Going Native: The Old Earth
Orihime pulled the brown cloak tighter to her person as she studied the barren dessert before her. After the last nuclear war, the sky had lost its sun and had become so thick with nuclear miasma that nothing above the stratosphere could be seen. It made the planet a land of eternal darkness, covered in desolate white sand where nothing grew. Everything was so toxic.
In all honesty, it was a miracle that the air was breathable.
"So this is Earth. Everything is dead. I don't think we're going to find anything here," a gruff voice commented from Orihime's right. Turning, the long, red haired girl smiled at her childhood crush as he exited the small spacecraft.
At twenty one, Ichigo Kurosaki was by far the most handsome man she had ever seen, even if he was dressed in a black space suit and dull brown cloak. Standing at nearly six feat, the oranges haired man was the perfect balance of height and muscle - neither too lithe or buff. With scruffy hair and honest and bright brown eyes and an easy smile, he was the perfect man in Doctor Inoue's opinion. Orihime had known Ichigo since they were small children and had ended up in the youth's work program together.
He had come on this mission as a personal favor.
"According to Doctor Ishida's research, since the humans have left Earth, the rocks and stones have taken on vegetative qualities. The particular one we are looking for is called Quartz," Orihime explained patiently.
"We only need to bring back a small portion to the ship for samples. Once Doctor Ishida's can determine if the stone can be replicated or synthasized, a cure can be administered for all this who have been infected with the White Death," she continued.
Ichigo nodded uncertainly. Like her brother before her, Doctor Inoue was an expert in medicines.
"Thanks to your hard work, we might finally have a cure. Your brother would be so proud," he commented.
Orihime's eyes took on a far away look as she thought of the mutated disease running rampant on Terra. Terra was the satellite that orbited the Earth and had been used after the vast exodus from the nuclear fallout and held the last of humankind. Even after three hundred years - Earth's atmosphere was still too toxic for anyone to remain for long periods of time. The satellite served as an ark and safe haven for descendants of those who had managed to flee the planet before it's destruction.
It was Eutopia, with advanced technologies and an endless supply if food. The life expectancy had increased and crime was always on the decline. There were no wars and vaccines had been developed to conquer every disease imaginable.
That is, until the mysterious Albumentum Morbus - The White Death - sprouted throughout the satellite. Doctor Orihime Inoue's older brother and only living relative, Sora, had been one of the first to be infected with the mysterious disease along with a whole group of scientist. It's origin was still unknown. What was known was that the disease was highly contagious. It started with a drop of body temperature and blood pressure. The infected host's body would become pale as the pigmentation mutated and turned white. The body temperature would continue to drop. Hair follicles, melanin and even irises all would eventually lose color. In the end, the severe drop in blood pressure would lead to the host dying from cardiac arrest.
Once infected, a person never lived passed fourteen days.
It had been four years since the deadly breakout and only now had a cure been theorized, and only because the head doctor on Terra, Ryuken Ishida's only son had become infected. His name was Uryu and he was a friend of Orihime's and cousin to Ichigo.
"I wouldn't get your hopes up, Doctor Inoue. This place is a desert. I don't see any mutated rocks or anything else for that matter," a grouchy, red head grumbled as he stepped out from the ship and surveyed the terrain.
Orihime frowned at the man but before she could retort, Ichigo stepped in.
"Stop complaining Renji. I thought you wanted to 'get away from the powder keg' on Terra,"
The red headed man - Renji - frowned and pulled his gun closer to his chest. As a hired gun and former security officer on Terra, he was use to the occasional delinquent and threat of violence. It was part of his job. There was just something so different about Earth though, and it had his heckles raised in defense.
"I did. I still think it's only a matter of time before the powder keg blows and the entire satellite becomes infected," he muttered. Renji's eyes continued to scan his surroundings. He was restless. Earth was eerie and silent.
"That 's why the council sanctioned this expedition. They believe we can find a cure. We can do this," Orihime insisted with a smile. Ichigo nodded in encouragement. Renji frowned.
"The sooner we find this 'Quartz,' the sooner we can leave. There's just something about this place that doesn't feel right."
Blinking, Orihime took in the black sky and white sand. Earth was very different from her home on Terra. The satellite was always brightly lit and sterile and safe. Earth was... the very opposite of that.
Still, Renji's fear were surely unfounded.
"There's no reason to be nervous," the doctor soothed. Ichigo smiled when he caught on to his friend's paranoia.
"Come on Renji, you don't think there 's anyone actually here do you?" he teased. Renji gritted his teeth.
"Hey shut up! I never said that!"
Orihime giggled at the boys' behavior. Pulling a metallic device out of a travel bag wrapped around her shoulder, she waved over to Renji.
"It never hurts to be cautious, but in this case Ichigo is right. See this? Aside from us, the scanner has detected no other sentient life."
Hearing the doctors words, Renji slumped in embarrassed defeated andIchigo grinned like an idiot.
Because of his skill and high rank in his class, Ichigo had specifically been chosen as the pilot for the expedition. Normally such a mission would have required at least two pilots but because of Earth's dangerous radiation levels, the council had selected the smallest team possible so that only the minimum amount of persons were exposed.
"Well doctor, shall we start out?" Renji asked, still embarrassed over being called out on his paranoia. Smiling, Orihime nodded and the three of them set out. Even without wearing the helmets, their space suits were bulky and would slow them down considerably. It limited their movement and made them oblivious to the five sets of hooded eyes watching them from beyond the shadows of a high sand dune in the distance.
Previous Index Next
In all honesty, it was a miracle that the air was breathable.
"So this is Earth. Everything is dead. I don't think we're going to find anything here," a gruff voice commented from Orihime's right. Turning, the long, red haired girl smiled at her childhood crush as he exited the small spacecraft.
At twenty one, Ichigo Kurosaki was by far the most handsome man she had ever seen, even if he was dressed in a black space suit and dull brown cloak. Standing at nearly six feat, the oranges haired man was the perfect balance of height and muscle - neither too lithe or buff. With scruffy hair and honest and bright brown eyes and an easy smile, he was the perfect man in Doctor Inoue's opinion. Orihime had known Ichigo since they were small children and had ended up in the youth's work program together.
He had come on this mission as a personal favor.
"According to Doctor Ishida's research, since the humans have left Earth, the rocks and stones have taken on vegetative qualities. The particular one we are looking for is called Quartz," Orihime explained patiently.
"We only need to bring back a small portion to the ship for samples. Once Doctor Ishida's can determine if the stone can be replicated or synthasized, a cure can be administered for all this who have been infected with the White Death," she continued.
Ichigo nodded uncertainly. Like her brother before her, Doctor Inoue was an expert in medicines.
"Thanks to your hard work, we might finally have a cure. Your brother would be so proud," he commented.
Orihime's eyes took on a far away look as she thought of the mutated disease running rampant on Terra. Terra was the satellite that orbited the Earth and had been used after the vast exodus from the nuclear fallout and held the last of humankind. Even after three hundred years - Earth's atmosphere was still too toxic for anyone to remain for long periods of time. The satellite served as an ark and safe haven for descendants of those who had managed to flee the planet before it's destruction.
It was Eutopia, with advanced technologies and an endless supply if food. The life expectancy had increased and crime was always on the decline. There were no wars and vaccines had been developed to conquer every disease imaginable.
That is, until the mysterious Albumentum Morbus - The White Death - sprouted throughout the satellite. Doctor Orihime Inoue's older brother and only living relative, Sora, had been one of the first to be infected with the mysterious disease along with a whole group of scientist. It's origin was still unknown. What was known was that the disease was highly contagious. It started with a drop of body temperature and blood pressure. The infected host's body would become pale as the pigmentation mutated and turned white. The body temperature would continue to drop. Hair follicles, melanin and even irises all would eventually lose color. In the end, the severe drop in blood pressure would lead to the host dying from cardiac arrest.
Once infected, a person never lived passed fourteen days.
It had been four years since the deadly breakout and only now had a cure been theorized, and only because the head doctor on Terra, Ryuken Ishida's only son had become infected. His name was Uryu and he was a friend of Orihime's and cousin to Ichigo.
"I wouldn't get your hopes up, Doctor Inoue. This place is a desert. I don't see any mutated rocks or anything else for that matter," a grouchy, red head grumbled as he stepped out from the ship and surveyed the terrain.
Orihime frowned at the man but before she could retort, Ichigo stepped in.
"Stop complaining Renji. I thought you wanted to 'get away from the powder keg' on Terra,"
The red headed man - Renji - frowned and pulled his gun closer to his chest. As a hired gun and former security officer on Terra, he was use to the occasional delinquent and threat of violence. It was part of his job. There was just something so different about Earth though, and it had his heckles raised in defense.
"I did. I still think it's only a matter of time before the powder keg blows and the entire satellite becomes infected," he muttered. Renji's eyes continued to scan his surroundings. He was restless. Earth was eerie and silent.
"That 's why the council sanctioned this expedition. They believe we can find a cure. We can do this," Orihime insisted with a smile. Ichigo nodded in encouragement. Renji frowned.
"The sooner we find this 'Quartz,' the sooner we can leave. There's just something about this place that doesn't feel right."
Blinking, Orihime took in the black sky and white sand. Earth was very different from her home on Terra. The satellite was always brightly lit and sterile and safe. Earth was... the very opposite of that.
Still, Renji's fear were surely unfounded.
"There's no reason to be nervous," the doctor soothed. Ichigo smiled when he caught on to his friend's paranoia.
"Come on Renji, you don't think there 's anyone actually here do you?" he teased. Renji gritted his teeth.
"Hey shut up! I never said that!"
Orihime giggled at the boys' behavior. Pulling a metallic device out of a travel bag wrapped around her shoulder, she waved over to Renji.
"It never hurts to be cautious, but in this case Ichigo is right. See this? Aside from us, the scanner has detected no other sentient life."
Hearing the doctors words, Renji slumped in embarrassed defeated andIchigo grinned like an idiot.
Because of his skill and high rank in his class, Ichigo had specifically been chosen as the pilot for the expedition. Normally such a mission would have required at least two pilots but because of Earth's dangerous radiation levels, the council had selected the smallest team possible so that only the minimum amount of persons were exposed.
"Well doctor, shall we start out?" Renji asked, still embarrassed over being called out on his paranoia. Smiling, Orihime nodded and the three of them set out. Even without wearing the helmets, their space suits were bulky and would slow them down considerably. It limited their movement and made them oblivious to the five sets of hooded eyes watching them from beyond the shadows of a high sand dune in the distance.
Previous Index Next