The Warrior of the Moon

Chapter II

The Rouge Valley Meteor

I awoke to not my phone going off, but to nature's call.  I didn't want to move, just laid there trying to go back to sleep, I can hold it a little longer, I thought with my eyes shut. Then, like a steam engine, my brain came to life with thoughts and the same unwritten crap swam around in my head.  "Damn iiit." I whined as I finally crawled out of bed.  Threw on my bath robe while I staggered into the bathroom.

Coming back out, I went back into the bedroom, picked up my watch; 4:24 it read. Not wanting to complain anymore, I put the watch on then wondered into the living room for I remembered that I had some things to do before work today.  Thankfully, nowhere to go just what was around the house. Ate some toast while I checked the net at the desktop computer, the news in summary talked about pussy-footing politics, reminders of the nations crumbling economy, thanks to stupidly high gas prices as well high prices on house hold necessities, over taxing conflicts across the glob, people disappearing- blah, blah blah.

Then, I found steam; Hello steam, care for a few rounds payday? or maybe a few hours of mount and blade?  either way, I absently clicked away and opened payday. Alright, robbing banks it is!  BUT FIRST; I got up while it loaded the company logos and intro videos, currently it was the cursed Diamond Video. I noted that the video was animated by the same folks who made the drawn animation cut scenes from company of heroes or that's what I thought while I wondered into the kitchen.

First thing to do was cycle the dishwasher, emptied the dishes, utensils and plates into their proper places in the cupboards and drawers. I turned to face the sink; I rinsed, scrubbed then sorted the new batch into the tiny dishwasher. stuffed a dishwasher pod, closed, locked turned the nob to start it up. It hummed while it went to work saving it's contents from the horrors of rot, decay and bacteria.

Dug out my sixteen ounce glass mug from a cupboard, filled it with water then returned to my desk were my game character stood on screen in the main menu;  I didn't change out the load out since the last time I played, mostly (re)played the "Firestarter" Mission to death.  In one hand, my character held the games version of the MG42 while the C96 filled the other.  I was a monster rocking the historical weapons found in this game and the new Historic weapons DLC only made me stronger in the field.  My exploits with these world war guns was recorded once, played a mission on overkill difficulty and I took on two bull dozers.

I leveled the 42 and buzzed away; Since I had practice on the PS3 version, I knew how to take these walking tanks down.  With the rate of fire being close to the real deal, I chewed through the dozer's face plates then watched them drop. My team cheered me on while I stood my ground against the odds.  After the second dozer dropped, I swung to one side during the same long burst, chewed a cloaker up when he was in mid leap.

"Hope You boys saw that, because I won't be doing that again!" I recalled saying to them. shortly later, I had friend requests from each of them before we went our separate ways. Today however, I feel like going Gorge Nelson on someone today and loaded out with the Thompson, kept my Mauser, switched back to a 'lighter' armor (just one over from the combined tactical armor) set then started a warm up mission; bank heist (cash).

Of course I didn't wait for anyone else to join in while in the lobby, so I just jumped right into the action. The job was simple enough, sneak around as much as possible, get the thermal drill to the vault, lock the place down, tie up a few civis, mow down the guards, then sit tight and wait for city's "finest" come rolling up on the bank while the drill went to work.  I wasn't one for stealth so I just grabbed the drill, stormed in from the back door;  Popped the first guard with the broom handle, weaved through the back corridor, threw the bag at the vault then proceeded to set up the drill.

Heard another guard shout at me as the drill started up, turned, Ate'em up with the Tommy gun. Turned back to the drill, '210' seconds remaining. Heard first responders pull up with sirens blaring; shouted at the remaining patrons and clerks to get down, Tied up two before I started taking fire through a window.  Let a burst off in response. I turned off my hit indicator in this game so I could just see my hits more vividly from afar instead of that white little blink around my cross hair.

Short time later, I hear Bain notify me that SWAT was finally responding to the scene that wasn't until four more uniforms ate forty-five trying to get inside my new hold out. Reloading, I hear the loud mouthed coppers make their way inside somewhere.  Fuckers move in packs so when i turned a corner from the banker booth, I found five SWAT turning their attention to me. "OH SHIT!" then moved back not before taking a wimpy shot from one or two of them. Since I forgot to reload I switched to the Mauser.

Popped back out to let them have it; A quick thirty Mauser auto beat down later, I was picking up the dropped ammo boxes. Switched to the Thompson, reloaded as I was hearing Bain yelling at me that they were liberating the hostages, oh well, I mainly tie'em up to distract the coppers and/or bait them to a choke point in the building.

As I raised my Thompson's sights on another squad of SWAT, the game paused, someone was joining the fun.  While waiting I checked the time, got maybe enough time to play this round, break off from the computer, get a load in the dryer, change out the dishes (maybe), then proceed to either play another mission or go back to bed for work.

Either way, when the player finally loaded in, he spawned next to me.  He took off mowing through cops while collecting board to barricade the windows. The vault was about a quarter of the way when another notification popped on saying another player was joining in. While waiting I heard a faint sound, A rumble.  I moved my headphones briefly to hear it.

Didn't hear anything strange after a minuet.  With a shrug I turned back to the game right as the new player joined, I eyed his display on my HUD, "Oh snap, He brought a Ove-nine," I spoke over the mic, "Cover his ass!" releasing the mic button, "Now I wish I did buy the ammo bag asset." I thought to my self as I put my self close to the vault.  A third player finally joined and now it was a party!

However, when the vault did finally open, "Alright guys lets get the-" the computer went dead in an eye blink. "-The fuck?!" I pressed the power button, nothing. "No way!" I took off my head phones. When I did, I was startled to what sounded like cannon fire outside. Thunderous roar filled the world around my ears. I tied my robe and went outside.

Once outside, I looked around trying to pin point the source. Another boom drew my eyes to the sky. My god, the sky was alight! The sky was filled with what looked like the aurora borealis but, it divided by three colors, blues, reds and greens would separate then meld together randomly as the sky gave way to another crackle of thunder.

"Oh man..." escaped my lips.

"You seeing this?!" I hear behind me.

I looked over to see one of my neighbors, I looked passed him, everyone had done the same by emerging from their homes. "Yeah, What the hell is that?" I asked him, I had to shout over the racket as the noise grew more intense with more frequent booms. The lights danced across the sky like a Tesla coil light show. The colors colliding then separating as if fighting for control of the skies, the only thing that crossed my mind was that this could only be described by the GM during a rifts game or watching some cheesy 80's era Si-fi movie. Either way, this would of been terrifying if it hadn't awestruck me first.

"Beats me man, but holy shit this is awesome!" Was his only reply as I turned to back to the sky. This noisy light show stretched as far as I could see, it was a surreal sight seeing the colorful entrails stretch in every direction, even disappearing over beacon hill and the other surrounding mountain ranges. I was getting lost in the light show when, it happened.

The loudest thunder I ever heard forced me to cover my ears as a Flash of light took over the world for a moment. I would've sworn that it could of been a nuke going off right over head but thank god that wasn't such the case. When I reopened my eyes, I looked up at the sky again.  To my awe, the tentacles of color had been replaced by A single ball of light.

It was a solid dark blue light as it fell towards earth. If one wasn't looking carefully, they would loose it to the night sky around it. It fell far north of Grants pass, "Oh shit, its going to hit!" Yet, when I shouted, I watched helplessly as the ball of light vanished into the horizon, blocked out by mountain ranges and forest.

Neither me or my neighbor could see or hear any resemblance of an impact. Our words fled out minds as we simply looked at each other before I gazed at the night sky before cloud cover melded back to their proper places over the little city. After standing their like a dweeb I snapped back to reality. "That, is going to make news for sure." was all that could fall from my mouth.

"I know right?!" He replied excitedly before turning to go back inside his side of the duplex. I blink at the sky again, I looked into the direction of where the object had fallen. From this angle, it could of fallen anywhere from here to Roseburg.  I dismissed the light show for the time being as I looked at my watch.  I didn't realize that I was shaking, both of my hands were trembling from not the cold but probably from what I just watched.

reading the watch, I could tell I had to get back inside and get ready for work; but first, check the mail. I carefully crossed the street to check my busted up mail box. It bore the markings of something powerful had gone off inside it. Indeed there was, I had a noise maker that was simple but effective; It was a brace that held a twelve gauge shell set to go off when something tripped the wire.

This case, it was a custom magnesium round rigged in the back of the mail box, aimed at the lid. Someone did try to take my mail once, but was chased off by the surprise burst of harmless sparks that shot out of the mail box. I just watched as the poor sap ran for the canal just beyond the short wall along the side walk. There was water down there so watching a thief's sweater burst into flame didn't really concern me, just laughed as he vaulted overboard and Splash! I only checked on him when he crawled out of the canal.

Tonight however, there hasn't been one for a while so I had my bills and other junk mail come in. well, aside from this month's first issue of shotgun news. Always enjoyed reading the articles When I crossed back over, I looked at the houses, there were still dark. That light show must of really killed the power grid.

As I went inside, I fumbled around in the dark till I found my hallway light. The Minecraft torch lit the way when I took it off the wall. This little toy suddenly was worth it's fourty dollars in gold. With the torch in hand, I got ready for work.  When making my lunch bag, I realized that with the power out there wouldn't be any hope for all the items in the freezer, so I grabbed some frozen chimichangas to compliment my lunch.

I felt my phone go off on my belt, Checking it,

You got power? It came from my friend who lives on the other side of town.

Nope, total black out over here... was my reply

I Continued getting ready when the phone vibrated again, didn't check it till I had my gear on me.

Drats its dead here!!

Eyep, I think the whole valley is out. I think that means no work tonight too! I texted not really excitedly. I dropped the phone into a breast pocket on my coat before I left outside. Aside from my usual get up, I had my laptop's case wrapped over a shoulder while I left the house. I dumped everything into the car while the phone went off again.

I wasn't really surprised that, some how, the cell towers are still operating.

When everything was in the car, I fished out the phone.

so that means you will be coming over early???!

I stared at the phone  for a moment, His friend must of forgotten about my weekend scheduled; not tonight, heading out to the parents, but i will tomorrow. I sent to him before dropping the phone back into the pocket.

I started up the car then jockeyed the Jimmy out of the drive way.

Traffic, oh my god the traffic.  It was really thick tonight, of course the black out didn't help matters.  Thankfully, Volunteers from the sheriffs department had responded to the chaos along with the police.  Both intersections I stopped at had an officer directing traffic the old fashion way with hand signals.  Years before, traffic would be quiet and cooperative when traffic lights were out, now an days, It would make one think your in the middle of New York traffic.

Honking, revving engines, screaming drivers, it was a messy sight, but I didn't really give a care since no one had the balls to-oh wait never mind. An impatient driver shot out across the intersection with out being directed, the Deputy waved at the driver to stop but only dove out of the way as the pick-up charged across the Parkdale-redwood highway intersection.

The crazy swerved into another vehicle, smashing the driver side front fender and door before vanishing around the turn towards sixth and seventh street. A quick honk emoted from that direction. on lookers and two other volunteers ran over to check on the accident.

Not deterred by the action of almost getting hit, the deputy stood back up before slowly getting back into directing traffic.  I mental praised the people rushing to help someone, at least there was some humanity left in this age of greed.  Finally after ten minuets of cross traffic, Me and twenty other cars got the signal to go, "Right turn James."

The rest of the trip was slow but made it to work, however, the scenery was eerie non the less.  Fire mountain gems, the home depot and the other surrounding shopping centers were dark, only lights from cars, flares, and a few hand held spot lights were the only ways to see anything at this hour.

Pulling into the back entrance of Walmart, the parking lot matched the rest of the town, chaotic. The flashing lights of police beacons marked their presence here. Pulling into my usual spot, I left my gear in the  car while I worked my way towards the front of the store, almost getting hit once by an impatient driver.  Outside the grocery entrance fellow coworkers were either guarding the entrance with the help of police or helping people out of the store.

One of the associates guarding outside was hard to miss, he was one of the co-managers for the overnight shift.  He had a flashlight in one hand while he puffed on a cigarette watching the store being evacuated thanks to the black out. I talked to him when I got the chance, he was busy coordinating with police in an effort to prevent looting.

When I asked about work, "Sorry man, I don't think we'll be seeing the power back on anytime soon." He shrugged, "Really? Funny how this happens on my Friday." He only chuckled, "Oh yeah, Go figure."

"So, that means till the power is back on, no work right?"

"Yep, we all will just have to double duty when we get power back."

"That is just awesome to hear."

"I know right, hey, before you go-" He takes a clip board from under an arm and hands it to me. "Fill your name and put your number down so we can notify you when the power returns and you can come back to work."

"Got it," Took the pen and filled it before handing it back to him.

"Thanks Josh, have a good weekend." I waved in reply before vanishing into the crowd of people back to the car.

Driving half way across town, I hear the old time phone ring tone sound off as the cell phone vibrated.  Answering it, "Yeah?"

"Hey buddy, you at work?" My dad's voice was on the other side, it confused me hearing that he was still up at this hour. "Nope, Power is out for good so I got the night off."

"Oh cool, Power is out at the air port so they have me on call tonight encase they need help guiding a plane in tonight." never mind, he explained why with out me even asking; Dad worked for the county air ports. He is very well versed in taking care of practically everything on the grounds: the lights, lawns, the beacon, even the lights on the strip not to mention whatever else his help is needed. Kinda like my job in maintenance.

"Don't they have back up power?" I asked as I halted at a dead light, An officer was signaling the cross traffic before giving my lane the go to move. "They do, but they will still need me out there if there is a problem." That also reminded me of something.

"Nice, but hey, do you an mom have power out there?" A quick pause, "Nope, Trying to fix that so I was hoping you are coming out tonight."

"Oh you know I am, Town is backed up all over, total black out." I didn't want to describe about what caused this black out yet though. "Oh awesome, so I'll see you soon then?"

"As soon as I can get the hell out of here, yeah." I joked as I finally made a slow cross on seventh then a slower left on sixth. "Alright, well I better let you go encase they-oh that might be them, see you at the house."

"Alright, see ya." And we hung up, thinking about the airport, I realized that this black out might-no will affect the air travel.  If the black out reaches as far as Medford, they might have to make emergency detours to functional airports or make guided landings for the big planes.  Where as the little privet planes, like the common Cessna, would probably got no where else to go but make difficult landings in smaller airports like the one not far from my parents house.

As I changed my decision to turn onto 'G' instead of 'M' blocks away as this traffic was clogged like no other. I ventured forth, taking the crappy street layout to only get stuck behind more traffic, sure much less compared to the streets behind me, but still clogged.

"Come on people!" I shouted out, the closed windows in the car contained my frustration, "Pick it up or get off the road!" I picked up the shuffle and flipped a few tracks. My modified copy of Five Nights at Freddy's by the living tombstone filled the car with, I could only recall the Source film maker version feature the mane six as the automatons-I mean, the animatronic.  My brain went on a tangent as I recalled the video.

If the four animatronic from the real game were hard to out wit, imagine six animatronic versions of the bearers of the elements?!  It would only take tripping the in game triggers to set pinkie pie loose and It all be over-

My Brain was getting lost in a cluttered fog of thoughts when I heard a loud screech from somewhere, A bright glare of light shined through my passenger side windows. Looking I barely saw the modern car screeching on its break it was about to- "OH SHIT!" I slammed the gas, it lugged hard but I moved forward enough for the stupid plastic-mobile to clip the passenger side.

The 90s SUV stood its ground while the 2013 econ car bounced off, the Steel cover to the rear light dealt the most harm to the car as it came to a stop.  Thankfully, the car had slowed down enough to only sustained only hood damage.  I clicked the hazards on, set to park and got out to assess the damage. I walked around the Jimmy to the other car, The silver hood had a black, dented smudge where it connected with the Jimmy; blue flakes sprinkled the impact sight.

The Jimmy didn't really sustain any real damage, just some dented fiberglass and the light guard was bent but didn't pierce the light. The bumped had yet another noticeable dent to talk about later; As long the wheel wasn't damage, I wasn't going to press charges. "Oh god..." The driver had staggered out of the car, "You okay?" I approached her.

"Y-yeah, are you?"

"Of course, barely did anything, Your car still works?" I asked looking at the now tarnished compact. "Y-yeah, it does, Your not going to call the cops are you?" The young woman looked at me with wide eyes, obviously fear struck from the "accident".

I smiled and shook my head, "Normally there should be an accident to report, but with whats going on, there is going to be allot of accidents." I explained, "As long our cars still work there shouldn't be any problem."

"you sure?" she asked worriedly, "Yeah, you sure your fine though?"

"Mhmm, yeah, I just, I was just trying to get my phone work. oh I'm so sorry, I-" I put my hand up, "Don't worry about it, The Jimmy can take a beating if anything. Just as long you're okay, there shouldn't be a problem."

"Y-yeah." she nodded with a weak smile, "Thank you."

Hearing the stopped cars behind mine blasting their horns, I waved to the woman, "Have a good night and stay safe!" She simply gave a shaky wave before going back into her car.

I got back into mine, clicked the lights off, set to drive before moving on up the road Eventually I ended up on Upper river road, drove past the remaining blacked out areas with the remaining traffic thinning out. As part of the outer urban housing blocks melded away to countryside I brought the car up to speed.

This little part of town was home to some classical oddities. two cemeteries about across the street from each other. The modern one, with its even shaven grass lands with flat headstones neatly organized in rows based on last name. Then, there was the old one,  The landscape gave way to hills and uneven knolls of dirt.  The acreage on this place stretch for miles into some forest with headstones from almost every era decorating the land.

Turning right at the corner, I ascended up Pinecrest, the road up this way was wounded around natural corners. Having driven this road for so long I know the layout of this road so taking this road at between forty to fifty-five was comfortable for me.

A few hard shifts and the car was picking up speed down the road, stress from the city traffic fell away with music leading pace as I drove on towards my Parents home.