The Nuclear Project

Chapter One

"Josh, your coffee is ready." I look up from the newspaper I'm reading.
"Thank you, Barley." I say, and go back to reading my paper. Out of the corner of my eye, I watch the android bring my coffee.

I turn on my tv.

"-And expect another hot day in Loweville. Sources say that we're expected to reach eighty seven degrees, while the outside of the dome will reach 210 degrees."

I roll my eyes, "We need to repair that dome before it becomes completely useless." I say to Barley as I sip my coffee. He nods and I turn my attention back to the news.

"-When asked about repairing the dome, head android in charge of architecture and building said, 'There are more important things that need attending to.' We'll be back in a few minutes, after these important messages."

I look out the window. The sun is looming threateningly overhead as usual. I used to think it was scary when I was younger, but i've grown accustomed to it... We all have.

"Looks... Nice out. Might be a good day to go shopping or something," I say quietly.

We leave the house and I instantly notice how warm it really is. "They need to repair that dome... It's never been this warm." I sigh and start walking over to my hover mobile. I look up at the sky, over where the town center is.

"Traffic looks pretty bad," I say.

Barley flies over to the hover mobile and stands next to it for a second before getting in the passenger seat. We decide to go to the mall, close to the heart of town.

While stuck in traffic, I look out my window. Outside the dome is nothing but a wasteland. I've heard that there used to be a lot of humans that lived outside the dome, but that was 300 years ago... No human would last five minutes if we stepped outside the dome now. I've grown up seeing the aftermath of one scientist's mistake. Everyone has... For three centuries.

"Sometimes I wonder what it would have been like if there had never been a nuclear disaster. Other times, I wonder what it would be like if the dome broke." Barley turns and looks at me. "Sorry, I... I must've been thinking out loud." I say quietly.

I turn and look out my window again.

"Sometimes I get the feeling that the dome will break at any minute." I murmur, staring at the radiation-contaminated world  that my ancestors used to call home.

Barley looks at me and in an attempt to be positive says, "It's highly unlikely that the dome will break, Josh. This dome was built to protect humans and androids alike. It's highly durable and-"

"I really wish I could believe that, Barley..." I say with a sigh, rolling my eyes.

I look at Barley.
"This dome is supposed to be unbreakable, but no one's taking care of it anymore..." I pause. "And like everything, if you don't take care of it... It breaks." I turn and stare out my window past the dome and look at the sky.

"When was the last time you remember someone fixing the dome?" I ask Barley, looking at him in the reflection of my window.
"Josh..." He starts.
"When was the last time someone fixed it, Barley?" I snap. He takes a moment before saying, "I... I can't remember... It was before I was built. Maybe fifty or so years ago."

I sigh and say, "Barley, have you ever wondered what it was like to live back then? Before the disaster? I've heard that there used to be these things called mountains... And... Giant swimming pools that took up huge amounts of space.... And sometimes the mountains would have fiery water in the tops! Doesn't that sound exciting? I would've loved to see it."

I close my eyes and try to imagine it.

"Maybe someday we can..." Barley says quietly.

I turn and look at him, surprised, and slightly frustrated with the android's absurd statement. "How? Outside the dome is nothing but radiation. I'd die if I left." I turn and look back out my window.

"I know, but maybe someday, with technological advances... I mean, you know scientists nowadays. We're getting smarter everyday, Josh. We just need to be patient and..." Barley continues talking, but I roll my eyes and ignore him, waiting for the hover mobiles ahead of us to start moving. I close my eyes.

Suddenly, I hear a small buzz. I quickly tell Barley to be quiet. I hear it again and a few seconds later, the dome flashes a neon blue. Everything goes quiet.

My heart sinks and I'm filled with a sense of dread as I ask Barley, "Is... Is it getting... Warmer?"