ALARM CLOCK DAWN (An Original Novel - Episode 45)
In the last episode Johann surprised the entire XenTek team by arriving at the Phoenix Collider unannounced and joined the team for the second jump forward in time to the future. Johann wanted to jump a century into the future but Seth secretly had Dr. Neiman dial the machine back to fifty years before Johann arrived.
Something went horribly awry during the trip and Johann came back alone without any of the other five XenTek crew members. Johann stumbled down the ramp of the craft in a nearly catatonic state and ended up in the fetal position at Seth’s feet. Shortly afterwards Johann was whisked away by an emergency medical team. Today, Dr. Neiman replays the footage from the mission and we find out the details of what happened.
Welcome to today’s episode of Alarm Clock Dawn! I hope you enjoy it!
The electrostatic charge left the air in an instant and the security team at once began unbuckling themselves with military precision. Johann turned on his Holo, and a look of frustration appeared on his face as he tapped it on the side.
“There's something wrong with the reception. It is not picking up any broadcasts. Quickly, check your devices!” The security team stood, powered up their Holos, and then shook their heads.
“Nothing, sir,” the team leader answered. “We get nothing but static.”
“Okay, activate the outside cameras and survey the surrounding area. Also, don’t forget to take a few soil samples to test for radiation.”
The team leader flipped a series of switches on the craft's control panel. A bank of video monitors lit up and the security team rushed down the ramp when the craft's hatch opened. A collective gasp was heard by everyone.
The footage showed Johann and the team speechless as they witnessed what was to become of their world in a mere fifty years. It was a view of complete and utter desolation, and yet, in a strange way, at the same time it was so peaceful and still. It was dusk and the last rays of the sun painted the horizon gold.
The twilight shined on what was left of the once all-powerful XenTek headquarters. Its roof was gone, and the walls had caved in and were partially buried beneath sandy soil. The XenTek compound represented everything Johann lived for, everything his family had worked so hard to attain, and it lay before them, dismantled. The whole city, as far as the eye could see, lay crumbling and lifeless. There was so sign of life anywhere, and without the tall skyscrapers blocking the view, they could see for miles in every direction. Nature was gradually erasing all evidence that humans ever existed.
Seth, watching the nightmarish scene unfold before him, was as equally disturbed by the swift destruction of Johann at the glimpse of this desolate future.
Dr. Neiman, still at the controls, panned in on Johann's face. It registered nothing less than complete confusion. The director's bottom lip then began to quiver and his eyes welled with tears. “This just cannot be. Is this—some kind of a practical joke?” the director whispered in disbelief.
“Sir, I'm afraid this is no joke,” the team leader spoke into his microphone. “It’s freezing out here. The temperature reading is ten degrees, and it's dropping very rapidly. Oxygen levels are low as well.”
“I advise we power up immediately and get the hell out of here,” Johann said.
The team of scientists in the control room were in shock. No one could look away from the macabre holographic footage. Seth watched the man he both loved and despised, Johann Pfizer, begin to completely unravel.
Johann didn't even bother to wait until the security team boarded. His eyes were panic-stricken as his shaking hands quickly flipped the chrome toggle switch on the console beside him and the craft emitted a high pitched whine. The footage of Johann’s face then flickered in and out for a few seconds and then nothing appeared in the holographic beam but gray and white static.
There was a heavy silence back at the Phoenix Collider’s control room as Dr. Neiman turned off the projection. He leaned down and braced himself against the control console as he removed his glasses and wiped tears from his eyes. The loss of another five members of the security team seemed minuscule compared to this horrific glimpse of their future.
“This is no surprise,” Neiman hissed. “We all knew eventually this would be the outcome.”
“But so soon?” Seth whispered as the room began to spin around him. “Everyone,” he announced, and then paused to clear his throat, “please make your way down the hall to the debriefing area. I need to have a word with Dr. Neiman in private.”
The team of scientists shuffled somberly, one by one, out of the control room's swinging double doors.
“We've made a grave mistake. People aren't supposed to witness the vision of their own future extinction this is just too much for the human psyche to bare.” Seth sat down in one of the control room chairs, hung his head, and began to sob.
“I know, I know,” Dr. Neiman whispered as he put a hand on Seth’s shoulder to try to console him.
Seth raised his head and wiped his face with his sleeve. “You know how time travel works better than anyone on the planet. Is there any way we can change our destiny?”
Dr. Neiman sighed. “Honestly, I don't know. This is what we will need to figure out. I will get my team to work on analyzing the extent of the damage this last jump has done to our atmosphere. I should have a report to you within the next few hours.”
Tune in every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for new episodes of Alarm Clock Dawn! The final episode including a ENORMOUS plot twist will be read by yours truly live at the first annual SteemFest in Amsterdam on Saturday, November 12th.
Alarm Clock Dawn is the first novel of a trilogy. The sequel entitled, Truth Is Stranger, will be published in the Spring of 2017.
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Self fulfilling prophecy: by going into the future they destroy it.
This is getting interesting.
I liked your article. Helps you like mine ♥ @siams
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Im interested to see if Johann ever takes responsibility for his misdeeds.., and if he will try and redeem himself...