18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 389

Boiling plain spaghetti, without a trace of grease, just a handful of dried veggies tossed in for good measure.

Eating pasta nine years into a series of natural disasters was a rare luxury, possible only because of the hefty naval subsidies. Stella wasn't one to let debts linger. She dug into her bag and pulled out six cold buns and a box of salted jerky and dried bacon. Even in tough times, it didn't hurt to butter up the instructor a bit.

Knowing the two had earned a fortune in credits, Mr. Cristian, though polite, didn't hesitate long before accepting the buns and jerky to heat up. Everyone settled down to eat.

Feeling a bit self-conscious, Stella said, "I had no idea we'd be living on a sub. I only brought a few packs of spaghetti. Let me handle breakfast tomorrow, and we can settle the food debt once we're back on land."

Mr. Cristian smiled. "No worries. You've spent a small fortune on that yacht, so the least the navy can do is cover your meals, even if it's not gourmet. Just don't look down on our humble fare." Technically, meals weren't included, but the pair got fast-tracked thanks to a nod from higher-ups, which is why Stella hadn't packed properly.

When the top brass makes a call, food becomes the least of your worries.

Three days of intense theoretical training followed, with Mr. Cristian making the dry technical details lively and engaging, answering every question Stella and Jasper threw his way with endless patience. Piloting, maintaining, and repairing a submarine aren't skills you can master in three days of theory. Stella and Jasper, prepared for the worst, grilled Mr. Cristian on scenarios they might face in a stormy sea. Their questions were sharp and detailed, sometimes even more complex than those posed by professional submariners.

Mr. Cristian, amused yet patient, worked through their queries.

Surviving a natural disaster is no joke. Besides basic needs, Stella and Jasper spent every spare moment - all four hours of sleep they allowed themselves - studying the submarine manuals. Knowledge could be the key to survival. Initially, Mr. Cristian had reservations about these two "connected" recruits, but their dedication and quick learning soon dispelled any doubts. They were picking up skills at an impressive rate, and he quickly saw their potential. "If only they were my soldiers," he thought.

Curious, he asked, "Why haven't you two enlisted? The base could use talent like yours."

Stella smiled, "We've considered it, but we have family to look after."

"That shouldn't be a problem; the base can ensure they're well taken care of," he reassured them.

of struggling, facing life and death, we want to be with our family

the realities of military life and family arrangements during crises. He respected their decision and committed to

a civilian,

training began. The submarine dove into the

piloting a submarine, but life is full of

they faced practical tests: diving, surfacing, holding position, turning, and avoiding collisions with sea creatures and underwater hazards. Stella, proactive with questions during theory, now faced them in practice, with Mr. Cristian challenging her

two proved to be a capable team, impressing

they returned to the deep-sea

Stella noticed the new batch of submarines,

creatures through the submarine's viewports, Stella furrowed her brow, "They

polar ice caps, causing mutations that made sea creatures not

these predators and advice on how to avoid them: "If you can't avoid them, go into hibernation mode. Don't provoke them unless it's life or death; their aggression will only worsen, and blood will

sturdy but vulnerable if its

relentless practice, Stella could navigate the submarine almost

back at the dock, feeling the warmth of the sun and the breeze, Stella and her companions saw more submarines - it was time to

member checked the system, "Stella, right? Your submarine's

and recording her fingerprint, she

group of three and their dog to Pier C, where they

sigh of relief. She was finally the proud

the depths, her gear was top-notch. All she needed

all this, she'd have to admit

testing the equipment and inspecting

completing the handover, Mr. Cristian reminded her, "Your submarine is privately owned. If you need to dock at the base, you'll have to register and pay a fee at the operations center." Stella nodded, "Thanks, but