» Fri Jul 02, 2010 11:16 pm Thursday October 22nd, 2077 7:05am (Pomp Estates)
The alarm was blaring once more. Didn't I just turn that off? Troy thought as his hand smacked the snooze button once again. Being on Roosevelt Academy's Track and Field team never allowed any time to yourself. You were either running, going to class, or doing class work. A social life and sleeping were two commodities that were not part of the equation. Once again the alarm went off.
"Fine, I give," Troy told the alarm as it finally stopped yelling at him.
Troy stood up and stretched, feeling the muscles and tendons in his arms complain, while his legs felt like lead after the 5 miles he ran last night during practice. Fresh sunlight was pouring in from the window, hitting a stomach high bookcase, which was packed with books of every kind. The trophies he'd won from high school, the small collection of Vault-Tech Bobble-heads that his father had given him and a framed picture of a young brunette standing next to a tall oak tree adorned the top of the case.
Grabbing his clothes, Troy entered the adjoining bathroom and turned on the shower. Troy could feel the steaming water relaxing his leg muscles. Feeling refreshed after the 10 minute shower, he tossed on a red t-shirt and some khaki pants and walked down the spiral staircase to the kitchen.
"Hey, Mrs. Handov. Did you sleep well last night?" Troy asked the older women sitting across the table, sipping some coffee and squinting at the morning's newspaper.
"I did enjoy a great sleep. I was enjoying it so much, I failed to hear you come in late last night." She said without looking up.
"I'm glad to hear that I didn't wake you," Troy said. Not that he could, even if he tried. Mrs. Handov was a drinker and had the funds to continue drinking till the end of time.
"Care for some breakfast, sir?" The Mr. Handy unit asked. Its sensor modules turned to face him, the soft puffing of its jets the only noise, other than the crinkling of paper every so often.
"Please, Martin. That will be nice," Troy said.
Breakfast was eaten in relative silence. Troy finished and climbed the stairs to finish getting ready and pack the few things he would need for the weekend visit to his parents' house. After double checking everything, we walked out the front door. The sun was beaming at the glorious day. Birds could be heard off in the distance and neighbors were cutting their bright green hedges or mowing their green lawns. A couple of kids, too young to go to school, were outside learning how to operate their tricycles.
Troy propped open the passenger side door of his cherry red Corvega and stowed his suitcase away. Closing that door and opening the driver's door, Troy took a deep breath of fresh air and smiled. Today is going to be a great day, he thought as he turned on the radio to Galaxy News Radio. The drive would be short, but the sound of the radio always made Troy feel at home.
"Good morning Washington D.C.! I hope everyone is feeling good here in the nation's capital. You're listening to Galaxy News Radio; your station for news, sports, weather, talk and those good time oldies. Right now we're talking about the dreaded FEV virus. Is it real or is it some type of psychological warfare?"
Troy gaffed at the question. Man could build robots, man could put people into orbit and other celestial bodies, man could create the greatest weapon to kill other men, but it would be impossible for man to force something to evolve. Besides, America has had enough war to last it 200 years and then some. Everyone from average Joe to retired rocket scientists was calling in, all giving their opinions. Troy only half listened as he pulled into his parking spot near the Roosevelt Arts and Athletics Building.
Troy killed the motor and listened to the remaining callers, most of which sounded like those super religious types, who believed that tomorrow would be the end of the world, regardless of how many times they had been wrong the day before. Finally, sick of listening to the radio, Troy opened the door and stood, realizing that he had left his keys on his seat. Turning, he bent down to pick them up as a pair of arms reached around his waist.
"What the?" had Troy spun a second faster, his balled fist would have dented his assailant's skull, "Oh, you scared the daylights out of me!"
Thankfully his 'assailant' was a 5' 5" brunette whose smile could melt butter and cull an angry storm. She had curves, but was not the kind to flaunt them. She was dressed in silky, violet blouse and khaki pants. In Troy's eyes, Shelby Watson was the accumulation of heavenly and earthly beauty, regardless of what others might think.
"Jumpy today are we?" Shelby laughed, " I was just wanting to know what you were planning for next Thursday?"
"Next Thursday? Hm?Nothing really, just schoolwork." Troy smiled.
"Troy, you know what I mean?What are you planning for my birthday?"
"I guess you'll find out on?" Troy was interrupted by a high pitched whine.
"Oh no, hurry!" Shelby grabbed Troy's hand and turned around trying to pull Troy to one of several fallout shelters around the school.
"Baby, please?It's just another stupid drill. There have been two this week. What makes you think that this one is real? Besides that thing they call a fallout shelter wouldn't save a cockroach. I thought you and your parents had a spot in a vault anyways."
"We did, but still it's for our own good. Didn't your parents get into Vault 101?"
"Not yet. They're still on the waiting list. Apparently, a chiropractor and a certified nurse aren't really considered important enough for the human race after Armageddon to be given a spot. They've moved from the city to Springervale, where others are waiting as well. Come on, we're going to be late."
Thursday October 22nd, 2077 5:49pm (Southbound US Route 270)
"Mom, I should be there soon? Mom, I understand?I got it?Mom, mom?Relax. I'll be there soon?Okay, love you too." Troy ended the call and tossed his phone into the passenger seat.
He looked to the west as the sun was setting. Mixing with the Earth's atmosphere and creating a magnificent display of orange, red, and purple hues. His mind kept going back to the radio's conversation this morning. With the collapse of the UN and the Resource Wars in the '50s, China taking control of Alaska in '66, and all those Canadian Resistance Fighters up till about the middle of last year, people have been scared too long. Not to mention that everyone is freaking out about some nuclear holocaust at the same time. Now, the US has apparently created some super virus and plans to use it?how?
Troy was beat when he finally arrived at his parent's house around 9pm. Thinking about the future, one full of more chaos than what the last century held, takes its toll, even more so when taking long trips alone.
"My baby!"
"Mom," Troy embraced his mother and took a large whiff of her perfume, "Where's dad?"
"Sleeping, he had a long day."
"Same here. Let me get some shut eye and we can visit more in the morning. Sound good?"
"Sure, you're not hungry are you?"
"No, mom."
"Okay, I fixed up the guest room for you."
"Thanks mom, night."
"Night baby."
Troy tossed his suitcase in the corner of the room, which was bare except for a bed and an elaborate wooden dresser. His head hit the pillow and he was out like a light. He dreamt of Shelby and the future. Not the kind filled with chaos and druggies, but one with the smell of freshly cut grass and the sound of a baby drinking from a bottle, his and Shelby's baby.
Friday, October 23rd, 2077 7:24am (Springervale)
The smell of coffee was what finally pulled Troy out of his dream. He opened his eyes and rolled over. He wiped the sleep from his eyes as he walked into the small kitchen where his mother was busy messing with breakfast.
"Hi mom"
"Glad to see you up so early, you can help me with breakfast." She said as she opened the fridge and started rummaging around mumbling something to herself.
"Is something wrong mom?" Troy asked, tilting his head.
"I forgot to bring the bacon up from the other fridge yesterday. Can you get sweetie?"
"Sure," Troy said, still half asleep. Troy opened the front door and squinted at the bright sun. Doing so reminded him of his dream and smiled. He reached the double doors to the fallout shelter and descended the stairs?
Friday October 23rd, 2077 7:25am (White House; Situation Room, Underground)
The president, vice president, other various cabinet members and their families were already in the secure bunker beneath the White House. The president and several military advisors watched a screen that displayed a 2-D image of the entire globe.
"Sound the alarm and then I want those [Censored] to taste the full might of our nuclear arsenal. Tell USS Red Clancy to fire at the Chinese and North Korean targets at will. I don't want any warheads going to waste," The speaker and the other men in the room turned to their wives and kids and smiled. Their worst fears were finally coming true and all they could do now was sit and wait for world to come to an end.
Friday October 23rd, 2077 7:26am (Springervale)
Troy looked into the shelter and was amazed at the progress. His dad had thought of everything. Radiation suits, Geiger counters, food, water, batteries, a radio, and what looked like enough Radaway, Rad-X, and stimpacks to supply an army. There was a pistol and ammo.
"Way to go dad," Troy said looking at every nook and cranny of the gun, "Bacon?in the fridge."
Troy's fingers brushed the door handle when the world erupted with an explosion equivalent to a million volcanoes erupting at once. The Earth shook with enough force to topple buildings made for such events. The last thing Troy thought before blacking out was: what?
*Hope you enjoyed it. Comments/Concerns are welcome. Working on Chapter 2, so if you want more, please say so!
