Oblivion - Kingdom Come

Chapter 7: Oasis of Illusions

In Launch Room 108, the atmosphere was charged with anticipation and anxiety. The dispatcher's voice boomed through the room, "Ready to launch Bruce Santiago and Carly Risi to Desert section 058!"

Bruce glanced at Carly, a mix of determination and apprehension in his eyes. "You ready Carly? We're about to put our lives on the line and risk it all." Carly nodded firmly, her resolve unwavering. "Yeah, of course I am. We got each other. We'll be okay out there. We have to stick to the plan." Bruce grinned, his spirit lifted. "You're right, let's go! Ahmik is already there, and I can't let him one-up me! Let's see what we run into out there."

They braced themselves with a sense of purpose as the dispatcher initiated the launch sequence. Their pods were propelled towards their destination – a desolate desert wasteland where survival odds were slim, but Carly's carefully crafted plan offered a glimmer of hope.

The scorching desert landscape loomed closer as Carly and Bruce's pods hurtled toward their destination. Their pods slammed into the vast sand expanse with a thunderous impact, kicking up dust and grit clouds. The intense heat generated by their rapid descent, combined with the already high surface temperature, had stripped away the outer protective layer of the pods' metal coating, leaving them exposed to the harsh environment.

Crawling out of their pods, Bruce and Carly were immediately engulfed in the desert's oppressive heat. Bruce wiped the sweat from his brow, his expression mixed with disbelief and discomfort. "Holy fuck! It's too hot out here, way too hot. What the hell..." he exclaimed, shielding his eyes from the relentless sun.

Carly, stepping out onto the scalding sand, shared Bruce's sentiment. "I agree, this is unpleasant. Well, they warned us about where we were going. Having to wear these uniforms isn't too bad," she said, trying to stay positive despite the challenging conditions. Bruce looked around at the endless sea of sand, feeling hopeless. "Maybe for now. The longer we stay here, the worse it will get. The question is...where the fuck do we go? Nothing is out here. No map, nothing to guide us in any direction to anything."

Carly, ever the pragmatist, suggested a course of action. "I say we just pick a direction and start walking. Maybe we'll find something by accident. Despite not knowing which direction we are heading." As they prepared to set out, Bruce noticed a distant rock formation. "There's something over there! Looks like a bunch of rocks or something. There might be something around there. If we hope to survive out here, I hope it is food or water."

Carly, peering into the distance, agreed. "Oh wow! I didn't even notice that let's go. There's no point in standing around here anymore." Despite their determination, the rock formation seemed as distant as ever after an hour and thirty minutes of walking. Carly voiced her concern, "We aren't making any progress. Bruce, something is wrong. We've been walking for a while, and those rocks haven't gotten closer. I doubt it's a mirage, but I wouldn't rule it out."

Bruce, equally puzzled, paused and sniffed the air. "I was going to say the same thing. Wandering is exhausting, and it's too hot to keep walking. But why does it seem to be moving further...? Wait! Carly, do you smell that?" Confused, Carly replied, "Smell what? I don't smell anything. Are you okay?"

Invigorated by the scent, Bruce insisted, "It smells like something I used to eat back home during the summer! Ahhh, that smell is lovely. I think I can track it. Hold on, come follow me." Carly, unsure but trusting, followed Bruce. After ten minutes of walking through the unbearable heat, they stumbled upon a cactus. As they approached, Bruce realized the alluring smell was emanating from it.

"So, it was this cactus? It's weird as fuck, but at least we can drink the water if we get it open," Bruce remarked, his thirst intensifying at the thought. Carly, cautious but pragmatic, agreed. "I wouldn't drink from a random cactus, but we need some kind of water, and it looks fine." Bruce used his trusty pocket knife to cut two chunks off the cactus. After consuming the water, he felt revitalized. "That was some good ass water. I feel fresh and so much better now."