1.

Diary of Brandon Michaels,

Sunday October 20th, 2097.

Twelve noon.

For the first time since early on in the year I felt a chill in the morning air as I began my day as I usually do with a two-hour walk, these walks of mine are weather permitting of course, I don't want to take a battering from Mother Nature. Who does? Weather, as we all know well, is a disaster more often than not; if and when it is anyway bearable, I do head out though of that fact I cannot always be entirely sure.

I may be on a personal road to my own downfall though I hope that this road will be a long one with many twists and turns still to come, despite having its own intermittent weather system; besides there are many ways already in my life where I take a bit of a bruising that I hardly need the added troubles that slowly losing one's mind would bring.

Anyhow, it actually felt really good, the cool fresh morning breeze which came at me in a way bearing gifts. It wasn't overly strong, this breeze, and it gave me more of a feeling of being alive than what I have been used to feeling in recent times, at least from what I can remember of those recent times that is and it also reminded me that despite how things current are, they could be a whole lot worse.

How strange it is too. Today, twice as I walked, I was sure I came across the same lady, a young lady. Nothing so unusual about that except for the fact that each time I passed her she was looking at me as if she knows me somehow, as if we are connected to one another in some way. Does she know me? Do I know her? Is she following me? I am sure enough that my mind is not letting me down here, she is not someone I should be able to remember, still ... it is a little unnerving.

Speaking of which, these journal entries are to aid me along my current journey, to aid with recall, to document the day's activities and hopefully delay somewhat that which surely is coming and as I look back through this ... diary, I see there is no previous mention of this ... lady. For now, at least, my mind is strong enough.

No matter how my life currently is, it had been oddly difficult to let my thoughts drift today. I like to daydream when I go out walking. Sometimes I get a little disorientated, this is alright, I usually get it together after a moment or two but the thoughts of having to go to this meeting later this afternoon have thrown me.

The world council wants me to meet with them today. As they put it, I am 'requested' to attend, whatever for I don't know. I highly doubt there is anything in particular that I could help them out with, and it has been some time since I have had any kind of dealings with them, but we shall soon see what all the fuss is about.

Of course, I won't be in the room with them; meeting locations are usually kept quiet and are alternated. I'll be beamed in via holographic imaging such are the modern-day technological advances. Such with all these advances and so on, still the world is on its way out as is my mind and there is nothing that anyone can do about it.

Seven pm.

Are they serious? They do know I am sixty-seven, right? I am sure they have a copy of my medical files too. They want me to go on a mission, a space mission, no less, one I wouldn't be returning from, should I take it on. They want me to go into outer space and command a star ship. They must be stuck, mad even. I am too old to get involved with something like this. I am too old to care about their problems, too old to worry about the problems of the world even if these problems do directly affect me.

My age is irrelevant or possibly even beneficial, so I was told. Maybe they are right, but this definitely is not something I'd ever expect to consider if I were a younger man, never mind at the stage of life I am currently at. Sure, I have command experience being an ex-army colonel but I am too old to take something like this on. I don't have it in me for at this point in time I just want to relax, take it easy, and live out the rest of my life as it is.

So, what if the world is dying. It can die and take me with it. Besides there are moments where I am already struggling to remember what it is I am doing at the best of times so how on Earth, or off Earth I should say, am I supposed to command a spaceship? It'll only get worse before too long. I know there is no one here to look after me when things do get worse, but I don't want to become a burden up there or anywhere else for that matter.

Surely there must be someone else that they can ask, someone stronger, healthier, someone with drive and ambition, someone with a stronger sense of survival, someone at least who would know what the hell they will be doing up there. Anyhow, they have asked me to at least take some time and think about it. I will have to give them an answer in the morning. Really though ... why me?

As my dear Florence often put it ... for everything there is a reason ... I could debate that until the cows come home and she surely knew that having to put up with me for as long as she did. A rarity she was and a rarity she will always be ...

You know, the more I let it wander through my mind, the more the idea of it all begins to sway away from my initial reaction. What would Florence make of it? Darn it, I might just as well go for it, hell, if I really think about it I have nothing to lose down here, maybe I do have something to gain or something to give or offer up there. I would not be looking forward to any of it, not entirely anyway.

Maybe too, someone may be looking out for me, putting me in a position where I have something to offer, and also putting me in a position where there may be someone to look out for me. Have me feel useful again, perhaps. Not such a bad thought to have, is it?

This is nuts, madness even, but as I say, what the hell? At least and indeed, I won't be alone. Alone, this is what I want, and this is what I have right now though right now I guess I am considering giving alone up, ah well. No need to wait until the morning, I guess, I might as well just go ahead and accept the position in my moment of right now.

There will be no coming back. It will be the beginning of what will be a worldwide evacuation. So, as it would more than seem, I am about to take charge of a lead ship, the first of what is to be many ships, all of which are to permanently leave Earth. Our mission will be both simple and difficult at the same time. We have to find a new home for mankind, lead humanity to a new world, a new life, and a new beginning ... and as to the chances of success with this new mission? Hell, who knows?

As I have been told and have mentioned, more ships apparently are to follow our lead, taking what is left from humanities only and soon to be prior home and go move to a new inhabitable planet if such a planet exists. Results of studies so I am told will send us in the direction that will give us the best opportunities ... for me the jury is out on that one. I don't know how any decision could have been made that could determine which direction is best.

Shouldn't there be multiple ships heading in multiple directions? What do I know? There is the fact that the ship I am going onto is the only one of its kind; all other ships are smaller, slower, and apparently not as well set up as the one I am going up onto. If it really is so well set up, then why has it been left so late to send someone like me up to it? Could be another reason why they want me, I will ask questions.

The name of this ship I am to command is an apt one. It is THE PATHFINDER. It has its mission, a mission I am still trying to wrap my head around. Sure, life is as it is; though when I really do think about it, without all this what else do I have to look forward to?