Chapter 59: The first launch

"Mike, wake up. You are not going to sleep here, are you?"

Lucy walked over to Mike on the seating area and stretched her hand out to touch his arm. Her hand hang in mid-air as she hesitated to wake the sleeping man.

Mike slept with one arm on his face and another hand was hugging a cushion on his chest. His face looks so tired and weary like he has been suffering from inexplicable grievance.

Lucy stared at his face for a few minutes before she decided to sit on the sofa next to him and wait for him to wake up naturally.

Picking up her phone, Lucy browse through the internet for the latest news.

Lucy's breath felt like it was stuck in her chest as she read on the news.

"The first Pod was launched to space lead by the USA this morning, followed by a series of launching from the rest of the participating countries. All of the pods were all unmanned and it carries the essential living quarters and other facilities to space."

The rough design of the living quarters and facilities, space suits were advertised to the public. All of the facilities will be dispatched out every day from the launching pad all over the world. Engineers and space crews are already dispatched to the ISS, awaiting to assemble the Pods.

Lucy nodded her head in agreement. The plan seems to be flawless to her. One important thing that was highlighted in the article was the fact that not every rocket launch to space will be successful. There is a high chance of probability for the rocket to explode midway, given the fact the Pods and rocket were produced in haste without a 100% guarantee of flawless journey.

There is a warning to the public to think through the decision on going to space.

It is a gamble between life and death and the people are encouraged to prepare a backup plan on their own, in case they are not qualified to join the space program.

As of today, non-astronauts that went to space will be called space travelers.

"They make it sounds like they are in space not because of the pressing circumstances, but because they are traveling," Lucy commented on the name.

Psychologist said that emphasizing on the minor details like this will lessen the mental burden to the people.

They are in space not because they did not have a place to live, but instead, they are up there because they are traveling. A travel journey that would take at least a couple of years to finish.

"Space traveler..." Lucy mouthed the words softly. She smiled faintly before continuing her reading.

The room went silent for a few minutes without any noise. Mike's shallow breathing filled the room as Lucy continued browsing the internet.

There are various articles on people who went hunting for abandoned missiles silo all around the world. They believed that those silos will at least can protect them from the oncoming apocalypse.

Lucy looked at the pictures of the hunters. Most of them look so determined to find a silo that can fit all of them. Perhaps, they are putting their everything, in finding the silos, just so that they can ensure their loved ones will get to live.

The riches who already owned a silo started selling a spot in the bunker for the public, with a jaw-dropping price range and claimed that their doomsday bunker will be able to protect them for at least 5 years inside it.

For the less fortunate people, they opt to build their bunker. Designs of DIY underground bunker were flooding the internet, as many share their design and make comparisons among themselves.

M<span style="font-size: calc(var(--rem) * 1px * 1.0625); letter-spacing: 0px;">any of the people started to venture to deep forest and dug out their underground bunker.</span>

News of malls and supermarkets being robbed were all over, as the people panicking and started to stocking their food supply in their man-made bunker. People started killing each other, fighting for food.

Chaos and riot were all over the world.

The strong survive while the weak and old die.

Lucy shook her head and exhaled sharply when she saw the news.

This is one of the inevitable effects that will happen to the world if the news on the apocalypse was made to the public.

It is so rare to see the public to behave calmly although they knew they are dying.

Missionaries from all the religious houses already preach to the public to stay calm and follow the god's plan.

The Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, and all of the religions in the world conducted mass prayers to the people in the world to pray for the survival of the people and pray for a miracle to happen.

Many devoted people conduct peaceful rallies on the road to calm the chaos away.

Lucy sighed heavily and said the word out loud unconsciously."Hopefully, the Gods will pity us and take the disasters away from us..."

"What is it?"

Mike suddenly jerked upwards and he sits abruptly on the sofa.

"Oh, sorry. Did I wake you up?"

Mike grunted and he cupped his face with both of his palms. "Oh... It's fine."

Lucy felt guilty. She eyed Mike as she stood up to pour a glass of water for Mike.

"You only slept for about 30 minutes." Lucy handed the glass of water to Mike.

Mike looked at the glass and over to Lucy. "Thank you."

His eyes were bloodshot and his face seems pale a little bit after the sleep. Sipping the water slowly, Mike leaned his body on the sofa and he stared at the flower pot in front of him with an empty gaze.

Lucy sat on the sofa, and twirl her phone on the coffee table.

It's already 7 pm, and they have missed their dinner in the dining hall.

Clutching her stomach, Lucy looked up to Mike. His gaze was empty like he is still half asleep.

Lucy's lips curled upwards as she snickers. "Mike, how long are you going to stare at the flower pot?"

Mike turned over his head and he looked at Lucy like a lost kid. "Huh?"

Stifling a laugh, Lucy stood up and grabbed Mike's hand. "Come on. Let's go back to the bunker. It is not safe to travel during the night."

Mike blinked his eyes lazily and he just let Lucy grabbed his hand without moving an inch.

"Mike, hurry up... I'm hungry." Lucy tugged on Mike's hand urging him to stand up.

Mike grunted and he stood up following Lucy's lead. Feeling a little bit giddy, he picked up a few sweets on the table and popped one into his mouth.

After that, he handed the rest to Lucy. "You said you are hungry?"

Lucy rolled her eyes at Mike and dragged Mike away from his office. "Urgh, can these sweets replace my dinner?"

Feeling like he has been jolted awake by a wave of embarrassment, Mike giggled shyly and he takes the lead to drag Lucy to the cafeteria.

"Come on. I'll bring you to eat something delicious." Mike feigned ignorance as he continued speaking.

"If you are hungry, why didn't you wake me up earlier? Oh right, what were you reading just now? I remembered waking up from hearing you said something loudly."

Lucy tugged her hands away from Mike's grip as she replied calmly. "Oh, its nothing. Just read some news on the internet. You know, the Pod has started launching today?"

Lucy's face cheered up a bit like she is anticipating for something fun to happen.

Mike pouted his lips and he stared at his empty palm, before nodding his head. "That's great! It has been only a few days since they announce the news, and they are already on the move. I am expecting something big is awaiting us in space."

"Wait, are you qualified to go to space too?" Lucy side-eyed Mike with a sinister smile plastered on her face.

Mike turned his head abruptly to face Lucy. "What, are you kidding me? I am fit and strong as a Bull! Of course, I am qualified!"

Lucy laughed at Mike's reaction. He is reacting over the top like his work has been condemned by a student. "Haha, alright Mister. Guess we will be seeing each other even when we are in space.."

Lucy smiled and turned her face, facing Mike on the side. Mike's face has grown pink as he blushed.

'Seeing each other in space...' Mike lips curled upwards happily at the thought.

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