“The sentence is death.”

A gasp echoed throughout the chamber. Never in their three hundred year history had the Donovan Colony dealt out such punishment to any of its members. Peace had always been their mission; harmony all they had ever known--until the taint of the Outsiders had come.

“So be it, old man!” Michael, the leader of the usurpers, turned slowly, meeting each glowering face in the assembly with defiance. “But first, I will address my brothers and sisters of the Colony. I request Parlanay.”

Lanar, the head of the Council, sighed. Sweat glistened on his balding head. “It is your right to do so. Just say what you will quickly, so we may get this shameful affair over with.”

Michael stepped forward into the Circle of Address, where most of the chamber’s light was focused through a large, prism-like device hanging high overhead. He swept the room with his gaze. All around him, the spectral images of the colonists’ white garb shimmered in the dimness, causing his black robes to stand out like a glowing lump of coal in a sea of limestone. The quiet roar of the Whispering Falls could be heard just outside the chamber’s entrance. The soft whine of the hydraulic turbines it powered was barely audible as the water poured down. The falls fed the River of Wanderers, which flowed through the midst of the complex and out into the dark caverns beyond.

“My people,” shouted Michael. “For over three centuries we have lived like rats, cowering in our dank little holes far beneath the surface. Meanwhile, our brethren whom we left behind above have suffered through the horrors of disease and violence. We’ve considered ourselves the gatekeepers of Life, but in fact we have been the vanguard for Death. We believed our mission was to watch over the secrets hidden here like brooding hens until things changed, but perhaps they never will...unless we make them!”

Some strode from the chamber, sickened by his remarks. Others simply gaped at him. One woman leaned forward in her seat, her eyes wide, a smile on her lips.

“We have to initiate the change! We’ve been entrusted with the means to save humanity from its sufferings!” Michael turned, pointing at an old man standing next to the Council’s platform.

“Jeremiah knows I’m right. He’s heard my words, read the sacred writings. He was with us once, a proud man who stood up for his beliefs. But now he clings to the Council’s robe-tails like a frightened child. What happened, Jeremiah? Has serving as leader of the cowardly Guardians caused your backbone to wither away along with the rest of your miserable life?”

“That’s enough!” the head of the Council shouted. He leapt to his feet.

“See? Even now, the Council is afraid of me because they know I speak the truth!”

“You lie, Michael! You and your followers are the only ones who wish to bring death down upon the world.”

“We offer cleansing, deliverance to the sick and weary. We seek only the coming of the new dawn!”

Lanar gestured to the guards. They stepped forward, grabbed Michael, and dragged him out of the Circle.

“We will hear no more of your sanctimonious drivel. The sentence will be carried out here and now, so everyone may bear witness to the consequences of such blasphemy!”

Several members of the colony’s peacekeepers, known as the Guardians, stepped forward, each armed with one of the few weapons kept in the complex--the very guns Michael and his group had tried to steal from a locked storeroom two days ago.

“Let the records show that I, Lanar, leader of the Council of Elders, pronounced that on the twenty-eighth day in the month of November in the year 2377, this band of usurpers be executed for treason against the Colony. I just pray that God has mercy upon us all.”

The Guardians formed a line and leveled their weapons at the prisoners. They released the safeties, their cold, metallic clicks echoing throughout the chamber. They closed their eyes, whispering silent prayers of forgiveness for what they were about to do. Michael stared at Jeremiah.

“I’ll see you in Hell, my friend and betrayer!”

A cacophony of gunfire shattered the air. Many onlookers fled the gruesome scene, while others simply smiled. One woman stood in an empty section of the grandstands. Her dark braids encircled her head like a wreath, and her angular face showed little emotion as blood splattered across the chamber floor. A lone tear trickled down her cheek.

Jeremiah turned away. He flinched with each blast. When their echoes finally died away, he left the chamber without looking back. He stopped next to the Whispering Falls, seeking solace in its soothing murmurs as he had so often in the past. His gaze followed the course of the river as it wound its way down the midst of the complex’s central cavern, known as Donovan’s Hall. The rest of the galleries and halls that comprised the complex branched off from the huge subterranean chamber, their dark entrances lining the walls on either side of the river.

“I know it was hard, Jeremiah,” said Lanar as he approached. “But you did the right thing. As leader of the Guardians, it’s your sworn duty to protect the Colony, as well as the rest of humanity, whatever the cost. You should consider yourself a hero.”

Jeremiah strode away.

~~~~~~~~~~
The proper codes had been entered--the safeguards bypassed. Now all Jeremiah had to do was strike the Launch button, and soon mankind’s suffering would end. No more sickness...no more war...no more death. He raised his hand, forming a palsied fist over the glass panel shielding the controls. He closed his eyes. The same cries of agony that plagued his dreams each night urged him on.

“Elder? I brought you some stew. May I enter?”

Jeremiah opened his eyes. A young girl stood in the doorway, her short braids framing her face like a dark halo, her white dress nearly blinding in the room’s dim light.

“Yes, child. Just set it on the table.”

She crossed the floor, careful not to spill a drop of the bowl’s steaming contents, placing it on the small table in the center of the room.

“Thank you.”

The girl cocked her head to one side.

“What’s wrong, child?”

“Why do you have your fist up in the air like that?”

Jeremiah stared at his hand. His memory of the last few minutes were like a failing dream. He heard whispers in his head. It was Michael, still taunting him after all these years. Although it’d been over seven years since his execution, Michael’s last words--and the sounds of his death--still haunted him.

Jeremiah lowered his hand and punched in the proper commands to abort the operation. He lost himself in his dark musings, forgetting about the little girl.

“Elder?”

“Hmm? Yes, what is it, child?”

“You look sad, like Mommy does after a bad dream. Did you have one too?”

“Yes...in a way.” He looked at his age-scarred hands. His discolored skin made them appear as if they were stained with dried blood. The girl approached and put her arms around him.

“This always makes Mommy feel better. Maybe it’ll help you too.”

Jeremiah winced, unaccustomed to close contact with others. For the last few years he’d spent most of his time alone, watching over the tiny room they were in, personally guarding the secrets around which the entire Colony was based.

Reluctantly, he returned her embrace. It felt good to be close to someone--anyone--again.

“Thank you, child,” he said, patting her on the head then gently pushing her away.

The girl scanned their surroundings. Banks of flashing lights and glowing dials covered the walls. A constant stream of figures scrolled across monitors scattered throughout the room. Tiny beeps and clicks resounded from all around.

The apartment had barely enough space left over for the table, two chairs, stool, and sleeping mat that were its only furnishings. The sound of dripping water could be heard coming from the little bathroom in the back.

“Elder, what’s this place for?”

“Don’t you know our history, child? About how the Donovan Colony came to be and what our purpose is?”

“Only a little. Mommy says I’m too young to understand. But she says one day she’ll tell me all about it.”

They had dwelt in this subterranean compound for several generations, ever since Octavious Donovan, the last president of the United States, led them there after the Global War of 2057.

In the aftermath of the war, when all known civilization had crumbled like withered leaves, President Donovan managed to gather every survivor he could find and lead them to the deserted underground compound called the Lost Caverns. The complex was located miles beneath the Cumberland Mountains, a part of the Appalachians along the southwestern borders of Virginia.

“Mommy says one day things will change,” said the girl, “and we’ll walk together in the sunrise, just like the one on the vid-discs. They’re strange, but pretty. Have you ever seen a real one, Elder?”

“I’m afraid not, child. No one in our colony has. It’s been hundreds of years since our people have felt the warm caress of the Sun.”

“Oh.” The girl smiled. “Then maybe we’ll get to see it together one day.”

Jeremiah returned her smile, envying her innocence and sincerity.

“Perhaps. What is your name, child?”

“Cassidy, sir.”

“Cassidy? What a lovely name. How old are you?”

“Seven, sir.”

“Please, call me Jeremiah.”

“Nice to meet you, Jeremiah.”

“Nice to meet you, Cassidy.”

Cassidy extended her hand, and Jeremiah shook it, noting how ancient his fingers looked next to hers.

“What’s this for?” Cassidy asked, reaching past him toward the control board.

“Don’t touch that!”

She screamed and ran for the door.

“Wait! I didn’t mean to frighten you!”

She stopped and slowly turned, biting her lower lip.

“I’m sorry, Cassidy. I shouldn’t have yelled at you. It’s just...that machine is very dangerous.” Jeremiah glanced away.

“What does it do?” Cassidy asked as she came a little closer.

“Very bad things.”

Within the Lost Caverns, the government had secretly resurrected the Strategic Defense Initiative, a high-tech antiballistic defense project originally proposed in 1983. With the SDI, incoming missiles could be intercepted high above the earth with the use of ground- and space-based lasers, subatomic particle beams, and computer-guided projectiles. But the project was abandoned in 1993 due to cost and political reasons.

The new system, completed in the fall of 2054, could not only defend the US against attack, but could retaliate against an enemy with quick and devastating force. In just a matter of minutes a network of orbiting satellites could wipe out all life in an area using their newly-developed, cold fusion-powered lasers. And the entire system was controlled by the panel before him.

“Jeremiah, will you tell me about our history?”

“It’s a long, sad story.”

“If I come back tomorrow, will you tell it to me then?”

Jeremiah sighed.

“Will your mother let you come back?”

“Sure. She won’t mind. She’s a seamstress, and is busy helping to make the colony’s clothing for the coming new year.” The girl glanced at his clothes, which were wrinkled and torn in places and had turned gray from age. He folded his arms over his chest, staring at the floor.

“Mommy’s usually tired after work, so she let me bring you the stew all by myself. Besides, I think her boyfriend is coming over tonight.” She grinned.

“Oh, I see. Is he nice?”

“I haven’t met him yet. Mommy wants to get to know him better first before I do.” Cassidy wandered around the room, her eyes dancing from one object to another, taking in every detail.

“Mommy was very excited when we were chosen by the Council to see to your needs. She said it’s a great honor to care for the Head of the Guardians.”

“Some believe it to be, I suppose.” He wondered how many colonists really felt that way. There had been rumblings from some of the younger council members that he should be relieved of his duties, that his life-force had grown dim and his wisdom had failed. They were no longer willing to trust the leadership of the sacred order to one who had become a veritable hermit among them.

Jeremiah glanced at the smiling youngster before him.

“I suppose if you came back tomorrow, I could tell you about some of our history. If your mother approves, that is.”

“Oh yes! That would be wonderful! Thank you, Jeremiah! I can’t wait!” She turned to leave, but hesitated.

“I almost forgot. Mommy told me to see if you needed anything else before I left.”

“No, I’m fine. And please thank your mother for the stew. I’m sure it’s delicious.”

“I will, Jeremiah. See you tomorrow!”

“Bye.”

Cassidy left, and Jeremiah could hear the click of her shoes as she skipped down the corridor. When the sound died away, he felt painfully alone.

He went over to the table and used his finger to taste the stew, nodding to himself in approval. He sat down to eat, thinking about Cassidy and the youthful gleam in her eyes. Like an angel she had descended upon him in a time of crisis and brought a little hope back into his life. For the first time in a long while he was looking forward to the next day.

He wondered what he would tell her tomorrow. How he would explain to her the stupidity of mankind, and the way it had led to the formation of their community? Could he make her understand something that even he still struggled with?

Scientists had spent a decade developing the new defense system, designing huge satellites with intelligent robotic components, so the devices could maintain and service themselves indefinitely. An artificial intelligence system was created that would conduct all operations on its own once activated. They wanted it to be as autonomous as possible, so manpower could be spared for other tasks. The system could seek out and destroy enemy targets using advanced radar detection, and at first, it seemed to be the ultimate weapon, with a power and precision unheard of in all history.

But there was a fatal flaw in the system. Scientists realized that once the system was activated during a full-scale war, it couldn’t distinguish between warzone and civilian targets. It would indiscriminately destroy heavily populated areas as well as active battlefronts, attacking until everything in the geographical vicinity was destroyed, an unstoppable machine that would wipe out anything in its path. If such a device ever fell into the wrong hands, it could destroy the world. So the project was put on hold while attempts were made to correct the flaw. After numerous failures, President Donovan finally terminated the project altogether.

Jeremiah finished his meal. He checked the equipment once more before going to bed. Warren, the young Guardian who many hoped would be his successor, was supposed to have relieved him hours ago, but Jeremiah had sent him away, telling him that he needed to do some thinking, and that the control room was as good a place as any to do it. In truth, he knew Warren was fond of a seamstress named Tricia, and he wanted the young Guardian to have as many chances as possible to be with her. He prayed that Warren didn’t squander his life away as he had.

Jeremiah curled up in the corner on his sleeping mat. He pulled out the pendant around his neck, sculpted in the form of a creature known as an eagle, symbolic of the Colony’s founder and the world they hoped to return to one day. He pressed his lips to it, muttering the life-oaths of fealty that he and all his brethren committed to when becoming Guardians. The words, once like sweetened wine on his lips, often tasted bitter on his tongue these days. But tonight they reminded him of happier times, when his faith had been strong and his desire only to serve was without question.

He drifted off to sleep, untroubled for the first time in months by the cries of the dead. He dreamt of life instead, seeing himself running in the sunlight with the wife he’d never had and the child he always wanted. His little girl’s braids waved in the warm breeze as she ran, and he chased her down and held her close. She turned to him and said: “I love you, Daddy!” He looked down at her, and kissing her on the forehead, replied: “I love you too, Cassidy.”

~~~~~~~~~~
Ariana stroked her husband’s picture as she sat alone in the darkness. Although it had been years since his death, she could still feel his presence watching over her and her daughter every minute of the day.

“Mommy!” cried Cassidy as she entered the apartment. She ran over to her mother and leapt into her lap.

“Hi, Baby. Did you take the elder his supper?”

“Yep, and he said to say thank you and tell you that he’s sure it’s delicious. I’m going back tomorrow so he can tell me about our colony’s history.”

“Oh really? Cassidy, you know I don’t want you learning about that until you’re old enough to understand the whole truth, not just the half-truths the Council wants us to believe.”

“I know, Mommy. But Jeremiah said--”

“Jeremiah, huh? So, you’ve already managed to charm him I see?”

“Yeah, he’s really nice. And he’s not mean like you said he was.”

“Did you repeat that in front of him?”

“No, I did just like you told me. I was real good.”

“And you like him a lot?”

“Oh yes, Mommy, I do. Can I go back tomorrow, please?”

“I guess if it’s all right with Jeremiah, then it’s fine with me.”

“Oh thank you thank you thank you!” Cassidy hugged and kissed her mother until they both burst out giggling.

“Now go get ready for bed. Sounds like you’re going to have a busy day tomorrow. I’ll be along in a while after my friend leaves.”

“Do I get to meet your boyfriend this time, Mommy?” Cassidy asked with a sly grin.

“Ooh, off to bed with you young lady!” Ariana laughed, swatting her playfully on the behind. Cassidy climbed down from her lap and hurried into the bedroom.

Ariana picked up her daughter’s portrait from the stand next to her. She stuck both it and her husband’s picture in a drawer before pulling out a small book from beneath the cushions of her seat. Its pages were stained by age, and the gold engravings on its leather cover were faded and illegible. She closed her eyes and sighed.

“It won’t be long now, my love.”

~~~~~~~~~~
“So, then what happened?” Cassidy sat on Jeremiah’s sleeping mat with her legs crossed. She had come to him first thing in the morning, and they had been talking most of the day.

“Before scientists could dismantle the device, war broke out all across the land.”

“Why?”

“Two small countries were squabbling over land rights. Bigger, more powerful countries soon got involved, and things quickly escalated into a full-scale war. They struck at one another using advanced weaponry, and each time one country lashed out, another would respond with equal or greater force. Millions of people--” He paused, unable to look at the child.

“Millions of people what, Jeremiah?”

He took a breath.

“Died.”

“Oh.”

“Soon, all governments collapsed, and the survivors were left to fend for themselves. Major cities were reduced to rubble and lush forests turned into charred splinters.”

“What are forests?”

“Areas covered with large plants called trees. We don’t have anything like them in our hydroponics gardens. They say that some were so tall, their branches brushed the sky.”

“Is that higher than the roof of Donovan’s Hall?”

“Very much so. And they say the air was flavored with the essence of life. And that at night, the dome of the sky was filled with twinkling crystals of light.”

“I wish I could go there now.”

“Me too.” Silence fell over the room for a moment, each of its occupants following his own stream of thought.

“Anyway, President Donovan, despite being very sick from one of the illnesses born out of the war, led us to the Caverns. He chose those he deemed wisest of the survivors to be our ruling body, the Council of Elders. Over time, using the wealth of resources stored here, we formed a strong community. President Donovan told us the secrets of the complex, and charged us with the task of watching over it and defending it from outsiders until the day came when we could return to the surface forever. He died soon after.”

“But didn’t we go outside at all?”

“We used to.”

“Why did we stop?”

Jeremiah hesitated. He feared telling the child the true story of what had happened. Why destroy this sweet child’s innocence? he asked himself.

“Let’s save that for another day, all right? Besides, it’s getting late, and I’m getting hungry.”

“Okay! I’ll go get your dinner.” Cassidy hurried out of the room.

Jeremiah leaned back in his seat. He searched for a way to avoid telling the girl the terrible truth about what had happened next--about why the Colony had ceased venturing to the surface.

For many decades the Colony often sent scouts above to see what progress the Outsiders were making in rebuilding society. Those who returned reported widespread disease and famine, telling of power-hungry dictators who formed their own governments, enslaving the poor and the weak and murdering those who opposed them. They quoted religious fanatics wearing silky black robes who roamed the land preaching about the coming of Armageddon “to cleanse society of evil.” A few scouts even questioned the Colony’s mission, wondering if their efforts were in vain.

Fearing being discovered and overrun by the wicked Outsiders, the Donovan Colony severed all ties with the outside world. The Council of Elders created the Guardians, a sacred order of volunteers who swore to give their lives for the defense of the Colony and the protection of the weapon. Ever wary of threats arising from within the Colony, they watched over the device twenty-four hours a day, and the room itself became like a shrine to them. Over the centuries, they had come to be exalted above all others for their undying faith and dedication, and were only answerable to the Council.

Cassidy brought his food, and as she left, she promised to come back the next afternoon when he was on Watch again. He was just finishing when Warren arrived.

“Good evening, Elder,” Warren said as he walked into the room, contentment shining in his blue eyes. His blond curls gave him the look of someone much younger than thirty-three.

“Hello, Warren.”

“Did you enjoy your meal?”

“Yes, very much so. Cassidy’s mother is an excellent cook indeed. And how is Tricia?”

Warren smiled shyly. “She’s well. She made me dinner tonight at my place, and we...got distracted. Sorry I’m late.”

“That’s all right. I still remember what it’s like to be young...barely.” The two men laughed.

“Elder, may I ask your advice about something?”

“Of course.”

“It’s just that Tricia and I have been seeing each other for some time now, and I’ve been thinking--”

“Yes, I think you should.”

“Should what?”

“Ask her to marry you, of course.”

“But I--” Jeremiah winked at the young man, and a silly grin spread across Warren’s face.

“I’m that obvious?”

“As I said, I still remember what it’s like to be young.”

“Did you ever love anyone, Elder?”

“Once.”

“What happened?”

“She got tired of waiting for me to get over the idealistic fervor of my youth, so she married another man.”

“I’m sorry...But in the end, I suppose you must feel it was a worthy sacrifice. You do serve a higher cause after all.”

“Sometimes, Warren, I wonder.”