Episode 2. Beneath the Covers
Context
- Coordinated Universal Time
- Sunday, July 14, 2024 - 10:37 PM
- Location
-
- Earth
- Brussels
- Agnes' apartment
- Timeline
- Unknown Timeline
- Previously
-
In 1954, an unknown spacecraft crashed in the Arctic and was recovered by the U.S. military. The incident, buried under Cold War secrecy, fueled rumors and covetous ambitions. Seventy years later, tensions between blocs escalated into the Third World War. Nuclear apocalypse wiped out the great powers and plunged Earth into nuclear winter.
Characters
| Name | Affiliation / Branch | Title / Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Agnes V. Rodriguez | NATO / Special Fleet | Captain |
| Angie Chen | NATO / Special Fleet | Commander |
TL;DR
Agnes Rodriguez, captain in NATO's Special Fleet, survives the cataclysm against all odds. Her story opens in Brussels, alongside her partner Angie Chen.
Story
On that dark Monday, July 15, 2024, the world should have lost me in the cataclysm of atomic explosions. And yet, as you can see, I am very much alive, ready to share a story that defies understanding. Exceptional is the right word, because even I still sometimes doubt the truth of what happened to me, so much does it seem to belong to the realm of the impossible.
My name is Agnes Valentine Rodriguez, captain in an ultra-secret and mysterious branch of NATO: the Special Fleet. I'm not in the military, though I was a few years ago, serving in NATO's air force with the rank of colonel. Ooooh yes, NATO absolutely has an armed force, but not the one you think. This one is a complete merger of every military in the Alliance. A merger that took place roughly fifty years ago. I understand your skepticism, because from your point of view, that may seem impossible.
Anyway, let's get back to the point... I was introducing myself.
I'm into kickboxing, I'm a die-hard fan of Valentino Rossi and motorcycles, and above all, I'm madly in love with Angie... Surprised? I'm not...
As I was saying, I survived. How in the world, you ask? No, I did not imitate Indiana Jones by hiding in a refrigerator. Though, thinking back on it, I can say there are similarities.
To understand properly, let's rewind the tape a few hours before the Russian nuclear deluge, to Sunday, July 14, Bastille Day.
Late that evening, I was in Brussels, in the bedroom of my apartment. I was absently leafing through an old magazine, looking for something to pass the time, while Angie, sunk in deep sleep, snored beside me. At least, that is what I thought...
Angie Chen
Hmm... Agnes, are you talking to yourself?
Agnes V. Rodriguez
No, angel. I was telling our story to our readers.
Angie Chen
You woke me up. I was right in the middle of a dream... I was saving the world in pajamas.
Agnes V. Rodriguez
And did you save it?
Angie Chen
Hmm... Of course! What do you think!!!
Thanks to you, I'm gonna have to start over. Thanks.
That sleepyhead you just heard is Angie Chen. Pretty, isn't she? She's of Malaysian descent.
We met at the beginning of the war, back in 2014, over the Black Sea, during a reconnaissance mission in our F-35 Lightning IIs. That day, the Russian army hunted us relentlessly... and eventually got the last word by shooting us out of the sky.
Anyway, that's another adventure I'm keeping up my sleeve... just in case you come back for more.
Angie and I have worked together ever since. Later, she became my right hand in NATO. She's known for her unshakable composure and tactical expertise. I wouldn't trade her for any other officer.
Angie Chen
Hmm... Agnes, stop talking to yourself and come do stuff to me.
Agnes V. Rodriguez
Wait, sleepyhead, I'll turn off the bedside lamp, and then I'll be all yours for the rest of the night.
Dear readers, I'm sorry to leave you, but duty calls.
What can you do? That's life. Sometimes, you have to make a choice on the spot.
But believe me, I'm not abandoning you. The adventure I'm about to tell you is only just beginning.
Angie Chen
Hmm... I love you.
In the intimate darkness, Agnes gently removed her nightgown, letting the warmth of the room brush against her skin. Angie remained wrapped in shadow, her features barely sketched, while the electricity in the air grew more palpable as they drew closer together, nestled beneath the sheets.
In this cocoon of love, their breaths mingled in a soothing murmur. Passionate embraces gave way to tender quiet.
Cradled by fatigue and the sweetness of the moment, Agnes and Angie finally surrendered to sleep, carried away by dreams... and the promise of a new day.