The year is 2216, humanity is gone and so is Earth. The last remaining bear on the planet is walking on Mars and is desperate to find a Starbucks to get a venti half sweet chai tea latte

The sun had just started to set, casting a kaleidoscope of colors across the Martian landscape. The ground beneath Ethan’s feet had finally cooled down, allowing the bear to find some semblance of peace. He stretched his arms wide, letting out a low growl as he arched his back. The cool evening breeze swept across his thick fur, and he closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath of the crisp air. The world had changed so much. Yet, some things remained the same. Like Ethan’s love for Starbucks.<br><br>“You know, I really liked that one on Fifth and Main,” he said. “The Starbucks was located in a Barnes and Noble. I wonder if that ever caught on?”<br><br>Ethan opened his eyes, looking around at the endless dunes of red sand. He scratched his ear. A few strands of fur came loose, and he watched as they danced away in the wind. The bear sighed. He had been walking for hours, and so far, he hadn’t found anything. <br><br>“Fuck it,” he said. “Maybe I can find something in New Atbara.”<br><br>As he trudged through the sand, Ethan thought about his life on Earth. Back in those days, he was just a normal bear. Living in some forest, trying to survive, looking for food, and avoiding humans whenever possible. But everything changed with the advent of climate engineering. Scientists had found a way to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, reverse the damage that had been done, and create sustainable cities that could thrive in harmony with nature. Ethan’s forest had been transformed into a sanctuary. The humans had left him and his family alone, and he was finally able to live his life without the burden of man. <br><br>Sanctuaries had popped up all over Earth. Humans had moved to floating cities above the clouds, and the planet had begun to flourish. Then came the war. Not the kind of war that humans had waged before. Not the kind that killed millions and left deep scars across the Earth. But a war that killed billions, leaving nothing but ruins. The once blue skies were now a deep crimson. The oceans had dried up, and the very ground had cracked beneath the bombardment of laser blasts. <br><br>Ethan had lost count of how many days he had survived in the ruins. He had lived for months, maybe even years. Living off the remaining plant life, hunting whatever animal had managed to survive. But as time went on, he realized that he was the last one left. The planet was dead, and he was the only living thing left on it. So he had left.<br><br>He migrated to Mars, where a few small colonies had threed. He had lived among the humans, enjoyed the luxuries of their civilization, and learned everything there was to know about them. He learned to speak. To read. To write. Ethan had spent his days reading the works of great poets, learning about the world, its history, and what it meant to be human. He had grown fond of the creatures. Fond of their tenacity. Their ability to thrive in even the most inhospitable environments. Fond of Chai Tea Lattes.<br><br>“Fond of Starbucks,” he said, correcting himself.<br><br>The sun had dipped below the horizon, casting the world in a deep, dark shadow. Ethan reached into his pocket and pulled out a small flashlight. The bright beam of light cut through the darkness, illuminating the endless dunes. He clicked it off, letting the darkness consume him.<br><br>“I should stop for the night,” he said.<br><br>Ethan collapsed onto the sand, his stomach growling. He hadn’t eaten in days, and he knew he couldn’t survive for much longer without food or water. But he didn’t care. He was tired. Tired of living. Tired of being alone. Tired of not being able to go to Starbucks.<br><br>“Why did it have to end like this?” he asked.<br><br>The wind howled, and Ethan closed his eyes. The world was dead. There was nothing left. No Starbucks. No Barnes and Noble. No more humans. He let out a low growl, and his eyes began to sting.<br><br>“Why?” he asked, his voice shaking. “Why do I have to live through this? Why can’t I just die?”<br><br>He squeezed his eyes shut, and a single tear rolled down his cheek. The sound of his breathing was the only thing he could hear, and he knew he was truly alone. The world was dead. The humans were gone. The last Starbucks on Earth had been destroyed. Ethan curled up into a ball and cried.<br><br>Hours passed, or maybe even days. Ethan didn’t know. He didn’t care. He lay in the sand, staring blankly into space. The sun had risen and set. The wind had howled and died down. The stars had twinkled to life, and he had stared at them, lost in thought. <br><br>“Maybe they’re out there,” he said. “Maybe there’s still a Starbucks floating in the void.”<br><br>Ethan sat up, rubbing his eyes. The stars blurred together, and he felt a wave of nausea wash over him. He dry heaved, but there was nothing in his stomach. <br><br>“I need to find food,” he said.<br><br>The bear stood up, brushing the sand off his fur. He looked around, taking in his surroundings. The endless dunes of red sand stretched across the horizon. He knew that New Atbara was to his left, the sprawling metropolis of humans a short walk away. <br><br>“I wonder if there’s a Starbucks?” he asked.<br><br>Ethan smiled. For the first time in years, he felt a spark of hope. Maybe, just maybe, there was still a Starbucks out there. A place where he could sit, enjoy a nice cup of coffee, and read a good book. He took a deep breath, the crisp Martian air filling his lungs. <br><br>“Let’s go find out,” he said.<br><br>With newfound determination, Ethan began to walk. The dunes stretched out before him, and he knew that he would find what he was looking for. He would find Starbucks. And when he did, he would order a venti, half-sweet chai tea latte, and enjoy every last drop of it.