18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

In Hanford County, where the ground was stable and far from earthquake zones but closer to the ocean, it was only a matter of time before nature caught up with them. Stella, Jasper, and their faithful dog, Cooper, understood the inevitable. Even though they didn't know the final destination of the migrating group, they figured the group would likely pass by and rest nearby. Stella preferred to avoid any unnecessary trouble and Jasper was quick to agree.

The trio and their canine companion returned to their campsite, erasing all signs of their stay before making a quick escape in their helicopter. As the chopper lifted off, the landscape below blurred into obscurity.

"Where to now?" Cooper seemed to ask with a puzzled gaze up at Stella while pawing at her.

"To higher ground," Stella replied, petting the dog's head.

They headed southwest, steering clear of the highest altitudes of the infamous Roof of the World, known for its earthquakes and likely now a collapsed mess. Their Plan B was to try their luck in the Green Province, but it was a long journey, and they'd need to refuel along the way.

Stella couldn't shake the feeling, maybe just her keen senses, that the earth beneath felt much softer than back in Hanford. The helicopter's landing gear left deep impressions in the mud.

Surveying the area, they saw widespread destruction, and Stella's gut told her they couldn't stay long. "Let's refuel and get out of here," she insisted.

Sure enough, as they took off, a thunderous collapse occurred just hundreds of meters from the helicopter.

The western part of Green Province, a high plateau, should have been relatively safe. Stella thought so and she wasn't alone in that assumption.

From thousands of meters up, as they reached the plateau, they were greeted with a land cracked and fissured, revealing huge chasms. Using her binoculars, Stella scanned for an ideal landing spot but was surprised to spot other aircraft and a myriad of tents with symbols of private ownership, military insignia, and various colors.

Not wanting to risk exposure, Stella decided to find a more secluded spot. After circling the vast plateau for over an hour, she found an uninhabited area perfect for them.

They landed successfully and settled in. The plateau was plagued with sandstorms, making tents useless. Even if they managed to set one up, the howling winds made rest impossible.

Stella deployed their RV, deciding she was done running. They were going to enjoy life before the land was submerged for good. Cooper leaped onto the RV's roof, surveying his new domain with a howl.

Rosie chuckled, "He's just imitating those cartoons."

With plenty of time on their hands, Stella, Jasper, and Rosie took turns cooking, challenging themselves with complex recipes instead of the gourmet food they didn't bring from Arcadia. Aside from eating and sleeping, they kept fit with exercise. Rosie and Cooper took on the task of patrolling the area.

Despite the desolation, they never let their guard down, always armored and armed. Worried about their safety, Stella even provided them with an electric bike for their rounds and kept a vigilant eye on them through her binoculars from atop the RV.

Jasper crouched down, tinkering with a drone. Stella was curious, "Can it fly without GPS?"

"It's set to attitude mode," Jasper explained. "It's less stable and can crash if you're not skilled."

The plateau offered clear visibility and should have been safe. Jasper had only stockpiled a couple of drones, not anticipating the satellite crashes, and rarely used them due to their noise attracting attention. His skills were decent, but as the drone buzzed into the air, it was met with a sudden sandstorm and crashed.

Stella stared incredulously, remarking on Jasper's "talent" with a hint of sarcasm.

Jasper wasn't really to blame; the storm had surged unexpectedly. The last remaining drone was now off-limits by Stella's decree. In this post-apocalyptic world, high-tech had failed them; it was back to basics.

After securing the area within a one-kilometer radius and finding it stable and deserted, they settled into the RV, which was surprisingly soundproof, shutting out the noise of the wind. Their luxury vehicle, equipped with night-vision cameras, provided a safe haven as they comfortably watched TV, only occasionally checking the monitors.

Over time, the trio and Cooper adjusted to their new routine. Stella spent some time reorganizing Arcadia, moving the truck from the medicinal fields and replanting the damaged crops. Once the others were asleep, she and Jasper ventured into Arcadia to open the mysterious "blind boxes" - the cargo containers.

They were astounded to find one container full of priceless artifacts - a treasure trove of antique chariots, terracotta soldiers, bronze swords, and other invaluable relics. But the discovery that truly took Stella's breath away was the medical equipment across five containers - brand new ultrasonography machines, ECGs, endoscopes, X-ray, CT, and MRI machines - all with detailed manuals.

Realizing the importance of these items to post-disaster civilization, Stella vowed to return them should society rebuild. They continued their exploration, finding advanced manufacturing equipment. Stella didn't understand it all, but knew it was top-tier technology, which they carefully stored away.

She set up an ultrasound machine, determined to learn its functions. It was a new beginning - a mix of old-world knowledge and new-world challenges. Studying medicine is no joke, but pharmacology and lab work are like apples and oranges. After a while, those instruction manuals can put you to sleep faster than a warm glass of milk before bed.

It seemed like the guy had a knack for mechanics, and with Jasper having been Stella's protégé for a few years now, he took to it like a duck to water. Surprisingly, he managed to get the hang of it without breaking a sweat.

Together, they hit the books, aiming to level up their knowledge on ultrasound technology. And then came the hands-on practice. Stella, with a mischievous glint in her eye, said to Jasper, "Strip down to your skivvies, will ya?"