Page 139 - 2023 eMag Final Draft

T She wakes to the sound of no one. spacesuit. Inhaling deeply, she steps out, survived. Chances are, you are the last
and…
She remembers her mission.
daughters of mankind. Congratulations.
h The space pod she’s lying in is still cold. She She’s in one piece. Well, guess it didn’t lie Welcome to Earth. Welcome back.”

struggles to get up, and almost loses her about the atmospheric pressure. Her relief She is stunned.
e balance as she sets her foot on the ground. was almost immediately replaced with awe.
It’s a weird sensation to finally stand firmly
She’s looking at utter beauty. Cirrostratus “The truth is, there’s no other planet like
against the chills crawling up beneath her. clouds are scattered within the azure blue Earth. I planned it so that you would return
The other female astronauts lie as inanimate sky, as if an angel had left her robes floating when Mother Nature has done reclaiming
as statues, the inevitable aftermath of about. The sun of this planet’s system shines what’s hers. We never needed a new home.
L utilizing incomplete cryogenic technology. upon the lush green grass, giving them a We needed new humans. As I record this,
bright youthful look, and they playfully I am dying. Earth is burning up. Humans
She raises her arm to her head in a salute.
They had all known it was a death mission, dance along with the wind, as if welcoming are destroying themselves. It can’t be fixed
a but there had been no other choice, and this newcomer. She sees a bird—or at least, anymore. We need a fresh start. and it’s up

sometimes, miracles happen.She survived something with wings—fly across the sky. to you whether you want to do so.
s the million-year trip. She looks out the Mustering up her courage, she slides off her I think it’s all just a cycle. Our irresponsibility

window, at the planet that could potentially
be humankind’s new home. Something helmet. She breathes in. Chilly air enters and selfishness end up causing our own
t immediately catches her attention. through her nostrils into her whole body, demise, and the last of us return after a

and it feels like a rush of energy has entered millennium to start anew. Hoping that it
Water, or something resembling it, flowing her body, washing clean the tarnished soul will be alright this time. Of course, this is
freely. that has seen too much destruction and just my theory.
death, heard too many screams of terror
D When was the last time she had seen a and cries for help. Her face feels weird. She So, I’ll leave it up to you. Restart

river? She could barely remember the times realizes she’s smiling. But still, she must not humankind—or end suffering for once and
a when she was a little girl. She had loved let her guard down. There may be other for all. You have the final say.
forms of life, perhaps intelligent ones, who
sticking her hand into the cold river water
and letting it brush past her hand as if an knows if they are hostile? Signing off, Professor Grant.”
u invisible friend was giving her high-fives, She heads back to the spaceship. More

but she must not let her emotions get the exploration is required before she can She remainss motionless, lost in thought
g best of her. She taps a few buttons, and the proceed to the next step—reviving the and shock. She walks out of the spaceship,
spaceship begins analyzing the surrounding
human race. Millions of unborn cells were stripping off her spacesuit. She sits by the
environment and reporting it back to her on locked away securely in the vault of the river and scoops out some water to drink.
h a screen. She stares in disbelief. OXYGEN spaceship. It feels almost revitalizing.

LEVEL: 20.947%. TEMPERATURE:

t 24.3°C, 75.74°F. MOISTURE: 3.87%. She heads to the control panel to input the She sticks her hand in the river and lets the
code to unlock the vault, which contains crystal clear water give her high-fives. She
PRESSURE: 101,325 Pa. The list goes on. All
the data displayed on the screen regarding the weapons and supplies she needs. She stares ahead at the endless sea of grass, at
e the environment is highly similar, if not the remembers the code Professor Grant had the trees afar, pondering deeply. And when

same, to that of Earth. given her—PANDORA. The screen flashes she looks down at her reflection, a word
r Still, she can’t get too excited just yet. She green, but the vault doesn’t open. Instead, floats to mind.
an audio track begins playing.

has to go out there. Reassuring herself that PANDORA;
Written by Brandon Yong Zhan Onn Sr1ScB she has nothing to lose, she puts on her “Hello. If you’re listening to this, you have And that is her answer.
Illustration by Tan Xin Yee Sr1A
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