Satori

Prologue

  I'm sure SOME people have heard of Apophis. Some asteroid that was going to pass by the surface of our planet by less than 20,000 miles. Well... in this universe/dimension, not only did it actually hit. But it hit way sooner! Roll it back to December of 2021.

  Back then humanity was just beginning to ease off with the quarantine, kids were going back to school (with masks), adults and parents were getting back to their jobs (WITH. MASKS), everything seemed to be getting better. 

  On 27 December (or December 27th, if you're American), CNN talked about a meteor that was long supposed to pass by the Earth. It seemed that it had picked up speed... changed course, nobody knew for sure. All people knew was that there was a 87% chance of it colliding with Earth, causing global damage (Apophis was also bigger in this timeline). Some people theorized that someone had hacked the site, and used AI to spread rumors of human extinction. But many of Earth's most intelligent people, at that time, had shut down this conspiracy. 

  Elon Musk himself had said, "AI just isn't advanced enough to be capable of such a feat. We're barely scratching the surface of it. It would take at least another year to replicate voices with it." So it was certain, thousands of years of bloodshed and wars, desperate to obtain peace... and an asteroid would sweep in and cause the Earth to start from a clean slate. Mostly.

  Many rich people spent millions, billions, even trillions to get to safety. Nuclear bunkers and spacecraft were the favored choices, and they quickly relocated themselves. Apophis wasn't even a month away from Earth and people were already losing their minds.

  Most people didn't care about laws or morals, they simply did what they wanted to. I mean, if global extinction was upon you... you'd do anything too, right? Thinking: "What's the point? I'm not going to be around much longer anyways." So for the next 2 months that became everyone's motto. Or at least... most people.

  Throughout the passing months, scientists and mathematicians, engineers and technicians, or anyone who could use their brain properly at the time had joined together to find a way out of this mess. Several calculations to see if perhaps Apophis wouldn't hit, had failed. It only further proved that it was going to hit. In fact, the first calculations were off, it wasn't 87% but instead it was 93%... All hope seemed to be lost, with governments having lost control of the people they once governed. Houses... buildings. No, cities on fire, trash everywhere. The air quality had become so bad in just 2 months that to go outside you had to wear a mask. 

  Even if Apophis didn't hit, COVID had re-surged, 20 times worse than before. Of course, you can't complain about how bad the Earth was without mentioning global warming... but it didn't really do anything. The way people acted and treated each other, it would seem like our Gen-Z were nothing but sweet little angels. 

  On the 2nd day of February, CNN had made one final announcement. Telling everyone that shelter needed to be sought immediately. "If you have a basement, go there and barricade it like your life depends on it. Because it does. If you're in your car, do not leave it, and try to seek out the nearest tunnel or roofed area. Find. Shelter at all costs. Militaries all over the world have created 'safe havens,' and will do their best to protect your lives."

  And then. 

  The asteroid hit.