The Smith Avenue - chapter three
The Smith Avenue - chapter three.
Days mostly passed by slowly, day time filled with various obligations, and nights spent in rare bars that weren't shut down in Strangetown.
Jill would often find herself sitting by the counter, exchanging lustful glances with bartender that might've been a few years older than her. She didn't care much of what people would say - her reputation was speckless, being possibly the youngest Junior Officer since the army existed. With all that in mind, she could hardly doubt that someone cared about her love affairs.
She would also call up Ripp from time to time, just to hear from him. He was more of a great friend to her than a lover of some sorts, being so far away. He did offer for her to move to SimCity, but she wouldn't hear of it. Strangetown was her home and if it was destined for her to die in here, that's the way it was going to be.
And it was getting even more rough. War escalated, most of the citizens were evacuated to safer areas like SimCity or Pleasantview, but the real battles were fought in the laboratories. It was a 21st century battle fought with bio-weapons and filthy tricks that were making sure no one comes out alive.
*****
Then, one morning was interrupted by an air raid. Taking their places at the shelters, group of a few people that Jill also consisted, sat by the table and opened a package of sandwiches imported from Pleasantview. Having nearly all distribution channels cut off, that was the most they could eat. Normal food wasn't available anymore, and even sandwiches were a nice change when compared to instant meals.
Crystal broke the silence.
"Ripp called."
Jill stopped eating for a second, only to continue quite soon.
"Did he?"
"He's on his way, he wants to see you."
Jill took a deep breath, calmed her nerves and decided it was the time to get things settled once and for all.
"Jill, hey."
"Nice to see you too, Ripp."
He chuckled simply, admeasuring her, like he couldn't believe the General uniform she was wearing. With the years passing by, she did make it to the top. Before she could even tell it, she was a general of Alliance army that began to take even more influence over Strangetown.
"Wait, you're a General now?"
"What does it look like?"
"God, Jill..."
She did know why did his reaction looked like this. Ripp was molested by his father Buzz Grunt. Even though Buzz was a great commander, he was a lousy dad. It was no surprise that Ripp hated army and Strangetown.
"When did you become this?"
"You say it like it's a bad thing."
"Isn't it?"
Sigh, just to be followed by his confused look.
"No, it's not bad, Ripp. I'm trying to make this place worth living. I'm trying to make people want to move back in here. But, before I do any of that - I - we - have got to make the Army leave. No one can live like this, not people - not aliens. It's just not humane. So, excuse me if you can't understand that. Thank you for coming, but you can leave now."
And, before he could say anything, she just turned away, leaving him behind, in the dirt and red desert sand that blew up in million particles of air and came back on Earth, just to redeem them all.
*****
It was just a calm before the storm and Tarius knew that very well. It all began with snow. Yes, could you even believe it? Snow in Strangetown - where it certainly hasn't fallen since the last ice age. It had just appeared on the ground, like it belonged there, safely nestled in the desert valley.
But that couldn't have been a positive sign.
Rushing Venee to find out what's been going on, they climbed up to the Alliance tower that overlooked whole Strangetown. And all the weather conditions where exactly the same as far as they could see. White, fluffy snow was falling all around them, even though the temperature was normal - 28 °C, like it had always been.
While Venee really knew how to stop the snow from falling, and surround all the particles that might've been poisonous within him - that meant the need to sacrifice a lot of human energy. It was a recent project she'd been working on, closing herself into her laboratory for hours and hours - sometimes not even coming out to grab something to eat.
But it worked, even though the pain was excruciating.
"Now, Tarius, listen to me. I have only few minutes left, if that much. I need you to continue with my projects, all my files are kept in the locker. Right now, I'll try to plug this to weather controlling machine, transferring all of my energy into it. It should be able to keep the snow from falling. And I hardly doubt it's just snow, Army wouldn't risk to keep anyone alive."
"Wait wait wait! Few minutes left?"
"Push this and don't ask any questions. I'm begging you."
And so he didn't. Even though Venee was always the more quiet, more weird side of their relationship, she was incredibly smart, fast thinking and wouldn't give him any wrong instruction. Especially not when it came to saving the town they belonged to, town they promised to keep safe.
And as the cycle finished, Venee Allington passed out on the cold tiled floor, her body covered with burns and bruises.