EARTH LAST DAY'S

Three years earlier. The underground laboratory was silent except for the steady hum of machines. Rows of computers covered the walls, their screens filled with streams of code and scientific data. In the center of the room stood a massive transparent chamber connected to dozens of cables. David Vale stared at it. After years of research, sacrifice, and secrecy, they had finally done it. The System was complete. Behind him, Anna Vale removed her glasses and rubbed her tired eyes. “Tell me we actually finished it.” David looked at the final line of code on the screen. Then he smiled. “We finished it.” Anna let out a breath she seemed to have been holding for years. For a moment, neither of them spoke. They simply stared at what they had created. It wasn't supposed to exist. Not according to the government. Not according to the people funding their research. And definitely not according to the people who had turned the secret superhuman project into something far more dangerous than either of them had imagined. David walked toward the main console. “We need to start the final transfer.” Anna's smile disappeared. “Are you sure?” David nodded. “We don't have much time.” Anna looked toward the laboratory doors. “David, if they discover what we've done…” “They already know something is wrong.” He turned toward her. “That is why we finish this now.” Anna remained silent. Then she nodded. David entered the final command. The machines came alive. Blue light filled the chamber as the System began processing the information they had spent years developing. A warning appeared on the screen. SYSTEM INITIALIZATION: 87% David watched the percentage climb. 88%. 89%. 90%. Anna stepped closer. “Come on…” 91%. 92%. 93%. Suddenly— WARNING. UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS DETECTED. Both of them froze. Anna looked at David. “They found us.” Another warning appeared. SECURITY BREACH. Then came the sound of footsteps. Several of them. Fast. Heavy. Approaching the laboratory. David immediately shut down the external network. “Transfer the System.” Anna rushed to the secondary console. “I'm trying.” The footsteps grew louder. David looked at the photograph sitting beside the main computer. A young Alex smiled back at him. His son. David picked up the photograph. “I promised I'd protect you.” Anna looked at him. “David…” He placed the photograph back down. “We finish what we started.” The System reached 100%. TRANSFER COMPLETE. David exhaled. “It’s done.” The laboratory doors suddenly burst open. Armed soldiers rushed inside. Anna stepped backward. David stood between them and the System. Then a man entered. He wore a decorated military uniform and carried himself with the confidence of someone who knew everyone in the room was beneath him. General Marcus Hale. His eyes moved across the laboratory before settling on David. “So,” Hale said calmly, “this is what you've been hiding.” David said nothing. Hale looked toward the System. “You were ordered to stop this project.” David's expression hardened. “You stopped caring about protecting people a long time ago.” The General's face remained emotionless. “You have no idea what you're talking about.” “I know exactly what you're doing.” Anna stepped beside David. “You've been using the project to create weapons.” Hale looked at her. “We were creating soldiers.” “You were creating power,” Anna replied. Silence filled the room. The General slowly looked at the soldiers. “Where is the System?” David smiled faintly. “You're too late.” Hale's expression changed. “What did you do?” David didn't answer. Hale looked toward the machines. Then back at David. “Where is it?” “Somewhere you will never find it.” The General's jaw tightened. He raised his hand. “Kill them.” Anna grabbed David's hand. The soldiers raised their weapons. David looked at her. There was fear in her eyes. But there was also understanding. They both knew this was the end. The gunfire echoed through the laboratory. David and Anna collapsed. The room became silent. General Hale lowered his hand. He walked toward the main console. The System was gone. Only an empty interface remained. His expression darkened. “Find it.” One soldier checked the computers. “Sir, there's no trace of it.” Hale turned toward him. “Then erase everything.” The soldiers immediately began moving through the laboratory. Files were destroyed. Hard drives were removed. Research notes were collected. Every piece of evidence was taken or destroyed. Hale looked at the bodies on the floor. Then he spoke coldly. “Clear this entire place.” The soldiers stopped. “And listen carefully.” His voice became even quieter. “Not a word about this laboratory leaves this room.” Everyone remained silent. “If anyone talks,” Hale continued, “they answer to me.” He turned toward the exit. “Make sure this place never existed.” The soldiers continued their work. Soon, the laboratory that had taken years to build was being erased. But they had already made one mistake. They had assumed the System was still inside the laboratory. It wasn't. David had already made his final choice. He had chosen his son. And somewhere far away, Alex Vale was living his ordinary life, completely unaware that the greatest secret in the world had been created for him.