The rain lashed down around him, beating into his shoulders. Lightening flashed, scattering grim shadows over the sidewalk. The roar of the midnight city was drowned by the storm. Beaten down and suppressed. He quickly slipped an earpiece on, water seeping down his forearm. Music started to flow through the device as he continued his trek. Cars blurred past him, sending sprays of water into the air.
Burnt out husks of buildings were homes once stood scattered the street. The riots had started 34 years ago, the images of the neutron star, their executioner, as some put it, were shown to the public. The announcement of the lottery system did more harm than good. People fought and killed each other over a chance to get aboard the ark ships.
Mass hysteria and riots swept through the surviving population. Anything broken or burnt was typically left the way it was. The euthanasia programs swiftly followed. People who gave up on their chances to survive decided to die rather than face the end of the world.Those that weren't euthanised decide to live life while they still could. With governmental powers around the world collapsing, and only the UMF able to hold a stable grasp on their cities. Warlords and marauders appeared, raping, pillaging and burning anything because, people no longer cared for wealth, or political power anymore. You either had the strength and will to fight, or you died.
He sighed, he was born on the day those photos had been released and the lottery system announced. Some called it fate, that he’d been selected by the lottery, some didn't give a damn. Like everyone else, he fought to stay alive,the majority of the Earth’s resources were being directed towards the rebirth programme. He looked down at his watch, 23:07 14/08/2534, it was predicted to be another four years before the star swept through the system and killed humanity.
He stared ahead, the prize looming ahead, it stretched 8 kilometers high, piercing the storm, a testament to mankind's resolve to endure and survive. The arkships were humanities solution to the problem, massive constructs capable of carrying millions of people through the stars. And there were only two ways you could get aboard, by being extremely useful, or by being even luckier.
