Twilight Earth by Ben Winston Page B

NBC; see Condition Three-Modified.
    Condition Three-modified;
    Pod descent: engaged
    Pod ascension: disabled
    Sealed biosphere: enabled
    Hyper-sleep: recommended (chambers activated)
    Define protocol series ‘bio’ and ‘chem’. Marcy typed.
    Ben felt the little hairs on the back of his neck stand-up when the answers were displayed.
    ‘Bio’ is used to denote the use of biological weapons. Numerical code designates percentage of lethality. Zero-zero is one hundred percent, zero-one is ninety percent, zero-two is eighty percent, and so on. Alphabetical code designates proximity to local surface marker. Alpha is less than a kilometer; beta is between one and two kilometers, etc. No alpha designator indicates detection at another installation.
    ‘Chem’ is used to denote the use of chemical weapons. Numerical code designates percentage of lethality. Zero-zero is one hundred percent, zero-one is ninety percent, zero-two is eighty percent, and so on. Alphabetical code designates proximity to local surface marker. Alpha is less than a kilometer; beta is between one and two kilometers, etc. No alpha designator indicates detection at another installation.
    “You should ask the fucking thing how we’re supposed to get back to the damn surface!” Jon said angrily.
    “Jon! Language! The girls can hear you!” Ellie said, scolding her husband.
    Jon tried to look sheepish. “Sorry Ell, I guess I’m just frustrated. Billions of people are dying up there and I can’t help them!"
    “I think that’s the point, Jon. I understand how you feel and I’m sorry for it. But I believe the job on the surface has fallen to your brethren and the care of us has fallen to you. I know it may not seem fair; but if the human race is to have a future, we’re going to need skilled professionals like you,” Ben replied, calming the doctor.
    Jon looked at Ben in confusion. “I think there is more of Tom in you than any of us knows. He would have told me exactly that sort of thing to put me at ease. Thank you, Ben.”
    “Well, now that we all know the bad news and we’re scared to death. I think we should get the girls home just in case they upgrade to condition three,” Ellie said. "It’s getting kinda late anyway.”
    Jon agreed and shortly the small family left for the short walk back to their apartment.
    After everyone had left, the small family sat back down in the living room. “What do you think is going on up there right now?” Kaitlin asked softly.
    Ben moved over to sit next to her and put his arm around her. “Try not to think about it,
    Sweetheart.”
    About then, the pod stopped moving. Shortly after that, a soft rumbling could be heard along with the shaking of the pod as the shaft above it collapsed, sealing them in.
    ––––––––
    It was an uneasy night for the Bedouin family. They all shared one bed for comfort, making their family bond grow even deeper. By the next morning, tension was building quickly. Most news sources had stopped broadcasting, or were no longer able to keep people informed. Ben felt the need to try to comfort at least his fellow pod-mates. So he had the main terminal in his living room ask everyone to meet him in the park for a ‘town meeting’ and to bring a picnic lunch.
    Deirdre and the girls thought it was a grand idea and changed into sundresses while Ben got busy making up the lunch. Jorga felt weird wearing a sundress, so she put on a pair of denim shorts, and a tank top.
    Most of the people in the pod responded to Ben’s message and showed up in the park ready for a picnic. With a little help from Marcy, everyone heard his voice whether they had come or not.
    “Folks, I know news from the surface is getting, at best, spotty. I also know that all of us left someone we know or care about up there. It’s even harder to know that they are probably dying or at the very least fighting for their lives while we sit down here and do nothing. As hard as it is to accept, we have