The Old Man and the survivors rrun towards the small sandbank island that the ship is connected to.
They run and crawl up to the tallest point to look out.
Some cry.
Others are joyful.
Some have lost their minds in their chambers.
I'll have to exterminate them, The Old Man thought to himself. It is what we signed up for.
The Old Man has a running check list going through his head.
But right now, it is survive.
The demonic horde was real. It all happened so fast at the end. Nobody knew what was true or false. There was so much misinformation.
I'm surprised we were able to get in the pods. Once the bombs started going off.
The Old Man has a problem, as his body and lungs ache from running after not moving for...well, how long was it?
Humanity had survived. And seemingly was thriving, in small pockets.
"That wasn't part of the plan," The Old Man says to himself, while pulling and gasping to the top of the hill. "They will have to get in line. There is a new boss. A new way."
The Old Man feels for his backpack. Of course it was there, but he has to make sure it never moved. It was all in there.
But it is also in his head. And he didn't have long to implement.
Gunfire and commotion is heard from inside the ship, but the pod people aren't worried about that.
"I need to talk to Cole, alone," The Old Man says to himself out loud.
Margaret hears him say it. "You need to stop talking out loud," she says.
He nods.
But then he looks out and his mouth drops.
The beauty and the horror of the atomic sky and the sea and the crashed arks and spaceships and islands.
It was worse than they had ever imagined.
The Old Man has a cold sweat go through his body.
No. No. There is no way our plans will work in this world.
The Old Man knew every part of the world. He studied geography and food sources and water and plants and where it would all begin.
It didn't take a scientist to see this was the not the same world.
Tears go down his eyes.
"What happened?" Is all he can say.
The Old Man then turns towards the crashed aircraft carrier, wondering where Cole and the soldier are.
"That soldier. We must talk to him. Where is he?"
A violent and bright light hits all of them.
The noise from the explosion shatters ear drums that have been protected in a silent pod.
The pod people fall back as the middle half of the aircraft carrier explodes, and splits in half and falls onto itself.
The explosion is violent as metal and debris is thrown and flames go up and the ship collapses on itself, leaving a part of it still standing.
Still standing wreckage is left like a tower of the old world, smoke and flames coming from it.
The Old Man lifts himself, shaking his head at the violence and force.
He turns to what he thought was the start of humanity.
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
We are just late to the party. We won't even be invited. There is no way we can rule and repopulate.
The Old Man often spoke of his hatred of religion in the old world.
But a stinging verse or mantra stayed with him, as he looked around at his new kingdom.
He couldn't quite remember all of it. The plans of man, but God prevails...or something like that.
His backpack was useless now.
The survivors stare at him, and then back at the destruction, then back at him.
Was this it? This is where we will begin?!
The Old Man stands, nods at them at the wide open.
"Come. We must make a raft. There is some drift wood. That small tree there. And some of the wreckage from the ship. There might be lifeboats. We must get to work. Now."
The Old Man turns back towards the wreckage.
"Where is Cole? And that soldier. That man. He could help us. Where is he?"
He was talking out loud again.
jason. we gotta go
hold up
no. somebody wants to talk to you, chief
who?
the amtek corporation
who is that? they keep sending me emails and texts
you should answer. its important, bruh
whatever. i'm getting married, bruh
who knows. this guys could pay for the honeymoon
or the crib.
pregnant?
yeah. shotgun wedding
congrats!
thanks
come on, jason
wait. who are these guys coming up?
that is them, bro
hello
sorry i need to go
please. sir. we need to speak. it is a matter of national security. it is of the highest importance
i'm on leave, guys. i'm getting married
sir, let me be honest. there will not be a world to be in with your future wife and child if you don't talk with us
how do you know about them? who are you guys?
hold up, jason. look
he looks at his phone
the text code comes through. the one they prepared them for but they never expected would come through
is this real? is this a test?
what's wrong?
sorry, whoever you are, we got bigger issues
did you get a ******** code?
how do you know about that? honestly. who the hell are you guys?
the suits look at each other and run off, but turn
we'll be in contact. if we survive
jason, this isn't a test
nuclear war
where we getting sent?
some spot in the pacific. a hot spot. some new enemy
a new enemy? what is a new enemy?
some portal. something.
what does that have to do with nuclear war?
helicopters
guns
war
all of them went off
stranded
you will no longer be called jason
who are you?
your name is orion
where is my family? where is my team? where am i?
everyone is dead
fights. punches. kicks.
somehow, they strap him down
where am i?
tell me your name
jason
wrong answer. pain
tell me your name
jason
more pain
tell me your name
go to hell
we're already there
more pain
i'm going to ask you once last time. what is your name?
orion
