Two days had passed. In a room measuring twenty meters in length and fifteen meters wide, with four bedrooms inside. There were also sofas and a television. In one corner of the room, there were various snacks and a refrigerator storing various drinks.
A young man was chatting happily with two women. That was Eric Osmond. For two days now, he has been trying to get acquainted with Julia and Silvia. Initially, Eric was only close to Julia. Slowly, Silvia, who initially thought Eric was pervert, began to talk to him casually.
Misunderstandings between Eric and Silvia were easily overcome thanks to Eric's humble and friendly personality and with the help of Julia convincing Silvia.
"Silvia and Julia, what do you think? Will we be informed soon about the mission Mr. Asher talked about when we first gathered?" I asked Silvia and Julia.
"I think today should be the day," said Julia.
"You're right, Julia, it should be today, according to the instructions we received," Silvia added.
We then continued chatting while relaxing on the sofa provided.
I, myself didn't understand why they had to make us wait for several days before we could go to the earth's surface.
Perhaps they were preparing some equipment for us to use when we were on the earth's surface. I thought.
I chatted with Julia and Silvia, and we had been chatting for quite a while today. While waiting for the officers to inform us of the mission we would undertake.
It was approaching evening. The officers still hadn't appeared. We then went about our own activities after chatting for quite some time.
I then lay down on my bed. I was thinking about the scenery up there. What the surface of the earth looks like.
I was born in the underground city of Terminus. And I never knew about the surface of the earth. It is said that humans used to live not underground but on the surface.
How did humans suddenly come to live underground. I wondered. "Did our ancestors make a mistake that led humans to live underground?". I then wondered in my heart.
I was busy with thoughts and fantasies in my head. I am eager to know what new things are on the surface of the earth.
"Knock, knock, knock." The sound of someone knocking on the door of the room.
I, Julia, and Silvia then heard the sound and immediately walked towards the door.
"Cracked." I opened the door to our dormitory room. In front of it was an officer wearing a uniform. From the looks of it, he was the staff member who would inform us of the mission.
"Good afternoon, friends," said the staff member.
"Good afternoon, sir," we all answered in unison.
We then invited the staff member into the room. We immediately headed to the sofa area that had been provided. For ease of conversation.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am a surface research staff. I am here to inform you that you will depart for the surface of the earth tomorrow," explained the staff member.
"You will gather in the central hall as usual and must be there by eight in the morning. For the mission you will receive, I will explain it now," continued the staff member.
"Your task later is to find a place where humans can live. Each group will go to a designated area for that group to explore, and each group will have a different area. You will be given one month to explore that area. Make sure you do not go outside the designated area. If you do not return within one month, we will consider you dead by the wild creatures out there," the staff member explained the task we would undertake.
"If there's anything unclear, you can ask," said the staff member to the three of us.
"Excuse me, sir, why is the time only one month?" I asked the staff.
"One month is already considered long. Because even one day is very difficult to survive outside," the staff replied.
"Sir, what kind of wild creatures are there on the surface of the earth?" Julia asked the staff.
"We found that up there, on the surface of the earth, there are very large and terrifying wild creatures. For further information, we cannot confirm yet," the staff replied to Julia.
Large wild creatures. I wondered in my heart. Then there were no more questions among the three of us.
"Alright, any other questions?" said the staff.
The three of us shook our heads. Letting the staff know that there were no further questions.
"Alright. You can continue your activities. For more detailed information, you will receive it before you leave for the earth's surface tomorrow. Remember not to be late for tomorrow!" warned the staff.
Then the staff walked out of our dormitory room. "Wild creatures and safe places," I said to myself. Like pondering those words.
"Will this journey be more dangerous than I thought?" Toga wondered in my heart.
The three of us then continued with our activities. I walked to my bed and continued to lie down. And I'm still thinking about the words "wild creatures" mentioned by the staff earlier.
***
The next morning. A group of young people gathered in the hall. I, Julia, and Silvia had also arrived in the hall. We stood somewhat in the corner of the room. I am waiting for the instructions.
"What do you think, Eric, about the mission given yesterday?" Silvia asked me.
"I don't know either. But I feel something is not right and dangerous," I answered Silvia.
"I feel the same, Eric. The words 'wild creatures' and how difficult it is to survive even one day are still on my mind," Julia added.
Not long after, Mr. Asher and several staff members entered the room, walking towards the center. Behind Mr. Asher, an old man with white hair and wearing a lab coat was seen.
"Line up according to your respective groups," Mr. Asher instructed.
We then lined up according to our respective groups, with the leader in the front, followed by the members.
"Today we will directly depart for the surface of the earth. But before that, we will distribute equipment to you all," said Mr. Asher.
Then the staff in charge distributed our equipment. In the form of medium-sized army backpacks.
I then checked the items in the backpack that had been distributed. There weren't many items in the bag. Among them were a very small portable stove, a lighter, several uniforms, and a knife that seemed to be specially made. The knife could be considered large, measuring about thirty centimeters long and three to five centimeters wide.
"Here is Mr. Albert. Who is a scientist studying the surface," Mr. Asher's voice was heard.
"Mr. Albert, please convey some information about the surface of the earth," Mr. Asher invited the scientist.
"Good morning, everyone. My name is Albert, and I have been studying the surface of the earth for twenty years."
"A hundred years ago, our earth's surface was exposed to radiation from the sun, causing the death of various living creatures, especially humans. Humans couldn't survive. And decided to build an underground city."
"I was born and raised in the underground city. I found out some time ago that our earth's surface is no longer dangerous, and there is no more radiation. But our earth's surface is now different from the records. In the records, it is said that our earth was full of tall skyscrapers, and there were no dangerous wild creatures. But now, the earth's surface is like going back to a time when there were no humans. Trees grow large. Even very large. And animals that were once extinct and even harmless have become very wild and ferocious."
"I want you to investigate the current surface of the earth and find a safe place for us to live. We will rebuild human civilization on the surface of the earth." Scientist Albert explained some things about the surface of the earth.
I, hearing information about the surface of the earth, became very curious to see the new world. A world that is different from the underground here. It's even said that the current surface of the earth is very different from the surface of the earth in the past.
"Take the equipment that has been given and go outside the building; we will depart now," Mr. Asher instructed.
I then picked up the equipment bag that had been given and walked out of the building according to the instructions. I looked back at Julia and Silvia. "Come on, let's go." I invited Julia and Silvia. Then I, along with my colleagues Julia and Silvia, went outside the building.