The Storm

Posted on Tue May 23rd, 2023 @ 4:01pm by Glitch

882 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Welcome to the Hometown
Location: New York City
Timeline: March 10th, 2170

The Storm

It was a normal day in New York City when the news broke out: a massive solar flare had erupted from the sun, sending a powerful stream of radiation and charged particles towards the Earth. The experts warned that this could trigger a geomagnetic storm that could disrupt or damage all kinds of electronics, from satellites to smartphones. They advised people to stay indoors, unplug their devices, and prepare for possible power outages.

But not everyone took the warning seriously. Some people shrugged it off as another false alarm, some people panicked and rushed to the stores to stock up on supplies, and some people ignored it altogether and went on with their lives. Only a few people heeded the advice and took precautions to protect themselves and their belongings.

Among them was a group of five friends who lived in an apartment building in Brooklyn. They had met at a survival course a few months ago and had become close ever since. They shared a passion for adventure and preparedness, and they had a stash of emergency supplies and equipment in their basement. They decided to gather there and wait out the storm together.

They were glad they did. As the solar flare hit the Earth’s atmosphere, it caused a massive surge of electricity that fried the power grid, plunging the city into darkness. The lights went out, the phones went dead, the internet went down, and the radios went silent. The only thing that worked was their emergency radio, which they tuned in to hear the latest updates.

They learned that the storm was worse than expected. It had damaged or destroyed many satellites, telecommunication towers, power stations, computers, vehicles, and other electronic devices. It had also disrupted radio communication, GPS navigation, banking transactions, and other services that depended on satellites and electronics. It had also increased the exposure to radiation for astronauts, high altitude pilots, and people living in high latitudes.

They also learned that the storm had triggered spectacular auroras that could be seen around the world. They looked out of their window and saw the sky lit up with colorful lights that danced and shimmered. It was a beautiful sight, but also a frightening one. It reminded them of how vulnerable they were to the forces of nature.

They decided to stay put and wait for the storm to pass. They hoped that things would get back to normal soon. They hoped that help would arrive soon. They hoped that they would survive.

The Aftermath

The storm lasted for three days. When it finally subsided, the group emerged from their basement and ventured outside. They were shocked by what they saw.

The city was a mess. Buildings were damaged by fires, accidents, riots, and looting. Power lines were down, water pipes were broken, gas leaks were everywhere. People were injured, sick, hungry, thirsty, scared, and angry. There was no sign of emergency services or authorities. There was no sign of order or law.

The group realized that they were on their own. They decided to stick together and look for a way out of the city. They packed their backpacks with their essential supplies and equipment: food, water, first aid kit, flashlight, knife, fire starter, compass, map, radio, etc. They also armed themselves with whatever weapons they could find: baseball bats, crowbars, pepper spray, etc.

They made their way through the streets, avoiding crowds and troublemakers. They helped whoever they could along the way: giving food and water to those who needed it; bandaging wounds and treating infections; sharing information and advice; comforting those who were traumatized or grieving.

They also faced many dangers along the way: gangs of looters and thugs who tried to rob or harm them; wild animals who escaped from zoos or pet shops; contaminated water and food sources; exposure to cold and heat; disease outbreaks; radiation sickness.

They managed to overcome these challenges with their skills and knowledge: they fought back or ran away from attackers; they scared off or avoided animals; they purified water and cooked food; they found shelter and made fire; they prevented infections and treated illnesses; they protected themselves from radiation.

They also relied on each other for support: they shared their resources and responsibilities; they watched each other’s backs and warned each other of dangers; they encouraged each other’s spirits and lifted each other’s moods; they trusted each other’s decisions and followed each other’s lead.

They became more than friends. They became a family.

After two weeks of traveling through hell, they finally reached the outskirts of the city. There they found a military checkpoint where soldiers were screening survivors for evacuation. They showed their IDs and passed the health check. They boarded a bus that took them to the mountains in hopes of finding safer places.

They felt relieved but also sad. They had survived but they had also lost so much: their homes, their belongings, their jobs, their friends, their families. They wondered what would happen next: where would they go? what would they do? how would they rebuild their lives?

They didn’t know the answers but they knew one thing: they would stick together no matter what.

This was only the beginning of The End.

 

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