The Long Dark- A Journey Through Frozen Hell

Dr. Atwood

"Who goes there!?" A deep bellowing voice yelled from behind the steel door.

"My name is Miho Nishizumi. Is this Suzuki Radio Telescope?" She asked.

"Who's asking?"

"I am. I have a message for Doctor Atwood." She said.

"Doctor Atwood? Are you armed?"

Miho and Yukari looked at each other.

"Yes." Miho said.

"Set down your weapons and step away from them." The voice ordered.

They did just that, laying down any weapons on the snow and stepping away from them.

The door made a strange noise like gears turning before opening.

An older man with slight gray hair opened the door, aiming a revolver at the two girls.

He wore basic black slacks and a white shirt with a loose tie.

Another man came out. He was an older Asian man but well dressed. He wore a sweater over his shirt.

He hurried and picked up their weapons before going inside.

"Hands up." He ordered.

The girls did just that.

Now follow me." He said as the other man came back and held open the door.

The girls walked in as the researcher closed the door, pressed a set of buttons, and locked it from behind.

They were now in a large room white two more researchers.

One man stood beside a computer, looking up at the girls as a woman who was organizing papers stopped to stare.

"I am going to ask you a series of questions. Answer truthfully." He said.

"Okay." Miho said.

"Have you been near Pleasants Mill?" He asked.

"No." Miho said.

"Have you been in contact with anyone near Pleasants Mill?"

"No."

"Have you encountered anyone with symptoms such as coughing blood, fever, or boils?"

"I know somebody who has a fever and coughed blood."

The researchers stepped back as the man cocked the hammer of his pistol.

"James, wait." The younger man said.

"Where is this man?" He asked.

"Past the Blackrock Penitentiary. My friend is sick, we think it's tuberculosis." Yukari said.

"Blackrock, so nowhere near Pleasants Mills." The man said, lowering the pistol.

"That doesn't mean anything!"

"Yes, it does."

"What happened in Pleasants Mills?" Miho asked.

"You said you have a message for me." A woman's voice said.

Far in the corner, unnoticeable, was a section of the facility blocked off by plexiglass.

A researcher in a hazmat suit sat at a desk, far and facing away from everyone.

"It's from Jeremiah." She said.

"Jeremiah? That crazy bastard is still alive?" The younger researcher said.

"What did he say?" The woman asked.

"Wintermute."

The woman chuckled before turning to the people.

"As if we didn't already know that." The woman said, approaching the glass.

"Come here." He said.

Miho approached, meeting the woman.

The woman had dark hair and pale skin with dark eyes, hollowed out from years of research and isolation.

"You wanted to see Doctor Atwood. I am." She said.

"Why are you behind that?" She asked.

Atwood chuckled before sitting down.

"You have many questions. I might answer a few. I might not. Depends on what it is." Atwood said.

"I don't know where to start."

"The aurora outside would be a start."

"What... is happening to the aurora? What is Wintermute?" Miho asked.

"Well, it all goes back ten years."

"Ten years?" Miho asked.

"Precisely ten. The aurora didn't start like that, though. It only disrupted our reading until it started interference with our hand-held radios. I made a prediction that one day, the aurora would shut everything down, so I made up a plan called Wintermute. It was a backup plan in case our efforts failed to stop it. The problem is that the aurora is unpredictable. I hypothesized it would ten twenty years. It only took ten and it was sudden."

"But what is it?"

"We assumed it is some form of an electromagnetic storm that disrupts anything electrical. However, it doesn't destroy it. It measly disrups it. When a flashlight is exposed for the first time, the battery is damaged. However, when it is exposed to the aurora again, it works. Radio's still work to an extent. The frequency waves mix together, so there is no way to separate them."

"Does it affect the mainland?" Yukari asked.

"Only in regions where the aurora happens. Such as Alaska, Northern Canada, and Scandinavian countries, anywhere the Aurora happens." Atwood said.

"That explains why not much help is coming here."

"One, we're far from the mainland. The Aurora happens in America too, that's why not much help is coming this way." The armed researcher said.

"I think you can be of use to me. I noticed your dogsled outside on the cameras. Maybe you can help." Atwood said.

"Help how?" Miho asked.

"You see, we're not affected by the aurora because we are surrounded by electromagnetic radiation. For some reason, the aurora is not effective against it. However, that doesn't mean radio towers are affected by it." Atwood said.

"What do you mean?" Miho said.

Atwood spun in her chair.

"Around the island of Great Bear, there are many radio towers. These towers are essential to communicating with the mainland. The problem is that they are all deactivated. I don't know why, but they are. We managed to set up the one nearby, but it was dangerous. You two are experienced with this world. If you can get these towers up, I'll be able to contact the mainland and get help."

"On one condition." Miho said.

"Of course."

"My friend, his name is Joshua Vaughn. He's sick, and I want you to help him." Miho said.

"You are skilled in the art of negotiations. I help you, you help me. Go retrieve your friend. I will locate every tower you need to activate." Atwood said.

Miho turned and stepped away.

"And Miho." Atwood said.

Miho stopped and turned.

"I think it's best you don't go outside. It's a little chilly. You can bring your dogs in, though. We've never had the chance to research how the aurora affects domestic animals."