Prequel 3

Couples began to arrive at the largest space port, located in Australia. The press was there covering their stories, taking pictures as they struggled to lug their supplies past security and meet up with their partner. Many of them had been communicating over the cyber waves for months, but this was their first face to face meeting. It was the practical choice to spend what money one had on supplies for a new life rather than on travel in the old.

Couples met, smiled for the camera and looked over one another’s equipment, assessing quality and depth of commitment. They were lucky if what they had mostly fit in their container. They had been given exterior measurements, not interior ones.

Some people tried to bring family members into the loading areas, but had to say their goodbyes and leave them behind at the gate, clogging the traffic flow. The clever few had designed carts to lug their equipment while others struggled to carry what they had in packs and wheeled bags. It was a mess!

Amid all that confusion the sirens began to scream and people ducked into shelters, scrambled for their masks to filter the air. Emergency covers shimmered and shone as people hastily did what they could to protect themselves from the rising levels of radiations winds and clouds of pollutant gasses that could destroy flesh and lungs. After the storm had passed, someone said something about it being their last storm on earth and the tension went out of the crowd as the medics came through looking for injured or dead.