by Akart, Bobby
“Agreed.”
After a minute during which both surgeons had an opportunity to examine the inside of their patient’s body, they happily announced Squire appeared to be cancer-free. The Crohn’s disease diagnosis provided by Dr. Cassandra Rambo was spot-on, and much to their relief, the bowel obstruction appeared to be the only complication they’d face, exacerbated by the patient’s failure to seek treatment sooner.
Then the brightly lit, sterile operating room turned pitch black, with each of the residents holding a piece of Squire Boone’s small intestines in their hands.
Chapter 2
Lutheran Downtown Hospital
Fort Wayne, Indiana
“What the hell?” The lead surgical resident screamed his question. He instinctively gripped Squire’s intestines too tightly as he concerned himself with losing his hold in the darkness. Blood began to splatter out of Squire’s body cavity and landed on the chest of the anesthesiologist.
“Stay calm!” Dr. Howard Ware shouted. The specialist in perioperative care had been practicing for nearly twenty years following his service in the military. He had been one of the first hires at Lutheran Downtown Hospital when it expanded its facility.
Despite his demand, his heart raced. He’d been through many unusual surgeries while stationed in the Middle East, but he’d never experienced a total blackout before. Hospitals, whether mobile units in a war zone, or modern facilities like Lutheran, had backup generators commensurate with the facility they served.
“Where are the generators?” asked the younger surgeon.
“They ran out of fuel days ago,” replied the lead surgical nurse. “A requisition was placed with FEMA to bring more, but I guess that never happened.”
“I need light!” demanded the surgical resident, whose voice indicated he was beginning to panic.
“The patient needs anesthesia,” said Dr. Ware calmly.
Suddenly, several loud beeps filled the air as the CyberPower battery backups servicing the equipment in the operating room took over.
“Okay, there’s something,” said Dr. Ware calmly.
“I don’t have enough light to tie this man’s intestines back together,” complained the younger resident.
Dr. Ware remained calm. In a way, at least for the moment, he was relieved. He had studied the effects of an electromagnetic pulse on sophisticated equipment like the kinds employed in an operating room. Had a solar flare struck North America, the battery backup power source would not have brought his equipment back to life. All of the complex battery modules with built-in charge controllers would be impacted. This was obviously a localized issue, one that would hopefully resolve itself within ninety minutes before the CyberPower backup units ran out of power.
“I need suction!” shouted the increasingly panicked surgical resident.
Dr. Ware took control of the operating room. He turned to his nurse anesthetist. “Take over for a moment while I move some plugs around.”
Using only the limited light afforded by his equipment and the video display monitor that provided the surgical team a readout of Squire’s vitals, Dr. Ware connected a manual bag-valve resuscitation device to the oxygen source on the anesthesia machine. Then he crawled on his hands and knees on the once pristine operating room floor. Now, as a result of the surgical resident squeezing his patient’s small intestine, it was covered with Squire’s blood.
“His vitals are dropping from the blood loss!” shouted the lead surgical nurse.
“No shit!” responded the younger surgeon.
“Nurse! Any of you! Find me a damn flashlight! Anything!”
“What about a cell phone?” asked one of the nurses.
“I left mine at home since the cell towers crashed with all the other power.”
“Yeah, same here.”
A nurse assistant shuffled backwards and away from the operating table. She stumbled into the instrument tray, knocking it to the floor near Dr. Ware. A scalpel bounced off the blood-soaked floor and fell on top of his hand.
“Be careful!”
“I can’t see!” she responded in tears.
The air-conditioning units had stopped, and the tense atmosphere immediately created heat and humidity in the confined space, exacerbated by the chaotic, tense scene.
“Why aren’t the emergency lights working?” asked the lead surgeon. “And how are we supposed to function in this sweltering heat?”
Nobody had an answer for that. The stumbling nurse found her way to the door of the operating room. When she pushed it open to the scrubbing stations, the sounds of mayhem filled the air.
“Jesus, what’s happening out there?” asked the younger surgeon.
“Can we lock the door to the suite?” asked the other surgeon.
No one responded.
Dr. Ware made some progress. “Okay, you should now have suction and access to the portable infusion pumps. The patient monitors will continue to work, but based upon my knowledge of these CyberPower units, we’ve got less than ninety minutes to find a more permanent solution.”
The door flung open and the shouting from the hallway infiltrated the room once again. The nurse had returned.
“I can’t go out there again,” she said through her tears. “They’re fighting one another. I’m amazed they haven’t busted into the OR.”
“Did you find a flashlight?” asked the lead surgeon.
She reached into her pocket and clicked the end of a medical penlight. It was dim but provided some illumination.
“That’ll do for now,” said the younger surgeon.
“Get over here! What are you waiting for?” demanded the lead surgeon.
“Um, I’m no longer sterile,” she replied.
“Who gives a shit?” he asked sarcastically. “This man will be dead in minutes if we don’t get his bleeding under control.”
The other surgeon spoke up in a hushed voice. “That’s not gonna give us enough light to complete this surgery.”
“I know. All we can do is halt the bleeding and pause this thing until we can get the power back.”
“Will he make it ninety minutes?”
The older surgical resident hesitated and sighed. “I hope so.”
Chapter 3
Lutheran Downtown Hospital
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Chapman Boone stood in the hallway, fighting to adjust his eyes to the flickering lights and then the sudden complete darkness. He immediately closed them for two reasons. One, inwardly hoping this nightmare would be over when he opened them, and secondly, to give them a faster capability to adjust to abrupt change. The screams that filled the air confirmed the nightmare was very much real, and when he opened his eyes, he could make out barely discernible shadows of people pushing and shoving near the reception desk down the corridor.
Dr. Isabella DuBois had been subjected to one adventure after another since Chapman had come into her life. She simply sighed and shook her head as the lights went out. It was as if she’d turned another page in a thriller novel.
“Geostorm?” she asked matter-of-factly.
Chapman remained calm as well. “Maybe.”
Levi Boone, despite his weakened condition, forced himself up on the gurney and asked, “Are you guys gonna clue me in? And, Chapman, who’s your friend?”
Suddenly, the battery-operated hallway lights turned on, casting an eerie glow down the corridor. As the light illuminated the receiving area of the emergency room, those waiting to be admitted could now see the target of their ire. Fists began to fly, and hair was pulled as multiple scuffles broke out for some reason or another.
“Would a solar flare destroy these devices?” asked Isabella, pointing up at the beige metal box with a single LED light attached.
“Hard to tell, but we need to move quickly,” replied Chapman. “Dad’s probably in surgery.”
“Dang it, Chapman!” Levi found his voice. “Are ya gonna tell me what’s going on?” After his question, he doubled over in pain
and groaned.
Chapman helped his brother to sit upright on the gurney. “Okay, okay. Calm down. Here’s the deal. This is my girlfriend, Isabella. We met in Paris while I was there for a conference.”
“Hello, Levi. Your brother speaks highly of you.”
“You really are French,” Levi said with a grin barely noticeable under his scruffy beard. He became annoyed with the IV stuck in his arm. Without hesitation, he yanked it out without so much as a wince.
Chapman continued. The angry voices were reaching a crescendo, so he decided not to mince words. “Levi, I won’t sugarcoat it. We’re not here to pick you up. Finding you was nothing short of a miracle. Dad’s sick and in a bad way. He’s around here somewhere in surgery.”
“What? Surgery? Why did you come clear up to Fort Wayne?” Levi’s voice trailed off as his recollection of events came back to him. “Oh, yeah. Wait. Why is the power on here?”
“Was,” replied Chapman. “Obviously, it’s off again whether intentionally or because of a geostorm.”
Levi took a deep breath and gathered the strength to stand. Leaning on Chapman, he steadied himself and found his equilibrium.
“Are you sure, Levi?” asked Isabella as she made her arm available for him to use as a crutch.
“Yeah, thanks. I’m starting to remember what happened to me.”
He pulled his shirtsleeve up, revealing an open gash on his arm that had been sloppily bandaged by the uncaring male nurse. He rolled his arm slightly so Chapman and Isabella could get a better look.
“Are you hurt anywhere else?” asked Chapman.
“Bro, I’m hurting all over, but this is the only place I’m bleeding.”
A woman’s shrill cry for help interrupted their conversation. Isabella leaned in to speak in a hushed voice. “It is no longer safe here. They will be looking for help and maybe even drugs.”
“You’re right,” added Chapman as he glanced down the hallway. “I’ve gotta find Dad. Can you fix Levi’s arm and, um, get him some fresh clothes?”
“What’re you sayin’?” asked Levi with a chuckle.
“I’m saying you smell like dead animals,” replied Chapman.
“Well, you’re right, in part.” Levi became suddenly morose.
Chapman immediately picked up on the change in his demeanor. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
“It’s Karl and Eddie. They’re dead.”
“What?” asked Chapman. Before he could receive a reply, two men began to fight, and one ran down the corridor past them.
Isabella grabbed both Boone brothers by the hand. “We have to hurry. This is not safe.” As she spoke, her rifle swung into Levi’s arm.
He laughed. “Said the Frenchwoman with all the firepower.”
“She’s right, Levi. You guys get these wounds looked after and I’ll find Dad.” Chapman swung around and looked deeper into the corridor. “Meet me down there. By the window. I’ll be back as soon as I find out what’s going on.”
“Go!” ordered Levi, who then began to have a coughing fit.
Chapman gripped both of Isabella’s hands and nodded. She smiled and squeezed them back.
Her voice was encouraging. “We will be fine. Find your father.”
Chapman spun around in an effort to decide which way to go. He set his jaw and shook his head from side to side in disbelief as he pushed his way toward the administration desk. It was the hub of the hospital and the most likely place to start his search for his father’s hospital room. It was also mired in mayhem.
Isabella turned to Levi. “Do you want me to place you on the cart?”
“Nah, I’m feeling stronger now. Let’s start checking these rooms for supplies. Maybe I can borrow some clothes or scrubs?”
“Oui, pyjama medical,” she added in French.
Levi laughed. “Okay, pajamas will work, too. Anything but what I’m wearin’.” He was unaware she was using the French term for scrubs.
“You have a wonderful wife and beautiful children. They miss you very much.”
“Carly? The kids? Are they okay?”
“Oui. I have only known them for a few days. Your Rachel is my best friend at the farm.”
Levi laughed and began to get emotional. “I can see how she’d like you.” He paused and pointed to a door on their left. “I saw the nurses come in and out of this room often. It might be a supply closet of some kind.”
He led the way and was surprised to find the room unlocked. Apparently, in the midst of the hustle and bustle, a nurse or an orderly had forgotten to secure the room when they left. Levi entered the dark room first and fumbled for the light switch, forgetting it wasn’t likely to work.
“I can’t see anything,” he mumbled.
Isabella looked around the corridor for a solution. She thought of a man who’d reeked of alcohol and cigarette smoke on a gurney near Levi’s.
“Wait here. I have an idea,” she said and rushed back toward the entry to the east wing. Even in the dim light, her sense of smell and recollection of the man’s location helped her find the way.
The man was snoring, oblivious to the chaos unfolding in the hospital. Without hesitating, Isabella rifled through his pockets until she found what she was looking for—a cigarette lighter.
Seconds later, she was back by Levi’s side and gestured for him to enter the room. Closing the door behind her, she finally exhaled. She lit the lighter, and the interior of the utility room was illuminated by a soft glow.
“Jackpot!” exclaimed Levi. “Look! Everything we need is here. Scrubs, bandages, Advil, and bottled water.”
Isabella turned her back and cracked the door to peek into the hallway. “Get dressed and I will guard the door.”
After handing Levi the lighter, she readied the AR-10 and reentered the corridor. People were now beginning to run up and down the hallway, looking for loved ones or medical personnel to help them. Even in the low light provided by the emergency lighting, Isabella’s weapon could be seen and caused everyone to give her a wide berth.
Levi cracked the door and whispered, “I’m ready. I’ve got the bandages, but I can’t do it with one hand.”
Isabella backed into the utility room and handed Levi her gun. While she bandaged his arm, he asked about his father. “Did he get injured somehow?”
Isabella frowned, as she felt uncomfortable relaying the information about Squire. “No. He has been hiding his illness from your mother. A doctor told us he has Crohn’s disease. It can be very dangerous without treatment.”
“So he’s in surgery?” asked Levi.
Isabella finished bandaging his wound and sighed. “If the other doctor was correct, the surgery began before the power went out.”
Chapter 4
Lutheran Downtown Hospital
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Chapman tried to approach the reception desk, where police officers were now outfitted in riot gear and using their batons to push back the mob of hostile people demanding attention. The unruly crowd was winning the scrum, prompting more officers to flood the emergency room entrance to gain control. Just as Chapman managed to force his way near the front to determine the whereabouts of his father, pepper spray was deployed. A bad situation just became much worse.
The group in the waiting area lost their collective minds. The officers were easily overwhelmed, and soon their batons were turned back on them. The anger built to a crescendo as the unprepared law enforcement officers tried to fend off the attack, frantically calling for backup that wouldn’t arrive in time.
Chapman was sickened by the attacks. The crowd looked for someone to take out their anger on, and the police were the first victims. Then the hospital staff became the target. The women behind the counter crawled beneath their desks to hide from the verbal assault, which then became physical.
He resisted the urge to jump into the fray, as it would’ve been a fruitless exercise that would likely get him seriously injured. He pushed himself away from the crowd and back into the east
corridor.
“Chapman!” shouted Levi from the entrance to the supply closet. “Down here!”
He pivoted and ran toward his brother’s voice, covering his face with his shirt to avoid the effects of the pepper spray. Amidst coughing and screaming, he managed to escape the melee.
“Did you find out anything?” asked Isabella.
“No. They’re killing each other over there. Let’s find the stairwell and head upstairs. We’ll search every floor.”
Isabella led the way, clearing a path through random groups of people by pointing her gun in their general direction. When they located a stairwell, they were met with throngs of people running up and down, as well as darkness once again.
Chapman took the lead. “Isabella, you get in the middle and hold onto my belt. Levi, you keep in contact with her. I’m gonna take us up the side of the stairs, and we’ll try the second floor first.”
He pushed his way up the stairs, stopping from time to time as people raced past them in both directions. At one point, a man pushed a woman down the stairs as he frantically rushed toward the main level. Chapman reached out and grabbed her by the arm to slow her fall, but her shirt tore. As her sleeve ripped, the woman spun and landed on her back on the landing.
“Keep goin’!” yelled Levi, sensing that his brother wanted to stop to help.
Chapman finally made his way to the door, where he had to force people out of the way to get through. One by one, they slipped around the frame and pushed themselves against the wall to catch their breath.
“This is ridiculous!” Chapman lamented. Out of frustration, he beat his head against the wall, catching the corner of a wall-mounted sign. “Dammit!” He cursed his stupidity and turned to look at the sign that assaulted him.
Levi read it aloud, “Adult surgery ward.”
“How will we know which room?” asked Isabella.
“Head to the middle,” Chapman began in response. “There’s usually a whiteboard or some type of daily list of surgeries.”