Outside the walls of a nuclear fallout shelter, the only thing you could see was a barren landscape, with ruined skyscrapers and dead trees in the distance. These are the scars of a once great civilization, ruined by nuclear war. People always spoke about death being an unfortunate thing, but in this case, it was a godsend. Most of the true unfortunates that lived through the bombings, took shelter in nuclear shelters called Safes. You’re probably wondering how shelter became unfortunate, and the reason why is because they were never intended to preserve humanity. No, the true purpose was experimentation. Out of four-hundred and four Safes made in the United States, only five were “truly” made for preservation. To name a few examples, Safe 151 was meant to see how multiple races co-existed, and Safe 45 had a Christian community that was forced to have atheism as the social norm or die. However, we are not here about those Safes, because this is the story of Safe 16.
Safe 16’s purpose was merciful, because it involved how a community would live in complete isolation from the rest of the world. That has kept it from being opened to the wasteland for the last two hundred years since the last atomic bombs fell. You were born in the Safe, you worked in the Safe, and you died in the Safe. However, as all of what mankind creates, nothing is meant to last forever. Not even the very Safes that were created to preserve mankind’s last stronghold of civilization. A man known simply as the Inhabitant would eventually uncover a terrible secret, and figure out how one show was able to drive the entire world to nuclear war. This is his story.
One person simply known as the Inhabitant has just woke up inside the medical module of the Safe. He suffered injuries that required him to be placed into a pod. The pod kept him sedated and pumped nutrition into his veins for a week. As he opened his eyes, he looked around.
“Nurse?” said the Inhabitant.
He was unaware that a bomb killed everyone.
“Anyone?” asked the Inhabitant, still recovering from the after effects.
His only response was silence.
“Stevens, this better not be another one of you’re god-damned pranks.” said the Inhabitant.
He walked out of the medical module, and into the halls of Safe 16.
“What happened here?” asked the Inhabitant to himself. “Where is anybody?”
As he walked down the halls, he began to see the remains of his fellow dwellers. The Inhabitant instantly fell to the floor in disbelief.
“What happened here?” asked the Inhabitant to himself.
Suddenly, the Safe 16 PA announced an automated message. The Safe has exhausted it’s last source of power. If the Inhabitant wanted to live, he would have to exit the Safe. He got off the floor, and quickly raced to the Safe Door, which has never been opened for the last hundreds of years. After arriving at the door panel, he only had a few minutes to hack the panel. He was not one to believe the various rumors that the door would always open as a last resort in the event of a power struggle. Luckily for him, those rumors were true. Within moments, the Safe Door slowly came down, revealing a tunnel full of skeletons and picket signs. The Inhabitant noticed a camera on the floor, still functional. Curious to what history it contained, he opened the screen, and took a peak.
The screen revealed what looked like a private recording. It shows a man laughing, then pointing towards the Safe Door sealing, with desperate people trying to jump through the closing space of the door. The scenes were frightening, and a few people were even trying to shoot their way through to safety. Suddenly, fire was the only visible thing. People were burning and slowly dying from the outside. The Inhabitant could not bear to watch anymore.
“You savages,” the Inhabitant thought to himself. “what sick being would record this?”
He grabbed a stone, and repeatably began smashing the camera. After destroying the camera, he continued his quest to find his way out. After stumbling in the tunnels, he sees a beam of light strike through the dark tunnels. For the Safe Inhabitant, it meant freedom.
He raced towards the door and opened it, and was greeted by not just a barren wasteland, but a armored human being.
“What the hell,” said the armored man. “what are you doing in the tunnels without firearms?”
“I'm from a Safe.” responded the Inhabitant.
The unidentified armored man raised an eye. At first, he could not decide on if he should laugh or walk away. Eventually, he did respond back to the Inhabitant.
“That’s impossible,” said the man. “those Safes were supposed to be abandoned nearly a century ago.”
“Well I guess you were wrong.” replied the Inhabitant.
The armored man began to pull out a piece of paper from his pocket.
“When you know the Wastelands good enough,” said the armored man. “and if you can even live through the Wastelands, then meet me at this location on the sheet of paper.”
The Safe Inhabitant took the sheet of paper from the armored man.
“What is your name?” asked the Inhabitant.
“My name is James.” said James and then walked away.
The Safe Inhabitant began walking down a road, worn out by centuries of decay and disuse. In his line of sight, he saw abandoned buildings, some almost brought to the brink of collapse. Out of nowhere, he saw a tower that looked like it survived the war. He could not help but run to the tower. When he finally arrived at the tower, two men armed with assault rifles stood guard. Was there still remnants of civilization in existence on the Earth?
“Halt!” said the guard as he pointed his assault rifle directly towards the Inhabitant.
The Safe Inhabitant held his hands high up in the air.
“Don’t shoot, don’t shoot!” screamed the Inhabitant. “I only want shelter!”
“I haven’t had fresh meat in a long time.” responded the Guard.
As he was about ready to fire his assault rifle, a intercom right next to him began to speak.
“Do not shoot,” said a voice from the intercom. “this is that Safe dweller that everyone was talking about!
The Inhabitant could not help but sigh in relief at his good fortune.
“Lucky son of a bitch.” responded the guard as he spat at the Inhabitant.
The Inhabitant walked past the arguing guards and walked into the entrance of the tower.
What was inside the tower looked perfectly preserved, as if it was from a time capsule. A rusted robot, still functional, greeted the Inhabitant as he walked inside. The walls were decayed, but any electronics continued to function as flawlessly as they did before the War. Suddenly, an elderly man walked down the stairs. He greeted the Inhabitant.
“You must be the dweller I have been hearing about,” said the elderly man. “What is it like living in a Safe for hundreds of years?”
“Depressing,” replied the Inhabitant. “But for the longest time, I thought it was the only place were life could exist.”
The elderly man chuckled.
“How did you find out I was coming?” asked the Inhabitant.
The elderly man pointed to a familiar figure. It was James.
“How in the hell did you get here,” asked James. “are the vosts all gone?”
“Vosts?” asked the Inhabitant.
“Human beings who fell victim to the radiation.” explained James. “During the war, some beings were unfortunate enough to live through the bombs without the Safes scattered throughout the country. They are healed every night, when the Sun sets.”
The Inhabitant continued to listen.
“Some vosts retain their intelligence, but the majority are simply undead, mutated zombies.”
“That’s terrible!” said the Inhabitant.
“Don’t feel any pity for them,” said James. “They are brainless wastes of space begging to be put to rest.”
The elderly man began to interrupt the conversation.
“Excuse me James,” said the elderly man. “But me and the dweller have more important issues to discuss than the living dead.”
The elderly man and the Safe Inhabitant began to walk down to the still-functional elevator. The Inhabitant was astounded by the amount of technology that still functioned. As the elevator reached it’s destination, the Inhabitant was greeted by the skies of the Wastes. He was at the top of the tower.
“Best sight in the Wastes,” said the elderly man. “I forgot to introduce myself earlier. My name is Indigo.”
“Nice to meet you, Indigo.” said the Inhabitant.
“This tower is a marvel,” exclaimed Indigo. “If those Vosts had any humanity left in them, this tower would be the only thing they recognize.”
“Why?” asked the Inhabitant.
Indigo began to pull an ancient piece of paper from a nearby shelf. It resembled that of a newspaper.
“Before the war started, a terrorist attack happened at this building.” said Indigo. “Unlike it’s predecessor, the culprit wasn’t an airplane, but a nuclear bomb.”
The Inhabitant was confused, yet Indigo continued anyway.
“Twelve World Trade Center was the only one of it’s kind,” explained Indigo. “Although much more smaller, the material used to create it was like that used in the Safes.”
“This tower was a fallout shelter?” asked the Inhabitant.
Indigo nodded.
“This one little bomb would start a war.” finished Indigo. “The wealthiest would have lived at 12 WTC, and see their world destroyed while the tower defended their lives.”
Indigo took a drink of purified water.
“Those Safes on the other hand,” said Indigo. “Your ancestors must have been lucky for a malfunction to occur.”
“What are you talking about?” asked the Inhabitant.
Indigo sighed deeply, and soon enough explained.
“Your Safe must have been a control safe.” Indigo said. “My ancestors revolted in Safe 43 after learning they were being purposely infected with a virus. James over here had parents die due to exposure from multiple gasses in Safe 55. The lists of dreadful experiments goes on.”
“Why would that happen?” said the Inhabitant.
“No one knows,” said Indigo. “It’s a secret that has been hidden since the fall of the last surviving remnants of true civilization.”
Suddenly, a loud explosion was heard in the distance.
“What the hell was that?” asked Indigo.
“I don’t know,” said the Inhabitant. “We need to get downstairs and find out.”
As the two began to walk down the ancient stairs, the sound of two more explosions became louder and louder. When the two finally arrived downstairs, they were greeted by a crowd of citizens within the tower, all scared and confused. Indigo and the Inhabitant went outside into the Wastes, to only be greeted by the presence of a long forgotten sight.
An atomic bomb.
The civilians within the ruined Twelve World Trade Center could only watch in awe at the mushroom cloud. It was thought that the few bombs that did not detonate were duds, and for the last hundred years, was widely thought of as truth. Apparently, that was never the case.
“Don’t be alarmed!” said Indigo. “Bombs are too far away to be of concern. Everybody go back to you’re rooms.”
But they couldn’t. The sight of the explosion was a rarity. It took about twenty minutes after the cloud dissipated for everyone to walk to their rooms.
“I’ve never saw anything like that.” said the Inhabitant.
“You would be surprised even more,’ said Indigo. “about what we could have done in this tower, hundred of years back.”
“What?” asked the Inhabitant.
“Fire one at our own will,” responded Indigo. “there is a terminal at the base of the tower, with launch codes all saved.”
“No wonder this tower existed then.” said the Inhabitant.
Suddenly, a tiny plastic object fell out of Indigo's worn out pocket. The Inhabitant noticed the fallen object, but Indigo looked like he was in a hurry.
“I have to turn in, dweller.” said Indigo. “If you care to see the terminal, meet me up here tomorrow.”
Indigo left to his room. The Inhabitant immediately picked up the plastic toy. After observing it, it resembled somewhat of a pony.
“Indigo doesn't seem to be the father type,” the Inhabitant said to himself. “I better ask him what this is.”
The Inhabitant ran to Indigo's room. After knocking at the door, Indigo opened the door and noticed the pony in the Inhabitant's hand.
“Where the hell did you find that?” asked Indigo, who was seemingly angered .
“It fell out of your pocket.” replied the Inhabitant. “Does it have a meaning to you?”
“That's just some family heirloom that was passed down.” said Indigo in a sudden raged voice. “Those 'intelligent vosts' in the lower levels can explain it. The only thing I know about it is that it stood for loyalty in some fucking ancient group from before the war.”
Indigo seemed angered at the object. It drove the Inhabitant to wonder to himself, why keep an object in your possession that would make you angry?
“I was wondering if I could take a look at the terminals alone.” said the Inhabitant.
“Sure, whatever.” said Indigo. “Those stairs will lead you to the lower levels.”
The Inhabitant went down the ruined hall to the stairway. As he walked down the stairway, he noticed that mostly everything was more well preserved than at the middle levels. He was greeted by several vosts maintaining a cold fusion generator.
“Look here, Steve.” said one vost. “At least one of those smoothies have the balls to come down here.”
The other vost, presumably Steve, shrugged.
“Something’s different about this smoothie, Ron.” said Steve with a curious glance. “He don’t seem like the other folks round the wastes.”
“I’m a inhabitant of Safe 16,” said the Inhabitant. “or at least I used to be.”
Both vosts laughed at the Inhabitant.
“Damn dwellers,” said Ron. “dumb as those ferals, them.”
The Inhabitant ignored Ron’s comment and started to ask Steve a question.
“What can you tell me about the terminals,” the Inhabitant asked. “and this little object here?”
“Those terminals don’t work, so think of another way to kill yourself Smoothie.” Steve said. “As for this object, there used to be a children’s show before the war. Grew a whole following of unlikely viewers ranging from teenage males to grown men. I would tell you the name, but it’s been likely hundreds of years since the holovisions stopped broadcastin.”
“Dem bronies were sick in the heads.” Ron butted in.
“Shut up Ron.” Steve said. “Now, if you want to look at the terminal files, you will need this card.”
Steve handed a red card to the Inhabitant.
“Feel free to press that button, smoothie.” Ron said. “Ain’t nothin comin out of them silos, boy.”
The Inhabitant took Indigo’s heirloom and the red card with him to the old terminals. After reaching the terminals, he typed in the password and saw a bunch of archived messages and pictures. There were hundreds, if not thousands of files on the terminal, but one other option was left standing out like a sour thumb.
The pony object that the Inhabitant was holding in his hand began to glow briefly, and then the terminal shown a new option.
“Show RD-2024” the Inhabitant said to himself.
The Inhabitant executed the command, and was presented with a media clip of some sorts. It appeared to be an ancient news recording.
“Hello,” said the newsman. “this is Afrin Goodwill on another edition of The Late Scoop on FOX News, broadcasting at the Twelve World Trade Center complex in beautiful NYC.”
There was a intro theme playing, then it went back to the newsman.
“You know, there are better ways to celebrate Google's new landmark of over 1.2 billion people using the Google+ social network, and the celebration of U.S President John Faust's new economic reforms is one of them. Today, we have the mother of John Faust here with us. Good morning to you Ms. Faust.”
“Thank you.” said Ms. Faust.
“I've heard that your cult hit, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, is having a very controversial start to it's 8th season concerning the threat of war with the European Union.”
“Yes it is, Mr. Goodwill.” responded Ms. Faust. “But I believe that our children need to support the embargo on the European Union to protect the United States and our Asian allies. Until the EU can stop it's ongoing research and production of nuclear weapons, I believe that our children need to be taught that Europe is a threat to the world, and I feel that through my show, children across the Americas and Asia will be able to understand in a way that is easy to comprehend.”
“Now Ms. Faust,” said Mr. Goodwill. “you are aware that many European sympathizers at the White House Plaza are protesting your son's decision to officially support the second part of your latest episode being aired on every holovision station. What is your opinion on the matter?”
“I am sorry to interrupt you Mr. Goodwill,” said another newsman.”but I am getting reports that nuclear weapons have hit the cities of Savannah, Austin, and Washington D.C.”
And just after the newsman said that, a bomb fell right on the streets on NYC. True to Indigo's word, the Twelve World Trade Center was meant to survive nuclear attacks.
“Oh my god!” said Mr. Goodwill. “the fucking humanit-”
“Video transmission of RD-2024 has been ended by an unknown user.” said the terminal.
Indigo suddenly appeared behind the Inhabitant.
“Now you know why I have shown such disdain towards that object.” said Indigo. “Now I can't let you see the remainder of the footage, nor will I let you live.”
Indigo placed a gun to the head of the Inhabitant. He was itching to pull the trigger.
“Prepare to die.” said Indigo.
TO BE CONTINUED.