[ WP ] You live in Gemini , one of the 12 flying cities , beneath you are the ruins of the old world . One day your ICARUS system fails as you travel to Cancer and you fall to the world below .

I opened my eyes in shock, as harsh beeping filled my ears. `` Warning. ICARUS malfunction, system failure. Shutting down,'' a voice announced. *Crap*. 
 
 I frantically looked around, trying to figure out what happened. I looked out the window, and saw that my pod was in freefall; I could make out my destination in the distance. I was en route to Cancer - The Industrial Center - one of the twelve cities orbiting the now grey and desolate Earth, destroyed by our ancestors. 
 
 We constructed these cities as utopias to house future generations, and to save our species. We learnt in school that the cities were named after `` zodiac signs'', which in the olden times were indicators of fortune. My grandparents were one of the first people to sign up to live in the cities. Being incredible scientists, they were assigned to Gemini, City of the Sciences, and that's where every generation of our family has ever lived since. And now I would be the first of our family to die outside Gemini, and the first Citizen to ever die outside the Aphelion System - the collective name for the floating cities. 
 
 I thought of my family, friends, coworkers, all of whom I would never see me again. I felt a tear roll down my cheek as I closed my eyes; there was nothing I could do but think. Think why my pod had to malfunction. Think what I did to deserve this. Think what would've happened if I lived life differently. I sighed, and suddenly the cabin felt warm. Very, very warm. My eyes snapped open, and outside the window was a blinding orange-white mass. *This is it*, I thought. I would die in the old world, my body never to be recovered. I wished I could have lived, of course, but there was nothing I could do but accept my fate. 
 
 The flames engulfing my pod began to dissipate, and I could see the landscape, but then it crashed into the ground. I was thrown forward in my seat as the pod rolled about on the ground. When it finally came to a stop, I tried opening the door, but it could barely open halfway. I got out of my seat and just barely squeezed through the gap. *Thank fuck for seatbelts*, I thought. How had I survived? A miracle, that's how. 
 
 The exterior of the pod was scorched, now a mess of black marks on the previously pristine white metal. Around me were trees. Lots of trees. It seemed I had fortunately crash landed in a clearing in a forest. However, we were told that almost no life would have survived on Earth, but the evidence was here, proving everyone wrong. I made a note of this, but for now I had to was radio in for help. I knew that the emergency radio had a separate battery, so that it would always be functioning. I poked my head into the pod, and pressed the big orange button and waited. 
 
 30 seconds. 
 
 One minute. 
 
 Two. 
 
 Two and a half. 
 
 Nothing. 
 
 No. *No, no, no, no, no*. I'd just survived crashing into Earth, and I was going to die of starvation. It became apparent to me that life really was cruel. `` WHY? WHY MUST YOU PLAY TWISTED GAMES?'' I screamed, tears in my eyes. I could n't survive, there was no way; the Earth was empty, devoid of any life except me. They taught us in schools, they showed us pictures. There were no more humans, no animals. They were wrong about the trees, sure, but if it was a forest, why were n't there any animals? Clearly because they were right. 
 
 At most, I would last a week before finally succumbing to starvation. Sobbing, I walked in a daze towards my pod. I opened the cargo hold, and retrieved my belongings and inspected them. My pack was torn in half, the documents within shredded. Not like it would've mattered. They would be lost forever with me here anyway. Tossing aside the pieces of paper, I picked up the circular metal disc. It was completely intact. Maybe these last days wo n't be as horrible with her around. I pressed the small blue button, and that familiar voice rang out. `` Athena online.'' I smiled a little. Athena was the product of all my work. She was an artificial intelligence, but she might as well be considered a person. Well, *I* saw her as a person. She was n't a project of mine, she was a companion, a friend. My best friend. 
 
 `` I'm sorry, Athena.'' 
 
 `` What for? I do n't believe you've done anything particularly wrong. Or did you?'' she said, a playful tone in her voice. 
 
 `` Maybe it was n't me, but I'm still sorry.'' 
 
 `` If you say so. Where are we? This does n't seem familiar.'' 
 
 `` We're on Earth.'' 
 
 `` Is n't that illegal?'' 
 
 Even though Athena was supposed to be superintelligent, she was still clueless at times. I chuckled. `` Well, yes, but we're stranded with no way out, so that's not really an issue.'' 
 
 Athena was silent for a moment. `` Oh. Well, I'm sure you'll figure something out-'' 
 
 *Click. * 
 
 `` United States National Guard, turn around and put your hands up!'' A voice yelled from behind me. I slowly turned around to find about ten people in uniform pointing guns at me. 
 
 Athena's voice was little more than a whisper. `` Tom, I thought there was no one left on Earth.'' 
 
 `` I'm just as confused as you are,'' I muttered as two men stepped forward, grabbed me by the arms and began to drag me towards a vehicle. 
 

