"What is it you wish to discuss today, Michael?"

"You know damn well what I want to talk about, Olaf."

"I'm sorry, I do not follow..."

"I'm talkin' about Princess Snoring Beauty in there!" We were out on the front veranda while Anna was still in bed, entangled in the sheets, hair everywhere.

"What about her?, isn't she everything you ever wanted?" Just then she let out a loud snore, while a flock of birds flew out of the tree beside her window.

"Yes, she is the embodiment of all my fantasies, Olaf. But they're just fantasies, and I happen to live in the real world."

"Then Michael, I suggest you take a look around, does any of this look like the 'real world' to you? We're giving you a second life, Michael. Giving. All we expect in return is a chance of new life on our new world. Is that so much to ask? We picked two hundred and fifty of you out of nearly seven billion, most of which are now doomed to extinction. You Michael, we picked you.

In your mind, she is the love of your life.

On Earth, she was a complete impossibility, yet within a few meters of us, lies a living, breathing, albeit loud creature which is everything you ever wanted in a female, what could you possibly dislike about this?"

"That's the point Olaf, it's just too easy. Part of the human condition is struggle. We fought our way to the top of the evolutionary chain on Earth by smashing and clawing our way there. She just waltzes in the door yesterday and says; 'Hi Honey, I love you!' Then I see her face, she was a complete surprise that I just wasn't ready for."

"We thought you might have enjoyed the surprise. She was to be your Eve."

"In a way it's a good thing really, being that wrong makes you fallible. I guess your not God after all."

"Even a God can make a mistake, Michael." Hmmm, didn't see that coming. I had to wonder if God truly was on the other side of that shield wall. But there would be no finding out. With their ability to read minds, it's impossible to form any plans for a coup, and why would I? I should really learn to just roll with it.

"Alright, Olaf. Maybe I've been a little hasty in my judgement, can you at least try to keep me informed of radical alterations of my lifestyle from here on out?"

"I apologize Michael, it was never our intention to frighten or enrage you. Sometimes humans are hard to read,... we dropped the ball on this one."

"Good earth metaphor there, Olaf."

"Thank you, I've been studying. Is there anything else you wish to discuss?"

"Well, she does seem to have a lot of me in her, yet she's still quite effeminate, where does that come from?"

"Do you remember the blue haired girl from your dream you had several years ago?"

"There's no way I'll ever forget that."

I can still picture 'her'. I was looking in a mirror and saw a teen aged girl with blue hair in it. I woke up the instant I realized it was me, breathing hard and covered in sweat. It was 4:00 in the morning when I woke up and I damn sure didn't get back to sleep.

"That girl still lives in your deep subconscious."

"WHAT?!, that means I have a multiple personality disorder! I thought I was a little nuts, but this rubber room stuff here, Olaf!"

"Actually, all humans have multiple personalities, so you're in good company. Your brains have developed a way to bury these personalities very deep so they don't cause confusion in your lives, but they can surface if they're crafty enough.

All humans on board this vessel certainly have them. It's part of how we created your mates."

I was now feeling ill, just knowing that thing is in there waiting to send me to Crazytown makes me wanna' puke. The thought of some poor girl trapped in the prison of my subconscious makes me feel pity for her. I'm sorry, blue-haired girl, wherever you are in there. Maybe being manifested in Anna was her avenue of escape, I certainly hope so.

"Thanks for the total bum-out, Olaf. I got one other thing, and well, yea, this is kinda' embarrassing, really. But I think it would be in our best interest if we had some, ya' know,... protection?"

He did his hesitation thing again. "You mean for the prevention of fertilization?"

"Um, yes Olaf... That."

"You need not be concerned about that. Her reproductive system has not been activated yet."

"You will inform me when that happens, right Olaf? No more surprises?"

"Of course, Michael. Will that be all?"

"Yes, Olaf."

"Very well." Then he flew to his hole. Just then Anna started to stir. With a big stretchy yawn she came out onto the veranda and gave me a sleepy hug while I looked out over the railing into the Habitat. It would be our first full day together, and our schedule was empty. I really didn't know what to expect today, I just knew it wouldn't be as chaotic as yesterday.

Olaf's words weighed heavy on my mind; 'doomed to extinction'. They may have permanently killed the power, just to accelerate the death of a dying world. For years I preached that the Apocalypse was coming, and now I've escaped it,... but it takes away the satisfaction of me being able to say 'I told you so!'

Now I'm in Heaven with an angel at my side, while the Earth goes down in flames.

Out of the ashes a new world would rise. Without humans in the way, Earth stood a chance. In ten thousand years, any evidence of our existence would be gone...