On the internet, publication companies, bloggers, and other content creators rushed to churn out positive headlines about the everted crisis. The fact that the inhabitants of the Earth had narrowly survived an extinction-level event, was a great boon for most and the news of tsunamis, hurricanes, or a strike in the East African Federation was nothing to worry about. For most people, it was a small price to pay if only a few million died instead of the entirety of all life on Earth. But also, the fact that most people had entered public or private underground shelters in safe areas had given them hope that whatever was to come was nothing deadly.
He wasn't done with his speech, he continued speaking as the world paid undivided attention to him. "While we have escaped the most catastrophic phase, now is the time for us to come together in solidarity. We must brace ourselves for the challenges ahead, as our brothers and sisters in East Africa and the Indian Ocean region face the impending threats. Let us stand united and support them through this difficult time."
"To those in the areas about to be affected, I urge you not to surrender to despair. Instead, let us rally together in the resilient spirit that defines humanity. Remember, this is not the end. May God protect us all."
As his words echoed across the airwaves, the broadcast shifted to a powerful image: thousands of asteroid fragments burning up in the atmosphere.
It was a marvelous sight to behold, but the most important aspect about it was not the surreal beauty of the flaming asteriod fragments but the knowledge and realization that humanity and all life on planet Earth had successfully evaded an extinction-level event through collaboration. It made many hopeful, that with a united mindset, nothing could defeat them when they set their minds on it. This promised to be a second new dawn, similar to the day humanity decided to put aside the ideological, religious, and racial differences to come together as a united people under one government thus putting aside all the nationalistic, religious, and political wars which had plagued humanity for centuries.
** *
Back on the highway leading out of Mutukula town. The limousine carrying the duo of grandfather and grandson proceeded on its journey to Sipata B.
BOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMM
A thunderous explosion was heard in the skies above, for a moment the midday sky was bathed in a fiery glow that rapidly expanded, covering a vast expanse. A blazing, fiery mushroom blossomed high in the sky, visible to most people.
The driver of the limousine heard it too, he slowed down and brought the car to a stop on the side of the highway. The passengers and the driver peered through the limousine's window, they looked at the sky in awe and panic.
Since they had not been listening to the international broadcast, they did not know the specifics of what had happened. They got out to properly watch the new phenomenon in the sky, it was irresistible. For a moment, they breathed a sigh of relief, believing that maybe the worst of the worst was now behind them. Liam Tatu the thirty-two-year-old grandson of Amos Tatu went back in the limousine, and picked up his smartphone, he raised it to the sky and filmed the spectacle that may never happen again in their life.
In amazement. They watched as tiny, fiery asteriod fragments with smoky tails streaked across the sky. They were accompanied by loud rumbling sounds, as if large boulders were crashing from the heavens.
"Grandpa, do you think the earth's military has succeeded in destroying Apocalypse2?" Liam asked his grandfather since he was in the military in his youth, he knew more than him.
Amos leaned against the barricades on the side of the highway, quietly watching the flaming skies. "Grandson, I don't have all the details but I am certain that they did it." He answered in his feeble voice.
"Thank God! The worst is behind us," said the driver in excitement with a big smile plastered all over his light brown face. Like most people on Earth, he was dreading what was expected to happen when the asteriod made landfall.
"Indeed, God is good all the time. My children and grandchildren have a future ahead of them. I may not live to see it, but the fact that life will not be wiped out on Earth makes me hopeful." Said Amos Tatu he shifted his eyes to look at his kind grandson Liam Tatu.
The driver looked at Liam Tatu who was taken up with filming the unfolding spectacle before saying. "It is truly a historic moment, let me also get my phone and take some pictures for my blog and social media."
"How times change!" Amos Tatu muttered to himself.
During his youth in the 1970s-1980s, people enjoyed special moments like this without having to care about broadcasting them on social media or streaming platforms. They lived for the moment, but now people of this generation cannot enjoy even the smallest pleasures minus bringing out their phones or glasses. It's something he could not get used to but was also powerless to stop.
For close to twenty-five minutes, they watched, filmed in amazement this new occurrence. They had faith that the military strike was successful once they heard the massive explosion with the accompanying fiery display.
Later, when it looked like everything had subsided, they got back in the limousine and continued on their way to Sipata. They traveled for several kilometers, and it looked like the worst was behind them.
Unbeknown to them, a large piece that had broken off from Apocalypse2 during the coordinated strike was tumbling down with vengeance while heading to their destination. This fiery asteriod fragment was measuring about hundred and thirty meters in diameter, it was part of the bad news the President of the World Government communicated. Maybe if they were listening to his last speech, they could have immediately known that they should seek shelter in the shortest time possible.
A lengthy tail of smoke accompanied this asteriod fragment which was covered in flames. Its approach was characterized by a much louder rumbling sound compared to the previous ones with a strong gust of wind left in its wake.
It streaked past the skies of Mutukula town and continued in the north where Sipata B and A lay. With a resounding boom, it touched down with a mighty vengeance.
BOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!
------- AUTHOR NOTES ------
Apologies, dear readers, for my vanishing act over the past year.
Rest assured, I didn't drop the story—life just threw a few curveballs that knocked me off track. But hey, I'm back and ready to dive in again.
I'll be updating the story whenever I can, but let's just say I'm keeping it spontaneous for now. Whether the story unfolds at a snail's pace or in a whirlwind, it all depends on when I can sneak in some writing time. Stay tuned!