18 Floors Above the Apocalypse



Blue Blue circled playfully in the air, spraying mist from its spout and emitting a high-pitched, piercing sound that was much lighter and more cheerful than its previous mournful cries. Stella couldn't decipher what the sounds meant, but she could tell that Blue Blue was in a much better mood.

As the sound faded, the massive silhouette disappeared over the horizon. The trio and their dog watched it go, then settled down on the deck of the submarine to soak up some sunshine.

Rosie leaned against the railing, gazing into the distance. "Bro, sis, where to next?"

Stella didn't have an immediate answer. They'd been out at sea for quite a while, encountering all sorts of survivors. Some had died, others had scattered, and they still had no clear direction home. One thing was certain: they longed to set foot on solid ground again.

Not sure what to do next, Jasper suggested, "Let's get away from these waters first, then we'll figure it out as we go."

Their experience in surviving at sea was extensive. They knew the currents here were tricky, and any significant weather change could easily lead to disasters, having already claimed many lives. They all agreed to move away from this area first and figure out their plans once they found calmer waters.

They set sail immediately, and after three cautious days, they finally left the treacherous region behind.

Living underwater for so long could mess with anyone's mind, but they managed well. Stella had stopped keeping Arcadia a secret and now took half- hour breaks there daily unless special circumstances arose. They'd walk on the grass, pick fruits and vegetables, or tend to the medicinal herb garden.

Their days were easy and comfortable, whether on the submarine or on land. They shared laughs and stories, creating a joyful atmosphere.

On clear days, they'd use a periscope to scan the surface for any dangers before surfacing for maintenance. They'd set up a parasol, install a small table, and enjoy afternoon tea with the sea breeze as their companion.Property © of NôvelDrama.Org.

One sunny afternoon, Rosie, lounging in a deck chair and munching on a lemon chicken drumstick, suddenly pointed skyward. "Bro, sis, what's that?" A vast airship drifted into view. In Stella's memory, such colossal airships were relics from World War II, yet here it was, repurposed for use.

Jasper enlightened his sister, "That's a Zeppelin, Rosie. It's filled with hydrogen, and the big ones can carry hundreds of people."

Rosie was amazed. "Could it fall out of the sky?"

"It can stay aloft for a long time, but it's very dangerous if it catches fire or starts leaking gas."

In these times of disaster, no escape tool was utterly safe; survival was a matter of luck. The three of them, along with their dog, occasionally looked up, watching the slow-moving airship until it vanished from sight.

Time drifted by slowly. One day, while Stella was napping, their sonar detected several obstacles ahead, and there were quite a few. Their shapes were peculiar and immobile-not seabed rocks or marine life forms.

Stella examined the sonar images closely and frowned. "They look like shipping containers."

But these weren't ordinary containers. They were significantly larger. Jasper speculated, "Could they be seed vaults?"

South Base had manufactured many seed vaults, and perhaps a submarine had passed through here, releasing the vaults to the seafloor during an uncontrollable storm. By the shape, they did resemble seed vaults, but the sheer number suggested there were more than just a few.

The sea was calm and clear, with no sign of impending storms. Moving slowly to get a better look, Stella used a telescope to confirm they were indeed containers, but about

half the size of seed vaults, with t

roughly a dozen visible. They were likely large cargo containers that had fallen from a ship during a storm, crafted post-disaster due to their size. Ordinary survivors wouldn't have the capacity to produce such items; they must've been made by a national-level base.

Thinking of the 21 trucks she had taken into Arcadia, Stella realized these too must be essential supplies. Seeing her contemplation, Jasper asked, "Shall we salvage them?"

The weather was favorable, with no turbulent waves, the seabed wasn't too complex, and there were no dangerous marine creatures in sight. Looking at the containers resting on the ocean floor, Stella thought of Daniel and Cody Lukas, who had grown more assertive after joining the naval submarine unit, their demeanor filled with pride. She wondered how they were doing now.

After a moment's thought, Stella decided, "Let's give it a try." With nothing else pressing, who knew what useful supplies might be found inside? These were important enough to be carried during an evacuation.

Action followed decision, and the submarine surfaced. Once they had ensured there was no danger, Rosie and Cooper stayed behind to guard the submarine, while Stella and Jasper donned their diving suits, strapped on portable oxygen tanks, and adjusted their closed-circuit diving masks. Secured by tether ropes, they plunged into the sea and swam toward the scattered containers.

At about 300 meters below, the depth was not challenging for the submarine, but it was a test for human endurance. The trio and their dog lived well, training hard every day, and their physical condition was quite robust. Stella descended deeper, Jasper keeping watch. Their equipment was top-notch, but at around 300 meters, breathing became noticeably heavier. Not suitable for a long stay underwater, Stella decided to collect the

containers into Arcadia without checking their contents.

The containers were too large, and with Arcadia already full, they could only bring in about ten before they ran out of space. The two then entered Arcadia, and Stella, becoming a master of organization, stacked the containers neatly and placed the large trucks on top.

Once they had recovered, they emerged again, swiftly collecting the remaining containers into Arcadia. The area was vast, and after swimming around, they found five more containers, making sure none were missed before resurfacing. Rosie lowered the ropes, pulling the two up with haste. Back on the submarine, after changing clothes and taking a shower, they ate something to replenish their energy, then headed into Arcadia. Neen containers in total were neatly stacked inside Arcadia. The containers had been at sea for a while and were encased in mud, making it impossible to discern their original colors.

Rosie grabbed a hose and a broom

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and began cleaning the mud from the containers with diligence. The containers were unique, made of different materials than typical ones but slightly inferior to the seed vaults. They seemed to have been specially crafted for transporting supplies. The doors were well-sealed, with no sign of water leakage since being placed in Arcadia, implying the contents were likely undamaged. Content belongs

After half an hour of cleaning, Rosie called out excitedly, "Bro, sis, there's some writing here." The front of the container bore a bold inscription that read "Australia East Base," with the sequence number 0092 etched right below it.