Humanity's Peacekeepers

Centennial Awakening [ 0 : НУЛЬ ]

- Игорь // Igor -

I knew not of that I was ever alive, not of that anything had ever happened, nor of how I could have ever existed —

I knew nothing of the sort.

My mind never came to be until this very moment, and I had no awareness of my surroundings prior.

I opened my eyes for the first time, sitting on a tall pedestal, alongside another tarnished bronze figure like I am. He stretched his forepaws upward upon awakening, and I am certain that his eyes opened in unison with mine. Said glass eyes were vibrant vermilion, contrasting with his gray-teal body. A dusty, worn-out bandana hung around his neck — red and white striped, with white stars over a faded blue canton.

I looked down and saw a bandana of my own, a white-blue-and-red horizontal tricolor. My paws, body, and everything were covered in verdigris, whilst a light layer of dust made me unsaturated and ashen.

I descended from the 3-foot-high pedestal, to find it having two golden plaques bolted into the front. Etched onto left plaque was the following text:

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HUMANITY'S PEACEKEEPERS
Igor the Siberian Husky
Jack the Alaskan Malamute

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To commemorate the International Nuclear Prohibition Treaty, a precursor to the Russian-American Nuclear Treaty, which officially ended all forms of nuclear usage on a global scale after being signed by all 218 United Nations members.

Peace and tranquility is maintained throughout the Earth, as nuclear Armageddon is no longer a threat to humanity.

The bronze sculptures of canines Igor and Jack represent Russia and the United States respectively, the two nations to sign the initial treaty.

Artist: Frances Alessandra Meikel, 2082

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The plaque on the right had the exact same description, only in Russian.

In front of the plaque was a big openable, golden box with a small slit on the front, akin to a mail- or donation box.

"What's that?" Still on the plinth, Jack, presumably, finally broke the ambience. Upon opening it, we found it was filled with papers and notes.

Jack came down took out a small paper. He held it in his large paws and cleared his throat. "至维护人类和平者们伊格和杰克， 在— This is Chinese."

"Well, what's wrong with that?" I smirked. "Who wrote it, though?"

"Hm..." His eyes scanned through the paper. "......沈睿文和林雪珍。"

Shen Ruiwen and Lin Xuezhen. Those are human names of, presumably, a Chinese couple.

Jack continued to read the message. Ruiwen and Xuezhen wanted us, Humanity's Peacekeepers, to bless and protect every human soul. Even if the asteroid were to hit the Earth, they hoped that we would guide everyone in the afterlife.

"The asteroid?" he thought out loud. "What do they mean?"

"I have many questions, too," I added. "Maybe if we read more, we'll get some clarification."

Every message thereafter had similar connotations and wishes, despite most being in different languages. Several even hoped that we would "live on" as a remnant of whatever is left of humanity, and that we would do well once the sky falls. It was... very depressing to go through.

I looked around as Jack continued to read through them all. There was a ruinated building behind the pedestal. Nature had reclaimed it though vines and ivy. The floor was bedded with a blanket of grass, while the fencing and walls surrounding us and the vicinity had also been overrun with green foliage. About 200 flags were in an array upfront outside the boundaries, but no wind would let the ragged flags sway.

Vis-à-vis with the plaque were an asphalt road that led into a hollow city which, like the building, had been covered from window to wall with greenish flora. Even though humanity had ended its final chapter, the book of life is yet to reach its denouement, it seemed.