Prologue
No one knows what happened to Earth.
Did humanity vanish, or did they find refuge among the stars?
-
Chapter 1: The Silent Omen
Planet Earth wasn't always in such a dire state. Once a lush, blue-green sphere became the survival of the fittest.
The environment is collapsing, and even basics like groceries are scarce and exorbitantly priced.
Fortunately, Alec Sommers and his crew had hoarded supplies a decade ago, anticipating a crisis that swept through the connected media as doomsday prepping surged in popularity.
Alec took a long sip from his soda can, watching the starship they had kept running for years. More money went into the project than out, but it was their only hope for a better life beyond this decaying world.
The air around them was very polluted, tinged with rot. Alec exhaled, silently grateful that everyone on his team had diligently prepared. With enough resources to last five years, they were in better shape than most—but the clock was ticking.
A few paces away, Maria and Elena applied new paint to the starship’s hull. Placing his soda can back in the fridge, Alec approached the ship. When he touched its metal surface, the starship’s sensors activated, filling the air with a mechanical hum.
"Human life detected," the ship announced. Elena and Maria felt the ship tremble. Startled, they looked up.
"Honey, what are you doing?" Elena asked.
"Nothing, babe," Alec replied reassuringly. "Just taking a look inside."
He leaned against the hull, watching the flickering lights on the ship’s dashboard. Alec had perfected a masking maneuver for two years to protect the starship’s security system from prying eyes. Other ships had been scavenged or stolen, but Alec was determined to keep theirs hidden from the raiders who prowled the region.
Stepping away, he moved to his desk and picked up a small, smooth-surfaced cube he’d been tinkering with—a deceptively simple device that would make the starship more travel-friendly.
Alec inhaled deeply and connected the final wire. The cube activated, casting a faint blue glow. He keyed a sequence into his control pad, and outside, the starship shimmered, its edges blurring as it de-materialized. The cube’s light flared, then dimmed.
The ship was gone—no longer vulnerable outside. He opened a hatch on the cube and peered inside, where a perfectly preserved miniature of the ship now rested.
Finally, after countless hours of testing, it worked.
He allowed himself a rare moment of triumph. They were one step closer to survival, to a new home. With the cube, they held a fighting chance.
He reached for the final piece: a sensory trinket designed to ensure smooth re-materialization. “Here goes,” he murmured, pressing his palm to the cool metal. The pillar responded with a soft chime, and a hidden compartment slid open, revealing the trinket. Alec held it against the cube, and the ship began to reappear in the middle of the room, slowly solidifying. He watched in awe as the vessel took shape.
Perfect. But he couldn’t leave it exposed for long—raiders, even with security, could still attempt to crack his system. One layer of defense was unchangeable, though: the ship’s biological code, hardwired to serve only humans.
Alec returned the trinket to its compartment and, with a touch, de-materialized the ship back into the cube. He locked it away in a metal safe, securing his crew’s lifeline.
Just then, Elena leaned over the desk, her gaze fixed on the device. “What’s that thingy?” she asked, noticing how Alec regarded the trinket with quiet pride.
Their eyes met, and for a moment, they were more than business partners.
“Elena, there’s something I want to show you.” He placed the device gently on the desk.
“More security measures?” she guessed, intrigued.
Alec nodded. “Remember when we were trying to protect the starship from raiders? I designed this cube to hide the ship. But I didn’t stop there.”
Her curiosity deepened. “What else?”
He leaned forward, “During our terraforming missions, I hid more trinkets on each planet we visited. Backup plans, in case we lose access to our main stash.”
Elena’s eyes widened, understanding dawning. “So if something happens, we still have starships hidden?”
“Exactly," Alec confirmed.
"Not all of them, but enough," Alec said. "Each planet we visit gets a hidden trinket, secured away. If the worst happens, we’ll have something to fall back on.”
Elena considered this, leaning back with a nod. “That’s clever—a fail-safe. Even if we lose a few, we’ll still have options.”
Alec smiled. “Exactly. It’s about giving us a shot to keep pushing forward.” He reached over, squeezing her hand. “Tomorrow, I’ll hide another near the plaza. Feels right, like it belongs there.”
“Then let’s make sure we do everything we can to secure our survival,” she replied. “If these trinkets give us even a glimmer of hope, then it’s worth it.”
The next day dawned with the hum of the maintenance bay alive around them. Machinery clanked in rhythm, filling the air with the acrid scent of metal and fuel. Alec crouched beneath one of the starships, threading his way through wires and circuits while Maria monitored system statuses on a holographic display.
“This sensor array still won’t calibrate,” Alec muttered. “Must be a transponder misalignment.”
Maria glanced at the data feed. “I’ll check the diagnostics. We need navigation flawless for the Mars and Pluto missions. With the sun turning red giant in 500 years, mistakes aren’t an option.”
“Agreed. This needs to be operational—fast.”
As Maria re-calibrated the sensors, a holographic projection of the solar system lit up, and Mars along with Pluto were highlighted. Nearby, Commander Carter addressed his cadets with paternal pride.
“Alright, team, let’s review the mission objectives,” he began. “Mars is our primary target for terraforming. We’ve got a shot at creating a sustainable environment.”
Elena, the first one to speak said: “The equipment’s ready, but Mars’ thin atmosphere and extreme temperatures will complicate things. Our probes indicate polar ice caps may provide water, but we’ll need multiple drones to confirm.”
Carter nodded. “Precisely. And what about Pluto? It’s our backup if Mars fails. What’s our status there?”
Brady tapped his tablet, pulling up Pluto’s data. “Harsh conditions, but recent scans suggest subsurface ice pockets. It’s a longer journey, though—more challenging to manage.”
Carter’s gaze swept over them. “Understood. Mars is primary, and Pluto is the fallback. We need to be ready for both.”
“I’ll finalize the Terraforming protocols and sync with the science team,” Elena said.
Brady added, “I’ll handle deep space sensors and communications. We’ll need to stay connected and monitor any hazards.”
Back in the maintenance bay, Alec and Maria worked in focused silence.
“Almost there,” Maria said. “With these last adjustments, we’re ready for final checks.”
Commander Carter’s voice echoed through the bay. “One chance to make this right. The future of humanity depends on us. Let’s be ready.”
And with that, the cadets felt the weight of their mission settle on them—no longer a distant objective, but a fight for survival and for a future beyond the stars. The countdown had begun; there was no turning back.
In the cockpit of T.E.R.R.A., the Terrestrial Environmental Restoration, Reclamation Alliance spaceship, Alec and his team sat amidst softly humming machinery, control panels casting a faint glow over them. Through the wide view port, Mars stretched beneath them—red, barren, and desolate, almost mocking their efforts with its lifeless expanse.
“T.E.R.R.A., come in. What is your position?” Captain Carter’s voice crackled through the comms.
Alec studied the readings—nothing. Despite all the work, the Martian soil remained stubbornly inert, resisting the very changes they’d fought to bring. His jaw tightened, but he kept his voice level. “No change to report, Captain. The surface is stable, but no atmospheric shifts yet. We’re continuing the scan.”
Beside him, Maria’s voice held a slight edge. “We need results soon, Alec. If we can’t turn this around—”
“I know.” Alec cut her off gently, giving her shoulder a quick squeeze of reassurance. They all understood the stakes. Just one miscalculation could mean the end of everything.
“I don’t like it either,” Brady’s voice chimed in over the intercom, laced with apprehension. “But this could be our last shot. Mars, Pluto—if we can’t Terraform these planets before it’s too late…”
Alec gritted his teeth and turned back to the controls, unwilling to let Brady’s words hang too long in the air. “We’ll figure it out,” he said, though he wasn’t sure he believed it himself.
As the shuttle descended, Alec scanned the rocky terrain, hoping for any hint of life—a sign of hope. But Mars offered none.
“Alec,” Captain Carter’s voice broke in again, more urgent this time. “Time’s running out. Keep us updated.”
“I know! I know! look, I’m scared too, but we’re trying our best to avoid getting barbecued down here.” Alec snapped as his frustration made him prickly.
Alec removed his telecom communicator, not wanting to lash out at the wrong people. They didn't deserve that.
“I’m sorry, Captain...we’re trying, I’m just—" He exhaled, the weight of sleepless nights is getting worse.
A pause crackled over the comms. When Captain Carter’s voice returned, it was softer. “Stay focused Alec, "
“You’re doing great. Just keep going.”
“Roger,” Alec said tiredly.
Outside the cockpit, the sun cast a faint red circle on the horizon—a silent reminder of its inevitable transformation. Alec could almost see it in his mind, swelling into a red giant that would swallow them all if they couldn’t find a way to escape.
He heard the crunch of boots on Martian soil as Elena, Maria, and Brady joined him, their helmets reflecting the pale light of the distant star.
"It looks so... harmless from here," Brady muttered, though his tone betrayed his unease. Maria stared at the faint, unstable light in the sky, now more reaper than life-giver.
Every day, that light would inch closer, bringing with it a countdown none of them could outrun.
"Every time I look at it," Alec said quietly, "I wonder if this is our punishment. Maybe Earth was a warning, and the universe is just... finishing the job."
Brady let out a bitter scoff, "Feels like we’re watching a bomb’s timer tick down—only when it hits zero, we’re all toast. Earth, Mars, Pluto—doesn’t matter where we are. The sun will find us."
Elena’s voice cut through, " Moping won’t change anything guys. We’re still fighting, as long as we--"
“For what, though?” Alec cut her off. “We’re struggling to terraform a dead rock billions of miles away while our sun is going supernova. Every day, it gets a little closer. I just... I don’t know if we have enough time to beat it.”
Brady took a swig from his flask, his visor catching the faint light of the dying star. "Well, at least we’ll get one hell of a light show on our way out."
Alec doesn't know whether to laugh or cry at Brady's remark, He looked back at the data streaming across his screen, watching numbers scroll by, offering nothing new. "Mars is a dead end," he said flatly. “All that work... I can’t believe we failed.”
Maria, who had been reviewing environmental data, finally spoke up. “We miscalculated. The ice we counted on for water? Nearly inaccessible. And the temperature swings—it’s tearing the equipment apart. We’re nowhere near ready to handle this.”
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Alec crossed his arms, watching the faint hologram projection of Mars cast in red and ochre on the glass. It seemed to taunt him.
“And yet, we keep hoping for something better. Somewhere like Kepler. But that’s a dream—a perfect world light years away, barely within our reach.” Alec sighed, voice defeated.
“Kepler’s a paradise compared to Mars,” Elena said softly. “Habitable zone, stable climate, and resources. But right now, it’s all theoretical. Until we can bridge those light years, we’re stuck.”
Alec leaned back, exhaustion settling deep in his bones. "I don’t know how much more we can adapt. We have to regroup, rethink... maybe even accept that Mars might not be the answer.”
“We’ll learn from this,” Elena said firmly. “If Kepler’s our only chance, then we’ll find a way. There has to be something we haven’t tried yet.”
Alec took a long look at his crew, each one worn but resolute. He was weary, but he knew Elena was right
Maria nodded, “Agreed. We'll take what we’ve learned from this mission and use it to build a more viable strategy. .”
Alec’s eyes met Elena’s, and for a moment, their disappointment parallels with the rest of the Cadets. But the previous milestones they reached made it too tempting not to give up.
“We’ll regroup and plan our next steps,” Alec said quietly, carrying the weight of the recent failures. “For now, let’s focus on what we can control and find a way to make this mission a stepping stone, not the end.”
Elena turned her attention to her digital notepad, analyzing the data on Martian soil. “The readings suggest that sustaining life here is possible, but we’re still missing key resources. We need a more viable plan.”
Alec pulled up Maria's field report on his tablet, scrolling through the latest findings. Amid the data, he noticed a list of planets in the Goldilocks zone--the habitable zone around a star where conditions might support life.
He paused, his eyes lingering on one name: Kepler. It was the closest of these potential lifeboats to Mars, situated at a safe distance from the sun's impending wrath. Kepler is 1.5 light years away from the Earth.
That would be their best shot, but it's going to be the hardest mission to accomplish. If his team doesn't gather enough resources then It will be nothing but a distant dream.
Alec’s thoughts raced as he considered the implications. “Kepler…” he murmured, more to himself than anyone else. “It’s within reach If we abandon the Pluto mission and focus on gathering resources over the next few years, we might just have a chance.”
Elena looked from her notepad “Are you suggesting we redirect our efforts to Kepler instead of Pluto?”
“Yes. We’ve seen how stretched thin we are. Pluto is a long shot at best. But Kepler… it’s closer, and if it’s in the Goldilocks zone, it might offer a better chance for humanity. We could gather as many resources as possible, make the journey, and hope that it’s a viable option for starting over.” Alec said.
Maria, who had been listening intently, nodded in agreement. “It’s risky, but it’s a plan. A better one than scraping by on Pluto with barely enough resources to survive.”
"Right now preparing for Kepler is our best shot," Alec said.
"All right, I'll do my research and see what I can come up with," Maria said.
The next day on Mars the red soil became more vibrant. Alec showered and got himself presentable for the new staff meeting,
"Sweetie wake up, It's morning," Alec said and Elena opened one eye watching him.
He seemed more optimistic and Elena smiled, getting out of bed and hurrying for a quick bath as well.
"All right guys, there is good news and there is bad news," Maria said.
"Well let's start with the Good news," Brady said,
"Planet Kepler's sun is a newborn compared to Earth's solar system, and it's already sustaining life.. not only sustaining but life is thriving over there," Maria said and her crew brightened up a bit.
'POP'
The gang looked up when they heard a popping noise but it was Brady, he was so excited that he opened the wine bottle.
a few relieved laughs occurred as it broke the tension and Maria continued.
" Oxygen is breathable for us and more beneficial for us than the polluted dust clouds we have, so no suits and the next generation might become larger because of the excellent quality of the oxygen," Maria said.
"What's the bad news?" please don't let it be too difficult to overcome," Brady said wondering if he should pour the glass.
"Well it's already occupied with aliens, and they might not accept us given the history of how humanity has treated the planet and the horrible things we have done to our kind.. we will have to offer them something they want very badly, but we must give it a try." She said,
If we become extremely frugal with our resources and find a way to multiply the things we need then within 7 years according to my calculations we are ready to make that one-way trip." Maria added.
Alec looked around at his team “So, it’s freedom or death at this point". We either succeed or die alongside the planet.
Maria nodded. “Exactly. We’ve come this far, and we owe it to ourselves to give it everything we’ve got.”
"I will keep on working on a better plan, who knows what I can come up with?" Maria added. She was excited about the new shift in their plans.
When Maria moved away with Elena back to the drawing board Alec confided in Brady about something that had been on his mind.
"Brady we don't have much time left, maybe we should take planets by force," Alec said
Brady looked up at him, " Alec, that's kind of horrible, like seriously how would you feel if much stronger and advanced aliens did that to us?" Brady said.
" I know it's not fair, but we should do whatever we can for our survival even if our actions cause harm," Alec said.
" No Alec, we humans have taken the planet for granted and done many wrong things to other species from experimenting to exploiting for profit, so the last thing we should do is make our survival the extinction of others," Brady said.
"But what if this is the only way Brady? what if there is no ethical route? should we just die because you don't want to take the right steps?" Alec said.
"Think about it, we got the resources to travel and invade Kepler at least, a small planet with not too many inhabitants.. and when we are there we can think of our next move, we'll be safe from famine and humanity won't face their doom," Alec said.
"And what if the inhabitants of Kepler strike back?" Brady asked.
"We'll fight back harder," Alec said.
"No.. I care about our survival but I don't want blood on my hands, Karma is a fickle thing. We already paid the price for harming Mother Earth and if we harm more species then it won't be long until we get a taste of our own medicine." Brady said.
"I'm choosing the fair route, I would do business negotiations with aliens, I'll offer my service to them as a mechanic, give them my starship, or sell them my kidney if I have to but if you want to use our last resources to be a space pirating colonizer then be my guest but then that's where will part ways," Brady said.
"And what If the fair routes are running out?" Alec challenged.
"Well then we just need to accept that Humanity's time has come, humans could have prevented this if they made a change 300 years ago but their stupidity didn't allow it, at times you just need to accept that nothing lasts forever. Even us" Brady said, moving away.
Alec knew he shouldn't take that dark path but what option is there left? He breathed out and looked at the atmosphere in space. Their home... It's falling apart.
After a week their spaceship came back from Mars, hovering over the Earth and Captain Carter asked his Cadets about how things went on Mars.
" Not too well," Maria said.
The holographic projection of the solar system hovered above, displaying potential targets, including the distant and elusive Kepler.
“The mission to Mars was a setback, but it’s not the end. " Stay strong, try not to lose hope," Carter said.
"It's indeed not the end," Maria said.
"We need to be smarter about our resources. The failed mission has taught us a lot about what we can and cannot do. It’s time to go back to the drawing board and develop a more robust plan.”
Alec suggested, “Let’s start by focusing on improving our terraforming technologies and enhancing our ship’s capabilities. We need to ensure that we’re prepared for both known and unknown challenges.”
Elena added, “And we should also consider diplomatic approaches or alliances. If there’s any way to negotiate or gather intelligence about Kepler, it could give us an edge. Understanding the political landscape could be as crucial as our technological advancements.”
Maria agreed. “ We’ll need a comprehensive plan that covers every possible scenario. We can’t afford any more failures. Every detail matters, from our approach to our exit strategy.”
The cadet's faces are illuminated by the flickering light of the holographic displays.
The doors of the spaceship hissed open and the Cadets stepped out and grabbed their things on their way to the Starship station.
New York seemed like Jack Frost's new domain, with Ice particles hanging on the traffic lights and there weren't many civilians outside.
While Brady was tinkering on new gadgets he was listening to music he did not realize right away that Alec was approaching him.
Brady looked up, removing his earbuds.
Hey man., I'm sorry for what I said on Mars," Alec said.
"Can you remind me?" Brady asked.
"I said that if we had the resources I would have launched an invasion on planet Kepler," Alec said.
"And I tried convincing you to join me"
"I'm sorry I was in a moment of desperation.. "The red giant phase
Planet Earth becomes unsustainable even quicker," Alec said.
"I would never want to do such a thing to other species"
Right now I would rather plead with the inhabitants if we can seek refuge until we are back on our feet," Alec said.
" Well, maybe we can have a new chance there. I heard the aliens of Kepler are welcoming," Brady said.
"Yeah that's why I felt bad for saying these things," Alec said.
"I know you're afraid Alec, we all are and I'm happy you understand our emergency is not the problem of others, and also when we find a new planet to call it home, we must establish rules so that we and the humans who come after us will never exploit the planet again," Brady said.
"It's easier said than done," Alec said.
"Maybe not, in the stone age the human race caused the least harm, and no I'm not saying we should live like cavemen but we need to reduce our waste and carbon footprint, around some centuries ago a village in Japan was documented about living a zero waste lifestyle. They recycled anything and with that, they reduced the damage they caused by merely existing." Brady said.
" We can do the same, our extinction is beneficial to the planet we live on now so when we Terraformed Pluto then our survival should be beneficial to the planet we are living on.
"Elena and I can do research on that, and make plans to recreate the same method the people of Japan did.." Alec said and Brady seemed to be on board with that.
“Thank you for being understanding about my relapse..
Well, I’m going to check the mail.. I’m happy we had this chat” Alec said and moved to his mail. He opened the digital mailbox and he returned from it happily.
“Look what I got, “ Alec said and Brady looked in his direction.
This is an enhancement for the rocket launcher, with a steadier aim.
“Come on, I'll show you,” Alec said.
Brady entered Alec’s makeshift armory, his eyes widening at the array of high-tech weaponry displayed on the wall. The room filled with the usual faint hum of futuristic technology.
Alec picked up a sleek, compact rocket launcher from the rack, its surface glinting with a metallic sheen. “Check this out,” he said, holding the launcher out for Brady to inspect.
Brady took the weapon, his hands running over its smooth surface. “This is amazing. It’s so light, and the reload mechanism--”
“Yeah,” Alec interrupted with a light smile. “It’s fully automated.
Just a single shot, and it reloads on its own. Makes it a lot easier in a fight.”
Brady nodded, impressed. “So much more efficient than the old models.”
Alec shrugged, grabbing a similarly advanced grenade launcher. “It’s all about technology. The lighter the gear, the faster you can move. Plus, with everything automated, you’re not fumbling around in a firefight.”
Brady marveled at the collection. “Seems like you’ve got everything covered.”
Alec’s gaze grew somber. “Just hope I won’t need to use it all. But with the stakes as high as they are, it’s better to be prepared.”
"You're not planning to invade planets right?" Brady asked just to be sure.
" No- no I wavered from that.. thanks to you I know that it's never worth becoming the oppressor," Alec said.
"I just.. have a feeling we might have to defend our haven from bandits trying to steal our technology," Alec said.
"Let them come, they'll find out that hell hath no fury than a pissed-off nerd," Brady said.
" You're a nerd," Alec said, chuckling.
" No you" Brady shoved him.
"Guys there is a leaky oil tank of the Starship we need to have that fixed before we can launch another scouting mission," Maria said interrupting their banter.
The men looked at each other and followed Maria toward the base.
It took a moment to replace the Starships tank and everything seems to be running well now. Alec looked at the Starship.
With this, they can make the trip to Kepler, for a brighter existence. It’s already getting late, working on this project made him stay up late again.
Tomorrow will be another day.
The early morning cast a soft, golden hue across the patio of Elena and Alec’s home.
Elena sat at the patio table, her digital notepad glowing softly in the dim light. She was absorbed in her work, meticulously going over strategies for their Terraforming efforts.
Alec turned to his side finding Elena missing from the bed, maybe she was just as restless as he was, Elena is always the one who tried to stay strong for him.
He wants to be her rock for once.
He then stumbled out of their bedroom, his face still etched with sleep. He rubbed his eyes as he stepped onto the patio,
the warmth of the house still clinging to him. He spotted Elena at the table.
“Hi,” Alec said with a groggy murmur.
Elena's tired eyes met him with a warm, albeit weary, smile. She set her work aside and reached for the teapot, pouring a steaming cup of tea.
“Do you want some tea?” she asked.
“Sure,” Alec replied, taking the cup she offered. He sipped slowly, savoring the warmth that contrasted with the cool morning air.
Elena studied him for a moment, her eyes filled with a mix of concern and affection. “Did I wake you sweetie?” she asked.
“No,” Alec said, shaking his head. “I was just up early.”
Elena gave a slight nod. “I’ve been up for a while. I couldn’t sleep, so I thought I’d work on our Terraforming plans.”
Alec sat down beside her, and they both turned their gaze toward the horizon. The tranquil sky was painted with hues of pink and orange.
“I’ve been having a strange feeling ever since our Mars mission failed,” Alec said,
“What if all our efforts are in vain? What if, like the dinosaurs, humanity is destined for extinction?”
Elena’s expression shifted to one of seriousness. “Alec, don’t think like that. We’re resilient. We’ll find a way to push forward. We always have.”
"There is nothing more resilient than the human spirit," Elena said. With that, she began resting against his shoulder.
The silence of the waking hours was filled with birds' soft chirping, and Elena’s words hung in the air, It was calming along with the bright painted sky.
" I will have to go to work soon, how about you?" Elena asked.
" I have a day off.. I suppose I could use that time to work on things" Alec said.
"Okay.. well look after yourself, there are many things to do. I see the sunset as a new chance in life" Elena said optimistically.
She turned to Alec giving him an Eskimo kiss before heading out. " I made you breakfast" Elena chimed in and closed the door.
When Alec came to his workspace he noticed neatly made pancakes and tea with a tiny card that said 'I love you'
Alec placed the card with his belongings. " I love you more," he says.
The chatter of customers mingled with the hum of electronics, creating a lively atmosphere. Elena stood beside a sleek, wall-mounted plasma TV.
Elena demonstrated the remote’s new features, stepping aside to let the middle-aged customer observe the screen.
"This model offers 4K resolution and an advanced refresh rate," she explained, "making it perfect for sports and fast-paced action."
He nodded slowly. "It looks amazing, but I noticed a bit of static on the screen earlier. Is that normal?"
Elena tilted her head thoughtfully. "Let me take a look."
She stepped closer to the display TV, her eyes narrowing as she spotted a faint flicker of static dancing across the screen.
The interference was brief—a mere ripple that disappeared as quickly as it had come.
Elena eyed the TV, feeling a hint of anxiety creep in, but quickly replaced it with a reassuring smile.
"Probably just some interference," she said, mostly to herself. "Nothing to worry about."
The customer seemed satisfied with her explanation, and Elena continued her pitch. Still, a seed of unease had been planted. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, even if she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.
As the day wore on, the store gradually emptied, with the distant chatter of remaining staff in the background. Elena finished her shift and headed to the back room, her mind lingering on the brief static she had seen earlier. She grabbed her bag and pulled out her phone to check the time.
"Heading out now," she texted in the group app. "Traffic is heavy, so I might be late to the Starship site. See you soon!"
She sighed, slinging her bag over her shoulder as she left the store, the flicker of static from earlier nearly forgotten.
Meanwhile, across town, Alec sat in his car, drumming his fingers impatiently on the steering wheel. Traffic was at a standstill, a sea of brake lights stretching out before him. He glanced at the clock on the dashboard, then down at his smartphone.
"Still in traffic," he typed, frustration evident in each keystroke.
He hit send and leaned back with a sigh, lifting his gaze to the rearview mirror. That’s when he noticed something strange. The clouds behind him, once a pale gray, had taken on an unsettling greenish hue. They swirled in slow patterns as if guided by some unseen force.
Alec blinked, adjusting the mirror in confusion. "What is that?" he muttered.
"The sky… it looks wrong."
He wasn’t the only one who had noticed. Around him, drivers craned their necks, peering up through their windshields with similarly uneasy expressions.
A sense of danger filled the air as if something massive was descending. Alec noticed many New Yorkers honking their horns in fright, desperate to make the traffic move. Some even seemed ready to abandon their vehicles, as the Earth's atmosphere grew ominously dark.