Chapter 1
'Erik, I can't wait to eat' a man complained.
‘It is only two minutes, John, be strong, brother.’ Erik replied.
‘I am working my ass off; the least thing I deserve is a proper lunch break.’ John remarked.
‘At least we get to eat in the open air.’ Erik said.
‘Open-air or not, I am starving here!’ John replied.
‘ We all share that feeling, man, isn’t that right, brothers?’ Erik asked.
There were about ten workers in the room –besides Erik and John-, all of them answered at the same time: Hell yeah.
‘That’s it, I am... The Lunch Break bell rang, so John just swallowed his words and dropped his working gear, 'Out of my way' John yelled.
‘Is your lunch box going anywhere?’Erik asked.
John continued to yell, while Erik and the others just laughed. John was the first to get to the locker room. He got his lunch box and hurried out to the open area; the rest of the workers followed at ease, each with a lunch box in hand.
‘It is a small step for a man, but a huge step for his stomach.’ John remarked.
‘Neil Armstrong would be very proud of you.’ Erik mocked.
‘You always make me feel stupid, man.’ John complained.
‘It's not me, you are stupid.’ Erik replied.
‘Not cool, brother, not cool.’ John said.
‘Everyone at the factory knows.’ Erik remarked.
‘What a smart ass, you always win.’ John said.
‘Just eat, John; we have yet another three hours to work.’ Erik replied.
‘I love this open area. It's just beautiful.’ John said.
‘You always say that, do you actually mean it?’ Erik asked.
‘Of course, look at that huge Sun.’ John replied.
‘What are you talking about, man?’ Erik asked.
‘Look at it; it is twice the normal size!’ John pointed at the sun.
Erik raised his eyes towards the Sun; its light was too strong for him, and he had to cover his eyes with his hands. He waited a moment and looked at it again. 'Oh, My God!' Erik shouted.
‘Yeah, it's so beautiful, isn't it? What did I tell you?’ John said.
‘Oh God, Oh God, Oh God!’ Erik panicked.
‘Erik! What is it?’ John asked.
‘This is not the Sun! We have to run now!’ Erik answered.
‘You are starting to freak me out. Are you okay?’ John said.
‘No, I am far from Okay! I am telling you, we have to get the fuck out of here, this is not the Sun!’ Erik yelled.
‘What is it then?’ John asked.
‘That is the fucking Solar Cannon getting ready to fire!’ Erik explained.
‘You are fucking with me, aren't you?’ John asked.
‘Do I look like I am fucking with you?’ Erik remarked.
‘No, but you could be a good actor.’ John said.
‘For God's Sake, listen to me! The Canon is about to fire!’ Erik replied.
‘Are you sure? It's too old for that.’ John asked.
‘I helped build it myself. I know exactly what I am talking about!’ Erik said as he started running towards the announcement booth. John stood still. 'You don't believe me, do you?' Erik shouted.
Erik started yelling after he got close to the booth: Sound the alarm! Sound the fucking alarm!
The booth operator shouted, ‘What is it, old man?’
‘This entire sector will be destroyed!’ Erik shouted.
‘You started to get delusions now? You are like 40 or something.’ The operator answered while looking away.
‘Listen to me, you young fuck!’ Erik yelled.
‘What did you say?’ The operator asked.
‘We don't have time for this!’ Erik replied.
‘I am going to enjoy this!’ The operator got up from his chair and out of the booth. He started running towards Erik, screaming, ‘Am gonna mess you up, old man.’
The operator hit Erik with a huge punch to the face and broke his nose immediately. Erik cried out in pain and then collapsed to the ground.
All workers heard the noise and gathered around the brawl; some bets were made, and they were all watching the fight.
John rushed inside the brawl circle and hit the operator with a strong body punch to the ribs. The operator shouted ‘What the fuck, why are you helping this old dump fuck?’
John threw two consecutive face punches to the operator and shouted, ‘You are the dumb fuck! He is trying to save us!’
‘Save us from what? His delusions!’ The operator replied.
The workers started laughing, and two of them grabbed John from behind.
‘He is old for fuck sake!’ John shouted.
‘Let them finish their fight.’ Some workers shouted.
‘Look at the fucking Sun!’ John yelled.
No one cared to look. John was constrained and unable to move, while the operator started kicking Erik in the face while he was on the ground; his face was bloody, yet he tried to block some of the kicks.
Erik looked at the operator's face, and he only saw anger and disgust; his voice was weak, but he shouted, ‘What a bunch of cowards!’
The operator grabbed Erik, and he got him up and shouted, ‘Fuck you!’
As his fist was making its way to Erik's face, all the men heard a loud cracking sound! John was the first to look at the Sun, and he shouted, ‘Look at the sun now you fuckers!’
All the heads looked up slowly, the operator left Erik, he looked at the Sun as well, and the two workers left John and looked. ‘Why is the Sun turning red?’ A worker asked.
‘What the fuck is going on?’ Another shouted.
‘Oh, shit!’ The operator shouted.
John didn't look; he ran towards Erik and started getting him up. He put Erik's arm around his shoulder and started walking with him slowly.
‘Thank you.’ Erik said faintly.
‘I am sorry, Erik, I couldn't do much.’ John explained.
‘You have done enough, thank you, brother.’ Erik said.
‘How strong is this canon?’ John asked.
‘It's strong enough to destroy this entire sector!’ Erik replied.
‘The whole sector?’ John exclaimed.
‘Yes, I am afraid so.’ Erik replied.
‘What about the living areas around us?’ John asked.
‘They will be destroyed as well!’ Erik answered.
‘Shit! I have to warn my family.’ John said.
‘It's already too late.’ Erik replied.
‘Don't say that!’ John shouted.
‘We don't have enough time! I know this Canon!’ Erik exclaimed.
‘Stop saying that!’ John yelled.
John started moving slightly faster, but Erik was slowing him down. He looked at Erik for a moment, then he removed Erik's arm from above his shoulder and left Erik near a wall. Erik looked at him, then said, ‘I understand, go to your family.’
John looked away and shouted with a teary voice, ‘I am sorry, Old man. I am sorry, Erik!’
Erik leaned on the wall next to him and let himself slide to the ground; he could still see John running as fast as he could.
Erik tried to sit properly, but he was bleeding heavily, and his breath started to get slower and slower; his vision started fading away as he slowly fell to the ground.
He gathered all his strength and moved his head slowly to look at the Sun. His voice was barely heard, but he shouted, Who did this?’ Erik couldn't look anymore; his strength faded, and he couldn't hold up for much longer. He heard a strong cracking sound cutting through the clouds; it all went dark after.
