The wind swirling through the abandoned street was reminiscent of a coyote howling. Half-burnt papers fluttered through the air, and a stray dog trotted down the crumbling sidewalk.
Hank strolled down the middle of the lane, looking around at the destruction. The sky was a dark orange color, and the hot air smelled of rotting flesh. It had been nearly six months since the debacle that had become known to the survivors as End Day. The day of the inauguration of the last president.
That day had turned Hank into the leader of the resistance.There was an attack during the inauguration, the protestors had become so violent that they became immoral, and forgot to be logical human beings.
They raided the stage, and took the new First Family for hostage. Battles broke out, people fought in the streets, killing one another for something as silly as differing political views. The rest of the world soon joined in the fight, creating world war three. Nukes were sent off. Most of North America was now a wasteland of forgotten memories and scarred souls.
It was like a page out of a comic book. Something no one ever thought would happen. America's legacy was now in ashes. When humans nearly wiped their species from the face of the Earth, the aliens decided to take the planet for themselves.
Ever since then, aliens from three different races roamed the land. In constant battle for superiority and control over Earth. There were the Rishki, a power hungry, bloodthirsty race that would stop at nothing to get what they wanted. If they saw any survivors, they were shot on sight.
Then there were the Dranians, the type that captured humans and then forced them to be slaves. And finally, the Cinerus. A peace-loving race that only wanted the planet for their children to grow up on and live a happy life. They appeared cold and harsh towards other races, but sympathetic and understanding towards the humans.
Of course, they didn't want anything going around, so they killed humans if they were around aliens of other races.
Hank lifted a heavy manhole cover off the ground and climbed down the ladder, into the former sewer. He landed on the ground with a thud, and he readjusted the gun on his belt. He parted the iron gates and shuffled into the meeting room. The metal table in the center was cluttered with papers, there were stacks of files all over the shelves, and the computers were boxy and white.
Hank made eye contact with a few people before speaking.
"Agent Williams. Status report." He commanded, staring into the blue suited man before him.
"Yes sir. The portal has been fixed."
Hank gave him a small nod, and then looked to one of the Cinerus officers that had teamed up with them.
"What about the time drive?" He asked. It took a moment too long for a response.
"Officer Gennet!" He barked. "Is the time drive ready or isn't it?"
The pale skinned, black eyed officer in his all grey uniform avoided eye contact, and shook his massive head.
"It's ready. . .but you can not go." He admitted through garbled words.
"Why the hell not?!" He demanded.
"If you try this again, and you've already tried fifteen times, the effects of the radiation could kill you. And if that does not, the time guardians surely will."
Hank sighed heavily, and the patches of burnt skin on his arms and chest reminded him of the dangers of time travel. Images of grotesque beings chasing after him as he traveled through time played in his mind. But he didn't care. He'd die one thousand times to fix what went wrong. To get his country back.
"Prepare the machine. I'm going."
"General Bradshaw, this is a terrible idea. Humans are not built for time travel. And the fact that you have failed fifteen times proves that maybe some things can not be changed. Time wants to happen. This future is inevitable." Officer Gennet replied.
Hank put a hand to his face, and ran his fingers through his unruly hair.
"And what!" He yelled. "Do you expect me to just sit here and not fight for my country? My world? It's not like there's any other way! We can't simply march up to the other aliens and start a war with them, there's no way we'd win. They're far too advanced. I must do this." He paced the floor, and took out his black battle worn leather wallet from his coat pocket. In it, was a little photograph of a young girl in a pink tutu. "If not for my country, then for Faith."
"Fine, but it's a death wish." The officer grumbled. He led him through a set of doors, and sitting in a small cave was a spectacular looking spaceship. Hank ignored the calls of his officers as he climbed into the driver's seat, and closed the hatch.
After a few moments, Officer Gennet gave him the go ahead, and he dialed the clock on the dashboard to the day before End Day, the inauguration. With a last glance at his team, he smiled and pressed the start button.
It was nerve wracking, zipping through space and time, as streaks of purple and blue flew overhead and all around him in a tunnel. His head pounded and he had to close his eyes to keep them from falling out of his head. He could almost feel the waves of radiation coursing through him.
He traced the golden cross resting beneath his shirt, and prayed that he would succeed. Most people had lost their faith in a higher power on End Day. But each day only strengthened his.
Time Guardians were close behind, he could see them in the rear view mirrors screeching after him. The hairs on his arms stood up. No matter how many times he'd seen them, they still sent shivers down his spine.
This was likely the last time he would get away with time traveling. If he failed this time he might very well have to accept the fact that humans destroyed themselves, and laid waste to all that had been built. All that the world had accomplished, and let aliens take over their beautiful Earth. He looked at the picture in his wallet, and a tear nearly fell from his stone cold eyes.
"Little one, whether I succeed or die, we'll be together soon. I can promise you that."
