Chapter 10: A New Day
A/N: This is my tenth chapter! This is a milestone for me. Although the audience is small, I feel as if a story like this needs to be done for the HZD fanfic universe. Thank you to all who have read this far! Please. Relax your mind and immerse yourself in another world.
3/26/65: Dawn
Have you felt it, too?
My grief.
The secret recipe for a Scarab. Do you know it?
How was I to know that my best friend was a key ingredient?
Which Scarab took her dark blue eyes? Which her red lips?
Which one has her blood? And her flesh?
Tell me, please.
I would like to see her again.
—The past—
10:34, early February 2065, I was in my apartment, watching a news report on my TV. It was raining outside.
Breaking News: Chaos After NATO Forces Retreat from the Rhineland, Thousands of Forces Deployed to Region
"…tens of thousands are dead in the Rhineland after the failure of a series of large-scale military counter-offensives that began last week, leaving the Belgian border open to the swarm's approach. Thousands of Belgian, French, and German citizens have begun to flee across the English Channel to the island of Britain in an exodus that overshadows the climate change refuge crisis of 2033. A major difference between the climate refuge crisis and the ongoing evacuations is that extensive preparations have been made beforehand by the British Government for the latter in the form of extensive accommodations for displaced persons, particularly in northern England, Wales, Scotland, and even Iceland. At the present moment, bomber formations are shown to be flying southeastward above Alsace and Luxembourg in a multinational campaign to counter the advances of the swarm, which have been sufficiently slowed by large-scale scorched earth strategies carried out to the east of the Elbe River in Germany and south of the Danube. The Russian Automated Forces have miraculously managed to defend their western and southern borders against the invading swarm with China acting as a mighty obstacle to the southeast. The Russian Far East on the other hand has managed to completely avoid the brunt of the invasion so far and this has freed up the entirety of the Eastern Military District in that region, the armies of which the President of Russia has devoted to assisting the defense of southern China, United Korea, and Japan. Per presidential directives last month, the 1st and 2nd Cybernetic Infantry Brigades of the 10th Mountain Division, the 2nd and 6th Quasi-Automated Marine Regiments of the 2nd QA-Marine Division, the 2nd and 3rd Mechanized Response Brigades of the 82nd Mechanized Division, the 2nd Cybernetic Infantry Brigade of the 102nd Airborne Division, and the 4th, 5th, and 7th Civilian Guard Divisions have been deployed to France, Belgium, and Britain as part of Operation Steadfast. It was because of the grand ambition of the preceding Operation Total Recall that the U.S. government had been able to reinstate and reorganize these previously disbanded U.S. military divisions within just two months to begin Operation Steadfast. The goal of this joint military operation according to the Chief of Staff of the Army, General Townsend, is to assist NATO forces and to defend the ongoing mass-evacuations in the region. Military and Civilian Guard Divisions are being rotated worldwide to participate in a so-called baptism by fire to harden our armies, especially the civilian recruits, to war as much as possible in preparation for homeland defense. To add to this movement of forces, the U.S. Fifth Fleet has been pulled from the Mediterranean to support joint naval forces in the North Sea, which are aiding the ongoing evacuations. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Aaron Herres, explained earlier today that the overarching goal of Operation Steadfast, beside that of defending Western Europe, is to safeguard American soil from a projected invasion by the Iceland-Greenland-Canada route and provide the much-needed time for the fruition of Zero Dawn…"
I had switched to another channel.
"…this morning, around 7 p.m. EST, hundreds of members of the religious cult Nanite Ascension have participated in a mass suicide by way of nanopharmaceutical induced euthanasia in the French city of Strasbourg. The National Gendarmerie has met fierce resistance by Nanite Ascension terrorists who are resisting military attempts to remove the bodies per a limited scorched earth policy, which had been enacted by the French government in preparation for the impending invasion. According to their reclusive leader, 'ascension' can be achieved by offering oneself to the swarm and having one's earthly body dissolved by…"
I had turned off the TV. I hadn't gone to work or school that day so that I could watch the news. The events in Europe had been the focus of all my attention as it was for almost everyone. Nicole and I hadn't called in about a week. I remembered that I had called her many times, but to no avail. I hadn't known why my calls hadn't been going through.
After the fifth day of not hearing her voice, I had made plans to book a flight directly to Belgium. To my frustration, flights from the U.S. to Europe and all of Eurasia for that matter had been suspended indefinitely. My Focus had informed me of that.
As a last resort, I had called my parents to tell them about it. They were aware of my deep affection for Nicole. It had been known for many years. It was for that reason that my parents had done their best to console me at that time. I had cried for a while in my room after my talk with them. They had insisted that I visit them, but I had said that I would be fine.
I remembered hoping that maybe Nicole had been evacuating to Britain. I had thought that maybe she couldn't answer her phone because she was in the middle of doing so.
I remembered our last conversation before that cut in communication. It was saved on my Focus.
–—–
"He looked kind of scared before he left," she had said to me.
I had just got off from my shift at the library.
Her dad had been sent to Ramstein Air Base in Germany a few days before. His previous experience as an officer in the U.S. Air Force had made him a useful asset in the European theater. In fact, both of our fathers had graduated from the Air Force Academy in Colorado some time before we were born.
"Did he tell you anything? Like when he's coming back?" I had asked. I felt sad for her. She had been close to her dad.
"No. But, I saw my mom sobbing in her room. My grandma was holding her," she had said with a somber voice. "Today, she took Anna and I to an ice cream parlor in Mons. I know that she's trying to be positive for my sister."
Her little sister, Anna, was only six years old.
"So, um…Are you guys coming back soon? My parents think that you guys should. It's not looking good over there right now."
I had kept myself from pleading. She had pleaded with her parents many times before already, but to no avail. His job there had been too promising to leave it behind. And even if he had wanted to leave, he couldn't. He had been needed there at the time because of his previous experience.
"My dad said that whenever he gets back, he'll reserve us a spot on a Space-A flight back to the U.S. We're just waiting for him now," she had replied.
Space-A travel had been a privilege offered to service members before the disbandment of human combat forces in the U.S. in 2055. It allowed for uniformed personnel and their family members to travel on military aircraft, particularly large transports, if space was available, hence Space-A for space available. After 2055, military aircraft no longer required seating for soldiers, thereby putting an end to this feature.
I remembered wondering if such a leisurely feature of the previously disbanded Air Force would still be in use then. After all, Space-A could only be used by those who were on leave and I imagined that even a day of leave would be a rarity for those U.S.R.C. personnel stationed in Europe in the dawn of an invasion. I had hoped that the rank of Nicole's father or his knowing the right people would guarantee his family a space on a transport aircraft destined for either Andrews or Langley AFB.
As a child, my parents would rarely sign up for Space-A travel for family vacations; commercial airlines were the preferred method because they were faster and less stressful. Military aircraft hadn't been made for comfy travel after all. The allure of Space-A travel before 2055 had been the opportunity to ride on a large, military plane, but the novelty of it would wear out quickly for most.
"I hope he gets back soon," I had said. "I wanna hang out with you again."
I had honestly, but selfishly wanted her to just leave her father behind. I had been a little angry that he hadn't told them to leave without him for their safety. However, I hadn't known too much about the situation to justify being upset.
"Yeah, me too. Then, I'll get to see your apartment. I still can't believe you have your own place already," she had said.
It had been a little less than a year since she had left. We had visited each other once during our separation. It had been about half a year ago in July, although it had only been for a few days.
"It's small, but peaceful. The nature is why I like it here, though," I had replied.
A small silence had followed.
"I bet you bring your girlfriend into your room now," she had suddenly said.
It had been a guilty pleasure of mine to hear her feigned jealousy. I knew that there had been a tinge of genuineness behind it. We had both felt the same possessiveness for each other, although our worries were unfounded. We had been close for nearly our whole lives. A short period of separation actually had an effect contrary to our jealous suspicions; it had intensified our feelings for each other.
"I don't even have a girlfriend."
"Yeah, right," she said jokingly.
"There's no one else as awesome as you, anyway."
"Good. You're my good boy."
Her usual way of calling me a good boy would always fill me with a strangely pleasant feeling. I had never admitted it to her of course.
"Actually, my girlfriend doesn't come to my apartment, I go to hers," I had said, tongue-in-cheek.
She had kept silent.
"I'm just kidding," I had said to her with a little laugh. "You're my girlfriend."
"You didn't forget," she had answered with what I had thought to be a feigned sternness.
"Of course not."
Another pause had followed.
"Michael?"
"Yeah?"
"What if…what if we…um, never mind," she had said. She had sounded worried.
"What is it?"
"It's nothing."
"Nicole, tell me. Please?"
"…What if we never see each other again? I've just…been thinking about that lately. I don't know."
Her words had weighed on my heart like an anchor.
"Why would you think that? You're coming back when your dad's finishes whatever he's doing, remember?"
She had given a long sigh.
"Yeah, I don't know…I just…I'm just a little worried. Forget about it."
I had kept silent.
"We should go to Shenandoah National Park together when I get back," she had said with a change of tone.
"Yeah. We'll do that. Promise?"
—Present—
It was early dawn when I had awakened. The dimness of the morning twilight seeped through the shutters of the lounge's windows.
Ada was still sleeping; her head was lying on my left shoulder. The feeling of waking up to that is what hope is made of. Her dark, puffy hair cushioned her head and if it was Nicole, I would've kissed the top of it. I kept myself from dwelling on how much like Nicole she looked from this position.
I remembered how much I missed kissing my best friend's forehead or the top of her head whenever she would snuggle against me in the past.
The memory didn't sadden me because the sensation of having Ada lying against me had rejuvenated me.
Knowing that I couldn't move until she woke up, I reflected on things. I looked at a saikei, a miniaturized landscape of bonsai trees, on a dark wooden end table against the left wall. It stood between two of the three windows. The bonsais in the saikei were conifers, as I believed, and were planted on a base of what looked like moss strewn with small rocks. The saikei was held by a wide oxblood ceramic tray. It was remarkably beautiful. I had a bonsai in my apartment, but it wasn't as lovely as the bonsais in that saikei.
I focused on that saikei for a while, entranced by its muted shades of green and brown. A secluded ceramic figurine of a robed monk was sitting on one of the small rocks, contemplating. He was all alone amid the bonsais, which were like a forest to him.
Japanese culture, particularly the spiritual aspect of it, had taken a strong hold in northeast and northwest America during the Claw-Back era. The Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi, which is loosely defined as the beauty of imperfection, impermanence, and incompleteness, had grafted itself onto American culture during the age of automation. The rise in automation and the worsening of pollution a few decades ago had been followed by a pervasive sense of detachment from nature and our own humanity. It was the unsettling juxtaposition of the exactness of automated processes with the simplicity of nature, such as in a flowing stream or a rustling tree, that had become shockingly apparent during that period.
The turn to nature in the late 2040s and early '50s had given rise to Neo-romanticism, a movement which emphasized the importance of the transience and so-called imperfection of nature in experiences of joy and well-being.
As I gazed at the saikei, I felt Ada stir slightly. I had been sitting for about twenty minutes after awakening. A few seconds later, she slowly lifted her head. Having been so calmed and immersed while reflecting on things, on my life and my immediate surroundings, I paid no mind to her waking. She stretched out her arms and groaned. She then looked at me.
"So, was yesterday a dream?" She asked.
I was struck by her words. Yesterday did seem a bit surreal in retrospect.
"I wish," I said.
We both stared at the space before us for a while in silence. We were still in the same clothes that we had been wearing yesterday.
I wondered what the new day would hold. I was no longer a library assistant or a student.
What am I going to do?
I thought that maybe there was some worthy volunteer opportunity here at Front Royal. If not, then I would just focus on my studies; biology interested me greatly, but I had much to learn.
As I considered what to do, Ada rose from the chair.
"I'm going to shower," she told me. "Wait for me here?"
"Yeah," I replied.
She smiled lightly at my answer to my secret delight.
"You know, I'll probably shower too after I talk to the front desk, so I'll probably be in my room," I said.
I thought that a soothing, hot shower would be a good way to start the day.
"Okay. Let's meet back her, though," she replied.
"Alright."
She then walked toward the elevators and I walked the opposite way to the front desk.
"Good morning, sir. How may I help you?" The clerk bot greeted.
"Hello. Please list the volunteer opportunities being offered here in Front Royal," I requested.
"There are seventy-four volunteer opportunities in or near Front Royal pertaining to the following organizations:
- Virginia National Robot Guard
- American Red Cross
- Wildlife Rescue Society
- Shenandoah National Park—"
"Details on Shenandoah National Park volunteer opportunities," I requested.
Volunteering at the park seemed interesting.
"Shenandoah National Park volunteer opportunities include the following:
- Habitat preservation and
- Trail conservation
Is there anything else that I may help you with?"
I decided that I would visit Shenandoah National Park to learn more about the volunteer opportunities there and maybe join one of them.
"Yes. Continue listing volunteer opportunities in Front Royal after Shenandoah National Park."
"Volunteer opportunities after Shenandoah National Park:
- Samuels Public Library—"
"Details on Samuels Public Library volunteer opportunities," I said quickly after hearing that option.
My time as a library assistant had drawn me to the quietness of libraries and so, I was more than willing to wait out the war by assisting in the upkeep of the local library. Doing so would also provide a good atmosphere for studying.
"Samuels Public Library volunteer opportunities include the following:
- General library assistance.
Is there anything else that—"
"No, thank you," I interrupted. I was satisfied with my choices.
"Have a wonderful day," bid the clerk bot.
I then headed to the elevators to go to my room. Once I made it to my room, I entered, prepared a fresh set of clothes on my bed, and then, went to shower.
As I stood under the calming stream of hot water, I got lost in deep thought as a shower usually induces. For a while, I thought over the events of yesterday, particularly the dead body in the antique store, my meeting with Ada, the unexpected Scarab, and the two men at the convenience store. After sifting through those memories, I began to ponder the day ahead.
I'll go to the library today and offer myself as a volunteer, I thought. The librarian, whoever he or she is, will be happy to have my library work experience at hand.
I had been working as a library assistant for a little over a year before the world war.
I should also check out Shenandoah National Park. I've always wanted to spend a lot of time in nature and now is my chance to do so maybe.
I thought things through for a little while. I then came up with a plan after thorough consideration.
First, I'll head to the library today for sure, then I'll head to the park, if not today then tomorrow.
Of course, I wondered about Ada and her plans. I wanted to get to know her more, but at the same time, I didn't want to be bothersome. I intended to tell her of my plans once I returned to the lounge.
To my dismay, I felt an ever so slight drop of arousal at the thought of Ada as I stood in the shower. I thought that I had been thinking of Nicole; the lines were really blurred because of their resemblance. The memory of the sensation of her arm around my shoulder last night as we had walked to our rooms had entered my mind. The memory of her scent, so like Nicole's, as she had slept on my shoulder seized my passions for a moment. I tried to purge the feeling from my body. I closed my eyes and leaned against the shower wall. Was I being tortured by fate? To be forever reminded of my loss whenever I looked at Ada's face; was that a blessing or a curse? To know that although Ada looks like Nicole, her spirit was devoid of that lifelong intimacy that me and Nicole had shared since childhood.
After a while, I got out of the shower and put on fresh clothes, which I had packed in my luggage. I grabbed a water bottle from the box that I had brought from my apartment. Then, after sitting on the edge of the bed for some time in silence, I finally left my room and headed for the lounge.
While I was waiting in the elevator, I looked at a digital poster on the wall. It cycled between various ads. At the moment, it was advertising the various trails and lookouts at Shenandoah National Park in the Blue Ridge Mountains. According to it, the park held over 500 miles of trails and various lookout points. The following information interested me greatly:
"The native black bear of Shenandoah National Park is no longer extant but don't let that grisly (yes, that was a pun on grizzly) fact lower your spirits. Visit the park and see one of many true-to-life robot black bears roaming throughout the park. These automated black bear look-alikes are the product of the ingenuity of Miriam Technologies. They were designed to replicate some of the natural life processes of black bears to preserve the balance in the park's ecosystem following the decline of the species."
I had learned of the extinction of both the grizzly and black bears when I was younger. My elementary school science teacher had told my class of the news. At the time, I hadn't really cared all that much. In retrospect, I felt as if the extinction of these species of bears and other animals for that matter had been an ill omen of things to come. It probably presaged the present condition that humanity found itself in, that being the brink of our extinction. I wonder if the last grizzly bears had felt the dread and despair that all of humanity was feeling then. Had we not been like the swarm unto them and all the other species that had gone extinct in the past few decades because of our negligence?
As I contemplated in this way, the elevator door opened. I then made my way to the lounge. On arrival, I saw that Ada was wearing her Focus and speaking to someone on it with an animated voice. She paced back and forth as she did so. I decided to sit in the adjacent lobby to give her some privacy. However, it was quiet at that time in the early morning, so I could still hear what she was saying.
"…where are you guys now? Are you far away from the coast?" She asked. Of course, I couldn't hear the voice on the other end.
"Good. That's good. So, where are you guys going now? You have to go far inland."
…
"Is anyone else going there too? Archie? Oh…Aunt Rosalind's going there too? That's great. Ellie will have someone to play with."
…
"Of course, I'm with a friend, don't worry…Yes, I know mom…Okay. How's Ellie? Can I talk to her?"
…
"Ellie! How are you doing?! Are you feeling okay?!"
…
"Yes, I'm okay. I love you, Ellie. Don't ever forget that. Stay close to mom and listen to her, can you do that for me?!"
…
"Okay," she said with a heartwarming laugh. "I will. You have to do the same too, promise? I love you so much, Ellie."
…
"Yes, mom. Be safe. Grandma's house should be safe place to wait out the war…Yes, I will, mom…I love you too. Okay, mom, I love you. Bye, mom."
With her goodbye, she ended the call. I saw her come around the corner from the lounge. A radiant smile showed on her face.
She looked at me with what seemed to be an expression of relief.
"My mom and sister are okay!" She said to me, overjoyed.
I smiled too because pure joy or relief is always contagious. She hugged me suddenly in her elation. I hugged her back in the same heartfelt way that I would hug Nicole in the past.
As we hugged, I remembered my own parents and my sister. The realization that we were then able to call other people in the safe zone struck me. I needed to call them. After a few seconds of holding the hug, I spoke.
"I need to call my mom, too. I forgot that we could do that now," I said.
"Yeah, you should," Ada replied. "Do you have your Focus?"
"Yeah, it's in my pocket," I said.
I fished my hand into my pants pocket to make sure that it was still there, and it was. I then walked outside for some privacy during my call. The wet parking lot was still mostly empty. The sky in the horizon was heavy with towering cumulus clouds and it looked like it had rained recently. The beautiful colors of sunrise were beginning to show in the east. The air was cool and refreshing. I heard the chirping of birds somewhere.
I put my Focus on my right ear and the holo-display appeared before me. To my surprise, I saw that I had five missed calls from my mom. I felt bad for not having called last night right after arriving in the safe zone, but I had forgotten about them for the latter half of yesterday.
I called my mom and waited for her to answer while the warbling ringtone sounded in my ear. A few seconds passed with no answer. Then, the call went to voicemail. I called again and a third time, but I received no answer. I felt dispirited. I wondered if they were okay. I assumed that it was just a temporary disruption in signal or something like that. I hoped that my sister was doing well during these times.
I stood outside the entrance for a while more, looking at the towering cumulus clouds to the southwest. The grandness of those clouds always impressed me. I reflected on the quietness of the town from where I stood. Then, I decided to head back in.
Once I entered, I saw Ada at the front desk talking to the clerk bot. She saw me walk in.
"So, are your parents okay?" She asked, interested.
"Oh, yeah they're fine, they're still on their way to Colorado," I said.
I didn't want to garner sympathy for not having received an answer from them. Really, I wasn't too dismayed about it; I knew that they were safe.
She studied my face for a moment or two. I kept an unaffected expression, or so I believed. I was going to change the subject, but her gaze impelled me to tell her the truth.
"Actually, I didn't get an answer. I'll try again later today," I said with a cool tone.
I felt a tinge of heaviness grow in my chest. My concern for my parents and my sister was starting to surface. I had never been one to milk sympathy out of Nicole when we were still together, let alone from someone that I had just recently met. However, she all of a sudden hugged me.
"They'll be okay," she assured me.
"Thank you. I know they'll be fine," I returned the assurance.
I smiled at her gesture. Her face was pressed against my shoulder as she hugged. She was a kind, lovely person. I resolved that I would make myself worthy of her kindness and reciprocate it whenever I could. I had done the same with Nicole.
After the hug, she spoke again.
"So, I was thinking of exploring the town today. What about you?" She asked me with her sweet voice.
"I was planning to visit the local library and sign up as a volunteer. I used to work as a library assistant before things changed," I said. "I might visit the park later, too. What about you?"
"I don't know yet. I see you're looking to stay here for a while," she said.
"Yeah, I might. I don't want to be too far from home after the war ends," I explained. "So, are you going with your parents?"
"I'm not sure. I'll probably just visit them after the war's over. I like being on my own, anyways."
"Me too," I said.
"Mind if I stick with you today?" She asked me.
Of course, I said yes. I was more than happy to hang out with her. We had met recently, but it felt like we had known each other for a while. Dire circumstances have a way of forging an increased reliance and closeness to others, especially those who have an amiable and trustworthy character. I prided myself in always trying to be considerate; it was a habit that I picked up during my time with my best friend.
"I'm gonna eat something first," she said. "The receptionist told me that they serve breakfast here."
"Yeah, I'm kinda hungry, too," I said. If I was planning to spend time at Shenandoah National Park, I would need to eat well beforehand.
With that, we told one of the bots of our desire to eat and it directed us to the dining area.
–—–
After we had finished eating, we headed out to walk to the local library. It wasn't too far from the inn, and the town looked like a nice place to walk around. The town was pleasantly but strangely quiet and empty as we walked. Once we had arrived at the library, I discovered that an old librarian was the only one there beside a maintenance bot. He had a kindly look, and he welcomed both of us warmly when we entered.
"Good morning. I'm surprised to see someone here," he said to us with a gentle voice.
"Good morning, sir. I was told of a volunteer opportunity here by the receptionist at the nearby inn. I'm interested in helping around here if you're okay with it. I have experience as a library assistant at Gloucester if that helps," I replied.
"Yes. Yes, of course. I'm planning on leaving for Colorado tomorrow. You came right in time," he said with a lively voice. "My robot assistant can keep the place nice and clean, but I need someone to look after him and help him with other things."
"Okay, I can do that," I informed him. I was excited by the prospect of having the library to myself indefinitely.
"When will you be willing to start?" He asked.
I remembered that Ada wanted to explore the town today and I wanted to visit Shenandoah National Park later, so I took those things into consideration.
"Um, I'll come in tomorrow morning?"
"Yes. Yes. I leave in the afternoon. Thank you, young man. What is your name by the way?" He asked me with an animated demeanor.
"My name's Michael." I shook his hand.
"And is this lovely young lady your girlfriend?" He asked kindly with that innocuous cheekiness of a grandpa.
"Oh, no. Were just friends," I said, a little abashed at the insinuation.
"He's actually my boyfriend. He's just stubborn about it," joked Ada as she pushed me lightly. The old librarian smiled at us.
"I'll see you tomorrow then, sir," I said to him. He bid us goodbye and we exited.
The large patches of clouds were shades of a soft peach and red then. The trees were dancing lightly in the cool wind. It was a beautiful, wonderful morning.
We decided after we had exited the library that we would visit Shenandoah National Park and so, we used our Focuses to fetch our cars. If the fetch feature allowed for our cars to drive across a park to reach us, we would've used it yesterday when we had our close call with the Scarab at Old Town. In retrospect, we should've at least had our cars drive the small distance onto the road immediately adjacent to the waterfront park, but we had been so panicked that we hadn't thought to do so.
Before I could direct my car to drive to meet us at the library, Ada suggested that we just use her car. I agreed to do so.
After a few minutes, her car drove up and we entered it, I on the passenger's side. She informed her car's AI of our destination. Then, we were on our way to the park. I was looking forward to our time there.
—
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