance.
200 years of no pollution has caused the world to cool, the polar ice
caps that were are almost gone are recovering. The earth is being covered with
dense clouds of moisture, added by a recent volcanic eruption our world is
about to get very cold. By my calculations you only have one year before you
see great flooding and extreme period of winter, I have lost communication with
all the other Bunkers, and I need you to find them and warn them of the
impending disaster. All of the Bunkers
are above a thousand feet of elevation, but even at that they may be flooded. During
this time of dense clouds and massive storms. The earth will cool, and the area
you are in will not thaw for years.
The Hydroelectric Dams will freeze, and the Bunker will lose
power. You will need to move your people further south after the storms
abate. To get to the other facilities, I have arranged transport, please memorize
these coordinates. Just in case the satellite signals fail. Warn the other facilities as soon as you can.
When you find the plane and reach altitude, we should be able to connect again.
I need you to be my Archangel, Michael, the fate of
humanity is now in your hands.
Michael left the mountain top and proceeded down the path
back to his aircraft below, he was about halfway back when he spotted a large
black bear running towards him, he drew his pistol and fired a warning shot,
the bear did not hesitate, he put his next shot into the bear but the 9mm had
little effect, swiftly drawing his katana he crouched to meet the attacking
bear, his hat fired multiple laser bolts as the bear closed, he felt his sword
enter the bear's body, then his world went dark, a crushing blow from the
bear's paw knocked him unconscious.
He awoke hours later
with the dead bear lying on top of him, blood caked on his face from the bear's
attack. He managed to free himself and retrieve the katana, and finally
found the Hat, but it had been crushed, and in the dark, he could not see how
to repair it. With no light and a dangerous path to follow, he decided to stay
where he was, and curled up under the body of the dead bear, guarding his body
from the cold night. The sun woke him up and he removed himself from the
smelly carcass and started back down the trail.
He returned to his aircraft and lifted off. Fortunately, the command to
remain linked was still working, even though he did not have a way to
communicate with the drone's processors without the Hat, he could use the
manual controls to fly.
Unfortunately, now he had to do it from memory, and he was a
long way from home. After twelve days of
flying Micael arrived on Heaven's roof, Sandra met him. Alarm spread across her
face, her hat warned her of harmful pathogens. Carefully she examined his body,
he had three long deep wounds in the left side of his face. What happed Sandra
asked, Michael told of his chat with GOD, and the bear attack. Her face drained
of color, Michael that was not a wild bear's behavior, he sounds like mad bear,
the type of madness that could be Rabies, Sandra moaned. That had crossed Michael's mind, but he had a
mission to carry out, and time was of the essence. Also, there was no medicine he knew of to
prevent Rabies in Heaven's inventory.