On the grass, underneath the night sky, sat a woman of fine, unique features. She had long, smooth black hair which fell gracefully on her shoulders. Her gentle blue eyes searched the night sky, moving from one star to another as if drawing a constellation with just her mere mind.
The sky was like canvas art, the perfect blend of black and white. It was such a rare thing to come across in this modern era where the street and billboard lights outshine the luminosity of the moon and the stars. For some reason, the electricity was cut off.
How auspicious.
The woman, Leira, caressed the hair of her six-year-old son, who was cuddling with her. His eyes sparkled watching the stars although he wasn't happy.
He looked at his mother, who was still in high spirits, and asked, “Mum, when will daddy come back?”
His words stabbed her but the smile never left her face. She kissed his forehead. “Daddy will return soon,” she spoke barely above a whisper.
“Are you sure?” He asked, his voice raw with doubt. After all, he has been asking the same thing for months now.
She nodded and assured “Yes, I'm sure Mark”
Unmoved by her mere words, Mark stuck his pinky finger in the air and asked, “You promise?”
She held his hand instead and placed a kiss on his knuckles. “I promise my dear, your father will return.” She pointed out into the sky, “For now, whenever you miss him, just look into the stars and make a wish”.
Leira’s expression softened watching her son close his eyes to make his wish. She didn't blame him for questioning her; she, too, had her share of doubts about whether her husband was returning or not.
Her husband, Owen Rykard, worked as an astronaut for Aurora Space Agency (ASA), a program run by the Canadian government. He, because of his work, was rarely home.
Even though they lived close to the headquarters in Calgary, Alberta, Leira never got to see him often. It was his dream to become an astronaut, and she didn't want to steal that away from him, but it was a great hurdle to their marriage.
Several months ago, Owen called and announced that he would be back and spend two weeks with them. Leira was overjoyed and she even prepared a feast to welcome him.
At the end of the day, he didn't come. He informed her that something had come up, and he couldn't make it again.
The reason he couldn't make it was the sudden appearance of an ominous tenth planet and it had to be checked out for the sake of Earth's future. The other programs, in partnership with the ASA, agreed that the Canadian astronauts should be the first to explore the new planet.
Owen left, and since then he hasn't returned.
Leira didn't cry, some part of her expected it. She had to be strong for their son Mark and that's what she had been doing.
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A year later, on the 19th of August, chaos enveloped the entire planet. A gas leaked into the atmosphere by accident. It was an experiment with the potential use of curing all diseases but an essential ingredient leaked.
The colorless gas was spread through the air by wind. Saturating into the clouds, it fell like rain, infecting waters, lakes, and oceans.
For the first three days, no one seemed to care about the sudden increase in the rate of deaths everywhere but they soon realized that this gas not only claimed the lives of those in the suburbs and outskirts but those of rich high status as well.
In less than two weeks, half of the world was already deceased. No amount of medicine could cure it, those who have inhaled it would immediately die without any symptoms.
After the origin of it all was discovered, some countries decided to wage war against Canada but later asserted that war at a time like this would only claim more lives and properties.
Besides, with the gas in their possession, Canada would most likely win. Instead, the many countries whose leaders were still standing cooperated with the Canadian government.
Builders began to build protective structures, and scientists from all over the world who weren't dead yet put their heads together to find a cure.
It was discovered that those who had strong immune systems didn't die from the disease, while those with weaker immune systems died immediately after inhalation.
It was inevitable, you either die or not die.
It was unfortunate that what was supposed to be called the ‘elixir of life’ was now given the name UA virus, and instead of curing diseases, it created an indestructible one.
Humanity was now classified under three terms; The auspicious: Those who were immune to the virus,
The Mixed: Those who take up to a year or two before dying from the virus, and
The Inauspicious: Those who die immediately after inhaling the virus.
Ten years later, humanity was down to 500 people, including men, women, and children. They resided within the country of Canada where they built a society which they called Arc Haven.
The Arc Haven was a gigantic dome with layered glass covering the top. In it were several other domes made of metal that housed the survivors (both Mixed and Auspicious) and a separate building that served as storage, a medical bay, and a meeting hub.
Each metal dome had a capacity of containing a hundred people, people who lived in tents within the domes.
Earth, which once had a population of billions, had become a small village with not less than five hundred people.
With the Canadian government now ruling what was left of the earth, they sought to redeem themselves by working hard to ensure the safety of everyone.
But their hard work proved futile against the indestructible virus. Its components were unique and impenetrable, almost like it had no cure.
The mixed who were dying showed no signs or symptoms, when their bodies can no longer withhold the virus, they slump.
It was also discovered that the virus interferes with human metabolic activities.
Secretion of various enzymes within the body ceased, females no longer experienced ovulation, and mating was useless. Since there were no eggs to be fertilized, fetus formation and birth of offspring were impossible.
In other words, those five hundred were the last of mankind. Though the glass dome was protecting them from the virus, sooner or later, humans will become extinct. Either by running out of food and water or by the minor conflicts within them.
People were panicking and needed leaders who would bring up a solution, someone who would assure them of their and their children's safety.
Caleb Hemsworth, head of ASA, as well as its remaining members, took it upon themselves to be humanity's hope. They were backed up by the members of different programs who were in partnership with the Aurora space agency.
The NASA program, the CSA (Canadian Space Agency), and the ESA (European Space Agency) all came together to look for a solution.
The best they could come up with was to leave Earth in search of Nirvana, a new planet to call home.
The ASA hid the fact that they lost all contact with the astronauts who left to explore the tenth planet, in other words, they hid the fact that they might never come back.
But before the connection was lost, the astronauts confirmed that the planet was just like Earth. Breathable air, soil components capable of plant growth, stable climate, and most of all, intelligent life.
If they could raid this new planet and become its new inhabitants, humans would be sure to remain alive for the next 3000 generations. They would need brave people to take the first step, but who?