Doomsday

I Nibiru XVI

Nobody can hear a scream in the vacuum of space, or so they say.

I will soon be putting the validity of that statement to the test…

What can you make and keep while you give and take it? All while spending it as though you never have enough of it, despite the fact you have as much of it today as you had yesterday, and may be completely out of tomorrow?

Time.

It feels like it’s slowly crawling along, a universally hated and invisible entity with a divine will to continue tick, tick, ticking along. The undefeated menace with the power to eventually claim us all, but maybe the reason why life itself is so precious, like a flame in a dark cave.

It is my intent to extinguish this flame.

Excitement courses through me that has reached a level above palpable. Thousands of years have come and gone since my last visit to my favorite destination.

This time, things will be different.

Finally, I make my long-awaited return.

You hear me once, you heard me again, and then I die until I am called again.

I am transcendent.

My spirit is omnipresent.

I am the thief of always.

My soul is dark like shadow.

I will outlive mountains and seas and mankind.

I will last beyond planets and stars and Martians.

My course is set, just like—

What can run but never walks.

Has a mouth but never talks.

Has a bed but never sleeps.

Has a head but never weeps.

I am the Destroyer.

And this is Doomsday.

Humanities final judgement, long overdue.

Their cries of agony and wallows in despair shall pierce the dark matter of space, once and for all settling the debate in the contrary regarding a classic adage. ‘Nobody can hear a scream in the vacuum of space, or so they say.’ Without a doubt, they have said wrong.

Born motherless and fatherless into this world without a sin, made a loud roar as I entered, then never spoke again.

Like thunder I will crash down and obliterate anything and everything in my path.

For those who are taken first, their end will be swift and merciful.

However, there is no fun to be had in swift and total annihilation. I wish to savor the moment. Relish in it. Watch their helpless and hopeless prayers to a Higher Power who will listen—and then proceed to do nothing.

Often talked of, never seen.

Ever coming, never been.

Daily looked for, never here.

Still approaching, coming near.

Thousands for its visit wait.

But alas, one cannot summon fate.

Though they expect me to appear.

They will never find me here.

By tomorrow the deed will be done.

Anyone lucky enough to survive the initial onslaught will be rewarded with hearing the anguished screams of their friends and family. The nonstop barrage of desperation will be capable of driving anyone towards the brink of madness and inevitably off the cliff of its slippery slope. As if they would have time enough to reach that fall. A different end would intervene before.

Oh, how very excited I am.

And now I can see it, that pale blue dot, third in line from the Sun.

Almost there. Tick, tick, tick.

Soon to be tick, tick, tick, Kaboom!

Until I am measured, I am not known.

Yet greatly do you miss me, especially when I have flown.

Time is running out. I wonder how long it will take for them to notice me? What will they say when they realize their hubris has blinded them from making any feeble attempts to be spared from fate’s cruel last call? Their puny instruments never stood a chance at detecting a God. I am the beginning of sorrow and the end of sickness. The end is upon them.

It cannot be seen, cannot be felt.

Cannot be heard, cannot be smelt.

It lies behind stars and under hills.

And empty holes it fills.

It comes first and follows after.

Ends life, kills laughter.

Like darkness I will consume everything. And like a black hole, I will blot out the light.

The more that there is, the less you can see.

I am the Destroyer.

And this is Doomsday.

My name, you ask?

You have asked, and so I shall tell.

My name… My name is Nibiru.

Down from the Heavens came the first lightning bolt accompanied by a booming CRACK. The stone from a pyramid had been severed and the gothic tower rained down rubble, eventually settling into utter ruin. It had begun.

II Moon XVII

Up above, a glowing object had completed its monthly metamorphosis into a very full and very silver disc. The man on the moon gazed down upon the hustle and bustle of daily life on Earth. All of its inhabitants were scurrying from point A to point B, practically none of them taking the time to stop and look around. And for any of them to stop and look up—not a chance.

Until eternity came to an end, the moon-man always felt like it would be safe from danger and destruction. However, upon seeing the unstoppable force heading straight towards him, his companions, and Gaia, it became apparent the end had come far, far sooner than previously thought.

He let out a long, drawn-out sigh, highlights of his life flashing before him in random order now that time the last grains of sand were running out. It would all be over sooner rather than later.

I can bring tears to your eyes; resurrect the dead, make you smile, and reverse time.

I form in an instant, but I last a lifetime.

He was incapable of showing emotion or feelings, but if he was, this moment would be the closest he would ever get. Strange how the fondest of memories sometimes formed looking back at moments that felt meaningless or unimportant at the time. Guess that’s why the little things weren’t so little, after all. Oh sweet, sweet, nostalgia.

Strolling back over to the dark side of the moon, the man picked up a flag and let go, allowing it to drift off into deep space. The day it was planted made for a fond memory. No one had showed any interest in visiting him again, and because of that he felt lonely. Unfortunately, he was to die in the same manner he spent most of his life, following suit with every living being and thing before, and after. If there was to be an after.

The man who made it, doesn’t want it.

The man who bought it, doesn’t need it.

The man who needs it, doesn’t know it.

On the bright side, at least he wouldn’t end up buried on the planet below, rotting in the ground to spend eternity becoming one with the dirt and the maggots and the worms. He could finally rest amongst the stars.

It was a fitting final resting place.

Somewhere on Earth, someone was looking up, thinking the same.

They could not see him in any detail from so very far away, yet uncannily it seemed as though t his stranger was almost looking through him, into his very soul. It might have given him goosebumps had he possessed the capacity to get them.

There’s someone that I’m always near.

Yet in the dark I disappear.

To this one only, I am loyal.

Though in his wake I’m doomed to toil.

He feels me not, yet we always touch.

If I were lost, he’d not lose much.

And now I come to my surprise.

For you are he—but who am I?

He stood stoically in the light and wondered what to do in these fleeting final moments. Behind him dwelled the dark side of the moon, his unofficial shadow that came and went as dependably as night and day.

Over there it was cold and eerily quiet.

No sooner spoken than broken.

The silence was deafening and hopeless. Nonetheless, it still had its appeal.

He continued to ponder a choice between the dark and quiet or the light and melancholy. Ultimately, he went with the latter, slowly letting himself down into a sitting position.

An ancient proverb once advised. 'If you don’t have to stand up, lie down. And if you don’t have to sit down, lie down.'

He took this to heart, using an arm behind his head as a pillow. It would probably fall asleep much faster than he did, but the numbing, tingling sensation never bothered him much. All around, the twinkling of stars made for one of the most beautiful sights available to be seen. He wished he had looked at them more or tried harder to make new friends with one or a few of them.

No sense in worrying about any of that now, though.

Turning his head to the right while still lying down, his attention was drawn back to the blue and green sphere, his partner in crime, wondering if she knew what was about to happen.

Of course she knew. A woman’s intuition was never wrong.

I am the third from a sparkle bright.

I thrive throughout the day and night.

Largely covered by a water you cannot drink.

I’ve had thousands of millions of years to think.

But one of my creatures is killing me.

And so the question I ask to thee.

Who am I?

The man on the moon raised himself up to one knee and wondered if Gaia was thinking about him. She mattered very much to him, and in the distance he could see, a shooting star he would wish upon, hoping she felt the same way about him.

Poetically, he would never get the chance to find out.

He felt a hand graze his shoulder, but physically it wasn't truly there. An apparition of a woman had approached in silence right behind him. She was both dreadful and beautiful, effortlessly exuding an aura of mystery. Before finding the words to speak, she was gone, and he had to wonder if she had ever really been there in the first place. The Destroyer was drawing near. The pull of the monster's gravity was unparalleled even compared to a black hole. Its force sent the Moon careening this way and that until finally releasing its hold, sling-shotting him on a crash course towards Earth. Turned out a t least one saying was true after all—the one about destroying the thing we love the most.

III Gaia XXI

Every part of her was hurting, but it wasn’t always like this. She was most notably given the name Earth, but deep down she rejected that moniker—feeling as though, especially in recent years, the new species of dominant inhabitants of the land had seemingly zero regard for her best interests, thoughts, and feelings. It wasn’t all of them, but it was enough.

Unable to understand everything that was going on, she could still hear whispers and recognize the voices behind who were doing the most harm. Ironically, some of the few who were yelling the loudest and talking down to the others were the few who were inflicting the most unrecoverable damage. The ragtag protection she got was not nearly enough. Well, the end was always nigh, it just turned out to arrive far sooner rather than later.

You have it.

You want to share it.

If you share it.

You don’t have it.

The number of secrets they were keeping were sickening. Despite the pain she was in, it wasn’t the thing that hurt her the most. She wept for the lost and the lonely who were growing up just like her. When they turned from baby to child and teenager to adult, their unseen scars would never fade.

Time was not capable of healing all wounds. Sometimes, it just covers them up.

Off in the distance, she could sense the impending destructive force heading straight at her. The epitome of ruthlessness strolling straight up to her front door ready to burn the whole place down.

But not before it had a bit of fun first.

Slayer of regrets, old and new.

Sought by many, found by few.

Nibiru had not the burden of finding its conscious and seeking redemption. Exempt of mercy, it called itself the Destroyer for very obvious reasons. And sickeningly, it had even managed to turn the moon against her.

She could feel the pull of the moon and its influence on her, the animals, and the people. The waves crashed into the shoreline unaffected by the impending doom drawing closer and closer. The wolves stood at the edge of a cliff, howling as they cemented their bond as a pack. A couple had just gotten together, holding hands as their feet swung back and forth hanging off a dock, one’s shoulder resting on the other. A couple had just split up, one looking up at the moon while trying to hold back tears, the sight somehow knocking down the final domino removing the blockage from so much pent-up emotion. T eardrops fell to the ground.

Another stood at a crossroads gazing up at the sky, looking for guidance and direction.

What goes up the hill.

And down the hill.

It goes left, right.

And all around.

Yet never moves.

And standeth still.

The loner chose a road and continued walking; blissfully ignorant the journey would end before a destination could be reached. Or maybe they knew, and proceeded anyway.

Oh, how t ragic.

Nibiru had quickly become far bigger than an insignificant speck in the sky. The more it closed in, the more frightening it became.

There was no fight or flight for Gaia. No onslaught of adrenaline inspiring self-preservation. She could do nothing, and thus accepted her forlorn fate.

I can whistle.

I can howl.

I can scream.

And I can whisper.

But I do not speak.

The fresh ocean breeze on a hot summer day.

The unforgiving gales atop a snowy mountain.

The unwavering eye in the center of a hurricane.

And the calm Autumn air i mbued with magical leaves.

She was going to miss the seasons.

The pouring rain and the swaying trees.

Falling snowflakes of which each one created held a unique design.

Blooming daffodils in the spring and sunflowers in the Summer.

Waterfalls suspended in midair by Winter’s chill.

Endless fields of green. Endless waves of blue.

And maybe most of all…

I am beautiful, up in the sky.

I am magical, yet I cannot fly.

To people I bring luck, to some people, riches.

The boy at my end does whatever he wishes.

Was there anything more remarkable than a rainbow?

I can be red, blue, purple, and green.

No one can reach me, not even a queen.

The seven wonders, maybe, but in truth there were far more than seven places and things worth seeing.

At least, that’s what she hoped.

That there was enough wonder and magic in the world to somehow make up for the pain and tragedy.

No matter what, an incredible legacy would be left behind.

Of powerful yet majestic creatures roaming around millions of years ago. Unheard of resiliency driving an ethereal lifeforce to survive again and again besides multiple extinction level events. Beautiful places to go and so much to see far and wide. Lush forests and sprawling oceans housing the coolest, strangest, smartest species of life constantly growing and adapting.

And so, so-so-so much more.

To be gold is to be good.

To be stone is to be nothing.

To be glass is to be fragile.

To be cold is to be cruel.

To be mean is to be less.

To be kind is to be warm.

And the worst thing to be—broken.

Although technically speaking, she did not have a heart, that didn’t stop her from already mourning her impending losses. Sure, there were some bad apples here and there, but they could never dim the light of the good. C ould they?

Gaia thought of the people and the animals and the trees. The moon and the sky. Memories that would last a lifetime. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

I beam, I shine, I sparkle white.

I'll brighten the day with a single light.

I'll charm and enchant all.

I'll bring out the best, in you all.

All hope was lost. Yet despite it all, she still cracked a smile.

The Grand Finale was approaching—and fast—an extravagant conclusion to a most fruitful life. The clock of infinity had at last struck zero. Tidal waves formed throughout each of the oceans with exponentially increasing size and power. Tornadoes and hurricanes opened their eyes all over the globe. The ground was quaking. Even her friends way up past the sky were not spared, as Gaia watched in shock as Death itself infiltrated the fabric of living reality.

As above, so below.

IV Star XVIII

They come at night without being called.

And are lost in the day without being stolen.

One was named after a cardinal direction and considered to be one of the brightest of them all.

Others were joined in groups, and as this profound saying goes, ‘the whole is sometimes greater than the sum of its parts.’ They formed together to be a part of an exclusive group, twelve in all.

Like Father to Daughter. Like Mother to Son. these Zodiacs passed down certain traits to whom their fallen brethren and sistren helped to create. Stardust was an essential supplier as part of the foundation for human life. And that from whitcheth came was always watching.

Certain stars clustered into rather unique formations forming something called constellations. Twelve of these formed and served as the twelve representatives of the Zodiac lying in the 'belt of the Heavens.'. They did not lie directly in Nibiru's destructive path; however, they were well within the blast range and would no doubt sustain heavy damage. Worst case scenario involved a catastrophic chain reaction of explosions spreading far enough to obliterate anything and everything. Who knew what would survive the aftermath... if anything.

Utter and total annihilation sat patiently on the horizon.

I am very large but look very small.

When night falls, I am cherished by all.

Not all of the bright dots twinkling in the void had friends to hangout with. It was much different for one, ever so lonely. CX330 was their official name.

The one who ultimately became two. A symbol for the two who would one day become one, should destiny allow it.

Typical. It didn't.

Many-a curious observers have looked up to see how Destiny has been written in the Stars. A more glorious sight was few and far between. Sparkling brightest of them all reigned North. The twelve Zodiacs were like chapters in a book, the stars who formed them were like its words. Inevitably Fate's end flirted with the cusp of time's end, a timely conclusion.

The Four Horseman of the Apocalypse roared with delight. Much had been made of the identity of these riders, however many of them were much ado about nothing. Few, if any, knew of their true power. Each Champion took up arms as they brimmed with excitement sensing Nibiru's arrival and their long-awaited, highly-anticipated opportunity to attack. One of them whispered, "War." And the rest of 'em grinned.

Antares, the Trickster, cloaked in shadow, performing whatever ruse necessary in thine quest for conqust atop a White Horse. Thee promised peace while planning for War, equipped with a lethal sting for the same purpose as an assassin's blade.

Viperam sub ala nutricare.

'A viper nursed at the bosom.'

Fomalhaut, the Drifter, a young giant so menacing thy size and thy energy made the Sun seem like a baby. Galloping upon a Black Horse, Famine followed in thy wake, inflicting a poison of which has no known cure.

Venturis ventis.

'To the coming winds.'

Regulus the King, who had his buddy Anubis on speed dial and sometimes hung out with Hades on the weekends. Together they were a force to be reckoned with. The 'Little King' with the heart of a Lion rode atop a Pale Horse.

Non ducor, duco. Igne natura renova.

'I am not led, I lead. Through fire, nature is reborn whole.'

Aldebaran, the Eye of Revelation, older and wiser than the very Sun which powered much life on Earth. The Red Rider may sometimes be referred to as 'the Follower,' but don't be fooled, for this Hunter would never the hunted.

Flectere si nequeo superos, Acheronta movebo.

'If I can not bend the will of Heaven, I shall move Hell.'

V The Sun XIX

I am always in front of you.

But you will never see me.

There's a great big, beautiful tomorrow.

Shining at the end of every da—except, for this day.

The future is no more, gone like the wind.

I beam, I shine, I sparkle white.

I'll brighten the day with a single light.

I'll charm and enchant all.

I'll bring out the best in you all.

So many will perish, their beaming smiles snuffed out for good.

For even the mightiest will not be spared.

When all hear the ringing, for whom the bell tolls.

Never resting, never still.

Moving silently from hill to hill.

It does not walk, run, or trot.

All is cool where it is not.

There will be no more rain, blizzards, clouds, or sunshine.

Four billion years on one tiny planet created a miracle.

Star-stuff served as the main ingredients to form sentient life.

The miracle was ending with limited happiness and mostly strife.

Yet until that moment, the sun beats down.

On travelers and adventurers and wanderers alike.

Sometimes I am liked.

Sometimes I am hated.

Usually I am old.

Usually I am dated.

Who would have thought the day would come so soon when the Sun would cease shining?

That the great ball of fire would become one with history given no silver lining?

VI The Fool 0

Staring up in the sky, standing in a field atop a grassy hill, a man gazes at the stars. It almost looks to him like space is blowing off its own personal and unique collection of mesmerizing fireworks. Unfortunately, the truth is far more malevolent.

He thinks about his past, always weighing heavily on his mind.

He thinks about the present, not liking where he's at and struggling to maintain hope.

He thinks about the future, and what it could bring. They say 'never say never,' but at this point, he feels like...

'Nevermind.'

It was over before it even started.

He looks down at his hand. First the front, then the back, repeating the sequence a couple of times. Then he looks up again, knowing what is coming. A wry grin appears, so very far from a fulfilling feeling he craved, and the reality of the situation sinks in. He speaks freely into the night.

"Hah. Yeah. Seems about right."

The Fool thinks of—

V Nibiru V

I am the Destroyer.

And this is Doomsday.

Nobody can hear a scream in the vacuum of space, or so they say.

I can already hear them crying out, and it's way too late to pray.

In one fell swoop, it is time for Goodbye.