Rapture

Chapter 6

Reaching for the doorknob of my room. The cold iron knob felt welcoming, as my body knows that its time to rest for the day. The room I have is the same size as Sam's room.

I opened the door to see my steel companion already resting on my bed, wagging his tail, "Hey Russ how's going?"

Dropping my remaining gear on my desk, I went straight to the bathroom to have a well-deserved shower.

Turning the shower faucet on, the warm water trickles on my skin as it washes away the soft dirt and anything dirty. After soap warfare, Rinsing, and dressing. I got off the bathroom wearing a tank top and shorts.

Glancing at the mechanical wall clock. The hour hand is already pointed at 9.

Lying on the bed, eyes closed, to reminisce the entire day. I didn't expect to add two more people to the mothership. I always expected that I and Gustav would just be a dynamic tandem until we get to Luzon. I sighed as the image of my classmates flashed in my mind.

I opened my eyes to get a glimpse of the mechanical wall clock, tik tok tik tok, It's already 6'o clock in the morning. I raised from my bed, sitting at the edge of it. Russ is already gone and probably on a recon mission near the ritual site, the two girls are probably still sleeping.

I got out of bed, stretching out my arms, Ough I didn't exactly exert enough energy last time. Changing to more appropriate clothing. Black shirt, grey sweatpants, and a Miami Heat hoodie.

Getting out of my room, Sam's door opened and she came out. Her eyes are quite puffy.

Sam looked around, before looking at me, "Good morning big bro." she said, yawning at the end "Is breakfast ready?"

I shrugged, "Maybe, let's go to the cafeteria." walking toward her door, "Is Sandra awake?"

Sam shook her head, "Big sis slept like a baby." with a chuckle at the end.

I nodded, "Okay, let's go to the cafeteria." walking towards the main hallway with Sam on my tail.

As we approached the cafeteria, a faint aroma of soy sauce wafted through the air. The ship's constant air filter had been temporarily turned off for maintenance. The source of the enticing scent became evident as we drew nearer—Japanese Fried rice. I had taught Gustav that recipe back in Zamboanga three years ago, and after months of practice, he had mastered it.

Entering the cafeteria, we found Gustav busy arranging the serving trays. The first tray held a delectable serving of savory fried rice, while the second tray boasted fried eggs and an assortment of sausages.

Sam enthusiastically waved at Gustav, who reciprocated the gesture. "Come and get some!" he called out.

Equipping myself with a plate, spoon, and fork, I approached Gustav's station. With the rice spoon, he deftly filled my plate with a generous helping of the flavorful rice. Next, he used tongs to retrieve ten eggs and eight sausages from the second tray, placing them on a separate plate.

"Sandra is still asleep, which works in our favor," Gustav remarked as he handed me the loaded platter. "Once you've eaten and rested, head to the control room."

I nodded, accepting the Mt. Ricemore he handed me. Sam followed suit, carrying the plate adorned with eggs and sausages. We found our designated spot and set down the rice plate, with Sam placing the eggs and sausages beside it.

Taking a seat opposite Sam, I pondered her suggestion. "Can we complement this meal with a few additional dishes?" she inquired.

I replied, "Indeed, the rice itself already contains eggs. This particular dish is called Japanese fried rice."

Sam eagerly spooned out some rice and tasted it. "Wow! It's incredibly delicious on its own," she exclaimed.

Observing Sam's enjoyment, I couldn't resist taking a spoonful of the rice myself. Its savory flavor and fluffy texture evoked a slight smile, reminiscent of the times my grandmother had prepared it for our family. Letting out a sigh, I murmured, "It tastes like home."

Sam was dressed in a sleeveless tank top, opting not to wear a jacket. Her slender appearance made it evident that she had experienced periods of starvation prior to our encounter. I watched as she ate, noticing her restrained eating habits, quite different from Sandra's hearty appetite. Sam displayed impeccable table manners, skillfully using her spoon and fork.

Sam caught me observing her and asked, "Do I have rice on my face?"

Shaking my head, I reassured her, "No, there's none. I was just noticing how thin you look without your jacket."

Sam nonchalantly shrugged and shared a personal insight. "My mom used to say that," she sighed. "But I've learned to ration my meals."

Curiosity piqued, I inquired, "Why is that?"

"I understand what it means to go without food," Sam replied, setting her fork and spoon down.

The maturity displayed by this seven-year-old surpassed that of most children I had encountered. It was disheartening to think that Sam could have lived a normal childhood had it not been for the rapture. She reminded me of Sabrina in many ways

I quickly finished my portion of the meal but made sure to leave enough for Sam to feel satisfied. "Eat up, Sam," I encouraged her, setting down my silverware.

Sam stared at me, her eyes puffy. "Can I, big brother?" she asked, seeking permission.

I nodded, affirming her. "Of course, eat up and grow strong," I replied, rising from the cafeteria bench.

A bright smile illuminated Sam's face, and she exclaimed, "Yes, big brother!"

After our breakfast, I made my way to the control room, with Sam giving me a hug before we parted ways. She headed in the opposite direction, and I proceeded through the sliding doors into the control room.

Inside, Gustav was engrossed in studying the new hologram. "Oh, yeah, I forgot Sandra showed me her hand-drawn map," he mentioned, glancing in my direction.

"She beat me to it?" I responded, stepping closer to the hologram to examine it closely.

The hologram now displayed a more detailed depiction of the terrain, including the hills surrounding the base and nearby lakes. Over 50 red dots were scattered across the holographic landscape, indicating the presence of hostile entities.

"I adjusted the color scheme," Gustav explained, his fingers deftly navigating the keyboard. "Red represents hostiles, black represents unique entities, and white signifies docile ones."

The hologram revealed two black dots within the confines of the prison camp, accompanied by 40 white dots. The existence of two black dots sparked concern, as they indicated the presence of powerful beings. However, the hologram also suggested that they were contained within a cage.

"The two black dots could indicate," Gustav paused briefly, "either a gifted human or a demon in disguise."

Gifted humans were individuals born within five years before or after the rapture. They were fairly common during the initial three years after the event, often exploited by religious organizations to fight on their behalf. Possessing powers considered akin to witchcraft, the gifted humans played a crucial role in defending settlements until their numbers dwindled in subsequent years.

"The demon might be in recovery," I speculated, gesturing to zoom in on the holographic image, "or it could be a recent transition."

Gustav scoffed, "Don't expect the images to be high-definition."

The newest images appeared pixelated, revealing four unidentified objects heading toward the camera. They were likely the SAM sites of the base.

"In your mission," Gustav instructed, pressing buttons on the control panel, "prioritize the destruction of the SAM sites."

"What about the prisoners? Shouldn't they be a priority?" I questioned, considering the potential benefits of saving them.

"Look, it's you, Russ, and Sam against forty or more hostiles," Gustav responded with irritation. "Their numbers are growing."

"The main army is currently engaged in an attack on a settlement near Marawi," Gustav added, smirking slightly. "The settlement is vulnerable right now, which is why I suggested bringing Sam along."

I nodded, understanding his rationale. "I see. Should I prepare immediately, then?"

"Yes, I'll get Russ to locate Sam," Gustav confirmed. "You head to the armory after this."

Without saying another word, I nodded and departed from the control room. Prioritizing the rescue of the prisoners seemed morally right, but it would likely lead us into a challenging situation tactically.

Swiftly changing into my gear, I emerged from my room within minutes. Just as I stepped out, Sam's door creaked open, and Sandra appeared, looking somewhat drowsy.

Sandra scanned her surroundings before her gaze settled on me. "Where's Sam?" she inquired

"Probably at the armory. You should grab something to eat in the cafeteria," I replied, walking toward the armory.

"Wait," Sandra interjected. I turned around to face her, and she continued, "What do you mean at the armory?"

"Well, Sam and I have been assigned a mission to rescue the people at the camp," I explained, pausing briefly before adding, "Don't worry, it'll be alright."

Sandra furrowed her eyebrows and walked closer to me. "Hold on a minute," she said, her arms crossed. "Are you telling me that a child is going out to face such a threat?"

I let out a deep sigh. "Yes, but trust me," I assured her.

"How? She's just a six or seven-year-old girl," Sandra expressed her concerns. "At that age, I was playing with dolls."

"Believe me," I responded, "I am more than capable of singlehandedly taking down the base."

Sandra snorted skeptically. "And?"

"It's important for Sam to learn and experience things in this new world," I explained. "As much as it may not seem right, it's better to be prepared in case the worst happens and she's left on her own. She needs to know what to do."

Sandra seemed to contemplate my words, her face reflecting conflicting emotions. Eventually, she sighed and said, "Just keep her safe... It doesn't feel right, but you're right."

I nodded in understanding as Sandra walked past me. She was right in her concerns about bringing Sam into the outside world, but I had to prioritize her safety and preparedness for the challenges that lay ahead.

Upon reaching the armory, I found Sam already dressed in her gear. She wore a miniature Kevlar vest and headgear, fully covering herself from head to toe. She even sported futuristic-looking goggles.

Sam struck a T-pose and proudly exclaimed, "I look like a mini Star Trooper!"

"Aww, that's absolutely adorable, Sam," I remarked, patting her head gently.

"It was supposed to be white, but Gustav suggested wearing darker colors," Sam explained while checking her waist.

"He's right. Where's mine?" I inquired, looking around until I spotted a headgear that seemed to be mine.

Russ emerged from the back room of the armory, goggles in his mouth. "Yours is quite delicate. I worked my butt off to make it," he stated.

"Well, thank you so much," I expressed my gratitude, equipping the headgear and goggles.

"It has a built-in heart rate monitor, temperature sensor, magic detection capabilities, and auto-aim, as long as your weapon is equipped with the custom scope," Gustav chimed in. "It also features a custom AI, although it's far from Russ's abilities."