Orion nods a thank you to Adam.

  Adam tosses the large gun down like he is disgusted by it, and slowly helps up Orion to his feet.

  "Your leg is broken," The Old Man observes.

  "Yup. Thank you."

  "No need for sarcasm."

  "No. Thank you. For saving me."

  "Oh. Yes. There has been a lot of that since we came alive again, yes?"

  Orion leans on The Old Man, and points for his gun.

  Adam picks it up and hands it to Orion, who sticks it in the ground for a walking stick.

  "I never thought..." Adam starts.

  "You'd see something like that?"

  The Old Man does not respond audibly. He just nods, and looks out.

  "My, what did we do?" He asks in a boyish tone, like a child wondering why a pet died.

  Orion does not answer.

  "Are your people okay?"

  "No," Adam replies, shaking his head. "Some may never leave here. Or we'll have to put them out of their misery."

  Orion is struck by the cold nature of what The Old Man says, but also knows that if he was put in charge to restart the world...well, he would have to be like that.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  "I'm not leaving anyone," Orion whispers.

  The tension begins.

  The Old Man turns towards him, seemingly with a confidence not shown yet. "You are not in charge, sir."

  "The only boat you have is mine, if it survived or is still floating around. And I will be going to get the reinforcements," Orion says back.

  The Old Man grins. Oh, he hates him so.

  Orion looks out and stops.

  He squints his eyes.

  Then smiles.

  "But you are in luck," Orion states.

  Adam also looks out across the horizon, and sees numerous small boats coming their way.

  Homestead's ship is behind, trying to keep up.

  Adam smiles. "Are they with you?"

  Orion nods.

  Ran and Howl are in the boats in the front, staring out, looking for Orion and any survivors.

  Adam feels a weight off his shoulders. "That is a good start."

  The Old Man then looks at Orion again, pats him on the back with a college try, I hate you vibe, and heads down the hill.

  The pod people stand almost at attention, waiting for their rescue boats to come save them.

  They try not to stare at their friends who exploded, or the ones who are still screaming or crying to themselves.

  The aircraft carrier is still smouldering in pieces next to them.

  Orion can make out Ran from where he is.

  He doesn't know if he wants to leave this sand barge just yet, or ever.

  The lone soldier then stares at the sharks that he just fought to the death, and wonders when the beast will appear again.

  Orion looks up one last time.

  The sun is setting, and the nuclear sky doesn't look as harsh this day on the edge of the ocean.

  end of part 1