It's Dying.

She felt anxious as they quickly rushed after the scrawny man leading the way. All that she had gotten was bad news after bad news for the past year and she wondered if this would be the last straw. The shock of knowing one of them was out there suffering was still vibrating through her brain yet this emergency had come up. All these problems seemed to spring up since the witches gave them the prophecy which was already bad but now she was not sure anymore.

The man seemed to slow down the deeper they got into the facility and they could hear voices murmur ahead. She took deep breaths and schooled her expressions for the bad news she was sure was coming her way. The boy/man opened the door ahead ushering them into what seemed to be an ongoing meeting. The scientists all seemed to be going off on each other as they yelled out different things making the room noisy.

"Quiet!" She yelled authoritatively gaining the attention of everyone inside the room. They were all older than her but she was now used to facing off with people older than her and she was now somewhat a pro.

"Now someone tells me what is going on here" she ordered scanning everyone with the deadliest eyes she could make.

"Sorry ma'am, please take a seat." A familiar person offered. They had met a couple of times as he was the leader of this area. She nodded mildly before turning to her right-hand man who immediately took a seat right next to her.

"This morning as we were doing a routine check-up we found something disturbing. If you remember our last report we discussed how the infrastructure can't handle the load we are getting. At that time we came up with a suggestion to help, but I am afraid no changes have occurred and things are just getting worse." He reported eloquently getting a nod in response.

"How long?" She asked already understanding the situation. They needed an upgrade to every department in every settlement but they were just too many. She needed to reduce the populous before being able to make any upgrade or expansion.

"Almost two and a half years, beyond that, the issue cannot be resolved." He answered looking at her expectantly. She had to figure out a solution pretty soon or else this matter would not be salvaged.

" I will work on it" was all she said before walking out of the room. Domum was a haven for humans after the end of the world and was the only thing keeping them safe. Just like everything, it was slowly dying and she was afraid of what would happen if that happened. All this responsibility lay on her and she had to do anything in her power to save everyone no matter what.

"When is it being held?" She asked her assistant as she quickly walked out of the massive building. They were soon outside and she briskly walked to her car before taking a seat in the back followed by the two people who followed her everywhere.

"A week" she answered robotically as usual before scrolling down the tablet in her hand. At first, she thought that she would rather die than do it but now it was her only choice. No matter what happened she hoped the gods would be with her as they had been ever since she was left in charge.

"You can't possibly do it" Derrick commented for the first time after his usual long spells of silence. He didn't support her decision but he knew it was the only way to go forward.

"We don't have the luxury of time to do anything else." She simply stated already thinking of how to carry out her plan. She had to be meticulous if she wanted it to work besides too many variables we're involved in. Time and patience would be key to pulling off her plan she was dealing with smart creatures after all.

"Call the agents and tell them we will not be needing their services this year." She ordered already coming up with a rough plan on how to perform the biggest plan in her whole life. Which was saying a lot given how much she had to do after being the leader of the whole human race at the age of thirteen. She had to deal with the grief of losing the only family she knew in her whole life. Also to ensure not to let their empire fall into the arms of all the schemers around her. She had gone through all that and more so she hoped that she would be just as strong when going through this other hurdle.

She still remembered how her grandfather had started this whole settlement despite being mocked by everyone. Even his son had despised him thinking he was a crazy fool only to end up dead because of his pride. Her beautiful and lovely mother had of course followed her husband on their path of destruction. Now was not the time to be sentimental she had a lot to achieve with a ticking clock hanging over her head. Emotion would have to go back to its cage for now and would be retrieved at a later day.

" I am doing it with you" she heard him state confidently causing her to turn to him with her fake smile. A smile she always wore when she had to work after all she did not feel anything.

"I would have it no other way." He fidgeted in his seat before looking away with a smile. He knew it whenever she closed herself off from everyone and only run by logic. But he knew not to complain because it was necessary this time, she looked ahead as they sped to the other side of town.

"It is time to work" she declared determined.