B.E.R.T.H.A.

"These daily reports are amazing. Thank you so much for them." The President said.

"Please, don't thank me..." I started, but he cut me off.

"I know, I know... B.E.R.T.H.A." He sounded displeased. "I shall thank her then!" I turned towards the door, ready to leave.

"Please, tell her I said hello." He pressed a button, and the lobby was visible now. "Don't forget to begin your preparations. We are ready to leave!" Now, it was me looking displeased, disgusted with him. His tone was not a friendly one.

"And that was the last thing he said to you?" My friend asked, surprised.

"Yup. I was then escorted out and brought back here, with the rest of the population. My privilege was revoked, and my skin's badge deactivated."

"Damn." He said, patting my shoulder. "Well, welcome back. We missed you, although we cheered when they included you in the selection. You made all this possible, after all." He was now looking for something on his desk. "Hey, do you still have the complete checkup list we will use for the lift off?"

"You know the drill. Send me an email and she will send it to you, again."

"What's the subject for that?"

I looked at him like a father does when his son is trying to fix a flight's controller for the first time. "Send: final checkup list."

"Sent!" He announced, while checking his screen. "These automatic responses and reports are amazing. That's the best thing you made her do. They are Brutally Effective..."

"Please, stop." I barged in. "I know the acronym. I created it"

"Repetition of Tasks..." he continued, daring me with his attitude.

"Stop." I was laughing with him now.

"...for Human Assistance!" he ended his well-rehearsed routine, as the requested report showed up on both his terminal and mine. I read it for the thousandth time, but now a single line at the end got my full attention. I opened a file and checked several pages from an old document. My eyes widened in disbelief.

"I still don't understand why they're leaving us behind," he murmured loud enough for me to hear.

"Money and Power. That's all." I said, sitting by the Master Console. "They choose the few with those two items to start all over on a new planet, while the rest stay behind to rot".

"Don't we all deserve the same future?"

"We do..." I was looking at my screen, showing the ship's altitude. "Could you send me an email?"

"Now?"

"Now is the best time..." I said.

"I guess. Subject?"

"Execute: response, 404, End."

"Weird subject, but I never ask." He finished typing as I was fixed on my display.

"Sent"

We both heard the 'ding' sound. He started reading the message.

"It just says 'Good bye, Doctor'..."

"That's from B.E.R.T.H.A. It's her response."

"Where is she, by the way?"

"Now, it's more like where was she..."

Everybody was looking at the big screen, showing nothing but a big ball of fire.