Gardens of Destruction

The helicopters touched down gently, and the vast camouflaged roof of the base sealed shut above them. The rotors gradually ceased their whirl, and one by one, all disembarked into the silence that engulfed the space. Bernstein wrung his hands, at a loss for words, burning with anticipation for the tales of what had transpired. The downcast faces that passed him dampened his fervor, leaving him wordlessly watching as they dispersed to their quarters. Only Valentina offered him a faint smile.

Hours later, they convened in the command hall, where the Russian broke the oppressive silence that had settled among them.

“General, it has been an honor to serve under your command! The time has come for me to forge my own path. Duty calls me home, my family awaits...”

His declaration landed like a bomb in the midst of the hall.

“So soon?” the professor expressed his surprise.

“Regrettably, yes. I cannot delay any longer; I cannot leave them at the mercy of the invaders!”

“I understand, lieutenant... I won’t try to convince you to stay. You’re always welcome back here. Go forth, and may God be with you...” Patterson spoke with a businesslike, yet wistful tone.

Valentina stood and surveyed those present as if to etch each face into her memory.

“I too must leave, mom... without you.”

Jana was stricken and bewildered by her words.

“But... why, where, we’re safe here...”

“No, mom, nowhere is safe! I must find the Others! Only together can we defeat the Gardens of Destruction!”

“Others? Are there others like you?” Jana asked, her eyes wide with fear.

“No, I will create them! I am the Source and the Meaning of life! You must already know this.” She said with cryptic voice.

“Yes, Val, you are the meaning of my life!” Tears streamed down her face. “But to create more freaks like...”

“Freaks? Like me?” Valentina looked at her sternly. “Yes, I will. But I will teach them how to be human, like me!”

“Mom, this world has no future, haven’t you realized that yet? We are the only possible future! It’s inevitable... and sad. They won’t suffer, I promise!”

“Can’t I come with you?” Jana pleaded.

“You’re not ready for this! And I can’t afford to lose you! You’re the fortress keeping my humanity! I love you, you know this, we all love you!”

Mark nodded slightly at Val, in agreement with her words.

***

Faint light filtered through the cracks in the giant hall of the Garden. The alien sarcophagi, of peculiar shapes, lay empty, abandoned by their recent occupants. At the center of the room, adorned with giant mural-like formations, several Gardeners had arranged themselves in a circle, standing motionless as if they were statues rather than living beings. In their midst lay the body of the Gardener slain by Valentina.

“Death! Sorrow! Void! We are not all! Punishment! Do we desire her, or not? It’s not for us to know, only the Garden understands!”

The creature looked up, and a chilling scream echoed through the chamber.

“The One no longer among us must nourish the Garden. Another one will come!”

Then, an invisible force lifted the deceased being, and the others followed in a mournful procession to the air shafts. They released it into one, sending it on its final journey as a Gardener.

The massive body thudded heavily to the ground with a dull sound, lying motionless. The night was tranquil, the stars shimmering like tiny jewels, the sound of crickets filling the air, oblivious to the Earth’s final days.

The figure stirred slowly. The dead Gardener stood up gradually, looking around as if seeing the world for the first time. With a soft, grating metallic whisper, it uttered:

“Awakened!”