Chapter 2 - Frozen Time, Future Sky

I had been slumbering in a high‑tech pod for three years. The last thing I remembered was chaos—a life‑or‑death struggle—until a group of scientists offered me a chance at survival. Freeze yourself, they said, pointing to the pod near the entrance of their secret laboratory. It was the only way.

With a hiss, the door released its pressure and swung open. I stepped out, and the pod sealing shut behind me. My legs trembled, but I forced myself forward. What year is it? My eyes caught a calendar pinned to the wall.

"June 10th... 2028," I read aloud. My stomach flipped. Three years have gone by. Not too far into the future, but still... unbelievable.

Instinct guided me to grab a weapon from a rack before leaving the laboratory. A massive bridge stretched ahead, splitting into three paths. Anxiety rose in my chest, but I steadied myself. Think logically. Be reasonable. After a pause, I chose the farthest right path and began walking.

Not long after, an assistant spotted me. He finished speaking with a colleague, then turned.

"Ah, you're finally awake. How do you feel, Carmen?"

"Honestly? Refreshed. But my memory's hazy—I only recall what happened before I was frozen."

"That makes sense," he said. "You survived that mess back then. You're safe now."

"Safe... but where are the others? And are we underground?"

He smiled faintly. "The others are awake too, doing their own thing aboard this StarCraft."

I blinked. "Wait—StarCraft? Are we in space? I thought we were underground!"

"Yes," he confirmed. "Outer space. A very big StarCraft."

I turned to the nearest window. Stars glittered against the endless dark, planets drifting in the distance. My breath caught.

"This is insane... I'm in space. This is incredible."

Then another thought struck me. "Do we have a shooting range on board?"

"Indeed," he said, glancing at the weapon in my hand. "I'll have someone escort you."

He signaled another assistant, who greeted me and led me down the corridor. Within minutes, we arrived at the range. I set my belongings aside, accepted headphones, goggles, and a firearm from the attendant, and stepped into a stall. The weapon felt heavy and real. I loaded it carefully, adrenaline surging. Practice begins now.