Giantron

Scene Three

Through all the mayhem and blaring sirens Joey is not rattled. He foresaw such a thing could happen with the fearful global climate of the machines talking over earth. The gaming rig is still activated running an unknown program displaying maps of the entire northeast section of the Untied States with several locations blinking in green, yellow and red. He is well aware the locations hightlighted mark all the US power grid substations.  This is government software. “The gps program helps navigate automotive machines across the continent using the highway infrastructure which connect states, the Giantrons use the same system to operate key points ”

There is no local news on TV. The media has been blacked out instead there is just infrastructure failure warnings by the Emergency Broadcast System running repeatedly. 
While munching quickly on a bagel Joey searches the web on his phone for anwers to what has happened. Social media is also down. The government has taken control of all sites in an effort to suppress information that will cause mass asteria although there is internet access but very limited. Everything happened so fast. Joey is dead tired recollecting the day’s events in bed fully clothed phone in hand and closes his eyes for a moment as constant sirens blare all night in the streets.

He wakes in a couple of hours seeing the city in a fiery ruin. His friend’s from the factory left several text messages  prompting him to make his way uptown to the Fort Washington power station. His team of friends are hackers wanted by the government  “Most of the buildings are dark and silent. Entire neighborhoods are abandoned. People that prepared for possible disasters sought refuge at underground fallout shelters," text message from his friend. He is unable to text back. Service is spotty. He fills a backpack full of stuff including the gaming rig motherboard. Phone service is limited to local areas. Joey tours the wreckage of half burnt out buildings with a small group of people looking for survivors before heading uptown.  It’s quiet, a bit too quiet. Nonstop fleets of commercial planes from the south and west are seen all flying in the same direction east towards Europe.

The city lays in ruin with charred smoke stacks of rubble covering the desolate city landscape as far as the eye can see. Suspiciously hundreds of survey drones are visible scouring the debris. And these are not your regular models. They are enhanced versions equipped with laser cannons. No doubt military equipment. Vehicles are destroyed and stranded with streets inaccessible. It’s also difficult to travel on foot. Malfunctioning construction bots sift through the rubble like mad dogs. The machines are many and going haywire attacking people with no discretion. A small group of people led by Devon help repel the onslaught with home made laser rifles. “They are the resistance. The emergency evacuation drones are suppose to be in operation. This group along with others have formed throughout the city to help protect people in needm," Devon.

“A wave of post attacks are highly possible. It’s difficult to travel uptown. There’s so much debris in the way forming countless obstacles. You’ll  never make it before dark when the machines are most active. That’s if the marauders don’t catch you first. Best bet is to head downtown to the fallout shelters. There’s less debris but more machines. These small weapons called stunners help keep them at bay. Hope you know how to use one, you’re going to need it. Fully charged will provide twenty rounds which  temporarily impair,” Devon.

“don’t know what is going on with the machines but military drones have been spotted uptown at the fort Washington power station. Could be the Giantrons are using it to recharge offering at least 2 hours of down time while they’re in sleep mode for the duration in which to attempt to deactivate them somehow,” Devon is a well informed Army Veteran who fought in numerous conflicts since the lunar wars.

"'I've been battling bots my whole life. This is crazy but should be fun. Haven’t been able to play much lately", Joey