Wasteland…
Part 2: The Future Chapter 9 The ChangeDelia, despite the battle's loud noises and constant concussions was starting to drift into sleep, using Connor's shoulder as a pillow when he moved slightly and said, "We have to go to the Remnant's base. If we don't, the Chinese are going to take the island and we're going to be taken prisoner—or worse." Delia started to rouse herself and she sat up, watching the gunfire bursts of light.
Alex and Fidget both looked up and Alex said, "Whatever you think we should do is what we'll do. You've seen our ball game; this one's yours. Past and…I guess, yeah, future." Fidget sat up, yawning and started to look up when she thought she heard some leaves rustle behind her; before she could turn to look she felt a small, circular piece of cold metal on the back of her neck and she froze.
"Don't move or pretty face is blown all over the place," came a muffled voice from behind her and Alex; none of them moved but Connor spoke, "My name is Connor. I was with the TFP and so was Delia here—," Connor started to explain but the guy interrupted, saying, "Connor?! That's you? Damn man, I thought you were toast after what happened to Dare. That fool got ripped apart so I figured you did too."
"Blake," Connor asked and the guy behind Fidget said, "Hell yeah, man! Did the TFP actually—," he started but Connor immediately interrupted him, saying, "Hey, I need to talk to the General now. I know what the Chinese are up to and the sooner I get to him, the likelier it is that you're going to be alive next week. Come on, let's go. Oh, and those two are with me; they're trustworthy and on our side."
The steel was gone and Blake said, his voice now much more serious, "Alright, let's move." Fidget stood up and followed Blake, right behind her was Delia and—
"What's that," Alex asked, pointing at an object that was barely visible on the ocean. Connor looked closely and turret-fire flashed, revealing a transport sneaking up on the island; it didn't have its lights on and was probably navigating with the battle lights. "Oh man," Connor said, his mind racing; that transport probably has snipers ready to be deployed into the forest; we have automated defenses in the forest but not for that many people…if they get those snipers in…the Remnant's would lose to the army that's already on the island! "Blake, we gotta move fast. The battle on the shore is just a distraction!"
The armored figure that was scrambling down the tree instantly knew what that meant. "Ah shit, we're screwed." They were about twenty feet up and he just jumped out of the tree and landed on the ground, rolling a few yards and then jumping to his feet. The group of four climbed down to ten feet and jumped out, then sprinted up through the small patch of woods up to the base that was on the other side of the hill.
"First things first," Blake yelled as they ran, "we have to get you to a detoxication facility inside, otherwise you're gonna die before you can tell us anything." Connor replied as they ran, "How long will that take?"
Blake yelled through his metal mask, "About an hour or two, depending on how stable the power generator's are inside the base." Connor yelled a curse and said, "That's too long; we might all be dead by then; the Chinese are going after the TFP. We can't stop them unless I get to the General as soon as possible." Blake shook his head but couldn't answer for a moment; "No way; they've already thrown…everything they've got at us…on the shores and on that sneak…transport; we'll…get them…no matter what. They…had a…plan but we…screwed them at…the beginning…so they just…dug…those trenches." His breath was short now and Connor said, "Save your breath. That's…what they want you to think. I'll…explain…when we get…inside."
Blake was sprinting way ahead of them but for some reason, the group of four couldn't run as fast. The radiation is starting to kill our muscles, Connor thought. They sprinted down to the entrance to the underground military location and entered through a secured area. Connor and Delia were immediately recognized and were taken, by Connor's request, straight to the command center where the General was commanding his legion. At the sight of Connor he jumped and then started to say something but Connor cut him off by saying, "Excuse my disobedience, sir, but we're gonna lose this island unless you listen to me, and listen to me now." The room went silent except for incoming communications from soldiers in the field.
"Alright Lt. Connor, let's hear it, but first, get these other three to the detoxication facility; I believe Connor would refuse until he's explained himself. Right?" Connor nodded and then walked over to the overview of the map and started to show the General what was going to happen…
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A few minutes later, the gunfire from the defending forces stopped. The Chinese stopped countering and sat in their small trenches, awaiting their next order from their commander, who was in the transport that had snuck in. All of a sudden, one of the turrets fired into the pitch-black darkness of the ocean and a moment later, a great ball of fire erupted into the air, followed by a loud concussion to the ears.
In the woods, the fifteen snipers that had spread out to secure the area stood motionless and in awe at the sight that beheld them…their commander were dead and the other fifty snipers were now obsolete…
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In the detoxication facility, Delia and Fidget had been put in one room while Alex went into another. Workers immediately went to work on them, placing needles into their veins and into any muscle that was bigger than your thumb (needless to say, the process wasn't favorable). The radiation in the air gets into your body and starts to cut off circulation to your muscles, which causes them to deteriorate at lethal speeds (the radiation causes most of the deterioration). The needles release small parasites that can't hurt the human body; the parasites seek out any radiation cells and form a parasitic relationship with them, causing the radiation to become harmless; the parasites slowly begin to die out because there were enzymes that were in the syringes and needles spread too thin throughout the body for the parasites to stay alive.
Delia and Fidget were talking quietly, trying to figure out how they had suddenly returned, and with more than they went with…but Delia seemed distant to Fidget so she asked what she knew was on her mind.
"Worried about Connor?" There was an explosion and the room shook slightly and Fidget made a face. Delia answered, "Yes…I never knew I even liked him until this mission and then my eyes seemed to just…I don't know, open. It's strange…"
"Not really," replied Fidget, trying to hold back some energy that was flowing through her; her body stung every time she used a muscle that had a needle in it. "Same thing happened with me and I never knew; I mean, I liked Alex and all but I never thought I did in the way that he's liked me—," she smiled a big smile, "—ever since we've been working together." Delia would've laughed but it hurt too much to. "Yeah, funny how it takes life-threatening experiences to awaken some of your hidden emotions."
"HA," declared Fidget, "it ain't like that for me sister. Me and Alex had life-threatening experiences nearly every day we're alive; it's our job. It's not really the experiences…it's what you feel during the events that counts; I was always too busy rolling the camera to actually notice how dangerous some of the stuff we were doing was. I guess I didn't care…or did I?…" Fidget wandered off into some deep thought and Delia let her think.
I hope Connor comes back soon…I don't want him to die, please don't die…
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Meanwhile, Alex and Connor were sitting in the other room together, laughing about how the other two were probably fretting over Connor still being in the command center; truth was, he returned about five or ten minutes after they left because the General wanted Connor in the field as soon as possible.
The General figured out how to counter the Chinese's strategy, though it was extremely risky; the Remnant's had a missile sub that could only fire when above water so they decided to deploy it and launch the missiles into the air and either flush the Chinese out of the trenches or blow them up if they stay. A moment ago there was a very loud explosion and the room shook and Connor said, "That must be the first missile; man I hope it works…if it doesn't we're going to have to try some even riskier stuff."
Alex was tempted to ask but didn't; instead, he asked, "So…fill me in on what's happening and everything. I know you explained everything to me already but…the circumstances were a bit different and you can't really blame us for thinking you escaped from the asylum."
Connor smiled and shrugged his shoulders, "Well…there was a nuclear war and North America, Europe, and part of Africa were wiped out. Now, as a result of that war, North America is now just a bunch of scattered, small islands; the land got blown apart where a missile hit. The science of how it happened is complicated…but that was soon forgotten when an environmental scientist and a radiologist stumbled upon a secret of the nuclear blast area; the radiation could be used as a power source."
Connor paused, watching Alex and seeing if he could figure out the result for himself but Alex was obviously waiting for Connor to continue, so he did. "The war was quickly over and done as several countries rushed to the wastelands to harness the energy source."
"Why," asked Alex, "I mean, what's the point of using the energy source if the rest of the surviving world already has enough power plants and reactors and stuff."
"Because this power source is infinitely more powerful than everything we've had before. And if a country monopolized the energy source and then destroyed all the other power sources in the world, they would own the planet. Electricity is an expensive resource in these times because of the nuclear shields and all the defenses that the countries put up after the nuclear war… So to take you to the present, we are the Remnants; we're just trying to find a way to end it all, to end the killing and wars. But, of course, we're also the weakest army of all those that are left fighting for the wasteland. There were at least twenty countries/armies that rushed to the wasteland but most were easily obliterated by those that are still fighting today…"
Alex sat in silence, trying to imagine the world going into a nuclear war. Amazing yet so tragic…Alex spoke, "So why are the Chinese attacking you?"
"They want the island and the technology we possess…but that ain't happening. No way; everyone on the island would rather die than let the Chinese have what we have. Things are getting rough…lately, before we went your time, I've been feeling that this war is going to be making a very dramatic turn… But the thing that doesn't make any sense at all is that there's an army that's fighting in the wastelands that is a lot like the ones that invaded your plane, back in your time. They were on the blimp too…but how can that be?"
Alex Mann froze when he heard this…there was an army of Neo-Humans here in the future, fighting for the wastelands…Tempest certainly isn't capable of leading an army and surviving… Asazi; no, she's dead, I killed her… The thought brought a sad coldness to his heart…he never did get over killing her…pushing her off the ledge, even though she was defenseless…no, she wasn't defenseless; it was her, she knew martial arts and all that…she would've put you over the ledge of the canyon… That's what Alex kept telling himself but it never helped.
He was guilty of murder. Murder…not death, he actually killed someone…someone he knew…and the worst part…it wasn't an accident… The tears of guilt stung his eyes but he fought them away. Back to the present…
The only person capable of strategically and successfully running an army Neo-Humans was…Dr. X. But…how could he've survived? He dropped off the canyon and fell to the bottom…how could he have survived? It was a four hundred foot drop…perhaps it's his Council of Doom that—no, INTERCEPT blew them apart after information was found from X's last hideout…doesn't make sense…
"What's going on in your mind," Connor asked gently, knowing that Alex was in some seriously deep thought; Alex glanced up and said, "There was a…a scientist back in the year that I was in that created those Neo-Humans, those monsters. Only he could lead them but I killed him and all of his accomplices…well…no, I didn't. A special agency, INTERCEPT, finished off all of Dr. X's sources but…what doesn't make sense is that I killed X and most of his counterparts—''
"Whoa, hold on now…you didn't kill all of them?"
Alex shrugged his shoulders and said, "There was a mad scientist, 'Gangreen', but he…he couldn't…no, he's not capable of surviving on his own; he probably retreated to a jungle to come up with some evil projects he'll never do…hopefully…"
Connor shook his head and said, "You've underestimated him. I'll bet that he's leading the Neo-Humans as we speak; the mad ones are usually the more successful ones…" As much as it made Alex angry that he was wrong about something, he had to accept that Connor was probably accurate. Chances are that Gangreen took over the position he had probably been secretly coveting; X's army…
"Well," Connor started, "let's let our minds and bodies forget about this and rest…because I get the feeling that tomorrow is going to be a long day…" Alex agreed and they both leaned back on the little hospital-like beds they were on and feel asleep much quicker than they thought…
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Fidget and Delia were still talking but the intensity of the conversation had dimmed tremendously; both were on the verge of sleeping when one of the medics entered the room and said quietly, "Just so you ladies know, Connor and the other guy are perfectly fine." The two thanked the medic and then smiled in their own bliss thoughts…each of them falling asleep rather quickly, only to dream about the guys they were thinking about…
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BREET BREET BREET BREET BREET!!!
Connor was awake in an instant, already slapping his clothes on and ready to go. The treatment was over and the needles had been pulled out while he and Alex had been sleeping. Alex was up and getting dressed too, but he probably wouldn't be allowed to go where Connor was; Connor would tell the General that Alex and Fidget were okay and that they wouldn't harm anyone or anything. Connor left the room and Alex just silently followed; Connor's mind was racing, those are defensive alarms, which means we're under attack…did the Chinese figure out that we knew what they were doing?
Connor made it to the command center but Alex wasn't allowed; knowing that Alex knew he would try later, Connor said nothing and continued to the General. "What's happening?" The General looked up at Connor and said, "About damn time you woke up; you've been out for nearly thirty-two hours. It seems you were right about the Chinese but they've pulled a stunt that I don't think anybody in the world would've expected; we're under attack by that freak army of mutated assholes. It seems they've allied with the Chinese and we're under some serious pressure."
Connor replied, "They're called Neo-Humans, sir, and can you show me what's happening outside." Connor was obviously going to stay with the General, after all, his logic with the Chinese' strategy was brilliant, or so the General said. The General wanted Connor with him, so he could anticipate what might happen next.
Connor looked at the holographic map of the island and what was going on. The General was right; they were under some serious pressure and…Connor knew it was hopeless. The island couldn't defend itself against an army of Neo-Humans; especially if they could do the damage that they did back in Alex's time, because now they'd be even stronger and better…no, there has to be a way. There's always a way. Connor studied the map carefully, noting everything that might be able to help their survival.
The Neo-Humans were attacking by an amphibious assault; obviously they could swim for awhile because the nearest island was over ten miles away…not only that, but they had to be—all of a sudden the holographic picture of the island disappeared and was replaced with an image of a middle-aged man, with brown hair and technological additions all over him. Everyone in the room was silent by the time he spoke, "Greetings, General of the Remnants. It must be obvious to you by now that your island is going to be either destroyed or captured by the small army that is invading it at the moment. I ask you, first, to surrender and I would gladly relocate you to another island that has much better strategic defenses and resources…if not, then I'm afraid to say that you are going to be easily defeated, no matter what battle plans you might think of. Oh, yes, and my name is Dr. X. I myself am approaching the island in a hovercraft as we speak, to help make negotiations. I have…how might you say…near-infinite assets that could make the Remnants the most powerful army by far. All I ask for is the TFP. You can surrender it to me now, or wait until I arrive for the negotiations. By that time, your island should be under siege. See you soon, General."
The so-called Dr. X blinked out of and was reinstated with the island…Connor looked at the General and the he just stared back… Eventually, Connor said, "What do we do, sir?"
The elder officer replied, "Something's on your mind, son. Speak it now or we'll be in the grave. This 'X' character is going to kill us the second he gets a damn chance."
"Sir, I'd like to bring in the two people that came with us from the past; they've fought this guy before, many times, and know how he thinks. And as for the soldiers outside…I have no idea." Connor turned back to the map, watching the holographic skirmish…the Neo-Humans were easily making their way up the shoreline with the Chinese…
Things were about to get really violent…and a lot of people were going to die… Connor shook his head and tried to think of something to do but…it was of no avail…
And the Neo-Humans kept making their way, getting closer to the base…