Sunday 30 march 2036.
The eastern hemisphere China.
7:20 am.
"The asteroid Apophis, the God of chaos Is just about to pass by our earth, precisely the eastern hemisphere, with a very high chance of it colliding with our planet earth.Our scientists have just announced that the chances of the asteroid hitting earth was higher than it was in 2029. We stand a fifty- fifty survival chance here. In a few hours the supposed planet-would begin its journey."
The clear voice of a female broadcaster spewed out of a screen in the middle of a room lit brightly by sunshine.
Youchang Chen clicked his fingers to turn off his screen, shutting off the voice of the broadcaster. He stood menacingly tall in his dark blue suit, ran his hand lightly over his dark hair done perfectly to mimic his bed hair. He produced a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and walked casually across the room to a glass wall that looked down on the street below him.
Life hadn't changed much in the past few years. Seven years ago, in 2929, he had stood at the window of his laboratory with a telescope and watched filled with horror as the God of chaos passed by earth. In a few hours today, the God of chaos would pass again, and this time its passing had to be fully utilised. He puffed.
The government and he Youchang Chen had decided it would be best to keep their decision private. The masses wouldnt understand why what would be done had to be done. Venus was now the way. Mars had once been seen that way, but for the existence of extraterrestruals in the planet.
Every convinceable reason had been given why the apophis would drop into earth and why earth had to be abandoned. The gravitational key hole of earth, the energy realised when the collision happened would destroy earth, and the dust plume caused would cause years of raised temperature and no sunlight. He sighed deeply and puffed longer. His story had been convincing enough even to the media.
He turned his back to the glass wall and faced the door as it slid open.
Lou Yang Yang walked into the room. He looked into he face, her black hair done into a tight ponytail, her face pale and worried.
"Many people are going to die." She said pacing, her voice low, as in conspiracy.
"I cant stop the asteroid from hitting earth." He said simply, blowing smoke out of his mouth. She was one of the many who believed his story.
"But you could save people. You should have said the asteroid would surely drop, not give false hope it wouldn't."
"Save the world?" He scoffed. "By taking the whole of earth massive population over to Venus?. We have a fixed number of people who can live and survive at venus. Besides the few humans would reproduce."
She insisted, her voice now more pleading.
"Youchang, you could have taken more measures to save more lives. Many people are going to die. Many are not even aware of their chances of survival."
His face turned dark. He threw his cigarette on the floor, crushed it slowly with his shoe and folded his arms. He was slowly loosing his temper.
"Not everyone was destined to live this out." He said simply. Simply enough to tell her off but she persisted. As she made to speak, he stepped towards her casually and began playing his fingers in her hair. Her knees buckled.
"You can do something Youchang. We cant just leave them to die." She stammered.
Youchang smilled. A sadistic smile.
"Perhaps you might like to remain here and share in their pain. Besides, it's not a very long time from now, the God of chaos should soon be invite way here. We would be leaving soon." He stepped back and turned his back to her.
"Youchang, i am your wife." She said, her voice acrid.
"My contracted wife did you mean?"
He asked tilting his head.
She walked out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
Youchang dipped his hands into his pocket, took out a pack of cigarette and lit a stick. He rubbed his neck as he puffed. He had enough things on his mind and didn't need any more to add to it. There was a light tap on his door and it slid timidly open. An attendant announced
"The president sir. He's here to see you."
"Let him in." He replied without turning. The president, a middleaged slightly stoopedman in a grey suit walked intothe room.
"Wow, wow, wow. What a pleasant suprise. Nice to see you Mr president."
Youchang said as the president strode to stand by his side.
"Nice to see you again. Mr Youchang." He replied extending his hand, which Youchang took firmly.
"Now, i shouldn't keep the president standing. Mr president, come have a seat." He said walkingtowards a big glass desk in the middle of the room. He sat behind the desk, opposite Mr president.
"Such a pity we would have to loose so much-pay a big price, a very big one." Mr president began, Youchang puffed, then interrupted.
"Mr president, there is nothing to loose sir."
The president ignored him and continued.
"I should have said no to this agreement had i a choice."
Youchang smiled. A lopsided satisfied smile.
"We always have a choice sir."
The president looked suspiciously into his face. Why was he being unusually courteous?. He ignored him and continued.
"Not in this case. The world seems to be tearing apart, and we need this army, this supermechas by our side, if not, we are powerless."
Youchang dropped his cigarette on a golden ashtray on the table. He brought some documents and a pen out of his drawer and pushed them over to Mr president. The president nodded at him as he began to sign. When he was done, he extended his hand to Youchang.
"Do we have a deal?". He asked.
"Yes. So long as you keep your own part of the agreement, you stay on my safe side. But if you dont...." The president lowered his gaze. Youchang took his stretched hand and suddenly laughed brightly. He stood up, holding the president's hand more firmly.
* * * * * * * * * *
Mr president sat in his car waiting. There was no way he was doing such business with Youchang wholeheartedly. One of them would have to breach the agreement and it would be better if he did it himself. Or at least had an update of Youchang's plans.
The man seemed to be too smart, so he needed a sharp eye on him. There was a tap on his window and a young man with fake blonde hair opened the door and slipped in.
"Good day Mr president." He said, his eyes dancing. The president looked at him. He looked the perfect man for the job. Unsteady, unfaithful and cunning.
"Good day. I hear you are Jiehong Liu, his right hand man." Jiehong nodded.
"Good. Now Jiehong, could you do me a little favour?. One that I'll be glad for." He smilled as he finished "it's also not a free one."
Jiehong nodded his blond curls bouncing on his head. "I'll be willing. At your service sir."