"According to our studies another wave of destruction will hit earth in few decades." as if ignorant of sudden dead silence in the room Harley continued "at best we still have around fifty years at worst twenty five to thirty. Some nuclear power plants in Brazil...I mean where Brazil used to be of course, Africa, China, Australia and UK, are showing sings of....uh how do I explain you this.....let's say sings of explosion. We never got time or enough resources to destroy them without damaging are environment even further. So some of those power plant have been showing sings that have had enough of sun. Then there are earthquakes strong ones, a year ago an earthquake of 9.5 hit India killing around seventeen thousands of people living in lower levels and two thousand above, living nine homeless as their homes were swallowed by the crack in earth which formed due to earthquake of course. Also last month a earthquake hit France and Japan again killing thousands in both countries. You see we have all been very lucky that we still have this protective layer of dome protecting us from sun. If these earthquakes take this away from us we are as good as dead, aberrants might survive for three to four months but humans will be dead" she paused for a moment looking at our faces for what? 'Don't ask me, I'm too shaken to guess anything.' "And last but obviously not the least in our list of worries Rain, it been one and a half year since it last rained and we don't really see any sings of rainfall for next few years or decade."
Boy what exactly do they want from us after telling us that our death is near? So I survived this long only to die of starvation?
"So now good news is we have found a planet that might be survivable for us. Drarth K1 is in Andromeda galaxy and was discovered by Dr. Sharman Vix about thirty years ago. Bad news is that keyword 'Might' we only have idea that Drarth K1 might be survivable since Dr. Vix was never able to study it properly for two reasons. One seven out of nine probs that we sent there for study never reached to Drarth K1 we lost contact with them as soon as they left Milky Way. Two probs that actually made it to there didn't last for long-"
"And so it won't be wrong to put it as 'since our coward astronauts refused to go there. We are sending you, after all your lives are disposable" Rex said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Harley looked at him for few seconds before averting her gaze and continuing "Now those who wants to go there, who wants to volunteer us and have family or friends they have listed to be given food and water here on earth will be given a befit. Your family or friends will be on the first ship that will be send there if the planet is survivable. For those who do not have anyone, in all honesty we don't have much to offer you other than the fact that if planet is survivable you will be free, just like ones with family. And lastly for who do not want to volunteer any more well let me tell you for rest of your lives you will be staying in this facility you will not be allowed to leave or talk to anyone from outside world." she looked behind me most probably at Rex and said "and before you say anything, let me make this clear no life is disposal to me, I care about you all just like I care about these seven sitting here in front row. They are all interns here, when our astronauts refused to volunteer they stepped in without anyone asking them to do so. They will be going with you, they all are what you people like to call 'privileged' so before you make any perceptions keep this in mind" she looked at her watch "now I think it I have made it pretty clear what is ahead for you if you join or if you do not join, what is the future of our planet. So make your decision if you don't want to go then tell me by tomorrow. As for those who might have decided to go you will leave in two days." she said looking at all of us before turning around and leaving.
We were out in the hall going back to our rooms in silence still absorbing when someone caught my wrist and turned me around. "Ta-Talia Isidro?" asked the boy who was sitting ahead of me in general hall. Now in this corridor with more than enough light I can see him better.....and somehow..... wait I know him, those grey eyes same as mine chocolate brown hairs.... "Asher Campbell?" a small smile tugged on my lips, and before I even know what to do I just hugged him 'an involuntary action maybe because he was one of the only two people I shared my shitty life at home with, maybe because he was one of the two people I missed the most when we were thrown underground, maybe because I thought I'd never see him but here he is'. "Crap how did I not recognize you in there" I said still hugging him while guards and others gave us a look as they passed by "maybe because I look less like that thirteen years old Asher?" he replied chuckling. And he is right he looks nothing like that five foot two fat body and short cropped haired boy. He looks different with this lean six foot something body and those tousled hairs. I laughed a little before pulling back and he turned to West "And you are West? right" he asked her, more of a statement and less question.
"Ash?" said a girl coming next to him she looked at me and then back at him. 'Wait are they sending fifteen year olds too? cause I can bet my one week worth food this one is no more than fifteen' "Don't" she said raising both hands in front of her and Asher laughed, me? well I just looked at her in confusion "I'm nineteen, not fifteen" she said giving an uneasy smile, at which Asher just laughed a little louder catching more attentions "she really gets tried of this" he said laughing and keeping his arms over burnett's shoulders pulling her closer as she elbowed him in stomach softly "can't say he is wrong"
"umm sorry what are you both talking about" I said looking between Asher and burnett and at the same time giving her looks that I know she won't be able to read, Asher might read them like he used to back when I looked down my nose at the people I didn't like. 'Yes I am looking down my nose at the girl who's porcelain skin screams she's richer than us back when we had privilege of having a house on the ground. Because she is stealing my time with my best friend, or at least my former best friend and currently.....apparently only friend'. "you are thinking that I'm a kid, right?' burnett asked and I replied with 'O' if I didn't know that no aberrant is a telepath or that she is chipped just like Asher or me and countless other aberrants I would have mistaken her for a telepath.
"People mistake her for a fifteen years old quite a lot" Asher said looking at the burnett "anyways Talia meet Olivia, Olivia meet famous Talia" as soon as my name left Asher's lips, something clicked in Olivia's mind 'no I'm not a telepath either, heck I don't even know what my powers are to began with. It is just apparently Olivia is easy to read' and as if someone has just lit a four hundred watt bulb her face lit up "oh so you are Talia, I should have guessed" she said as she shook my hand 'yep she shook my hands I didn't, what can I say I'm not too comfortable with strangers especially rich ones, especially ones who are now apparently my former best friend's more than best friend'
"and you must be West" seems like Olivia doesn't mind my no response to her because her face is still as lit as it was a few seconds ago. And Asher is still grinning like idiots looking between his girlfriend and my fraternal twin. Me? I am just standing aside as ignored as always when someone bumped into my shoulders and my attention snapped to Rex, he opened his mouth to say something but closed it when Asher and West laughed their nervous laugh. Nik and their friend too looked at me and then next to me before giving Asher and Olivia disgusted look 'which they obviously didn't see' and a somewhat mix look to me and West. Rex on the other just stayed neutral.
"Hey" Asher pulled my attention back to him. "It's quite strange to see young human interns here at ISO" I said looking at Olivia who was saying something to West. "uh-huh no, she's an aberrant." Asher replied chuckling. I looked back at Olivia "but she's quite...short for an aberrant" average height for aberrants is five seven like mine, never have I ever came across aberrant barely five four.
"Yeah genes..... anyways come" Asher pulled me in the direction where everyone has left. "Asher, I can't just wander anywhere" I said pulling my hands back, I am not like him anymore I am not free to go wherever I want like him. I and West lost that right when our father tried to kill our mother. "Oh you sure can, besides this is the lunch time. Everyone left for the cafeteria" Asher said rolling his eyes.