The Ark Series (Book 3): The Ark of Alliance

by Kotrous, Scott

  Peter lowers his head and then moves next to Maggie who puts her hands on her hips and looks at Ena. “Well, then, we need to do something about it; we just can’t sit here! If you’re not going to help us, we’ll come up with a great idea ourselves.” She stares at Ena for a moment and then looks at Peter with his hands on his hips before looking at her uncle with his head down. “Uncle John, help me out here.”

  John looks up at her. “What’re you lookin’ at me for, kid? This is your planet now, and if we can somehow manage to make it through this . . . us old-timers were the ones who got us all into this mess, so we obviously can’t figure it out. It’s going to take the youth of the world to figure this one out. I’m afraid I wouldn’t be of much help.”

  “What’re you talking about? You’re the reason why we’ve stayed alive as long as we have. You built this place and saved us all, and now you’re giving up?!” Maggie puts her hands up, showing her palms.

  John shrugs his shoulders while shaking his head. “But I chose to close my doors and didn’t help more. It’s just like Ena said, I had all the power; I was blessed with loads of money; and I used it to push people away instead of helping them . . . I had everything, and I used it to separate myself even further from society then I ever did with the use of hate . . . which was something I frequently used as a young man . . . and so I forfeited that choice by being content with my life, instead of doing things like standing up for our basic human rights like the right to choose.” He looks at Peter and then at Maggie. “So, like I said, this is up to you kids, and only you.”

  Maggie looks at Ena. “Tell us what to do, Ena. How do we fix it?”

  Ena puts her hands up by her waist. “Unfortunately, John is wrong about it being solely up to you and your fellow youth, because it’s up to all of you . . . the new thinking and ideas of the youth, guided by the wisdom and experience of the elders, is what it takes. Once you have the willingness to change, you start questioning everything, which begins with just simply asking questions . . . so to avoid making the same mistakes in the future, such as why most Americans had everything, yet all they cared about were money and possessions, television or video games, or drugs, alcohol, and sex. And in the meantime, they forgot about the only thing in life that’s truly important . . . and that’s life, in all forms, but especially in its most fragile form.”

  “What, like, as in children?” Maggie looks at her and then John.

  “Precisely . . . because any and all societies that tolerate child abuse in any form will surely fall . . . it’s inevitable.”

  “Ya know, most of our society isn’t a bunch of evil, child abusing Opocks. Many do, in fact, still have a heart and still care and love one another and themselves.” Maggie crosses her arms and stares at Ena.

  “Again, I’m not referring to you three. Some of you may have sinned in the past, but you’ve never committed a mortal sin without using self-defense or protecting someone . . . which are pretty much the only ways that particular sin can be broken.”

  Peter puts his hand up. “Wait, what’s a mortal sin? How’s that different from a regular sin?”

  “A mortal sin is something that hurts another human being . . . because some sins can be forgiven, such as using the Lord’s name in vain or something like that . . . they are forgivable because they don’t affect another human being . . . which, like I said, is what our commandments were designed to do . . . just keep us from hurting each other.”

  “Yeah, we get that. But like I said, we’re not all the same, and we do, in fact, want to learn and change for the better. We don’t sin or hurt anyone, and we just want to live a good, peaceful life!” Maggie uncrosses her arms and puts her hands on her hips.

  Ena instantly perks up and looks surprised. “It’s that kind of passion that’s needed to change the world. But, I’m sorry, like I said, you’re going to have to prove it and not just say it, because the truth of the matter is, most of you will likely just go back to your old, ignorant ways.”

  After a brief silence, John looks up. “You make it seem like it’s hopeless . . . nothing’s hopeless; it’s just not going to be easy.” He looks at Maggie and Peter.

  Ena looks up at the three of them. “It’s not about the toughness of the task, yet the willingness to put forth the effort.”

  Maggie shows her palms. “Like what? See, this is where we need guidance from you and your people.”

  “All I can say is that it starts with committing yourself to do whatever it takes to better the world by setting aside your differences and learning to work together to come up with solutions for the greater good. Gone are the days of arguing just for the sake of arguing, just because someone wants to prove they are right and the other person is wrong. You must learn to consider both sides of the argument, and to consider the other side’s ideas, even if you don’t agree, because all of your one-sided thinking was partly to blame for all of this.”

  “And I completely agree . . . and others will too . . . see, we need your guidance and wisdom . . . just like you said about our elders, the same goes for you and your people too . . . we need the same from you.”

  Ena thinks for a second. “And you’ll get that, I can assure you. But if we give you all the answers then you’ll stop thinking for yourselves and expect us to come up with all the solutions, so my people want you to think for yourselves. Not to mention, the solutions that work on my planet won’t necessarily work on yours. So my people want your people to solve things for yourselves, which takes every citizen to change their mindset . . . and that’s on top of cutting ties with Opocks as well as stopping sinning . . . sooo—”

  The three of them stand there speechless, not looking at each other until John raises his head and smiles at Ena. “You just wait, someday this country is going to do something that astounds you and makes you regain your faith in its people . . . you just wait.”

  “I hope you’re right, John, because they’ve run out of excuses and are destined for failure unless most of you change your ways. Because, like I said, it’s not a choice anymore, and has now become a necessity. But even if you somehow convince my people you can indeed change for the better, you still have to do your part by spreading the word and teaching others.” Ena looks at all three of them.

  They each give a reassuring look in their own way.

  After hours of further discussion about things like the goggles and the human soul and spirituality, along with discussing religion and politics, accompanied by countless arguments from all three of them that Ena quickly has an answer for, there is a long pause.

  John takes a deep breath and then looks at Maggie and Peter before looking at Ena. “By the way, you’ve mentioned our life purpose once or twice, but you’ve never said what it is?”

  Ena drinks from her water bottle and then looks at him. “Each of us has our own individual purpose . . . but overall, our main purpose in life is love . . . plain and simple . . . love. Love for each other and ourselves . . . love for the passions in our life . . . our dreams . . . what we love to do . . . and who we love to be with . . . and of course, love for our Creator.”

  Chapter 40

  Ena suddenly puts her finger to her ear and listens while she swipes and taps on her tablet. The bubble goes back to clear and reveals that they are still surrounded by Infected. She finishes using her tablet and then looks up at everyone. “I’ve just received word that an antidote will be released in the ventilation system throughout the Ark except in the residences. We’ll be safe in here, but be prepared to do triage as soon as the fog clears, because these people will need medical attention immediately afterwards.”

  “Wait, wait! I have so many questions; we can’t go yet!” Maggie sits up and then looks around the bubble.

  “I’m sorry, but we’re out of time right now. You should have asked more questions during our conversation throughout the night.” She looks at her with furrowed brows.

  Maggie searches for something to say. “I . . . it was just . . .
a lot to take in.” She looks at the ground.

  “Well, I’m sorry, but it’s time to get going. I just wish you had asked more questions . . . But you’re an intelligent human being, all of you are, each capable of thinking of solutions to the problems in your world on your own, and the day you and your people realize that will be an awakening.” She looks at her tablet and then looks up. “And here we go.”

  They all look up and see a fine mist spewing from the vents and falling upon the Infected, who soon start to show signs of panic before they hit the ground, convulsing uncontrollably. After a few minutes of shaking, most turn motionless.

  “Alright, people. In a few minutes this place will be flooded with medical personnel and we need to help out where we can and get these people as stable as possible. Any questions?” Ena looks at the three of them.

  They each shake their heads and remain speechless as the bubble dissipates and people begin entering the area to assist the fallen.

  Peter turns and looks at Ena. “What about me? I guess I need the antidote as well.” He lowers his head.

  Ena smiles at Peter just as he looks up at her. “I think you already found your antidote.” She looks at Maggie and smiles again while the two of them look at each other.

  John sees Kate from across the room just as she looks up and their eyes meet. It’s like he’s seeing her for the first time again and he doesn’t hesitate to get to her.

  They meet somewhere in between, all while never taking their eyes off the other. They interlock hands and get close to each other as they stare into each other’s eyes before they kiss, almost oblivious to what’s going on around them.

  Tears stream down their faces that seem to combine into one before they finish kissing. “I’m never leaving you again, Kate. No matter what happens, I’ll never leave you again . . . you have my word.”

  She places her fingers on his lips. “Please don’t make promises you know you’re unsure that you can keep; you know I hate that.”

  He smiles at her, looking like a teenager with his first crush while he shakes his head. “You’re my everything . . . and I don’t exist without you.”

  He lowers his head just below her chin and rests it on her chest.

  She wipes some tears from her eyes and then kisses his head. “I would be lying if I didn’t say you were my everything as well . . . well, you and the kids.”

  He laughs and then looks at her. “Oh, yeah. Them too.”

  Kate laughs a little and then looks around the room just as Maggie and Peter walk up. She looks at them and then at John. “We need to help.”

  “I’m right behind you.”

  She pats him on the shoulder while looking at Maggie. “You still want to be a doctor, right?”

  Maggie instantly perks up. “Yes! Absolutely. Where can I help, Aunt Kate?”

  “Just stay with me, and I’ll teach you everything you need to know.” She looks at John and smiles. “Looks like I got all the help I need. Why don’t you and Peter see if you can help build more beds?”

  After finishing up assembling the last of the beds, John and Peter find Kate and ask where they can help, right as Ena walks up. “Would you mind if I borrow him for a minute?” She points to John when she looks at Kate

  Kate looks at her and then John with raised eyebrows. “Oh . . . well, alright, then. Looks like you’re needed elsewhere. Just please hurry back soon.”

  “Copy that. I’ll be back as soon as I can.” He kisses Kate before parting ways.

  Along the way up the ramp, John remembers to ask Ena a question that’s been on his mind for a while. “So you mentioned something about the EMP being caused by your people. Why did you do that?”

  “Same reason we took out most of your communication capabilities and usually only allowed shortwave radio transmissions.”

  He slows down and looks at her as she slows and turns toward him. “Again, why would you do that?”

  “Because we attempted to defuse the situation before it occurred. We tried to eliminate communication between countries before the nuclear war because they were just escalating the tension by conversing with each other. And the EMPs were to keep the military from destroying the Ark and killing everyone in it. We even tried to scramble the avionics on their helicopters in hopes of slowing down their attack on the Ark. It’s the same reason why we allowed your radio specialist to intercept encrypted military transmissions that my people decoded for them. See, John, everything we did was in your best interest, to protect all of you.” She purses her lips while shaking her head. “And you thought you made it through the Apocalypse all on your own . . . but you did not. Not only have my people protected you over the past year, we were responsible for making sure you found this mountain range in the first place . . . even seeded it for gold.”

  “Ahh . . . what?”

  “Oh, yes. We possess the technology to turn most minerals into gold, and we seeded not only the Ark, but all the mountains that surround it. We have decided that you and your people are the only ones who will be responsible for all currency that will go back to the gold standard.”

  “Say what?! I don’t want that kind of responsibility . . . why would you do that to me!”

  “Do that to you? We blessed you with all the money in the world and you see it as a burden? Think of the good you can do by teaching the world how to handle this potentially dangerous thing called money . . . which is, in fact, the root of all evil, and the main way the Opocks get to you . . . taking that power away from them will permanently cripple them for good.”

  John hesitates for a second before starting to walk again. “Like I said, I’m not sure if I want that responsibility, but I’ll give it some thought and consider it. Because I see your point.”

  “Very well, then.” She nods her head and then leads him up the ramp and to the large blast doors.

  A group of soldiers, along with other civilians, seem to come out of the shadows, which startles John. One of the soldiers asks where they can help, but John hesitates to answer and lowers his head.

  Ena looks at John. “It’s your house, John.”

  John takes a second, but then eventually looks up and at the people behind the soldiers. “You guys head down the ramp to triage and make sure you’re all okay. I need to speak to the soldiers alone.”

  One of the civilians steps forward. “These men saved our lives, just so you know.”

  “I just have one question.” The people walk past before he continues. “Why are you here, in my house?” He sharply shakes his head.

  One of the soldiers speaks up. “Our orders were to secure the door, sir.”

  “Yeah, but why are you securing the door? Like, what was your main objective?”

  The soldier looks at his men and then back to John. “Sir, I apologize, I’m not at liberty to discuss operational details with a civilian at this time.”

  John looks behind him and then points with his thumb. “Well, I hate to tell you, but the Major and all his men, along with some of my people, are dead down there. So when exactly is a good time? Because I can easily show you the door where you will most likely perish.”

  Ena glances at John while the man discusses something with the only female soldier in the group.

  “Listen, guys, anyone willing to protect this country with their life is always welcome in my house, as long as I know my family and anyone else is not in danger. So maybe you can answer this. Is my family or anyone else in danger with your presence?” John raises his hands, palms facing, and then clasps them.

  The soldier glances at his men. “I think I speak for my team when I say that we are here to help in any way we can, sir. So, no, your family’s in no danger.”

  “Well, I’m glad to hear that. Just make sure you ask yourself those same questions in the future wherever you are. As a soldier, you have an obligation to US citizens to make a moral call whenever need be, because if it is, in fact, true that some countries are invaded for, say, their natural resources, then
it’s up to the soldiers to make sure that’s not the case. Because you might just end up doing something you’ll regret for the rest of your lives, which could have dire consequences in the afterlife, not to mention, failure to ask those questions can result in putting not only US citizens in danger, but your fellow soldiers as well.”

  A few of the soldiers drop their heads while the commanding officer nods his head. “I understand where you’re coming from, sir. I haven’t liked this operation from the get go, and neither have my men. I wouldn’t want someone breaking down the door of my house, and I would do anything to protect my family as well.”

  “Yet you’re here right now . . . instead of protecting your own families.”