The System’s Era

is temper when she started messing with him.

Forget it. Its not bad anyway, he mumbled to himself. ”Have you done what mother asked you to? ” he then asked her.

”Yes, I did. I finished yesterday, ” she said as she lightly tapped the bead bracelet on her wrist on the table and a holographic report appeared in front of them.

”I have finished with the inspection. All the facilities are perfectly operational, and our energy reserves should be able to sustain our consumption for half a year at least. It is the same for our food and water reserves, ” she reported as Jay carefully scrolled through the report. ”We also have enough weapons to win WW4, ” she added with a small chuckle.

”Good, ” Jay nodded, satisfied with her report.

”Yup, everything is done. You can check it later. ”

”No, I trust you. Now, we just need to send your report to mother, ” he said as he pinched the hologram and pressed it against his Holobrain.

”When is maman coming back? ”

”Today. Her flight is scheduled for this morning. It should be somewhere around 10 A.M. ”

”Oh, already! Expected her to stay there much longer. ”

”Yes, apparently, New Paris is planning to close their airports. You know, the crazy weather and all. ”

”This mad weather thingy is really messing everything up…. Bro, do you think this is going to turn into an apocalypse? ” she asked the question that was probably on everyones minds.

”Don know, I don remember the Maya predicting anything for this period. Still, anything can happen, and thats why we are getting ready, ” Jay said. He knew that while small, the possibility of an apocalyptic event happening couldn be excluded.

”Umm, itll be cool if it does. I mean it will certainly be fun to experience an apocalypse. ”

”Maybe. Anyway, youll only know if you don die at the very beginning. ”

”Don jinx me, bro. I am not that unlucky, ” Jess said as she elbowed him. While she perfectly understood her brothers point, she didn like the fact that he said it as if she was going to be one of those unlucky enough to die at the very beginning.

”Alright, I am sorry. My lovely sister is the prettiest and luckiest girl on Terra. ”

”Not just girl. Person…. Anyway, I should be going. Good luck with your game, ” she said as she put a croissant in her mouth and grabbed her cars keys.

”Did you take your talkie? ” Jay asked. As the network was often disturbed those days, they had started to take talkies with them to avoid being unable to join each other in case of an emergency.

”Oui. ”

”Alright. Be safe. ”

”Umm…. Oh, Kate told me she will be at your college today. It is supposed to be a surprise but… ”

This girl. Jay sighed as he watched her speed away. I should go too, he thought as he put his laptop away and grabbed his bikes helmet.

I hope nothing unexpected happens, he thought as he started his bike and rode toward his college.

****

Aurora College, Cardano Arena, O1:40 P.M.

The atmosphere in the college baskets arena was bustling. Music, cheers, laughter, and loud chatters filled the place as fans of the local team animatedly discussed and celebrated their teams victory. Such an atmosphere was rare, especially in those days where everyone was worried about the future. However, on this special occasion, everyone let go of their worries and enjoyed themselves.

”Hey Jay, why are you here alone? You should go and celebrate with your friends, ” a gray-haired man said as he walked toward Jay and patted his back.

”Yes coach, I was just catching my breath, ” Jay replied with a polite smile.

”Ok. So, are you not going to consider playing in the pro league, ” the coach asked with a smile.

”I won . ” Jay shook his head. For him, basketball was a hobby at best.

Initially, he only started playing because his father deemed it to be important for his training. You need to learn how it is to be part of a team, he said. At the time, Jay thought he would need to go through another grueling experience. However, in the end, he fell in love with the sport, and it became one of the few or maybe the only good thing the asshole brought into his life.

”This would be my greatest regret as a coach. You could have become one of the greatest, ” the coach said with a bitter smile.

”I know, sorry coach, ” he said as he could somehow understand the coachs feelings.

”Don mind…. ”

”Hey, Jay! Coach, ” a tall and burly black-skinned guy said as he walked toward the coach and Jay. It was Oliver, one of Jays teammates.

”Alright, I will leave you with your friend, ” the coach said with a smile.

”Yes, coach. ” The two answered simultaneously.

”So, Jay, do you have any plans for tonight? The guys are planning to go out and have some fun, ” Oliver said as he put his arm around Jays shoulders.

”I don know yet, ” Jay said as he looked around the stadium as if looking for someone.

”Come on. We wouldn have won without you. You have to come, ” Oliver said with a hopeful look.

However, just as Jay was about to answer, a cold and somehow robotic voice sounded in his mind.

{PLANET U869X192000 HAS MET THE REQUIREMENTS. NOW COMMENCING ASCENSION PROCESS… 10….9….8…}

When he heard the sudden voice, Jay was greatly startled since it didn seem to come from around him but instead directly sounded inside his head.

”Am I so tired that I start hearing things? ” Jay couldn help but ask himself. At first, he thought it was his mind playing a trick on him, but when he looked at Oliver and saw his expression, Jay understood that the matter wasn that simple and he was not the only one that heard the voice.

{….5..}

”You heard it too, right? ” Oliver asked Jay when he saw his cautious expression and how he was warily looking around the now silent stadium.

{….1..}

{….0..}

”Yes… ” was the only thing Jay could tell before he was assaulted by an intense wave of tiredness and almost fainted on the spot. Startled, he tried his best to stay awake. Still, his struggles proved to be useless as all he could do was watch everyone around him collapse before everything went black for him too.