by Agster, Joe
“Cassie, I have something to tell you.”
“Me too.”
“Go first then.”
“Ok I will, since you insist. I talked to my mother. She was pleasant, not too domineering or judgmental. She told me she already knew I was here, which is weird. She must have access to the list of citizens. I guess I should be flattered she found my name.”
Friend wonders if it a coincidence, that her mother saw her own last name listed somewhere, then Cassie’s name was next to it, since they all share the same last name. He dares not bring that up, considering that Cassie will think of that herself eventually.
“Your mother is wise. I’m sure in her own way she wants to help you,” he tells her, hoping to lead her in a direction toward a semblance of a relationship with her.
Switching subjects, he turns sad at the weight of his upcoming words. “I think I’m going to disappear, cease to exist, when the asteroid hits.”
“Disappear? How can you be sure?” she asks.
“There is a beginning and an end. They are fixed in time. I’ve never lived beyond 4:21, the moment of impact. If my intent here was to save you, then I’ve done that.”
“I hope you are wrong. No… I don’t believe you. But I will spend every last hour with you to be sure,” she exclaims.
Friend basks in that. He would love that. Strange that she has such a fascination with him. Equally strange that his infatuation with Cassie has lessened, and has entered a mutual respect phase. It’s not that he loves her, or isn’t in love with her, but over these past iterations he’s learned they could never be together. They come from different worlds after all, different planes of reality.
As he stares at her, admiring her mannerisms, he wonders something else. What if his intent wasn’t to save Cassie? What if his intent was to be saved by her? Or more mysterious, what if saving her is a conduit into something else, something more, perhaps someone different needing to be saved, rescued. What if that person is her mother?
“Cassie, I’d like to meet her sometime… your mother.”
“What!? Why?”
“What if she has information about the asteroid? You told me during the first iteration that she is a data scientist for NASA.”
“Why does that matter now? We’re safe here underground.”
“You are right, but I wonder if there is more. What if I loop back, all of this undone, and somehow realize there’s more to the story?”
“If that’s the case, bring us back here and tell me, and I’ll introduce you to her,” she declares, not wanting to hear more of this. Seeing her mother once was enough for a while. In time they will reconnect, but there has to be more than just a whim from Friend for her to arrange such a meeting.
Friend senses this reservation, and drops the subject. He wants to enjoy her company. Every moment matters to him now. She suggests leaving the coffee shop, to go out and have fun. Drink, be merry, and dance the night away, just as they did in the final days in Las Vegas the first time.
Day 6 – December 31
The Final Day
Friend wakes up on Cassie’s couch, wondering how he got there. There was a nightclub. Cassie looked sexy as usual dressed in a black dress that somehow enhanced her already infinite beauty. They danced, well more of the seductive mating movement they call dancing, the thing he once despised but was entranced with when he did it with her. Much is difficult to recall, but what stands out was he touch of her skin, her toned, athletic curves as they moved in unison to the energetic music. He’s had the fermented ethanol beverages before, at the Vyxx among other places, but not in this quantity that would distort his memory.
“Good morning, drunkie,” she laughingly calls out, emerging from the shower.
“How did this happen?” he cries in wonderment, holding his pounding head.
“Well, they normally cut us off, but many complaints from the citizens prompted them to loosen their regulations. They figure everyone is tense right now. We kept giving you stuff to drink, to see how you’d react. I must say you are the most inscrutable drunk I have ever seen.”
That wasn’t the answer he was looking for, but if his ethanol-induced psychological state amused her then he won’t complain. His more immediate concern is this so-called hangover condition. It is present but waning, and hopefully will be gone soon.
“They are planning a New Year’s celebration tonight in the main square. I guess there is some kind of light show,” she announces to him, prodding him to be there with her.
He acknowledges her, but feels the need to freshen up and gather himself, so he says goodbye in a rather quick and impulsive way, and heads back to his apartment. He changes his clothes, into the new bright green high tech jogging clothing he bought, hoping to go for a jog at the park in their zone.
On his jog he thinks about how this may all end for him by tomorrow. He desperately wants to get close with Cassie, but now that he has, especially with the dancing last night, he’s not sure this is best. What if he disappears as he predicts? He will be gone, erased, and it will be hard on her. The conflict is overpowering. Should he just find a place to hide now, just to wait it out? He could resurface after 4:21 tomorrow if he is still around. It’s kind of hard with a massive party upcoming.
As he returns to his apartment, she is standing by his door, she pleads, “Friend, don’t push me away. There is a future for you here, I feel it.”
He tries to explain, “Cassie, you know I deeply care about you. But I don’t know what to expect. It consumes me.”
“I want to be there with you, holding you. Everyone is tense about this asteroid. Some people are even wondering if we are truly protected. Regardless of what you think, our fates are intertwined.”
She is right. He is trying to be overprotective of her, instead of letting things play out. He should just let it go, and let her deal with whatever happens in her own way.
The hours tick away as they arrive at the main square. Scores of people trickle into the large square park, a massive holographic display up above showing images of fireworks, along with various photographs taken of the citizens in the last few days. Cassie is dressed in a lovely red dress, something classy and charming yet somewhat less alluring. Alaina and Wyatt are also dressed well in suitable party attire. Street vendors and mobile bars are dispensing cocktails, drinks, and food. The city folks mingle, radiating a hodgepodge of elation and guilt, but overall general excitement.
At about 21:00, they get tired of standing around and decide to migrate up to the higher decks. These decks are usually off limits, but have been opened for the special occasion. Cassie and Friend break off from the other two to talk for a bit. She wonders where her mother and brother are. Her brother is usually an introvert but even he would enjoy the festivities.
As the time approaches midnight the crowd has swelled up, making it standing room only. The ambient lighting dims, allowing the simulated holographic fireworks show to take place. The holograms show a clock counting down the final few minutes. The atmosphere has definitely shifted to be more jubilant.
The final moments arrive and the group is packed in among the other celebrators. The countdown begins, from 30, then down to 10, then 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Happy New Year! The hologram shows a simulated ball drop, and the new year of 1 PA, post asteroid year 1. Cassie leans into Friend, grabs him, and plants a kiss on his lips, as the crowds sing a strange folk song in unison. “For good luck!”
He feels exalted at the gesture, and as she breaks away, he in turn grabs her to start a new kiss. After a few seconds they unlock their lips, starting in each other’s eyes.
Moments later the holograms start a new countdown, for the asteroid. Over the next hour the crowds continue to go strong. The group works their way to the outer edges to get a breather, and to discuss what to do next. The discussion among the populace shifts to a darker topic. They question if they will feel the impact, or even survive it. It’s clear from the announcements that the blast doors leading to
the outside world are firmly shut.
Just then, she sees him, just as she had assumed, her brother Dylan. He is off in a distance, talking with a young woman. Her brother has harbored some longstanding animosity toward Cassie for neglecting and ignoring their mother. She explains that to Friend, and asks him to join her as she greets him.
As they walk near, her brother spots her. Expecting a look of disgust, she is instead greeted with a warm smile. He is slightly taller than her and bit more filled out, but otherwise has a straggly, nerdy look about him.
“Hi Dylan,” she calls out, standing there at first, then granting him a small hug.
“I’m glad you talked to mom. She’s been in a good mood for the past few days,” Dylan responds.
“This is Friend,” she introduces him, as they shake hands. Dylan in turn introduces the young woman, a cute blonde girl named Brianna that he met at the Silver Center, a recreation center specifically for silver card citizens. Her father is a CEO for a small government contractor, they come to learn. Cassie, much encouraged from the exchange, bids him farewell for the night, promising to talk with them in the future.
As the evening wears on, the crowds have turned from peaceful to rowdy, with a few fights already broken up. The tension has definitely ramped up since the much more blissful buzz that permeated for the New Year’s celebration. Opting for more serenity, Cassie and Friend head to Zone G. It features a much smaller crowd, with the lights dimmed lower and live footage holograms beaming in various locations along the streets, showing various places in the world, including Las Vegas, as they await the asteroid.
As the clock crosses 3:00, Friend has definitely become more anxious. He and Cassie sit on a bench along the street. He reminisces to Cassie about their first iteration, sitting on a park bench similar to how they are now. He describes the cold stiff air on that final night, and how it prompted her to hold him close. She misses the coldness of a winter night, something to prompt her to hold him as he describes.
The conversation turns more intimate. She is curious about how she behaved that first iteration. How did they kiss? How did they romance? Did they make love? He answers her questions, recreating them in stunning detail. She tells him how jealous she is of that alternate self. He explains how new he was to this world, how she was his guide, and how little they thought much about their life beyond the asteroid. They got an upfront view of the asteroid, watching it crash down on them from that tranquil park. It was a perfect moment, he tells her.
The time crosses past 4:00. It’s him that grips her now. They are silent for a few moments, then he tells her, “Cassie, no matter what happens to me, don’t be sad. Move forward with your life. Remember what your father told you about your future.” Breathing a nervous sigh, he continues, “If I disappear, they might look for me, look for Aiden Pollock.”
“I’ll report you missing. I’ll say you were suicidal, couldn’t take the guilt of watching the world perish,” she spurts out using her logical mind, then tearing up thinking about him being gone. She begins to share his anxiety as clock moves closer. “I’ll miss you.”
As the time nears 4:19, she embraces him with a kiss once more, not knowing what will happen next. The holograms show the clock, counting down, now under 60 seconds… then 30 seconds. Everyone is staring up at it, mesmerized at the screen, bracing for their fate… the world’s fate. Ten seconds. She holds him tight, very tight, like his body is the only warmth available on a snowy mountaintop.
The clock hits zero, and the monitor that was showing Las Vegas goes dark. Immediately after, the ambient lights dim, the street lights dim, then the whole complex succumbs to total darkness. A moment later, the arm that she was holding tight goes missing.
14
January 1 – 4:22
After The Asteroid Impact
It takes about three minutes, but eventually the dim lights return. Everyone is screaming in a panic, thinking their world is ending. The hologram projectors throughout the streets eventually come back online in waves. Live feeds show a thick cover of dust and little else.
In the hysteria, Cassie looks around for Friend, holding out hope that he is still here somewhere, that he was wrong all along about disappearing. She turns again, several people mobbing here, trying to find their loved ones. Eventually she gives up hope, stopping and planting herself firmly on the sidewalk next to the bench. She comes to believe he was right, becoming overcome with a feeling of sadness and longing. Just as she was about to call out his name, someone grabs her hand.
“You’re here!” She exalts, happy to see him and hugging him.
Friend stands in front of her, refusing to let go of her hand.
“What happened?” she wonders.
“It’s strange. I was overcome with dizziness. I fell to the ground. I got up and fought through this crowd to get back to you. Now here I am.”
“So can you breathe easy now. Nothing happened to you. No disappearing. You can stay here.”
“Perhaps this is my destiny then,” Friend confides in her.
About ten minutes after the impact, the ground and walls start to tremor slowly, then ferociously moments later. An overhead announcement explains how they are shockwaves from the impact, rippling across the surface of the Earth. They are short lived and stop after several seconds.
“Let’s go home,” she demands. She grabs his hand as they stroll away. As they walk toward the edge of Zone G, he can’t help but wonder if he does have an end. Was he meant to just save himself, and it just so happened that Cassie came along for the ride? He focused on her destiny so much all this time, he forgot his.
After they cross into Zone F, they ascend the stairs to the fifth level, to her apartment. As they approach her door, she gives him a sexy, seductive look, amplifying her beauty by orders of magnitude. She is clearly giving him an invitation to come inside. As she slams the door shut they embrace in the darkness, kissing and kissing some more, unleashing their pent up passion on each other. As they share in each other, all that built up anxiety and tension he has been feeling quickly evaporates. She is magical, he keeps thinking.
“Lights off,” she commands to her automation system, as they make their way to her bedroom.
12:10
He wakes up in her bed, but she is gone. It’s almost noon now, but sleeping in is expected as most people were up all night watching the asteroid after the New Year. He walks toward the outer living areas to find her making lunch for the both of them, a salad with her special dressing recipe, teriyaki sauce mixed with red wine vinegar. She calls it “Cassandra Vinaigrette.” She plants him a kiss on his forehead and tells him to eat.
“I’ve been thinking, maybe I will take you to meet my mother. Having you there will definitely relieve the tension in the air.”
“I’d like that, to be there with you,” he responds, smiling as he enjoys his salad. “She sounds like a lovely woman, strong and intelligent like you.”
She adds with a heedful smile, “Be warned… she is the prototypical tiger mom, stern and cold, heavily guarded in her emotions. She may hate you and you will never know it.”
Suddenly, he sees a flash, an incredibly bright white flash, impeding his vision, his thoughts even. It’s loud too, blotting out all the sound in the room. It pulses, goes in and out, rendering his thinking abilities, causing him to fluster, nearing unconsciousness. He grabs his head tightly in agonizing pain. It keeps going for at least a minute, then dissipates.
Finding himself sitting on the ground, he slowly regains full consciousness as he continues holding his head, Cassie shouting at him, “All you alright!”
She helps him back up to the table, holding his arm, until he can sit under his own power. “That was incredibly weird,” he remarks. “It was a flash of bright light.”
“Whatever it was it looked worse from my view. Your eyes sunk in the back of your head. It looked as if you were convulsing, about to die. I was so scared for a moment.”
“How long was I
out?” he asks.
“Not long, maybe fifteen seconds.”
“That felt longer than fifteen seconds, it felt like five minutes. It was terrible. Imagine staring at the sun up close, as it blasts out a terrible screeching sound.”
Friend sits up, barely able to finish his salad. He now has something new to worry about, a possible illness, or a distortion in his own reality, or his worst fear being realized: the beginning of a disappearing process.
In the moments that follow she tries to soothe him by changing the subject. She talks about how they will start working soon, and how she would like to continue her education. There’s a small college located in Zone A, part of the education system. She is thinking about giving up drinking once she starts schooling. He is barely keeping up with her, still wary about what just happened to him.
“Cassie, let’s meet together in a while. Maybe go for a walk. Right now I need to rest. I still feel that throbbing pain in my head,” he tells her, to her disappointment.
He leaves her apartment and returns to his, hoping some quiet time will heal him. He sits in stillness, in meditation. After a while he turns on the holographic television. He flips through until he finds a channel playing a movie. He is delighted to see something other than news broadcasts or counting down. The comedic tone helps put his mind at further ease.
About an hour into the movie, it begins happening again. The bright white light, the throbbing sounds, the incessant torture of being in a state of detachment from his conscious self. The bright light is more pronounced at first, but then gives way to voices. “Undo it.” He hears them, a woman’s voice, repeating the phrase slowly and nebulously, to the point if he is unsure what he is hearing.
He comes to, now for the second time, spread out on the ground. He wonders what he heard. Was it “undo it?” It was dismaying, the bright white light, but the voice was strangely soothing. He takes his time getting up, feeling perplexed. He begins to wonder if he even belongs here. Maybe disappearing may have not been such a bad thing.