Prologue

In the year of 5969, an unknown phenomenon occurred on Earth causing severe property damage along with the lives of those unfortunate. It was the strangest thing to happen, cyclones of dust appeared on all continents around the world. The force they created had destroyed countless cities. Many earthlings evacuated through spaceships while others tried to hide underground. It was spectated that many were buried however.

The scientists observing the phenomenon from space couldn't identify which particles made up those cyclones of dust. Not wanting to dwell to much on the unsolved mysteries, the survivors ended up waited for a week for the storms to disappear. As expected, only wastelands and ruins remained. Yet, thanks to the advanced level of tech mankind had achieved, they were able to build cities century after century.

A thousand years have passed since. Now there are only several nations around the world unlike before. Each nation is surrounded by thick, impenetrable walls of metal separating the tall black buildings from the deserted lands outside. Citizens are strictly prohibited from going outside the walls.

Buildings are separated into different rows and columns surrounded by wide streets for people to travel. There are also parks and schools as well as places for people to build their house on. Some people even live in mansions except the president would live where he does works. The trees planted neatly would make people feel at peace due to the efficient work of programmed automatics. Vehicles are environment-friendly as they don't use gasoline to run and fully function through electricity.

The world may not be the same as before but governments will ensure that people under their wings can live their lives to the fullest. Though the same thing can't be said to those left behind in the wastelands, forgotten. Some sheltered in bunkers and some founded underground towns having been abandoned by city folks.

In a town consists of small building only about 10-meters town under the rock ceilings. Said buildings are often built on the surface or walls. The layouts are pretty fine. Light pilars are aligned pretty well, giving the street enough brightness.

At the moment, inside a large area underground, someone is sitting at the center of neatly placed piles of comicbooks. A girl is intensely focused on a page as she chews on what seems to be snacks.

"This Carles Rapier guy is as awesome as he always is. Right pal?"

She speaks as if there's anyone here aside from her. She turns her head to the left side and brushed her dark green hair aside as a robotic voice responds to her commentary.

"I can see why you would be impressed by his feats. He had a degree in the field of science and formed a team of heroes with altered genetics just like him. He's the reason you kept asking me about finding other humans like you."

"I even wondered if humans were real or not."

"As a database, I could tell you I was indeed created by humans as well as any other thing you see around here. You are a human yourself, as well."

She stares awkwardly at the watch on her wrist. Feeling embarrassed for asking the obvious. It's a silver watch with a small square screen and next to it are 4 buttons. An A.I was programmed into the watch to be the sole company of the girl during the years in the huge, abandoned bunker which happens to have plenty of supplies. The girl feels inclined to ask another question after taking in another piece of snack.

"Do you think there are any humans left out there? Why are we not on the surface?"

"My latest update was about 1000 years ago so I won't make any assumptions. However, with the technology people back in the old days possessed, many might have survived. I'd have suggested you to check the surface if the feature needed to scan environments had been installed in order to search for oxygen."

"Right. Even advanced technology can be outdated after a long while. Do you feel old?"

"I was created as an archive for the sake of recording information so I never paid attention to such perception."

"Yeah yeah, machines don't age and all that. Though one would never expected to be given a name by an A.I. You gave me the name Chella, after all."

Chella casually talks with the A.I like they're long time friends. She has never met any other human in her life, only knowing about humanity from the comic books she found. They could even talk for hours but mostly the A.I would remind her to go to bed when it was time. Chella always wanted that one day she could see the world outside and talk to another human. Though the bunker provided enough daily necessities so she eventually got used to staying there and without realization, 10 years passed by.

The comforting life she is having cannot distract her from her so-called ambition forever. She will eventually set foot on the land once called surface. It is typical of a human to be curious about things they've yet to experience. At this very point, Chella feels ready than ever.

"Hey, how about I leave this place and see what has become of this planet myself?"

"I already mentioned that I couldn't be sure if there was any oxygen on the surface to breath, not to mention the unknown changes to the planet after the Worldwide Storm."

"But we never know until we try, I can't wait to finally meet another human."

"Then I suggest you bring along a safety mask and oxygen tanks. You can load the tanks on the Omega-Driller then connect me to the control board."

"Will do, thanks."

"I'm just providing you assistance, that is all. No need to thank someone for doing their job."

"Bah! You're my first friend! Try to talk like a human for once, will you?"

"I can't assist you with that."

Chella closes the comic book she's holding then turns off the light as she walks into one of the bedrooms inside the bunker. She hops on the bed she's so familiar with and spend one last night sleeping on it.

"Night, friend."

"Goodnight, Chella."

...

In the next morning, Chella wakes up realizing she drooled again in her sleep. She wipes her mouth clean and press a button on the edge of the screen on the watch. A booting sequence is initiated.

"Morning..."

"Good morning, Chella. It is necessary that you go wash your face clean."

"Here we go again..."

After washing her face with a sink in a small bathroom, Chella approaches the storeroom and uses a cart to load for oxygen tanks per time into the back of a huge vehicle 5-meters tall. There are 4 large wheels balancing the Omega-Driller, it has a huge light silver drill on the front. The vehicle itself is painted red all over and there are 2 doors, one on the left and the other on the right. Chella climbs inside and sits on the left chair. Thanks to the four-dimensional technology installed, the inside is twice larger from what it looks like from the outside which makes it usable as a shelter.

Chella presses a different button on the watch which causes control board to light up as well as the entire room. This isn't her first time sitting inside the Driller but she can't help feeling amazed.

"Activating Omega-Driller Model Zero... Tanks: Available... Drill: Available... Engine: Functional... Complete."

"Sounds like you're ready, too."

"Opening the exit of Shelter 49..."

The huge iron door at the main room slowly open, revealing a cave outside. Chella takes out a pocket-dimensional box containing food supplies and her personal belongings and put it next to her.

"Model Zero...let's go!"

The wheels starts rolling as the vehicle makes it way through the opened door. A huge monitor in front of Chella shows up, she can see whatever in front of Omega-Driller. She knows that it's going to be a bumpy ride but her excitement overshadows all the worries she has in mind. No matter what happens, she surely won't regret the choice.