Vegas: Evolution7
"To kill an error is as good a service as, or sometimes even better than the establishment of a new truth or fact."
Moira was cursing in her head. The facts were incontrovertible, the figures undeniable but she still was swearing silently as she stood. "That's not true! Stop denying what is right in front of your eyes!" she declared. The lights from the overhead screen bathed her in a map of the Earth, casting an eerie glow onto her white t-shirt.
"Doctor Sheppard, we have several scenarios to discuss and yours is only one of—"
"With all due respect, Doctor Lee, mine is the only one that is inevitable. Look, no one wants to face the end of this planet, but it inevitable. Doctor McKay would agree with me if he were here. He has calculated that this asteroid will hit. It is only a question of when, not if. He has narrowed it down to three possible choices of when it will hit with a projected trajectory. The impact could result in another mass extinction against which we would be helpless."
"Could. Could result, doctor. Or it could harmlessly pass us by, like the others have. Or more than likely land in the ocean as the continents will have formed Novo Pangaea by then, thus sparing us from a devastating—"
"It will still be devastating! Can't you see that? The ecological disasters alone resulting from a direct hit will end most of the life on this planet, if not all of it! Can't you see that? You need to drop this Pollyana attitude and prepare for the end!"
"Moira." John's voice was low, holding both amusement and caution as he sat beside her, lounging in the shadows of the conference hall. His gaze locked onto her, listening to her every word. He glanced at his sons who were in the back of the room, playing some computer game with other children, oblivious.
Moira glanced at him. "I'm just saying…" She resumed her seat at his raised brow.
"The truth is we don't know what will happen or even when it will happen. Not even Doctor McKay can predict it with one hundred percent accuracy. We are tracking these asteroids but anything could alter their course. Frankly our more immediate concerns are with the subduction zone and the earthquakes. We will continue with the evacuations, of course, on a purely voluntary basis, of our best and brightest. But for now the government has elected to stay." Richard Woolsey eyed the scientists gathered at the table, as if daring any of them to gainsay his statement. "With the Ancient tech provided by Colonel Sheppard we can shore up the domes and they will last for centuries, protecting us from the residual radiation."
"Not against the asteroid," Moira muttered, "and if that caldera goes you can all kiss your asses goodbye."
John snorted, touched her thigh under the table. "That's my prim paleontologist."
"Shut up, detective," she whispered, glancing at him but a smile tugged her lips.
"The data you've collected from space in invaluable. Thank you. As for speculation we have plenty of that too. You can't draw parallels from the prehistoric past to—"
"Of course I can! Can't you see?" Moira was on her feet again, her raised voice drawing the attention of her sons now. "It's happening again, but at a much faster rate! If any of you had bothered to study the history of the Earth you would see the patterns, the way that each and every extraterrestrial event has profoundly impacted life on Earth, leading to mass extinctions and the rise of new life forms, new forms of evolution! Only this time the humans won't win out, because they can't. They have done too much to this planet for it to recover in time to support us! Another life form will emerge, maybe one better, maybe once worse, I don't know, but we as a species are finished! At least here. After the third strike."
There was stunned silence at her declarations. Then a cacophony of voices all rose at once, arguing, gesticulating. They sounded angry, defiant, unprepared to accept the inevitable.
Moira ignored them all. She turned. "John, we're through here."
"Okay." John stood, gestured for her to walk ahead of him. "Boys," he called. He glanced at the scientists, the politicians and ushered his family out of the conference room.
"Mommy, mommy, what that mean?" Seamus asked, grabbing her hand.
She met his gaze. "It's all right, honey. The planet is changing, evolving, and we have to evolve with it. Well, not us. We live in Atlantis so we will be fine."
"What about the animals, mommy?" Seamus asked, all concerned.
She sighed, hugged him to her as they walked. "I don't know, honey. But animals are more adaptable than humans. Don't you worry," she soothed.
"And the elephants?"
"Yes, them too," she assured, but she knew the impending threat would doom all creatures, big and small.
"Mom, why won't they listen to you?" Johnny asked, walking beside her.
"I don't know, darling. Because they are stubborn. Because they don't want to face the reality. I can't blame them. They see the truth but they can't quite believe it."
"None of us can," John noted. "It's not an easy thing, to hear about the end of the world, ya know."
"I know. It makes me sick to think about it," Moira softly agreed. She hugged her sons to her suddenly.
"It will be all right, mom. Like you said, life will evolve. And if not we can always seed the planet once it is better, like the Ancients seeded the Pegasus galaxy."
"That's good thinking, junior. We may have to take a vacation from Earth but we'll be back." John frowned, thinking of Jack's words. "Tell me, Moy, when this thing hits will anyone survive?"
"Probably. Isolated pockets, if they go deep underground until the atmosphere clears. Or in the domes if the radiation levels have decreased enough by then. I don't know. Humans have survived catastrophes throughout history. Some will survive this one. Biodiversity however…that will take longer to revive."
"It makes me sad, mom, to think of that," Seamus noted, pouting.
"Me too, honey." She lightly kissed his brow.
The family headed for the elevators. "Wait." John caught her arm, halting her. "Let's head out to the house."
"Now? John, are you sure? I mean we delivered all the data but surely you have reports and stuff about Atlantis, right? All that military stuff," she teased.
"Already done while you were doing science and scaring the shit of them," John noted with a smile. "I wanna ride out to the house. I think it's still standing."
"House? What house, daddy, er, dad?"
"Our old house, sport. Remember it?"
"I do, dad! Wind Chime Lane," Johnny said with a smile. "When we were little, Seamus," he reminded his brother.
"Oh." Puzzled the little boy eyed his parents. "We live in Vegas?"
"We did, a long time ago," John said. "When you see it you'll remember it."
"John, is it safe?" Moira asked.
"Yeah. Don't you worry. Let's grab some water and some food and get going. We can stay out there a few hours before we return to Atlantis. Ride's outside. You won't believe it, Moy, but my old car is still in service! How cool is that?"
She smiled, replied coyly, "I'm surprised that thing is still running. It barely worked back then."
"Hey! Don't you go insulting my car. Boys, road trip!"
