Chronical of the End

written by Idaho Shepherd

Summory: An account of the pollution of the seas causing a depletion of the world’s oxygen supply, resulting in the inevitable end of Corus and its inhabitants. This chronicle will serve as a last desperate distress call and an account of our plight.

Rating: PG, thoughts of death, suffering and starvation

Author's note: This was written as a creative writting assignment. While studing science (and not writting my writting assignment) I read about plankton and other microscopic life forms. The main inspiration for this piece was that fact that "75 of the earth's oxgyen supply is produced by plankton." So what would happen if...

I hope this story is very enjoyable as well as educational. And remember nothing is bad in moderation, such as pollution and chocolate.

Chronicle of the End

written by Mercurous Orbits

(An account of the pollution of the seas causing

a depletion of the world’s oxygen supply,

resulting in the inevitable end of Corus and its inhabitants

This chronicle will serve as a last desperate distress call

and an account of our plight.)

Monday, September 13

Local News

Orbits speeds over Cosmos

The much anticipated race between the legendary Vail Cosmos and the new racer Mercurous Orbits, took place at the Aurlbern tundra Monday. Two close ties demanded a third match which Cosmos won. But because of fowl play by Cosmos, Orbits went home the victor.

It was doubtful if the young Orbits would have a chance against Cosmos, but the crowds’s suspicion were proved wrong when the racers completed the first two races only seconds apart. Cosmos finished with a time of 5.58 and 6.01 minutes closely followed by Orbits with 6.07 and 5.52 minutes. A third race was scheduled for thirteen hours by the moons.

Orbits took an early lead in the third race and it look as though he would win. As he rounded the seventh and last curve, entering the submerged tunnel, his engines stopped, giving Cosmos the lead.

A log bolt from a back wheel found in Orbits’ intake valve suggested fowl play by Cosmos. Since there was no solid proof Cosmos was not charged with the crime. But the Judges penalized him for inappropriate behavior. Orbits will advance to the triplex race next week.

I grew up a normal teen in the Capital city of Corus, Palanta. I led a normal life until two months ago. I remember where I was when it happened. People say you always remember where you were when a tragedy strikes. Though the last eight weeks have seemed like years, I remember where I was right then.

The race had ended. Crowds pressed in around me, congratulating me for a victory over Cosmos. Through the crowd pressed my parents, my contractor Lewis, and my best friend Colby. Colby and I grabbed each other and jumped up and down screaming “we won!”, Mother embraced me, embarrassing me.

“I knew you could bet him.” Lewis slapped me on the back. “Now we’re on to the triplex race. Its not so easy but you’ll win.”

Rolling his eyes, Colby got his D T (Digital Telereporter)player.

“This is hopeless. You have no chance of winning against Cosmos. Quit while you still have some dignity and can walk.” Lewis’ voice said in the DIT player.

“Message recorded , 11:52, Saturday, September 18.” the player informed.

Lewis eyed Colby wearyingly. We all laughed.

“Hey, who wants some fried ice cream?” my Dad volunteered.

All round the stadium the overhead speakers and intercoms buzzed to life. “Please evacuate the stadium and return to your homes. Remain indoors until you receive further instruction. We will notify you of any developments. Repeat, please return to your homes and stay indoors until you receive further instructions.”

“I guess ice cream is out of the question. Who would like floating pudding at our house?” proposed by Mom. We all hurried out to our than, puzzled. While transporting home we heard the news report,

“-advises that the recreants of Jackal boil all drinking water to kill any bacteria that may have leaked into water pipes.

“On a lighter note, the young racer from Zeafa High, Murcurous Orbits triumphed over the long reigning champion Vail Cosmos today in a closely tied race. Orbits is the youngest ever racer to represent the Zeafa complex at the triplex races.

“News of a recent natural disaster is the cause of the many evacuations around the state. Authorities are uncertain of what the danger is but are discouraging the gathering of large groups together outdoors. Everyone is advised for their own personal safety to remain indoors unless it is an emergency.”

Local News

Plankton ‘red tide’

Discovery of the rapid decrease of plankton in the ocean was made last Sunday by a team of scientists working in and around the area. Scientists are unsure of exactly why this happened and what is means. “We have some theories concerning both the cause and the reaction.” said Joel Heighser, the head of the scientific team that made the discovery.

Over the last two weeks the fishing, primarily the shrimp, and whaling sighting industries have experienced a drop in sales. Whales are seen less often near the coasts and remain at the surface only briefly. Fishers and whalers attribute their business losses to less plankton near the top. At first marine biologists excused this for irregular weather and temperatures changes causing the plankton to seek more controlled climates further down. But when the temperatures regulated and the plankton did not return, marine biologists abandoned their hypothesis.

Others began suggesting a ‘red tide’. Every so often an algae present in the sea will bloom, turning the sea red and poisoning the other marine life with a deadly toxin. Although there have been no red tides in any part of the ocean, the scientists are saying this is an acceptable guess as to what is going on.

Excerpt of radio news program aired on Saturday, September 11.

“A Toxic Waste Center, in an unidentified location, that stores up to 300,000 cubic feet of concentrated pollution; was found to be the cause of the plankton plague. A leak in a storage tank has been dumping over 1500 cubic feet of pollution into a small river. Like most waterways, this river leads into the sea, emptying into a bay where the fishers and scientists first observed the declining plankton population and other marine life.

“Pollution in smaller quantities is not deadly, but in such concentrated form it can prove fatal.” said the manager of the Toxic Waste Center. “ We have been exposed to pollution for over a century, more in the 90's and 2000, when our world was run by pollution producing power sources. Smog and hazy mists along the horizon are the visible signs of pollution.

Since then we’ve retired all use of gas and other such power sources. The pollution was collected and stored in a condensed form in our storage facilities which are throughly inspected every week. I can not understand how such an immen quantity of pollution could leak into the river without our notice. We are doing all we can to fix and correct this problem.”

Dr. Crag Moore, a marine biologists, give us his opinion of the situation. “For those not a marine biologist, the experts are worried because the plankton are dying. If all the plankton in the oceans die, we would lose the 75 of the worlds oxygen they make. That would make us dependent on all other green plants on earth that make the other 25. If the situation were reversed and all the green plant life died we would not suffocate though we might starve. It is uncertain if the world could live on only a forth of the oxygen previously available.

There are other complications to be considered, if the plankton are dead almost all marine life will starve. But not only fish, many countries depend on sea life for food. Will the green plants be able to support the world with both oxygen and food?

The cause of this disaster is the most interesting I have ever studied in all my career. Beginning in 1900 up to as recently as 2019 our world has been corrupted by pollution. Gases and fumes filling our skies, and rubbish and oil spilling into the seas. The environments suffered harm but nothing close to this catastrophic.

Now after fifty years the seas are exposed to a concentrated pollution spill. The shock and not being immune destroyed the population. At the latest we should know if there is any more damage from the pollution spill by Wednesday next week. Then we will know for sure if our guesses are true, that the oxygen supply is running out and whether the oxygen levels will right themselves or wipe out all living creatures on earth.”

Public Notice Of Evacuation:

All

residents of Palantra must evacuate to

an underground shelter around the city.

Bring only what can be carried and is needed

to service.

Evacuation must be complete by Sept. 23

It was a month ago that we received the order to evacuate. Things had gone from disturbing, bad to horrifying. The weekend of September 12 all plankton disappeared from the seas. All ships at sea and everyone living on the coast were evacuated. Air crafts equipped with oxygen tanks flying over the dead sea reported perfectly still water filled with dead and rotting corpses and carnivores feasting on the dead in the seas and on uninhabitable islands and sea shores. People less fortunate or wealthy to be evacuated to shelters died slow and painful deaths. Everywhere news could be gathered it is all the same; death.

In the shelter there is little to do to stop a person thinking of the end. Above me and around the world people are starving, suffocating, dying slowly. While safe and well fed, I sit staring at the egg shell brick walls made to protect me but which only delay the end.

There is no use denying it, I’m seeing the end of the world. Even the Politicians relies it. Congressman Flout purposed an end of the year tax cut of all taxes. Colby and I laughed at that. What good will tax cuts do us if tomorrow we could be dead?

Its times like this I become angry, if that manager had payed more attention to his job 1500 cubic feet of pollution wouldn’t have poisoned our seas. I would be at the triplex races instead to hiding in a ancient bomb shelter. He claims it was an oversight, a mistake; but how much better could I have done in his place?

How could anyone have foreseen that a chemical leak would bring the end of the world as we know it. Scientists have been occupied with theories of worldwide freezes or droughts; never suspecting that it could be caused by the consequences of our actions. I suspect that when the Manager of Toxic Waste Center, left his house that morning thought of it as yet another day to earn his families bread. Never would it have crossed his mind that this work day may be different.

In my mind I anticipated looking back on the day of September 13 as a day of victory and celebration. When I think back to Monday of the race I remember the day the earths doom was proclaimed for all to hear. In all the hurry of evacuation I left many treasure objects behind, including my medallion from the race. I’m glad I did. Winning and the medallion; really don’t matter. What’s of real value to me is the memories of my friends and family around me celebrating and comforting.

I have no real regrets in life. Developing an robot, racing in the triplex race, going to another country; I wish I could have done. But in the end I relies it didn’t matter if I did. My last two months have been as challenging as building a robot, exciting and dangerous as a race and I learned more about life, myself and the people around me, that I ever could have imagined.

Be yourself. Expect the unimaginable. Attempt the impossible.

Look far. Gaze near. Examine your world.

Ponder ‘what if...’

Drink deep. Sleep long.

Breath. Learn. Dream. Love. Live.

Experience life to the fullest.