Cloudbusting

Earth

update // so apparently percabeth isn't the extended version of Percy

Earth looked massive when Andrei looked down from his ship. The second component had broken off, leaving him alone in the final form of his craft, the Perseus. He was here in this desolate and empty landscape to test his own theory, one that leans equally between destroying the entirety of planet earth, along with all his research, or making the most incredible discovery of mankind while restoring earth back to its original pace of time. His most precious cargo; the key to preserving his planet, was located below him.

Andrei saw himself as something of Earth's last saviour, but of course this was his own arrogance talking. But maybe, just maybe, this would work. If not, he would die inside of the hole, compressed into nothing; reduced to atoms. But what choice did he have? Alright, maybe he could have ran through the discovery of the key to creating a wormhole to NASA before he spent every last scrap of his savings (actually all of it, he had accumulated a vast wealth during his previous years of work in the company) on this rocket ship, but they hadn't contacted him yet. Once he had fully escaped earth's gravitational pull, space was no man's land and he could do as he pleased. However, this did not ease Andrei. If I survive this, it is incredibly likely I'll never be able to return to earth; not with the fines chasing me.

The darkness behind the sun was suffocating, passing him into the small confines of his spacecraft. He had only just enough fuel to get to the black hole and back, but that was only according to his statistics without including the gravitational pull of Jupiter. But now that he did think about it, he had twice as much fuel as he needed, which would be incredibly useful.

The small sound of beeping came from the right hand control panel, afterwards sending itself over to the main panel in which Andrei sat. A transmission from ASA, JAXA and finally NASA. Andrei supposed the other international space agencies hadn't caught on yet, including his mothers homeland, but then again, he thought, perhaps they were still in so much financial debt they couldn't afford to send him a transmission (not that it mattered, of course.). Staring at the galaxy's distorted lights, Andrei decided against the opening of these letters, instead deciding to focus on his mission. From his calculations, it should take him about six or more years of travelling to get to Jupiter's Corpse.

"...Alright. Six years. Shouldn't be too bad. Guess I have to watch Stranger Things now." Andrei yawns, flicking on his own personal Netflix. He knows it's a bit outdated, considering its 2052, but hey, there may not be anything for him to call old style if mankind is destroyed. He looks down to the home he won't see in perhaps twelve years, perhaps never again. Wormholes have the same gravitational pull as black holes, meaning that earth most likely be destroyed anyways, but at least this way, he could give mankind an opportunity to live (though this was all depending on where the wormhole arrived), but in Andrei's eyes, it was worth a shot. Anything was.

RECEIVING TRANSMISSION - ISS

Andrei turned to the left panel, an eyebrow raised. Usually, you'd have to be connected to the ISS or some other space station for them to be able to contact someone. Perhaps they had hacked Percabeth, which was deeply troubling to the young man. Though then again, he supposed anyone could contact him if they really wanted to. Rolling his eyes, he accepts the transmission.

"Greetings. Please send us a transmission with your official space travel permit attached."
Ah. Andrei hadn't applied for a permit for Perseus. He had finally run out of money at the last minute while he was gathering twelve years worth of rations. There were probably more important things to do rather than get some silly earth permit anyways.

"Didn't apply for one. I'm heading to Jupiter's Corpse." He responded, checking his course kept him on track as his transmission continued across. By his calculations, the International Space station was around the other side of the earth at this point in time. There wasn't much they could do to stop him from there.

"This isn't an attack. I would like no nuclear war involved in saving mankind, please." He added. He'd seen the consequences of his actions debated in Quora forums, and he'd prefer not to start anything that could destroy earth even more before he got to save it.

"Sir, what you are doing is highly illegal. Land your spacecraft immediately." The voice says, agitated.

"I can't. Currently, I am doing what you call saving mankind, as I have previously stated." Andrei groans. A small eternity of silence passes the radio. Did he peak their interest?

"Land your spacecraft."

"Ha! And what will you do to stop me?" Andrei chuckles. Now was the fun part. Static sounds come from Perseus' radio for a small moment, afterwards making a click sound like one would do on an 80's computer mouse.

"This is mission control. we are taking control of your spacecraft. We advise you not attempt to interfere." As if on queue (it is on queue), Perseus lets out a panicked alarm.

"Changing course," The ship proclaims.

"Not today, Percy." Andrei grimaces, focusing his power onto the right panel. Getting the ISS off his back was the least of his concerns for the time being. "Activating NordVPN Ripoff." Instantly, Perseus' cries for help soften, leaving the silence of space to his ears again. Until the ISS starts another radio transmission.

"Because I am a very friendly person, I will give you White Hole instructions!" Andrei laughs, attempting to brush away at his hair, but instead accidentally hitting his face against the glass of his helmet.

"Please be aware that when you return to earth, you will be fined at best millions of dollars."

"Who said there was a when?" The man turns to flick off the transmission allowance button, but hesitates. He had forgotten to send them the formula for the White Hole. No matter, he would save mankind on his own anyways, so there was no need.

"Well. That's sorted." A humble buzz comes from his radio as he turns his gaze to the abyss of space. Everything looks so empty from here, in this infinite vacuum. He'd be around 32 years old by the time he got back, him being 27 now. It would be easy to have an existential crisis up here, especially in the span of six years. Andrei had already accepted that he would probably die or fail in his attempt to give mankind a ticket out of earth, but even if the white hole did work, what were the chances of there being a habitable planet there, waiting for them? It was extremely likely that no other planet apart from earth would be able to suit mankind's needs, and that's just oxygen.

Andrei fiercely shakes his head and takes off his golden helmet (well, technically most of it is polycarbonate, but gold sounds more noble.). His brown fringe falls across his face, but he can successfully brush it away this time. He stares awestruck at the scene in front of him, pulling out a camera to take a picture. Space, in Andrei's opinion, always seemed as if it were fantasy to him. Something he had worked his entire life for but wasn't quite sure if it were real.

Andrei unclips his seatbelt, letting the lack of gravity envelope his body. He floats to the roof of his space craft (which was much more cleanly made than the ISS spacecraft, to let you know of his mechanical work in which he was very, very proud of) then uses his hand to slowly propel himself back to the floor. With the technology he was using, Andrei would have to do a lot more exercise than he had to do in his previous training back on earth, as currently he had no weight, something he personally wasn't looking forward to. But, you know, anything for humankind. Why is this planet worth saving anyway? Andrei wonders. Flashes of his childhood run into his mind, only for him to push his thoughts elsewhere. Life on planets might be rare, but intelligent life? Surely that's worth keeping. He reasons with himself. However, he'd rather not have to travel 6 years or more just to give the people living on the dying planet a chance of being saved, and pretty much sacrifice his life in the process. That part was disheartening. Though, he supposed his life, so small compared to the vast universe of universes, was a small sacrifice.

He had created three living areas inside of the Perseus, including a living room, (non flammable) kitchen and a bedroom quarters. In reality, there were fourteen rooms inside of the young spaceship, but they were what you would expect of a spaceship; lots and lots and lots of wires. These fourteen rooms were where Andrei Tanaka would live for twelve years (give or take ten or so). He had packed (excuse the profanities) a shit ton of canned foor, and the fact that he'd have to have most of it cold was rather annoying.

Oh well. No time to get used to cold canned food and floating around aimlessly like now.