Beep. Beep. Beep. The steady rhythm of Jack’s alarm sliced through the silence, pulling him from the depths of sleep. He groaned, blinking against the dim light filtering into his quarters. He stretched, feeling the hum of Skylab 1’s systems vibrating through the walls.


Jack padded across the cool floor, a stark contrast to the warm, opulent space he inhabited. His bathroom was a testament to the luxury that came with being part of the elite few who had survived Earth’s fall. The marble floors gleamed under soft, ambient lighting, while pristine white tiles lined the walls, giving the room a sterile, almost surreal sense of perfection.


The sound of running water filled the space as Jack turned on the shower, watching steam rise in delicate curls. He stepped under the stream, feeling the warmth cascade over his skin, washing away the remnants of sleep. It was moments like this that reminded him how different his life had become since arriving on Skylab 1.


Here, surrounded by the finest materials humanity had salvaged from its once-great civilization, it was easy to forget the truth—the ruins of Earth lay far below, cold and desolate. But even in this luxurious bubble, there was no escaping the knowledge that everything was temporary. The planet, the station, even this comfort—it could all be taken away in an instant.


Good morning everybody please make your way to the auditor for a message from your director Dr.Mueller then the intercom beeps out


“Good morning, everybody. Please make your way to the auditorium for a message from your director, Dr. Mueller.” The smooth, automated voice echoed through Skylab 1’s halls, followed by a soft beep as the intercom clicked off.


Jack hurried out of his quarters and joined the steady stream of people heading toward the central auditorium. Scientists, engineers, and station personnel moved quietly through the corridors, their faces unreadable but alert, as if they too sensed the unusual gravity of the situation.


As he approached the entrance to the auditorium, Jack spotted his friend Adam in the crowd. Adam waved him over, and Jack squeezed through the throng of people to stand by his side and they took their seats.


“As of last night, our scans of Earth have revealed new activity,” Dr. Mueller announced, her calm, authoritative voice cutting through the anxious murmurs. A ripple of gasps and whispers spread through the room. She raised a hand to quiet them, her sharp eyes sweeping across the crowd, making sure she had their full attention.


Jack leaned forward in his seat, heart pounding. New activity on Earth? He exchanged a quick glance with Marcus, who looked just as stunned. Earth had been a dead wasteland for as long as they could remember. What kind of “activity” could possibly be happening down there?


Dr. Mueller continued her voice steady but laced with a tension Jack hadn’t heard before. “We’ve detected unusual energy signatures in several locations that were previously thought to be uninhabitable. At first, we believed it to be residual fallout, but this… this is different. We’re investigating further, but early indications suggest movement—human or otherwise.”


The room erupted in hushed conversations. Movement on Earth? Jack’s mind raced. Could it be survivors? Or something worse? He had always imagined Earth as a place beyond hope, where nothing lived but the ghosts of a past civilization. The idea that there could be something alive down there now filled him with equal parts excitement and dread.


Dr. Mueller let the room settle before speaking again. “I understand this may come as a shock to many of you. The Habitat program remains our top priority. However, in light of these developments, we must proceed with caution. We’ll be conducting further scans and deploying a reconnaissance team. For now, I ask that you stay focused on your tasks and continue preparing for the future, your tasks should appear on your tablets.”

Jack could feel the weight of her words hanging in the air, the unspoken warning clear. Whatever they had found, it was significant—and dangerous.


The screen behind Dr. Mueller flickered to life, showing a map of Earth’s surface. Several red dots glowed on the map, marking the areas where the strange energy signatures had been detected. Jack stared at the image, trying to make sense of it all. These locations… they weren’t random. They seemed clustered around old cities—places that, before the war, had been centers of power.


“Stay vigilant,” Dr. Mueller said, her voice firm. “We will share more information as it becomes available. Dismissed.”


The room buzzed with uneasy energy as people began filing out, whispering theories and speculations. Jack stayed seated for a moment, staring at the map on the screen. Whatever was happening on Earth, it was about to change everything.