The Ark

Something caught Yu's attention. An object that looked no more than the size of his thumb, up there. It seemed to have a fiery red tail, flickering.

"I think it's the Ark-01 spacecraft," said Alina.

"The Ark-01?" Yu repeated.

"You said you were ten, didn't you?"

"Yeah, more or less."

'You are thirty years old now," said Alina. "That means twenty years ago."

"What do you want to say, Alina?"

"I mean," said the beautiful doctor. "Twenty years ago, it was just as a spacecraft called the Ark-01 took off towards a planet that is thought to support life, beyond our Solar System."

"Where to?"

"I don't know," Alina shrugged. She reached again for the thin, transparent tablet on the stainless steel table. "I thought maybe they were headed for Planet Kepler-22b."

"Oh, I see?" Yu nodded. "I've heard of that. You know, when my mom and dad were alive. People talk about the possibility of moving to another planet."

"Well, that's how it has happened."

"Did they succeed?"

"Who would know?" said Alina. "Communication with them was cut off as soon as they left our Solar System. At least, that's what I heard."

"So they're considered missing, is that so?"

"More or less. I'm not sure, not my specification."

"How many people were there on the trip?"

"Five thousand people."

"Wow!" Yu chuckled to himself. "That's a lot of people!"

"Yeah, it's arranged that way. They are in pairs. The chosen people that the World Government and scientists hope to be able to establish the first human colony outside Earth."

"A very ambitious mission, huh?"

"Maybe."

"Maybe?"

"Well, at least, that's in the eyes of a layman like you, perhaps. Don't you know that this Earth is getting old? More and more destruction?"

"Old? Yes," said Yu. "Destruction? Aren't you elites who caused that? Everyone knows this for sure."

Alina took a deep breath. "In many ways, the elites are indeed responsible for the destruction of the Earth. But, don't forget the bad things that the common people have done to this Earth itself, Yu. You throw plastic waste carelessly, pollute rivers and other waters. And, there are many other bad things that laypeople do."

"I know…"

Yu and Alina were both silents. Each was lost in their thoughts. Yes, all of that is true. Each party, both elite and commoners, plays a major role in the destruction of the Earth.

"I'm sorry," Yu said a second later. "I shouldn't have vented my frustration on you, Alina."

The doctor smiled, she looked at the face that did not see the reality because he was busy with his simulation realm.

"Apology accepted."

"Does that mean I will get a kiss?"

"Come on, Yu!" Alina laughed softly while shaking her head. "Are you still a child or what?"

"Hey, I hear a lot," said Yu. "My mother said if an honest child will get a kiss gift."

"Oh my God…" Alina had to hold back her laughter so it wouldn't come out louder. "Do I look like your mother, Yu?"

"How about a lover?"

"Yu!"

"Okay, okay!" Yu said with a chuckle. "Again, about that Ark."

"You seem interested in that?"

"I mean when I was twenty," said Yu. "My last days with that room beneath the surface of the sand."

"What happened?"

"Just, hold on there, I'll tell you about that one later," said Yu. "Now, going back to The Ark, I saw the same thing back then."

"Aah, surely you mean the Ark-02."

"I do not understand. But, maybe that's how it happened. What is clear to me, I saw the big plane in the sky."

"You saw that one more closely than ten years before, didn't you?"

"How did you know?"

"That's because the Ark-02 was launched from Australia."

"Aah, I see, huh!"

"The Ark-01 was launched from Europe," said Alina. "And now, do you know?"

"What?"

"They are preparing the Ark-03 in China."

"They are?"

"Well, maybe soon they will dispatch another five thousand people."

"So, every time they send out five thousand people?"

"That's how it is."

"And where is the Ark-02 going?"

"Andromeda Galaxy."

"You're kidding, aren't you?" Yu said in disbelief. "No, you're not kidding."

"Maybe what you said was true."

"Which one?"

"About an ambitious mission."

"Aah…" Yu nodded. "I mean, isn't the Andromeda Galaxy very, very far away? How long will it take to reach the galaxy from Earth?"

"I don't know for sure!" Alina said with a long breath. "The distance between the galaxy and our Milky Way is about two and a half million light-years. Even with the advanced warp technology we have today, it would take many years to reach that galaxy."

"And all that time they have to be inside the cryopod. Wow!"

"Of course," said Alina. "That's the only way to slow down the human body's metabolism to its lowest point."

"Prevent aging," Yu laughed as he shook his head.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Aah, it's nothing," said Yu. "I guess, once they wake up, they'll be quite lucky."

"Lucky?"

"Well, at the very least, they have their respective partners, unlike me."

"Oh my God," Alina folded her arms under her breasts. "You always associate one thing with yourself. You are really weird!"

"I'm not weird. I'm just lonely."

"Oh my…" Alina patted her forehead.

***

"Tomorrow you can rest for a day," said Alina when they were in the same dining room as yesterday.

"Is that true?" Yu was still rubbing his head which felt a little strange to him. Then eat the food in front of him.

"Yeah, according to the program schedule they have planned for you. You know, using that serum every day without a break, would be putting yourself at risk."

"Like what?"

"You will no longer be able to distinguish between the real world and the realm of your imagination."

"It sounds like illegal drugs."

Alina smiled, she was not surprised by Yu's thoughts. "So relax. Enjoy your daily life tomorrow."

"Yeah, I'll try." Yu, who was looking down to feed his food, glanced at the face of the girl in front of him. "And what about you?"

Alina smiled. At least, she could guess the meaning of the faint smile on the man's lips.

"Come on, Yu," she said, shaking her head lightly. "You know exactly what I'm going to do."

"Well," Yu sighed deeply, there was a hint of disappointment on his face. "With your fiancé."

"I'm sure," said Alina. "One day, you will find a lover for you."

Yu snorted softly like someone was holding back a laugh.

"Why is that face?" Alina asked with an eyebrow raised.

"I know," said Yu. "You're just trying to cheer me up."

"I really mean it, Yu."

"No, Alina. Don't lie to yourself!"

Alina took a deep breath. Well, that's true, she thought. In reality, the mission that Yu will undertake later is an impossible mission. Entering a Black Hole is tantamount to suicide.

"Yeah, I'm sorry…"

"No," said Yu. "That's not necessary. I told you didn't I? I am used to."

***