PART X: FROM ASHES
[FONT="]DUCK AND COVER
[/FONT] [FONT="]Recommended Listening:
[/FONT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tr-BYVeCv6U&feature=related
[FONT="]Beneath the Greenbrier hotel in West Virginia is a secret bunker, which houses the United States congress in case of Emergency. These are their stories.
[/FONT] [FONT="]*The Congressman woke up to the sound of a stretcher being opened. He looked over with mute dismay as a handful of medical personnel rolled the body off of its bunk, and an Army Chaplain muttered prayers. They orderlies left the darkened room a limp arm trailing behind them.
[/FONT] [FONT="]The Congressman walked over to the empty bunk. The blanket lay half open on the bed, a green coarse shapeless mass. It was a pity that such a man had to die enveloped by it. He folded the blanket back and straightened up the bunk, fluffed the pillow, and only then noticed the small crowd behind him.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“That makes three, right?” someone asked, a shapeless voice in the darkness.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“So far three, a fourth doesn’t look too far off.” A silhouette of a doctor answered from the doorway, his long shadow filling the light that leaked into the room.
[/FONT] [FONT="]*The Aide was making his way through the breakfast line. The cramped cafeteria was quickly filling with other staff and a few early rising representatives, or ones who hadn’t slept at all. The murmuring and small quiet and secret conversations all relayed the same message; three representatives had died in the night. Two had died of heart trouble, and the third. “Was an apparent suicide, hung himself right in the middle of the room. Hanged himself off of one of the lamps with his belt.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“I heard the one that killed himself was from Rhode Island.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“No, he was a Rep from Florida, I was assigned the same room.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Well Florida did take the first hit, a missile from Cuba apparently.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Good god, I thought there weren’t any there since ’62.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Well they had one…”
[/FONT] [FONT="]The Aide grabbed a plastic tray, and picked the cheep silverware out of its buckets. He wandered past more worried voices, surrounded only by rumors.
[/FONT] [FONT="]*The Signalman sat by the Telex machine and watched as the ticker of paper rapidly spat out. It was a message from NORAD at Cheyenne Mountain. The last accurate list of targets compiled as Arctic radars tracked the Soviet bombs as they made their arcs across the stratosphere. He watched in horror as the writer clicked faster and faster, the paper flying out foot by foot, coming to a messy pile on the floor.
[/FONT] [FONT="]He sat there for nearly an hour transfixed. Names of States, cities, and military bases all blurred together:
ALABAMA…
BRONX (CTY)…
FT DRUM (MB)…
It was horrifying and hypnotizing at the same time.
State…
City…
Military Base…
City…
Military Base…Military Base…State. Again and again, and again.
[/FONT] [FONT="]The writer was still clicking, the tape was still spewing. But the paper was blank. It yelled at him in the quiet, empty room.
[/FONT] [FONT="] Nothing!
[/FONT] [FONT="]Nothing!
[/FONT] [FONT="]Nothing!
[/FONT] [FONT="]*The Congressman was making his way down the halls to the cafeteria, when out of nowhere a series of gunshots rang out. Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
[/FONT] [FONT="]Immediately the Signal Corps guards rushed past him, shotguns and pistols at the ready. He quickly followed them, and as they lined up by the closed door, the Congressman shoved the door open and strode confidently in.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Mr. Congressman! Don’t!” one of the soldiers shouted, belatedly flinging his arm out to stop the Congressman.
[/FONT] [FONT="]The Congressman stood, struck still, in the middle of the room. There sitting on a wooden chair in front of a Telex machine was a soldier his pistol sat in his quivering hands, the slide back, and an empty expression on his face.
[/FONT] [FONT="]*“What was that?” the Kid asked, rolling over in the bed.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Mmmmh” the girl said, wrapping her arms around him.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“No seriously, I think I heard gunshots.” Pulling on his jeans, he stumbled into his shoes and threw on a shirt.
[/FONT] [FONT="]Pulling the blackout curtains back, he wondered, had he really heard gunshots. He studied the “back lawn” it didn’t look like the end of the world, just… overcast. The Kid ran his head through his hair, he must be hearing things.
[/FONT] [FONT="]Something was wrong he knew it. Not knowing the hotel too well, the Kid made his way toward the front hall.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“What the hell?”
[/FONT] [FONT="]*“The Telex machine is ruined, and look here,” the technician pointed to a jumble of broken wires, “I think he took out the main power to the room.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Who the fuck designed this room?” the captain asked.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Probably some guy in the 50’s, the lowest bidder.” The technician murmered.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“So if I understand you correctly, all the communications are dead, at least in this room?”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Yeah.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Can’t we move these?”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Maybe, would you like to haul nearly an 800 lb radio captain?”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Well figure it out.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Yes sir.”
The technicians figured he’d give it a go and then give up. No way were these machines moving. And anyway the cable to the discreet antenna was severed and ONLY in this room. The Bunker was alone.
[/FONT] [FONT="]*The Congress had assembled in their assigned room. Cleanly by party lines, the representatives sat shock still in their assigned seats, the empty spot glaring in the harsh light of the fluorescent lamps.
[/FONT] [FONT="]The speaker stood at the podium at the front of the cramped room. To the Congressman it seemed more intimate and more disconcerting at the same time. The representatives were practically rubbing elbows.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“I would like to bring today to an open.” The Speaker started.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Second.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Just quit with the stinking formalities.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]Clashing and assenting murmurs flooded across the room.
[/FONT] [FONT="]The echo of the gavel and the room quieted.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Alright no formalities today due to emergency circumstances. Now on to the important things, Representative Pepper died last night. Unknown causes as of right now. One of his aides will fill in his seat tomorrow.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Mr. Speaker! Mr. Speaker!” all semblance of formality was now thrown out the window.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Yes.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“I propose that all bills in session before February 21st, 1984 be tabled.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]From the back, a handful of voices in near unison.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Second!”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Motion has passed.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]Someone else piped up.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Sir, I propose a bill to suspend habeas corpus due to the emergency.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Do you want to declare a State of Emergency?”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Uh well yes.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Mr. Speaker, What does that define?” A third voice.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“You mean what?”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“What does State of Emergency mean?”
[/FONT] [FONT="]Dozens of people were now near yelling trying to get their say in.
[/FONT] [FONT="]Congress was back in session.
[/FONT] [FONT="]*The Senate was much more sedate the Aide thought, leaving the House and making his way down the hall, he stopped in and listened to the discussion going on inside. Nearly 100 clear headed voices were discussing the Nebraska Problem.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“I propose that we have them vote in absentee, and if they cannot be reached, I am sure some of the aides from other Midwestern states will be willing to fill in.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“I would like to second that Mr. President.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Motion passed, someone will have to tell the House. After they get quieted down in there.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]The joke did not go over well, the room remained silent.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Mr. President, is there an accurate map of the strikes compiled yet?”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“No, as of right now our Signalmen friends are currently working on one based on NORAD’s last Telex. It may take them a while to get every strike mapped, give them time, it should be done by tomorrow at the latest.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Thank you sir.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]*The Kid quietly entered the front hall. There a woman’s body was draped with a blanket, surrounded by a small crowd, her feet just poked out from under the blanket. The Girl ran up behind him and with a start grabbed his hand.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Murdered.” Someone murmured.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Oh my god.” she whispered.
[/FONT] [FONT="]A Sergeant walked in and immediately looked from the body to the knot of people.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Who did this?”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Not me,” the Businessman replied. “I just walked in this morning and saw the body there.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]Mother came quickly down the stairs. “WHERE WERE YOU LAST NIGHT?”
[/FONT] [FONT="]The Kid blushed and dropped the Girl’s hand. The Girl looked down ashamed.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Oh!” and with dawning understanding Mother fainted.
[/FONT] [FONT="]One of the women detached herself from the knot. “I’m a Doctor. Someone get a pillow.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]The Sergeant ran off to get a pillow.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Good god a murder! The first at the Greenbrier.” a Maid piped up.
[/FONT] [FONT="]The Sergeant returned with a pillow.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“How many people are in the Hotel?” the Businessman asked.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Besides my men, about 12 guests.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“That’s all of the civilians you got out of DC!” The Businessman was fuming.
[/FONT] [FONT="]The Sergeant was indignant “This was the overflow site for the families most are in safe houses closer to DC. You few were unlucky enough to get shuttled down here.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“That’s no fucking excuse, those people who were left near DC are dead and you know it!”
[/FONT] [FONT="]The Doctor looked up “Shut up the both of you. Sergeant could you please have your men make sure that no one leaves the hotel, we do have a murder on our hands.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Gladly, but it wouldn’t do too good.” He spoke quickly into his microphone.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Code Black.” The sound of dozens of pairs of boots running through the hotel, started almost instantly.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Why?” The Girl asked. The Kid looked over astonished.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Why what?” The Sergeant asked.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Why won’t it do too good?” The Girl asked impatiently.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Why won’t it do too good? The killer could have fled and be out in the Exclusion zone by now. That’s why.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Give me a break,” the Girl shot back “no way I would be running out there in the middle of a nuclear war, are you fucking stupid? They’re still here."
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Well I can vouch for the house staff. We were all in out quarters all night. I know, I couldn’t sleep.” The Maid said. “Can’t we call the police?”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Do you know what EXCLUSION ZONE means?” the Sergeant sarcastically spat. “It means no people outside of the hotel for nearly 20 miles. That means no police.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]The Businessman folded the blanket off and back onto the deceased’s face. He looked around the group with a determined look on his face.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Call every guest down for breakfast. We have to figure out who killed this woman.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]*The Congressmen and women made their way into the cafeteria, with the tables stowed, it was the only room big enough fit all of the representatives at once.
[/FONT] [FONT="]Posted on the wall opposite of the chow line was a map of the United States, huge if covered most of the wall. Thousands of red dots were posted across the continent.
[/FONT] [FONT="]One of the congressmen from Rhode Island began to cry, Ted Kennedy walked up and placed his hand on the younger man’s shoulder and guided him to a seat.
[/FONT] [FONT="]The world was over.
*"When will we tell them that we can't contact the outside world?" The Speaker asked. He, the President Pro Tem and the signal corps Captain were alone in the room.
"We can't let them know too soon, there will be a riot. But if we tell them too late there will be a riot." said the Captain wryly.
[/FONT]
[FONT="]DUCK AND COVER
[/FONT]
[FONT="]PART X: From Ashes
[/FONT]
[/FONT]
[/FONT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tr-BYVeCv6U&feature=related
[FONT="]Beneath the Greenbrier hotel in West Virginia is a secret bunker, which houses the United States congress in case of Emergency. These are their stories.
[/FONT] [FONT="]*The Congressman woke up to the sound of a stretcher being opened. He looked over with mute dismay as a handful of medical personnel rolled the body off of its bunk, and an Army Chaplain muttered prayers. They orderlies left the darkened room a limp arm trailing behind them.
[/FONT] [FONT="]The Congressman walked over to the empty bunk. The blanket lay half open on the bed, a green coarse shapeless mass. It was a pity that such a man had to die enveloped by it. He folded the blanket back and straightened up the bunk, fluffed the pillow, and only then noticed the small crowd behind him.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“That makes three, right?” someone asked, a shapeless voice in the darkness.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“So far three, a fourth doesn’t look too far off.” A silhouette of a doctor answered from the doorway, his long shadow filling the light that leaked into the room.
[/FONT] [FONT="]*The Aide was making his way through the breakfast line. The cramped cafeteria was quickly filling with other staff and a few early rising representatives, or ones who hadn’t slept at all. The murmuring and small quiet and secret conversations all relayed the same message; three representatives had died in the night. Two had died of heart trouble, and the third. “Was an apparent suicide, hung himself right in the middle of the room. Hanged himself off of one of the lamps with his belt.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“I heard the one that killed himself was from Rhode Island.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“No, he was a Rep from Florida, I was assigned the same room.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Well Florida did take the first hit, a missile from Cuba apparently.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Good god, I thought there weren’t any there since ’62.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Well they had one…”
[/FONT] [FONT="]The Aide grabbed a plastic tray, and picked the cheep silverware out of its buckets. He wandered past more worried voices, surrounded only by rumors.
[/FONT] [FONT="]*The Signalman sat by the Telex machine and watched as the ticker of paper rapidly spat out. It was a message from NORAD at Cheyenne Mountain. The last accurate list of targets compiled as Arctic radars tracked the Soviet bombs as they made their arcs across the stratosphere. He watched in horror as the writer clicked faster and faster, the paper flying out foot by foot, coming to a messy pile on the floor.
[/FONT] [FONT="]He sat there for nearly an hour transfixed. Names of States, cities, and military bases all blurred together:
ALABAMA…
BRONX (CTY)…
FT DRUM (MB)…
It was horrifying and hypnotizing at the same time.
State…
City…
Military Base…
City…
Military Base…Military Base…State. Again and again, and again.
[/FONT] [FONT="]The writer was still clicking, the tape was still spewing. But the paper was blank. It yelled at him in the quiet, empty room.
[/FONT] [FONT="] Nothing!
[/FONT] [FONT="]Nothing!
[/FONT] [FONT="]Nothing!
[/FONT] [FONT="]*The Congressman was making his way down the halls to the cafeteria, when out of nowhere a series of gunshots rang out. Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
[/FONT] [FONT="]Immediately the Signal Corps guards rushed past him, shotguns and pistols at the ready. He quickly followed them, and as they lined up by the closed door, the Congressman shoved the door open and strode confidently in.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Mr. Congressman! Don’t!” one of the soldiers shouted, belatedly flinging his arm out to stop the Congressman.
[/FONT] [FONT="]The Congressman stood, struck still, in the middle of the room. There sitting on a wooden chair in front of a Telex machine was a soldier his pistol sat in his quivering hands, the slide back, and an empty expression on his face.
[/FONT] [FONT="]*“What was that?” the Kid asked, rolling over in the bed.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Mmmmh” the girl said, wrapping her arms around him.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“No seriously, I think I heard gunshots.” Pulling on his jeans, he stumbled into his shoes and threw on a shirt.
[/FONT] [FONT="]Pulling the blackout curtains back, he wondered, had he really heard gunshots. He studied the “back lawn” it didn’t look like the end of the world, just… overcast. The Kid ran his head through his hair, he must be hearing things.
[/FONT] [FONT="]Something was wrong he knew it. Not knowing the hotel too well, the Kid made his way toward the front hall.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“What the hell?”
[/FONT] [FONT="]*“The Telex machine is ruined, and look here,” the technician pointed to a jumble of broken wires, “I think he took out the main power to the room.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Who the fuck designed this room?” the captain asked.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Probably some guy in the 50’s, the lowest bidder.” The technician murmered.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“So if I understand you correctly, all the communications are dead, at least in this room?”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Yeah.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Can’t we move these?”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Maybe, would you like to haul nearly an 800 lb radio captain?”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Well figure it out.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Yes sir.”
The technicians figured he’d give it a go and then give up. No way were these machines moving. And anyway the cable to the discreet antenna was severed and ONLY in this room. The Bunker was alone.
[/FONT] [FONT="]*The Congress had assembled in their assigned room. Cleanly by party lines, the representatives sat shock still in their assigned seats, the empty spot glaring in the harsh light of the fluorescent lamps.
[/FONT] [FONT="]The speaker stood at the podium at the front of the cramped room. To the Congressman it seemed more intimate and more disconcerting at the same time. The representatives were practically rubbing elbows.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“I would like to bring today to an open.” The Speaker started.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Second.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Just quit with the stinking formalities.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]Clashing and assenting murmurs flooded across the room.
[/FONT] [FONT="]The echo of the gavel and the room quieted.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Alright no formalities today due to emergency circumstances. Now on to the important things, Representative Pepper died last night. Unknown causes as of right now. One of his aides will fill in his seat tomorrow.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Mr. Speaker! Mr. Speaker!” all semblance of formality was now thrown out the window.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Yes.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“I propose that all bills in session before February 21st, 1984 be tabled.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]From the back, a handful of voices in near unison.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Second!”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Motion has passed.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]Someone else piped up.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Sir, I propose a bill to suspend habeas corpus due to the emergency.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Do you want to declare a State of Emergency?”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Uh well yes.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Mr. Speaker, What does that define?” A third voice.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“You mean what?”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“What does State of Emergency mean?”
[/FONT] [FONT="]Dozens of people were now near yelling trying to get their say in.
[/FONT] [FONT="]Congress was back in session.
[/FONT] [FONT="]*The Senate was much more sedate the Aide thought, leaving the House and making his way down the hall, he stopped in and listened to the discussion going on inside. Nearly 100 clear headed voices were discussing the Nebraska Problem.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“I propose that we have them vote in absentee, and if they cannot be reached, I am sure some of the aides from other Midwestern states will be willing to fill in.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“I would like to second that Mr. President.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Motion passed, someone will have to tell the House. After they get quieted down in there.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]The joke did not go over well, the room remained silent.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Mr. President, is there an accurate map of the strikes compiled yet?”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“No, as of right now our Signalmen friends are currently working on one based on NORAD’s last Telex. It may take them a while to get every strike mapped, give them time, it should be done by tomorrow at the latest.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Thank you sir.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]*The Kid quietly entered the front hall. There a woman’s body was draped with a blanket, surrounded by a small crowd, her feet just poked out from under the blanket. The Girl ran up behind him and with a start grabbed his hand.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Murdered.” Someone murmured.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Oh my god.” she whispered.
[/FONT] [FONT="]A Sergeant walked in and immediately looked from the body to the knot of people.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Who did this?”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Not me,” the Businessman replied. “I just walked in this morning and saw the body there.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]Mother came quickly down the stairs. “WHERE WERE YOU LAST NIGHT?”
[/FONT] [FONT="]The Kid blushed and dropped the Girl’s hand. The Girl looked down ashamed.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Oh!” and with dawning understanding Mother fainted.
[/FONT] [FONT="]One of the women detached herself from the knot. “I’m a Doctor. Someone get a pillow.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]The Sergeant ran off to get a pillow.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Good god a murder! The first at the Greenbrier.” a Maid piped up.
[/FONT] [FONT="]The Sergeant returned with a pillow.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“How many people are in the Hotel?” the Businessman asked.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Besides my men, about 12 guests.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“That’s all of the civilians you got out of DC!” The Businessman was fuming.
[/FONT] [FONT="]The Sergeant was indignant “This was the overflow site for the families most are in safe houses closer to DC. You few were unlucky enough to get shuttled down here.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“That’s no fucking excuse, those people who were left near DC are dead and you know it!”
[/FONT] [FONT="]The Doctor looked up “Shut up the both of you. Sergeant could you please have your men make sure that no one leaves the hotel, we do have a murder on our hands.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Gladly, but it wouldn’t do too good.” He spoke quickly into his microphone.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Code Black.” The sound of dozens of pairs of boots running through the hotel, started almost instantly.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Why?” The Girl asked. The Kid looked over astonished.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Why what?” The Sergeant asked.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Why won’t it do too good?” The Girl asked impatiently.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Why won’t it do too good? The killer could have fled and be out in the Exclusion zone by now. That’s why.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Give me a break,” the Girl shot back “no way I would be running out there in the middle of a nuclear war, are you fucking stupid? They’re still here."
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Well I can vouch for the house staff. We were all in out quarters all night. I know, I couldn’t sleep.” The Maid said. “Can’t we call the police?”
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Do you know what EXCLUSION ZONE means?” the Sergeant sarcastically spat. “It means no people outside of the hotel for nearly 20 miles. That means no police.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]The Businessman folded the blanket off and back onto the deceased’s face. He looked around the group with a determined look on his face.
[/FONT] [FONT="]“Call every guest down for breakfast. We have to figure out who killed this woman.”
[/FONT] [FONT="]*The Congressmen and women made their way into the cafeteria, with the tables stowed, it was the only room big enough fit all of the representatives at once.
[/FONT] [FONT="]Posted on the wall opposite of the chow line was a map of the United States, huge if covered most of the wall. Thousands of red dots were posted across the continent.
[/FONT] [FONT="]One of the congressmen from Rhode Island began to cry, Ted Kennedy walked up and placed his hand on the younger man’s shoulder and guided him to a seat.
[/FONT] [FONT="]The world was over.
*"When will we tell them that we can't contact the outside world?" The Speaker asked. He, the President Pro Tem and the signal corps Captain were alone in the room.
"We can't let them know too soon, there will be a riot. But if we tell them too late there will be a riot." said the Captain wryly.
[/FONT]
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