October 23rd 2077
09:20am
New York City, Corner of Park Avenue and 81st Street.
Marty Phelps
The streets were surprisingly empty but Marty could see a group racing towards central park. He hoped the crowds wouldn't be too big at the vault and they would be able to get in safely, It would help that the entrance was unmarked. He just had to make it there before the Air Raid sirens stopped for that marked the closing of the door.
They were making good time but Marty didn't know if he could keep up with Sam. She was far younger than him and leading the way. This would be the world of the future one where men like him, Dean Domino and Will O'Neill were not considered to be the top of the heap. The new world would send humanity back to the dark ages where physical fitness and survivability were paramount not the car you drove or the suit you wore.
They passed Park Avenue when Sam suddenly stopped, there was man's body in the middle of the side walk. While that was shocking the little girl crying into the chest of the dead man was more disturbing.
"Come on Sam, we have to go."
Sam turned and was about to say something when Marty heard the crack of a hunting rifle. He quickly threw himself behind a car as did Sam. She reached out and pulled the sobbing child into cover as well.
"Is someone shooting?" Sam called over the wails of the child.
"Yeah, probably some fucking psycho."
"There's no time for this!"
"He's not a good aim and he's using that car for cover. Stay in the wheel arches." Marty called out.
He looked at Sam holding the struggling child while bullets pinged and whizzed overhead. A wave of depression swept over him, all his life he had watched or made TV now he was in a real situation where people where depending on him to make a decision. The stress was getting to be too much.
Then he saw the empty Nuka Cola Bottle.
October 23rd 2077
09:25am
Clam Gulch outside Anchorage.
Captain Jacob Chance
The resistance men were leading Jacob into the woods away from the US Army Command and Control Centre. They were obviously hiding out in the woods and hadn't gotten word of the nuclear attack. Jacob decided it was pointless to tell them as they would be unlikely to believe him.
He also decided he wasn't going to face the apocalypse a prisoner, he already had a something of a plan but just needed the right terrain. Once they reached the crest of a small hill he knew he had found it. The four men where walking in a box formation around him but only the back two had their weapons pointed at him. He hoped this would be enough for him to gain the upper hand.
As the small group made their way down the hill Jacob started to closely watch the steps of the guard to his left. When the man's footing was just right Jacob feigned a bout of nausea and staggered to his left. The guard stopped and levelled his weapon but because they where going down hill and Jacob had timed it well the Man was now in striking distance. Jacob grabbed the barrel of the Assault rifle with his left hand and struck the man in the nose with his right. The man discharged his weapon which burned Jacob's hand but he ignored the pain. He hit the man again in the face and he released the weapon. Jacob pulled the gun from the mans hands and then shit him in the chest. He then spun to fire at the man in the right rear of the formation but was a little too slow. He felt a lance of fire go through his left arm as a bullet tore into his flesh.
"Definitely broken." Jacob thought as he depressed the trigger and opened up with full auto into the man. Red splats rattled up the man's chest ending at his chin as the Assault rifle clicked empty.
The two men in front had by this time got a bead on Jacob and started firing. Jacob dropped the assault rifle and flung himself onto the corpse of the man he had just killed. He was fast but not faster than a 5.56mm bullet. Jacob felt more lances of fire hit his back and legs but the adrenaline was pumping now and his right arm was unwounded which was all he needed. He stuck his hand into the holster of the dead man and quickly rolled over.
He levelled the 10mm pistol and shot the closest man in the neck, there was a gush of blood as the man's neck snapped back. The final man had his rifle up and ready. Jacob knew he was dead anyway as he took aim.
Both men hesitated for a brief second and locked eyes. Then they emptied their clips into each other.