The nukes fell, but it wasn't so bad. Most places were irradiated, but there weren't enough people left alive to occupy the safe zones anyway. When someone's Shredbot army came looking, they had to do a lot more searching than slicing.

Someone else's mutant insect swarms soon flew in. They blackened the skies as they ate everything in their path, including the circuitry in the Shredders.

They had eaten most of the remaining humans when the Dry Plague arrived. It mummified all living tissue, starting with the smallest creatures. The insect's shriveled cocoons are now our main food source. They taste like chicken. Or what passes for chicken these days.

It took longer for the humans to dry out. More water in them, I guess. The wind carrying the genetically engineered Bloat-virus blew in before the Great Drying was complete. The virus seemed to be more attracted to the plague bacteria than to humans. It could have been because the bacteria were so numerous when compared to the few remaining humans.

In any case, the virus had just started attacking humanity when the Earth was hit. Who knows who altered the meteor's course? I only know it took a long time to arrive. But it was worth it. The impact threw up so much dirt that you couldn't see your hand in front of your face. I could feel the temperature dropping. That shut down the virus. Or maybe it was the lack of sunshine.

I remember reading once that the Sun's temperature could be altered if you shot the right stuff into it. That must be why the Sun just reappeared. It's hard to see through the dense haze, but it looks larger than before. I can feel the Earth warming already.

Things are starting to look up.

End.

Bob will receive the following 1st Place prize: