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"I repeat, the asteroid's projected course will place it just off the coast of Hawaii. The shockwave is likely to hit all cities on the edge of the Pacific Ocean. Mass evacuations are starting to take place world-wide."

"Holy crud," the young, brown-haired woman said, standing in front of three other people. "We've got to do something."

"Like what Sash?" a younger man replied. The family resemblance was striking between the two of them.

"How should I know?"

"Be reasonable love," a tall, brown-haired man said, placing a hand on her shoulder. His face was lined with worry.

"Oh Ant," she replied, burying her face into his shirt. "I feel helpless just knowing that I can't do anything."

Folding Sash into his arms, Ant tried calming her.

"I'm more worried about what's going to happen to the planet when the rock hits," a short, black-haired woman put in. "If it cracks the crust and affects the magma flow, chances are that'll affect the continental plates too. Mass earthquakes."

"The only question I've got," Sash's brother said, "is if Nate knows yet."

The others turned and started at him.

"What do you mean Dane?" Sash asked.

"His parents are in Honolulu."

The short woman swore as Ant disengaged himself from Sash, took the few steps to the phone and dialled a number.

"Nate, Ant. Turn on the TV."

"Smooth Ant. Blunt's the best policy, aye?"

"Shut it Zoe," he snapped back as loud swearing erupted from the speaker. "Calm down Nate. Are you sure they're there?"

After a moment more swearing reached the ears of Sash, Zoe and Dane. After a few moments, Ant hung up and placed the phone onto the table.

"He'll be here in a minute," he said, sitting on the nearby couch, beckoning Sash to sit with him. "His parents were due to touch down three hours ago."

"s**t," replied Sash as she sat next to him. "Didn't take it well?"

Ant shook his head.

"... is estimated in the hundreds of millions." The reported calmly shuffled the papers on her desk. "For those who are just joining us, we've received word that an asteroid is on a collision course with Earth. It's estimated to hit just off the coast of Hawaii in less than an hour. All cities on the Pacific Ocean are being evacuated. It's currently unknown how much damage the wave from the impact is likely to cause, but leading experts are estimating in the hundreds of millions." Taking a piece of paper from someone just off screen, the reporter scanned it quickly. "We've just received word that the American government has authorised the launch of a nuclear warhead in an attempt to alter the course of the asteroid, or even destroy it."

"At least we won't have to worry about nuclear fallout," Zoe muttered, sitting heavily into an armchair. Dane sat next to her on the wide arm.

"Leading experts believe that there will be no fallout from the explosion and that the blast will destroy the asteroid."

"Call me a sceptic," Zoe said, "but I can't help but think that it'll only fragment the bloody thing."

"Sceptic," came a voice from behind them.

"Of course Nate," Zoe said, looking over her shoulder. "Expect anything else?"

"Only sarcasm." Running a hand through his dirty blond hair, he sat on the other side of Zoe from Dane. "According to the flight timetable, my parents were due to touch down a few hours ago. I can't reach them or the airline, so I have no news beyond that."

"That goes under the '********' category methinks," Zoe added.

Nate sighed and ran his hand through his hair again. "Pretty much."

"3...2...1...Launch. Payload is on route."

"Good job everyone. We'll see our work complete in T minus 15 minutes."

"Thats a ******** huge missile," Dane muttered at the same time Zoe whistled. "Wonder how big the payload is."

"Who cares? As long as the job's done." Sash closed her eyes and lent into Ant's embrace. "Hope it works."

"We've just receiving a live message from NASA headquarters."

A man with a white pressed shirt, black tie and pants and short-cropped hair appeared on the screen, a forest of microphones in front of him. "Ladies and Gentlemen of the countries on the planet Earth. Approximately two minutes ago a space faring missile was launched carrying a nuclear warhead. It is our belief that the missile will impact with the asteroid in less that fifteen minutes, destroying it instantly."

"Cross our collective fingers and hide in our bunkers?" Zoe quipped.

"Sounds a bit like that, huh?" Dane said, agreeing.