Heatwaves roll across the desert. This area being more red than brown almost seems burned by the sun. A lonely black strip stretches across the basin floor and meets the mountains in the distance as it passes through them. Constant, relentless heatwaves roll from the desert floor with intense heat.

A closer look at the ground reveals nothing alive, nothing moving, except the sound of a bubble popping from the boiling asphalt. This grand road had once carried excited gamblers to Las Vegas, Nevada. Now it only carries the grim reality of global warming. The same global disaster that resulted in the World Wide Treaties Organization(WWTO). A world united under one cause - getting off of the planet.

Suddenly life dawns in the distance between the mountains, hovering above the black strip is a sleek, white and arrow dynamic vehicle. Curved to perfection without the added space of tires and wheels. Powered by air, this vehicle glides across the old road that was part a network of asphalt strips. Once serving as a solid foundation for travel, now reduced to boiling strips of tar.

As the vehicle glides down the black strip, a small tumble weed rolls across the desert, lands on the hot asphalt and bursts into flames. By the time the car reaches the tumble weed, it is nothing more than faint ash. The vehicle pulls off the road and stops. Moments later the doors open and four people emerge from the car. All are wearing white suits, like space suits with a full head bulb. The car continues hovering while they gather in the dirt, avoiding contact with the melted black top.

One person walks ahead and the others follow.

The man leading the group stops, waves his arm across the vast basin, and says, "This is it. This is the spot chosen to build the docks and the launch pads."

Everyone else begins talking all at once, each in a different language.

"Wait a moment, Please speak one at a time if you would. I want to hear everyone's thoughts on this projected site."

Everyone looks the same in these suits, except for build, height and weight. They are all wearing the same dark tinted head gear and white body suits designed to withstand the intense heat. A woman's figure raises her hand.

"Yes Mrs. ChiLionce. Please begin."

"Thank you Mr Riteus. My only concern here is with the amount of space we will be using for this project. Is this area large enough?"

"That is my concern as well." Says a man standing next to the woman.

"Thank you Mr. Shwin, Mrs. ChiLionce, your concerns are valid and well accounted for." Mr. Riteus nods at them both, "This area is vast and desolate, all the land you see before you, behind you, and around you, is ours."

Everyone looks around them at the millions of acres of desert that they had not noticed before. "We can work with this", states Mrs. ChiLionce.

Others agreeing with nods and positive gestures. Another man steps forward, "Where do we sign?"

"Easy Mr. Bongtain. Let's get out of this heat and inside a climate controlled room, Shall we? We can sign papers over a nice cold beverage. How does that sound?"

Everyone agrees and returns to car, careful not to step in the bubbling asphalt.

Later that evening, Mr. Riteus is relaxing in his bedroom, with a grin on his face, when the door bursts open. His eight year old adopted son barges in and bounces onto his bed.

"Dad, guess what I learned in school today?"

"Rudy, tell me. What did you learn in school today?" He asks his son.

"Guess! Dad just guess!" Rudy says.

"Now Rudy, you know how I feel about guessing."

"I know dad." Rudy uses his fingers to make quotations in the air, "Guessing is an inaccurate waste of time."

"That is right! Now was it Particle Control Acceleration when applied to Rocket thrust?"

"NO! Silly goose, I learned that 2x2 makes 4." Rudy grinning from ear to ear.

"What? You are eight years old and just now learning 2x2?." Mr. Riteus stands, huffs and puffed, and pounds his fist on the night stand.

"I was just kidding Dad! I learned 2x2 when I was baby, you taught me that one! We did learn about Nano particle acceleration. They are the key to strong shields and balanced thrust. Particle Control is so cool!" Rudy excitedly told his dad.

Mr. Riteus knew his son was joking about 2x2, just as his anger was fake when hearing about it. He rarely ever got mad enough to pound anything.

"JOHN! JOHN!" A woman's voice calls from another room. He looks startled in the direction of the voice calling him. Then he looks at his son.

"Did I do something wrong?"

Rudy looks at his dad with a huge smile and shrugged his shoulders, "I know, but I cannot tell you or mom will make me clean the kitchen!"

"Tell me. You know something." John plays with his son, picking him up and tickling him. "Tell me who your leader is. What has your evil commander have planned for me?"

They reach the living room and John almost drops Rudy when a room full of people yell, "SURPRISE!"

He sets Rudy down, kisses him and then goes to his wife and kisses her. The room is full of his 22 adopted children, ages ranging from 8 to 21 and nationalities from all over the world.

"Thank you my wonderful family. Since I have your attention, I have an announcement to make."

They all focus on him.

"Everyday of my life is dedicated to you, my family, whom I would be nothing without. To you I dedicate this birthday because with your love and support, the ships will be built on schedule."

"You mean?" His wife asks.
 
"Yes Rose, construction on the docks and the launch platorms begins in a week. The WWTO approved the spot and we are green for the go!"

Everyone cheers and begins singing happy birthday. John kisses his wife and blows out the candles on a cake that says, "Happy 45th."

It is a beautiful sunny morning and I am walking with my 7 year old son near a small reservoir that is surrounded by trails, berms, and trees. It is common spot for off road vehicles.

As we are walking hand in hand, we come upon a blond woman, in her 40's, who is buried in a small berm. Only her head and left arm are exposed. She is crying, weak, and pale.

"Kill me please." She requests softly.

"What?" I respond in disbelief.

"My daughter is dead and I want to be with her. Please kill me." She requests again, still crying, but calm.

"I cannot, please do not ask me to do that." I say to her with remorse. I can see and feel her pain.

"You MUST KILL ME!!" She screams. "I cannot live another day without my daughter!"

"I am sorry. I will not kill you. I am a healer, not a killer." I compassionately say to her.

Suddenly she goes mad, screeching "Kill me or I will kill you!" and begins digging, like a mad woman, with the one arm she has exposed.

I grab my son, shield his eyes and step back from her.

She is in a rage, frantically digging and yelling "I will Kill you!"

I take my son's hand and we run away.