The Second Fall
The mentality of the human species could certainly have come under close scrutiny. One could definitely question its sanity. What other result could be expected for a species that chose to breed without regard? The exponential growth in world population caused an increasing strain on the planet’s ecosystem for which it eventually could not compensate. With mankind pouring poisons into the water, degrading lands and resources, and corrupting the air, the continuous consumption and wanton destruction brought about a point of critical mass within the planet’s existence. When given such a final ultimatum, nature’s choice was simple…
…it retaliated.
The changes were insignificant at first, subtle. Here an unusual strain of disease, there a mild shift in climate, the occasional mutation. They all passed into existence, unnoticed by all but the most fanatic of watchers. A rapid progression commenced. An increase in natural disasters, seasonal temperature extremes, the first ripples in the global food web, all of these indicators promised a most unpleasant future without proper intervention by the ‘most superior’ species on the planet. But nothing changed. Bogged down by bureaucracy, corrupted by greed, and lacking in vision, mankind walked blindly toward its own extinction.
The first signs of famine, pestilence and plague brought the expected reaction from such a crisis driven species. Panic. It did not take long for the civilized human race to regress into their primitive war-like ancestors. Chaos began to surface as a common theme among many cultures and governments. Global pressures rose to a zenith with no viable solution in the near future. Heightened tensions and unstable emotions lead to the inevitable, world war.
The fragile nature of the human species was unable to withstand the trials and tribulations of the dark future that awaited. The holocaust was an occurrence that bordered on maniacal. The use of nuclear, biochemical and experimental weapons impacted the entire ecology with cataclysmic waves of destruction. Mankind seemed bent on scourging the planet devoid of life.
Yet, as the population dwindled and the national infrastructures crumbled into ruin, nature found that it had once again achieved the upper hand. The poisoning, the corruption, the consumption were all reduced to nonexistent levels. The healing could begin.
And what of those that sought to enslave the world? They were now simply fighting to survive.