With the ascent of the sun over the horizon, a comforting sense of hope pervades the people. There's a collective wish that, perhaps today, the clouds above won't shroud the sunlight. The sun's rays, attempting to pierce through the frigid northern air, bring with them a touch of warmth, infusing the surroundings with a glimmer of promise.
Jack emerges as the first to rise, stepping out of his tent to greet the day with a simple smile adorning his face. Casting a glance around, he checks if others around him have already got up and prepared. However, as anticipated, many of them choose to remain nestled in their warm bed rolls, opting for a bit more rest before starting their day.
The working hours won't commence until the foreman rings his bell to let the others know. In contrast to others, Jack promptly directs himself to his gathering post, eager to complete the collection of the remaining scraps of steel still scattered throughout the area he's been assigned to.
Back at the generator, it continues to emanate warmth, providing comfort to the sleepers huddled around it.
One of those sleepers wrapped up in blankets is Walter.
Walter gradually opens his eyes to the rhythmic crunch of Jack's footsteps on the snowy ground, humming a tune to himself as he goes about his tasks. Shaking off the remnants of sleep, Walter rubs his face, stretches his body, and rises to his feet. Without delay, he makes his way directly to the cookhouse to see if Finn is cooking up something to eat.
It baffles Walter's mind as he continues to hear Jack's humming from a distance. He remembers him from last night. It was impossible to forget his cheerful demeanor in such a gloomy environment. Despite this, Walter dismisses Jack's behavior and proceeds directly to the cookhouse.
Entering the cookhouse, Walter discovers that he's the sole occupant inside the place, aside from Finn, the cook. The absence of others creates an unexpected solitude, allowing the subdued sounds of boiling stew and crackling fire to envelop the space. Walter exchanges a nod with Finn, who is immersed in his culinary duties.
"An early riser? Come on in and take a seat, early birds get the food fresher." Finn said as he noticed Walter at the front table where he could see Finn's cooking station. "I'm afraid that the stew is still cooking in the pot, however, I do have some kettles ready to serve up some drinks." Finn points behind him to show kettles already boiling on the stove.
"Well, any chance that I could get a cup of coffee to drink?" Walter asked. Preferring coffee amidst the abundance of tea, Walter couldn't fathom the idea of never enjoying the rich warmth of coffee again, especially after the great frost halted all food production.
Finn nods with an understanding smile, "So, you're an American. That accent of yours kind of threw me off for a second. Hardly anyone drinks coffee around here. But I do have some coffee beans lying around here. Might take a while to brew them if you don't mind, of course."
"I can wait, I could use a bit of coffee to knock some sleep off of me." Walter said.
"Of course, One order of steaming hot coffee is coming right up." Finn said, with a final nod, sets to work, preparing a steaming cup of coffee that soon finds its way into Walter's grateful hands. As the warmth of the coffee embraces him, Walter settles into a momentary respite, savoring both the soothing drink and the quiet ambiance of the cookhouse, smiling with content as he tries to enjoy the rest of the morning before work.
"Say, pardon me for asking, buddy, but aren't you the only American out here?" Finn inquired, his curiosity getting the best of him.
Walter nodded, "Yeah, I am. Unfortunately, there isn't another American that I know of," he replied, trying not to appear too saddened by his question.
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Today, the completion of the scout beacon construction looms on the horizon. Its expansive balloon ascends, soaring above the city and spanning the crater, offering a visible marker for explorers and scouts to effortlessly locate their home in case any of them get lost in the snow.
The Captain was also up on his feet and came to check up on the beacon's completion to see it climbing up in the sky. The tireless engineers, some enduring sleepless nights, have poured their efforts into the project, eagerly anticipating its imminent activation.
Seeing one of the engineers standing nearby at the beacon, the captain approaches the engineer to seek an update report on the contraption. "Hello there, I noticed that the beacon is up and running, how is it coming along?" he queries.
The engineer turns his attention to him, lifting up his visor before responding to him, "It's progressing well, Captain. Just a few more minor adjustments, and we won't be blind in the snow anymore." He said.
The beacon promise a crucial navigational advantage through the relentless snowfall. Satisfied with the progress, the captain nods approvingly. "Very good, carry on then," he instructs, allowing the engineer to resume his work.
However, the captain grapples with a growing concern – dwindling resources. Contemplating solutions, he wonders if constructing coal mines and steel workshops might address the issue. Yet, the rush for establishment of such facilities poses a resource challenge of its own, requiring careful consideration for sustainable production in the future.
Hope lingers in the prospect of resources beyond the crater, with the new scouts serving as the city's new hope. Just the thought of venturing out there in the frozen uncharted plains sends a shiver down the captain's spine.
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After enjoying his cup of morning coffee, Walter peruses the notice affixed to the board outside the captain's tent: "Volunteers needed for scouting." A small group gathers around him, engaging in discussions about this new job opportunity.
"Not a chance, I won't venture back out there. I barely made it here when our Dreadnaught ran out of power," declared one of the citizens. Another chimed in, "There were plenty of beasts lurking in the darkness and snow. Even at night, we wouldn't be able to see them. It would be crazy to do that."
"Not to mention the wolves, everyone could hear them howling like crazy last night."
One citizen shakes his head as he declines the offer, "The job may be important, but I can't risk my life going back out there with such a dangerous task. Forget this; I'd rather work here where it's safer." He departs, and soon, the others follow suit, leaving Walter alone to ponder his decision. Crossing his arms, he contemplates and calculates the odds before him.
Going out in the unknown where there could be lots of potential dangers could be a reason for not volunteering, but staying here and doing nothing but building and gathering resources can get boring eventually. Doing some exploring and mapping out the frozen north could be of some entertainment, Walter hardly knows anyone here as well. With him not around much, it would hardly affect anyone.
However, embarking on such a journey alone doesn't seem like a good idea. The prospect of accepting the scouting job becomes more appealing if he could find at least one other person with the bravery and perhaps a touch of foolishness to join him on this expedition. Unbeknownst to Walter, another familiar individual happens to be standing right next to him the entire time.
"Volunteers needed for scouting," Jack's voice reads, surprising Walter just a little bit. "Huh, that's certainly interesting, alright. But I'm not seeing any volunteers signing up for the job. What do you think, Walter?" Jack turns to him.
"When did you get here? I thought I was the only one standing here," Walter inquired, disregarding Jack's question and demanding an explanation of how and when Jack managed to sneak up on him without notice.
"Well, I noticed that you were the only one standing outside the captain's tent. You seemed to be contemplating, and I had to know what was so interesting that made you be that way. So I came over here to find out for myself," Jack explained.
"Alright, that's fair, but don't sneak up on people like that. You gave me a scare just now," Walter remarked. Jack tilted his head in confusion, "But I wasn't sneaking up on you. I was walking pretty normally while you were so deep in your thoughts that you didn't notice me. But you still haven't answered my question though, what do you think of this scouting job?" Jack asked again.
Walter sighs, "Alright, I get it. And to answer your question, honestly, I think this job is a little dangerous, but I can understand why there is a need for this. We're practically lost in the middle of nowhere with no sense of direction outside the crater. The captain needs someone brave enough to go out and map out the locations if we need to find a place to hunt or gather more resources."
Jack nods as Walter explains, "However, I would go out there if it means to give us a better chance of survival. But I can't do it alone, and not everyone wants to go back out there again. Finding a partner would be tricky, I need someone who isn't afraid of danger and will do their job without hesitation." he said.
Jack raised his eyebrows, stepping in front of Walter as he introduced himself, "Well, as much as I'd love to assist the folks here with gathering, they've got enough hands to handle that on their own. If you need a partner, I could go with you. Trust me, this isn't just a pretty face; I can handle what's out there. If I can make it all the way from London and still crack a smile, what can't I do?"
Walter stares at Jack, squinting his eyes as he goes back into contemplating. Jack looks a little younger than him, meaning he might not be as experienced as he turns out to be. But aside from his look of inexperienced, his attitude towards the job proves that he might be the best option that Walter could take.
Rolling his eyes, Walter gives in, "Alright, If you want to tag along, you need to do as I say. I don't want you to do anything foolish or naive. We might die horribly from this, but I think you get the idea. You got me?" he asked.
Jack nods back with an excited grin, "You can count me, Walter." he gives a thumbs up to him.
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The captain couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment upon hearing from his engineers that only two volunteers had stepped forward for the scout mission.
While he understood their concerns, considering the relentless journey from London and the uncertainties of the unknown, he also acknowledged that having two volunteers was better than having none. Given the demanding circumstances, the fact that any volunteers stepped up was, in itself, a pleasant surprise.
Resigned to the realities of the situation, the captain remained open to any help he could get.
Approaching the recently erected hut adjacent to the beacon, the assigned meeting place for New London's inaugural scout team, the captain found it already occupied by two young men. It dawned on him that these must be the two courageous volunteers for the mission, as he overheard them engaged in a discussion about their impending departure.
"I'll handle the maps; it'll be more efficient if I manage the navigation. You can concentrate on watching our backs while we're out there," Walter said, inspecting his rifle fitted with a crudely made sniper scope. Jack gave his new ice ax a few practice swings and asked, "What about if we come across any dangerous beasts? Like those wolves, for example?"
"I'm hoping we won't encounter them when we're out there. I've got a few flares from the engineers; they should help if we have to defend ourselves," Walter said, taking out a few to show and hand to Jack.
Concerned about another aspect, Jack asked, "What about food? How long will we be out there for?" Walter paused, contemplating, and responded, "Damn, you're right. I'll have to ask Finn since most of the food comes from him. Maybe he could spare a few rations for us if he's generous."
Their conversation came to an abrupt halt as they observed the captain approaching. They paused in their activities and greeted him.
"Good morning, Captain. Is there something you need from us?" Jack asked. The captain surveyed the tent, responding, "I was informed that only two of you have volunteered for the scouting mission. I wasn't expecting to see you again after our first meeting. I wanted to come and thank you both for your courage and selflessness in embarking on this dangerous task ahead."
"Oh, you didn't have to, Captain. It's the least me and my new partner, Walter, could do," Jack said as Walter walked up to the captain's view. Surprise crossed the captain's face as he looked at Walter. "I recognize your face as well, you were the one that gave me your advice on that night," said the captain.
"I hope you were heeding it well, Captain. I've had my fair share of leaders, and they usually follow blindly with the crowd. I hope you won't have to submit to that fate," Walter replied.
The captain nodded, "Thank you, Walter. It's challenging to maintain a facade for everyone. There are only a few people here whom I can trust enough to reveal my concerns." Jack shook his head, "You don't have to worry about that, Captain. I understand your struggle. I mean, Walter and I are about to venture back out there again, so it's hardly any different for us." Jack reassured the captain.
"Speaking of venturing outside, do you two have enough supplies for the trip? I couldn't help but overhear your discussion about food rations and the lack of manpower. I wouldn't want to lose two more people so soon," the captain asked.
"We understand, Captain. We'll be careful. Walter told me he's good with a rifle, so I think we'll be fine," Jack said.
"The engineers said that they didn't have enough time to finish the radio pack for us. We could wait till it was finished, but Jack didn't want to keep the people from our lost expedition waiting for us. Time is running out and we don't know if they are still alive out there." Walter explained.
"Right, you two might have to embark with the radio if that's the case. I'll mark your map on where the lost expedition was last seen, after that I can go see Finn about getting you those rations for the trip." The captain offered.
Jack smiled, "That would be very helpful, captain. Thank you." he said.
"Before I go, I'll need to brief you two again on your first mission. Your objective is to locate the remaining members of our lost expedition, and they shouldn't be too far from here. The map you're using should be the same as theirs, so backtracking shouldn't be too hard to find them. Once you make contact, get them ready as soon as you can and bring them here," he instructed them.
The two of them saluted, "Yes, Captain. We won't let you down," Jack said. "Then I wish you two the best of luck. I'll be waiting at the freight lift with your supplies." the captain said, leaving them to their duties.
Jack and Walter observed as the captain exited the hut. "So, what do you think of the captain?" Jack asked, curious about Walter's thoughts. "Not much, but he seems alright. I guess," replied Walter with a casual shrug before returning to check his gear.
"I wonder what we'll come across out there. The thought of it just excites me even more," Jack said, grabbing his gear. "I'm sorry that I couldn't use a gun. I thought that we may not even need guns when we go out."
"Don't worry about it. We're not heading to some dangerous place; we're just doing a bit of backtracking and finding our people. This shouldn't even take long, at best, maybe almost a whole day. This rifle on my back may not look like much, but this isn't the first time I've shot a gun," Walter assured as he grabbed his pack and left the tent.
Jack follows behind him shortly after.
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The walk to the lift had been a quieter affair. No cheers or encouragement echoed along the way. The absence of their fellow residence left an unusual silence, emphasizing the nerves that naturally accompany venturing out into the seemingly empty snowy plains. It was expected, but that didn't deter Jack and Walter from carrying out their mission.
"You've got this, Jack. You've got this," Jack softly murmurs to himself. Walter, meanwhile, remains contemplative about the unknown awaiting them beyond the crater. Upon reaching the pre-built freight lift, originally intended for transporting resources to construct the generator, the duo notices four individuals present for their departure.
The captain returns with two wrapped packages, likely containing supplies. An engineer stands ready behind the control panel, ensuring the smooth operation of the lift. Additionally, Olivia, the mother from before that Jack helped, stands beside the captain with her child, Rose.
"Here you two are, your rations for the trip. Make sure to keep them warm in your packs. Finn made a lot of preparations just for you two," the captain said, handing over the warm packages. The sensation of warmth still lingered in their hands. "Thank you, Captain. Please convey our thanks to Finn as well," Walter expressed his gratitude.
Jack smiled warmly, appreciating the gesture. "They smell amazing. Thanks a lot, Captain," he said, joyfully stowing the warm package inside his pack.
"I apologize if you were expecting a crowd to see you off. Not many people are anticipating much, but at least you've got us here. I'll be around often since I'm tasked to operate the lift for you guys. I'm Benjamin, by the way," added the engineer.
Walter shakes Benjamin's hand, "Likewise, glad to be working with you," he said.
"Thanks for the lift," Jack jokes with a smile, causing everyone but Walter to laugh. Rose stifles her laughter as Olivia gives her thanks to Jack, "I figured it would be appropriate to see you off; my little Rose here also wanted to see you before you leave. She was the one who reminded me about your help that day."
Rose shyly nods when Olivia mentions her.
Jack crouches down to Rose's eye level, grinning warmly. "You're welcome, Rose. I'm impressed you still remember me. We'll be back soon, and you can count on us," he assures her with a thumbs up.
Meanwhile, Benjamin initiates the lift, bringing vitality to the platform. As it lights up and emits a gentle hum, he announces, "The lift is ready. Opening the gates now. Remember, once you reach the top, push the lever down to send the lift back down." he said.
"Got it," Jack said.
Benjamin closes the gate and pushes the lever up, setting the lift in motion towards the top. As the platform ascends, a palpable sense of apprehension creeps over Jack and Walter. They observe the captain and the rest, waving, gradually shrinking in the distance as the lift carries them higher.
"I know this might sound silly to you, but I'm honestly scared about going back out there," Walter admitted. Jack turned to him, "I know. I am too, but I couldn't show it to the others," Jack said.
"I mean, getting here was already hard as it is, and the frozen ocean wasn't entirely frozen solid when we crossed it. Leaving home while everyone else is still stuck there was the scariest sensation for me," Walter explained.
The view of their new home was getting smaller as they approached the surface. "Well, there's no going back now, don't you think? I mean, ready or not, we have to do this. If not us, then who?" Jack said as he put his hand on Walter's shoulder.
Walter nodded, "Yeah."
As the lift finally reached the edge of the crater, they were met with the biting cold of a harsh blizzard, the wind blowing fiercely against their faces. Fortunately, the snow goggles they wore offered protection for their eyes. The temperature felt noticeably warmer when they were still inside the crater, and at least the wind outside didn't buffet them as strongly.
Jack and Walter pull their hoods tightly over their heads, securing the straps on their gear. Walter takes the lead in opening the gate, allowing Jack to step out first. "It's freezing up here!" Jack exclaims, shielding his face from the onslaught of snow. "I can barely see a damn thing in front of me!"
Walter promptly closes the gate and initiates the lift's descent back down the crater. As he watches the lift disappear, he hopes for a safe return. "Well, we're outside. So now what do we do?" Jack questions, hugging his body for warmth.
Feeling the biting cold, Walter shares Jack's discomfort. The irony of their situation isn't lost on them – two individuals out of their minds and embarking on a dangerous yet crucial mission.
Walter looks at Jack, "I hate this just as much as you do, but we've got a job to do." Retrieving the map from his coat, he activates the heat lamp strapped to his chest and the back of his pack. "Let's get moving. The faster we find them, the faster we can get out of this cold," Walter declares, emphasizing the urgency of their mission.
Jack mirrors Walter's actions, activating his two heat lamps. On one hand, he wields his ice ax, ready for any challenges the icy terrain might throw at them. In the other, he holds a light source, illuminating their path through the frozen expanse.
"Alright, lead the way. I'll be right behind you," Jack said. Walter, gazing at the vast snowy plains before them, nods. He takes the lead, with Jack following closely behind.
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A/N: It looks like I would have to end the chapter here with chapter three needing a lot of changes, it is actually longer than I anticipated. So splitting it up sounds like a good idea for now. That way I won't suffer a burn out from trying to hit so much in one chapter.
So, it is obvious that the changes are more towards Jack and Walter. And I have already chosen this as it was too much work for me to make that multi-perspective story. I am not a professional writer, so I didn't have to put so much work on myself. And this is just a hobby.
I tried my best to write Walter and Jack's personalities as best as I could. And polish much of the things that were too little description and too many dialogues overtaking the story. Also with their introduction being done in the first chapter with the captain, it was easier to make the captain more familiar with the duo.
The scene where the captain and the others send them off was something I never thought would fit well. IT does make their interactions more meaningful in a way. In the game, you can have any worker to be a scout, but in this story, no one wants to as it is too dangerous. A little dash of realism, everyone is scared of what's out there they don't know. Walter and Jack go because of their own reasons.
At least this feels better than the old one.
I wish I had more to talk about, but I am tired from writing the chapter. I hope you guys enjoy it.
Thank you all so much for reading.