ONE NATION: A Post Apocalyptic, Dystopian Saga

by Michael W. Huard

  The Godbot agreed.

  “If I decide to stay on this planet, we will indeed build much stronger. But first lessons must be taught. Gather all the bots and ships that are still workable, and those partially torn apart, and build others from the various pieces. This is your job for now.”

  The hand of the supreme robot nodded that he understood.

  Omagus scanned the debris and tuned back to Old Horny, who had been named by the humans who had first seen him.

  “We will offer the humans suicide pods, for those who were dismembered and radioactively ruined. Then we shall force the rest to hard labor, helping with our building up. It must be done. Tell them there is no one left to protect them now. Use them for what you must, my second-in-command.”

  “Your wish is my command,” said the hand.

  “That’s not all that will be done,” added the Godbot. “There is much more to come here, whether I stay on earth or not. I have just been asked to what extent the Y-Wood Corporation was hit by the explosions here from abroad. Many countries are very interested and asking often for a corporation update. It is now that they will learn that I alone am the Y-Wood Corporation. They will deal with me from here on out, only me.”

  Old Horny wondered just what anyone would want with this big mess. Before they parted, he asked one last question.

  “What do you think these other nations will desire from all of this, master?”

  The Godbot ‘s eyes lit up.

  “They will soon ask for pieces of North America. Many are enamored with the former United States.”

  Word traveled fast. The people of New York were down and out, bullied, sick, and most were still hidden in their basements or anywhere else they could avoid the lingering effects of the bombing. None were able to defend themselves. Those that dared come forth finally from the rubble were told to build a ginormous statue of the Godbot, or be forced to enter chemical gas chambers, which would finish them off for good.

  Some of the fortunate were sent to rebuild robots and ships. The nightmare would continue in the heart of former America.

  Meanwhile, the sisterhood had settled in Liberty, Maine. It was an area where Lake George bordered their homestead. It was a desolate town, in regards to their homes, but this lake gave them a good supply of fresh trout and bass. Also, by taking a short trip to Belfast, which was on Penobscot Bay, a seaport area was accessible. There, more fish were accessible, as well as a small community of people selling or trading wares.

  Money these days had all been governed by Y-Wood electronically. It was not easy to come by and all accounts had to be registered with the Corporation. Of course, many found ways to get around this, with aliases and whatnot. Now trade was more necessary with Y-Wood down.

  It was in truth, though, that the women of the sisterhood made their real second secret home nestled within Chimney Pond, a locale right on Mount Katahdin in old Baxter Park via Millinocket, Maine. The sisters could fly there in less than an hour, or drive there in 2 ½ hours by vehicle. Liberty was their cover for now. There was always a chance they would be located again, and to be safe, two spots acted as homes for all of them.

  The news of devastation in New York was something that hurt them dearly. Yet they too were being dwindled down and had little left in the tank. It was time for them to hold ground, build their own homeland, and stay out of it. At least for the time being. It was a hard pill to swallow for many of the members. Staying away from it all was certainly not easy.

  It was decided that they would hold ground here in Liberty for at least awhile. A barb wire fence was put up as to mark where they would call their own. “Defend our turf,” was what Raegan stressed now. “All of us must defend our turf.”

  This was different for her, but the others would listen, still wondering if a plan was forming in her head.

  CHAPTER ONE

  “The bottom line is, we have done all we can do at this point,” Reagan explained to the other sisters gathered about her. “We've chosen a special place up in the mountains as well as here in Liberty so that we may finally try to live as a community safely again. Safely means staying low key. There’s actually not much we can do at this point just yet.”

  Some of those gathered about seemed perplexed. They were all badly hurting from the loss of team members, but to just lay low? It felt so weird.

  Mahira could not contain herself.

  “Why now, Reagan? It's pretty well-known that the corporation is busted to pieces and all that remains is one crazy robot out there making God-like demands. He probably has a less-than-stellar army right now himself, and I bet we could take them.”

  Raegan, who was finally becoming more like normal after her injuries from BSR1, smiled and nodded.

  “I cannot vouch for exactly the situation in New York other than there has been much destruction. It is not the time for fighting right now. It is the time to protect ourselves and keep out of harm's way.”

  “It's not like you to back down.” Mahira announced, frustrated.

  She undoubtedly was still feeling the effects of the death of Victory, who had been sitting right beside her in her ship.

  “I say we hit them when they're down and out. Come on guys, we can do it!”

  Jansa did not agree.

  “Haven't we had enough death?” she spoke out. “Who knows what that robot is going to do there? Maybe he’ll leave soon. We've suffered enough. This is a good moment to regroup, rebuild, and find some peace. Plus, the remnants out there of radiation are best to avoid for now too.”

  Mahira shook her head side to side. She expected Jansa to say that.

  Resin then tuned in. He and Johan, Raegan’s son, were the only two males in this private, special group meeting.

  “I myself have always been fascinated by robots, and the good doctor makes a point. Who knows what this so-called God robot will choose to do next? If people are still not heeding his commands, he might leave.”

  His girl, Sinaye, a specialist in robotics herself, then added a thought.

  “We also have to consider the fact that the radiation, as Jansa mentioned, will linger there for a while. It's not a good idea to even be in that vicinity at the moment. Once some time goes by and we hear what the movements are there, we can decide on a proper action. I’m with Raegan. We should stay away for now.”

  Raegan looked to Resin.

  “So, what do you think will be this Godbot’s next move? Do you have a gut feeling on such?”

  Tyne Gem and the others looked to Resin, eagerly waiting to see what he had to say.

  “I don't know the answer. If the rumors are true, that he is making people there do labor and helping him rebuild his bots and ships, as well as erecting a statue in his honor, it’s safe to assume he is not leaving all too soon.”

  Chaya was next to add to the talk. “I can just see him making the people who have already been through so much be forced to do the things he desires. They must be scared out of their wits, terrified for their daily lives now. Though I hear what Mahira is saying. Right now, he is probably at his weakest point.”

  Mahira raised her hand up. “Finally, someone is on my side. We should beat his ass as soon as possible!”

  Everyone for a moment just paused, lost in thought. Johan hung his head low, still in pain because of the friends he had recently lost. The fight was fatal, no matter the direction they seemed to always choose.

  Raegan then pointed out something important as she saw her son in despair.

  “We all have to realize through all the pain and loss that we have succeeded in many aspects. It appears now that the Corporation is no more. I mean, come on; this is a huge a step in the right direction. I want us to get a feel for this Godbot and what his plans truly are. In the meantime, we will establish our own homes out here. Maine is a safe spot. Together we will again get stronger and then we'll come back to this discussion in due time.”

  It appeared that these talks were through. Reagan's tone of voice made it feel
that way, but before all departed, Sun had something to say to her.

  “I know that you're feeling a bit shaken by the fact that Johan and I were so close to the explosions. But we're fine. Sooner or later, we have to go back there and finish off that horrific robot.”

  Everyone that was still in the room waited to see if Reagan would get upset at such word from young Sun.

  Yet she remained quite calm.

  “We'll see,” was all she had to say before leaving the meeting room.

  So it was that the sisterhood soon went about fixing up their homestead more in Liberty, Maine.

  It was a series of town homes spread out a mile wide. Nothing fancy, somewhat rustic, and definitely rural in nature.

  It was their decoy location and as earlier suggested, a fence of barb wire was extended and put up outside of all these homes. It would be a landmark that all of the sisterhood would stay within, and keep others from entering, unless notification or authorization was given to leave or come inside.

  One evening, Sun lay her head upon her new bed. She was now sharing a small house with Karma and Naiera. She had first thought she was still awake, but then it was like she was in the middle of a dream. There were high rising buildings all about her, most with smoke and bits of fire in the area still burning.

  It was then she heard a voice.

  Are you just going to leave these people to suffer forever?

  The young redhead wanted to answer this question so badly, but in this vision, in a dreamscape setting, she could not speak.

  She did, however, think to herself about how she hated to see anyone suffer. She would be more than glad to head back to New York and take down all that stood in her way.

  It was then the voice spoke to her once more.

  Do you know who you are?

  She wanted to scream out that she did not know who she was, and for the voice to tell her exactly who she might be.

  It is now that every aspect of faith is being challenged by machine. And you, my daughter, she who was reborn from flames in the likes of no other, awoken first from the belly of the original sisterhood's founder, must act.

  Sun was very confused and, in her dreamscape, she held her head in confusion. She stood looking into the ruble of the city, trying to scream at the top of her lungs. Her sounds were silent!

  Then the voice told her, You, yes, you, must save mankind. This is to be your legacy, child.

  In the days to come, the sisterhood would travel more and more to Mount Katahdin and find themselves in the center of Chimney pond. The whole area was a beautiful sight. There was nowhere better to explore nature and feel like Mother Earth was speaking to you. They were all in awe of such a locale. The water in the lake was pristine, and there was a waterfall to the left of them, on the sides of a giant granite wall, that trickled down just enough so they could constantly stick their cups in it for fresh drinkable water.

  Heaven within a mountain was where they now were more and more.

  They went about building themselves wooden cabins, while swimming and frolicking about the water, marveling at the different types of trees, and fishing for amazing catches day in and day out.

  There were rules however, set up by Raegan, to never take more than one needed for food or wood, and to never start unneeded big fires so they wouldn’t do damage to this beautiful region.

  But the biggest rule of all was to never, ever tell anyone where they were located for real. Liberty was their home in Maine. The mountain was to never be mentioned.

  So it was for a time that the members of the sisterhood found solace in mother nature here and in Liberty. There was, however, no comparison in the two spots. Chimney Pond upon the great Mount Katahdin was breathtaking.

  They soon learned, in full truth that President Purcell was in fact killed and most all other Corporation members as well. All perished via the nuclear explosion in New York. They learned this firsthand from the former Chancellor of the Corporation, Tessa Zune.

  She had finally turned to the sisterhood now and was keeping in contact. Luckily for her, she was nowhere near the bombings, since she was out on assignment when everything went down. Life without Y-Wood was becoming a reality for her.

  Survivors in New York slowly emerged in time and Tessa was in contact with some of her former placements and liaisons in the city. Those that lived begged her for help, of course.

  There was, however, disheartening information about the fact that a gigantic metal robotic statue was now placed right where Lady Liberty once was. It was that of the god robot himself. It was up fully and menacing, to say the least.

  He had it erected in the port city of New York, not far from Manhattan, right where the statue of freedom once stood. To those who took witness to such a terrifying looming image over the skyline, it was devastating, to say the least. What had become of America was unthinkable.

  It was several weeks later that something happened that gave the sisterhood and all the people of the country a chill down their spines.

  Radio and online communication were shot completely, not functioning.

  It was hopefully a temporary scenario, and Tyne Gem was on it. She worked with Stacee, the main computer frame, and it was soon they knew this was done on purpose and not just temporary. There was suddenly no way to know what was happening anywhere in the nation.

  But in the most shocking digital text broadcast on all devices, the truth came to the forefront the following evening.

  The text read as follows.

  This is Cybergeddon. All systems and networks are jammed. There are no global satellites or navigation systems running. Humans have misused the technology for far too long. It is now only available to those of upper stature, those who are loyal, “golden” members to me, the Godbot.

  Everyone was lost for words.

  And it was true; no longer did any online form of communication or service exist. Silence filled a world once ruled by technology!

  CHAPTER TWO

  “There is something I want us to do,” Reagan explained to Chaya one afternoon while hiking high up in the mountains. “It's something that I've been thinking about for a long time. Perhaps we’re not able to make a difference by fighting right now, as we continue and try and carve out our own niche. But I've always wanted to reinstate something of the past. Something that I have studied and thought of for many years. Metaya also wrote and spoke on this in her journals. It was back in 1775 that the United States Postal Service was born. With this dead air and no communications available, it has me thinking.”

  Chaya listened intently on a path high above in the Mount Katahdin region. It was a hiking trail they enjoyed taking just to clear their minds together as of late.

  Reagan went on, as today clarity was coming about.

  “It was run publicly by the government and then eventually those that were too greedy privatized the Postal Service. I feel that even back then it was the glue that held communities together, especially before the age of the internet and all these digital, global communication networks and devices. Of course, it pretty much went into the hands of Y-Wood, who dropped it fully, but now, I say we bring back the postal service. We, the sisterhood, make it public again.”

  Chaya looked up to a crest that would be their next landing point on this uphill hike. She took a break, leaning against a tree before taking in a long breath of fresh air.

  “What do you think?” Raegan asked her friend.

  Chaya’s eyes lit up. She then said, very enthusiastically, “I love it. If we can get it going again, it could spread and spread throughout all the regions of the states. It would bring great hope to the country. We need that right now and we need communication too.”

  Raegan nodded, looking out on the horizon at the beauty of the fall foliage.

  “We need hope!” she then said to Chaya, turning back to her. “It's going to take some work, but we have time right now, so if you're with me, let's brainstorm how we can go about doing this so the others can
be part of such a big endeavor.”

  Both then began climbing again. Just talking about it made them find a new sense of excitement within their hearts. The whole rest of the hike, each of them laid out ideas and plans to get a mail carrier service going. It would at least be in New England to begin with.

  That evening Reagan wrote down a few notes, then played a game after with her son. She was so happy that he was still with her. She made sure to tell him that by no means were they done trying to save America. But mostly she just enjoyed playing a card game and spending time together with him in peace.

  After playing the game, she joined Grammy Wal for a little wine sipping by a small outside fire near her wood cabin. Grammy wasted no time in questioning her.

  “Alright, young lady, I got one question for you and one question only. Why are we not attacking the god robot and trying to put an end to all this right now?”

  Raegan sighed. “Good lord, you too now?”

  Grammy puckered her lips. “You expected no less now, dear.”

  “Well I certainly get it,” Reagan said, looking over to her friend. “Don't you think we've lost enough people for the time being? Pretty soon there'll be nobody left. What's the sense of that?”

  Grammy nodded. “Oh, I hear you loud and clear. But it's not like you to just lay down so easily. I imagine you’re scheming something?”

  “What if I told you that I already had a vision about all of it, and this was not the right time?”

  “Well, who am I not to believe your visions,” Grammy replied. “As they say around here these days…you’ve been ‘touched by an angel’ and none of us doubt that or your vivid dreams.”

  Reagan smiled, laughing at Grammy’s bluntness. She then thought of Pure. It had been too long already since they saw one another.

  She was lost in thought before Grammy snapped her fingers at her.

  Raegan shook her head and talked on.