When the Moon is Knocked

Bethany Beach, Delaware saw a summer night that looked like a barbecue, concert and wake all at once. Fireflies dotted the air, and illuminated like tiny lanterns. Signs of life like this stood in stark contrast to what would soon happen to the desolate moon. Smells of digitized wings and ribs wafted through the air. Great vessels arose to cook the food supplements for the hungry host. Their software programs digitally downloaded the food for their minds and bodies.

“I heard the one hundred million nukes would forever change our weather, seasons, and the tides,” Keneer said. He looked at the rockets with a telescope. He felt the coldness of the scope on his fingertips on the warm summer night.

“That’s true,” Vela pointed out. “That’s why we’re doing this, or at least what the scientists say will happen.”

“All of the life in all the oceans will be adversely affected…everything will die,” Keener said. He took his eyes away from the scope.

“Over the years, we’ve been fighting back and forth, killing each other. We’ve been saber rattling. We’ve been threatening, pointing fingers and insisting we disarm other nations or prevent countries from even developing the damned things, which was a good thing. Now, America has launched her entire arsenal (I’m sure it’s probably not the entire arsenal) to engage in this project with other countries of the world.”

The winds whipped up like gusts blowing from an invisible mouth.

“So we’re just going to commit suicide instead?”

“I’m sure you figured that out once it was known that the ten trillion megatons of TNT equivalent rockets had to be used to make this experience possible, this would be it. People haven’t been on the moon’s surface in eons. It’s better to kill oneself rather than be obliterated by the next man,” Keener explained.

“I did. And I suppose this is the best way to do it,” she said.

The swirling ocean looked different. With the imminent demise of marine life, most people seemed to still feel jovial, even giddy.

“They’ve been bemoaning climate change for millennia as if the earth had not been changing for the past six billion years. Those who abhorred the technological advancements and the ingenuity and beauty of simple plastic shopping bags will finally get their wish,” Keneer sighed.

“When the moon is knocked off its orbit, it will no longer be able to shield the earth from the onslaught of meteorites. We will be at the mercy of any space debris and pieces of spacecraft and satellites that may come raining down on us. Oh, no!” Vela squeaked.

Keneer snickered. “‘Oh, no!’ This had to happen. It is in our own interest to mess with things. That’s human. We don’t play God. We play engineer. Even to cease our own existence. This will be our final signature on the face of the universe. We will be able to see just how destructive we can actually be for everyone and for always.”

“I hear you talking,” Vela said. “But when talks broke down to rid the world of bad actors, we chose to bring up the nuclear option. We chose to stay here instead of explore other planets. Most people discovered living conditions in other places like Mars. We’re going to keep the idea alive until we die, which will be in the hours, days, and weeks to come.”

“Precisely. That’s why all these people out here and around the globe are celebrating. They’re saying hooray for the idea of everyone dying together rather than living apart.”

“We really did a job on ourselves as humans,” Vela observed.

“We possess the most mysterious thing in the universe: the human mind. We’ve used it to sustain ourselves while also to destroy. Well, this will be the final chance to just dance.” Keneer peered into the telescope and tracked the movement of the multitude of weapons. It appeared as if they were frozen in time but they were moving at many thousands of miles an hour.

“When was the last time?” Vela asked.

“What?”

“When was the last time you danced?”

“I haven’t in years,” Keneer replied.

The music drifted, a combination of jazz and bossa nova floated in the air that activated the mental implants.

“Why don’t you get away from that telescope and come and dance with me?”

Keneer grinned and stepped toward Vela in the moonlight.

*****

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