Wired: Electric Series, #3

The Beginning of the End...

Every story has to end sometime. Every light eventually flickers off into darkness.

Nothing lasts forever.

We fight against it. We rage and cry and beg, but it’s inevitable.

Eventually everything dies.

Not Again...

I wish I could say that things improve. I suppose that they do—slowly. I guess I’m just impatient. It’ll be what it is.

I can’t stand to be stagnant. That’s most of my problem. The rest stems from secrets that give me an ulcer.

Who am I? I’m Kat Greene. I’m the one thing that stands between humanity and the end of the world. I’d say the end of life as we know it—but really we’re far beyond that now. Life as we know it ended over a year ago when nanotechnology went crazy and began to take over. First there was the hysteria. All of the East Coast is gone, but the Northeast was the hardest hit. Right now most of country is deserted. We’ve been sending refugees to a safe zone.

Before any of this happened I was a normal teen. One night I played a concert with my best friend Brie and someone crossed my amp wire. The result was tens of thousands of volts of electricity being forced into me. Unlike a normal person—with me it never left. My body mutates the energy into something I can control and into the only thing that stops the nanobots which attack.

Nothing about this has been easy. I managed to save my friends, but in the process became a lab rat of sorts to the evil General Carch. She wants to spread the infectious nanobots. By the time I broke out of her hellish laboratory Carch had done irrevocable damage.

With the help of Lucas—a new friend and ex-soldier—I made it back across the country. I reunited with my friends...and my then boyfriend (that’s a whole other story!) With the help of a couple brilliant doctors and a really wise Captain we’ve made some real strides, I guess.

I just hope it’s enough.

I’m not alone—even though a lot of people I care about aren’t here. Lucas is here and he’s pretty much my everything—besides Brie, Xavier and B. Lucas not only got me across the country safely—he saved me when my ex Mason broke the news that he cheated on me. It took a whole lot of time, but I wouldn’t change a thing. If I did I might not have Lucas at all.

Lucas and I share everything...mostly. There’s one little thing that Lucas doesn’t know. He doesn’t know it because if I told him he’d do everything in his power to stop me.

Before we evacuated our camp six or so months ago, I discovered that what we thought was my limitless supply of power (it’s amazing what a little radiation does for a girl) isn’t so limitless after all. I learned that when it comes to the final stand I’ll have to do it alone. Lucas wouldn’t see the rationale behind it, but Dr. Ford and my other trusted team members do—and they’ve agreed to help me pull it off when the time comes.

With the East Coast lost to the infection things only got worse when we discovered an underground hive. These nanobots can change matter. Matter—you know—that stuff in atoms that makes up everything. Yeah. This underground hive eats the world from the inside out. That’s some freaky chizz right there.

As if that isn’t bad enough, in the Northwest General Carch mutates the infection and creates her own army with her weaponized form of it.

Carch’s underground hive pushes east.

The hive from the original infection pushes west.

We have no idea what will happen when they meet, but we assume it won’t be good.

The rest of the world waits and watches what’s left of the once mighty U.S. We’re the last stand. If we fail—if I fail—that’s it. There won’t be any more chances.

Kat. A voice murmurs in my ear and makes me smile.

Hey, you. I grin. I don’t sleep much anymore, but when I do my favorite way to wake up is in Lucas’ arms.

I’m going to make some coffee. Want breakfast? Lucas asks.

Mmmm. Yeah, that sounds great. I stretch. We go out this afternoon, right?

Yeah. Lucas confirms—though I can tell that he’s not very happy about it.

Why don’t we go to the shooting range after breakfast then? My suggestion perks Lucas up (like I knew it would.) He’s been teaching me how to shoot.

Okay! Today we can get you to try the M-4.

It sounds like Yiddish to me. I nod my head enthusiastically before Lucas bounds down the steps exuberantly. Sometimes it’s almost too easy.

At first it seemed silly to learn how to shoot guns when my hands can shoot energy that’s much deadlier. I began to humor Lucas—but honestly I kind of like it. Plus, it makes Lucas happy.

My phone goes off and I see a Snapchat from Brie. I watch the short video of Xavier and B. Damn, I miss them. I’d say I can’t wait for this all to be over—except I’m still not all too sure I’ll win.

I reply and hit the bathroom before I steal the first mug of coffee. Soon after, Lucas places a plate full of food in front of me. I dig in. I’ve been trying for months to gain back the weight I lost at Carch’s laboratory, but to no avail. At least the process of it is fun.

A message on my phone tells us to get our butts to the command room to video-chat with Dr. Ford and Captain Jennings. Dr. Ford has been fighting the nanobots since day one. He actually used to work at BioNano—the company who created this mess. Dr. Ford not only weaponized my energy to fight the infection, but he’s developed some awesome defenses with poles for perimeters and bracelets to keep people from getting infected to begin with. He and I have grown close in all this insanity.

Captain Jennings is actually General West—though no one besides me and Lucas (and probably a few select others) even knows it. The last territory (the Southwest) that we have is General West’s. When it became obvious that General West was a target he assumed the façade of Captain Jennings in order to maintain some order.

Lucas and I finish and quickly make our way to the command room. Lucas hits some buttons and the screen comes alive. Both Dr. Ford and Captain Jennings look well. They’re down in Mexico—the closest refugee camp that safety allows.

Good morning! Dr. Ford says. He’s always so happy to see us—even if it’s only digitally.

Good morning, doc. I smile. Hey, Captain.

Good morning, guys. Captain Jennings says. I can tell already that something’s up.

A glance over to Lucas tells me he knows, too. The difference is Lucas is more vocal than I am. What’s up, Captain. Let’s have it.

I suppress a chuckle and notice Dr. Ford does the same.

Well, Captain Jennings does chuckle. I guess I won’t beat around the bush then. Kat, we need you to go zap the Gulf—to start. We may or may not get you over the Atlantic in the near future.

The drones have lost effectiveness? Lucas asks.

When the nanobots hit the fluidity of water in the oceans it causes them to spread rapidly. It’s been an ongoing issue that we’re having a tough time eradicating.

Not so much lost as retained their original effectiveness while everything else grows. Dr. Ford explains. I can make larger charges—but my focus now—

Is on other things. I finish for Dr. Ford. Plus, I’m more efficient. I don’t mind the trip. If anything it’ll break up some of the monotony that seems to overcome me lately.

When do we move out? Lucas asks.

We thought today—if possible. Captain Jennings answers.

I shrug. Works for me...how much of a zap are we talking?

Go big, Kat. Dr. Ford tells me.

This mission might be fun after all. It’s not all that often I get to let loose. You got it. Say hi to everyone for us.

You two take care. Dr. Ford says.

Be careful out there. Captain Jennings tells us and the screen fades to black.

Plane rides aren’t my most favorite thing, but in comparison to some of the things I’ve faced it could be worse. If anything I’ve become accustomed to them now. For the last six months it’s been our main form of travel outside the secure perimeter of the camp. With the earth able to drop beneath you at any time and turn into an underground tornado from hell, driving loses its appeal real quick.

Today’s plane carries more fuel than cargo. Our only task is to get out a decent ways into the Gulf of Mexico and home again. It sounds easy—but trust me—nothing is easy or routine these days.

Lucas sits close because he knows flying makes me uncomfortable. He’s still my security blanket—the one to keep me steady. Part of me hates to bring him out of the safety of the camp, but it’d hurt his feelings to make him stay behind...and okay—I’m selfish. I like to have him close while I still can.

Soon the day will come when I have to send Lucas—send every soldier left at camp—away. It might just kill me. If it wasn’t so necessary my resolve would waver, but it is necessary and I have to be strong. I have to be strong for everyone.

The stress drops into my neck and shoulders so I roll them around and try to loosen them up. It doesn’t really work and Lucas drops my hand to cup the base of my neck. He rubs his thumb in a soft circle and the tension eases. See? How am I supposed to do that by myself?

A glance out the window shows the crystalline blue of the Gulf of Mexico below. We’re close now. A few moments later a soldier gives me the signal. I grasp the hand cuff tightly as the side plane door opens. The water begins to change—the metallic fog shows plainly as it swirls below the surface. No aquatic life moves about. Nothing but the infection.

I drop the first sphere. It’s highly charged and drops a few hundred feet in the water before it combusts. It’s quite a sight from above and the spray from the water almost reaches the plane. When it’s over the fog is gone. One down—several dozen to go.

We don’t have to be quite so meticulous today, but it seems silly to me to make the trip and not make it count. If we can save the Gulf—why shouldn’t we? Hell, if the plane could make it I’d say keep going to the Atlantic!

Another sphere falls into cloudy water. Again the fog disappears. I watch when we approach the next area and see it slink away. This tells me it’s part of the original infection—the one that fears me. Carch’s infection doesn’t seem to be on the same frequency as the original. I suppose that’s a good thing.

I throw sphere after sphere until we have to turn the plane around. Then I drop a few more on the way back for good measure. It doesn’t take much out of me, but is a good way to relieve some stress.

The plane hits some turbulence and I brace myself. I really hate when it does this. Really. Hate. It.

Then the plane does something it doesn’t usually do—it pitches hard to the left. Lucas reacts instantly and covers me. I hold tightly to the straps beside me to keep us both from bouncing around the plane’s interior.

The window next to me now faces down and the culprit of our impromptu roller-coaster-ride-from-Hell becomes very clear. The ground below the plane is gone. A metallic swirl of debris and earth takes its place. This is really bad.

The plane pitches further until we’re upside down. Lucas holds a firm cage around me, but the look in his eyes is pure panic.

Lucas—I have to. I catch his gaze.

I’m not going anywhere. He says very firmly.

I let it rip—careful to protect Lucas and the plane while I attack the fog. It works (like it always does) but that’s not the problem. There’s no way to right the plane in time and all I can do is try to ease it down with my energy as gently as possible.

It’s nowhere near as softly as I’d prefer—but certainly could’ve been much worse. The plane bangs, groans and shudders to a stop. There are a few loud creaks and the plane sways as though on a teeter-totter. Another glance out the window confirms that the plane hangs precariously at the edge of the chasm the underground tornado creates. Lucas and I know from past experience that it’s important to move quickly.

I’ll try to keep it steady as long as possible. I say—I feel the lack of energy now. This is very close to my limits.

Okay, Lucas sees me fade. I’m going to unbuckle you—then just grab onto me. I’ll get us out.

I nod a quick yes as my buckle disengages. I trust Lucas so I don’t falter when I drop into him. I concentrate very specifically on keeping the damn plane upright until everyone gets off.

Before long my eyes close—I don’t have the energy to hold them open anymore. I feel Lucas jump down and tell myself to hold on for a few more seconds.

Keep going! I hear Lucas yell from far away. The ground trembles more and I hear a large rumble. I hope the fog isn’t back because I’m officially on empty. The world fades to nothing.

The first thing that I smell is the fire. It crackles amongst quiet voices. I open my eyes to see trees in the soft fire-light above me.

Not. Again.

Hey, Lucas says. Welcome back.

Thanks. I sit up. How long was I out?

A few hours. Lucas tells me. Not that bad.

The few passengers that were aboard the plane huddle around the