SCENARIO: At sunrise September 15th, 2004 around the world, everyone except the Startrekfans.net members suddenly vanish (are "Taken" similar to the New Testament Revelations and the movie-"Left Behind" ......) leaving behind only we few, this is our story ~The Days After~.
Rules: Your entries are to be journal like...and interaction between characters can't span more than 24 hours in a single entry (example: don not write- I walked for 6 days and now am doing such and such< that forces others to account/catch up what they did for all that time). Be yourself, or make up a "realistic" contemporary character, reveal as much or as little of the real you as you like, just no "super-powers" and no futuristic technology. The RPG is about what You would do, if we found we were the only one's left behind.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The Days After~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
September 15th 2004 07:00 A.M. Central Time
My alarm sounds. I roll out of bed, wipe my eyes and climb back into the driver's seat. I'm a over the road truck driver, and this load's got to be in Chicago before 5 p.m. I release the brakes and pull out of the Pilot truck-stop -Mauston, Wi.
The sunrise was about 30 minutes earlier, and I guess I'm getting a jump on the other drivers....the truck stop seems still quiet..I think to myself "Early bird gets the worm...as I pull onto Interstate 90/94.
I drive just a few miles...and there's an Accident up ahead. I gear down as I approach, it looks like a bad one.. a three car pile-up, one has ran off the road and rolled over, it's on fire. I stop, grab my fire extinguisher and run to the burning car to put out the fire.....but no one's inside! I check the other cars...nothing there but clothes. I call 911 on my cell, No Answer! I look up and down the hi-way, no traffic...AT ALL! I begin to get a strange scary feeling, I climb back into my rig and continue down the hi-way, here and there cars, trucks all ran off the road, some setting still, others rolled over, some on fire.....but still NO BODY AROUND.
I near the Petro-Portage,Wi I pull off the hi-way...I've been trying to call everyone I know on Phone...no answers! There's a large fire at the truck stop fuel island, a Semi had ran over a Pump and the whole island is on fire, still no fire trucks, no by-standers. I pull around to the main building, luckily it's a good distance from the fire. I go inside......no one there, just little piles of clothing here and there, I'm shaking now....but then I catch the smell of the Breakfast Bar, I enter the Restaurant....there's a full bar of fresh food, but no one there...I go into the kitchen and there's burning food, what used to be bacon on the grill...no one's there, here and there plates of food dropped on the floor amid little piles of clothing. Well, guess my first order of business is Survival....I better not let this food go to waste, I make a plate and set down to a quiet 9:30 A.M. breakfast.
Full Version: ~~~The Days After~~~~
OFF: COOL!!! A RAPTURE SCENARIO!!!
ON: September 17, 2004
I sit here bored and eating fruit. It might the last of the fruit in the house, maybe in town. I'm wondering what is happening to the world. Lots of homework. Those teachers are so evil. It's like they want to teach nothing but junk. Might as well do my homework. At least they should give us a break since so many people disappeared.
ON: September 17, 2004
I sit here bored and eating fruit. It might the last of the fruit in the house, maybe in town. I'm wondering what is happening to the world. Lots of homework. Those teachers are so evil. It's like they want to teach nothing but junk. Might as well do my homework. At least they should give us a break since so many people disappeared.
15 September 2004 A.D.
Time: Eh, it's dark..
The twilight hour before the sun appears...
I fall out of bed..
Run a comb across my head, check on my alarm clocks and why they still haven't responded, and take part in my usual routine morning activities.
Puccini filled the room, and then I departed. A walk around this great metropolis I dwelled in*. As sun begans to take on it's job, its radiance reflects of the skyline's buildings.
Highways remained tranquil. Despite the many driverless cars.
Maybe the movie Maximum Overdrive became fact now...
I come round to the usually disorganized used- and rare-bookstore to greet the lady of the store, buy a few (OK, several..) out-of-print books, and hang around too long until she tells me to get out or realize I'm just part of her imagination.
The bookstore remained empty, despite the doors being opened.
Well well well, looks like opportunity and luck has shown their face...
...Too bad I don't steal. But I'll get to have the whole store to myself.
And so I dwell in the store, till the thunder-clouds come round and battled the sun, until it retreated elsewhere and the clouds took dominance over the sky.
Anyone is welcome to enter the store...
I'll call it the "The Green Dragon Lair for Lost Books" for right now...
Is this about the rapture? Or is it simply a sudden mass disappearance of everyone?
I'd prefer the latter... But that's my view.
Can't really think of some sci-fictional examples, besides the TZ episode: "Where is Everybody?".
Oh, I don't live in a city, but cities with absolutely no people are cool and weird.
Time: Eh, it's dark..
The twilight hour before the sun appears...
I fall out of bed..
Run a comb across my head, check on my alarm clocks and why they still haven't responded, and take part in my usual routine morning activities.
Puccini filled the room, and then I departed. A walk around this great metropolis I dwelled in*. As sun begans to take on it's job, its radiance reflects of the skyline's buildings.
Highways remained tranquil. Despite the many driverless cars.
Maybe the movie Maximum Overdrive became fact now...
I come round to the usually disorganized used- and rare-bookstore to greet the lady of the store, buy a few (OK, several..) out-of-print books, and hang around too long until she tells me to get out or realize I'm just part of her imagination.
The bookstore remained empty, despite the doors being opened.
Well well well, looks like opportunity and luck has shown their face...
...Too bad I don't steal. But I'll get to have the whole store to myself.
And so I dwell in the store, till the thunder-clouds come round and battled the sun, until it retreated elsewhere and the clouds took dominance over the sky.
Anyone is welcome to enter the store...
I'll call it the "The Green Dragon Lair for Lost Books" for right now...
Is this about the rapture? Or is it simply a sudden mass disappearance of everyone?
I'd prefer the latter... But that's my view.
Can't really think of some sci-fictional examples, besides the TZ episode: "Where is Everybody?".
Oh, I don't live in a city, but cities with absolutely no people are cool and weird.
QUOTE(WEAREBORG4102 @ Sep 17 2004, 11:24 PM)
OFF: COOL!!! A RAPTURE SCENARIO!!!
ON: September 17, 2004
I sit here bored and eating fruit. It might the last of the fruit in the house, maybe in town. I'm wondering what is happening to the world. Lots of homework. Those teachers are so evil. It's like they want to teach nothing but junk. Might as well do my homework. At least they should give us a break since so many people disappeared.
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ON: September 17, 2004
I sit here bored and eating fruit. It might the last of the fruit in the house, maybe in town. I'm wondering what is happening to the world. Lots of homework. Those teachers are so evil. It's like they want to teach nothing but junk. Might as well do my homework. At least they should give us a break since so many people disappeared.
[right][snapback]264017[/snapback][/right]
Actually WAB, there would be no school-unless your teacher happens to be a member of the site, everyone who isn't a member of the site has vanished....there's only 1300 of us left world-wide. Sorry about your parents...this scenario isn't meant to scare anyone and it's not about religion-unless you consider STARTREK a religion..it's about coming together as a community being we are the the only group that's left, or if you choose your character can remain isolated till he/she realizes that the rest of us are still here with you, or you can be a Road Warrior/ Post Man type traveling around to locate and find all the survivors of this event.
September 15th 2004 10 a.m. CDT
I've finished my free breakfast buffet...push my plate aside and lay my head down on the table....this has all got to be a bad dream..maybe if i take a nap, I'll wake up and the waitress will bring me the check..and it will be business as usual.
12:00
I wake up...nope it didn't work..now what? I decide to go to the one place in town that's always open and there's always people worshiping 24-7.....Wal-Mart!
When I get there...all is quiet...now I know the End has come.....and this isn't heaven and it's not the other place..and I know I'm not the Omaga Man...there's got to be someone else still around it's just a matter of finding them...I do my shopping....batteries, kerosene siphon pump, better get lots of fruit before it all goes to waste...gas cans...I decide not to go "all out"...this might just be a localized event....in which case the security camera's have got me "red handed"...with that thought the "light bulb" in my head went off...I run up stairs to the security office and find the video surveillance recorders and rewind them........THERE! i stop the tape and re-view it for what seems like hours in utter shock......06:23...a bright beam sweeps the store...everyone vanished! I head back out to my truck and drive toward Chicago.
8 pm
I near O'Hare ...it's dark..what was once the best time to travel has become very difficult..the closer to the city I've came..the more traffic blocks my path...my head lights keep finding more stalled cars for me to maneuver around..in the distance there are fires all around the airport where planes have fallen out of the sky...I thank about it..and take comfort knowing no one was on them...and no one was on the ground. Tomorrow, I go to the Zoo....got to free the animals so they won't starve.
I've finished my free breakfast buffet...push my plate aside and lay my head down on the table....this has all got to be a bad dream..maybe if i take a nap, I'll wake up and the waitress will bring me the check..and it will be business as usual.
12:00
I wake up...nope it didn't work..now what? I decide to go to the one place in town that's always open and there's always people worshiping 24-7.....Wal-Mart!
When I get there...all is quiet...now I know the End has come.....and this isn't heaven and it's not the other place..and I know I'm not the Omaga Man...there's got to be someone else still around it's just a matter of finding them...I do my shopping....batteries, kerosene siphon pump, better get lots of fruit before it all goes to waste...gas cans...I decide not to go "all out"...this might just be a localized event....in which case the security camera's have got me "red handed"...with that thought the "light bulb" in my head went off...I run up stairs to the security office and find the video surveillance recorders and rewind them........THERE! i stop the tape and re-view it for what seems like hours in utter shock......06:23...a bright beam sweeps the store...everyone vanished! I head back out to my truck and drive toward Chicago.
8 pm
I near O'Hare ...it's dark..what was once the best time to travel has become very difficult..the closer to the city I've came..the more traffic blocks my path...my head lights keep finding more stalled cars for me to maneuver around..in the distance there are fires all around the airport where planes have fallen out of the sky...I thank about it..and take comfort knowing no one was on them...and no one was on the ground. Tomorrow, I go to the Zoo....got to free the animals so they won't starve.
WAB looks around. "Drat, I can't drive...
Ok, let's try this is the gas pedal. To parallel park, back up till car reaches halfway and back in. Adjust accordingly. Let's see... This is automatic not stick shift. So I don't have to press a random shift pedal thing." He looks down the street. No police that he sees. "Ok, here we go." The car roars down the street at 80 mph.
Ok, let's try this is the gas pedal. To parallel park, back up till car reaches halfway and back in. Adjust accordingly. Let's see... This is automatic not stick shift. So I don't have to press a random shift pedal thing." He looks down the street. No police that he sees. "Ok, here we go." The car roars down the street at 80 mph.
QUOTE(WEAREBORG4102 @ Sep 18 2004, 01:08 PM)
WAB looks around. "Drat, I can't drive...
Ok, let's try this is the gas pedal. To parallel park, back up till car reaches halfway and back in. Adjust accordingly. Let's see... This is automatic not stick shift. So I don't have to press a random shift pedal thing." He looks down the street. No police that he sees. "Ok, here we go." The car roars down the street at 80 mph.
[right][snapback]264163[/snapback][/right]
Ok, let's try this is the gas pedal. To parallel park, back up till car reaches halfway and back in. Adjust accordingly. Let's see... This is automatic not stick shift. So I don't have to press a random shift pedal thing." He looks down the street. No police that he sees. "Ok, here we go." The car roars down the street at 80 mph.
[right][snapback]264163[/snapback][/right]
Good Luck...don't forget to pick up some fresh fruits and frozen foods while you still can...and remember all the gas will go bad in a year...so do you know how to ride a horse? Might be time to learn for all of us.
September 15, 2004:
"bringgggg, bringgggg" the sounds of my alarm clock right in my ear. another day of school has began. As I walk to the kitchen for my milk, I notice that my dad isn't there eating breakfast like normal. Neither is my mom. "hmm. must have left early." I go through my normal routine til it is time to catch the bus. As I am standing on the drive way, no one else is around on my street, i see a lot of billowing smoke on the highway and on the mountains. i call the police and fire department but no answer. I get on the internet and realize that none of the news websites have been updated since yesterday. "That is too unreal maybe I am asleep" i slap myself a clap times and sure enough, i totally awake and now have red marks on me. suddenly i have an urge to check my emails. the first hotmail one had nothing, and neither did the second, yahoo, nope, then a wild idea came to me, my startrekfans.net email.......
"bringgggg, bringgggg" the sounds of my alarm clock right in my ear. another day of school has began. As I walk to the kitchen for my milk, I notice that my dad isn't there eating breakfast like normal. Neither is my mom. "hmm. must have left early." I go through my normal routine til it is time to catch the bus. As I am standing on the drive way, no one else is around on my street, i see a lot of billowing smoke on the highway and on the mountains. i call the police and fire department but no answer. I get on the internet and realize that none of the news websites have been updated since yesterday. "That is too unreal maybe I am asleep" i slap myself a clap times and sure enough, i totally awake and now have red marks on me. suddenly i have an urge to check my emails. the first hotmail one had nothing, and neither did the second, yahoo, nope, then a wild idea came to me, my startrekfans.net email.......
September 16th, 2004
The sun rose again, and I'm still here...no one returned...I go into the service plaza and find day old jelly donuts and make fresh expresso cappachino then set off for the Brookfield Zoo. About five miles down the interstate I bring my 18 wheeler to a halt..off to the left is a big sign that reads HUMMER...I hesitate, then look down at my fuel gauge...and in under 30 minutes I had all my personal belongings loaded in my brand new, fully loaded, Canary Yellow- H2. I leave my CDL and a note behind with my phone #-asking them to please call if anyone finds it missing, then to the zoo I go.
09:00 am- I start with the indoor critters, until I get to the snakes, spiders, and bugs....SORRY I DON'T THANK SO....then I go outside...when I get to the Lions, Bears, Guerrillas, I decide to leave them for last. I pull up about 20 ft in front of the Lion cages and real out all the cable on the winch and fasten it to the bars...climb back in, roll up the windows, throw the Hummer in 4wheel, low, reverse and pull the bars down....then high reverse dragging the bars down the street...all the way to Trump Towers-Chicago.
It's evening now as I stand on the balcony of Donald's 90th floor Penthouse, sipping his brandy, smoking his Cubans, wearing his silk bath robe after a refreshing dip in his whirlpool. It had been a long day, and down below I could hear the elephants, lions, and monkeys singing in a harmonious song of Freedom. Then I became sad thinking of all the house pets, horses, livestock that lost their owners and are locked up inside all the houses... too many. I turn on the big screen HD TV....most of the channels were all snow..their tapes all ran out..then ANOTHER SURPRISE!!! The Nasa channel was still up....there frozen on the screen in digital letters........HOUSTON....HOUSTON...COME IN...I.S.S CALLING...COME IN HOUSTON....RESPOND...PLEASE...CANAVERAL...SPACE COMMAND..IS ANYONE THERE....UNKNOWN CONTACT..ALIEN SPACE CRAFT...SWEPT PLANET WITH SOME SORT OF BEAM...THEN DISAPPEARED....IS ANYONE THERE -ALL CHANNELS OPEN..COME IN HOUSTON....THIS IS INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION...COME ON YOU GUYS!!!
The sun rose again, and I'm still here...no one returned...I go into the service plaza and find day old jelly donuts and make fresh expresso cappachino then set off for the Brookfield Zoo. About five miles down the interstate I bring my 18 wheeler to a halt..off to the left is a big sign that reads HUMMER...I hesitate, then look down at my fuel gauge...and in under 30 minutes I had all my personal belongings loaded in my brand new, fully loaded, Canary Yellow- H2. I leave my CDL and a note behind with my phone #-asking them to please call if anyone finds it missing, then to the zoo I go.
09:00 am- I start with the indoor critters, until I get to the snakes, spiders, and bugs....SORRY I DON'T THANK SO....then I go outside...when I get to the Lions, Bears, Guerrillas, I decide to leave them for last. I pull up about 20 ft in front of the Lion cages and real out all the cable on the winch and fasten it to the bars...climb back in, roll up the windows, throw the Hummer in 4wheel, low, reverse and pull the bars down....then high reverse dragging the bars down the street...all the way to Trump Towers-Chicago.
It's evening now as I stand on the balcony of Donald's 90th floor Penthouse, sipping his brandy, smoking his Cubans, wearing his silk bath robe after a refreshing dip in his whirlpool. It had been a long day, and down below I could hear the elephants, lions, and monkeys singing in a harmonious song of Freedom. Then I became sad thinking of all the house pets, horses, livestock that lost their owners and are locked up inside all the houses... too many. I turn on the big screen HD TV....most of the channels were all snow..their tapes all ran out..then ANOTHER SURPRISE!!! The Nasa channel was still up....there frozen on the screen in digital letters........HOUSTON....HOUSTON...COME IN...I.S.S CALLING...COME IN HOUSTON....RESPOND...PLEASE...CANAVERAL...SPACE COMMAND..IS ANYONE THERE....UNKNOWN CONTACT..ALIEN SPACE CRAFT...SWEPT PLANET WITH SOME SORT OF BEAM...THEN DISAPPEARED....IS ANYONE THERE -ALL CHANNELS OPEN..COME IN HOUSTON....THIS IS INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION...COME ON YOU GUYS!!!
16 September 2004 A.D.
Time: Er, it's not quite night.. Oh wait, I have a wrist-watch, ehehe...
Clouds begin to depart, leaving the starry field above.
As the hours began to past, and the library remained unvisited, I left and drove my car back to my house.
The house, remained intact, despite I later found this unoccupied wheel-chair, and a fire-truck empty. The lights were still on though. It left me in an eerie mood. And next to my house too.
There seems to be a mystery afoot. Maybe I should be expecting zombies...
Maybe they've evacuated everyone due to a zombie menace.
Agh, Ben, there are no zombie attacks.
Think again.
16/17ish September 2004 A.D.
Time: Well, the time is nearing that witching hour. I'm at my house now.
As I pondered my situation overlooking the metropolis below, the lights of the city were switched on.
Automatons. I think I'm in the mood for some swing music tonight... Maybe I'll catch a movie tomorrow, assuming that everyone will appear tomorrow.
The night grew old with the sounds and rhythms of that decade of the thirties...
Time: Er, it's not quite night.. Oh wait, I have a wrist-watch, ehehe...
Clouds begin to depart, leaving the starry field above.
As the hours began to past, and the library remained unvisited, I left and drove my car back to my house.
The house, remained intact, despite I later found this unoccupied wheel-chair, and a fire-truck empty. The lights were still on though. It left me in an eerie mood. And next to my house too.
There seems to be a mystery afoot. Maybe I should be expecting zombies...
Maybe they've evacuated everyone due to a zombie menace.
Agh, Ben, there are no zombie attacks.
Think again.16/17ish September 2004 A.D.
Time: Well, the time is nearing that witching hour. I'm at my house now.
As I pondered my situation overlooking the metropolis below, the lights of the city were switched on.
Automatons. I think I'm in the mood for some swing music tonight... Maybe I'll catch a movie tomorrow, assuming that everyone will appear tomorrow.
The night grew old with the sounds and rhythms of that decade of the thirties...
Oh sweet sleep. I felt so depressed since I last heard from my husband a few days ago. He was heading to West Virginia and then on to South Carolina with a split load of gasoline. The hurricane's screwed up the barges and pipelines. I wait with my handheld pager waiting for a message for the past three days. I rang his phone but most of the time he has it off as with hauling fuel he has hazmat rules to follow. I pack up a few thing and look up and down the fields of my home. No one to take my dogs so I bring them with me into the car and off down the road we go in search of Daniel.
September 19th at 2:33 a.m. I'm driving east towards West Virginia with only a hope and a prayer of finding Daniel's truck and Daniel. I take the route he was following as I noted on the map that I tend to stick pins in as he tells me of his journey. It's going to be a long drive and I feel my hot tears run down my cheeks, knowing that I wouldn't want to go on without Daniel and mourning the fact that if I find his truck then what?
September 19th at 2:33 a.m. I'm driving east towards West Virginia with only a hope and a prayer of finding Daniel's truck and Daniel. I take the route he was following as I noted on the map that I tend to stick pins in as he tells me of his journey. It's going to be a long drive and I feel my hot tears run down my cheeks, knowing that I wouldn't want to go on without Daniel and mourning the fact that if I find his truck then what?
The days pass slowly and somehow that night slower still. For the most part my tears have dried and faded into my skin. I turned on the radio and listen to the static that some of the stations are transmiting and look down toward the cities I pass wondering if anybody is there? I drive on hoping that my husband was a member as in the passed he has join things and flirted with me. It's been along time since he's done that though. I stop by the truckstops along the way and often find myself rushing into them yelling out. 'Is anyone here? Has anyone seen a trucker that looks like Conway Twitty?!?!' Always the answer is the same...silents. In one of the truckstops I took a CB radio and installed it in my car. Personally, I hate CB radios but I still hope that Daniel is out there and just can't reach me through our usual means. I also turn on my amateur radio to what was a hotspot to non-stop chatting among the hams. There it is again, that awful silents and a feeling of dread. I look back at my dogs and they lay on the backseats their eyes seem to say the things that I am feeling, how truly smart these creatures are, wordlessly knowing my pain.
September 20, 2004:
I finally finished the 747 flight manual. Getting through airport security was no problem, as it wasn't there. Getting on the plane was a problem however, as it took me a while to figure out how to run the gangway to the airplane. When I finally got aboard, I figured out that there was nobody around to move the gangway back, so just decided to leave the airplane door open, and go find a ladder. Kicking the ladder away, I closed the cabin door and went to the cockpit.
It took an entire eight hours to go through the pre-flight checklist, which was a good exercise, as it forced me to learn the instrumentation. It's a good thing the galley was well stocked.
I finally managed to get the engines started and rolling out onto the tarmac was easier than I thought. I did a few laps around the aiport before getting to the runway to get a feel for how the plane handled. When I felt comfortable with how it handled on the ground, I decided to give it a go in the air. I didn't have to really worry about communications, radio, and not even navigation too much becuase nobody else was around.
On the runway, I consulted the book sitting in my lap. After an hour of going through the final checks, I lowered the flaps as instructed and throttled the engines up. She handled much differently at 120 miles an hour and I swerved wildly down the runway. When I finally passed stall speed, I pulled back on the yoke, and the plane lifted gracefully into the air - barely clearing the fence at the end of the runway. After a few minutes of climbing, an alarm reminded me to raise flaps and raise the landing gear.
The fuel gauge and onboard computer told me that I had about eight hours of fuel left. That was plenty of time to read up on how to land. I figured I'd level off at about 300 feet becuase that seemed like a nice round number, and I didn't think I'd run into any trees that tall. I soon discovered that some buildings were actually taller than that, so rechecked the manual and found that I misread. That's 30000 feet - not 300 feet!
Flying for free would be fun!
I finally finished the 747 flight manual. Getting through airport security was no problem, as it wasn't there. Getting on the plane was a problem however, as it took me a while to figure out how to run the gangway to the airplane. When I finally got aboard, I figured out that there was nobody around to move the gangway back, so just decided to leave the airplane door open, and go find a ladder. Kicking the ladder away, I closed the cabin door and went to the cockpit.
It took an entire eight hours to go through the pre-flight checklist, which was a good exercise, as it forced me to learn the instrumentation. It's a good thing the galley was well stocked.
I finally managed to get the engines started and rolling out onto the tarmac was easier than I thought. I did a few laps around the aiport before getting to the runway to get a feel for how the plane handled. When I felt comfortable with how it handled on the ground, I decided to give it a go in the air. I didn't have to really worry about communications, radio, and not even navigation too much becuase nobody else was around.
On the runway, I consulted the book sitting in my lap. After an hour of going through the final checks, I lowered the flaps as instructed and throttled the engines up. She handled much differently at 120 miles an hour and I swerved wildly down the runway. When I finally passed stall speed, I pulled back on the yoke, and the plane lifted gracefully into the air - barely clearing the fence at the end of the runway. After a few minutes of climbing, an alarm reminded me to raise flaps and raise the landing gear.
The fuel gauge and onboard computer told me that I had about eight hours of fuel left. That was plenty of time to read up on how to land. I figured I'd level off at about 300 feet becuase that seemed like a nice round number, and I didn't think I'd run into any trees that tall. I soon discovered that some buildings were actually taller than that, so rechecked the manual and found that I misread. That's 30000 feet - not 300 feet!
Flying for free would be fun!
September 17th 2004
I wake refreshed and ready to take on the day. I shower, shave, and raid Donald Trump's fridge...making a huge breakfast I continue to view the television screen....those poor chap's up there in the space station...I 'm afraid they're doomed. At first, I felt insulted that the aliens didn't find me worthy enough to bother with..but at least I'm not going to run out of air. I decide after eating, I had better keep a journal...on paper..the power would fail at some point and I wanted to leave behind some sort of record...proof that the Aliens botched the job..and missed some of us. I "borrow" Donald's Rollex..and enter the private elevator and descend down to the garage to begin the second day of my "extended test drive" of the H2-Hummer. I now can report, it handles as well off-road as on. Dodging accidents, stalled cars, I race down interstate 55 toward St. Louis and home...sometimes on the pavement, but many more across the median and shoulder. I reach the Arch in just under 5 hours- with plenty of time to visit the St. Louis Zoo and do the "12 Monkeys" thing..then I race for home..I arrive home...to the familiar scratching and barking at the door..of the family pet-"Ditto" a Skipper key. I go to our bedroom, and there between the sheets...my wife's nightgown, I go to my son's room...there too his clothes stretched ou on his bed...he had probably stayed up late, playing on the computer..then fell asleep in his clothes...then at 6:23 am was "taken". I breakdown, then and there, on the spot...I think they call it "delayed stress syndrome".
I wake refreshed and ready to take on the day. I shower, shave, and raid Donald Trump's fridge...making a huge breakfast I continue to view the television screen....those poor chap's up there in the space station...I 'm afraid they're doomed. At first, I felt insulted that the aliens didn't find me worthy enough to bother with..but at least I'm not going to run out of air. I decide after eating, I had better keep a journal...on paper..the power would fail at some point and I wanted to leave behind some sort of record...proof that the Aliens botched the job..and missed some of us. I "borrow" Donald's Rollex..and enter the private elevator and descend down to the garage to begin the second day of my "extended test drive" of the H2-Hummer. I now can report, it handles as well off-road as on. Dodging accidents, stalled cars, I race down interstate 55 toward St. Louis and home...sometimes on the pavement, but many more across the median and shoulder. I reach the Arch in just under 5 hours- with plenty of time to visit the St. Louis Zoo and do the "12 Monkeys" thing..then I race for home..I arrive home...to the familiar scratching and barking at the door..of the family pet-"Ditto" a Skipper key. I go to our bedroom, and there between the sheets...my wife's nightgown, I go to my son's room...there too his clothes stretched ou on his bed...he had probably stayed up late, playing on the computer..then fell asleep in his clothes...then at 6:23 am was "taken". I breakdown, then and there, on the spot...I think they call it "delayed stress syndrome".
September 20th, 2004
It's been two days, I've discovered my mother and father are gone as well, leaving me with only my sister to "check on" in Texas. There's been no answer on my phone now for a week. I go to the computer, and discover the internet connection is still up and running, so I e-mail her. Then, almost automatically I surf to my favorite site- STARTREKFANS.NET
MY GOD!!! It's ACTIVE!!!!THERE'S LIFE HERE!!
I soon find that for some members, it was almost a day before they even realized something was wrong. But once they did, they began to organize and set about "networking" with each other. At least they...had known they weren't alone and for the last week the mods and many of the members had been running a "crisis center" at the site. VGB was taking roll, and the survivors names were added to the list of confirmed "present" as they logged in. The live chat was full. Not all the members were accounted for, but so far the report had 300 or so confirmed survivors. From the very beginning the major demographic presented itself as a problem, the largest percentage of the group were under 18, many frightened children who had awoken to find their parents missing or worse witnessed them disapear in full view. Everything was being done to keep them calm, and care for their needs. Pm's and E's were flying, and contact information of all types were being exchanged...many fearing we would shortly lose this communications connection. Master Q- began giving instructions on gathering up "survival" items....everyone pitched in..Lessons on basic kitchen safety were a must, it was a daunting twenty-four hour task..but all we had now was each other and a uncurtain tomorrow.
It's been two days, I've discovered my mother and father are gone as well, leaving me with only my sister to "check on" in Texas. There's been no answer on my phone now for a week. I go to the computer, and discover the internet connection is still up and running, so I e-mail her. Then, almost automatically I surf to my favorite site- STARTREKFANS.NET
MY GOD!!! It's ACTIVE!!!!THERE'S LIFE HERE!!
I soon find that for some members, it was almost a day before they even realized something was wrong. But once they did, they began to organize and set about "networking" with each other. At least they...had known they weren't alone and for the last week the mods and many of the members had been running a "crisis center" at the site. VGB was taking roll, and the survivors names were added to the list of confirmed "present" as they logged in. The live chat was full. Not all the members were accounted for, but so far the report had 300 or so confirmed survivors. From the very beginning the major demographic presented itself as a problem, the largest percentage of the group were under 18, many frightened children who had awoken to find their parents missing or worse witnessed them disapear in full view. Everything was being done to keep them calm, and care for their needs. Pm's and E's were flying, and contact information of all types were being exchanged...many fearing we would shortly lose this communications connection. Master Q- began giving instructions on gathering up "survival" items....everyone pitched in..Lessons on basic kitchen safety were a must, it was a daunting twenty-four hour task..but all we had now was each other and a uncurtain tomorrow.
It was dark when I rolled into the truckstop some of the 18 wheelers engines still running as they sat idle as the truckers went about their business or would have had their been anyone left. As I circled the lot it was then I spotted the fuel hauler, first I spotted the chicken lights as I drove slowly up the driver's side. The driver's door was open almost like a invitation I had to stop about 10 feet back and get out of my car and walk. As I pull to a stop, my old dear doggie son Travis whined and I looked back to see his eyes, they pleaded with me not to go further and to just turn around. I shut the car door, leaving my own engine running, as I walked towards the truck cab. I paused a moment and look down to something glistening on the ground I picked it up and tried to hold back a sob, it was Daniel's, my Daniel's wedding band. With tears in my eyes I looked up in the cab of the truck to see his pants, shirt, and shoes positioned behind the wheel of this huge truck. I grabbed the shirt and held it to me smelling his scent never wanting to forget it. My bitter tears stung my eyes as I hear a voice. "Hello Darlin', it's been along time." I looked startled and climbed up into the rig looking in the sleeper only to realize it was Daniel's Conway Twitty CD playing. I must of laid in that sleeper for hours holding his shirt and sobbing his wedding ring now adorning my right thumb.
I went back to my car in a daze opened the door and my dogs ran to the entrance of the truck stop. 'No dog allowed signs' didn't mean anything now. I fed the dogs and sat at a table looking out into the night, I had Daniel's shirt on over top my own, and at times I could almost feel him there hugging me.
I went back to my car in a daze opened the door and my dogs ran to the entrance of the truck stop. 'No dog allowed signs' didn't mean anything now. I fed the dogs and sat at a table looking out into the night, I had Daniel's shirt on over top my own, and at times I could almost feel him there hugging me.
OFF: RULES REVIEW/AMENDMENT:
(1)Do not post any information that is "factual" about another members location, hometown, or name, etc.-but I'm sure you already knew that.
(2) If you are a minor, do not post any "factual" information about yourself.-but I'm sure you already knew that. You can "be" yourself; without telling anyone-who, where.
Since we are using the real world as our stage/ game map: everyone will need to invent a false location where they can "be" in order to simulate physical interactions.
Rule Amendment: After conference with DrWho42, I believe we agreed that he lives in Rod Sterlingville, Twilight County, Ca. It's a city and surrounding county occupying a slightly out-of-phase area in California that has suffered the same effects (mass alien abduction) as the rest of the country. It has full communications capability with us, and can be reached by conventional means.
THE INTERNET: WHERE A MAN IS A WOMAN, A WOMAN IS A MAN, AND A CHILD IS A FBI AGENT.
(1)Do not post any information that is "factual" about another members location, hometown, or name, etc.-but I'm sure you already knew that.
(2) If you are a minor, do not post any "factual" information about yourself.-but I'm sure you already knew that. You can "be" yourself; without telling anyone-who, where.
Since we are using the real world as our stage/ game map: everyone will need to invent a false location where they can "be" in order to simulate physical interactions.
Rule Amendment: After conference with DrWho42, I believe we agreed that he lives in Rod Sterlingville, Twilight County, Ca. It's a city and surrounding county occupying a slightly out-of-phase area in California that has suffered the same effects (mass alien abduction) as the rest of the country. It has full communications capability with us, and can be reached by conventional means.
THE INTERNET: WHERE A MAN IS A WOMAN, A WOMAN IS A MAN, AND A CHILD IS A FBI AGENT.
September 20,2004
Life is difficult... Lets see... cash is easy to come by considering there's no one here.... It seems only people from stf.net are still here. I hope that I can contact them to meet somewhere and pool resources. That would be a great idea...
Life is difficult... Lets see... cash is easy to come by considering there's no one here.... It seems only people from stf.net are still here. I hope that I can contact them to meet somewhere and pool resources. That would be a great idea...
21 September 2004 A.D.
Time: Sun is shining, thus it'd be early morning, probably..
Place: The Monolith Tower, Rod SerlingVille City, California...
I sit here up on top of one of the tallest towers out in this metropolis. Where I stood was originally planned to be a mooring mast for dirgibles back in the 30s...
Looked like Hindenberg's fall didn't help out..
Just a tourist attraction now-a-days, though slow business for today, though no business here, frankly.
I stand up on top, taking in the view of the city from above. Content with a good view, I begin today's hour of pondering...
Well, I seem to be the only person left in this city... Assuming this is actually a city I live in, and not some weird other option.... Hmmm, maybe I finally realized people are only part of my imagination?
Snatched from reality, and sent to this simulacrum of what is perceived to be not unreal..
...No, bad theory.
..Well, improbable.
This probably be reality, and this event is actually taking place.
I wonder where everybody went to though.. Maybe it's a [i]Langoliers situation.. Or "The Night of the Comet", though I guess I could stop expecting zombies.
Well then, I guess the best thing I should do is to hack into this city's computer-systems, and gain control of this metropolis...
If someone passes by on one of the roads, I could have things set up to signal me of activity.
Ah, I shall be a king soon... Just need to get through hacking into the Serlingville computers now.[/i] *gets out green lap-top*
Whoa... I just realized I haven't been onto StarTrekFans.net, I wonder if they missed me for the past week..
Time: Sun is shining, thus it'd be early morning, probably..
Place: The Monolith Tower, Rod SerlingVille City, California...
I sit here up on top of one of the tallest towers out in this metropolis. Where I stood was originally planned to be a mooring mast for dirgibles back in the 30s...
Looked like Hindenberg's fall didn't help out..
Just a tourist attraction now-a-days, though slow business for today, though no business here, frankly.
I stand up on top, taking in the view of the city from above. Content with a good view, I begin today's hour of pondering...
Well, I seem to be the only person left in this city... Assuming this is actually a city I live in, and not some weird other option.... Hmmm, maybe I finally realized people are only part of my imagination?
Snatched from reality, and sent to this simulacrum of what is perceived to be not unreal..
...No, bad theory.
..Well, improbable.
This probably be reality, and this event is actually taking place.
I wonder where everybody went to though.. Maybe it's a [i]Langoliers situation.. Or "The Night of the Comet", though I guess I could stop expecting zombies.
Well then, I guess the best thing I should do is to hack into this city's computer-systems, and gain control of this metropolis...
If someone passes by on one of the roads, I could have things set up to signal me of activity.
Ah, I shall be a king soon... Just need to get through hacking into the Serlingville computers now.[/i] *gets out green lap-top*
Whoa... I just realized I haven't been onto StarTrekFans.net, I wonder if they missed me for the past week..
September 21st 2004,
After morning coffee, i go on line, to check if it's up, thankfully-it is. I log in to Startrekfans.net and enter the newly designed "command bunker"....I quietly ask if anyone has seen the Nasa Channel....Everyone says no, they too busy. I tell them they need to, and better be setting down when they do. There's a pause, then someone comes back and typed ....yea, HB'S right...you better look at this..
Then shock, panic, and arguing began and continued for what seemed like hours...the debate starts- who all knows about this? should we tell the children? haven't they been through enough? now what? what can we do for those guys up there in the station? do you think the aliens will come back and finish us off? Many members had already started making plans to "round up" all the orphaned members to better care for them, start a school. But, with this new information..many of us with military experience thought it might not be wise to present such an attractive target( all together in one place) in the event the aliens came back for a mop up job so those plans would require more debate. Many members had already began forming into "cells" or "clicks" I informed the group that I had business in Killeen, Tx to check on a relative, then I planned on going on to Houston to visit Nasa, I'd check in as long as the web remained up, I'd keep my mouth shut about the "aliens" until a vote could be taken and a decision made...I'd check on any member along my route, is there anything anyone needed?
After morning coffee, i go on line, to check if it's up, thankfully-it is. I log in to Startrekfans.net and enter the newly designed "command bunker"....I quietly ask if anyone has seen the Nasa Channel....Everyone says no, they too busy. I tell them they need to, and better be setting down when they do. There's a pause, then someone comes back and typed ....yea, HB'S right...you better look at this..
Then shock, panic, and arguing began and continued for what seemed like hours...the debate starts- who all knows about this? should we tell the children? haven't they been through enough? now what? what can we do for those guys up there in the station? do you think the aliens will come back and finish us off? Many members had already started making plans to "round up" all the orphaned members to better care for them, start a school. But, with this new information..many of us with military experience thought it might not be wise to present such an attractive target( all together in one place) in the event the aliens came back for a mop up job so those plans would require more debate. Many members had already began forming into "cells" or "clicks" I informed the group that I had business in Killeen, Tx to check on a relative, then I planned on going on to Houston to visit Nasa, I'd check in as long as the web remained up, I'd keep my mouth shut about the "aliens" until a vote could be taken and a decision made...I'd check on any member along my route, is there anything anyone needed?
Landing the 747 was a bit tougher than I thought. Coming into San Diego, I overshot the runway by a good 2000 feet, but I fortunately missed the buildings near the end. I also forgot the landing gear. The plane skimmed the surface of the ocean and came to a stop, sinking slowly. It's a good thing I had the nose up, or it probably would have went end-over-end and broken in two. I got the inflatable raft, a large amount of food, and a flashlight before exiting and jumping onto the raft. It took me several hours to get to shore. I'll have to try another 747 tomorrow.
Today's try on the 747 out of San Diego went pretty well. It only took me four hours to get through the pre-flight checklist. I also found the airport galley, so I made sure to fill the plane with lots of food. I covered the cockpit with post-it notes from things I've learned from the last flight. Key phrases in black marker like "Landing gear", "Watch the throttle", "Level flight", "Fuel balance", and "De-Ice" were placed at strategic locations to help remind meof things that might make the flight easier.
This time, I wasn't all over the runway, and I cleared the fence by a long shot. She still handled like a pig, so I wasn't about to try anything fancy, but I thought I'd get to know the navigation a bit. After several hours of experimenting with the nav-panel, I managed to find out how to work the VOR and ILS sysems. Luckily, I found a book filled with various airport frequencies, alignment cylinders, and ODB plots. The radio equipment on this thing was amazing. I could communicate with anyone and anything in the world with the satellite communication equipment. I also noticed that I had drifted well into northern Canada.
I set the VOR frequencies for Orlando airport and turned on the autopilot. The plane banked smoothly, and flew south.
On my way to Orlando, I went back to the galley to get some of the food I brought with me. I was surprised to learn that the cabin crew on 747's actually eat pretty well. I wonder why the passengers never eat this well....
Seven hours to Orlando. From there, I'd pick up a rental car, drive to Canaveral, and see if NASA had their 757 parked in the lot.
I also decided to play with the comm panel a bit. All the airport radar and radio beacons were still operating, as were a few radio stations that played syndicated pre-recorded broadcasts, but I didn't detect any real signs of life, so I decided to take a brief nap. I set my watch alarm to wake me a few hours before Orlando.
Looking out the cockpit window, I noticed that I was clearing Lake Michigan. As my eyelids grew heavy, I could recognize I-94 going into Chicago. It was strangely empty. As I fell back into the captain's chair, my eyes caught sight of a vehicle leaving the city. The thought drifted from my consciousness as I fell asleep.
This time, I wasn't all over the runway, and I cleared the fence by a long shot. She still handled like a pig, so I wasn't about to try anything fancy, but I thought I'd get to know the navigation a bit. After several hours of experimenting with the nav-panel, I managed to find out how to work the VOR and ILS sysems. Luckily, I found a book filled with various airport frequencies, alignment cylinders, and ODB plots. The radio equipment on this thing was amazing. I could communicate with anyone and anything in the world with the satellite communication equipment. I also noticed that I had drifted well into northern Canada.
I set the VOR frequencies for Orlando airport and turned on the autopilot. The plane banked smoothly, and flew south.
On my way to Orlando, I went back to the galley to get some of the food I brought with me. I was surprised to learn that the cabin crew on 747's actually eat pretty well. I wonder why the passengers never eat this well....
Seven hours to Orlando. From there, I'd pick up a rental car, drive to Canaveral, and see if NASA had their 757 parked in the lot.
I also decided to play with the comm panel a bit. All the airport radar and radio beacons were still operating, as were a few radio stations that played syndicated pre-recorded broadcasts, but I didn't detect any real signs of life, so I decided to take a brief nap. I set my watch alarm to wake me a few hours before Orlando.
Looking out the cockpit window, I noticed that I was clearing Lake Michigan. As my eyelids grew heavy, I could recognize I-94 going into Chicago. It was strangely empty. As I fell back into the captain's chair, my eyes caught sight of a vehicle leaving the city. The thought drifted from my consciousness as I fell asleep.
September 22nd, 2004
Before dawn, I wake up, do the s.s.s. thing, then make a big breakfast for myself and the only remaining member of the family my dog "ditto", then empty out the fridge of everything that will grow while I'm gone...I don't know when or if I'm ever coming back here, it's just an empty house. I don my Stargate SG-1 jacket and cap that I bought at the last convention, and my "O' Neil" sunglasses, look in the mirror..."Sweet". I gather my gear, and "Ditto" and head out the door to the awaiting Hummer, I don't know why...force of habit I guess but I realize I locked the door behind me....I chuckle at myself, looking back at the door, shake my head and back out the drive. A few hours later, I find myself lost....driving around in circles trying to follow the directions that Datalover_6 had given me....after several wrong turns and back tracking I pull up in her drive-way...get out as she approaches the SUV...."Hi, Neighbor...Boy are you a sight for sore-eyes...It's good to find some of us are still here...have you seen or heard from anyone else?" Before she can answer, my attention shifts to the sky above....there a lone con trail streaking across the pale blue sky in a south eastward direction, I cry with excitement....."LOOK! There!" as I point toward the sky, reaching inside the SUV for my bushnell binoculars.
Data_Lover_6 began jumping up and down frantically waving
, I ignored her feeble efforts knowing this plane was too hi and moving to fast to even spot a flare. I focused the binoculars as best I could....It was a wide body jet for sure, my mind raced..could it be the President in Air Force One, or maybe an Air Force tanker, or AWAC? It didn't really matter....it was HOPE! The first concrete hope that someone with advanced skills and knowledge was alive, maybe, just maybe there were others out there too.
DATA_LOVER_6: Do you think he's a STF member?
Headborg: I hope not.
DL6: HB, that's a mean thing to say!
HB: I didn't mean it like that....no one has located anyone -other than, stf members...seems kinda strange to me...If he wasn't a member it would make me feel a lot better.
DL6: I don't follow.
HB: There's only 1300 or so members, DL6, in the world-if he "isn't" a member-our odds of surviving this thing as a species just got a lot better, it means there might be others...thousands..not just a handful of us.
Before dawn, I wake up, do the s.s.s. thing, then make a big breakfast for myself and the only remaining member of the family my dog "ditto", then empty out the fridge of everything that will grow while I'm gone...I don't know when or if I'm ever coming back here, it's just an empty house. I don my Stargate SG-1 jacket and cap that I bought at the last convention, and my "O' Neil" sunglasses, look in the mirror..."Sweet". I gather my gear, and "Ditto" and head out the door to the awaiting Hummer, I don't know why...force of habit I guess but I realize I locked the door behind me....I chuckle at myself, looking back at the door, shake my head and back out the drive. A few hours later, I find myself lost....driving around in circles trying to follow the directions that Datalover_6 had given me....after several wrong turns and back tracking I pull up in her drive-way...get out as she approaches the SUV...."Hi, Neighbor...Boy are you a sight for sore-eyes...It's good to find some of us are still here...have you seen or heard from anyone else?" Before she can answer, my attention shifts to the sky above....there a lone con trail streaking across the pale blue sky in a south eastward direction, I cry with excitement....."LOOK! There!" as I point toward the sky, reaching inside the SUV for my bushnell binoculars.
Data_Lover_6 began jumping up and down frantically waving
, I ignored her feeble efforts knowing this plane was too hi and moving to fast to even spot a flare. I focused the binoculars as best I could....It was a wide body jet for sure, my mind raced..could it be the President in Air Force One, or maybe an Air Force tanker, or AWAC? It didn't really matter....it was HOPE! The first concrete hope that someone with advanced skills and knowledge was alive, maybe, just maybe there were others out there too.DATA_LOVER_6: Do you think he's a STF member?
Headborg: I hope not.
DL6: HB, that's a mean thing to say!
HB: I didn't mean it like that....no one has located anyone -other than, stf members...seems kinda strange to me...If he wasn't a member it would make me feel a lot better.
DL6: I don't follow.
HB: There's only 1300 or so members, DL6, in the world-if he "isn't" a member-our odds of surviving this thing as a species just got a lot better, it means there might be others...thousands..not just a handful of us.
September 22nd, 2004
"Ok, i finally get it. You are right of course, if there is only a small group left on this planet then we are screwed. we'd have to not only figure out how to survive and get everyone together, but also isolate the nulcear power plants and stuff like that. Well, what am I doing just jabbering on, lets see which airport he's headed. there is a small airfield about 12 miles from here and I can get us inside to use the communication system
HB:"That sounds good to me. "
As we head toward the airport, all we is empty houses and burnt cars.
DL6:"This is depressing everyone I know is gone. POOF! It is scary to think of what might have happened."
HB: "I know it is. Have you contacted anyone you know? Have you heard anything out of anyone?"
DL6: "Nope, just a few PM from other members."
HB: "So how do you know about the communication system?"
DL6: "One of my friends was training to be a pilot. I sure miss her."
I cry a bit thinking of my friends that have dissappeared. Many of them would be dead useful right about now. We pull into the airport and of course no one is there. I pick up the nearest rock and chunk it through the door. We hurry to get to the controls, fearing the plane would be too far away.
Headborg picks up the mic and I flip some switches.
HB: "Hello, is anyone able to hear me? Hello?"
Nothing, the plane was gone.
"Ok, i finally get it. You are right of course, if there is only a small group left on this planet then we are screwed. we'd have to not only figure out how to survive and get everyone together, but also isolate the nulcear power plants and stuff like that. Well, what am I doing just jabbering on, lets see which airport he's headed. there is a small airfield about 12 miles from here and I can get us inside to use the communication system
HB:"That sounds good to me. "
As we head toward the airport, all we is empty houses and burnt cars.
DL6:"This is depressing everyone I know is gone. POOF! It is scary to think of what might have happened."
HB: "I know it is. Have you contacted anyone you know? Have you heard anything out of anyone?"
DL6: "Nope, just a few PM from other members."
HB: "So how do you know about the communication system?"
DL6: "One of my friends was training to be a pilot. I sure miss her."
I cry a bit thinking of my friends that have dissappeared. Many of them would be dead useful right about now. We pull into the airport and of course no one is there. I pick up the nearest rock and chunk it through the door. We hurry to get to the controls, fearing the plane would be too far away.
Headborg picks up the mic and I flip some switches.
HB: "Hello, is anyone able to hear me? Hello?"
Nothing, the plane was gone.
Just then the power went out...and we were left there in the control tower with a dead mic. Go@##$ ^&&&*^ it!!!! and I slumped down in the seat...we set there in silence together as the con trail extended itself into the distance. After an hour or so of feeling sorry for ourselves....mostly me feeling sorry for myself.
DL6: It's getting late, Hb, the power is off in the main terminal too, must be a "rolling black out".
HB: Then I guess "it's" started..the power grid is going down.
We loaded up in the H2, went back to her house, she loaded some things..and we set out toward Dallas, Tx. I had only driven 20 or 30 miles when DL6 produced a CD from her cd case and placed it in the Eclipse stereo-system......my torture had begun......Barry Manalow??? I suffered in silence with a smile for many more a mile listening as she talked of her boyfriend and family she had lost. And I wondered...had she seen the Nasa Channel? Did she know the whole freighting truth..was everyone we knew and loved, dead, or just "taken" , abducted? call it what you will. After we cleared what President Bush had affectionately called "the hinterland" and climbed onto the Interstate near Ft.Smith...I switched her cd for one of my own...Whitesnake... and cranked up the volume, pushed the petal to the floor...and so began the Music War..
HERE ....I GO.... AGAIN ON MY OWN.....GOING DOWN THE ONLY ROAD I'VE EVER KNOWN...
DL6 hit the mute button....."that song isn't "right"...you're not alone, and if this is the only road you know...you're not much of a truck driver!"
I grin at her and tap the mute button again..."retired truck driver....and it's my song, and I'm driving...when you're driving...you can pick the song."
She shuck her head, produced a Discman and headphones and reclined back in her seat..
DL6: Who is this Weareborg?
I glance at her...."that's right you haven't been a member that long...I think you'll like him he's a little younger than you..."
DL6 looks at me skepticly: And we're meeting him at a Mall? What, stranger danger?
HB: I don't have a problem with that...No, he said something about having ran out of "hot pockets" at home then the car breaking down at the mall...He's been living there since. [attachmentid=1523]
OFF: AFK til sometime tomorrow
DL6: It's getting late, Hb, the power is off in the main terminal too, must be a "rolling black out".
HB: Then I guess "it's" started..the power grid is going down.
We loaded up in the H2, went back to her house, she loaded some things..and we set out toward Dallas, Tx. I had only driven 20 or 30 miles when DL6 produced a CD from her cd case and placed it in the Eclipse stereo-system......my torture had begun......Barry Manalow??? I suffered in silence with a smile for many more a mile listening as she talked of her boyfriend and family she had lost. And I wondered...had she seen the Nasa Channel? Did she know the whole freighting truth..was everyone we knew and loved, dead, or just "taken" , abducted? call it what you will. After we cleared what President Bush had affectionately called "the hinterland" and climbed onto the Interstate near Ft.Smith...I switched her cd for one of my own...Whitesnake... and cranked up the volume, pushed the petal to the floor...and so began the Music War..
HERE ....I GO.... AGAIN ON MY OWN.....GOING DOWN THE ONLY ROAD I'VE EVER KNOWN...
DL6 hit the mute button....."that song isn't "right"...you're not alone, and if this is the only road you know...you're not much of a truck driver!"
I grin at her and tap the mute button again..."retired truck driver....and it's my song, and I'm driving...when you're driving...you can pick the song."
She shuck her head, produced a Discman and headphones and reclined back in her seat..
DL6: Who is this Weareborg?
I glance at her...."that's right you haven't been a member that long...I think you'll like him he's a little younger than you..."
DL6 looks at me skepticly: And we're meeting him at a Mall? What, stranger danger?
HB: I don't have a problem with that...No, he said something about having ran out of "hot pockets" at home then the car breaking down at the mall...He's been living there since. [attachmentid=1523]
OFF: AFK til sometime tomorrow
My watch alarm goes off three hours from Orlando. I had the strangest dream while I napped. I dreamt that someone had tried to contact me on the broadband and then the radio went dead. Strange......
With three hours left to Orlando, I decided to try a mid-course correction. Turning off the autopilot, the plane dipped slightly while I regained control of the yoke. I had to run back to NAV to check the VOR reading. Doing that the plane dipped some more as it encountered turbulence, so I had to run back to the yoke to pull back to level flight. I decided to switch on the auto while I rechecked the numbers in NAV. I made another post-it note to myself about leaving the yoke and put it right on the yoke. I retried the course correction, turning to one-seven-niner, and dropped to thirty-two thousand.
My first flight taught me quickly about fuel effiency as a function of altitude, so I made sure to stay well above 300 feet.
With three hours to Orlando, I decided to see if there were any good CD's in the steward's deck...... looking around, I could only find the collected works of..... Barry Manilow. I decided to fly the rest of the trip in silence.
Landing in Orlando was really tough. Using the VOR and ILS, I could line up my final approach without even looking out the window, but cross-breezes and wind shear made the plane feel like a ping-pong ball in the ocean. The gear hit the runway slightly sideways, and the plane bounced into the air before coming down hard again. Skidding hard down the runway, the plane turned hard onto the grass and the left wheel lifted off the ground, scraping the right wing on the runway. The wing caught the grass and dug in hard before coming to a stop. The left wing slowly came down and the plane bounced hard on the left wheel.
I sat in the captain's chair blinking for several seconds before looking out the cockpit window at the wing. The wingtip had broken off, and some insulation was flying out the end in the breeze, but I didn't see any fuel leaking. Checking the intstument pannel, I noticed that I had forgotten to balance the fuel tanks in flight and while the left wing had a lot of fuel left in it, the right wing was completely empty. That imbalance may have ruined my landing, but it also probably saved me from a fiery death. So far, I am zero-for-two on good landings. At least I hit the runway this time. The terminal was about a mile away, and I had to exit the plane the same way as last time - via the emergency exit. I gathered up my collection of Post-It notes and pulled the cord to activate the chute, the emergency beacon, and also the emergency radio transmitter. I jumped out, slid down and jogged to the terminal. I noticed some wreckage about halfway down the runway - most likely a plane whose pilot disappeared upon approach. I began to consider how lucky my landing was after all. A full rollout would have brought me right into that wreckage.
It took me a while to find a rental car agency with easily accessible keys. I decided to "rent" a Black Mustang Convertible - declining the supplemental insurance. On the way out the door, I stopped by the gift shop to get some music, but they had a very limited selection of..... Barry Manilow. I decided to take the trip in silence.
On the way out the airport, I heard the faint sound of machinery. Following the sound, I found that the baggage claim conveyor belt was still running. I did something that I've always wanted to do for a long time.
Putting the keys in my pocket, I got on the conveyor belt, and rode around for a few laps. The inside of the baggage department was much more fascinating and complex than I thought, and I was not surprised that luggage loss is such a common problem among fliers.
Finding the Mustang was easy. I pushed the panic button on the keychain and followed the alarm as it echoed throughout the parking garage.
I was on my way to Kennedy space center to try out the 757 and anything else I might find.
With three hours left to Orlando, I decided to try a mid-course correction. Turning off the autopilot, the plane dipped slightly while I regained control of the yoke. I had to run back to NAV to check the VOR reading. Doing that the plane dipped some more as it encountered turbulence, so I had to run back to the yoke to pull back to level flight. I decided to switch on the auto while I rechecked the numbers in NAV. I made another post-it note to myself about leaving the yoke and put it right on the yoke. I retried the course correction, turning to one-seven-niner, and dropped to thirty-two thousand.
My first flight taught me quickly about fuel effiency as a function of altitude, so I made sure to stay well above 300 feet.
With three hours to Orlando, I decided to see if there were any good CD's in the steward's deck...... looking around, I could only find the collected works of..... Barry Manilow. I decided to fly the rest of the trip in silence.
Landing in Orlando was really tough. Using the VOR and ILS, I could line up my final approach without even looking out the window, but cross-breezes and wind shear made the plane feel like a ping-pong ball in the ocean. The gear hit the runway slightly sideways, and the plane bounced into the air before coming down hard again. Skidding hard down the runway, the plane turned hard onto the grass and the left wheel lifted off the ground, scraping the right wing on the runway. The wing caught the grass and dug in hard before coming to a stop. The left wing slowly came down and the plane bounced hard on the left wheel.
I sat in the captain's chair blinking for several seconds before looking out the cockpit window at the wing. The wingtip had broken off, and some insulation was flying out the end in the breeze, but I didn't see any fuel leaking. Checking the intstument pannel, I noticed that I had forgotten to balance the fuel tanks in flight and while the left wing had a lot of fuel left in it, the right wing was completely empty. That imbalance may have ruined my landing, but it also probably saved me from a fiery death. So far, I am zero-for-two on good landings. At least I hit the runway this time. The terminal was about a mile away, and I had to exit the plane the same way as last time - via the emergency exit. I gathered up my collection of Post-It notes and pulled the cord to activate the chute, the emergency beacon, and also the emergency radio transmitter. I jumped out, slid down and jogged to the terminal. I noticed some wreckage about halfway down the runway - most likely a plane whose pilot disappeared upon approach. I began to consider how lucky my landing was after all. A full rollout would have brought me right into that wreckage.
It took me a while to find a rental car agency with easily accessible keys. I decided to "rent" a Black Mustang Convertible - declining the supplemental insurance. On the way out the door, I stopped by the gift shop to get some music, but they had a very limited selection of..... Barry Manilow. I decided to take the trip in silence.
On the way out the airport, I heard the faint sound of machinery. Following the sound, I found that the baggage claim conveyor belt was still running. I did something that I've always wanted to do for a long time.
Putting the keys in my pocket, I got on the conveyor belt, and rode around for a few laps. The inside of the baggage department was much more fascinating and complex than I thought, and I was not surprised that luggage loss is such a common problem among fliers.
Finding the Mustang was easy. I pushed the panic button on the keychain and followed the alarm as it echoed throughout the parking garage.
I was on my way to Kennedy space center to try out the 757 and anything else I might find.
I woke up laying on the seat at the truck stops diner. I wanted to give up or go insane and run wild. I was alone, all alone in this world and God had somehow forgotten me! I was all cried out and it looked like rain outside, I could hear the rumble of thunder closing in on the place. I was hot, dirty, and my mind was running with different ideas of how to commit suicide only to all end with the sample thought. "'Suicide's A Mortal Sin', and God must of left me here for a reason.' The pain of loosing Daniel was too much for me to bare, he and I were so deeply intwined in each other's life it was as if I lost apart of myself. The dogs were whimpering at the door of this large empty complex and after pooping and urinating on the floor in the mens room I couldn't understand why they wanted out now. The lightning flashed in the sky and it seemed to eluminate the whole place. I no longer worried about my puppy babies getting hit by a car and pushed the door open. The dogs made a bee-line to Daniel's truck, they seemed to prance around it, sitting up and begging, barking, and responding as though someone was there comanding tricks from them. I walked out after them as it started to rain, I don't know why but their behavior angered me. In my mind I wondered how could they do that with Daniel...with their Daddy...gone. I stopped myself from calling them in and turned around only to see with a start Daniel's reflection in a glass panel at the truck stop. He was sitting in the truck teasing the dogs and laughing as they did the tricks. I turned back to the truck and to see the window empty and the dogs still doing their tricks. The rain pelted down on me as if the world was crying for me as I no longer could. I fell to my knees and looked back to the truck stop it was then I saw Daniel again. This time he was out of the truck and looking towards me, his eyes locked on mine and I knew he was real and not just my wicked imagination. I wanted to kiss him, to hold him, and to even nod in agreement to some of his off the wall ideas. I stood up and spun around and cried out "Daniel!!!!!" and started to run towards the truck but he was gone... The dogs looked at me curiously and then continued to play at the side of Daniel's truck.
Despite the heavy "security," getting into NASA was easy. The towering Vehicle Assembly Building dominated the otherwise flat landscape dotted with launch towers. A very long runway ran the length of the compound on the cape, and several hangars were located near the VAB. I drove directly across the compound towards the VAB - not sure what I would find. I should have expected what I found in the hangars - a 757 in one, and the remainder of the U.S. shuttle fleet in the others - grounded for over a year now since the Columbia accident. They looked clean, and I noticed that any missing tiles on the Endeavor had been meticulously replaced, leaving it pristine. The hangar was huge with a massive overhead gantry used for hoisting the vessel off the back of the 757 after transport. Before having a look at the 757, I decided to find my way to launch control, and see if I could get a feel for the global communications network with M.C. in Houston and listening outposts in Australia, Africa, India, and elsewhere.
The communications center at L.C. was as impressive as I had imagined. NASA had a special bandwidth allocated on many existing satellites, including the newer fleet of Iridiums iin goesynchronous orbit. It also had dibs on several birds which have not yet launched. I tried a few things, and after several hours firgured out how to open channels to the various listening posts, Houston, and the Biaknur cosmodrome in Siberia, which was unsurprisingly silent. The system was actually pretty user friendly, and after only two hours, I could easily open VOX channels to pretty much anywhere in the world.
Late into the evening, I was still examining the mission status console, when I came across a very disturbing find. Scanning through the comm channels, I had managed to pick up the listening post near Perth, transmitting the signal off of an Irirdium comm bird above the Pacific. Set for ISS VOX communication, I had managed to listen in the most unexpected conversation in my life.
"... as well just keep the channel open...... no it's already been three days and no sign of anything.... Gennady, what have you found?"
I hear a Russian voice in the background, "Is no sign of global nuclear war. I do not know what has happened."
Quickly fumbling with the switches, I attempt to communicate with the unknown voice.
"ISS, this is Kennedy launch control picking you up loud and clear, what's your status?" That sounded dumb, but I couln't think of anything else to say. I hear papers rustling in the background and someone say "ouch" as he bumps a body part.
"Kennedy! ISS. What the hell's going on down there?"
"ISS. Kennedy. I have no idea. As far as I know the entire population of the planet, except myself - and you - has disappeared. I haven't picked up anything on the comm channels, and aside from some pre-recorded AM programs, haven't found any live comm networks. I'm currently running a global satellite scan on all NASA listening posts and commercial frequencies with no luck."
"Jesus...." was the whispered reply. There was a long silence on the other end.
"Kennedy. ISS. We copy your report. All systems are nominal here. We will maintain this open comm."
I stare at the blinking light on the panel for few seconds before speaking....
"Right... ", I say, "Uh.... do you guys have a way back?"
"Roger that Kenned- Hey! Wait! You're not with L.C. are you!" Came the reply.
"Well, no.... I wanted to check the place out, so I drove up, and that's how I got here, then I found you guys." I heard a faint chuckle on the other end. Then the guy asked me for my name.
"Kennedy. ISS. We keep a Soyuz capsule permanently docked for emergency escapes. We can fly by wire to get back to the Russian steppes, but we are going to need a little help."
The astronaut on the ISS explained to me that he would require telemetry calucations for the re-entry window, and asked if I think I could handle that. I told him I had a Ph.D. in astrophysics, and could do that in my head. He seemed relieved. Typical Soyuz re-entry was designed for the Russian steppes, so he would need transport from there after landing. When I told him I taught myself how to fly, he said that central Siberia is no place for a jumbo jet to land; I would need a helicopter.
"Is that hard to learn?" I asked. I got a long pause on the other end and a loud exhalation of breath.
"Uh.... well.... we can survive for a week or two on the steppes, but I doubt you can learn to fly a chopper in that time." I took his word for it, since he was probably a pilot.
"Yeah, but you can survive for three months up there, right?" I said.
"Roger that, Kennedy." Was the cautious reply.
"So I can spend a month or two practicing on a helicopter, upload the telemetry calculations to you after that, then while you are undergoing re-entry and landing, I'll fly the 757 to Vladivostok, grab a chopper, and pick you up. You'll only be on the steppes for a day or two."
I could practically hear the man thinking on the other end. Over the comm channel, someone was playing music on the ISS. I could make out the faint reverberating beat of.... Barry Manilow.... playing in the background. I found myself hoping that his CD player would run out of batteries if we were going to be talking back and forth for a month.
"Roger that Kennedy...." was the reply. I could hear his skepticism, but also his
belief that this was the only choice. We sat in silence for a few more minutes.
"So.... my name's Nik." I said.
"Foale. Commander C. Michael... uh..... Mike." Came the reply of a man with only a single friend on the whole planet.
The communications center at L.C. was as impressive as I had imagined. NASA had a special bandwidth allocated on many existing satellites, including the newer fleet of Iridiums iin goesynchronous orbit. It also had dibs on several birds which have not yet launched. I tried a few things, and after several hours firgured out how to open channels to the various listening posts, Houston, and the Biaknur cosmodrome in Siberia, which was unsurprisingly silent. The system was actually pretty user friendly, and after only two hours, I could easily open VOX channels to pretty much anywhere in the world.
Late into the evening, I was still examining the mission status console, when I came across a very disturbing find. Scanning through the comm channels, I had managed to pick up the listening post near Perth, transmitting the signal off of an Irirdium comm bird above the Pacific. Set for ISS VOX communication, I had managed to listen in the most unexpected conversation in my life.
"... as well just keep the channel open...... no it's already been three days and no sign of anything.... Gennady, what have you found?"
I hear a Russian voice in the background, "Is no sign of global nuclear war. I do not know what has happened."
Quickly fumbling with the switches, I attempt to communicate with the unknown voice.
"ISS, this is Kennedy launch control picking you up loud and clear, what's your status?" That sounded dumb, but I couln't think of anything else to say. I hear papers rustling in the background and someone say "ouch" as he bumps a body part.
"Kennedy! ISS. What the hell's going on down there?"
"ISS. Kennedy. I have no idea. As far as I know the entire population of the planet, except myself - and you - has disappeared. I haven't picked up anything on the comm channels, and aside from some pre-recorded AM programs, haven't found any live comm networks. I'm currently running a global satellite scan on all NASA listening posts and commercial frequencies with no luck."
"Jesus...." was the whispered reply. There was a long silence on the other end.
"Kennedy. ISS. We copy your report. All systems are nominal here. We will maintain this open comm."
I stare at the blinking light on the panel for few seconds before speaking....
"Right... ", I say, "Uh.... do you guys have a way back?"
"Roger that Kenned- Hey! Wait! You're not with L.C. are you!" Came the reply.
"Well, no.... I wanted to check the place out, so I drove up, and that's how I got here, then I found you guys." I heard a faint chuckle on the other end. Then the guy asked me for my name.
"Kennedy. ISS. We keep a Soyuz capsule permanently docked for emergency escapes. We can fly by wire to get back to the Russian steppes, but we are going to need a little help."
The astronaut on the ISS explained to me that he would require telemetry calucations for the re-entry window, and asked if I think I could handle that. I told him I had a Ph.D. in astrophysics, and could do that in my head. He seemed relieved. Typical Soyuz re-entry was designed for the Russian steppes, so he would need transport from there after landing. When I told him I taught myself how to fly, he said that central Siberia is no place for a jumbo jet to land; I would need a helicopter.
"Is that hard to learn?" I asked. I got a long pause on the other end and a loud exhalation of breath.
"Uh.... well.... we can survive for a week or two on the steppes, but I doubt you can learn to fly a chopper in that time." I took his word for it, since he was probably a pilot.
"Yeah, but you can survive for three months up there, right?" I said.
"Roger that, Kennedy." Was the cautious reply.
"So I can spend a month or two practicing on a helicopter, upload the telemetry calculations to you after that, then while you are undergoing re-entry and landing, I'll fly the 757 to Vladivostok, grab a chopper, and pick you up. You'll only be on the steppes for a day or two."
I could practically hear the man thinking on the other end. Over the comm channel, someone was playing music on the ISS. I could make out the faint reverberating beat of.... Barry Manilow.... playing in the background. I found myself hoping that his CD player would run out of batteries if we were going to be talking back and forth for a month.
"Roger that Kennedy...." was the reply. I could hear his skepticism, but also his
belief that this was the only choice. We sat in silence for a few more minutes.
"So.... my name's Nik." I said.
"Foale. Commander C. Michael... uh..... Mike." Came the reply of a man with only a single friend on the whole planet.
September 23rd, 2004
Last night we made it as far as McAlester, Ok where we found that Tom had indeed "Left the light on for us" We checked in at the local Motel 6...separate rooms of course. This morning was day two of our trip to meet WeareBorg, we should be there some time tonight late......thank god. The beat goes on.
Last night we made it as far as McAlester, Ok where we found that Tom had indeed "Left the light on for us" We checked in at the local Motel 6...separate rooms of course. This morning was day two of our trip to meet WeareBorg, we should be there some time tonight late......thank god. The beat goes on.
Click For Spoiler
September 15, 2004 5:00 AM, Eastern Time.
The alarm wakes me up. I open my eyes. I don't have my contacts in so the world's blurry. 5:00 am. I drag myself out of bed. While I'm brushing my teeth I grumble about having to go in to work today.
"It's supposed to be my day off. DA*mn 1st shift. Those people can't get anything done." I mumble.
I get dressed and grab something to eat on my way out the door. It's quiet on the road. This early the streets are almost empty except for a few cars.
I pull into the parking lot at work and go inside. Passing through the security entrance I head for the breakroom like usual to grab a cup of coffee. Many of my coworkers who've also arrived are in there, taking it easy until the shift begins. The clock on the wall says 6:21 am.
"About 9 minutes until the morning meeting starts." I think to myself.
I go around the corner to where the coffee machine is. As I'm in the alcove waiting for the machine to fill the cup I hear something hit the floor.
"Someone dropped their breakfast. That's gotta suck" I think.
I'm sipping my coffee when I round the corner. The breakroom is deserted. I see where someone has spilled coffee on the floor. I step around the mess and go out of the door. Still half asleep I don't give it a 2nd thought that everyone is gone.
It doesn't hit me that something is wrong until I finally walk upstairs to the 3rd floor.
"Where is everyone?" I ask myself. "I know I'm not that early."
I look at the clock, it says 6:24 am. I several minutes searching the building for someone, anyone. I walk into an office and try and dial Lida. The phone rings, I pray that she answers.
The alarm wakes me up. I open my eyes. I don't have my contacts in so the world's blurry. 5:00 am. I drag myself out of bed. While I'm brushing my teeth I grumble about having to go in to work today.
"It's supposed to be my day off. DA*mn 1st shift. Those people can't get anything done." I mumble.
I get dressed and grab something to eat on my way out the door. It's quiet on the road. This early the streets are almost empty except for a few cars.
I pull into the parking lot at work and go inside. Passing through the security entrance I head for the breakroom like usual to grab a cup of coffee. Many of my coworkers who've also arrived are in there, taking it easy until the shift begins. The clock on the wall says 6:21 am.
"About 9 minutes until the morning meeting starts." I think to myself.
I go around the corner to where the coffee machine is. As I'm in the alcove waiting for the machine to fill the cup I hear something hit the floor.
"Someone dropped their breakfast. That's gotta suck" I think.
I'm sipping my coffee when I round the corner. The breakroom is deserted. I see where someone has spilled coffee on the floor. I step around the mess and go out of the door. Still half asleep I don't give it a 2nd thought that everyone is gone.
It doesn't hit me that something is wrong until I finally walk upstairs to the 3rd floor.
"Where is everyone?" I ask myself. "I know I'm not that early."
I look at the clock, it says 6:24 am. I several minutes searching the building for someone, anyone. I walk into an office and try and dial Lida. The phone rings, I pray that she answers.
Hi Aaron, is that you? She answers.
I usually call her later in the day but for some reason she knew it was me.
"Is anything weird going on that you know about?" I asked her.
"I've been at work, I haven't heard anything unusual, why?" She asks."But I wouldn't hear anything in the empty apartment anyway. But it has been unusually quiet around here this morning."
"I'm at work and this place is deserted. There were people here a little while ago but now everyone's gone." I tell her. "There should be someone here. The security guards at least. Something's wrong. I'm heading home. I'll call you again when I get there." I continue.
"Ok. I'll look around here on my way back to the apartment. Be careful." She says. "I will. I Love you." I reply. "I Love you too."
I hang up and go get in my car. I stop at the traffic light. I sit there for a few seconds, then I notice there's a car off the road in the ditch across the street. I get out of my car and go over to see if anyone's hurt. The car is wrecked pretty bad but there's no one inside. I look around to see if someone was thrown from the vehicle but I can't find anyone. Driving home I see more cars sitting in ditches, smashed into trees. They all still have their engines running but there's not a soul around. A few cars are tangled together in a wreck in the middle of the road. I have to drive into someone's front yard to get around them.
Lida goes from door to door in her building knocking on doors but no one answers any of them. She walks outside and looks up and down the street. A lot of cars are parked but there are no people walking around. Only a few dogs, cats and a pair of squirrels chasing each other up and down a large tree. She goes back inside and turns on the computer. She logs onto StarTrekFans.Net and goes to the chatroom. The few people in there were discussing the Romulans and who was the Room God right now.
She types in. "Anyone know anything about anything strange going on right now?" She waits and no one answers her. So she logs off and calls Aaron.
"Hello" He says.
"Hi, it's me.I went outside and around the building and there isn't anyone around. Is that what's going on there?" She asks.
"Yea." I answer. "There were cars all over the road and off the road. It's like everyone just disappeared. I haven't seen any people since I walked into the breakroom. You're the only person I've been able to get in touch with." I explain. She tells me about the chatroom on the site. We hang up and I log on to the site.
"Does anyone know what's going on?" I type.
"Wesley Crusher sucks." Someone types.
"What's do you mean what's going on?" Someone else asks. A few know what we're talking about. As the minutes tick by more and more members enter the chatroom.
Everyone's asking, "What's going on?"
No one knows.
I usually call her later in the day but for some reason she knew it was me.
"Is anything weird going on that you know about?" I asked her.
"I've been at work, I haven't heard anything unusual, why?" She asks."But I wouldn't hear anything in the empty apartment anyway. But it has been unusually quiet around here this morning."
"I'm at work and this place is deserted. There were people here a little while ago but now everyone's gone." I tell her. "There should be someone here. The security guards at least. Something's wrong. I'm heading home. I'll call you again when I get there." I continue.
"Ok. I'll look around here on my way back to the apartment. Be careful." She says. "I will. I Love you." I reply. "I Love you too."
I hang up and go get in my car. I stop at the traffic light. I sit there for a few seconds, then I notice there's a car off the road in the ditch across the street. I get out of my car and go over to see if anyone's hurt. The car is wrecked pretty bad but there's no one inside. I look around to see if someone was thrown from the vehicle but I can't find anyone. Driving home I see more cars sitting in ditches, smashed into trees. They all still have their engines running but there's not a soul around. A few cars are tangled together in a wreck in the middle of the road. I have to drive into someone's front yard to get around them.
Lida goes from door to door in her building knocking on doors but no one answers any of them. She walks outside and looks up and down the street. A lot of cars are parked but there are no people walking around. Only a few dogs, cats and a pair of squirrels chasing each other up and down a large tree. She goes back inside and turns on the computer. She logs onto StarTrekFans.Net and goes to the chatroom. The few people in there were discussing the Romulans and who was the Room God right now.
She types in. "Anyone know anything about anything strange going on right now?" She waits and no one answers her. So she logs off and calls Aaron.
"Hello" He says.
"Hi, it's me.I went outside and around the building and there isn't anyone around. Is that what's going on there?" She asks.
"Yea." I answer. "There were cars all over the road and off the road. It's like everyone just disappeared. I haven't seen any people since I walked into the breakroom. You're the only person I've been able to get in touch with." I explain. She tells me about the chatroom on the site. We hang up and I log on to the site.
"Does anyone know what's going on?" I type.
"Wesley Crusher sucks." Someone types.
"What's do you mean what's going on?" Someone else asks. A few know what we're talking about. As the minutes tick by more and more members enter the chatroom.
Everyone's asking, "What's going on?"
No one knows.
Friday Sept. 24, 2004
Yes, right now the dallas-ft. worth area is empty. Headborg is coming down here. He coming to find his sister. After we stock up on weaponry at Ft. Hood, we'll drive to Nasa down in Webster... Let's see if those astronauts are still there...
Yes, right now the dallas-ft. worth area is empty. Headborg is coming down here. He coming to find his sister. After we stock up on weaponry at Ft. Hood, we'll drive to Nasa down in Webster... Let's see if those astronauts are still there...
24 September 2004 A.D.
Time: Eh... Noon-ish?
Place: The Monolith Tower, Rod SerlingVille City, California...
I sit here on the top of the tallest building of the metropolis I know rule.
I have managed to hack into the computer-systems that have been running the city... I now control this city, despite it having many tall buildings... It's rather quite small..
Being content of the territory I now dominate, I spend my time rewatching some monster-movie DVDs, and re-entering the chat room...
DrWho42 Salutations everyone.
Cleetus *SPAMS on relentlessly*
DrWho42 *sigh*
Time: Eh... Noon-ish?
Place: The Monolith Tower, Rod SerlingVille City, California...
I sit here on the top of the tallest building of the metropolis I know rule.
I have managed to hack into the computer-systems that have been running the city... I now control this city, despite it having many tall buildings... It's rather quite small..
Being content of the territory I now dominate, I spend my time rewatching some monster-movie DVDs, and re-entering the chat room...
DrWho42 Salutations everyone.
Cleetus *SPAMS on relentlessly*
DrWho42 *sigh*
Lida logs back onto the site and goes to the chatroom again. She types " Did you find out anything yet?" To Fenriz. "No nothing." I type. We type back and forth for nearly and hour. We decide to get off and look around some more. As the day goes on Lida tries to get the television to work, all she gets is snow on the screen on all the channels. On the radio nothing but static. She calls Aaron.
"I'm scared now.What should we do?" She asks me.
"I don't know Sweetie. Why don't we just try to go to sleep and maybe in the morning we'll know more." I tell her. "Alright, I'm exhausted anyway. Been walking around the neighborhood and driving around town all day. There is no one around." She says.
The following morning Lida wakes up just before dawn and gets up.
She calls me."Aaron, you know anything yet?" She says as soon as I answer.
I had nothing new to tell her. I could hear the fear in her voice.
"Sweetie?" I said to her. "How about we get together somehow? I mean, I know we've never actually met but if this goes on we may have to eventually.
"Where should we meet?" She asks.
"How about somewhere halfway?" I suggest.
"I'll look at a map." She says.
I wait for a few minutes at the other end of the phone.
"I can't find a ruler." I hear her yelling from across the room.
"Found it." Was the next thing I heard. I wait. She comes back on the phone.
"O.K., halfway, right? she asks me. I agree."Well, as close as I can tell, Lafayette, Indiana would be half way.Have you ever been there before?" She asks me.
"No I haven't." I answer. "But it looks like I'm going to. When should we leave? Now or in the morning?" I ask her.
"I think the morning would be best. I'm going to try and stock up on some supplies today." She answers.
"That's a good idea." I agree.
Lida spends the rest of the day preparing for the trip. She is all out of food and decides to take a ride out to the grocery. She pulls into the parking lot and parks, gets out of her car, and goes into the store. There is no one there but the doors are open. She grabs a cart and starts walking up and down the aisles, throwing whatever she wants into the cart.
"Mmm, nice greens." She thinks as she peruses the produce department.
"The lizards will love these." She fills the cart then zips out the door and piles them into the back of her car then goes back into the store.
"Fruit, got to get fruit.Again she begins to load up the cart. Then back out to the car. Now noticing that there isn't much room left she decides she'd better get some other stuff and now makes her third trip back into the store.
She now zips through meat, then dairy.
"Cheese, got to get cheese, love cheese, need cheese." She says as she walks the aisles talking to herself now, outloud. The cart now filled for the third time she goes back out to the car.
"OH MAN." she says as she tries stuffing everything in and rearranging things so it will all fit.
"I'm going to need a bigger vehicle." She says to herself. She manages to cram herself back into the tiny car and tries to find the stick shift under a pile of spinach and brocoli.she starts the car and drives home. Eyeballing every unoccupied vehicle she sees along the way.
"I'm scared now.What should we do?" She asks me.
"I don't know Sweetie. Why don't we just try to go to sleep and maybe in the morning we'll know more." I tell her. "Alright, I'm exhausted anyway. Been walking around the neighborhood and driving around town all day. There is no one around." She says.
The following morning Lida wakes up just before dawn and gets up.
She calls me."Aaron, you know anything yet?" She says as soon as I answer.
I had nothing new to tell her. I could hear the fear in her voice.
"Sweetie?" I said to her. "How about we get together somehow? I mean, I know we've never actually met but if this goes on we may have to eventually.
"Where should we meet?" She asks.
"How about somewhere halfway?" I suggest.
"I'll look at a map." She says.
I wait for a few minutes at the other end of the phone.
"I can't find a ruler." I hear her yelling from across the room.
"Found it." Was the next thing I heard. I wait. She comes back on the phone.
"O.K., halfway, right? she asks me. I agree."Well, as close as I can tell, Lafayette, Indiana would be half way.Have you ever been there before?" She asks me.
"No I haven't." I answer. "But it looks like I'm going to. When should we leave? Now or in the morning?" I ask her.
"I think the morning would be best. I'm going to try and stock up on some supplies today." She answers.
"That's a good idea." I agree.
Lida spends the rest of the day preparing for the trip. She is all out of food and decides to take a ride out to the grocery. She pulls into the parking lot and parks, gets out of her car, and goes into the store. There is no one there but the doors are open. She grabs a cart and starts walking up and down the aisles, throwing whatever she wants into the cart.
"Mmm, nice greens." She thinks as she peruses the produce department.
"The lizards will love these." She fills the cart then zips out the door and piles them into the back of her car then goes back into the store.
"Fruit, got to get fruit.Again she begins to load up the cart. Then back out to the car. Now noticing that there isn't much room left she decides she'd better get some other stuff and now makes her third trip back into the store.
She now zips through meat, then dairy.
"Cheese, got to get cheese, love cheese, need cheese." She says as she walks the aisles talking to herself now, outloud. The cart now filled for the third time she goes back out to the car.
"OH MAN." she says as she tries stuffing everything in and rearranging things so it will all fit.
"I'm going to need a bigger vehicle." She says to herself. She manages to cram herself back into the tiny car and tries to find the stick shift under a pile of spinach and brocoli.she starts the car and drives home. Eyeballing every unoccupied vehicle she sees along the way.
Once back home she goes in and calls Aaron.
"I got some food." She tells me.
"O.K, enough for the trip?" I ask.
"UM, Oh yea, I think there's enough." She says in a strange voice.
"I had to get some greens for the lizards too, they took up a lot of room in the car. I may borrow a car for the trip. What do you think?" She asked me. Lida hangs up after agreeing to go to sleep. I had no idea she would be out looking for a vehicle for the trip in the middle of the night.
Lida walks her neighborhood carrying a flashlight. The street-lights weren't on so the only light was from the full moon and her flashlight. She approaches a Lexus wagon. Tries the door. It's locked. She flashes the light up onto the front porch then walks up the steps to the front door. The door is unlocked, she walks in. Quietly she walks down the foyer to the kitchen. There she finds the table set. Pots of food on the stove but only piles of clothes on the chairs and one in front of the stove. She looks for the trousers and picks them up off the chair and fishes through the pockets for the keys.
"YES!" She says outloud and she leaves the house and goes to the car, starts it and drives home.
"I got some food." She tells me.
"O.K, enough for the trip?" I ask.
"UM, Oh yea, I think there's enough." She says in a strange voice.
"I had to get some greens for the lizards too, they took up a lot of room in the car. I may borrow a car for the trip. What do you think?" She asked me. Lida hangs up after agreeing to go to sleep. I had no idea she would be out looking for a vehicle for the trip in the middle of the night.
Lida walks her neighborhood carrying a flashlight. The street-lights weren't on so the only light was from the full moon and her flashlight. She approaches a Lexus wagon. Tries the door. It's locked. She flashes the light up onto the front porch then walks up the steps to the front door. The door is unlocked, she walks in. Quietly she walks down the foyer to the kitchen. There she finds the table set. Pots of food on the stove but only piles of clothes on the chairs and one in front of the stove. She looks for the trousers and picks them up off the chair and fishes through the pockets for the keys.
"YES!" She says outloud and she leaves the house and goes to the car, starts it and drives home.
Lost entry: September 17
The car crashed into the mall. My, my I'm stuck in the Victoria's Secret store...
The car crashed into the mall. My, my I'm stuck in the Victoria's Secret store...
I go to bed and fall asleep right away. I can't believe after all this time we are going to finally meet, face to face. Meanwhile..................
Lida has returned home and parks the 'borrowed' vehicle. Goes inside and plops into the bed and falls asleep.
In the morning she calls Aaron as soon as she wakes up. "Hi, you ready to leave yet?" She asks me. "No, I have to find a map. I've never driven up there and I have to find the quickest route." I tell her. "OH" She says. "I have a book of maps someone gave me. Maybe I could look it up for you and tell you which way to go?" She says. I tell her. "No, I'd rather have a map in my hand so I won't get lost." She agrees with me. "Lida?" I ask. "Yes" She says. "Have you looked at a map yet?" She hesitates. "No, not yet. I'll do that right now, alright?" She mumbles something about Route 94 South then East on something, I couldn't understand her. "OK, I got it." She says. "But I'll be a while yet. I have to pack the car and get the lizards up and um, you know." She says. "Yea." I answer. "Let me get off now. I'll call you back when I'm ready to go, alright?" She tells me. We hang up.
September 24th 2004
What a waste of a day! I rolled out of bed, literally, around noon. I didn't get much rest last night...this morning, whichever it was. We hadn't "checked in" until late/early and after many years of sleeping in the sleeper of a truck, strange open rooms disturb me. Is there an opposite of claustrophobia? As I lay there, fighting with the "joke" of a pillow these roadside motels provide, I struggled to surrender to the black. But the subdued yet still annoyingly audible rhythms of "Daybreak", and the occasional "bark" of my dog "ditto" emanating from the room next door made sleep elusive. I guess those two hit it off, or maybe DL6 just needed a "friend". I pulled the other pillow down over my head, and tried to rest.
Noon: I step outside into a quiet world.....Hey!!!!Where's The Car!!!!.....That little ##$$$%! .........Where's my Dog?
Just then the Hummer came tear %ssing into the parking lot as if Satan himself were chasing her. With one wheel jumping the curb. She roared up in front of me, and came to a sudden stop. DL6 jumped out.
I'm startled and still half asleep: "What's wrong?"
DL6 just gave me a blank 'What are you talking about?' look: ..."you need a shower! I've been out shopping, come on now.....the day is wasting away..you've had plenty of sleep ol' man." ( She got my dog out the car and a bag of groceries and headed for her room..."You shower, NOW.... I 'll get some coffee going. Come over after you get cleaned up..I did some other shopping too...got some new clothes for me....and a....HAT!!.... for you.
HB: A HAT!??!!??!!!!
I started to say I don't wear "hats", when she produced a white cowboy hat...
DL6: We're going to TEXAS!!!... and you got to "look" the part.
I'm speechless as I stand there holding my new... "hat".... another woman giving me orders...it never changes...I look down at Ditto......"What are you looking at?" and retreated back into my room. As I shower...I catch myself humming "Mandy".
We reached the Red River Bridge at 4pm, and found that both bridges were blocked. One with a multi-car pile-up, and the other was worse. A barge had ran into the supports and collapsed it. Without hesitation DL6 took us "off road", down along the bank of the river .
HB: "You know.... We could have just back-tracked till we found another bridge.."
DL6: "SHUT Up, Hb, I'm driving..... this is faster!...we'll find a place to cross a lot quicker this way!"
I give her a 'lady... you are insane' look
We reached the East Town Mall, Dallas, Tx 11pm.
What a waste of a day! I rolled out of bed, literally, around noon. I didn't get much rest last night...this morning, whichever it was. We hadn't "checked in" until late/early and after many years of sleeping in the sleeper of a truck, strange open rooms disturb me. Is there an opposite of claustrophobia? As I lay there, fighting with the "joke" of a pillow these roadside motels provide, I struggled to surrender to the black. But the subdued yet still annoyingly audible rhythms of "Daybreak", and the occasional "bark" of my dog "ditto" emanating from the room next door made sleep elusive. I guess those two hit it off, or maybe DL6 just needed a "friend". I pulled the other pillow down over my head, and tried to rest.
Noon: I step outside into a quiet world.....Hey!!!!Where's The Car!!!!.....That little ##$$$%! .........Where's my Dog?
Just then the Hummer came tear %ssing into the parking lot as if Satan himself were chasing her. With one wheel jumping the curb. She roared up in front of me, and came to a sudden stop. DL6 jumped out.
I'm startled and still half asleep: "What's wrong?"
DL6 just gave me a blank 'What are you talking about?' look: ..."you need a shower! I've been out shopping, come on now.....the day is wasting away..you've had plenty of sleep ol' man." ( She got my dog out the car and a bag of groceries and headed for her room..."You shower, NOW.... I 'll get some coffee going. Come over after you get cleaned up..I did some other shopping too...got some new clothes for me....and a....HAT!!.... for you.
HB: A HAT!??!!??!!!!
I started to say I don't wear "hats", when she produced a white cowboy hat...
DL6: We're going to TEXAS!!!... and you got to "look" the part.
I'm speechless as I stand there holding my new... "hat".... another woman giving me orders...it never changes...I look down at Ditto......"What are you looking at?" and retreated back into my room. As I shower...I catch myself humming "Mandy".
We reached the Red River Bridge at 4pm, and found that both bridges were blocked. One with a multi-car pile-up, and the other was worse. A barge had ran into the supports and collapsed it. Without hesitation DL6 took us "off road", down along the bank of the river .
HB: "You know.... We could have just back-tracked till we found another bridge.."
DL6: "SHUT Up, Hb, I'm driving..... this is faster!...we'll find a place to cross a lot quicker this way!"
I give her a 'lady... you are insane' look
We reached the East Town Mall, Dallas, Tx 11pm.
Click For Spoiler
September 18
I wake up, this 3rd morning. Knowing I need to shower and get the car packed up for the trip. I shower as usual and go through my regular morning routine. Bump into the wall a few times trying to go in and out the door with my arms full of stuff. The map, where's the map. Of course the first thing I need is the last thing I look for. I don't have a map The gas station on the corner must have maps. I'll gas up the car with free gas then go in and get one, I think to myself. My cell phone rings. "Hi" I say, knowing it's Lida. "Hi" She says with her usual giggle. Then another "Hi" from me. We go back and forth for a few more "Hi's" Then finally I say. "You ready to go?" She hesitates. "Um, I just woke up. I need to pack up he car now, and shower and get dressed." She answers. "Did you find your map?" She asks me. "UH, yea, I got it." I answer. Not wanted to sound like the Absent Minded Professor. "Let me call you back when I'm ready to leave." She asks. "Alright. I have my cell with me so call when your ready to leave." I ask her. "O.K." she says. Then we hang up. I log onto the site while I wait for her call. In the chatroom everyone is talking about what's going on. It's obvious to me now that the members of STF.Net are the only people I am able to reach. But where did everyone else go? No one knows but there is alot of speculation going on. HeadBorg says it's like a movie he saw once. "Left behind", and I tend to agree with him.
I wake up, this 3rd morning. Knowing I need to shower and get the car packed up for the trip. I shower as usual and go through my regular morning routine. Bump into the wall a few times trying to go in and out the door with my arms full of stuff. The map, where's the map. Of course the first thing I need is the last thing I look for. I don't have a map
The gas station on the corner must have maps. I'll gas up the car with free gas then go in and get one, I think to myself. My cell phone rings. "Hi" I say, knowing it's Lida. "Hi" She says with her usual giggle. Then another "Hi" from me. We go back and forth for a few more "Hi's" Then finally I say. "You ready to go?" She hesitates. "Um, I just woke up. I need to pack up he car now, and shower and get dressed." She answers. "Did you find your map?" She asks me. "UH, yea, I got it." I answer. Not wanted to sound like the Absent Minded Professor. "Let me call you back when I'm ready to leave." She asks. "Alright. I have my cell with me so call when your ready to leave." I ask her. "O.K." she says. Then we hang up. I log onto the site while I wait for her call. In the chatroom everyone is talking about what's going on. It's obvious to me now that the members of STF.Net are the only people I am able to reach. But where did everyone else go? No one knows but there is alot of speculation going on. HeadBorg says it's like a movie he saw once. "Left behind", and I tend to agree with him.
Lida is now packing. She gets her survival kit ready. A small overnight bag with all her 'products' and brings it out to the Lexus parked outside. Then begins transferring everything from her car to it. "Mmm, lots of room in here." She says. As she jams the remaining bags into the back. She goes back inside to tend to the lizards and get them leashed and into the car. Baby Tongue is compliant but Kes gives her a very bad time. Trying to claw her and run off. But after a few minutes of coersion they are both in the back seat, covered with a blanket and gone back to sleep. "Map, where'd I put the map?" She says to heself. Then runs back inside and grabs the 'Deluxe, Motor Carriers Guide 2002 she had laying open on the coffee table.
September 19, 2004.... Lost archive...
I'm sitting in the East Town Mall, Dallas eating two big macs that I made myself in the McDonalds here....
It's kind of freaky that no one's here...
I'm sitting in the East Town Mall, Dallas eating two big macs that I made myself in the McDonalds here....
It's kind of freaky that no one's here...
After trying to start the car for about ten minutes I have managed to flood it so I sit and wait a few minutes then try again. She sputters then starts with bang and a huge cloud of smoke from the exhaust pipe. I head out to the gas station. Once there I fill er up then go inside to see what how much pilferring has gone on and hope there are some maps left. "EUREKA!!!" A map of the mid-West. I stand there for a minute before I go back to my car, spread it out on the counter and grab a few snacks, a handful of Slim-Jims and a liter of Mountain Dew. "Ah, ok, North on 65 will take me right into Lafayette, should take me about 2 hours.
Out on the highway now I'm cruising at about 80. My car is trying to tell me something. When suddenly something crashes up through the hood from the engine and I swurve and land up in the ditch.
Now what? Well, I can't hitch-hike if there's no other cars, so I grab my duffel-bag and start walking up route 65 with it slung over my shoulder. There are no cars in sight. I walk for about 15 minutes when up ahead I spot a car with a covered trailer on the back. I hear banging sounds coming from the trailer as I approach it. There are two horse rumps visible over the backdoor. "Take it easy now" I say to the horses as I unlock the latch and open the gate. I put down the ramp, go in and back them out one at a time. since they had been inside the trailer for days now they had no food yet had left piles of horse poop on the floor which I got stuck in up to my knees as I tried to get into the trailer.
I see a stream on the edge of the highway and lead the two horses over to it for a drink. As they drank I searched in my duffel -bag for a few candybars for them to eat. I wasn't giving up my Slim-Jims. They each ate 6 bars then started licking my face. "Come on, let's go" I said to them as we walked back to the road and started walking. The stench from the poop up to my knees made me abandon my pants and shoes right there. And since it was hot, over 90 degrees, I took off my shirt too. So now I'm walking down the high-way, in my boxers being lead by one horse in front of me and one behind me who keeps nipping at my butt. I guess he or she, no it's a he, wants another candybar. 
Now my feet start to burn. So I decide it might be a good idea to ride one instead of walking. I turn and try to mount the stallion. He stands still as I climb up onto him wrestling with my duffel-bag. Finally, I 'm up, and we continue down the high-way. We saunter down Route 65 for about a half hour when up ahead in a ditch I see something odd. Not a car but something that looks like a giant wiener. As I approach it becomes clear to me what it is. 
My childhood dream before me in a ditch, the "Oscar Meyer WienerMobile" and it's all mine!!! I jab at the horse to hurry up with my bare heels and he breaks into a gallop and we over shoot the WienerMobile. I tell him to turn and he bucks me right off and onto the grass, Duffle-bag landing on top of me. The two horses run off down the highway.
Now my feet start to burn. So I decide it might be a good idea to ride one instead of walking. I turn and try to mount the stallion. He stands still as I climb up onto him wrestling with my duffel-bag. Finally, I 'm up, and we continue down the high-way. We saunter down Route 65 for about a half hour when up ahead in a ditch I see something odd. Not a car but something that looks like a giant wiener. As I approach it becomes clear to me what it is. My childhood dream before me in a ditch, the "Oscar Meyer WienerMobile" and it's all mine!!! I jab at the horse to hurry up with my bare heels and he breaks into a gallop and we over shoot the WienerMobile. I tell him to turn and he bucks me right off and onto the grass, Duffle-bag landing on top of me. The two horses run off down the highway.
[attachmentid=1567]I get up off the grass and walk back to it. The door is closed and I look in the window, there is no one inside. I open the door. In the drivers seat there is a pile of green cloth. I pick it up and look at it. A pickle suit. The driver was dressed as a giant pickle. I don the suit. Fits me perfectly. I think to myself. "Wow, wait til Lida sees me in this!!" Never thinking it might scare her off. I sit in the seat and turn the key. It starts right up and I continue down the high-way, honking the horn and waving like I'm in a parade in the Wiener-Mobile.
A pickle suit. The driver was dressed as a giant pickle. I don the suit. Fits me perfectly. I think to myself. "Wow, wait til Lida sees me in this!!" Never thinking it might scare her off. I sit in the seat and turn the key. It starts right up and I continue down the high-way, honking the horn and waving like I'm in a parade in the Wiener-Mobile. Lida is now on I94 heading South. She grabs the map on the seat beside her for one last look and notices on the floor a satchel. She reaches over and pulls it up onto the seat and snaps it open. "EWWW, nice." She says. Inside there is a lap-top and a cell phone. She quickly dials my number. Back in the Wiener-Mobile I hear my cell phone ringing inside his duffel-Bag and reach for it. I answer "Hi". Lida asks me. "Where are you now?" I tell her I haven't seen a sign yet so I don't know exactly where I am but I'm on 65. "O.K. Well, I'm in Illinois right now, coming up on Chicago in a few minutes. Let's get off and I'll call you when I get to the Indiana border, OK?" Let's not wear the batteries down." I tell her, "Good idea." We hang up.
In the car as Lida drives south along the "Bottom of the Lake" the lizards wake up and crawl into the front seat with her. Kes decides she wants to look out the front window and jumps onto the dashboard. Baby Tongue sits on Lida's shoulder and helps her drive. Lida pops a CD into the player and the song "Green Things" is playing on the Kick-A** sound system. Baby Tongue opens her mouth towards the on rushing blast from the air conditioner. Lida places some fresh spinach on the dash for Kes and feeds Baby Tongue by hand.
As Lida notices the empty Mall just off the highway she decides to make a brief stop. She gets off at the next exit then comes back and gets off at the right one to get there. She cruises the parking lot looking for something. "AH, there it is." She says to the lizards. Pulls up to the entrance and parks in the shade. "I'll be right back" She tells the lizards and gets out of the car and goes in. She looks back at the car to see them both, their little faces pressed up against the windshield watching her. "So cute" She says to herself.
Inside she walks down the empty mall heading for "Hav A Hart". She enters the store and looks around.
All the animals were either barking, meowing, crowing or screaching. Some lay in their cages weak from hunger and thirst. She sets about feeding every creature in the store. Opening cages and letting them free. She stands in the middle of the store and watches them all run around, happy to be free. Knowing in her heart she must take some of them with her, especially the babies. She leaves the store and goes back out to the parking lot to look for a larger vehicle.
[attachmentid=1570]
Now back outside Lida walks the parking lot looking for just the right vehicle for her needs. something not too big yet bigger than the Lexus Wagon. "AHA" There it is. PERFECT!" She says as she climbs inside, removing the brown pile of cloth from the seat and looking at it. She starts the truck and drives it to the entrance and backs it up behind the Lexus, then opens the back door and starts throwing all of it's contents out onto the parking lot to make room. Then goes back into the mall. Grabbing a couple of shopping carts she enters the pet store again. Carefully she begins loading small animals and bedding filling both carts she goes back out to the truck. This went on for quite a while. Until the back of the truck looked like a pet store on wheels. She unloaded the Lexus of all the food she had packed in there then brought Kes and Baby Tongue into the truck and placed them on the seat beside her. "OOPS" She said as she jumped out and retrieved the lap-top and the cell phone. She called me and told me she had to make a brief stop but was back on the road again now and should be nearing the Indiana border soon.
Now back outside Lida walks the parking lot looking for just the right vehicle for her needs. something not too big yet bigger than the Lexus Wagon. "AHA"
There it is. PERFECT!" She says as she climbs inside, removing the brown pile of cloth from the seat and looking at it. She starts the truck and drives it to the entrance and backs it up behind the Lexus, then opens the back door and starts throwing all of it's contents out onto the parking lot to make room. Then goes back into the mall. Grabbing a couple of shopping carts she enters the pet store again. Carefully she begins loading small animals and bedding filling both carts she goes back out to the truck. This went on for quite a while. Until the back of the truck looked like a pet store on wheels. She unloaded the Lexus of all the food she had packed in there then brought Kes and Baby Tongue into the truck and placed them on the seat beside her. "OOPS" She said as she jumped out and retrieved the lap-top and the cell phone. She called me and told me she had to make a brief stop but was back on the road again now and should be nearing the Indiana border soon.
Nearing the Indiana border on I 94 she is distracted for a moment by what sounded like some sort if riot in the back of the truck. Kes had gone back there and met a large male Iguana who seemed to have a "Fatal Attraction" for her. Two Iguana's mating can appear to an onlooker as a fight to the death, but this was normal as he chased her around in the back of the truck, tails whipping and running over all the other animals in his pursuit. When Lida realized that this was happening she turned her attention back onto the road then swurving and screeching on the brakes. She almost ran over a goat that was on the highway. It still stood there. She stopped the truck, got out and went back to see if it was alright. It had a collar and a lead on it. She led it back and lifted it up into the truck. It sat down right next to the driver's seat. As Lida began driving again it decided it was going to put it's front feet up on the dash and watch bleeting all this time. So now she had a navigator, a Billy goat. She dialed the cell phone. I answered only to hear a "Baahaaa" on the other end.
~East Town Mall~~
We arrived at the mall around 11:00 PM. After circling around the complex, we saw nothing but a deserted parking lot. Then we noticed the West wing entrance--it had been transformed into a drive-thru! We stared at each other in disbelief...
DL6 dropped the Hummer into low range and we followed the path of destruction inside the building and down the corridor. On either side, the shop's security gates had been rammed and breached in several places. Small bits and pieces of automobile were left behind at each location.
We turned the corner, following the path of distruction and drove up a few stairs to the next landing. There before us was the suspect vehicle, buried in Victoria's Secret. It had finally given up the ghost and its' Reign of Terror had ended there.
DL6 and I cautiously exited the Hummer and proceeded to search for WEAREBORG. I approached the demolished vehicle and directed my flashlight beam inside.
DL6:"Find anything?"
HB:"Maybe...."
I retrieved what appeared to be a family photo album from the passenger seat and glanced through it quickly. I handed it to DL6 and she did the same. She looks up at me and exclaims,"THEY'RE ALL BORG!!!!"
Just then, we heard a rustling in a far corner. We quickly pointed our flashlight in that direction. There was WEAREBORG, sleeping peacefully amid a bizarre collection of ladies silk undergarments. An army of female mannequins, attired in hunting gear (obviously acquired elsewhere) were arrayed around the sleeping prince, keeping watch over him.
DL6 nudges him with her foot and yells,"Wake Up!"
We arrived at the mall around 11:00 PM. After circling around the complex, we saw nothing but a deserted parking lot. Then we noticed the West wing entrance--it had been transformed into a drive-thru! We stared at each other in disbelief...
DL6 dropped the Hummer into low range and we followed the path of destruction inside the building and down the corridor. On either side, the shop's security gates had been rammed and breached in several places. Small bits and pieces of automobile were left behind at each location.
We turned the corner, following the path of distruction and drove up a few stairs to the next landing. There before us was the suspect vehicle, buried in Victoria's Secret. It had finally given up the ghost and its' Reign of Terror had ended there.
DL6 and I cautiously exited the Hummer and proceeded to search for WEAREBORG. I approached the demolished vehicle and directed my flashlight beam inside.
DL6:"Find anything?"
HB:"Maybe...."
I retrieved what appeared to be a family photo album from the passenger seat and glanced through it quickly. I handed it to DL6 and she did the same. She looks up at me and exclaims,"THEY'RE ALL BORG!!!!"
Just then, we heard a rustling in a far corner. We quickly pointed our flashlight in that direction. There was WEAREBORG, sleeping peacefully amid a bizarre collection of ladies silk undergarments. An army of female mannequins, attired in hunting gear (obviously acquired elsewhere) were arrayed around the sleeping prince, keeping watch over him.
DL6 nudges him with her foot and yells,"Wake Up!"
Click For Spoiler
After nearly an entire weekend of communications with ISS and fumbling through manuals and 100-page memos, I had gotten to the point where I rerouted MC readouts and status indicators from Houston to Kennedy consoles. I had learned more top secret passwords in two days than I had in my entire (albeit short) career working at national laboratories. We all agreed that the return of the ISS crew would be a top priority - the only priority. During a scheduled sleep break aboard ISS, I took the opportunity to hop in the Mustang and go grocery shopping. I also "bought" a pair of rollerblades so I could get around the cavernous launch control room easier to read individual consoles. I noticed that the grocery store had lost power, and had an awful thought on the way back to LC. With noboby to maintain power plants across the country, it would be a matter of days before the coal and oil plants simply ran out of fuel.
Back at LC, I was a bit surprised that everything was still powered. I went through the emergency power proceedures and found that - in addition to a very large generator which would power the LC itself for several days - the center was directly on the grid for the St. Lucie #2 pressurized water reactor. I guessed that power fluctuations and outages forced an interlock on the "non-essential" loads, and initiated an automatic shutdown of the other grids, leaving plenty of power for LC. Checking the emergency console, I saw that the generator was not powered. I relaxed a little with the idea that LC would most likely continue to run indefinitely.
I strapped on the Rollerblades and made some rounds of the LC, checking individual consoles and noting - as best as I could tell - that everything seemed OK. I planned to spend the rest of the day reading up a bit on the 757 parked in the hangar. In my research I was surprised to find that Kennedy space center had a helicopter on site. Maybe I could figure this out a bit as well. Propping my rollerblades up on the comm
panel, I continued reading until I fell asleep, my head filled with strange dreams of a lone car on I-94 and a strange message from the inside of the 747.
I was awakened by the sharp pinging of the comm panel. Nearly falling out of my chair, I put on the headset, and spoke.
"ISS. Kennedy. You are on VOX-One. Please go ahead."
"Kennedy. ISS. Soyuz-1 reports a discharge loss on parachute canards two and three. Please confirm." I jump to my feet, forgetting wheels I am still wearing, and fall on my back. I release a string of vulgarity getting up.
"Kennedy, we didn't copy that last transmission. Could you please repeat."
"Uh...." I stuttered, "Please stand by ISS for confirmation." I roll around to the auxilliary panel and see the red flashing light indicating that the pressure in the cannisters holding the explosive charges which would eject the parachute from the Soyuz emergency capsule had dropped significantly. I stare for a minute and speak slowly.
"ISS, I copy your pressure reading. Can you get visual confirmation on charge leak?" I ask.
"Standby Kennedy..." Was the reply. I wait for several minutes. After 10 minutes, the reply comes back on my receiver.
"Kennedy. ISS. Gennady just went down to the capsule and had a look out the port. It looks like a meteoroid impact destroyed the outer shield and penetrated the parachute cannisters. Chutes two and three have been destroyed. We are sealing off the Soyuz to prevent station breach."
The silence hung heavily in the air as we all thought the same thing. Without parachutes, the capsule could re-enter with no problem - assuming that the heat shield was not compromised in the collision, or they would all burn up. However, the capsule would drop like a rock, and implant itself firmly into the Russian permafrost.
My mouth is dry as I speak slowly. "Uh.... ISS.... Please stand by for options...." The voice in my head told me there weren't too many ways back for the crew of the ISS, and one involved picking bits of flesh off the smoldering wreckage of a Soyuz capsule.
ISS just lost its lifeboat.
Back at LC, I was a bit surprised that everything was still powered. I went through the emergency power proceedures and found that - in addition to a very large generator which would power the LC itself for several days - the center was directly on the grid for the St. Lucie #2 pressurized water reactor. I guessed that power fluctuations and outages forced an interlock on the "non-essential" loads, and initiated an automatic shutdown of the other grids, leaving plenty of power for LC. Checking the emergency console, I saw that the generator was not powered. I relaxed a little with the idea that LC would most likely continue to run indefinitely.
I strapped on the Rollerblades and made some rounds of the LC, checking individual consoles and noting - as best as I could tell - that everything seemed OK. I planned to spend the rest of the day reading up a bit on the 757 parked in the hangar. In my research I was surprised to find that Kennedy space center had a helicopter on site. Maybe I could figure this out a bit as well. Propping my rollerblades up on the comm
panel, I continued reading until I fell asleep, my head filled with strange dreams of a lone car on I-94 and a strange message from the inside of the 747.
I was awakened by the sharp pinging of the comm panel. Nearly falling out of my chair, I put on the headset, and spoke.
"ISS. Kennedy. You are on VOX-One. Please go ahead."
"Kennedy. ISS. Soyuz-1 reports a discharge loss on parachute canards two and three. Please confirm." I jump to my feet, forgetting wheels I am still wearing, and fall on my back. I release a string of vulgarity getting up.
"Kennedy, we didn't copy that last transmission. Could you please repeat."
"Uh...." I stuttered, "Please stand by ISS for confirmation." I roll around to the auxilliary panel and see the red flashing light indicating that the pressure in the cannisters holding the explosive charges which would eject the parachute from the Soyuz emergency capsule had dropped significantly. I stare for a minute and speak slowly.
"ISS, I copy your pressure reading. Can you get visual confirmation on charge leak?" I ask.
"Standby Kennedy..." Was the reply. I wait for several minutes. After 10 minutes, the reply comes back on my receiver.
"Kennedy. ISS. Gennady just went down to the capsule and had a look out the port. It looks like a meteoroid impact destroyed the outer shield and penetrated the parachute cannisters. Chutes two and three have been destroyed. We are sealing off the Soyuz to prevent station breach."
The silence hung heavily in the air as we all thought the same thing. Without parachutes, the capsule could re-enter with no problem - assuming that the heat shield was not compromised in the collision, or they would all burn up. However, the capsule would drop like a rock, and implant itself firmly into the Russian permafrost.
My mouth is dry as I speak slowly. "Uh.... ISS.... Please stand by for options...." The voice in my head told me there weren't too many ways back for the crew of the ISS, and one involved picking bits of flesh off the smoldering wreckage of a Soyuz capsule.
ISS just lost its lifeboat.
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