+ Michelle continues driving the bus for a couple hours without further + incidents. They pass a bunch of smaller towns, some of them being + basically piles of wood and rubble while others have buildings that are + still standing. James had gone to sleep and Annie is enjoying the view, + making occasional conversation with Michelle about landmarks or anything + remarkable. +
++ Maybe add some comment about what Annie sees/perceives? +
+
+ Look, over there!
+ Michelle points to the left. An undefined shape is visible in the far
+ distance. She takes an exit onto another highway in that direction. After
+ a short while, the undefined shape turns into the unmistakable skyline of
+ a large city.
+
+ The bus passes a large sign "Welcome to Nova Metropolis" and + they reach the city outskirts. Many of the single family homes in the area + are still standing, some of them even in remarkably good condition. The + skyscrapers in the distance look like they're all intact. +
++ some reaction to the fact that the city is basically intact +
+
+ The highway ends and transitions into a large road. Michelle decelerates
+ the bus.
+ Why are you going so slow?
+ Im going exactly 50 - perfectly normal city
+ speed.
+ 50 km/h? That's faster than the speed limit in
+ <dome city>. This feels so slow...
+ Michelle chuckles.
+ Well Jack was right about the wind - I managed to go
+ 120 most of the time. Under normal circumstances, a bus like this one
+ would struggle with that.
+
+ The buildings around them get taller and taller. The mix of smaller and
+ medium-sized houses turns into blocks of five-story buildings which in
+ turn turn into blocks of even taller buildings until the sides are lined
+ with sky scrapers with facades of glass, concrete, and steel towering
+ over over the road. Annie points them out:
+ TODO: tie this in with the missing section
+ above.
+ They all look like they were just abandoned.
+
+ You're right. Not even a smashed window...
+
+ Over there?
+ Okay, one smashed window.
+ Michelle pulls up at a bus stop and parks the bus.
+ Time to wake up the guys.
+
+ While enjoying a small meal, they decide to explore the time capsule that
+ is Nova Metropolis. Well, all of them but Jack.
+ I thought sleep was for the weak? Michelle
+ teases him.
+ I'm just gonna own that one today.
+ He throws himself into his bed, not even making an effort to lay down in a
+ comfortable position. Through the mattress, they hear a muffled
+ Good night.
+
+ missing section +
+
+ Jack is gone, Annie notices while entering
+ the bus. She goes to the kitchen area.
+ There's a note on the table: "Will be back
+ at 6:30"
+ Michelle looks at her watch.
+ It is 6:30.
+ I guess there's nothing to do but wait.
+ He'll show up soon enough. James chimes in.
+ They place their bags full of found goodies on the floor and sit down
+ around the table.
+
+ After a while, they hear a fast car approaching. Looking outside, they
+ see an oldtimer <zoom> by. A moment later, it returns, braking so
+ hard that it leaves tire marks on the road. Jack gets out and waves at
+ them. He turns off the engine and walks to the front of the bus. Annie
+ opens the door.
+ Where have you been?
+ Jack has misremembered where they parked the bus so
+ he was searching for them.
+