18 Floors Above the Apocalypse
Chapter 390

Jasper double-checked, and sure enough, there were no hidden cameras on the submarine.

Just to be on the safe side, Stella decided to head into Arcadia.

Despite Mr. Cristian's warm and genuine demeanor, Stella and Jasper hadn't let their guard down over the past few days. They hadn't noticed any suspicious behavior from him either.

Even when the submarine, code-named 2688, slipped into the sea, they didn't spot anyone tailing them.

"Why do you think Mr. Daniel was talking in riddles?" Stella pondered.

His smile was disarming, and if it weren't for his authoritative presence and the fact that he was older, Stella might have suspected he had less-than-honorable intentions, like an old fox chasing young chickens.

She admitted her thoughts might be narrow-minded, but it all felt so bizarre.

Maybe harboring secrets made everyone seem like a wolf in sheep's clothing.

It was strange indeed, but Jasper couldn't figure it out either. "Let's just stay on high alert," he suggested.

Regardless, the submarine was now in their possession.

Next, they had to strategize how to handle the cataclysmic event they referred to as the "Great Collision." Without a plan, they would be flying blind when it hit.

Cars, yachts, cruise ships, planes, armored vehicles, submarines - Stella felt like she could summon a genie with all the modes of transport at their disposal. But facing a natural disaster of unprecedented scale, they needed a cunning plan. Losing meant certain death. Survival was no place for arrogance or pride; they needed to stay humble to avoid a fate like the one in the old tale of the horse race.

Stella mused, "With all the people in the Kindle Society, if land, sea, and air routes are compromised on the day of the Great Collision, what do we do?"

Jasper thought it through. "The ocean covers 70% of the Earth, and it'll bear the brunt of the impact. The biggest danger is tsunamis, and once a person falls into the sea, their chances of survival are pretty much zero..."

The sea would bring tsunamis, while the land would be hit with earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, with dangers lurking everywhere.

Compared to these, the sky seemed a tad safer.

But that was only relative because tsunamis, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions could all disrupt air currents severely.

In the worst-case scenario, that could lead to a plane crash.

Of all the evils, they had to choose the lesser, and Jasper suggested they take to the skies in a plane at the first sign of trouble.

Stella couldn't think of a better solution. "The helicopter is equipped with parachutes. We'll wear them in advance, so if a crash is imminent, we can bail out in time."

They'd use ropes to tie themselves together, take shelter in Arcadia during the quake's shockwave, and then parachute to safety afterward.

As for what came next, the land wouldn't sink instantly. The outer edges would shatter upon violent impact, while the interior would crack and gradually sink...

In other words, survivors would have a grace period.

Compared to the unknown risks of the sea, Stella maintained a healthy respect for the ocean's power. There would be time to retreat to the sea for survival when there was no turning back on land.

After finalizing their plan to take to the skies first and then seek refuge in Arcadia if needed, Jasper and Stella got some much-needed rest.

They practiced maneuvering the submarine in the ocean to ensure there were no issues before they approached the deserted coast.

They tossed the inflatable raft overboard, with Rosie and Cooper boarding first, and then Stella and Jasper dove into the sea, secured the submarine, and swam over to join them.

They were far from the Kindle Society, and it took nearly half an hour on the raft just to reach the shore.

Once on land, they switched to a car to return to the base.

The journey was over 300 kilometers on rough terrain, often requiring detours, and it took them a day and a half to arrive.

Upon entering the base, Stella was extra vigilant, but they were still quickly targeted.

Wandering around the command center, they realized their tails were not military personnel but scavengers, relentless in their pursuit.

As long as they weren't the military, Stella was fearless.

Her account still had plenty of credits, and she exchanged for hundreds of oxygen tanks, wanting to stock up on gasoline or diesel, too. Unfortunately, the base wasn't selling in bulk, so they had to refuel at high prices. In the end, with no other option, she converted all her credits into coal blocks.

Two large trucks could carry 70 tons of coal, enough for a long time if the need arose.

The tricky part was that the coal yard wasn't on the base, so she'd have to drive there and pick it up herself.

Stella secured the receipt and planned to pick up the coal when she had time.

Just as she was about to head back, her radio crackled to life with an excited voice: "Sis, I made it! I passed the military enlistment test!"

It was Bran, no doubt, his voice tinged with a mix of exuberance and a hint of tears.

Honestly, Stella let out a sigh of relief. "Congratulations."

"Sis, I want to treat you and the brother-in-law to dinner."

Bran's joy needed to be shared, and since Stella had returned half of the medicine, he had exchanged some for credits, enough to afford a meal.

The only problem was replaceing a place to cook, and his culinary skills weren't up to par.

Stella still had some credits left, which she probably wouldn't need anymore, so she generously offered: "You're my brother, so save those credits for yourself. I'll treat you to dinner to celebrate your honorable enlistment." "No way, I can't let you and the brother-in-law pay for it."

Stella was firm. "Well, then you treat. Just make sure to order plenty."

Bran panicked on the other end, "No, sis, I was hoping for hot pot."

The kid was trying to pull a fast one on her? Stella agreed readily, "I'm actually at the mall. I'll pick up some veggies on the way back. You come over for dinner."

After hanging up, Stella turned towards the market to do some shopping.

The base had its own farms, but with the military and various units to feed, supplies were tight and prices high.

Stella didn't have many credits left but bought just enough to blend in, choosing only what they already had on Arcadia.

Jasper helped with the selection. "Should we see if Cody and the others are free for dinner?"

The submarine crew had heavy training schedules, and when they were at sea, they'd get only half a month's rest while staying on-call.

If the Great Collision struck, everyone would be scrambling for their lives, and there was no guarantee of seeing each other again.

Jasper knew Stella still valued this friendship; otherwise, she wouldn't have helped them out over the years, both openly and behind the scenes. Stella nodded. "Sounds good. Let's check with them."

She reached for the radio to contact them, but there was no response after a long wait.

The trio and their dog carried their purchases back to their private quarters, a tail following them until they reached Zone B and finally gave up. Jasper mused, "If I'm not wrong, those were probably the Whirlwind team's guys."

Stella figured it was likely, considering they were missing a dozen people. Even without any evidence, she would be the prime suspect. Back in the yard, Jasper fumbled with the keys, his voice dropping to a hush. "Someone's been here."

Stella's senses sharpened at his words, and she quickly drew out her weapon.

Both poised for a fight, they stepped cautiously into the eerie stillness of the yard...