7 Years Ago

I woke up as cold started to take over. It was 3:54 AM. I tried to switch on the lights but nothing happened, which was weird as we never had power issues. Only once a year when there was maintenance we had power cuts, but it was never dead in the morning and the heating system was always on.

I wore my shoes and got up, I was just opening the gate when my father Major Hackshaw Fletcher opened the gate and crashed it on my face.

" Remus, son; we have to evacuate now, and why are you on the floor?" He questioned.

"whatt, ev-a -cuate, ahhh! my nose it's bleeding, and why the lights not working dad".

" No time to answer son, they have attacked, launched a massive EMP on the West side, we have to go now, or we will freeze to death, pack your bag boy; take only the essentials lets go ".

I asked no further because I understood that this was an emergency. I took my bag and started packing stuff. I took 2 pair of clothes, a flashlight as it was still dark and only an emergency light was glowing, in an eerie shade of blood. I took my I'd card which had my name on it, Remus Hackshaw Fletcher, my age which was 9 and a photo of mine.

My father was standing at the gate waiting for me, and was talking to someone; probably with my mom. He led me out to the car, and we took off, we were riding on a Tesla tang 900. which was a beauty and flew like a jet. We reached the air-rea in probably 10 min. the air-rea was just a stylish name for a fast travelling train station, it would suit if it was rail-rea ( sounds like ma - la - ria, a disease 300 years back, used to kill people and spread through mosquitoes, I read this in my science book )

My father led me to a train with only three compartments it was the sepsonic, the most luxurious one, it was obvious that we would travel in that one because my father is head of the organization at EARTH. My father led me by his hand at my back to our private chamber at the train, on the other track I saw hundreds of people pilling in the normal passenger train, they had worry on their face, guess we were the last to board our train cause it started just as we seated. I broke the silence nearly after 45 minutes, my father wore an expression I had never seen before, he was anxious.

"What happened dad ",

" The remainings attacked us, not by any warhead, they launched their biggest EMP", said my father.

EMP, as you're wondering, is an electromagnetic pulse, which can cause short circuits, and I don't mean they are small, as my father said ' the biggest EMP '; which I am sure is Titla -800 which can cause a malfunction in areas bigger than 600km sq. and the effects last for more than a few decades.

"Dad, why are we evacuating, can't it just be repaired; the damage by EMP, " I asked.

"Son I am afraid; the damage is beyond repair. All the heating system has been shut, we had to leave, all the farms are destroyed, only 1/4th of farms remain"

The situation didn't quite sank in me, I mean, it took time. The 'remainings' have attacked us before also but this was different with that big of damage it would be hard for us to survive.

"So what now Dad? What are we going to do, and where are we going ?" I asked

" Calm down son," he said though his expression was nowhere near calm. His face hardened as I noticed. " We are going to the centre, The 'HOVER' '

After hearing we were going to Hover; I felt a little better; a feeling of excitement set inside me, though I was a little confused because of all the things that were happening. But everything about Hover is damn good. I mean it has the biggest library of sciences ; ( don't call me a nerd, ok; I am not ! ... Okay, okay a little bit ) . Hover is the biggest city in Castalia. Though it is not the capital, it has the headquarters of EARTH, the biggest organization in Castalia. Hover also has many great shops and all the beautiful museums, that remind us of what started 300 years ago and still going, and also whacked our farms today.

I was still thinking when my father started talking. " Remus, the damage 'remainings' have done today is no small and we would have to face problems, by 'we' I mean all the people of Castalia. Remus, the coming life will be of many obstacles son ."

I was looking out the window, a light just started glowing at the horizon. A copy of the sun. We were reaching our destiny. I turned towards my father and asked what does he mean.

" Son the west side of the Castalia had all the farms and food ", said my father looking into my eyes.

"So", I asked.

" The crops have died, as the heating system failed, we now have only 1/4 th of our country's farming land which is not enough to feed our 98 million population, we only have the stored food, that will only last a decade or so. We now have to launch the 'SPORE' ".

As his words sank, my heart felt heavier, We grew crop in artificial light and the West side was the only place where the natural soil was left after the war, now it was destroyed. It means no food will grow. Only the packed food remains, which as my father told will last a decade. I don't know much about 'SPORE' but I do know it's about space.

My father patted my back as we arrived at the HOVER.

end of chapter 1.