83 of 290

Write now Article Tools

Page 2 of 2

some of them will just have to learn to talk to each other in person. We got into Dave's car, he started it up, and we were about to leave the driveway, when a few of the neighbors began approaching, prompting Dave to floor the accelerator and peel out onto the street and drive off. I looked back and saw really angry neighbors shouting and shaking their fists at us, I'm just glad Dave had the sense to get out of there quickly.

On our way to Lackland, we saw a few antique cars on the road, a few bicyclists, and some people just walking, all towards the military base. I wasn't sure what we would find, but I was thinking it may not be good. Did China attack us without warning? Did an EM weapon accidently explode and take out all the electronics? I wasn't sure, but we were about to find out. Fifteen minutes after we left our neighborhood, we arrived at the gates of Lackland Air Force Base, but something wasn't right, and I just couldn't figure out what it was. However, at the gate, an airman was trying to keep back about a dozen people who were arguing with him.

I calmly went up to the airman and asked, "What happened for our electronics to not be working?"

"Sir, as I've been trying to tell these people, I don't know. I know about as much as you, nobody in command has seen fit to tell me, and with the radio not working, I can't get any information. You'll just have to wait here until an officer decides to come out here."

I was about to protest, but, an explosion rocked the base. A huge fireball appeared and seemed to come from the center of the base. I heard gunfire, apparently our weapons that had no electronics worked, and the gunfire sounded like it was coming closer. The other civilians around me started running away, the airman checked his rifle and made sure it was loaded. Dave and I decided to stay and find out what happens next. More explosions rocked the base, and I noticed that the other military installations around Lackland sounded like a war was going on, even though it was in the background and some miles away, I could still hear it. I saw some Air Force personnel running our way, they were all geared up for a battle it appeared. An officer stopped and told the airman who was the guard to fall back, I managed to get the officers' attention.

"Sir, what's happening here? Why did our electronics quit working?" I asked.

"A war is what is happening, and they," the officer pointed in the distance, "are the ones who made our electronics quit working. You need to go with us if you want to live."

I was going to question who "they" were, when something came screaming out of the sky, hit near us, causing a massive explosion. I never did find out who "they" were.

Learn more about this author, Cliff Ball.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

• << previous page
• 1
• 2

Add your voice

Know something about Short stories: Science fiction?
We want to hear your view. Write now!