Day 14. Thirty-three days until impact.
Marcus hadn't slept more than three hours in a single stretch for four days. The shelter construction had shifted into overdrive, with work happening around the clock.
The water system was operational. Dr. Sarah Chen had completed the aquifer tap. Clean, cold water now flowed into the 2,000-gallon storage tanks.
[Achievement Unlocked: Water Independence]
[Survival Points: +40]
[Current Total: 101 SP]
Power generation was next. The Blueprint menu had unlocked a new option:
[Hybrid Power Generation System Mk.I]
[Cost: 100 SP + Materials]
[Benefits:]
-60% reduction in fuel consumption
-Automated load balancing
-Renewable energy integration ready
-Quieter operation
Marcus spent $32,000 acquiring additional components. Another supply run, three hours away. More negotiations at inflated prices.
At 6:47 AM on day fourteen, the system was ready for installation.
The power system installation took all day. Marcus worked with electricians, using the system's knowledge to guide complex wiring. The batteries needed specific configuration. The automated management system needed programming.
By 4 PM, the system was assembled. Marcus stood before the control panel.
"Here goes nothing," he muttered, flipping the activation switch.
The diesel generator coughed to life. The battery banks began charging. Status lights flickered from red to yellow to green.
Power generation: nominal. Battery charge: climbing. Load distribution: balanced. Fuel consumption: 63% below baseline.
It was working.
[Achievement Unlocked: Power Independence]
[Survival Points: +50]
[Current Total: 51 SP]
His moment of satisfaction was interrupted by raised voices. Two workers arguing.
"—taking more than your share!"
"I've got a family to feed! I haven't eaten in two days!"
Marcus understood. Food scarcity was hitting the workers.
He made a decision. "Everyone, stop working."
"How many of you haven't had a real meal in three days?"
Seven hands went up. Almost half.
"Come with me."
Marcus led them to the shelter's storage room. He opened a food crate and started handing out MREs.
"Everyone gets two. Eat one now, save one for later."
Jake pulled him aside. "That's coming out of your family's supplies."
"I know. But we need them functional."
"This is going to keep happening."
"Then we seal the shelter sooner. How fast can we make it livable?"
Jake ran calculations. "Four days minimum, working around the clock."
"Make it three."
"Marcus—"
"Three days, Jake. Whatever it costs."
That evening, Marcus gathered his family. "Three days. Then we move underground. Permanently."
Emma looked scared. "Before the asteroid?"
"Yes. It's not safe up here anymore."
"But we'll miss Christmas," Jack said. "And my birthday."
Marcus's heart broke. Jack would turn seven underground.
"We'll still celebrate. Underground. We'll make it special."
The conversation was interrupted by a loud crash. Marcus grabbed his rifle and ran to the window.
A brick through Mrs. Henderson's window. Three figures ran from her house, carrying boxes and bags. They jumped into a car and sped off.
Marcus ran outside. Mrs. Henderson stood crying, blood from a cut on her forehead.
"They hit me. They took everything."
Marcus helped her inside, Lisa following with first aid.
"You can't stay here. You'll stay with us. Until we seal the shelter."
They brought her to Marcus's house. She fell asleep immediately, exhausted.
Over the next three days, the pace was brutal. Jake's crews worked eighteen-hour shifts.
Day 15: The main entrance door arrived. Solid steel, six inches thick, wheel lock mechanism like a bank vault. Two thousand pounds. Required a crane to position.
Installation took eight hours. But by 6 PM, it was done. Marcus tested the locking mechanism. Heavy bolts slid into place with satisfying precision.
[Achievement Unlocked: Secure Entrance]
[Survival Points: +30]
[Current Total: 81 SP]
Day 16: Interior finishing. Living quarters completed - six sleeping alcoves with privacy curtains, common area with table and seating, kitchen area with cookstove. Hydroponics bay set up with growing trays, lights, nutrients, first seeds planted. Workshop equipped. Armory with gun safe installed.
Day 17: Final systems testing. Marcus went through everything. Air: operational. Water: operational. Power: operational. Waste management: operational. Communications: radio working with limited range. Lighting: backups tested. Emergency protocols: documented.
By evening of day seventeen, the shelter was technically habitable.
Marcus called everyone together. "Tomorrow morning, we move in. Permanently."
"What about Mrs. Henderson?" Lisa asked.
"There's a church group forty miles away organizing a community shelter. They've agreed to take her. David will drive her there tomorrow before we seal up."
Mrs. Henderson spoke quietly from the corner. "Thank you, Marcus. For everything. You saved my life."
"I just wish I could do more."
"You've done enough. You take care of your family."
The evening was spent packing. Everything they'd need for a month underground - clothes, personal items, entertainment, comfort items. Emma packed her books and stuffed animals. Jack insisted on bringing his entire action figure collection.
At midnight, Marcus did one final surface check. The neighborhood was dark. Most houses looked abandoned. Some broken into, doors hanging open.
In thirty-two days, none of it would matter.
Marcus went to bed knowing it was his last night in his parents' house. The house full of memories. Tomorrow, it would just be another building waiting to be destroyed.
He didn't sleep well.
Day 18. Thirty days until impact exactly.
Marcus woke before dawn. Today was the day they sealed themselves underground.
Morning was chaos. Loading last supplies, final checks, making sure nothing was forgotten. David drove Mrs. Henderson to the church shelter, promising to return in four hours.
Jake and his crew arrived for the final time. "This is it. You've got a damn good bunker. Better than most government shelters. You should be safe."
"Thank you, Jake. You've saved our lives."
"Just doing my job. Though..." Jake paused. "Do you really think we're all going to die?"
Marcus chose truth over false hope. "Most people, yeah. The cold, the dark, the starvation. But some will survive. Scattered groups, prepared people, lucky survivors. Humanity will endure. We're too stubborn to go extinct."
Jake nodded. "Well, good luck. Hope I'm one of the lucky ones."
"You've got your cabin. Your supplies. You've got as good a chance as anyone."
David returned at 11:23 AM. "Mrs. Henderson is safe. The church people seem organized."
"Good. Then let's do this."
They spent the next hour loading final items. Last fresh foods. Personal effects. Everything to make underground living bearable.
At 1:47 PM, they were ready.
The family gathered at the entrance. Lisa was crying quietly. Emma held her hand. Jack looked excited. David stood with his arm around Lisa.
Marcus took one last look at the sky. Blue and clear. Beautiful. In thirty days, he might never see blue sky again.
"Alright," he said. "Let's go home."
They descended one by one. Emma first, then Jack, then Lisa, then David. Marcus went last, taking one final look before starting down.
At the bottom, he stood before the massive vault door. His hand rested on the wheel lock.
"Once I seal this, we're committed. No going back until after impact. Everyone understand?"
They nodded.
Marcus began turning the wheel. The massive bolts slid out. The door swung closed smoothly despite its weight.
As the door sealed, sunlight was cut off. They were lit only by LED strips Marcus had installed.
Marcus spun the wheel lock the opposite direction. The bolts slid home with satisfying clunks. The door was sealed. They were secure.
[Achievement Unlocked: Shelter Sealed]
[Primary objective achieved: Functional underground habitat]
[Survival Points: +100]
[Current Total: 181 SP]
[NEW MILESTONE: Pre-Impact Preparation Complete]
[Bonus: All future upgrades 25% more efficient]
[NEW: Advanced Blueprints Unlocked]
[NEW: System Evolution Available - Requires 200 SP]
Marcus felt the system surge in his mind. New information, new capabilities flooding his consciousness. But he pushed it aside.
Right now, he needed to help his family adjust.
"Welcome home," he said, trying to sound confident. "Let's start the tour."
He showed them everything. The sleeping alcoves with comfortable beds and privacy curtains. The common area with seating and table. The kitchen area with stove and food storage. The hydroponics bay where Emma would grow food. The workshop for maintenance and repairs. The bathroom facilities - functional and private. The storage rooms packed with supplies. The mechanical rooms with life support humming quietly.
"It's smaller than I imagined," Lisa said.
"About 2,000 square feet usable space," Marcus confirmed. "Not huge, but enough."
Emma had already arranged her stuffed animals in her alcove. Jack was exploring every corner, fascinated.
David examined the hydroponics. "This is impressive. If this produces even half what you're projecting, we'll have fresh vegetables regularly."
"That's the plan. We'll need to maintain it carefully."
Over the next hours, they settled in. Unpacking, organizing, getting comfortable with layout and systems. Marcus showed everyone how to use critical equipment - air controls, water filtration, power management, communications.
By evening, they'd established normalcy. Lisa prepared their first underground meal - spaghetti with canned sauce, garlic bread, canned vegetables. Simple, but it felt like celebration.
After dinner, Marcus gathered everyone. "We need to establish rules and routines. We're going to be in close quarters for a long time. We need structure or we'll drive each other crazy."
He'd prepared a document outlining daily schedules, responsibilities, guidelines. Wake times. Meal times. Work shifts. Exercise requirements. Educational time for kids. Personal time. Lights-out time.
"This seems strict," David observed.
"It is. But routine will keep us sane. Without external day-night cycles, without weather or seasons, we need artificial structure."
They discussed modifications for individual needs. By the end, they had a workable schedule.
At 10 PM, lights dimmed for sleep hours. The shelter fell quiet except for the gentle hum of life support.
Marcus lay in his alcove, staring at the ceiling. They'd done it. Against all odds, they'd built a functional survival shelter and sealed themselves safely inside.
With thirty days to spare before impact.
He pulled up the system interface, examining new options.
[ADVANCED BLUEPRINTS NOW AVAILABLE]
[Hydroponic System Mk.II - Cost: 150 SP]
[Atmospheric Processor Mk.II - Cost: 175 SP]
[Water Reclamation Mk.II - Cost: 150 SP]
[Medical Bay Upgrade - Cost: 125 SP]
[Defense Systems - Cost: 200 SP]
[Communication Array - Cost: 175 SP]
[SYSTEM EVOLUTION AVAILABLE]
[Cost: 200 SP]
[Warning: Evolution is permanent and irreversible]
[Evolution will enhance all system capabilities significantly]
[Recommendation: Accumulate additional points before evolution]
Marcus studied the options. He had 181 SP. He could afford several upgrades, but should he save for System Evolution? What did that even mean?
Questions for another day. Right now, he needed sleep.
Day eighteen complete. Thirty days until impact.
They were sealed, secure, and as ready as they'd ever be.
The long wait had begun.