Prologue
January 2nd, 2169
Damion Ramirez had wandered the desolate wasteland for what felt like an eternity, each day blending into the next as he trekked through the shattered remnants of a broken world. He avoided the Raputes, their soulless eyes scanning the horizon for survivors, while he kept to the shadows, moving with the desperation of a man clinging to the last thread of hope. Sleep came in fits and spurts, often stolen in the hollowed-out carcasses of long-abandoned buildings, the ruins offering little comfort beyond a fleeting sense of safety.
Weeks of solitude and hardship had pushed him to the brink of exhaustion, his body a map of bruises, cuts, and grit. But then, on the horizon, something glimmered. Through the haze of dust and smoke, a towering silhouette emerged — Eden.
He stopped dead in his tracks. The massive facility loomed ahead, an impossible beacon standing tall against the scorched earth. The world around him was an expanse of charred ruins, the landscape scarred by the relentless wrath of war, but there it stood—Eden, a jewel, gleaming against the backdrop of chaos.
Damion’s breath caught in his chest as his eyes took in the sight. The towering structure stretched up like a cathedral to some forgotten god, its sleek, metallic surface gleaming in the harsh light of the dying sun. It seemed surreal—an oasis amidst a hellscape of devastation. His heart raced, a mixture of awe and disbelief flooding his senses. Had he truly made it?
His legs, weak from the journey, nearly gave out beneath him, but he steadied himself, squinting against the bright, cruel light. For the first time in what felt like a lifetime, he allowed himself to hope. Eden wasn’t just a place—it was his salvation.
As the gate opened, Damion was greeted by his old friend, Johan...a man he had known since he could barely walk, “So this is the oasis in the center of hell, huh? Been a while, Johan...”
Johan stood tall and imposing, his silhouette framed against the backdrop of the colossal structure. He looked every bit the legendary figure Damion remembered from their youth, yet there was something more to him now—an aura of hard-won wisdom and unyielding determination. The lines etched into his face told a story of countless battles and trials weathered, each one leaving its mark upon him.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of Johan’s mouth as he regarded his old friend, a glint of recognition and camaraderie sparking in his eyes. He stepped forward, closing the distance between them with a few long strides.
“Been too long indeed, Damion,” Johan acknowledged, his deep voice carrying the weight of a thousand memories. “Didn’t think you had it in you to make it all the way here. But then again, you always were a stubborn bastard.”
He clapped a firm hand on Damion’s shoulder, squeezing it briefly in a gesture of welcome and solidarity. Johan’s grip was like a vice, a testament to the unbreakable resolve that had carried him through the darkest of times.
Turning back to face the looming edifice of Eden, Johan gestured expansively with one hand. “Welcome to the last bastion of humanity, Damion. The one place on this forsaken Earth where we still dare to dream of a future.” His voice took on a note of solemnity, heavy with the burden of leadership and responsibility. “But don’t think for a second that it’s all sunshine and roses here. The fight goes on, as much as it ever did.”
Johan’s gaze drifted back to Damion, a hint of something almost like regret flickering across his face. “I’m sorry it had to come to this...that the Ark pushed you to the brink just to get their way. But you’re here now, and that’s what matters.” He straightened, his posture unassailable. “You’ll find shelter here, Damion. And not just shelter, but a chance to make a difference again.”
With that, Johan began to turn back towards Eden’s towering entrance, expecting Damion to follow. “Come on, let’s get you cleaned up and settled. I think you’ve earned a proper meal and a soft bed for once, old friend.”
“The Central Government is thickheaded...unwilling to listen. The moon is how we can win this...that big rock up there has resources that can make it possible for us to defeat the raptures. It’s abundant in resources...untouched.” Damion said as he gazed up at the moon before following Johan inside.
Johan paused for a moment, his gaze following Damion’s to the pallid moon hanging high above. A flicker of something—recognition, perhaps, or a distant memory—passed across his face. He nodded slowly, as if weighing the words carefully.
“You’re right, Damion,” he said at last, a note of grim determination entering his voice. “The fools in the Ark, too blinded by their own short-sightedness and greed, can’t see what’s right in front of them. Or above, as the case may be.”
Johan turned to face Damion directly, his eyes burning with renewed intensity. “The moon...yes, it could be the key. An untapped wellspring of resources, ripe for the taking. Helium-3, rare earth metals, even water ice in the shadowed craters...if we could access it, we might just stand a chance against the plague that’s ravaged this world.”
He clapped a hand on Damion’s shoulder again, tighter this time, as if seizing the very notion. “Damn it all, you’re right. And goddamn the Ark for not listening, for throwing away an opportunity to turn the tide.” Johan’s voice was low, nearly a growl, his frustration and anger palpable.
Then, as quickly as it had come, the darkness in Johan’s expression lifted. In its place, a fierce, determined light shone forth. “But that’s all the more reason why we need to forge our own path, you and I. If the Ark won’t listen, won’t act, then we’ll have to force their hand.”
Johan began to walk again, striding towards the looming entrance of Eden with renewed purpose. “Come on, Damion. We have much to discuss, a plan to hatch. If the moon is our key to
salvation, then we’ll have to unlock it ourselves.” He glanced back at his old friend, a fierce grin flashing across his face. “Looks like you’ll be sticking around Eden for a while longer than you thought, eh? But don’t worry, I’ll make sure you’re put to good use.”
The next morning, Damion arrived at the R&D facility, where he met with Johan and his assistant, Cecil. Cecil was deeply immersed in her work, focused on reconstructing a relic from a forgotten era: the iconic Saturn V rocket. The atmosphere was filled with a sense of purpose and determination as she carefully examined blueprints, welded pieces of metal, and made adjustments to revive a piece of history. It was clear that she was not just building a rocket, but paying homage to a monumental achievement in space exploration.
“Where’d you find this?” Damion asked as he gazed up at the partially assembled rocket.
“I located this particular rocket at the Kennedy Space Center and have been working on it since to make it spaceworthy. Being that it is expendable, my experience with it has also made it possible for me to reverse engineer it as well.” Cecil explained.
“Huh..so I’ll be going to space in a two-hundred year old rocket and then my later missions will be with brand new ones?” Damion chuckled.
Johan leaned against the workbench, crossing his arms over his chest, and watched Cecil work with a mix of pride and something almost like affection. He turned to Damion as he spoke.
“This isn’t just any old rocket, Damion. It’s a goddamn icon—the Saturn V.” Johan said, a note of reverence creeping into his voice. “Built by the best engineers and craftsmen of a bygone era, when we still dared to reach for the stars.”
He stepped closer to the towering structure, one hand coming to rest on the smooth metal surface. The rocket seemed to dwarf them both, a silent testament to the ingenuity and ambition of the human spirit.
“Cecil’s no fool. If she says it’s spaceworthy, then it’s spaceworthy. Besides, you’re not just going to the moon in this beauty—you’re going to be a pioneer, just like the Apollo astronauts before you.” Johan’s voice took on a note of solemnity, heavy with the weight of history and responsibility.
He turned back to Damion, a fierce glint in his eye. “And yes, once Cecil’s reverse-engineered the Saturn V, we’ll have the blueprints to build all the new rockets we need. But this...this is where it starts.” Johan nodded towards the rocket, a sense of destiny settling over him. “The first step in reclaiming our future.”
Cecil, hearing the conversation, looked up from her work and flashed a quick grin. “Don’t worry, Damion. I’ve made sure she’s in top shape. She may be old, but she’s got plenty of life left in her.” She turned back to the rocket, making a careful adjustment to one of the engines. “Besides, I figure if a Saturn V could land the Apollo 11 astronauts on the moon and get them back safely, then I think you’ll be in good hands.”
With that, Cecil straightened up, wiping her hands on a rag. She turned to face Damion directly, a determined look on her face. “Johan’s right. This is just the beginning. The moon is our next destination, and after that...who knows where we’ll go? But one step at a time, yeah?”
Johan nodded in agreement, a fierce grin spreading across his face. “Damn right. Now, let’s get you suited up and familiar with the controls. We’ve got a lot of work to do before you can even think about blasting off. You’ll also need a crew of two additional astronauts BUT I will leave that to you.”
“I appreciate the opportunity, Johan...I won’t let you down. Can you give me a month?”
Johan looked at Damion, a flicker of something almost like nostalgia passing through his eyes. He nodded slowly, a wry smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
“Take your month, Damion. You’ve earned it,” he said, a note of understanding in his voice. “I know what it’s like out there, the things you’ve seen, the horrors you’ve endured. A little time to rest, to prepare yourself mentally and physically, will only make you stronger when the time comes to embark on this mission.”
He turned to Cecil, a glint of something almost like pride shining in his gaze. “Cecil, I trust you to keep making progress on the rocket’s restoration and the blueprint designs. If anyone can get this beast ready for launch, it’s you.”
Johan’s gaze drifted back to Damion, a fierce determination settling into his features. “Use this time wisely, Damion. Train, prepare, and think about what this mission means—not just for you, but for all of us. The moon is the key to our future, and you hold the key to our success.”
He clasped one hand on Damion’s shoulder, squeezing it firmly. “Take your month. Reconnect with the man you were before all this madness began. Because when you step on board that rocket, you’ll need to be at your very best—not just as a pilot, but as a leader. The world will be watching, waiting to see if humanity still has what it takes to reach for the stars.”
Johan’s grip tightened briefly before he released Damion, stepping back. He nodded once more, a gesture of affirmation and support. “Welcome to Eden, Damion. Welcome to a new beginning. Make it count.”
With that, Johan turned and strode out of the facility, leaving Damion and Cecil to their preparations, a sense of weighty purpose hanging in the air. The next month would be critical, a time of honing skills and steeling resolve. And when the time came, Damion would need to be ready. Ready to take humanity’s fight to the stars.
