by Black, John
3531
By John Black
3531 is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2013 by John Black
All rights reserved.
A special thank you, to my brother in law and friend Duncan Chin, for giving me the idea for this novel.
Chapter 1
The sound of water dripping echoed about the room. Opening his eyes, he couldn't make out anything other then soft blue lights along the floor near the walls. Several of them flickered off and on. Blinking his eyes, and rubbing his face, in a attempt to drive the sleep away. He felt has if it was a drug induced drowsiness. With his eye sight adjusting to the dozens of blue lights, he stepped out of the encasing. Moving a few steps, he fell to the floor with a crash, sending a chair rolling across the floor. The stench of mildew lingered in the air.
Looking about, he saw a table, it looked cluttered. Where was he and more important who was he? No one else seemed to be around. “Hello?” he called. “Hello, anyone around?” The vision of being on a operating table flashed across his mind. Feeling stronger, he attempted to stand and walk again, this time more successful. There were no doors or windows that he could see. Several wires hung from a deteriorating ceiling. He sat at the desk to make sense of all this. Looking on the desk nothing helped jog his memory nor shed light on all the mysteries. The papers on the table, were old yellowed and the ink faded beyond legibility.
Wondering how long he had been asleep, he felt he should be hungry, but surprisingly he wasn't. Rising from his chair, he walked the perimeter of the room. He first came upon a wooden crate. Opening it he pulled out a vial, filled with pills. He didn't understand the label. VS-771 he read to himself, was all he understood, digging around farther in the crate. Finding a packing list, he tore the envelop open, faded and old he could only make out, some of the wording. “Sorn Food Supplement, expiration date 4500,” he read aloud. 4500, was that the year? What year was it now? Why couldn't he remember anything? He was only able to to recall being on a operating table, with bright lights in his face, and excruciating pain.
“More anesthesia, damn it Larry I told you that wasn't enough,” came the female voice. Who was Larry, and who was the female? At least he was able to recall more, however it only deepen the mystery of it all, creating more questions then answers. Closing the lid he moved about the room, exploring his little world a bit more, he spotted a alcove, with a desk, was it some sort of work station with a glass dome. On the wall was a panel about eighteen inches wide and long. “How do you open it?” he said out loud, has he looked for a handle, or mechanism to open it.
Touching the glass, it quickly began to rise, making him jump back, more from surprise then fear. Then to his amazement, the dome closed. Taking a step towards the desk he touched the dome again, and it lifted up again. How clever he thought. Taking a seat in the metal chair, the area illuminated with a soft lighting.
“Good morning Dr. Benjamin and Dr. Mercedes Fitzgerald.” came a strange sounding voice, and a face appeared in hologram image. The face had eyes that were green in color and a metallic looking skin, giving it a very eery image. Then a menu screen appeared from nowhere has if a monitor screen was invisible. He then ran his hand through the area where the images materialized. Ripples appeared making the menu page blurry. “This is crazy,” he said out loud. So who was this Dr. Benjamin and Dr. Mercedes Fitzgerald he thought.
Opening the panel, he found a case containing little metal round chips. They were about one inch diameter, and half inch thick. There must be about a hundred of these things, he thought to himself. Picking up the first of a series of one hundred, he looked for a place to insert the chip. The machine was foreign to him, nothing made sense and he couldn't recall anything other then the nightmare of waking up on some table. And hearing some female call out to a Larry?
Finding a indention he placed the chip it the space. “The Linear Chip is upside down, please reinstall,” came a odd voice
“All right,” he cried growing annoyed. He then quickly flipped it over and watched the chip get absorbed into the machine.
“Hello I'm Dr. Benjamin L. Fitzgerald and this is my wife Dr. Mercedes R. Fitzgerald. This is our first of one hundred installments, that you're going to need to survive.”
He looked at the hologram of a distinguished looking gentleman with tall features, gray hair and steel blue eyes, he had a pleasant looking smile.
“Where to began, and how to present the mass amount of information. Your name is Donovan Lee Fitzgerald, you're our son, you were born in what was once called sector 7, in the year 2539. The sector before that was called California, part of what was once the United States of America. With its crumbling economy and growing list of enemies the world over, people deemed important were taking to a more secure sector of the country. I was appointed the head of Bio-Cyber Robotics division. We make a major breakthrough in inter grading, on a molecular level of replacing not only all major organs, but replacing circulatory system, the central nervous system and peripheral system with a type of fiber optical tubule system, thanks in a major way to Dr. Mercedes.”
There was a pause, has the woman walked up closer to whatever device recorded these chips. She was a attractive woman with shoulder length brown hair, and brown eyes to match. Her face was rounded.
“Hello son, we were taken to a pocket of security when the states fell. The country was replaced with sectors. The world had almost went to the brink of a total nuclear war. These devises were used in some parts of the world, America included. However the world was more volatile then ever. We managed to purchase a piece of property and slowly we begin to build a underground complex. Unfortunately, sector seven like the others began removing children has early has the age of five for military service or for farther medical experiments. We staged your death and hid you in our secret complex, which is where you are now. We...”
He heard some static and quick movement. Benjamin appeared on screen. “Quick turn it off.” the screen went blank for a moment.
“So my name is Donovan,” he sat back in his chair, trying to make sense of all this craziness.
The image of Benjamin reappeared, “that was close, we have to be extremely careful of sector seven alliance personal. They have the power to seize control of anything, and everyone. We are so far fairly safe, for we work on programs to try and make better stronger soldiers through our newly discovered technologies, which of course helps aid sector seven. The chips in the panel are recordings, information, survival information that may be helpful to you. Some of our journals are stored on those chips, including books, novels and a few movies that date back to the 21st century. We discussed the possibility of providing you with a companion of some sort but we couldn't risk being turned in. Betrayal for favors and privileges run high, food and water run scarce at times.”
He then watched the screen turn off, for a moment, then Mercedes appeared. “What we have done is stored away plenty of VS-771, if you have not found it, its stored in the room. You only need to take one a day. We have also stored a old .45 caliber pistol, with only twenty rounds of ammo, so use wisely. Chip three contains a list of inventory. We will not be with you, when you wake, for the threat of a total nuclear holocaust is upon us and if your listening to me, then our plan worked. This is quite painful for you 're my son whom I love very much. The stasis you were in was a combine effort of your father and I, the plasma inverter machine was design to monitor and aid your growth and development, while you were in a unconscious state of mind, it also slowed your rate of aging, even though we know you will grow and mature. I won't be sure how well th
e education apparatus signatures will work, nor how well develop you will be education wise, our goal was to ensure you didn't wake for over a 1,000 years. In case the education signatures in the plasma inverter machine does not work, chip two is a backup to your much needed education.”
Donovan turned it off, for all he knew this could be some sort of sick joke. This was crazy, but as far as he could tell the entire existence of the world was this room.
He turned the machine back on, and his mother continued her conversation. “We wanted enough time to elapse so that the world would heal itself by the time you awaken. Its getting more and more difficult for us to come out to see you. We think that maybe the security council is on to us, for they are monitoring us more and more all the time. I wish I could touch you just one more time, son for I love you very much,” she reached towards the recording device in a attempt to touch him, tears started streaking down her cheek. He watched Benjamin take Mercedes into his arms and they hugged and kissed, crying while they embraced. The recording stopped a moment, when Benjamin reappeared.
“Son, its really hard to decide what information we should reveal to you. Our world and way of life changes and shifts daily.” He watched Benjamin adjust the recording device a moment. In the background he could make out his mother working on something, then to his horror, he watched her pick up a arm. Whose arm was it? Was this a recording error? Donovan continued to watch closely ignoring Benjamin's speech.
She placed on her face some strange looking glasses, then peered into a machine. She continued doing some work on the arm. What was she doing?
Donovan stopped the machine and pulled off his shirt looking at his arms. He didn't know what to look for. No scars, no buttons or anything out of the ordinary, but then he questioned, what was ordinary? He buried his face into his hands, trying to make sense of all of this. Was it worth being alive if he was alone, with nothing? Why couldn't he remember anything, nothing of his past. Not knowing anything was a torture no one deserved. Was he suppose to know more and something didn't work. Who was Dr. Mercedes working on? Frustrated, he stopped asking himself the questions he was clearly unable to answer. He turned the machine back on.
“The .45 is in the desk drawer along with three clips. In the bottom drawer is a HO-2 converter, it will purify any water into drinking water. It also has the capacity to collect humidity, condense it into water, this however takes it several hours to make one bottle of water. These HO-2 converters are rare and we left it for your own use.”
Donovan watched Benjamin, demonstrate the use of the HO-2. Benjamin, then continued his lecture.
“For any extra power that you might need, we also equipped you with a infusion generator, and five power cells, each one is able to give you enough electricity for seven days, we suggest you use them wisely. The blue lighting you have now, should be running off a type of solar panel I created, the wattage is low and weak but enough to give you basic light nothing more. Finally a hidden door can be located directly behind this desk up against the wall. It will lead down about twenty feet then slowly at a upward grade approximately seventy feet. Also in the desk you will find stim sticks they will test the air for radioactive fallout, if it doesn't change to a red color, then its safe to continue outside.”
Curious in learning more about himself, he place chip two into the machine, with keen interest, he watched and listened.
“Fatal system error!” came the computer voice.
Taking the chip out, he examined it closely. Not sure of what to look for, he didn't see anything wrong. He had to assume it was the chip. Experimenting, he placed in several other chips, some worked a few gave out the error message. He began to smell a odd odor, like something was burning. He quickly turned off the VR machine.
“Why did you put me in such a hellish situation and environment? You two wanted me to live in such a horrible conditions?” he screamed out loud. This was better then death? he asked himself.
Rising up from the work station, he walked back to the desk and sat down. This time he saw the drawer, opening it, laid a pistol and three clips. Beside them was a pair of glasses with dark lenses. He was not exactly sure how to use it. Studying the unknown weapon he slide the clip in place, realizing it would not fit, he turned the clip over and slipped it back into place. Turning it over and tinkering with it, the top housing slipped back and loaded a round. The weapon then suddenly discharged, the round striking the floor near his foot, scaring him. Exploring the drawers farther he found the stim sticks and took one, placing it in his pocket.
Finally he began searching for the secret door. Discovering a handle he tried lifting it, but it didn’t budge. “Now what?” he yelled in frustrated anger. Dusting off the area he discovered a lever, turning it, he heard a vacuum seal being released. He then with ease was able to open the hatch, gripping a metal ladder, he climbed down the shaft, once on the bottom rung, he leaped off landing on a dirt floor. He slowly walked his way through the upward grade tunnel.
What was he going to find, what was going to be out there, others he hoped? What if they were hostile, what if he was truly alone? About half way he remembered the strip. Pulling it out of his pocket he looked and it had not changed color, wait what color was it if it was unsafe? What color was it suppose to be? He questioned to himself. Red! he recollected. He felt so inadequate at his lack of knowledge and remembering anything.
Walking the final paces he kept a close watch of the strip, and once at the door, it had not changed colors. Looking for a lever this time, he found one, and again it released a vacuum and slowly he opened the door, and stepped partly through the door. He could see that the sky was a hazy reddish color, but not very bright. He could see nothing but brown soil with no hint of vegetation, nor life of any kind. He closed the door behind him. He looked about. Turning around he noticed the door was gone. What wait how was he suppose to get back in? Frantic in his search his hand hit something invisible. What's that, he thought to himself? He then fumbled feeling for the handle and opened the door. Relieved he wondered how he was suppose to find it, if he was to adventure out. Not taking any chances he went back to the work station to try and learn more, he decided to risk turning the machine back on, he listen intently. He placed the original chip back in. He breathed a sigh of relief the machine for now was working again.
“Before going out, make sure you take with you the sunglasses they not only protect your eyes from the sun, but also allow you to see the door, from a distance of five hundred feet. To help you memorize the area, we placed a series of random rock formations in a large perimeter, when you see them it will be self explanatory.”
Making his way outside again, he placed the glasses on. Turning to look clear has day he could make out the door. “Wow this is really cool,” he said out loud. He then closed the door, turning he surveyed the area. The lazy slope to a hill was his first destination. Climbing slowly to the top, he could see a long distance. Turning back towards his shelter, he could barely make out the door, then he noticed it. Rocks made a half moon shape, he then understood the instructions on the chip.
His main concern now, was there was no one, and no vegetation. “Hello!” he screamed. Placing his hands to his mouth, he then screamed, “anyone?” Slumping forward in total disbelief, was this something worth living for? Surely he was not the only person alive, walking he used the hill for a reference point and made a wide turn, figuring first to see what was within a half mile radius. The sky was clear, but off to the southwest he could make out clouds on the horizon. He slowly arrived back at the hill, squatted down on the ground crossing his legs to rest.
“Ok maybe tomorrow I will walk southwest, maybe the chips would give him a clue on which way to go, or what to do?” he said out loud.
Chapter 2
Donovan watched the remaining information of the chip, but didn't receive anything on which way to go, or where he might could find other people. Was that by design? Was it dangerous, or maybe sector seven was still being
ran by that alliance group? Why didn't they warn him of possible dangerous areas, maybe they didn't know either. He grew tired of the never ending unanswered questions flying through his mind.
Inserting chip three, Mercedes appeared. “Hello son, we have done everything to try and make your life, has smooth has possible, we are unable to account for every variable that you might encounter. Benjamin,” she paused as if she was unsure of what to say or reveal, “your father, and I debated on what to say, but my train of thought is, in your new time line what would it matter? We both know your going to adventure out sooner or later, I would recommend that you travel south, always go south...”
“Mercedes, stop it, you have no idea what may lay in any direction he goes. He is better off staying at the shelter, its safe and well camouflaged.”
“What if the alliance survives and they began spreading out their influence, they may find him, and take away everything.”
“There’s a strong chance no one is going to survive, we must face the reality that none of this is going to work.”
Donovan turned off the machine, fearing it might burn up. The two doctors, who claimed to be his parents, didn't tell him much for maybe they didn't know any more then what he knew. Maybe their life was in more turmoil then what he was now facing? He also realized that according to the data and his parents, some eight hundred years had passed. He began to understand they didn't stay with him because the alliance would have come looking for them all. He hung his head for a moment in hopelessness.
All right tomorrow he would head southwest, towards the clouds he saw, it was a plan and it gave him structure and stability, the only thing he had going for him at the moment.
Along the one wall, was a frame that unfolded as a bed, laying down he closed his eyes hoping for some sleep. Surprised, the blue lights turned off.