"Daddy, what is going on?"
A boy asked his dad after another explosion woke them from their reverie.
"Well son, we will be going to the mountains with your mom."
The father had no way of explaining what was about to happen to his son. He understood clearly what was about to happen even though their leader didn't explicitly say so, and he wasn't the only one.
Continental plates shifting, natural disaster, moving to higher grounds? Only a few things would require people to move to higher grounds.
Earthquakes weren't one of them and floods wouldn't require mass migration so that only left…
'A tsunami…'
The father had a gloomy look but tried to remain calm and smiling.
"For a picnic?"
The boy asked innocently and the father could on nod.
"Yay.!"
The kid smiled in happiness as they moved quickly to their assembly point.
Despite the news the people received, the quick action of the leaders in dispatching law enforcement officers made sure to quell any panic before it even began and the abundance of transport for the people made them feel a bit assured.
Time slowly ticked as more and more people moved to the mountains as the loud booms continued. Those with flying cars could make the journey with ease, lessening the burden on the leaders and resources.
Alex had already leveled over half a dozen mountains creating a large basin to redirect the tsunami current towards the area and dissipate the energy.
Half an hour later and with heavy breaths, Alex managed to create the basin. He had burned a lot of physical energy, but couldn't rest yet.
"This basin should be good, but will it be enough?"
He muttered after catching his breath. He could see the moving air-trains and vehicles and nodded in appreciation. He checked the time and noticed it was almost 3 p.m. Time was ticking and many people hadn't moved yet.
"There has to be more to do."
Alex had just more than levelled a mountain range like it was nothing. A feat that once upon a time would have been called impossible.
He took a deep breath to calm his rising nerves. He had managed to remain calm for the most part, panicking now wasn't going to do him any good.
"If I were a tsunami, what could potentially divert my path? I've already created a basin that should direct some of the energy."
He pondered with a hand on his chin, looking at it from various angles. Then, a sudden light of an idea flickered in his eyes.
"A debris field!
"If I can make a debris field that could work in conjunction with the basin by directing some of the energy this way, it should be strong enough to spare the mountains as much as possible. But that would mean destroying city infrastructure."
However, his expression changed abruptly as his left hand moved to his chin while he considered the possibility.
But the choice was easy; the people or the infrastructure. It wasn't even a brainer, 'Will infrastructure count as saving the city and not just the people?'
He wasn't entirely sure, but given his options, there was not much he could do.
"There's only one way to find out."
He muttered before storming towards the city.
......…
Monica jumped in fright when Alex appeared before her and the other leaders. His appearance caught the attention of the surrounding people as well as they began to murmur amongst themselves, wondering who he was.
His armour and weapon he carried were very attention-grabbing after all.
"Sorry for the scare."
Alex apologized with a wry smile and watched as Monica placed her hand on her chest to calm her racing heart.
"Don't do that!"
She chided, completely ignoring the apology he gave a second ago. Alex could only nod in acceptance.
"How is the evacuation coming along? I saw quite a lot of people still in the city when I made my way here."
"Oh…"
Monica regained her composure, assumed her professional demeanour and then replied, "We've evacuated over 70% of the people, the rest should be here within half an hour."
She stared at her holographic display and read the data for Alex before looking at him. She noticed how he had a frown on his face, lost in thought.
'It's cutting it close, but what is the alternative?'
'Is it not fast enough?' Monica wondered staring at Alex.
Before she could voice her thoughts out loud, Alex's gaze focused on her as he asked another question that caused her to hesitate, not sure how to reply.
"Is it okay if I bring down the city's infrastructure?"
The other leaders paused as well, not sure how to reply to that. However, as they thought about the issue more and more, they understood that the tsunami would destroy the city even if they left it untouched.
'But what if it doesn't happen today or at all?'
One of the leaders had such a doubt and while they allowed Alex to go ahead, it was only because they had data of something like that happening, just not sure when.
Alex stared at the leaders and understood their hesitation, "I can assure you; it will happen…"
He muttered and then looked at his clock, "… in the next half an hour, give or take."
The last part was the final nail they needed to make a decision.
"Half an hour? Why didn't you say so sooner and how do you even know that?!"
"I have my ways."
That was the only response he could give as he waited for the leaders to give their word. Of course, even if they refused, he was going to do it anyway.
He was only asking out of courtesy and respect for the leaders even if they were illusions.
Sometime later, Monica turned to him and nodded.
"Mm.."
With the go-ahead given, it was time to get back to work.
However, before he could turn around completely and head back to the city, his eyes caught something that made his heart skip a beat and he froze.
Amongst the people who had already arrived were his family, or at least, their illusions. His eyes shook staring at them as they looked back at him.
But he noticed something after staring at them for some time, 'They don't recognize me…'
"Is everything alright?"
Monica asked once she noticed Alex standing still without moving.
"Y-yeah… I'm fine."
He replied before disappearing in a burst of speed that caused a collective gasp from the onlookers.