Setting
Now ravaged by the effects of an apocalyptic collapse of Earth's magnetosphere, Australia is primarily a desert wasteland, unable to support life. The shelter of several of Australia's coastal cities provides protection for the refugees. These cities include Perth, Darwin, Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Adelaide.
Human population of Australia has decreased from 20,971,000 to 6,913,475, approximately 200,000 of which are native Aborigines.
The temperature of Australia is now an average of 37.9 C. The fact that this is above average human body temperature, coupled with the fact that the climate is extremely arid, causes rapid dehydration.
"Hey, watch where you are going, idiot!" a small elderly woman screamed suddenly. Alappa shook the half-formed visions of Brisbane from his mind and apologised to her, but she would not break the fierce gaze she had fixated on him since he walked into her. He watched, bemused, as her face slowly changed from anger to recognition.
"Son! You made it! I thought the Ignition took you!"
The woman was insane, deluded; yet another victim to the Armageddon. Alappa walked on, ignoring the woman, who followed him for about half an hour, beating his chest and clutching at his ankles, until she finally gave up, sobbing so hard she was almost fitting. Perhaps if he was still the 12 year old boy he was at the time of the Ignition, terrified and innocent, he would of took pity on the woman and attempted to calm her, but he was no longer naive; this was not the first time such an occurrence had happened. He knew that she probably thought that every man who looked vaguely like her son was miraculously him, it was a better reality than the one she was living. Suddenly, a thought struck him.
It's a better reality.
Alappa rushed back to the woman, knowing now how he could help her, for a short while at least. He pulled out a small bag containing a white powder. As he did so, He whispered to the woman "Enjoy this. Let your worries be gone for a time."
"What is it?" She looked up at him with enquiring eyes.
"Pikralίda," he saw no recognition on the woman's face. "It makes you feel as you did before the Ignition."
Before the woman could respond, Alappa got up and swiftly walked away from the woman. He just managed to make out a quiet "Thank you" as he left. Onto Brisbane, onto Roma. Adam, I am looking forwards to seeing you again, mentor.
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