SUNGLASESS AND ROCKETS Part 2: The Machine

THE PROPHECY

"It can't be," Darwin and I said in unison.

The doctor got up and tried to relax his neck.

"It can be, and it is much more powerful than the one at the base."

Darwin and I moved away from the monitor and we saw the doctor. He pulled his beard anxiously, he didn't say anything. Let alone us. The situation was getting out of control...

The silence was tense.

Finally, the doctor turned around and, raising his voice, addressed the technicians who were working in the first row of computers.

"How's the evolution coming along?"

"We're reaching one percent of remassification..."

The doctor took a breath.

"One percent," he mumbled. "Can you project it for 3 hours?" he asked the programmer.

His buddy started to type at once.

"Right."

"Why 3 hours?" Darwin asked.

"That's how long it will take us to find the other SVM, since—"

"But, what about the vampires?" I broke in. "What are we going to do if..."

The doctor swiveled slowly and looked at me openmouthed.

"Damn!"

He broke into a run toward the panel where the technicians were working.

Now what!

"Did you find the Major?" he asked as he evaded the obstacles on the way. "The Vampires are at the other SVM: 40 degrees south and 170 degrees east!"

Darwin looked at me agape.

"They didn't come to the base."

The pieces finally fit.

"They didn't come for the SVM at the base," I completed. "They were coming for a more potent SVM!"

The doctor's voice resounded in the entire room.

"Major?"

The doctor was leaning on the intercom.

"I need the fastest Bat right away. Send all the Bats to the following coordinates: 40 degrees south and 170 degrees east. Code name: enclave LHC."

"What the hell is going on?" a voice was heard through the speaker.

"Voodoo keeps an SVM in that place and wants to give it up to the Vampires..."

The doctor got up restless and looked at us.

"Voodoo doesn't know how to operate his own SVM!" It's out of control!" he signaled. "Let's go!" He headed quickly to the hatches. "We have to deactivate it!"

Once again in the lion's den. Darwin and I were ready to fly away but the programmer stopped us.

"Aren't you going to see the projection?"

The doctor stopped.

"The projection! That is fundamental!"

He swiftly headed back to us. The three of us leaned forward and stared at the simulation: nothing moved.

The colored animation had vanished. A blue spot covered everything.

The doctor moved his head.

"Can you put it backwards in minutes?"

The programmer pressed one key. The picture didn't change. He continued pressing the key until the image began to clear away. The dark blue color now appeared only on the surface.

"There!" the doctor said. "Freeze that image!"

The image was frozen. You could read in a square, 2:41.

"Dear God," the doctor whispered. "Oh God..."

I gulped down. The moon had been covered by a blue that threw out sparks.

"A global quake?" I ventured disquieted.

The doctor's eyes couldn't stop scrutinizing the data.

"That would be the best scenario in 2:41 hours," he responded distracted and turned to the operators. "Find communication with Earth immediately!"

"There isn't a satellite signal yet."

"Don't quit trying!"

"The best scenario?" I uttered.

"And which is the worst scenario?" Darwin interrupted.

The doctor exhaled and rubbed his forehead.

"The moon losing its orbit."