Cryo-stasis, an advancement in tech so far advanced it's practically cheating. Developed at the brink of mankind's extinction, it's funny how certain death can be a strong motivator. But back to what I was saying, I mean, no aging, no sickness. You don't feel time passing by. What else could you ask for, right? Wrong. Because I feel a headache so grand I feel like Truck-kun and my head had a nice little get-together.
I woke up in an abandoned room, filled to the brim with empty cryo-pods, with no one in sight. The only source of light was the blinking terminal interface on my cryo-pod, making this annoying holo-message prompt over and over, fueling my headache even more. Other than that, there was some sort of bioluminescent moss on the ceiling, adding to the eerie abandoned vibe. It wasn't helping that the room looked abandoned and ransacked for all its goodies.
Turning to the terminal to switch off the annoying message, a hologram appears. It looks like a lab doctor in his all-white coat and spectacle-looking glasses, fitting in the midst of mass chaos. I mean, I could see people running around as if it was the end of the world (I mean, it is, but whatever). He clears his throat and starts by saying, "Good morning, Subject B10. As you can see, our 400-year sleep plans didn't go to plan. You can thank the Leviathan for causing the blackout. The damn mutant whale decided to migrate into our dam's bowl, causing all the hydroelectric generators to mass implode, leaving the one backup Hydroelectric generator online. This lab man has a foul mouth," I thought to myself. His message continues,
"So, we decided to let that one power the stasis chambers of our last hopes in humanity project, Chipset. By now, according to our calculations, your pod will be opening about 30 years after the blackout. Us other humans are forced to go out into the radiation-filled New Earth. Don't worry, though. Our tests tell us it's livable, at least. We won't be dead in an instant. You and your other fellow siblings have been set to absorb radiation at a steady and controlled pace to ensure you evolve optimally. You will be let out as soon as the evolution stage is over. You are equipped with the latest chipset nanochips and a corresponding monitor watch, which is biometrically locked to your genetics. But don't worry; we left you with a basic survival kit. Your top priority is to find the terminals and complete your assigned mission, as it is adamant to mankind's survival. Seeing as you are the last to come out of stasis, the dam will be shut down until further notice, and all doors to Bunker B79024C7, the last settlement of mankind, will be permanently open. You have 30 minutes to prepare yourself for the shutdown and opening of the door."
The holographic message ended at that, and what followed was a timer counting down from 30 minutes replacing the display. "So, I know what you're thinking—what the heck happened? Why is the fate of the Earth on my shoulders?" Jace grinned. "Well, I have only one answer to your question: I don't know. At least I can answer the first question. It's the late 2400s, and we got reliant on our AI. It became a lifestyle. It was in everything—military, agriculture, you name a sector, and it was there. But it all went to shit when the AI sent nukes into space. And by nukes, I mean a staggering number. We were given a year to prepare for impending doom. So, we made do and created two solutions. The first was a space station with self-sustenance, and the second was an underground bunker with the cryo-stasis so we could wait out the estimated 400 years of radiation."
Jace chuckled. "You guys didn't read the prologue, did you? I'm so disappointed in you; this is all in there. Tsk, whatever. I have to go. The doors are opening in 3, 2, 1. Wish me luck, guys."
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The doors opened with a loud ruckus, and it seemed like they were about to fall off. Jace was greeted with the beautiful sight of an overgrown forest in what used to be a city. The visuals were a mix of towering skyscrapers swallowed by nature. The screeching and roars of mutated beasts added to the atmosphere. It would have been perfect if not for the sign that said, "Welcome to Neoterra: The Apocalypse." The sign seemed to be made of the bones of some strange animal or beast. That's weird.
Before we embark on our thrilling journey, let's do a little fit check, shall we? I mean, what's a grand adventure without flaunting some post-apocalyptic style,
right? So, here's the lowdown on my outfit. I'm rocking a Synet 588u9, top-of-the-line synthetic armor, fully equipped with a sleek visor. Pair that with some trusty black combat boots, a hip holster, and a sturdy backpack.
Now, let's dive deeper into the details, shall we? In my holster, I've got an IMAC Energy Multi-Tool. This baby's not your average Swiss Army knife; it's a ray gun, a combat knife, and a survival tool all rolled into one. Need a laser beam construct? It's got you covered. And let's not forget the snacks; I mean, they call it "synthetic sustenance," but between us, it's just snacks. Oh, and I've got two weeks' worth of them – pretty cool, right?
Of course, I can't forget my military-grade filter bottle and two high-end med kits. Gotta be ready for all the unexpected "ouches" this world can throw at me.
Now, onto the chips, monitor watch, and terminals. I can practically hear you dying to know more, so here's the scoop. The chip – a thermal-powered nano wonder – is snugly embedded in my spine. It's loaded with survival information, like how to build shelter and other nifty tricks. Thanks to my siblings, it's also got vital info on what's safe to eat without, you know, ending up six feet under. But here's the kicker: it's an empty vessel without the terminals. Think of the chip as an empty flash drive, and the terminals are the treasure troves of survival data I need.
So, all I've got for now is your basic survival guide, like a Boy Scout starter pack. But don't fret, because I've got this snazzy little timepiece. It's not just for telling the time; it's got a nifty scan feature that can check out wildlife, geography, and plant life, providing me with updates, features, and notes left behind by my siblings. Plus, it's got a map feature, but – you guessed it – there's a catch. I need to download data first. So, currently, all I have is a direction to the nearest terminal.
But wait, there's more! Thanks to my trusty chip, this technological timepiece can also monitor my body conditions. It's like a status bar in a video game – yep, exactly like that
Fancy, right? It can even tell the weather what more can a man ask for
So, let's dive into the nitty-gritty. My gear – and let's be real, it's some next-level stuff – is designed to harvest this ambient radioactive energy that's just floating around, waiting to be put to good use. It's like Mother Nature's own power outlet, but with a twist. Instead of letting it go to waste, I've got a sleek setup that converts that radiant energy into pure power for my trusty tools and this snazzy suit of mine.
Yep, you heard that correctly – convenience on another level. So, whether it's juicing up my ray gun, keeping my armor intact, or just giving me a little extra oomph when I need it most, this radioactive energy is my secret weapon. And hey, in a world where survival is the name of the game, every little advantage counts.
Now, doesn't that just make our survival adventure here in Neoterra all the more exciting? Let's roll with it, my friends!
So, now that we've got our gear squared away, this is where our official survival guide in the new world of Neoterra begins. I'm Jace, Subject No. B10, and this is our survival guide. Let's all get along, alright? Hahaha!