Washington D.C.

October 23rd, 2077

Sirens blared loudly as I rushed through the nearly deserted hallways of the White House. Someone, I don't know who, decided it was a good idea to launch our nuclear stockpile and now the entire damn world were doing the same. Cursing to myself as I butted shoulders with some intern, I continued pulling my objective towards safety.

"Mr. Vice President, we have to move faster!" I shouted as he bent over to help the intern, a young woman who I had seen on occasion.

"I will not leave this woman, sergeant, your orders be damned." He shouted back, his wrinkled face contouring into a sneer as he pulled the woman up and pushed her towards me. "I haven't heard from the President for hours and Air Force One isn't responding either; so your orders are now coming from me."

"Sir-You have pri…" I stopped as an explosion rocked the building. I rushed inside the Oval office, the escape hatch to the bunker already opened. The once grand room was now torn to shreds by those who had come to destroy any sensitive documents remaining.

Peering out one of the windows, my eyes widened to see dozens of civilians swarming the grounds. They looked to be armed with automatic weapons, a fact that was confirmed as they cut down the remaining Secret Service agents posted outside.

"Get down!" I shouted, throwing myself to the deck as rounds tore their way through the walls and windows. I heard a muttered gasp and thump followed by a shrill scream as the intern stood frozen before a burst stitched up her chest; spraying blood across the wall.

Crawling to the VP, I rolled him over and to find him gasping from a round to the gut; blood spreading across his body and the carpet. He glanced at me and then the woman; his eyes showing guilt as I began half pulling half carrying him down into the bunker.

I stumbled down the stairs and into a lobby of sorts; the automated computer sealing the Vault-Tek door behind us as it registered the VP's biosign. I managed to get him across the room and into the medbay; bypassing the cyropods that lined the walls.

"Mr. Vice President…hey, look at me sir." I ordered as I injected a stimpak into his wound; watching as the skin began to knit together. "Sir, I need to get you into your pod now. Come on…Mr. Handy, activate!"

The bot in the corner activated at the sound of my voice and buzzed over; its limbs gently shoving me aside as the robot's programming took over.

"The Vice President has suffered an abdominal wound. Treatment has been administered. Analyzing…Analyzing…" The Mr. Handy's voice mechanized voice caused the VP to stir and blinked rapidly. "Internal bleeding found in the lower abdomen; unable to treat without proper medical personnel; death inevitable, have a nice day."

"Sonofabitch!" I shouted as the robot left the VP's side and returned to its charging station. Slinging the VP's arm over my shoulder, I carried him towards the pods only to feel his hand pushing against me. "Sir, we can't stop now…"

"You heard the bot, I won't survive, even in stasis. I have a new order for you, sergeant." The VP gasped, his breathing becoming shallower by the second. "First, put me back on the gurney, I'd like to be comfortable."

Returning to the medbay, I gently laid the old man on his back, taking a syringe and holding it out to him. "Sir?"

Nodding his head, I depressed the med-ex into his vein and relaxed a little when I saw his pained features disappear. What took its place was a face of determination, gripping the sleeve of my fatigues, he pointed towards the cyrochamber.

"Your orders are as follows, take my place in the cyro pod." He said, coughing weakly as blood began to fill his lungs. "Protect those who remain and somehow survive; I…don't know who'll be left, but someone has to be…get ahold of the President if possible."

"Sir…I'm not supposed to use the pods; it's for higher up only." I muttered, noticing his grip weaken. Another explosion from above caused the lights to flutter weakly; causing my heart to pound fast again; adrenaline finding its way into my system. "It's a breach of protocol."

"Protocol be damned, son, you are the only one who can protect the people here…stop following stupid orders and do what's right." He coughed out, blood seeping from his mouth. "We're the reason for what's happening so stop listening to us and save yourself…"

Sighing softly, the man's hand fell to the side and his eyes glazed over. Instinct kicked in and I pressed my blood-stained fingers to his neck; desperately hoping for a pulse. I found none, and I staggered backwards and fell against the wall; staring down at my hands.

What now? I asked myself, glancing back into the cyro chamber. One pod was left open, as if it was begging to be filled.

"Shit."

Making my way towards the pod, I peered into several of the pods and recognized several of the faces frozen. General Mattis, Joint Chief Brown, and several other key aspects of the cabinet who hadn't been with the President when the world went to Hell.

Just a single sergeant surrounded by some of the most powerful people of the United States…They were just going to love the explanation I gave them when they woke up.

Sighing, I pulled open the locker placed beside the empty pod and unholstered my sidearm and placed it inside followed by my belt and fatigues. My dog tags slapped against my bare chest as I stood up and looked inside again.

Reaching inside, I pulled from it a holotape, brand new. Sitting on the pods step, I turned it over in my hand and shrugged my shoulders before pressing record.

"My name is Sergeant Andrew Becher, United States Marine Corps. The year is 2077, October 23rd. I have failed in my attempt to get the Vice President to safety and have now been ordered to stasis in his place. I do so in the hopes that when we awake I will be able to safeguard those who remain with me in the bunker."

Rubbing my brow, I glanced up at the ceiling, dust drifting down as more explosions rocked the facility. Shaking my head, I continued.

"When we awaken, I have been tasked with recovering communication with surviving members of the government and to try and survive this…apocalypse. Whoever finds this, know that we tried to no avail to make the world a better place; learn from our actions. Sergeant Andrew Becher, signing off."

Idea popped into my head so I ran with it. Tell me what yall think and I'll continue.