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Atlas: Back to the Present - Time Travel + Post Apoc + OP MC
CHAPTER 196 Day 24 Afternoon : Hospital Personnel

CHAPTER 196 Day 24 Afternoon : Hospital Personnel

POV : ALIEN SHOW PRODUCTION HQ

Nerdathor leaned back in his chair, the mini tentacles on his head flickering softly as he glanced at the holographic projections in front of him.

"That was a great idea you had this year, running the show with portals happening every week instead of every month," he remarked.

His assistant, still a bit nervous in NerdAthor’s presence, smiled modestly, "Well, we thought it would give us a much bigger bump in numbers, and it has." Nerdathor tapped the screen, pulling up charts. "Look at that spike. 50% more."

"Yeah," his assistant agreed, "viewers always like their portals, but our early research from the first fifty years showed they got bored after a little bit. I think it's this Atlas guy. Viewers love him. And the fact that he got regressed back in time and could prepare people on Earth without telling them? Brilliant move on his part."

Nerdathor smirked, "Well, you can't discount the efforts our time mages used to do that."

"Yeah, time mages and lawyers, that's a great combination," the assistant chuckled. "If they don't like the results of what happened, they can just flip it back."

Nerdathor waved dismissively. "He used extra mana, but marketing was right. The use of mana for this occasion, just for two people, didn't cost too much. And hey, look at this—our preseason got ads as well as bonus content where viewers can watch what's happening on Earth. It’s hilarious."

His assistant nodded eagerly, "Are you going to change what's happening with the loophole where people can hide in hospitals?"

"Oh yes," Nerdathor replied confidently. "We're definitely doing that. We never thought humans would pull that. It's always been a concern for lawyers that we’re portaling in people who are injured, but they never expected the definition of 'injury' to backfire."

The assistant laughed, "Yes, it's funny when lawyers are hoisted by their own petard."

Nerdathor joined in the laughter, "Here, here. So take off the random portaling button, and let's focus next on all the people in hospitals. We’ve scheduled the portal for tonight."

“Isn’t that a little early? It’s only been three days since the last one.”

“No. The humans think they’ve figured out our system, let’s shake them up and keep them confused.”

"This is going to be hilarious," the assistant said, almost salivating at the chaos to come.

Nerdathor grinned, "Yes, because everyone on Earth has prepared for getting portaled once a week. There are even people sleeping with supplies next to them, looking like they’re ready to jump into the wasteland. But this random portal timing should amuse our viewers."

"Yes," the assistant said, his accent thickening as he grew more excited. His implant's translation had a unique twang, making him sound a bit like a rube. ‘One day I'll have my horns,‘ he thought, still feeling a bit out of place.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

The assistant blinked, "Maybe talk to the advertising department. Let them know there’ll be a prime slot for hospital ads."

Nerdathor smiled, already imagining the ratings, "Consider it done."

‘‘‘

POV : EARTH

In the busy hospital, chaos reigned. People rushed through hallways, phones buzzed, and the PA system crackled with announcements. Patients moaned, doctors barked orders, and the rich and powerful paced impatiently.

Suddenly, portals exploded into existence, swirling with energy.

WHOOSH!

They sucked in everyone nearby: doctors, nurses, patients, visitors—no one was spared. The portals swallowed roughly three hundred people from the hospital and surrounding areas before blinking out of existence.

BZZZT! Gone.

"What the hell just happened?" someone yelled, breaking the silence that followed.

"That was a portal!" a nurse shouted, eyes wide. "Didn’t the government say it only happens once a week?"

"Oh my God! My sister—she was in the hospital!" a woman screamed, panic rising in her voice.

"Well, I’ve ‘never‘ been so glad I was late to my appointment," muttered a man, shaking his head as he realized just how lucky he’d been.

"This is insane!" another person added, as murmurs and gasps filled the air.

‘‘‘

In corporate skyscrapers across the city, chaos erupted. Emails pinged frantically, phones rang off the hook, and assistants raced from office to office. The news spread like wildfire—CEOs, department heads, and high-ranking execs, who had been using the hospital as a convenient makeshift office, were sucked into the portals along with everyone else.

“Mrs. Harrington’s gone! We’ve lost our CEO!” someone shouted from the finance department.

"How are we supposed to run the meeting without her?" cried another in marketing.

"We’re done for! The whole leadership team’s gone!" a panicked intern wailed, clutching a stack of papers as if they'd be the last thing holding the company together.

"Who do we even call about this?!" a harried HR rep demanded, already typing out a mass email to the board. But the panic only escalated.

Meetings were cancelled, projects were put on hold, and confusion reigned. Executives from all over the city realized that without their top brass, they were running blind.

"Uh, maybe we should just… take the day off?" someone suggested, but the look they got said it all.

Panic ensued as companies scrambled to figure out who was still around to make decisions.

***

POV : FORT BONE

Atlas was enjoying a late-night training session with the baby trolls when his attention was abruptly captured by the sight of familiar portals opening. “What the hell?” he muttered, his head snapping up. He quickly shouted for the team of Portal Crushers to head to the teleport area.

As the portals flared open, the Portal Crushers rushed to assemble. They were accustomed to the Red Fairy appearing roughly once a week, so the early arrival was unexpected. It had only been a few days after the last portal event. “What’s going on?” Isabella yelled, her frustration evident.

“I don’t know,” Amber replied, trying to quickly assemble the marching band. People were already spilling out of the portal, and there was no sign of the Red Fairy. Instead, the usual chaotic influx of randomly dressed people was replaced by a sea of people in high-powered business suits, nursing gowns, doctor scrubs, and security uniforms. There was no military presence among them, which was a small relief.

Atlas took stock of the situation, his instincts on high alert. The newcomers, unlike the typical random crowd, were thematically coherent. The sight of such a specific and professional-looking group was unusual and unsettling.

‘Had the portals started picking people from specific locations?‘ Atlas didn’t have much time to deal with his thoughts though, as he had an unexpected portal situation to deal with.

“Get ready for anything,” Atlas commanded, his voice steady despite the growing confusion. “We need to find out who they are.”

The panicked crowd continued to mill around, while the Portal Crushers did their best to calm them down. Barbara shouted, "All doctors and nurses, over here! All doctors and nurses, over here!"

Hearing the clear command, the medical staff, with their usual competence, gathered where Barbara was standing. Seeing that it worked, John called out, "Everyone in a suit, over here!" A group of leaders shuffled over.

Left behind was a motley group of security guards and janitors, some still clutching their mops, looking bewildered as they took in the scene.