Chapter 25

DART versus Asteroid

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President speaks

Life Underground

Damages

Jason and Elizabeth rise early. Jason starts a pot of coffee and throws two go-bags in the car. Elizabeth walks down the stairs dressed in a professional skirt and blouse. "Wow!" Jason says. "You look great but a little overdressed."

Elizabeth smiles and replies, "This is only for show. As Head Nurse, I need to present an image to my staff of who is in charge. Monica and Terry will speak to the doctors as well. After I give a speech, I'll change into scrubs. If there's an emergency, they'll need me in the ER. You should wear a pair of scrubs when you get there. You said you wanted to help. Whether it's by my side or if you are put to work, you must blend in."

Elizabeth grabs her purse and coffee and follows Jason to the car. He says, "I did community service over 15 years ago at General Hospital pushing a broom and a mop. I can do it again for two or three days."

Elizabeth laughs and replies, "That was a wonderful thing you did for Spinelli. I wish I snapped a picture of you and Toussiant for prosperity."

Jason kisses her, pats her on her ass, and says, "Get in the car, dear."

Robin and Patrick arrive at General Hospital at 5:00 am. Robin stashes their overnight bags in her lab. Claire and Drew arrived earlier and walked out to the third-floor Hub.

Monica spent the night in the on-all room preparing for her presentation in the morning. Jeff arrives and says, "Are you ready?"

Monica replies, "Yes. General Hospital is prepared for the worst, but I hope for the best." They walk together to the Hub, and Monica greets a waiting Terry.

Terry says, "In about 90 minutes, DART will depart, and there is a strong probability it will break apart, and debris will spatter all over Port Charles. There will be casualties, severe injuries, and worried families."

Monica says, "The ER is fully stocked with supplies, and everyone here is trained in triage." Monica hands a stack of papers to Jeff, and he passes a list to all the staff. Monica says, "Please find your name and the location of your shifts. At all times, there will be at least two doctors and one nurse on all floors or wings of the hospital. Do not go off on your own. Make sure there is someone with you. Let your superiors know where you are."

Elizabeth approaches and says, "Of the seven nurses available to rotate with the doctors, including Bobbie Spencer, Chief Nursing Officer, four are also scrub nurses. There are three orderlies, including three volunteers, Molly Lansing-Davis, Drew Cain, and Jason Morgan. I hope our scrub nurses won't be needed, but page us if an emergency occurs."

Bobbie says, "Thank you, Laura. I'll alert everyone at General Hospital." She hangs up her phone and walks to the Hub. She says, "I just spoke with Mayor Collins, and she will be conferencing with Director Jones and NASA in ten minutes. All monitors throughout the hospital will be tuned to the news." Bobbie clicks the remote to the station, Laura suggested.

Everyone turns their attention to the TV monitors throughout the hospital. The Today Show is interviewing the winner of The Voice and his Celebrity coach. Moments later, a "Special Announcement" flashes across the screen, and a voice-over "We interrupt this programming for a special announcement from the President of the United States."

"My fellow Americans," the President begins. "Today, the Double Asteroid Redirection Test, known as DART, will make another attempt to contact Asteroid 2023 PC60. The asteroid is on track to hit the city of Port Charles, New York, in three hours and 25 minutes if DART is unsuccessful in destroying it. Other nearby states may be affected. I strongly urge everyone to find shelter. I now turn over further information to the Mayor of Port Charles, Laura Collins, the Director of the WSB, Frisco Jones, and Dr. Dorothy Funk, a scientist at NASA. May God Bless you and the United States of America."

An announcer says, "The programming switches to Port Charles, New York. Mayor Collins, please explain the next steps to destroy this asteroid."

Laura appears before the screen and says, "I want to thank everyone for turning in this early. I am relieved that reports from the National Guard and the PCPD show our streets are empty. I urge everyone to stay inside unless you are military, PCPD, or a medical personnel member. I will now turn over the next steps to Director Jones."

Frisco says, "Thank you, Mayor Collins. NASA intends to jump ahead and destroy the asteroid before it enters the atmosphere. In ten minutes, DART will launch. Everyone can watch live if they can access the news or link up via their computers. Not only will Port Charles and the United States be able to watch DART approach the asteroid, but the rest of the country will also. Dr. Funk will begin the countdown shortly."

Everyone across Port Charles with access to televisions, computers, and internet access, including all 50 states and even overseas countries, is watching. In California, Cameron arrived to stay with Matt and Nadine, and he visited with Emma and Jake. In Ireland, Lucky, LuLu, Nikolas, Ava, Spencer, Aiden, Rocco, and Charlotte anxiously watch and mentally cross their fingers for their loved ones and family.

Dr. Funk appears and announces she is ready to begin the countdown. She says, In two minutes, I will start counting backward from ten and release DART in the direction of the asteroid. DART will accelerate; if calculations are accurate, it will contact and break up the asteroid. Pieces will hit the ground, and injuries will occur if people are out in the streets."

She walks to the computer display and rests her fingers on the "depart" button. Everybody holds their breath as Dr. Funk says, "Ten, nine, eight….three, two, one!"

She presses the button, and what feels like a mini quake is DART leaving toward Space. On the TV, people in the hospital watch as DART accelerates speed, like rockets going into Space. Fifteen minutes later, monitors show a direct hit into the asteroid. TV screens go black.

Murmurs and voices of panic are heard, and Patrick says, "Everyone, please report to your stations. Hopefully, the local news will report updates; but General Hospital must be prepared if it doesn't.

Patrick, Elizabeth, Claire (Jason and Drew) are on the 1stnd floor ER

Monica, Jeff, Robin, and Bobbie 2nd floor

Terry, Kelly, Portia, Deanna, and Amy are at the 3rd-floor station

Finn, Dr. Navarro, Caissus, and Nurse Jessica on the West Wing part of the 4th floor

Kelly, Portia, TJ, Saira, and Felix on the East Wing on the 4th floor

The news returns and NASA reports DART is destroyed. They say the satellites report the asteroid has broken apart. Debris is hurtling toward the ground, and panic occurs in other cities. Port Charles mostly remains quiet until everyone hears a loud BOOM! The sound reverberates throughout the town.

Monica announces over the speaker to stay calm and wait for instructions.

The National Guard wearing riot gear, head toward the sound. Off in the distance, there are fires burning and smoke plumes. More explosions and irregular shapes and sizes of the asteroid fall all over Port Charles.

Dante and Chase are on patrol, shuffling curious residents back into their homes; when another crash sounds much closer, Dante looks up, and part of the asteroid the size of a park bench hits a building several blocks away. The building explodes, fragments of the pieces scatter, and Dante, Chase, and other officers run for cover. A piece the size of a brick flies down and hits one of the officers in the head. Chase runs to him and checks his pulse. He shouts, "Officer down, Officer down" They don't have time for EMTs, and Chases takes him in their squad car to General Hospital.

Patrick chastises Chase for bringing in an injured person with a head injury without a proper neck brace. Patrick examines the officer, and he needs surgery. Patrick asks Elizabeth to scrub in. Chase leaves to find Dante.

Dante heads to the building destroyed, and a few members of the National Guard are there to survey and look for survivors. There are none. There are at least ten bodies removed. Dante can identify three of them. He doesn't have time to give a notification and makes a mental note to notify the family before the day ends.

More crashes and explosions happen all over town. Some stragglers outside with minor injuries made it to General Hospital and were treated and released.

Fortunately, the officer's injuries were not as severe as Patrick first thought, and an hour later, the officer was in recovery. Elizabeth and Patrick leave the OR after cleaning up, and another Boom! So loud the building shakes and the sound of glass shatters. Jason, Elizabeth, and Patrick rush to see if anyone is injured. The shattered windows are on the 4th floor of the East Wing. Lying on the floor is TJ, and his face has blood over it. Saira and Felix are attempting to treat him. Elizabeth puts on her gloves and instructs Felix to find antiseptic and gauze. While Elizabeth cleans TJ's wounds, Saira finds sealed packets of surgical instruments and thread. She anesthesis the injury and stitches up TJ's face while Elizabeth assists.

Portia knocked to the floor begins stirring. Patrick rushes to her and tells her to lie still. He checks her vitals and head and neck. Portia assures him she is fine, and he helps her sit up.

Jason helps TJ to a wheelchair, and Portia leans on Patrick as everyone rushes to the ER. Jason and Cassius return to the East Wing, and Cassius sweeps glass as Jason boards up the windows. Monica ordered the transfer of the ten remaining patients on the 4th floor to the 3rd floor. Saira, Felix, Claire, and Drew assisted in moving the patients to the 3rd floor. Cassius finished sweeping and helped move the six patients from the West Wing to the same floor. Once Jason completed boarding up the windows, he returned to the ER.

Dante finishes a prayer in his head for those who died. Another object falls and showers near the Metro Court. Dante knows several people staying there and is worried there could be more curiosity seekers. He calls Mac and asks for assistance. They meet at the Metro Court, and a few people lie in the street. There is one death and two injuries. The EMTs transport the injured to General Hospital.

Mac says, "Dante, keep reports of this off the radios. I will travel with the deceased to the morgue and follow up with the doctors on the injured; You must check on everyone in the Metro Court Basement. Do not provide names to anyone down there."

Dante replies, "I understand, Mac. My sympathies."

Dante checks on the remaining residents in the Metro Court basement. They are accounted for except for the three people. He tells them to stay put until notified. Dante returns outside, and Chase rejoins him. Another object falls and hits a building six blocks away. Dante and Chase run to the structure, and the offices are destroyed. If there were people inside, there would be no survivors; they would need to get the cadaver dogs out, but by all appearances, the building was deserted.

TJ is admitted to a room, and Molly sits by his bed. He wakes up and says, "Molly, I'm glad you are here."

Molly replies, "Of course. I don't want to be anywhere else but with you."

Patrick insisted that Portia get a head CT before signing off her return to work. The results indicate no signs of head injury. Portia pops a couple of aspirin and rests in her office. She asks to be paged if there are emergencies. Patrick cleared Portia for duty, and Saira restricted TJ to his hospital bed.

A few stragglers walk in, but their injuries are minor enough for interns and student nurses to treat. With a lull in the ER, Patrick and Elizabeth take a coffee break. Jason Robin uses the time to check data on Elizabeth in her lab. Monica, Jeff, and Bobbie reminisce about when Jeff last worked at General Hospital in the 1970s.

Patrick and Elizabeth are sipping coffee when they announce two emergencies are en route.

Two ambulances pull in with injuries from the Metro Court. Kelly and Deanna triage the first one and have him moved to an exam room. The next ambulance arrives, and as an orderly pulls down the gurney and rolls it to the ER entrance, Patrick looks at the patient, pauses, and catches his breath. Elizabeth approaches to help and looks at the gurney. She gasps and dials her phone.

Patrick says, "Wait, I'll make the call after I access her injuries. She should hear it from me. You aren't one of her favorite persons."

Elizabeth replies, "That's why I'm calling her favorite person." She says. "Jason, please come to the ER now. It's important."

Patrick calls Robin to assist as Elizabeth will be dealing with Jason. Patrick takes Joss to an exam room and provides a cursory exam. She has numerous superficial cuts on her arms and abrasions on her legs. She has lacerations on her face and wounds on her head. Joss stirs and moans. She opens her eyes and struggles against the restraints, and Patrick has to keep her head from moving, even with her cervical collar. Robin enters and says, "Oh my God!"

Patrick says, "Robin, help me keep her still."

Joss cries, "Where is my dad? He was with me outside the Metro Court."

Robin leans toward Joss and says, "Joss, you need to stay still and let Patrick examine you; he will take care of you. I will find out about your father."

Joss hyperventilates and replies, "He saved my life; you can't leave him out there. Please find him. Your Uncle and Dante found us."

Patrick says, "You find Jax, but Joss needs surgery NOW! Elizabeth is talking to Jason and is too close to Joss to assist. Can you page Claire to assist?"

Robin asks Deanna to paige Claire, and she tries calling her Uncle Mac.

Jason arrives, and Elizbeth fills him in as much as she can. She tells him about Joss being brought into the ER. She says, "Patrick is assessing the extent of her injuries, but I think you should be the one to tell Carly."

Jason says, "Can I see Joss first?"

Elizabeth replies, "Follow me; Patrick can tell you more."

Robin is on the phone, and an orderly is wheeling Joss to the OR. Elizabeth asks Patrick if Jason can see Joss first. Patrick says, "You have one minute."

Jason says, "I'll call your mom. Where is Jax?"

Joss cries, "I don't know. He was next to me when I fell. Please find him, Jason."

Patrick says, "Jason, you must let go of her hand if you want us to save her." Jason lets go, turns, and sobs into Elizabeth's arms. Jason catches his breath, sighs, and pulls out his phone. He hangs up and contemplates telling Carly in person.

Mac walks in, and Elizabeth places her hand on Jason to look up. Mac hugs Robin turns to Jason, and says, "I'm sorry, but Jax is dead."

Robin's hand goes to her face, "How, when?"

Elizabeth holds Jason's hand, and he asks, "Mac, will you let me break the news to Carly?"

Mac replies, "Jason, I wish it was that simple. Jax is in the morgue; Joss is in surgery; there is nothing Carly can do now that she can't do in six hours. If it were me, I'd want to instantly know if it was Maxie or Felecia who was hurt, but I can't risk civilians in the streets when pieces of the asteroid continue to fall."

Jason says, " I understand, Mac, but Carly won't understand why I or anyone waited to tell her. I'm willing to risk driving to tell her about Joss and Jax. I need to do this, Mac."

Mac replies, "Are you willing to risk driving her back here and hope an asteroid doesn't fall on your car, injuring her, or you swerving to avoid parts of the asteroid and wrecking the vehicle, injuring or killing you both?"

Jason says, "Mac, you said you'd want to know immediately, you can either come with me or arrest me, but Carly is not waiting to hear her ex-husband is dead and her daughter is in surgery."

Mac says, "I'd love to arrest you if only to keep you off the streets for a few hours. I know you'd do anything for Carly, and you want to protect her from finding out about her family from someone else. You are willing to risk your life and safety. I would probably do the same for my family. Carly won't forgive anyone whether she's told now or when the National Guard says the streets are safe. Will Elizabeth forgive you if something happens to you while you are risking your life to…."

Elizabeth interrupts, "Mac, how dare you use Jason's love for me against his friendship with Carly. I don't tell Jason what to do. Of course, I want him safe, but I've known Joss since she was a baby. Until recently, she was dating Cameron. If I were Carly, I'd like to know. If it were one of my boys, I'd want to know. Do you think a few hours won't change how Carly feels? Mac, find a way to get Carly and Sonny here. Don't make this tragedy even worse by not letting Carly be by her daughter's side when she wakes up."

Robin says, "Please, Uncle Mac."

Mac says, "Fine, but Jason, you are leaving without the PCPD's permission."

Jason replies, "It's not the first time."

Mac says, "Don't tell them about Jax until they arrive."

Jason replies, "I'll try, but I won't lie."

Elizabeth says, "Be careful. I love you."

Jason replies, "I love you too."

Jason leaves, wiping away tears as he drives to Sonny and Carly's house.

Carly, Sonny, and Joss

The Q's

The Scorpio house

The coffee warehouse

Mayor's Mansion

Other Damages

Deaths and survivors