Nanoship

Chapter I

Humanity always knew, that the earth wouldn't exist forever.

We thought that humanity itself would be its downfall, since resources were getting rare and we destroyed the surface of this beautiful planet, extinguishing every living being but ourselves. Meat, for example, is something I've read in books about, but never tasted, since humans are the only species roaming the plains of earth. Our 'Meat' is made artificially, as well as everything else we eat.

But what isn't artificial? Only we aren't. We.. Such a cruel and wicked word, considering that everybody is on their own now, facing death. Everybody, except of 500 people, the crew of the Nanoship. Millions of humans between the age of 16 to 45 send in applications, just to get chosen as the few lucky ones who will survive this hell.

We call this hell, an enormous asteroid „Razrushitel' mira", short RAZ. It means Destroyer of the World, while the shortcut means Time. How ironic, isn't it? To call it short time seems macabre to me...

Now the chosen ones, 250 females,250 males and the AI, are preparing for their departing to search for a new earth and leaving their families behind to die, knowing that this farewell will be one for eternity. And I... Well, I am one of them.

„My baby, my precious little darling...! I'm so sorry... I... I wanted to see you grow up...", the woman teared up, starting to cry heavily, „Be beside you on your wedding, watch your father take you down the aisle, see you grow old with whoever that lucky guy would be who would get my sweet darling... And now I can't do any of that! I can do nothing... See, I can't even smile for you! I should be happy, knowing that you will survive... But I can't.

It hurts so much, even though you are the one losing us, not the other way around. It hurts knowing I will never see you again... My little precious baby...", The mother clung to her daughter, hugging her as if she never wanted to let go, but she knew that it was soon time to set her free. She stepped back, still holding the girl's hands, but slowly pulled away, to leave space for the next person.

The father who held his head high until now, the man she never saw cry once in her entire life, looked like a shadow of himself, with his teary eyes and his jaw clenched. He too, hugged her, clinging to her desperately. „I'm so proud of you Ivy! So proud that I can call me your Dad. Please, continue being the sweet daughter I love, don't give up, fight and survive!

And never forget, humanity laid its faith into your tiny little hands, so don't you dare let us down!", he choked out a laugh, „You know I'll be watching you! And I swear, if they guy you'll get is an asshole, believe me, I will haunt him until jumps off a cliff! With poisonous plants.. Maybe dangerous aliens... And other life-threatening stuff... So, you better live to tell him that! Promise!" He released her from the hug and held out his pinky to her, as did she. „I promise.", Ivy said, „I will never let you down, I swear."

By now everybody was sitting on the couch, crying and grieving. But suddenly a tiny hand poked her shoulder. It was her little brother. „Mom, Dad, Ivy... What is going on?", he asked, his voice pitching in fear, „Why are you all crying? Did something happen? Is someone sick?" Ivy just turned around and pulled him on her lap, holding him tight. „No Evan, everything is alright, I'm just leaving for the vacation I won. I told you about it, didn't I?"

She just couldn't tell a panicking 5 year old that he was going to die without seeing his beloved big sister ever again and on the other hand she didn't want to hear it. She knew they'll die, but saying it would only make it more real. „Ev, listen, no matter what happens, I love you and I won't forget you when I'm gone.", she whispered, kissing his forehead. „Go back to sleep tiny bean, you look tired.", she forced a chuckle, to make him think everything was fine and calm enough to go.

Then she looked at the holographic clock on the shelf and realized she had less than an hour left, before she needed to go. She had packed everything over the week, mostly mementos like pictures of her family, the teddy bear her best friend got her for her birthday, the pullover her mother made her for Christmas last year and the ship in the bottle she made with her Dad.

Then she realized something and ran to her little brothers room. „Tiny bean, can I ask you something?", she asked. Evan looked at her, smiled and said yes. He had an adorable plush elephant, his favorite toy, and Ivy asked if he would give it to her until they meet again. Evan looked confused for a second and wondered why she would want his plush elephant.

She will come back anyway, he thought, so he agreed and gave it to her. Ivy hugged him one last time, then turned around, before Evan could see the new tears that are starting to flow down her cheeks. „I love you, tiny bean, see you again soon...", she said, then closed his door. As she went back to the living room she looked at the clock again, only to see, that she had not even half an hour left with her family.

After crossing the living room she stepped into her bedroom, letting the picture of her home sink in one last time, then grabbed her bags and the heavy suitcase she filled. After Ivy placed her things next to the door she went back to her parents. She wanted to say so many things, yet she couldn't find fitting words, while always glancing to the clock. The minutes passed, still in silence, no one dared to say something.

They found comfort just by being near each other for one last time, all lost in their own pain. No matter how advanced technology is, there will never be a medicine against this amount of psychical pain. The family stood up, seeing it was time to let their daughter go, and went into the garage. The short drive to the teleport was equally as silent and depressing as before. These were the last steps they would take together and they were well aware of it.