Cold Machines
Chapter 5
Hello There, Its your main man BattleUnit3 here to drop another chapter. A little late, sorry had to go to uni in the morning. Thank you for your reviews i always appreciate them. You said that Chapter 4 is good. No idea why so i concluded that if its good its good.
Next Chapter updates will slow down I have test and exams for the next 2,3 weeks. I apologize for that.
"I spy with my little eye something… white"
"…"
"Oh come on, guard duty is boring!"
"I don't see why I have to entertain you. Do I look like a clown or bar maiden?"
"Not without a skirt…"
I sigh. Leon is a good friend but why can't be like the rest of us? Just zone out for 5 hours and be done with outside duty. Not that he is annoying but if he could just a little bit quieter it would be a blessing. The job isn't that horrible, fresh freezing air, endless land of snow and nothing but the company of my best friend who hasn't gotten laid since this whole thing started. I already want to blow my brains out.
I actually met him on the dreadnought. I had just sat down to have our first meal in our new metal home when this 18 year old with blonde hair and blue eyes sits down and says "I think they feed the pigs with the good food." I laughed the food was indeed horrible but the cold destroyed most of the crops leaving a massive famine. We were lucky to eat at all, but it never hurts to complain a little. "Leon. Leon Briste" he introduced himself and I answered " Jacob. Jacob Nash". From there we hit it off. He told me about himself. He was the only son of a French merchant who could move to London after the mainland descended into hell. His mother died at birth and his father never remarried. He wasn't a bad father but most of his upbringing was done by babysitter's and teachers. After moving to London his father was stricken by illness and nothing could be done. Using what little of his family fortune was left he was able to buy a ticket on the dreadnought. His only flaw is he likes to keep busy, not something one would actually consider a flaw but more times than not he comes off as annoying.
"Why don't you go talk to Ivan I am sure he would like to play."
"Nah, last time I went to him he threatened me that if I bother him again he is going to stab me"
"I have a gun, you know, and when I checked last time those are more dangerous than knives"
"Please, the safest place is probably right in front of the barrel judging by the last time you tried hunting"
"The sun was in my eyes"- I defended.
"It's literally been cloudy since before we left London. Ahh, the famous British weather. No wonder everyone is so unpleasant."- he snickered at the last comment.
" You don't sleep at all last night and let's see *yawn* you on top of the world."-I tried with heated passion to say, but the tiredness got me in between.
"Ooohhh, Eli and Jacob sitting on a bed, M. A. K. I. N. G. O. U. T! Hahahaha tell me more"
"First of all what are you seven? Second it wasn't Eli?- Ahh Eli, the girl yearn so much for, with her silky long hair and beautiful green eyes. Timid and fragile girl but with such a big heart. I knew her since childhood. In fact my first memory is of her. We lived in the country side back then and she lived in the neighboring farm. I remember we would play for hours, tag, hide and seek, so much fun we had. Even back then I knew that we were to be together. My memories flood to one night 3 years ago, when we both snuck out of our houses. We went to the nearby river, I set up a sheet so we could lie down. We spoke for hours. She told me told about her dream of becoming the best seamstress in all of the British Empire. To dress the Queen herself. I dream I have heard a hundred times, and never get tired of hearing. The sudden quiet moment between us. How we both leaned at each other and w….
" Why aren't there penguins here?"- suddenly an all to recognizable voice asked.
At that moment I decided that if ever see a penguin I am going to kill Leon with it.
"What?
"Penguins. I thought they were in the cold."
"I…wha….What would you even do with a penguin?"
"Dunno, so you were saying?"
"It wasn't Eli, it was the twins."
"OHHHH NICE BRO, TELL ME MORE!"- he shouted right in my year.
"Jesus, no My twins, my sisters! God I think I went deaf"
"Ohh… hey I am not judging, at least you are keeping in the family."
"What?"
"I said I am not judging"
"I am torn between continuing my story and shoving my rifle up where the sun don't shine."
" Ok Ok jeez, no need to be so rude."
"Whatever..The twins had another nightmare last night…"
"Oh about what?"
"The Storm."- And just like that the temperature between us dropped like a rock. I can't believe it's been 6 months since it. The Storm, there isn't a man, woman or child that doesn't know and lost something to it. I remember it well.
It was after my dad left for the mines to reinforce the foundations. His last words were "Son, you are the man of the house now, protection our family falls on you from here on. I love you." And he left. And never to return.
The Storm was reaching its peak. The generator was working on maximum power. The houses were reinforced with double lair of insulation. And yet you could still feel the cold. We were all huddled around the house furnace. Erecting a small tent, much like those we first started with" all ten of made a small circle. My mother was on my left and Eli on my right. The twins were holding on to my coat crying. I could see their tears freezing while on their face. That's when the last day began. The last, worst drop in temperature, you could hear the air freeze. The glass outside as if on schedule broke instantly when the cold hit. The twins were terrified trying dig even deeper into me. My mother was chanting a small prayer and Eli was holding my hand repeating "Everything will be fine". My mind raced to father's last words to me. How was I supposed to protect them against this. If it was a bandit, beast even a demon I would fight him with my bare hand if I have to, but this, the cold, it's not something you fight with strength or wits. It's something you survive. I could feel twins getting colder and colder there crying devolved into silent weeping as if their life was being drained.
A sudden crash was heard from outside. I knew what it was, it happened only once before during a freak weather when the city was hit by a similar sudden fall in temperature. It was a automaton who didn't reach a steam hub in time to recharge and froze mid walk. They usually had to reprogrammed to refuel at certain intervals depending on the temperature. Nobody had reprogrammed them for the final day. I hoped it didn't fall on someone's house.
Hours later, or was it minutes, the insulation was giving in. I could see a layer frost forming on the edges of the room. Slowly creeping in. I could feel my sisters were on their last legs and there was nothing I could do. I was so weak. There was no hope.
Instantly as I thought a large screeching roar filled the entire city. Everyone's sluggish looks were suddenly invigorated. As if being wakened in the morning with a bucket of water. It sounded as if a mighty demon was wounded by a valiant knight in shining armor. But I knew that sound It was rarely heard. It was the sound of hope. It was the sound of the Generator Overdrive kicking in.
It had malfunctioned before the final day due to some part needing replacement. But there were no replacements anymore so the engineers had decided the only way was to bypass the entire thing with a steam core. Last I had heard the Captain and 4 engineers volunteered for the job. The Captain through with his promise just he had always done. Doubting the Captain was a fast way to being wrong, of course. Those rhythmic sounds of moving pistons and burning coal replaced the sound of scratching glass by the cold. The Generator, tower of steel and fire stood as a guardian to the city.
At that moment, as the cold fought with all its might to turn this losing battle against humanities most brilliant invention, everyone had all fear and doubt replaced by a single phrase:
"THE CITY WILL SURVIVE"
"Damn." – was all Leon said. Not there was anything that one could say about. We lived through it and that's all there is to it.
The most desired silence fell upon us. Unfortunately this was the worst moment for it to come. The last thing anyone wanted was to think about it. Suddenly Leon piped up.
"Hey Is that 17? Its late."
"Looks like it, call Ivan we need to know why it's late."- I said towards Leon. The automaton was still far. It didn't look damaged, thankfully. The automatons weren't great conversationalists but they brought interesting point of view and in some way alleviate that pressure of being the last city on Earth, after people weren't alone anymore. Plus it gave people gossip material. Apparently 7 spends a lot of time at the child shelter. Some say that one of the engineers who worked on him during his construction had died leaving a little girl orphan.
"Hopefully it didn't get stuck on telegraph wires, again."
After several minutes Leon came back.
"He said he is coming, just need to put on the radio"- he announced.
17 was approaching when I noticed something.
"It appears 17 brought home a friend"- I said. That got Leon's attention.
"Oh god, please don't be an insane cannibal again…. I just jinxed us didn't I"
"As opposed to the sane ones that come here and if you did you are getting eaten first"-I retorted back.
I approached the guest. Leon stood back, ready for anything. That's when I realized that the being was not human. It was covered in smooth metal. Was it an automaton? Wasn't a British one I can tell you that. German? Russian? American? I decided to play the diplomat. I slung my rifle over my shoulder and waved my hand. Would it even understand? It might not be as intelligent as ours.
To my surprise it waved back. So it was friendly? Good. Well better show my face. Removing the cloth around my face I gave it my best lady killer smile. Not that I would know anything about it, only mom would say that I have it and any girl I tried to talk to wanted to end the meeting quickly. I suspect Eli had laid her claim on me, she might look like a weak shy girl but she can break arms with ease. Something Jonathan learned quickly after he got a bit touchy. The being didn't seem to want to harm us.
"Well you didn't jinx us this time"- I said as I turned back to Leon.
Well this is it. I think this how i will be putting the history of New London. Through memories of important moments.
I am also debating how to make a codex of sorts. Should it be whole chapter on itself or should i write here in the bottom.
It will be things like explaining how the automatons became so smart, building the dome, improvements to the Zeppelins, other new vehicles that help traverse the frozen wasteland, weapons and gear.
To make things clear, the story takes place six months after The Storm hit. The Captain has chosen the order path but never finished it. The Captain is good person trying to do the best for the people but has done things to ensure the future of the city.
Thank you for reading!
