Doomsday Pillars

Once everyone had left, Alex mentioned to Agung to recruit a team of teachers and educators. As of the moment, there were more than eight thousand children under the age of sixteen, and more than a thousand elderly. A few hundred of the elderly were past the unproductive age, hence, the ex-governor assigned dozens of caretakers for them. 

Actually, almost all of these ten thousand people needed caretakers, because like the others, they had also lost most of their family members. The amount of caretakers was far from enough, however, they had to make do with what they had.

The age-old cure for worry and sadness was love, but if they couldn't have it, then give them hope; if they have also lost all hope, then give them something to do.

Hence, Agung proceeded to recruit a few hundred of these elderly to become educators and caretakers for the children. These weren't ideal solutions, but these must be done. At least for now.

***

DDay +5

Barry and six of his friends had managed to reach a survival post yesterday; today, they were to be transferred to the Star Base. As they neared the base, they were surprised to see the four-meter tall concrete wall, which spanned a few kilometers to the middle of nowhere. 

They got on one of the trucks along with many others, which was guarded with a convoy of armed people, and dropped outside the base. There were at least a few hundred of them once all people from the trucks got out.

After the officers of each truck made sure no one else was left, the trucks circled back toward the direction where they came from, seemingly to transport more people to the base.

Barry strained his neck to look up at the big gate. It was heavily guarded; there were at least a few dozen guards standing atop the wall. 

The group was then allowed through the gate and was guided into one of the big tents in an orderly line. 

As Barry waited for his and friends' turn to be let in, he gawked at his surroundings: the moving trucks, the armed guards, the wall, and the base in general. It all gave a sense of security that he couldn't help but wonder who had prepared all this. It was probably the government who readied all of this, like the president had survived or had been staying on this island when the disaster had struck.

Barry was the last one to enter the tent, and he was nervous about what questions they would ask him. He also had many questions he wanted answers for, but the man, looking around to be thirty, in front asked him first. 

"Name?"

"Barry Hans"

"Age?"

"Sixteen"

"A Bali local?"

"No. Student from Jakarta."

"Do you have a family in Bali?"

"No. I came with my friends, we are — was from the same school, and lived in the same dormitory."

The man simply kept looking at his list while writing.

"Any special skills?"

"What do you mean?"

"Martial arts, shooting, masonry, carpentry, medical, cooking, teaching, or even singing. Anything at all?"

"I… umm…. I'm a student of IT. Programming and web designing are my majors. I can make a great website page… Ohh, right! I also write novels! My sci-fi novel became famous on the web. Does that count as a special skill?"

"What do you think, genius? Anyway, you're sixteen, you must choose one of the options. Fighter or worker?"

Barry remembered those strong people who had saved him and his friends. He said, "Fighter!"

"Are you sure? I don't really recommend it for people your age."

"I am sure... A man never backs down on his word."

"Hmm… Sixteen years old, I guess you could be considered half a man. Here. This is your identification, and today's two food vouchers. You are now part of the Star Army. The army will provide you food and shelter. In return, you will follow the army's command. Do you understand?"

"Sir, yes, sir!"

Aside from the ID and vouchers, Barry received a red armband. Thinking about his path to becoming a warrior, he smiled widely, but when he got back to the group, none of them were wearing the red armband. They all wore a yellow one.

"Guys, why are you—Cynthia, where's your armband?"

"Ah yes, it's because I'm still sixteen, Barry. So, I'll be going to the education department."

"..."

Barry began to regret his earlier decision. He thought about shamelessly changing to a worker, but he changed his mind after hearing Cynthia's comment.

"Wow, you're wearing a red armband. You really are brave, Barry," Cynthia said with eyes full of admiration.

"Haha, yes. I promise. I-I'll train hard and be strong to protect you!"

"..."

After those words exited his mouth, the others stared at him with teasing looks. Did he just declare his love to Cynthia, his crush?

Barry realized it too late and was about to take it back but Cynthia smiled and said, "I believe in you, Barry."

His heart thumped faster and fluttered, but then the P.A. system sounded.

PRRRIITTTTTT!!!

"All red armbands, gather in front of the base. We're moving to Antiga City."

"..."

Noooo! Barry cried in his mind but tried to keep cool in front of Cynthia. "Well, umm. Take care of each other. I'll be back soon."

"Take care, Barry."

***

Cynthia went toward the education division. 

It was divided into three groups: the kindergarten, the primary and the secondary. The kindergartners were kids ranging from infant to six-year-olds. They only needed to learn how to read and write. The primary kids were seven to twelve-year-olds, studying mathematics, geography, biology, and moral studies. The secondary, the one where Cynthia was in, would learn each of the seven divisions professions and basic fighter skills. They would also learn leadership skills by taking care of the younger students. So, starting from today, Cynthia was in charge of a group of thirteen-year-olds to lead.

***

Alex had spent the last two days with his managers. He made sure everything would run smoothly while he's away. He also gave authority for the seven managers to conduct a majority vote on the hard decisions in case Alex was unreachable.

He had set up the long-range HAM radio to make sure communications would run. By now, Lieutenant Rangga should have finished his special mission to set up the booster antenna on the westernmost city of Gilimanuk. 

Their current two-way radios should be able to travel further by now. The aim was to contact James Randall in East Java, Surabaya city; however, until James also succeeded in fixing the booster antenna on his side, they wouldn't be able to communicate just yet.

Alex had thought about preparing this communication antenna beforehand, but there was a big chance the operator would be infected by diseases or the antenna would have been destroyed during the EMP strike. Since those crucial moments had passed, he assigned one of the staff members to be standby on the main base HAM radio.

He planned to explore the big cities, in which the army was still clearing. He wanted to go and help. But before he went on going about his next trip, Alex visited Benny and took the time to read all the names.

There were some names on the survivors' list he recognized, and also a few spirit enhancers he knew from his previous lives. One of them was still underage but the other one, who was a foreigner from Russia, clearly he wasn't expecting to see his name. In Alex's previous life, this guy was supposed to be having a holiday in Bangkok, Thailand, not in Bali. This must be a case of butterfly effect in his viral Doomsday video.

Sergei Jacob, a Russian professional wrestler, and entertainer. He was the runner-up of last year's Strongest Man's Champions League. He was a large guy, two meters tall, arms as big as a tree's trunk, short red hair and beard. This guy was an earth element Spirit Enhancer. He was unconsciously connecting with the earth's energy, giving him some abnormal muscle growth and strength.

Although this guy looked scary with his ripped muscles and large frame, he was one of the nicest people Alex had met in his previous life. And, it was quite easy to recruit him. Alcohol and cigars was the answer. 

Fortunately, Alex kept many of them in storage, so when he offered to share some of them, Sergei Jacob immediately accepted his offer. It was either an exciting adventure or some boring construction manual labor, according to Sergei when Alex had given a rundown of his upcoming trip. 

Now that that was settled. Alex decided to bring not only Sergei, Aria and Rama but also Cindy and Theo. He thought it was a good idea to train them, especially his best friend, and gain some survival skills. As for Cindy, Alex didn't need to say one word because she had been pestering him ever since he had returned to Star Base two days ago.

They were to go first thing tomorrow morning, and before he dismissed them, Alex gave six stones each to Sergei, Theo, and Cindy. He also gave thirty spirit stones to Major Sandi and asked the major to give it only to the most talented fighters. Tonight, Alex would spend more time with his family.