As the pods are opening and reunions begin, Orion does a final check of his explosives and weapons.

A bunch of blinking explosives are in a line, alongside the wall and the floor of the canister room.

This should sink the bridge, or blow the ship in half, or just kill take the floor out underneath us.

Orion grabs the trigger and looks at it wearily.

"Okay. Please work. Actually, don't work. Not this time."

Orion closes his eyes and pulls the test trigger.

All devices go to a flashing and blinking RED.

He then clicks off the test trigger.

They all turn off, and the room does not explode.

Orion nods at himself. Woof.

More chambers are opened.

Hugs and weird glances.

Cole runs and opens all that he can.

HOW TO HAVE A DIGNIFIED DEATH, PART ONE

THINK OF ALL YOU ACCOMPLISHED

THINK OF THE NEXT GENERATION

THINK OF THOSE WAITING FOR YOU

IT IS JUST ANOTHER JOURNEY

Cole tries to clear the horrifying, Hallmark like greetings flashing over his real time demise.

He then looks at those coming alive in the pods.

Some cannot remember.

Others remember everything.

Some collapse.

Others vomit.

Some break into tears. Others scream violently.

The Old Man runs around them like a man half his age, crawling around the pods, jumping to and fro from them on the wall, while yelling guidance and assurance.

"Hello Dale! Yes, end of the world, I'm afraid."

"It is okay, Ming!"

"You memory may not come back, but the new world needs you in the state you are."

"This is what we signed up for!"

Cole smiles as he watches The Old Man pulling the survivors together.

They grab little bags and some hug and cry each other. Others just stare in bewilderment.

The pod people are across all ages and genders and ethnicity types.

Though the numbers look like they all definitely lean into the younger years.

All of them look similar in some strange way.

Some are geniuses.

Some are positive.

Others are monsters in the wait.

Others could build cities and draw maps.

A song or a poem could be recited from a few.

Then there was some that could cure cancer if they only break through their own skull.

One would give everything they had.

Another would kill everyone for the world to survive.

Cole wonders how he was selected into this strange group.

Suddenly, Cole feels a touch on his shoulder.

Margaret, the pretty one, smiles at him.

"Cole. I didn't think I would see you again."

If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

Cole smiles best he can, though he is dying.

"Are you the only one that survived from the other room?"

Cole nods.

"I'm sorry. You and Jan had such plans."

Cole hurts. From his insides dying and from what she said.

She smiles at him. There was something there between the two of them.

"You and I. That will always be something. We can start again. You remember, right?"

Cole lies. "Of course I do. I...I was waiting for you."

Margaret smiles, elated.

Cole then sees Ran again in his head.

On the island. The warrior woman.

Margaret comes in for a kiss, but The Old Man stumbles upon them. "Apologies! Apologies! Old feet!"

Orion checks everything again, then hears something weird.

Silence.

He slowly turns, and the next wave of the world is staring at him. All of them in their strange lululemon like outfits, all wondering what to do next.

"Aren't you a sight," Orion says to himself.

The Old Man smiles, nodding to himself. "Not bad. Not bad. The statistics didn't think it would go this well! We'll take it. Sir? Where do we go? I've already forgotten!"

Orion smiles and points towards the exit they'll have to climb up into.

"Out that door," Orion says. "Up it, actually. You'll have to climb out of here."

The Old Man looks and smiles. "Ah, yes. I remember."

The Old Man then pulls some pieces of papers from his backpack that have been sealed. He rips open the seals, and starts quickly reading over papers and blueprints and everything else.

"Yes. Yes," The Old Man says to himself.

"Uh, we're on a half sunk aircraft carrier," Orion breaks his concentration. "There is a small sand barge and a little boat out there. That is it. You'll need to wait for us to be rescued."

"Oh?" The Old Man is surprised. "What are you two doing?"

"We told you," Cole speaks up. "We're going to blow this place up."

"Oh. That. Yes. Yes. Well, everyone! Come with me! To freedom!"

The Old Man then runs over to the door that is upside down in the wall. He looks and smiles. Sunlight hits his face.

"You see that, friends? Smell that? The new world! Yes, I remember. I'll know what to do! I know the way!"

The Old Man pulls himself up and disappears.

All of the canister sleepers follow. Some limping. Some vomit as they run, dizzy from it all. Some are perfectly fine. All alive.

Margaret is one of the last ones up.

She smiles and waves at Cole. "I'll see you out there. I have a plan too."

Cole waves. She turns. He frowns.

AMTEK CORPORATION HOTLINE

WOULD YOU LIKE TO TALK TO OUR CEO?

IT IS JUST...

IT IS JUST...

IT IS...

IT

IT

IT

The Old Man leads his people, in a burst of energy, down and up the dry hallways. Like an old man who gets his youth back in a final burst.

They run towards beams of light, breaking through the ship. Past broken windows and old pools of water.

And somehow, he really does know where they are going. Pulling and ducking and sliding and crawling. All with smiles. Even the ones who don't know who they are anymore.

Traveling in upside down hallways and through barracks and machinery. They run and climb towards the light, in a beautiful birth.

"Follow me! I know the way!"

He keeps reminding them. They follow his voice, though they don't really know him anymore.

But it is enough.

The Old Man in wild, boy like curiosity and bravery, leads the way, and keeps repeating his line.

And in his head and heart, he has no fear or worries of the future.

He never thought they would get this far.

Now that they were here, he knew what to do.

It would not be easy, starting again.

But the worst was already over.

It was all lost.

Everything would start again.