Mettle

Chapter 1: God Help Us 

The world turns as the last ray of light falters; darkness descends upon the Earth as faint glistening lights move through the clouds. Cities surging with life and vigor, light up the nightly world. Suddenly, miniscule orbs of light soar above the landscape. Over the peninsulas, over the ocean, above the mountains, and to the cities. One light after another erupts in a glorious flash - It is the end of the world.

    Swooping down through the clouds, a bird’s eye view offers a glimpse of the destruction. Concrete and rubble litter the landscape as fire rains down from the sky. Mushroom clouds form on every continent, and the people of the world know only pain and silence. North America, one of the last bastions of safety in the world, is under threat; missiles are inbound and time is short. 

Above the walls of a military outpost, the rushed screams of a frantic crowd fills the air - they are coming. The hell-bent survivors of a desperate moment. Soldiers, armed citizens, the unarmed, and children alike rush toward the perimeter of the base. Chaos ensues as soldiers gun down those fleeing the incoming destruction. Crowds climb fencing, some tangled in barbed wire, others cut the fence and force their ways through the gap. Military vehicles charge over the hilltop and plow through the barriers. A US soldier opens fire at his former comrades yelling, “I DON’T WANT TO DIE”. Allegiances fall as every-man-for-himself becomes the new doctrine. 

    A metal maintenance cover opens with a loud thud. Out jumps a man with a medium build, short brown hair, and a grizzly beard. He’s wearing a tattered lab coat, dusty slacks, and a pristine ID badge draped around his neck. He frantically turns his attention to the exit of the maintenance shaft, “Hand her to me!” he yells. A fraught woman hands the man a young girl as he helps them both up. As the woman makes her way out, an explosion rumbles and fire bursts out from below. “Look out!” He exclaims as he pulls her out of the way at the last moment. They take cover behind a destroyed humvee and witness the destruction before them. 

Like a geyser, the flames stretch out high into the air. As the three of them  look up in horror they see the orbs of light approaching - certain death is near . A frantic crowd rushes past them as gunfire rains down from the guard towers, and scores of the mob are mowed down. 

A soldier dressed in a black spec ops uniform rushes to the grizzled man and the distressed woman, “Director! Sir, I’m getting you on that ship!” the soldier yells through the chaos. He gestures behind him to a large rocket ship, primed and ready for launch. The Director nods, he turns to the woman and young girl and gives them a reassuring look before taking position behind the soldier. 

“Stay right behind me!” The soldier orders as he places a flashing strobe light on both himself and the Director. “Get ready…” 

They peek out from behind the wreckage of the smoldering humvee. “Go! Go! Go!” yells the soldier.  In a mad sprint, they rush across the open runway, treading over bodies on their way and dodging the hail of gunfire. As they near a wall of cement barriers, the soldier grabs the Director and puts him over his shoulder. He throws the Director over the barrier, and turns back to unload his weapon at any would-be  attackers. The woman holds the young girl close, “Don’t look sweetheart!” She says, as she places the girl on the other side of the barrier. The girl rushes to the Director, “Daddy! I’m scared!” she whimpers. Shocked by the utter chaos, the wide-eyed Director puts his arms around her and holds her close. The Director’s wife leaps over the barrier and crouches down to take cover from the gunfire. 

Five more black ops squad members arrive and take position behind the barriers. “Light ‘em up!”    “Suppressing fire!” The Captain fires a grenade launcher at an incoming truck. The truck bursts into flames and careens off course, crashing into a nearby landing helicopter. The Captain turns to his squad, “Hold the line men. It’s been an honor.” radio chatter can be heard from their ear pieces, “Contact! Contact! It’s hit! -made landfall! -My god.”

 Indistinguishable screaming fills the air. Those atop the hillside look back and are blinded; a mushroom cloud takes form off in the distance. The captain grabs The Director and drags him across the pavement, away from his wife and daughter. 

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!” The Director exclaims.

“I’m sorry sir, but I have my orders.” 

The Director’s wife shakes with disbelief as the squad restrains her, “Nooo!” She cries profusely, “Please, let us through! Please, just let us through!!!” 

The Director attempts to get loose, he begins thrashing and punching at the captain. The captain easily avoidsThe Director’s blows, and returns the favor with a hardened fist square in the Director’s face. 

As they approach the docking site of the sweltering ship, the captain restrains the Director and forces him into the last seat. As he straps the Director into his seat, a safety harness lowers and locks him securely into place. Dozens of frantic scientists, generals, and esteemed passengers begin yelling to launch before it’s too late. The Director, with tears rushing down his face, struggles as he tries to get loose. 

“Please God! Why?! Just two more, surely we can fit two more!!” The Director’s Wife yells, “Just let my daughter on! Please I’m begging you, just her, I’ll stay! Let her on!!!” She attempts to fight past them. She strikes one of the soldiers in the face and hastily reaches for his gun, but before she can get close one of the soldiers hits her with the end of his rifle. Filled with fear , the Director’s daughter rushes from behind her mother and races toward the ship. 

The ship’s doors seal shut - a viewing window allows those inside to see the horrors unfolding before them. As the little girl dashes toward them with tears in her eyes, the survivors inside are horrified, “Ohh God- I can’t watch this -Jesus, they couldn’t let her on?!” A woman sitting next to the Director holds his hand and whispers, “I’m so sorry.” The Director gazes in pure terror , unable to even breathe - unable to believe. He wishes time could stop - he knows what happens next. 

The Captain stops the girl in her tracks; he stayed behind - he had his orders. The ship takes off, fire exhausts from below as it commences liftoff. It only takes a few moments before it soars high into the sky. The Director’s eyes are still fixed on his family. Fixed on them until the very end - until a wave of flames washes over them. 

A shockwave rattles the ship off-course, and the passengers inside shriek in terror. As they climb higher, the picture remains the same: a sea of flames engulfs the former world they knew. An unrecognizable inferno as far as the eye can see. The Director recognizes their destination as they approach the space station, perched high above the destruction.

He lowers his head and mutters, “God help us.”