The next morning, David and Yuna set out to clear the debris blocking the gate of the hangar bay. The day was bright but carried the lingering coldness of the early dawn. They each grabbed shovels and laser cutters, the latter being useful for the large chunks of concrete and steel that had collapsed over the entrance.
"Look at that," Yuna said, pointing to a massive mound of rubble, a mix of destroyed buildings and overgrown roots. The pile was roughly the height of a three-story building and loomed over them ominously. "That hill of collapsed buildings is directly above the hangar gate."
David sighed, running a hand through his hair. "This is going to take a while," he muttered. "Looks like we've got our work cut out for us."
Yuna smiled faintly, her eyes scanning the area. "It might take time, but we've handled worse. Let's get started."
They began by targeting the largest obstacles first—huge boulders and collapsed steel beams that jutted out from the hill. The laser cutters hummed as they carved through the tough material, making it easier to break down into manageable pieces. Yuna's wings fluttered lightly as she used them to hover and reach higher parts of the debris. Her precision in cutting the heavy materials showed off the incredible strength that lay beneath her AI-driven grace.
David moved around the base of the hill, removing rubble, mud, and tree roots that had become entangled in the debris. The heat from the laser cutter burned through the tougher areas, but it was a slow and grueling process. Occasionally, they would stop to rest, drink water, or share a quick meal before resuming their work. The sun beat down on them as the hours passed, and sweat dripped from their brows as they pushed forward.
As the day neared its end, David descended from the pile, his breathing labored, his body aching from the hard labor. "I'm beat," he said, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "I don't think I've ever worked this hard in my life. Even after all this, it doesn't feel like we've made much progress."
Yuna floated down beside him, her expression more composed, though the exhaustion in her eyes was evident. "We've cleared a good portion of it," she said encouragingly. "We'll take our time. There's no rush. It might take a week, but we'll get through it."
David smiled wearily at her. "I hope you're right. I don't think my body can take much more of this."
They returned to the base that evening, their bodies sore but their spirits determined. For the next several days, their routine was the same: work hard, clear debris, fight off the occasional monster that wandered too close, and then rest.
By the tenth morning, they were close to finishing. With shovels in hand, they cleared the last of the mud and sand from the hangar gate. The enormous metallic door now stood exposed before them, gleaming in the soft morning light.
David let out a cheer of excitement. "Yes! Finally! We did it! Now there's nothing stopping us. We can finally fly that baby!" His eyes shone with enthusiasm.
Yuna scanned the area once more before giving David a teasing smile. "I think you spoke too soon," she said, nodding toward a distant tree line.
David followed her gaze and groaned. "You've got to be kidding me." Emerging from the shadows was a giant snake, its scales glistening dark green in the light. Its massive body slithered toward them with deliberate menace, each movement causing the ground to vibrate slightly. "What is with these monsters? Do they have a death wish, or do they just like showing up to annoy us?"
It wasn't the first time they'd faced such creatures. From their second day of work, one or two monsters had shown up daily, as though drawn to the disturbance in the area. At first, it was frustrating, and Yuna would dispatch them quickly. However, over time, they decided to use the monsters as practice dummies for their evolving skills. Yuna had refined her ice and water magic, while David honed his agility and super strength.
David prepared himself to fight the snake, but Yuna held up a hand. "Relax, David. I've got this."
Yuna stepped forward, her eyes narrowing as she summoned her magic. The air around her grew cold as she raised her hand, and a dozen icicle spears materialized out of thin air. With a swift motion, she hurled them toward the snake, each spear cutting through the air with a sharp hiss. The spears struck true, piercing the snake's massive body and pinning it to the ground. The creature thrashed violently for a moment, blood pouring from its wounds, before falling still.
David approached the snake, shaking his head in amazement. "You've gotten faster with your magic," he said, his voice filled with admiration.
Yuna gave a small smile, her gaze fixed on the dead snake. "I've had good practice these past few days," she said simply. "Now, let's head back."
They returned to the lab, their clothes stained with dirt and sweat. After a quick shower and a change of clothes, they met in the main hall, eager to finally see the fruits of their labor. David was practically bouncing with excitement.
"Let's go to the hangar bay. It's time to fly that baby!" David exclaimed.
Yuna chuckled at his enthusiasm and nodded. Together, they walked to the hangar. The massive metallic door slid open as they approached, revealing the sleek spaceship they had discovered on their first day. The ship's glossy surface reflected the dim lighting of the hangar, and as they entered, the familiar voice of the AI, Teresa, greeted them.
"Hello! Welcome back, Sir David and Miss Yuna."
"Hello, Teresa," Yuna said, smiling. "Give us the status report."
"Report: All systems are operational. The ship is fully functional and ready for flight."
"Teresa," Yuna asked, "what's the status of the power core? Is it a self-sustaining energy source?"
"Affirmative," Teresa replied. "The power core is self-replenishing, absorbing energy from the sun to sustain itself. It will continue to function indefinitely unless physically damaged or removed from the ship."
David grinned, turning to Yuna. "Looks like we've found a permanent partner for our journey."
Yuna gave him a nod, her expression more serious but tinged with satisfaction.
"Teresa," Yuna commanded, "activate all systems, open the hangar bay doors, and prepare for a test flight."
The massive metallic doors of the hangar bay groaned as they slid open, revealing the outside world. The sunlight streamed in, casting long shadows across the ground.
"Please confirm," Teresa said. "Do you wish to initiate the test flight?"
"Yes," David said, grinning widely. "Let's get this thing in the air!"
Yuna smiled at his excitement. "Ready for your first flight, David?"
"You bet I am," he replied, practically vibrating with excitement. "It's like something straight out of a movie!"
"Engine activated. Ion thrusters online. Preparing for takeoff," Teresa announced.
David and Yuna strapped themselves into the pilot and co-pilot seats. In front of them, numerous holographic screens displayed the ship's systems, status reports, and an exterior view. Slowly, the ship began to hum as the thrusters engaged, lifting them off the ground with a soft yet powerful force. The ship ascended smoothly, rising higher and higher until the landscape below became a distant blur.
"Whoohoo!" David shouted, his excitement palpable. "This is amazing!"
As they rose higher into the atmosphere, the devastation of Earth became clearer. Craters pockmarked the landscape, remnants of the cataclysm that had ravaged the planet. Forests had reclaimed much of the urban ruins, creating a strange juxtaposition of nature and decay. Cities that were once bustling with life now lay in ruins, overgrown and abandoned.
They flew higher and higher until the curvature of the Earth became visible. The once-blue planet was now marked by large patches of destruction, but it still held a haunting beauty. David and Yuna gazed at the sight in silence, a mixture of awe and sadness filling them.
After a few minutes, Teresa's voice broke the silence. "We are now 50 miles away from Earth, approaching the Kármán line, the border between Earth's atmosphere and space. Do you wish to proceed?"
Yuna glanced at David. "What do you think? Should we keep going?"
David grinned. "Why not? We're already here. Let's see how this ship handles in space."
"Teresa," Yuna ordered, "continue forward at a slow speed. Let's make sure everything operates normally."
The ship continued its ascent, leaving the atmosphere behind. As they crossed the threshold into space, the gravity within the ship suddenly shifted, pulling David and Yuna slightly out of their seats. They floated for a brief moment, weightless.
"Gravity control system activating. Apologies for the inconvenience," Teresa said.
A moment later, the ship's artificial gravity kicked in, and David and Yuna were gently pulled back into their seats. The view outside the ship was breathtaking. The vast emptiness of space stretched out before them, filled with stars that sparkled like diamonds against the inky blackness. The sun shone brilliantly in the distance, casting stark shadows across the moon's cratered surface.
"Wow," David whispered, his eyes wide with wonder. "This is incredible."
Yuna nodded in agreement. "It's... beautiful."