Vlad
Everything with a barrel snapped into position. Gunners from across the convoy racked their weapons, ready to unleash a lead bukake on the lone source of the oncoming gunfire.
Vlad was the origin of that gunfire.
Vlad glanced down at the ammo belt feeding into the truck-mounted .50 cal. To him it looked like he had 200 rounds left, He did the math. At 600 rounds per minute, he had about 20 seconds of ammo left.
He'd likely be dead before he had to reload, so he decided to relax. Amber sparks burst forth into the night, as Vlad shoot in the general direction of...
Was that a Tow truck?
He chuckled, it seemed the pigs were also having a rough time getting equipment. Vlad was dying, he was alone, and he was high on amphetamines. but it wasn’t always this way.
The machine barrel began to glow red. The soothing warmth filled his body, calming his soul. He closed his eyes and suddenly he was somewhere far away from this hell.
In front of the fireplace, calm snow falling outside, his mother's face smiling down as she held him in her arms.
Three decades ago Vladimir was born in a gate city on the eastern end of the Ural Federal District. Growing up he and his mother had enjoyed a comfortable life inside The Peoples Union.
The winters were long and cold but the raw material exports of the gates afforded the city every material comfort communist ideology allowed for. He had learned early that communism before The Gates had been weak and wrought with western corruption. But it was better now, with The Gates supplying raw materials there was no need for any interaction with the capitalist dogma of the west.
Everyone under the banner of The Union could now enjoy the world without strife, as equals. The people’s utopia his grandfather had told him stories of was finally a reality.
He often wondered how long the western nations would last. It was inevitable that the west would join the union and if they refused The Union could make them understand. Capitalism was namely supported by scarcity and so its corrupt economic and political mechanisms wouldn’t last much longer in this new world. Once the citizens of western countries had experienced life in The Union they would quickly forget the old ways.
Vlad believed in The Union and what his grandfather had taught him. So when he was offered a term of military service he jumped at the opportunity.
Military service was optional and he could opt to attend university instead but this was his chance to give back to this beautiful nation that had given him so much. anyone in his position would do the same.
He was sent to The Ural Federal Military Academy. The training was hell and many people dropped out early from injury or stress, but the feeling of overcoming mental and physical obstacles with the help of his newfound comrades was unlike anything he had experienced back home.
As often as he could he called his mother and mailed her photos of his various parades and events throughout his training. She was worried, as any mother would be, but she couldn’t help but smile when she heard the excitement in her son’s voice.
Vlad finished top of his course, and after graduation, he was offered additional on-the-job training assisting at The Union Special Forces Academy in the south. He thought it strange that in the military he could be awarded and recognized as an individual.
After all, he had only succeeded because of a strong collaborative effort and it was uncomfortable for him to be labeled a leader. Namely, though It would keep him from visiting home for another six months. The school was already familiar with his quandary so they gave him time to consider.
The summer air blew through the barracks' open windows. It was largely empty by now since others had packed up to visit home before their future deployments. Still, he waited until everyone was asleep and headed down to the barracks telephone booth. When he called home his mother picked up on the first ring.
“
Vlad!” Her sweet voice rang through the earpiece.
Vlad took a moment to find the words. “…Hey, Mom. How is everything going?”
“Good sweetie, I got the photos from your ceremony! I showed everyone, the neighbors were very impressed! they even put you in the middle of the photo.”
Vlad paused a moment, confused. In the middle? He had to think about what she said. They organized platoons for photos by height, not by merit. Vlad was the shortest member so he always ended up in the middle of every photo. Vlad didn’t have the heart to tell his mother this though.
“Yea… I tried to say no but they insisted I get the middle spot.” He was terrible at coming up with things on the spot so he left it at that.
“I can’t wait to hear all about everything when you get home.” His mother positively beamed.
It had only been a few months but hearing his mom's elation made him feel acutely homesick. It felt like a knife was pushing into Vlad’s gut.
His mom didn’t miss a beat. “I hear they give you some time off after graduation before you go to your new unit. Will you be coming home soon?”
“So about that… Well, I don’t know what to do.”
“What do you mean Vlad? Are you okay?”
“Yeah… I’m fine.” Vlad Strained to find the words “Actually because of how well I did… I’ve been given the option to train with the Special Forces for six months.”
“Well, that sounds like a good opportunity. Will it be dangerous though?”
“No! Not dangerous. I would just be playing the bad guy in their exercises and drills. Like… Like a pretend terrorist.” Vlad realized his mistake immediately.
Images of Special Forces soldiers shooting at her son suddenly flooded his mother's mind.
“That sounds really dangerous!”
“No, mom don’t worry it's fine! We use fake guns, and it’s all staged! So no one gets hurt.”
She sighed and remembered when Vlad had told her they were learning to throw hand grenades. She was so worried she couldn’t sleep for a week. Hearing this for some reason didn’t seem nearly as bad, Maybe she was getting used to this?
“Okay if you say so. But why do I get the feeling something is wrong?”
“Well… That’s the thing. If I agree they’ll promote me to Junior Sergeant and send me straight to the south but I can’t come home to visit for another six months… I miss you, mom.” Vlad was starting to fight back tears.
“I miss you so too. But take it from an old lady, chances like this don’t come by every day. It sounds like a great opportunity, I think you should do it.”
Vlad paused letting the words sink in. On one hand, was the vast southern province, full of adventure and new friends, on the other, was home. His home. He just wanted to go home. He wanted his mother to just tell him “Come back.” But he knew she was right.
A lump in his throat was begging to be let out. The tears had begun to stream down his cheeks like levies bursting from flood waters. Fighting back the urge to sob was harder than anything the army ever threw at him.
“Thank you… I love you, mom.”
“I love you too.”
She heard him holding the sobs back. She had her own tears to contend with but years of being a single parent meant she knew how to hide them.
At this moment she needed to be strong, so her son wouldn’t give in. She wasn’t going to hold her son back from this chance.
“Don’t worry about me… Do what you think is best. I’ll still be here when you get back sweetie.”
“Okay, mom… I’ll call to you when I get there. I love you.”
“I love you too.” She couldn’t hold back the tears anymore. She hung up.
The line went dead. Vlad stood there, holding the phone. Snot started pouring out of his nose dripping onto the receiver. Tears still pouring, He became acutely aware of how pathetic he looked.
He shot glances down the dark hallway to make sure no one was watching before burying his face back into the booth. A grown man's muffled cries rang out into the cool summer air.
The next day, Vlad set off to The Gate City in the southern province.
The flight took him high above the mountains as the snow slowly faded to dunes and red rocked cliffs. Then Vlad saw it, from the airplane window. A green and blue marble sparkled in the distance growing larger by the minute. The mountain range below suddenly vanished and opened into a vast urban sprawl 500 million people strong.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
The Gate gleamed on the foothills of the southern mountain range. It stood as the head of the entire city; skyscrapers, apartments, and amphitheater’s surrounded the gate’s security zone. Roads ran out from The Gate feeding buildings and warehouses that stretched to the south far off to the horizon. Like a country bumpkin seeing the big city for the first time, Vlad was slack-jawed.
The absurd sight of greenery and glass fighting against the red sands and cliff faces struck him as uncanny. The audacity of it all made him a little uncomfortable. Humanity wasn’t supposed to be here… but there they were.
In the middle of otherwise barren and inhospitable lands, The Gates and the cities they birthed were proudly flipping a big middle finger to the natural order.
After landing he couldn’t help but gawk. Even something as mundane as a baggage carousel was clad in copper and brass. Brilliant marble pillars rose to support the glass ceiling and everything from the ashtrays to the water fountains was ornately decorated. Was he really still in The Union?
By the time he grabbed his bags he had composed himself, and he went outside toward the pickup area. It was about a 30-mile trip back to the gates security zone where the school was located so some of his future coworkers were coming to greet him.
“Vladimir?”
Vlad turned to meet the voice. A man in combat fatigues was leaning out of a car window, waiving him over. Vlad hiked his green duffle bag higher on his shoulder and jogged over to the car.
The man opened the car door and stepped out to meet him.
“Vladimir, It’s nice to finally meet you. I hope the trip was good.”
“Yes! Very much so, sir!”
SIR!? The man was a Lieutenant. Shit, Vlad dropped his bag and stomped his heels together throwing the sharpest salute he could manage in a tropical T-shirt.
The man’s eyes opened wide, he turned to shoot a grin back at the driver of the car.
“Relax, how much did they beat you in basic?”
“Sir? I don’t understand.” Vlad held the salute, stalwart even in his confusion.
The officer looked around uncomfortably before returning the salute, Vlad stood at ease.
“You’re gonna learn a lot while you’re with us. But first, you need to relax.”
“Yes Sir!”
“There is so much wrong here. Don’t call me that. At least as long as we're not on base. My name is Nikita.”
“Understood… Nikita.” Vlad didn’t understand.
“Also” He pointed his finger a Vlad making him flinch. “Didn’t they teach you to never fucking salute an officer when you’re not wearing your uniform?”
Vlad went hot in the face as he looked down at himself. Standing at attention clad in a tropical t-shirt, board shorts, and sandals. By any metric, he looked like an idiot.
“I’m sorry si… Nikita.”
“Relax man; we’ve all had a first day…”
Vlad stared back with a blank expression.
Nikita sighed “Just Hop in, we’ll show you the ropes.”
Vlad threw his bag in the trunk and hopped in the back of the car. The driver turned around and shook Vlad’s hand.
“Hey kid, I’m Staff Sergeant Petrov! You can call me Alek!”
“Nice to meet you, Alek. I’m Vlad.”
Alek turns to shoot a surprising look at Nikita. “See Sir! He’s getting the hang of it!”
“Ugh" Nikita shook his head "Just hurry up. The base is closing soon and he still has to get his shit together.”
“Sir!” Alek stops to throw a salute to the steering wheel before putting the car in drive.
As the car pulls away from the Airport terminal, it begins to climb up a latticework of ramps and interchanges, rising above the urban sprawl.
Vlad looked out at the passing building as they sailed down the 20-lane freeway. Vast monoliths of glass and steel flanked them on all sides, getting taller as they made their way toward the gate.
Vlad sat in silence taking it all in. Just as some impossibly large building or billboard caught his eye, Another even bigger thing would be sitting just behind it. To Vlad, The city itself seemed a Matryoshka doll of impossible scale.
A large billboard featuring a well-endowed woman holding a bottle of something came into view. Her cleavage was several hundred feet across. Thoughts raced through Vlad's head. He had never seen a pair of breasts so large. Was it even legal to show something that provocative?
Vlad turned to Nikita to speak. "What is that!?"
Nikita smirked "Oh that, haha, all in good time. There's is much about this place, you need to learn."
Vlad turned back to the window, determined to burn the image into his mind.
Then it happened.
Outside the window was an open sky. The billboard wasn't there anymore. Vlad wondered if he was imagining it. The car tires squealed and the vehicle pulled violently to the left. The window glass cracked as Vlad hit his head.
Through the ringing in his ears, Vlad heard Alek yell out.
“HOLD ON!”
A feeling of weightlessness threatened to relieve Vlad of his lunch. They were falling. Time slowed as he turned to see the ground racing toward the front of the car. Nothing but air between them and the ground 40 feet below. What?
POP!!!
“Vl… AD… VLAD! WAKE THE FUCK UP!”
The words dragged Vlad out of his deep dreamless stupor.
He was outside now heavy dust and smoke filled the air, Nikita was over him poking and prodding Vlad’s body and checking for blood.
“You’re awake! Good. You have a concussion but it doesn’t look like you broke anything, get up, we need to move.”
Vlad began to sit up and look around. Buildings to his left and right were… wrong. Many had collapsed into twisted piles of concrete and steel. those that hadn't fallen were spewing sparks and water out of open sides.
The Freeway hung high above him, the concrete abruptly ending in a clean edge. From where Vlad stood the city had been cut. In front of him where the gate once stood, was nothing but sand stretching out to the mountains in the distance.
“What... happened?” Vlad's gaze drifted across the bizarre scene unfolding around him.
"How the fuck am I supposed to know?" Nikita said matter of factly.
He yanked Vlad to his feet. "Get your shit together. We need to go!"
"What about Alek?" The question left Vlad's mouth before he could think.
Nikita looked over to the mangled wreckage of the car.
"We'll come back for him later..."
The words hung in Vlad's mind, and everything started to spin. Nikita was yelling now but he couldn't hear it. Suddenly standing became rather difficult, not impossible. he could see the ground now. "Ah this is nice," Vlad thought the dirt was cold on his face. He wanted to tell Nikita to calm down but his words wouldn't come.
As the world around him faded into black Nikita's words hung in Vlad's mind.
What did he mean? We're gonna come back? Why not get him now? "We'll come back for him....." The words echoed and wrung hollow in Vlad's mind. Over and Over. Come Back, Come Back...
Vlad awoke to an unfamiliar ceiling. He squinted at the bright fluorescent lighting, where the hell was he? The pain quickly poured into him extinguishing any line of questioning. His head was splitting in two as if his brain needed to get out for some air. The rest of him wasn't fairing much better. He slowly brought himself to a seated position and looked around at a small conference room.
In one corner some chairs had been pushed together into a bench that Vlad occupied. To one end of the room was a Large TV and to the other was a large plaque showing a code of arms that read "Union District Police Force".
So that's where he was. Nakita must have brought him here after... what exactly? Vlad pushed himself off the chairs and steadied himself. As he opened the door to the room screaming and yelling came from every direction. Dozens of Police officers, Paramedics, and Military Personelle were running up and down the hallway carrying guns and paperwork as they yelled over each other.
"The 19th Ave block just collapsed!"
"Shit, that's... Like what 5000? How many evacuated?"
"Another Bus coming in! ... 30 Dead, 15... no! 26 critical"
"Turn them away! This isn't a fucking hospital"
"Hospitals gone you fuck! make another triage. Empty out the garage. Get the first aid out of the cruisers!"
Somewhere in the maelstrom, Vlad found Nikita. He was hunched over a table in another conference room pointing at maps and arguing with several police officers. Paperwork and bloodied bandages littered the floor.
Vlad wasn't sure what was going on, but he knew better than to interrupt Nikita's current conversation. Nikita told one of the heavier officers to grow a pair of balls before turning to acknowledge Vlad.
"Your awake, good. We're in some real-world ending shit right now."
Vlad went to speak but the words wouldn't come... "I..."
Nikita sighed. "You're green so I don't expect anything but I can't afford to keep the training wheels on. Not to say you can't do anything. They taught you Triage in basic yea?"
"Y-yes, sir."
"Go downstairs. Find the room with all the blood and start helping out."
"B..but..."
"Flip flops or not you're still in the Army now get down there and do your fucking job."
Vlad looked down at himself... his Hawaiian T-shirt and beach shorts were ripped and bloodied. Looking around the room at everyone in their work uniforms and combat fatigues, He once again became acutely aware of how stupid and pathetic he looked.
His face started to glow red. Anger and embarrassment swelled up from deep inside of him. But this feeling of anger filled the space where fear and uncertainty lay moments ago. Vlad liked this feeling.
Several minutes later Vlad was unloading bodies from a bus, after the 10th bus or so he lost count. Late into the night, he worked helping the paramedics unload the injured and corpses.
The first few loads made him heave and vomit but it had been easy to hold down after that considering how little he had eaten lately. He was surprised to find himself thankful for having skipped breakfast.
Soon he and the others found a rhythm, a conveyor belt sorting through dead and injured. like robots running around in a shipping warehouse. People with missing limbs were usually priority 1, severe cuts and burns were priority 2, minor injuries were 3, and those suffering from spinal trauma, contusions, and other critical maladies were the lowest priority, 4. They would die soon regardless.
Vlad went through each bus writing the corresponding number on the head of the casualties as they were unloaded. once empty he would spray out the blood with a pressure washer and send it away. In between the buses he would help move the bodies of those who had died in the interim.
At first, a lot of 1's and 2's were among the dead. This was bad since precious time had been wasted tending to those who were too far gone to save, but after some explaining from the head paramedic and a bit of practice Vlad was able to identify 4's correctly 8 out 10 times... or so he guessed, but it was hard to count.
In an act of cosmic irony, some of the injured had medical experience themselves, so as the night pushed on The Triage Team grew to the point where shifts and breaks could be organized. As the buses became less frequent, the steady stream of bodies turned to a trickle, and the morning sun began to peak into the blood-filled vehicle bay, Vlad had finally finished his first day at work.
This went on for a week.
As recovery efforts continued throughout the city more wounded would flow in usually peaking in the late afternoon and slowing down around midnight, as rescue crews struggled through rubble in the darkness. Vlad slept between the screams and ate his lunch with the dead. Like any job one could start to develop habits, and many turned too gallows humor as a coping mechanism. Vlad himself had quickly developed a hatred for burn victims since they were usually the loudest.
He had spent what felt like a lifetime soaked in blood, in this garage that god had forgotten, so when Nikita finally came to find him Vlad was more than a little annoyed.
Nikitas eyes went wide "Vlad... Jesus Christ, you look like shit."
This made Vlad irate, he thought to himself how stupid that statement was, "like no fucking shit, I look like shit, I've been here." He kept this thought to himself though and simply replied;
"I feel like shit sir."
"Where'd you get that uniform from?"
Vlad looked down at his soiled combat fatigues, "Oh these? someone had them on at one point. My luggage was in the car so I borrowed them."
"Dear god... Well get cleaned up and get some rest, we got some stuff to do."
Vlad stared into the middle distance, "But the next bus will be here soon."
"There's no reports of..."
The radio lit up in the corner of the vehicle bay as paramedics rubbernecked from their duties to hear the report.
"That's the 19th Ave recovery crew, they usually send casualty reports around lunchtime...." Vlad started to trail off as he said this. Numbers began to fill his head as he listened to the report.
Nikita's face was suddenly struck with a look of concern.
"You're relieved of duty here. Go get some rest, and take a shower."
Vlad lacked the necessary conviction to fight him at this point. He looked around at the garage and the paramedics he had spent the last week in hell with. Whatever happened here wasn't his problem anymore.
"Yes Sir."
He walked out of the garage and to the showers.