At World’s End
“If you are seeing this video, it’s already too late,” principal scientist Hermanni’s recorded voice growled from the video-box. “We have set forth a process, unwittingly of course, that is irreversible and will end all life on Earth as we know it,” the voice continued.
Chief Scientist Engelhardti of the Royal Science Collective sighed as he watched the video in his office den. Hermanni always had a flair for the dramatic, Engelhardti thought to himself as he sipped on a barrel of fermented red blood. Granted Hermanni was the most brilliant scientist in the collective by far, even he had outdone himself with these dire predictions. As if that was not enough, Hermanni had shared the video file with the entire cohort of the science collective and even gone as far as sending a copy to his Royal Clawness, Hesperorni Regalis.
Even as he mused his next steps, the telephones in Engelhardti’s den started ringing. Of course, everyone wanted to talk to him now. He stood up and disconnected the phone line to focus on Hermanni’s video.
“As you may know we had been investigating the science behind inter-temporal portals. The good news is that after decades of research we cracked the code to open these portals. Unfortunately, we are yet to gain the knowledge of navigating through and err, closing these portals. Somewhat even more unfortunately my assistant, young Albert, in a moment of extreme over-excitement, kicked off an unsanctioned experiment and opened a portal.” Hermanni paused at this moment for dramatic effect.
“If you are thinking when this portal opened up that has caused me to declare the end of life as we know it, you are only asking one – half of the question. You see, as we have just discovered the portal gives us the ability to not just open doors to when, but also to where. Most unfortunately, young Albert opened the portal to 70 million years in the future and ahem…as to where. Well,” he paused again. “He opened the gates to hell itself.”
At this stage there were a series of explosions that rocked the video. As the smoke and dust cleared, the wrinkly face of Hermanni was replaced by a frantic looking face of what Engelhardti assumed was young Albert, the harbringer of doom. His assumption was confirmed when the figure in the video realised the video was still recording and took a second to compose himself. Engelhardti’s sense of foreboding grew.
“This is Dr. Robert, Dr. Hermanni’s..err..late Dr. Hermanni’s assistant. As he may have told you already, we have opened the gates of hell about 70 million years in the future and we have no way of closing it. Hell is hot, burning hot…and radioactive. The radioactivity alone will kill us all in a span of few months. However, that is not the worst of it. The creatures inhabiting it have discovered the portal and are poring in by their thousands. These devils, tiny though they are very powerful. They are bipeds, hairless, wear grey steel coverings on their head, and carry weapons on their limbs which shoot metal arrows at great distances. They carry balls which explode into fire and shrapnel when thrown. We have no way of controlling them. Our security forces have been overwhelmed. Our claws and size were no match for their weapons.” At this point young Robert broke down. There was a brief pause in the video as he ran with the camera to hide.
“we don’t have much time. I have managed to establish communication with these creatures. They are led by a creature called Adolf Hitler. His army calls itself the ‘Nazis’ and claims to be persecuted by the rest of the devil creatures in hell. They have claimed this time for their own.”
“I am afraid they cannot be reasoned with. They have declared this era to be theirs and are determined to eliminate all resistance. First in this time zone and then in theirs. I am afraid their aggression and strength knows no equal. The end of the dinosaur era is nigh.” The video ended abruptly with this rather depressing announcement.
Chief Scientist Engelhardti contemplated the seriousness of the situation even as his den shook with explosions and the sound of war grew nearer to his office.