Dark Times: The Forgotten

Chapter One

*FAR NORTH OF AFRICA*

"Officer, Dome 1124 has been reported as breached." An operator in front of a holographic display announced.

"What's the body count?" The officer sat forward and asked.

"Well... The number of survivors has been reported to be 148 civilians, 20 soldiers, 14 medics and 3 scientists." The operator turned to look up at the officer. A deep frown appeared on his face as he stood up from his seat.

"Are you sure?!"

"Yes sir. That was the last broadcast signal we got from them at 0200 hours. The signal was last located in the middle of the dead zone." The officer grimaced and turned to walk out of the room.

"Try what you can to track them down. I'll go report the situation," He left the room and began making his way down the winding corridors of the underground base.

*****

In the year 2256, Humanity made an amazing discovery that let them advance rapidly by leaps and bounds. The discovery of a new and limitless energy source- Rilon.

It was quickly confiscated by the World Legion, a body of the world's most advanced countries. After several decades, it was released to the world in order for it to be widely used. With it's release came the liberation of the world; no harmful release of gases, less deforestation and several other advancements in the overall state of the world.

In the year 2322, the first Great Calamity occurred. A meteorite the size a small country struck south America, killing millions. An early warning was given but there was only so much that could be done in time. The blast was so bad that it hugely affected the northern part of America... The world's most valuable resource, a huge chunk of Rilon which had been used as the main source of power in the world.

With it's destruction came a whole lot of issues. Living became 100% worse. The use of other forms of energy and fuel became widespread once again. Within a decade, what was left of the World Legion carried out an intense mining operation in the area where the meteorite had crashed. It was discovered that the interior of the meteorite was made up of 80% Rilon. With this discovery, Rilon made a strong comeback in the everyday life of the average person.

In the year 2350, the second Great Calamity struck. Those who survived called it the Fall of Humanity.

*Unknown Location*

Pain couldn't even start to describe what I felt when waking up. My mind was slow and groggy with my vision blurred. My torso ached and it felt as though my head would roll off his shoulders. I groaned and tried to roll over but my body wasn't responding. Blinking, I tried to focus and take in my surroundings. Minutes passed before I was able to make out the dull gray metal ceiling, torn open in some corners. My eyes wandered over to the walls with several small windows that were boarded up.

Gathering up what little strength I could, I pushed against the bed under me to sit upright. The bed groaned and creaked and I winced. I would rather not let my captors know I was awake. I heard sounds on the other side of the door leading to the room I was in and froze. The door opened slightly and a stream of light filtered into the room as a blonde head popped in through the opening.

"James?" The lady called back warily.

"What?!" A rather irritated voice replied harshly out of my line of sight.

"Um... Please come over here," She called back without taking her eyes off me. A series of grumbles followed the sound of footsteps over the wooden floor.

"Oh. He's awake. You should have said so," The man grunted and pushed open the door. I just sat on the bed without taking my eyes off them. Not that I could do much other than that considering how my body was unwilling to co-operate with me.

"Shouldn't we call the others? We don't know what he's capable of." She muttered, pulling on the man's sleeve. He simply grunted before reaching behind him and pulling out a shotgun. My eyes widened and I scooted back against the wall by my bed.

"Name?" He quirked an eyebrow while c*****g the g*n? I swallowed, feeling sweat roll down my neck.

"Jasper..." I croaked out. My throat felt like the bark of a dead tree. I swallowed as I watched both of them for any sign that I was going to be killed.

"Tell me, Jasper, how exactly you survived being in that place?" He grunted out, flexing his broad shoulders as he spoke.

"What place?" I whispered, slightly peeved that I could barely speak.

"Don't play dumb with me, boy. The Dumping Ground! How the heck are you still alive?" He fired a shot into the ceiling of the room, making the woman beside him flinch and scurry out of the room.

"I'm not playing dumb! I have no idea what you mean! Where am I?" I shot back a question of my own while I was at it.

"I'm the one asking the questions here." He pointed the barrel of the g*n back at me. "Who are you? How did you get here? Why are you still alive?" He spat in the corner of the room and c****d his g*n once more. "Last chance to talk or I'll blow your brains out!"

"I told you my name! I don't even know where here is and I don't know what you're talking about!" I croaked out as loudly as I could while trying to match his intensity. We stared hard at each other, trying to see who would buckle under the pressure first.

"Hmph!" He grunted and marched out of the room, slamming the door behind him. I heard the sounds of object clattering against surfaces along with angry grumbling and swearing. The door opened again and the blond woman stepped in along with two other people behind her.