108 lines
5.8 KiB
HTML
108 lines
5.8 KiB
HTML
<!DOCTYPE html><html><head><title> <Nova Metropolis> </title><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="html_resources/style.css"></head><body><a href="index.html"><button class="back"><</button></a>
|
|
<h1><Nova Metropolis></h1>
|
|
<p>
|
|
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.
|
|
</p>
|
|
<p class="comment">
|
|
Maybe add some comment about what Annie sees/perceives?
|
|
</p>
|
|
<p>
|
|
<span class="quote speech">Look, over there!</span><br />
|
|
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.
|
|
</p>
|
|
<p>
|
|
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.
|
|
</p>
|
|
<p class="comment">
|
|
some reaction to the fact that the city is basically intact
|
|
</p>
|
|
<p>
|
|
The highway ends and transitions into a large road. Michelle decelerates
|
|
the bus.<br />
|
|
<span class="quote speech">Why are you going so slow?</span><br />
|
|
<span class="quote speech">Im going exactly 50 - perfectly normal city
|
|
speed.</span><br />
|
|
<span class="quote speech">50 km/h? That's faster than the speed limit in
|
|
<dome city>. This feels so slow...</span><br />
|
|
Michelle chuckles.<br />
|
|
<span class="quote speech">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.</span>
|
|
</p>
|
|
<p>
|
|
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:<br />
|
|
<span class="comment">TODO: tie this in with the missing section
|
|
above.</span><br />
|
|
<span class="quote speech">They all look like they were just
|
|
abandoned.</span><br />
|
|
<span class="quote speech">You're right. Not even a smashed
|
|
window...</span><br />
|
|
<span class="quote speech">Over there?</span><br />
|
|
<span class="quote speech">Okay, one smashed window.</span><br />
|
|
Michelle pulls up at a bus stop and parks the bus.<br />
|
|
<span class="quote speech">Time to wake up the guys.</span>
|
|
</p>
|
|
<p>
|
|
While enjoying a small meal, they decide to explore the time capsule that
|
|
is Nova Metropolis. Well, all of them but Jack.<br />
|
|
<span class="quote speech">I thought sleep was for the weak?</span>
|
|
Michelle teases him.<br />
|
|
<span class="quote speech">I'm just gonna own that one today.</span><br />
|
|
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
|
|
<span class="quote speech">Good night</span>.
|
|
</p>
|
|
<p class="comment">
|
|
missing section (and maybe a missing chapter of Jack getting the radio)
|
|
</p>
|
|
<p>
|
|
<span class="quote speech">Jack is gone</span>, Annie notices while
|
|
entering the bus. She goes to the kitchen area.<br />
|
|
<span class="quote speech">There's a note on the table: "Will
|
|
be back at 6:30"</span><br />
|
|
Michelle looks at her watch. <span class="quote speech">It <i>is</i>
|
|
6:30.</span><br />
|
|
<span class="quote speech">I guess there's nothing to do but wait.
|
|
He'll show up soon enough.</span> James chimes in.<br />
|
|
They place their bags full of found goodies on the floor and sit down
|
|
around the table.
|
|
</p>
|
|
<p>
|
|
After a while, they hear a fast car approaching. Looking outside, they
|
|
see an oldtimer <span class="comment">zoom</span> by. Michelle says:
|
|
<span class="quote speech">That's him.</span> A moment later, the
|
|
car returns, braking so hard 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.<br />
|
|
<span class="quote speech">Where have you been?</span><br />
|
|
<span class="quote speech">I went on my own little adventure and may or
|
|
may not have forgotten where the bus was parked.</span><br />
|
|
<span class="quote speech">Didn't you go to sleep?</span><br />
|
|
<span class="quote speech">Well yeah... And then I had a dream that
|
|
inspired me to go looking for a radio.</span> He points to the car he
|
|
arrived in. <span class="quote speech">It's in the trunk.</span><br />
|
|
<span class="comment">said dream is him running a radio station talking
|
|
to Emily</span><br />
|
|
Michelle facepalms. Annie and James look at both of them in confusion.<br />
|
|
<span class="quote speech">Is it one of these radios?</span> Michelle
|
|
makes a gesture like turning a dial.<br />
|
|
<span class="comment">Yes, it is. Make this clear when Jack picks it
|
|
up.</span>
|
|
</p>
|
|
<p class="copyright">Copyright © 2023 Jan Danielzick (aka. BodgeMaster) – All rights reserved.</p><script>let spans = ["<span class=\"paper green\">", "<span>"]; let pre_texts = document.getElementsByTagName("pre"); for (let i = 0; i < pre_texts.length; i++) {if (pre_texts[i].className != "paper") continue; let lines = pre_texts[i].innerHTML.split("\n"); let result = ""; for (let j = 0; j < lines.length; j++) {result = result + spans[j%2] + lines[j] + " ".repeat(80-lines[j].length) + "</span>\n";} pre_texts[i].innerHTML = result;}</script></body></html>
|