Apocalypse: Insurgence

Chapter 07: The Exploration

A day had passed.

The dome’s intercom buzzed with a sharp static crackle before a mechanical voice pierced the stillness, resonating through the cramped living quarters.

"Attention. All residents age sixteen and above, capable and able-bodied, are required to report to the main hall for immediate training and assignment. The Exploration Unit needs volunteers for an external mission. This is mandatory. Repeat—this is mandatory."

Xammy’s heart thundered in her chest. She pushed herself off the cold, hard floor, her back protesting as she sat up. The walls of their living space seemed to close in on her, the once-protective dome now a suffocating cage, reminding her of the decay happening outside.

Her mother paused, hands trembling as she sealed a ration crate. “They’ll need all of you out there,” she said softly, her gaze drifting to Xammy’s jacket laid out by the door—an unspoken acknowledgment of the inevitable.

“I’ll be careful,” Xammy replied, though the words felt like ashes on her tongue.

Her mother offered a sad smile, tinged with fear. "I know you will. Just remember… it’s not just the bloom you need to fear. People get desperate. Stay with your friends."

---

When Xammy arrived at the main hall, the atmosphere was thick with tension and anxiety. Hundreds of faces—pale and gaunt from months under artificial lights—shifted nervously, casting wary glances at one another. Malik towered over the crowd, his imposing figure casting a long shadow, while Jenna, her usual bravado dimmed, nodded solemnly at Xammy. They were all waiting for a ground to give way beneath them.

“You think this is really happening?” Malik whispered, barely audible over the murmurs.

Xammy swallowed hard, adjusting the strap of her bag. “It was bound to happen. We can’t keep hiding in here forever.”

“Speak for yourself,” Jenna scoffed, though her usual sarcasm sounded hollow. “I was just starting to enjoy the luxury of not dying every day out there.”

Before they could continue, Commander Bryce strode in, his boots echoing ominously against the metal floor. His face was as hard as stone, exhaustion and urgency etched deep into his expression.

"Listen up!" His voice boomed, cutting through the anxious murmurs. "This is not a routine supply run. The algal bloom is advancing faster than we predicted. We’re running out of time. Our mission is twofold: resupply and research. Teams will gather critical resources, but we also need volunteers to collect live samples of the algae."

The air in the room grew colder, heavier with dread.

“This algae is unlike any organism we’ve seen,” Bryce continued, lowering his voice slightly. “It’s spreading—feeding on the planet itself. We must study it and find a way to stop it. You’ll be outfitted with the necessary gear, but make no mistake—this mission is high-risk.”

Malik clenched his jaw. "This is insane. They’re sending kids out to fight some kind of monster plant. We’re not soldiers."

"We don’t have a choice," Xammy replied, steadiness creeping into her voice despite her rising fear. "If we don’t fight this now, there won’t be a dome left to protect us."

---

Training was grueling, every moment a test of endurance and resolve. The urgency in Commander Bryce’s voice echoed in Xammy’s mind, and the looming threat of the algae hung over her like a dark cloud. Survival was no longer the only concern—it was about comprehending the nature of the creature they faced and preparing to meet it on its own terms.