Ground Zero
Xavier's logic has convinced you.
OmegaMan23: Yeah, I suppose you're right still I dunno what I'm going to do with my time now. I'm gonna get bored in this Shelter without some kind of interaction.
Shadow21: Well what about your Shelter? It talks to you right?
OmegaMan23: Yeah, but it's not the same. I think I'm gonna do that thing you said you might do. Call the elevator down and go up top.
Shadow21: Really? I was going to only do that in case of an emergency.
OmegaMan23: Yeah well there isn't much point in me staying anymore, besides I'm a bit curious to see what the world looks like now. Maybe they rebuilt some shit.
Shadow21: Maybe. Well I know we didn't really get along, but good luck with that.
OmegaMan23: Good luck to whatever you do as well, and thanks for your advice. I probably would've got myself killed had I chosen to fight Miranda.
You log off and start disconnecting your network.
"What're you doing sir?"
"Disconnecting from the network, where's the main line connection?"
"Over there sir. Playing it safe then?"
"Yeah, really safe. I want to go back to the surface."
"You do? You've disconnected from the network sir, its highly unlikely Miranda can get to you now, and the surface may actually be more dangerous."
"I suppose, but I feel like I really need to get out of here, the claustrophobia is setting in I think and without human interaction I don't think I can take it."
"Hmmm, yes I can see how that would be a problem sir. Well even though I feel the surface will put you at severe risk for danger, staying here will not be good for your mental health so I will respect your wishes and bring the elevator down, I suggest you gather what belongings you want to take and get ready."
You go back to your room and pack up all the things you brought with you when you first got here. You didn't even need most of the stuff, but maybe you will above ground. You then go to the water dispenser which is thankfully still working and fill up to empty bottles with water.
The elevator door finally opens up and you put your bag to block the door from closing and head back to the computer room where you access the system to tell the elevator to go back up and then run back to the elevator where you gather your bag and enter.
On the ride up you get a little nervous and even fearful. Not so much of what might await you on the surface, but of hoping the damn elevator doesn't suddenly stop, fortunately that doesn't happen and you eventually reach the ground once again. The door opens and you enter the same foyer you arrived in a few years ago. Same ATM like machine is there, except its screen is flashing a single message at you.
*GOOD LUCK SIR*
"I hope I have some." You mutter and take a deep breath before opening the door to the outside.
You see a bright light, but of course it's only the sun rather than a nuclear flash that devastated the world. You forgot how bright it really could be.
Your immediate surroundings look relatively untouched. You can only assume there weren't any bombs falling near this area. You also see your van, you'd completely forgotten about it. It looks like it's even in worse condition than when you left it, which you never thought was possible. On a lark you take out your long unused van keys and try to start it up, naturally it doesn't even make a noise.
"Looks like I'm walking."
You make you way down the empty road as you have little idea of where to head to, the only thing you can think of is to make a long trek back to the city and hope maybe something of civilization exists there.
The walk really takes a toll on you. During the day, the sun seems unbearably hotter than usual, and the nights get pretty cold. You are attacked by some crazed people who look like they've been living in the wilderness for awhile. They're filthy and barely intelligible. It's amazing to see how quick humanity has reverted to barbarism.
One begins shooting at you, and you do likewise. After shooting one of them, they stop attacking and drag off their companion. It would appear you just provided a dinner for them other than yourself.
It doesn't help you though; you're attacked again later by a small group of thugs attempting to rob you and another group after that. And so on. You have to fight and survive constantly and your supplies are never enough and you get wounded many times.
You aren't prepared for this harsh world now. Maybe if you'd stayed out in the beginning, but all those years in the Shelter made you a bit out of shape and civilization is nowhere in sight for you to properly rest.
Eventually you decide you can't go on, and head back to the shelter for saftey, surprisingly you make it back, but you're so very tired, you decide you need to rest before begging (and hoping) the shelter will let you back in.
You stretch out in the wilderness; it actually feels comfortable given how tired you are. It almost makes you ignore the pain from the head wound you received from the latest attack you had to fend off.
"Just a few hours of sleep then I'll enter the shelter again it seems reasonable I shouldn't have any problems I dunno maybe I'll just stay here its nice and comfortable " you say as you fall into unconsciousness.
You don't wake up.
OmegaMan23: Yeah, I suppose you're right still I dunno what I'm going to do with my time now. I'm gonna get bored in this Shelter without some kind of interaction.
Shadow21: Well what about your Shelter? It talks to you right?
OmegaMan23: Yeah, but it's not the same. I think I'm gonna do that thing you said you might do. Call the elevator down and go up top.
Shadow21: Really? I was going to only do that in case of an emergency.
OmegaMan23: Yeah well there isn't much point in me staying anymore, besides I'm a bit curious to see what the world looks like now. Maybe they rebuilt some shit.
Shadow21: Maybe. Well I know we didn't really get along, but good luck with that.
OmegaMan23: Good luck to whatever you do as well, and thanks for your advice. I probably would've got myself killed had I chosen to fight Miranda.
You log off and start disconnecting your network.
"What're you doing sir?"
"Disconnecting from the network, where's the main line connection?"
"Over there sir. Playing it safe then?"
"Yeah, really safe. I want to go back to the surface."
"You do? You've disconnected from the network sir, its highly unlikely Miranda can get to you now, and the surface may actually be more dangerous."
"I suppose, but I feel like I really need to get out of here, the claustrophobia is setting in I think and without human interaction I don't think I can take it."
"Hmmm, yes I can see how that would be a problem sir. Well even though I feel the surface will put you at severe risk for danger, staying here will not be good for your mental health so I will respect your wishes and bring the elevator down, I suggest you gather what belongings you want to take and get ready."
You go back to your room and pack up all the things you brought with you when you first got here. You didn't even need most of the stuff, but maybe you will above ground. You then go to the water dispenser which is thankfully still working and fill up to empty bottles with water.
The elevator door finally opens up and you put your bag to block the door from closing and head back to the computer room where you access the system to tell the elevator to go back up and then run back to the elevator where you gather your bag and enter.
On the ride up you get a little nervous and even fearful. Not so much of what might await you on the surface, but of hoping the damn elevator doesn't suddenly stop, fortunately that doesn't happen and you eventually reach the ground once again. The door opens and you enter the same foyer you arrived in a few years ago. Same ATM like machine is there, except its screen is flashing a single message at you.
*GOOD LUCK SIR*
"I hope I have some." You mutter and take a deep breath before opening the door to the outside.
You see a bright light, but of course it's only the sun rather than a nuclear flash that devastated the world. You forgot how bright it really could be.
Your immediate surroundings look relatively untouched. You can only assume there weren't any bombs falling near this area. You also see your van, you'd completely forgotten about it. It looks like it's even in worse condition than when you left it, which you never thought was possible. On a lark you take out your long unused van keys and try to start it up, naturally it doesn't even make a noise.
"Looks like I'm walking."
You make you way down the empty road as you have little idea of where to head to, the only thing you can think of is to make a long trek back to the city and hope maybe something of civilization exists there.
The walk really takes a toll on you. During the day, the sun seems unbearably hotter than usual, and the nights get pretty cold. You are attacked by some crazed people who look like they've been living in the wilderness for awhile. They're filthy and barely intelligible. It's amazing to see how quick humanity has reverted to barbarism.
One begins shooting at you, and you do likewise. After shooting one of them, they stop attacking and drag off their companion. It would appear you just provided a dinner for them other than yourself.
It doesn't help you though; you're attacked again later by a small group of thugs attempting to rob you and another group after that. And so on. You have to fight and survive constantly and your supplies are never enough and you get wounded many times.
You aren't prepared for this harsh world now. Maybe if you'd stayed out in the beginning, but all those years in the Shelter made you a bit out of shape and civilization is nowhere in sight for you to properly rest.
Eventually you decide you can't go on, and head back to the shelter for saftey, surprisingly you make it back, but you're so very tired, you decide you need to rest before begging (and hoping) the shelter will let you back in.
You stretch out in the wilderness; it actually feels comfortable given how tired you are. It almost makes you ignore the pain from the head wound you received from the latest attack you had to fend off.
"Just a few hours of sleep then I'll enter the shelter again it seems reasonable I shouldn't have any problems I dunno maybe I'll just stay here its nice and comfortable " you say as you fall into unconsciousness.
You don't wake up.
