3 New World Order

The world has changed. From space, one can see it devoid of the lively green and blue, of the textures that emphasised that sentient life was evolving and creating bigger and better civilizations and expanding their influence.

The earth is no longer a healthy shade of brown and the seas house infected waters that reek of death and contagious gases. The land supports massive creatures that eat flesh and target all life as if they have been sent on a mission of destruction.

Among these behemoths; mutated animals and plant life, are also smaller creatures. Humans.

Their compatibility with unknown energy is by far the best and the worst. For those that died and came into contact with the energy rise, acquiring abilities that they didn't have in life and others even reaching a new level of sentience.

From a high aerial view, one could several spots on the land.

Safe Zones.

Whether for lack of a better term or not, humans with their devastation didn't bother giving complex names when these places were the only reason why they were alive in the first place. The limited number of them and the looming threats made them dispirited and clever wordplay was the last thing anyone could think of.

These were mysterious zones that appeared around the world where people could enjoy the atmospheric conditions of old earth.

During the months that Bernard was in hiding, several military and civilian societies mobilized and found these places, setting up camps. In these lands, plant growth was optimal, heck it was better than optimal bordering on supernatural.

Planting seeds for different crops yielded a lot of food and the masses mourned in grief but with a full stomach.

However, even in tragedy, or rather because of tragedy, some individuals shed away their masks of civility and created conflicts, the more pampered youngsters failing to keep it together and trying to exert their superiority.

Even as the entire race was on the brink of extinction, pretentious bastards and stuck up jerks were in bountiful supply. Those that insisted on getting more food even while excluding others, those are caused chaos, took advantage of women, beat children to vent their frustration, among other scum could be found all over.

The helicopter left the scene, the staggering creature groaning and growling, attempting to let out another booming soundwave but failed as its enemy was already a distance away.

Inside, Bernard was still shaken by the glare of the woman before him. Now that she was up close, he could see her distinct features.

Under the immaculate black hair, was a set of a deep set, pure hazel eyes, a straight nose and heart-shaped lips, decorating a perfectly round face.

Her athletic figure completed her sexy and domineering visage as she towered over the young man with who he was seated.

"How did you last this long without learning to be discreet while out in the open?"

"Um.... what?" Bernard stammered under her intense gaze. He had hoped for a benevolent messiah that would at least sympathise with him, but before he was an attractive drill sergeant who seemed to want to swallow him whole.

'I might as well have jumped into that lizard-whale's maw,' he thought.

"Have you been living in a hole all this time?" She asked sarcastically while her eyes almost burned with fury.

"Um... sort of. I was.. actually, ...kind... of ..."

"Save it," she said," Be glad we got to you before those monsters did."

"What exactly are those creatures?" Bernard asked with an anxious tone.

"We call them Stragglers. They are mutants, created when whatever caused the apocalypse to erupt, melded into the genetic makeup of certain living things. The reason or the exact prerequisites for one to become a straggler instead of becoming a bio warm hole is anyone's guess."

"I see... How were you able to do that? Punch that creature into the ground?"

She looked outside the helicopter and pondered.

"It's a phenomenon we've decided to call Invigoration. Without it, every last human would have died. It appeared with two different instalments if I should call it that.

The Standard and the Elite. The standard is what guaranteed that humanity didn't go extinct. A feeling of constant nourishment enjoyed by everyone, allowing them to last for short periods outside safe Zones," she explained.

"Safe Zones?"

"Tch! All over the world, 4 safe Zones have appeared, warding off adverse conditions that are fatal to mankind. They are like oases in a desert. Capable of housing life. The reason will be explained to you when reaching Safe Zone 3.

Anyway, back to your other question. Elite invigoration is like what you have. A powerful feeling that almost ate you from the inside. I can sense the strong energy flowing within you. Nurturing that energy, at the base, gives boosts to your physical abilities, depending on the individual. Then comes the ability you awaken."

"Ability?"

"Yes. Surely you experienced a voice that told you to think happy thoughts and afterwards you woke up with an ability closely linked to what makes you the most happy?"

"Um.. yes that did happen."

"Show me."

Bernard hesitated. He was wondering whether or not he or she should show her the die. Was it normal?

Before he could reply, two red die appeared, floating in front of him.

The woman looked at the die in wonder. She had not expected to see dice. The implications, for her, were not directing a good message for whether conscripting this young man in the force was a good thing.

"Is it.....weird?"

"Let's just say, there are very few people who are alive with the Elite Invigoration. The reason is that most failed to integrate with the source of the power and either exploded or got crippled. The abilities we get are a reflection of our nature.

These die, in my mind, mean a gambling of chance. In itself gambling is a grand endeavour, so yes I am surprised that you have it and also suspicious of your character."

The woman said as she looked him in the eye.

"Um okay... I understand that... But are you really going to let that paranoia decide my fate? Gambling or not I'm still human. This whole thing is a gamble. To top it all off I don't even know if these work," Bernard said. He was breathing heavily. The situation turned out to be worse and better than he thought.

There was hope but for how long? Safe Zones? Invigoration? That was a buck load of information he needed to digest. If they were inside some author's novel, he'd be jealous he didn't think of such a storyline.

"Fine then. There'll be time to fully discuss this matter with the others. What's your name?" she said withdrawing her gaze from him.

"Bernard... And you?"

"Call me Astrid."