x
Chapter 1: Ashes, Ashes, We all fall down.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtyoepIKzT
The calm of the night was violently disrupted by an event of catastrophic proportions. A deafening air raid siren tore through the silence, its wailing call a grim herald of urgency, while the Emergency Broadcast System delivered a chilling message: "The civil authorities have issued an evacuation order for Fairfield County in western Connecticut, New Haven County in central Connecticut. An event of unknown severity has occurred at the Madison Research Institute in southwestern New Haven County. Immediate mass evacuation is advised as a state emergency has been declared."
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhwAQ66wrQ
As the automated warning echoed through the air with the help of televisions and radios, the once stable and secure Madison Research Institute was now a scene of apocalyptic ruin. The Dark Matter Reactor, a symbol of human ingenuity and the heartbeat of the facility, nowhere to be seen. Nobody, not even the employees of the institute knew what happened.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhR6m2wWQdV
Emergency vehicles, bathed in the stark, urgent glow of red and blue, skidded to a halt amidst the scattered debris. Firefighters battled valiantly against the towering inferno that whatever was left of the institute had become, while paramedics, adorned in the armor of their profession, wove through the chaos with stretchers at the ready.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYO5wyzH26h
Jules, amidst the desolation of the world she had known, felt the rough texture of the earth against her skin. Disoriented, she barely registered the paramedics as they approached her, their voices a distant echo against the backdrop of the siren's cry. "You're safe now," they repeated, a mantra meant to comfort, yet it felt hollow in the wake of such devastation.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCklwIssE5
Her voice trembled, a fragile sound barely rising above the cacophony. "Mel... please, find Mel..." It was a plea, a prayer thrown into the darkness.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2dwKsaoi7
The paramedics, with a solemn nod, assured her, "We'll look for everyone, miss." Their hands were gentle as they prepared her for transport, lifting her from the ground with practiced care.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8FQvlOUBJ
As Jules was hoisted into the ambulance, the institute's skeleton loomed in the background—a stark reminder of what had been lost. Her gaze remained fixed on the wreckage, the Emergency Broadcast System's message fading into the distance as her thoughts turned inward, to the tapestry of memories that seemed so distant now. The stretcher carried her into the ambulance, the doors closing on the institute and the life she had once cherished.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHua8jR0fOW
Chapter 2: My Sweet Lady.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOANirQ6DeA
The journey to the hospital was a blur, the ambulance a vessel navigating through the remnants of the shattered reality Jules now surrounded by. Inside, the paramedics worked to tend her wounds, their voices a constant murmur, a lifeline tethering her to the present as her mind threatened to slip away.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQDBCv9KJy
Jules turned inward, seeking solace in memories. She remembered a day she and Mel had stood before the reactor, its core a suspended marvel, its lasers painting the chamber with light.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKb06HLjqj
"Look at it, cupcake," Mel had whispered, his voice tinged with awe. "Isn't she beautiful?"
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjErsuEGPFC
"She’s magnificent, honey," Jules had responded, leaning into him, feeling the warmth of his side. "But not as beautiful as the life we've built around it."
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLId4CR2hEU
Now, as the ambulance raced through the night, those memories were a balm to her aching heart. She closed her eyes, willing herself to return to those moments, to escape the cold grasp of her new reality.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKh0MGh8QH
"I can't believe it's all gone," she murmured, the words barely a sigh as she drifted toward the edges of consciousness.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49XrXUqzGb
The paramedics glanced at each other, recognizing the signs of a soul retreating from the world. "Just rest for now," they soothed, their words gentle. "You're safe; you're with us."
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mkrc1lCGm
Jules's breath slowed, her mind retreating further into the darkness where the pain couldn't reach her. In the embrace of her memories, she found a haven, a place where the reactor still stood tall, and Mel's laughter still filled the air. And there, on the edge of sleep, she remained, a silent plea on her lips for the peace that only oblivion could offer.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRP0WceG5T
Chapter 3: The Abyss Between Dreams and Nightmares
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkoS2CIvO4
In the gentle realm of her dreams, Jules wandered through a verdant field, the golden light of the setting sun warming her skin. Mel's laughter mingled with the soft breeze, their hands entwined as they walked through the tall grass. This was their sanctuary, a place untouched by the worries of the world they lived in.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75Di34XC2A
But tranquility shattered like glass as the dream violently imploded, plunging Jules into the abyss. She was swallowed by a void, an all-consuming darkness that suffocated all warmth and light. It was the in-between, the nothingness where happiness and sorrow ceased to exist.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qilMwUCJt
Then, a nightmare wrenched her from the void, thrusting her back into the harrowing reality of the Madison Research Institute's elevator chamber. The stark open elevator stood before her, an escape route to the surface, away from the doomed heart of the reactor.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNk31qSFub
Mel was there, his face illuminated by the red emergency lights that bathed the chamber in their foreboding glow. His hands gripped her arms, the touch both comforting and heartrending. "Jules, my love, we don't have much time," he said, his voice steady despite the chaos around them.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPTBxE2K02
Tears blurred her vision as the gravity of his words hit her. "I won’t leave you, we can do this togeth—"
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdYGddSBbW
"No, honey. I’m not gonna risk you dying here," Mel interrupted, the resolve in his eyes as clear as the love they reflected. He pulled her into a deep, passionate kiss, a moment of pure connection amidst the impending destruction. "I love you more than life itself," he breathed against her lips.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRPO06Wx2x
And with those words still hanging between them, Mel gently pushed her onto the elevator. "You better not eat all my hot pockets," he said as he smiled with tears in his eyes, his final words as the platform began to rise.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRp351RgpV4
"Mel!" Her cry was a raw, tearing sound as the elevator ascended, carrying her towards the surface. Below, Mel receded into the distance, his figure a constant as the rest of the world fell apart.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFKgFPIoMi
She woke abruptly, gasping for air, her heart pounding. The dream had evaporated, leaving her in the cold, silent reality of their bedroom. Tears stained her cheeks, the remnants of her night's torment. The bed beside her was empty, Mel's absence a chasm that no words could bridge. The light of dawn crept in, unsympathetic to the void that now lived in her chest, a reminder of all she had lost.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNynUohV9z
Chapter 4: Fractured Realities
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6AJSxOHyeZ
The rays of dawn barely pierced the gloom that enveloped Jules as she sat up in bed. The remnants of her nightmare clung to her, a shroud of dread that couldn’t be shaken. She moved through the motions of dressing, each action punctuated by the echo of her heart—a relentless drumbeat fueling her growing panic.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv45IRs6PuR
The cold water from the bathroom faucet brought a semblance of clarity, but it was a fleeting comfort. As she stepped out, disorientation engulfed her. The memory of the ambulance's sirens, the paramedics' urgent voices—why was she not at the hospital? The confusion was stifling.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4VKFRW2pz
Her phone lay innocuous on the bedside table, yet it was as if it held the key to the chaos that churned within her. The date glared back at her, a cruel reminder that time had not yet slipped from her grasp. It was August 18th, the morning of the disaster that had yet to unfold.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyqIONuUTJ
Adrenaline surged as the realization hit—she was still here, in the now, with a chance to alter what was to come. If Mel wasn't here, he would be at the institute, ensconced in the belly of the beast that was destined to fall. She had to see him again.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGR7cH0jwGC
Her car sped through the streets of New Haven, a blur against the waking city. The institute stood before her, its facade a mask of normalcy that belied the horror she had seen. She parked perfectly even though in a rush to see her husband.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76wwqqZxAX
The institute's corridors were a maze, but her feet knew the way. The control room was a beacon, calling her to the heart of what would be ground zero. She flung the door open, the sudden movement sending a shockwave through the room.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1mlci4Vc4
The startled faces of the control team snapped to her, their initial shock morphing into concern. "Jules, what's wrong?" they asked, their voices a jumble of confusion and alarm.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgKFIg3OX3
"Where's Mel?" she demanded, her voice ragged with desperation. "I need to find him—now!"
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6YNqdB5KN
"He's upstairs, at the vending machine with Steve," one replied.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL41KL7gDAQ
She spun on her heel and dashed up the stairs, taking them two at a time, her breaths coming in sharp gasps. At the top, she burst through the door, the sight of the vending machine like a lighthouse in a stormy sea.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTIrgervCq
And there he was—Mel, standing with Steve, a can of soda in hand, a moment frozen in time. "Mel!" she cried, her voice a mix of relief and fear as tears blurred her vision.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvsGzAOST4
At the sound of his name, Mel turned, his face the picture of startled concern. "Jules?" he barely got out before she was upon him.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGyRE2xsZO
Their collision was a tangle of limbs and emotions, Mel stumbling backward as Jules's momentum sent them both crashing to the floor. Her arms wrapped around him fiercely, her tears soaking into his shirt.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuftN4lSnvQ
Mel's initial shock gave way to protectiveness, his arms encircling her shaking form. "It's okay, it's okay," he soothed, his voice a steady thrum against the chaos of her sobs. He kissed her forehead, a silent vow of comfort as she clung to him, her savior in a world that had yet to fracture.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8A0zBHaLf
Chapter 5: Embracing what disappeared
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VHDbk3raG
In the aftermath of her frantic embrace, Jules and Mel remained locked in their impromptu hold, a tableau of vulnerability amidst the sterile backdrop of the Madison Research Institute. Steve, sensing the depth of the moment, discreetly exited, leaving the two entwined in their private world.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryIEUiFobK
Mel, his concern etched deep within his gaze, cradled Jules tenderly. Her grip on his shirt was unyielding, her body racked with sobs that spoke of unseen terrors. With a gentle strength, he lifted her, rising to his feet with her still in his arms, and carried her to the break room just down the hall. The room was a haven, with a wide window that offered a panoramic view of the control room below and the heart of the institute—the DMR.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLGqnpmK27
He sat, Jules nestled in his lap, her tears a warm track against his skin. Below them, the control team looked on with concern, their faces a mixture of confusion and worry. Mel offered them a reassuring nod, his attention returning to Jules as he lifted her chin to meet his eyes.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0b1UAMcTS
Her face, usually so composed, was a canvas of sorrow, the evidence of her earlier tears melding with fresh ones. He took in her puffy eyes, her cheeks stained with the salt of her pain, but chose to remain silent about the cause. Instead, he enveloped her in affection, his lips meeting hers in a deep kiss that sought to bridge the gap between her anguish and the peace he desperately wanted to give her.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePXgfEMBV8
For a moment, as their kiss deepened, Jules' tears ceased. Her hands, previously clenched in despair, now moved to caress his face, the touch a balm to her frayed nerves. When Mel finally pulled back for air, Jules, yearning for the connection, followed, refusing to break their bond.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6Jn52RcFg
Mel, with a playful glint in his eye, resorted to tickling her, the sensation drawing a chuckle from Jules, a sound that was both heartwarming and heart-wrenching. As she laughed, the heavy veil of her sadness lifted slightly, revealing the loving partner Jules knew. Being able to lift her sadness. Her burden.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxK5krtAH9
They sat forehead to forehead, the world narrowing to the space they shared. "I love you, Jules. More than anything in this world," Mel whispered, his breath a warm caress.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSTX4TknLc
As Jules relaxed, still nestled within the circle of Mel's arms, he asked the inevitable question, "Is everything okay?"
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EOrYHamhu
Jules, unable to voice the horrors of her nightmare and what it portended, found refuge in a half-truth. "I just had a really bad dream, and it shook me up," she lied, her voice a murmur.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgSKmyib5c
Mel, who knew her better than anyone, heard the unspoken words beneath her lie but chose not to press. He understood the need for her to come to terms with her fears in her own time. "Whenever you're ready to talk about it, I'm here," he said, his tone a gentle reassurance.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jewhRHjDi
Jules leaned into him, her head resting on his chest—a rare moment of dependency from someone usually so fiercely independent. Mel, surprised but moved by her need for closeness, rested his cheek atop her head, his arms a fortress around her.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzjjh8Q9gx
Together, they sat in silence, the hum of the DMR and the soft glow of its blue lasers a comforting backdrop. The television in the break room played quietly, but their focus was on the view from the window—the heart of their work, the reactor that stood as a testament to their shared life's work, undisturbed and serene.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncCx0Ifq98
For now, they simply existed, two souls intertwined against the uncertainties of life, finding solace in the echoes of the reactor's steady hum. Not knowing that it could become a horrible eye, consuming everything. Even their lives around it.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQfg9Qy0WW
Chapter 6: Through The Looking Glass
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4sACrA3UjH
Mel stood beneath the expansive night sky, stars twinkling like distant lighthouses guiding him through his thoughts. The universe stretched out above, an infinite canvas that momentarily drew away the day’s fatigue. As he gazed upwards, the cosmos seemed to fold in upon itself, the stars spiraling into a vortex that pulled him from the tranquil observatory into the heart of chaos.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNAQmZkKp9
He was suddenly in the control room, the alarm lights spinning in a silent frenzy. He couldn’t hear anything. His gaze was drawn to the Dark Matter Reactor, now a monstrous silhouette engulfed in flames. The temperature readings on the monitor climbed at an alarming rate, the numbers blurring as they soared past 120,000K. Within a heartbeat, the display blinked out, replaced by a stark "ERROR."
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmdyuNmbfk
Darkness enveloped the room. Objects began to levitate, papers, tools, everything unanchored became caught in a gravitational dance, twirling towards the ceiling. Mel felt his own feet leave the ground, his ascent slow, almost graceful compared to the frenetic rise of the objects around him. Then, as abruptly as it began, everything crashed down in a tumult of noise and destruction. He suddenly could hear everything, the alarms, the rumbling of the facility.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQSRlPp5g7
The observation window, once a clear barrier between the control room and the reactor, was torn asunder. Mel looked through the gaping maw into the abyss beyond—the reactor was no more, only a black void ringed with the angry orange of uncontrolled energy, consuming everything in its path.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2XRPbjqom
In his hand, he felt the edges of a photograph, Jules giving him a peck on his cheek as he had a peace sign up. Her image flooded his mind, a sense of calm washed over him, and he smiled back, just before the nightmare wrenched him back to reality.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8OLPTvZXD
He awoke with a start, his wife’s form still nestled against him, her breaths shallow as she teetered on the edge of sleep. Her startle at his sudden movement turned into concern as she studied his face, searching for signs of distress. He reassured her with a smile, though the shadows of what he'd seen lingered in his eyes.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡooFsO2jCuA
Time passed as they sat in silence, the television's drone a mundane soundtrack to the extraordinary events of their minds. When it was time to leave, they made their way to the parking lot. Jules clung to Mel's hand, her grip firm. He noticed their car, parked perfectly, putting Mel’s driving skills to shame. His embarrassed look was met with a simple, reassuring smile from Jules.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTxzcqEYqk
The drive home was quiet, Jules not showing intention of letting go anytime soon. As they entered the house, Mel felt a twinge of concern at her uncharacteristic behavior. He tried to gently disengage from her hold, but her expression—upset and almost angry—stopped him. Instead, she wrapped her arms around him, a silent declaration that she was not ready to let go.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBBfENVjvN
In the bedroom, Mel suggested they change into more comfortable clothes, but Jules’ response halted him. "No, that would mean I have to let you go," she said. So there they lay, atop the bed, still in their day clothes, Mel surrendering to his wife’s need for closeness, wrapping his arms around her as she drifted into sleep.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8y3tsiYv8
Mel lay awake, the image of the abyss from his nightmare imprinted behind his eyelids—a void that could stare back with an intent of destruction so profound it seemed almost alive. The reactor, the very heart of their world, had in his dream become something unfathomable, something that could not only look back but also swallow them whole. Although one question remained: Was it a nightmare?
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbO1Ti9Cv2w
Chapter 7: Twilight Shift
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImfMSPBhJE
Mel stirred first, the room still cloaked in the soft hues of twilight. Jules was still deeply asleep beside him, her breathing steady and peaceful. Carefully, not wanting to wake her, Mel reached for his phone to check their schedule for the shift tonight. It struck him as odd that Dr. Kaiser had been granting some employees unexpected vacation days, while others were called in for mandatory training that they didn't seem to need.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOihNODdz8G
As he contemplated the strangeness of the staffing changes, Mel thought about what a surprise night off could have meant for him and Jules. Maybe they could have enjoyed a quiet night walk on the beach, the stars above them shining like distant beacons of tranquility. He let out a silent sigh.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7e5iISdOW
With a tender touch, Mel leaned over and softly kissed Jules on the cheek, bringing a slight smile to her lips even in her slumber. He quietly left the room, closing the door with a faint whisper, and made his way to the bathroom to freshen up.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8lC2Q9xEt
After washing up, he started a large pot of coffee, considering that the night ahead might be long and demanding. He had made it with the intention of sharing it with Jules. The coffee brewed, filling the kitchen with its rich aroma. Mel thought about Jules’ recent clinginess, a behavior so unlike her usual independent nature. Although he knows Jules as an independent and knowledgeable wife and employee, she often seemed to lose focus when around him. It made him feel deeply loved but equally concerned about her recent clinginess.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAoR6vSyEo
Settling on the couch, he turned on the TV to a low volume, not wanting to disturb Jules’s rest. Soon, he heard soft footsteps approaching. Before he knew it, Jules’ hands gently cupped his face. He looked up at her, his head resting against the back of the couch.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHR5fADBnuT
“Who said you could stop cuddling me and leave my bed without waking me up?” Jules teased, a playful glint in her eyes.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuezDdJ9ROH
"Your bed? Pretty sure I moved it into the bedroom and assembled the entire thing myself," Mel retorted with a grin.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7alcoOlR05
"Well, I was the one who bought it, and I was supporting you as you built it," Jules countered, her smile unwavering.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmHGkA3KoY
Mel chuckled. "Well, I was gonna buy it first, but you already bought it before I even had a chance. And I remember you even tried to give me kisses on the ride home to make me less upset," he recalled, the memory bringing a lightness to his heart.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Z8i8q49Ne
Jules, momentarily at a loss for words, simply leaned in and gave Mel a tender kiss. "I love you," she whispered.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWx7y6c8dq2
"I love you too," Mel replied, his heart full. He got up to fetch the coffee, adding, "I have a feeling I won't get the chance to miss you tonight so I made us both coffee we could share."
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFWFcElTdH
Jules' eyes sparkled with delight as she playfully snatched the cup from Mel just as he was about to take his first sip. She took a tentative sip herself, finding the taste surprisingly bearable. Realizing Mel had adjusted the brew to suit her taste, she smiled, touched by his thoughtfulness.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0nyy12gnf
They quickly changed into fresh work clothes, forgoing their usual pajamas, and set off for the institute. The night shift awaited, a shift like no other, underpinned by the unspoken fears and hopes that had woven themselves into the fabric of their night.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqjiX6dKr2
Chapter 8: Too usual?
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4LhQ4C4GN
As Mel steered their car into the institute’s parking lot, he playfully began to tease Jules about her parking skills. “You know, if you’d let me teach you, you could park as smoothly as this,” he said with a grin.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfARmZOoss
Jules, already on edge, squeezed his hand. “Oh, really? You know I'm better at driving than you are,” she retorted, her grip tightening.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQ1WJwNph7
“Ow, okay, okay, I yield!” Mel laughed, wincing slightly but amused by her spirited response.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEC4JKJ7lf
After parking the car and heading down to the main facility, instead of heading directly to the control room, Mel guided Jules towards the maintenance hall. Jules, her hand still firmly clasped in Mel's, looked up at him with a confused expression. "Why are we going this way?"
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4zBErDvIe
"We've got to do your duties, sweetheart," Mel replied affectionately, a hint of teasing in his tone.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIugkgGa0LQ
Jules realized Mel wasn’t going to let her avoid her responsibilities, even with her reluctance to let him out of her sight. In the maintenance hall, they changed into their work gear. Mel picked up the radio, turning it on just in time to hear that Foxtrot-9, the facility's nuclear reactor, had been successfully synced. His silent celebration was met with a puzzled look from Jules.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXW29TtfRju
"Why are you so happy about F9 syncing up?" she asked.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezUUarBRp3
"Just good to hear things running smoothly," Mel replied, trying to hide his relief amid the tension of the day.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhrHj2iL9q
They first headed to Foxtrot-9’s control room to check the functionality and ensure the emergency doors were working properly. After completing their tasks, they headed to the DMR’s control room.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvFAV2oe2I
As they left Foxtrot-9, they crossed paths with Dr. Kaiser, who hurried past them with an unusual sense of urgency. They exchanged a glance, finding her behavior odd but not dwelling on it.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXB2mI2vxnJ
Entering the control room, they were startled by the sudden announcement of the lockdown drill, a reminder that Jules had completely forgotten. The memory of Mel’s fate flooded back, gripping her with fear. She clung to Mel tighter, her anxiety palpable.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnz4pOalNx
Mel, feeling her distress, wrapped his arms around her. "It's just a drill, nothing to worry about," he reassured her, though a flicker of doubt crossed his mind.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9RElO1t67
They proceeded with their maintenance tasks inside the control room, finding everything in order. After checking the servers outside as well, they moved down to the maintenance lockers below to inspect the fuel cells.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuEG2tyhFv
As they were finishing, the door burst open. Steve stood there, his face etched with urgency. "Mel, you need to get to the control room now! The DMR's temperatures are rising, and its integrity is dropping fast!"
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9K89ZMH1wj
A chill ran down Mel's spine, the echoes of his nightmare resurfacing with a vengeance. But it was Jules' reaction that hit him hardest. She clung to him even tighter, her fear going above his own. The possibility of his nightmare turning into a reality was terrifying, but even more so was the thought of Jules facing that horror. Unknown to him, was the fact that she would have to face it again..
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lxonvswWV
Chapter 9: The Edge of Catastrophe
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNuuHgc8rAK
As Mel, Jules, and Steve burst through the control room door, an ominous announcement from the Facility Automated Announcement System (FAAS) echoed throughout the room: “Reactor Core Structural Integrity Monitoring Systems Failure. Attempting to reboot.” Their eyes were immediately drawn to the integrity status monitor, which ominously read -7% and lowering. A moment later, the FAAS issued another grave statement, “Critical Error. Reboot Failure, Integrity Status Unknown.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77cStcmC1A
Mel, his mind racing, tried to position Jules in the center chair at the shutdown controls, aiming to take decisive action. However, Jules’ grip on him was unyielding, her fear palpable. He attempted to reason with her, to convince her to let go so he could fully engage with the crisis, but his efforts were interrupted as the FAAS issued a facility-wide alert: “WARNING. All facility scientific personnel. Please evacuate immediately. You have 11 minutes to reach the minimum safe distance.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqJE2Kb1Lx
Realizing he couldn't persuade Jules to release her grip, Mel resolved to work with her holding onto him. His hands moved swiftly across the control panels, shutting down all systems heating the core and activating cooling for the reactor. Amidst their frantic efforts, a human voice resounded over the intercom, “Attention all personnel. A code red has been issued by the FAAS. The lockdown has been overridden with the designated code: bravo-9. Please proceed with evacuations immediately. This is not a drill. I repeat. This is not a drill.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7pwXrKA7d4
With the situation in the control room escalating, Mel turned his attention to the relief valves, a critical measure in stabilizing the reactor's temperature. "Turn the first one!" he commanded the employee closest to the valves. The employee acted promptly, and the temperature readings started to decrease, indicating the beginning of their stabilization efforts.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7mCMYK3z9
As the temperature began to rise again, Mel urgently directed, "Turn the second one, now!" The employee quickly complied, and the temperature steadied, ceasing its dangerous climb.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQtAMNLQ6W
Encouraged by these initial successes, Mel instructed for further action. "Now, turn the last two relief valves!" he ordered. The employee did so, and the temperature began to drop rapidly, moving towards the critical threshold of 3,000K needed for the shutdown process.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsUUXbOjAU
At this crucial moment, another human announcement came on: “Attention Reactor Control Room Personnel, you are instructed to attempt a reactor shutdown before evacuating the facility. Attempting to flee will have you terminated on sight. This is your only warning.” The severity of the message resonated through the control room, instilling a sense of grave responsibility among the staff.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdXLN1lcF8
However, the announcement also sparked fear among some staff members. In a sudden rush of panic, several employees abandoned their posts and fled the room, driven by the instinct to survive. Mel’s voice echoed through the control room, calling after them in desperation, “Come back! We need you!” But his attempts were futile as the door slammed shut behind them.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKswWAQGYPe
The room, once filled with the coordinated efforts of a full team, was now quieter, the remaining members looking at each other with a mix of determination and anxiety. The path forward was clear yet daunting, with every action carrying immense weight in the effort to prevent an unprecedented disaster.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMGqCaRlkB
Mel checked the fire suppression system tanks, which were fortunately full. Glancing at Jules, then at Steve. Steve nodded his head slowly, Mel made a heart-wrenching decision. Jules, realizing what was about to happen, protested vehemently, “No!” “I won’t leave you, Mel!”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KGP4BwXFE
Mel, pained but resolute, picked her up and started to run out of the room. Jules’ screams filled the air as she fought him in a desperate struggle.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWPbkiozVN
In a moment of sheer panic, Jules, driven by the fear of losing Mel, slapped him hard across the face. Shocked, Mel stumbled and released her. Jules, realizing the magnitude of what she had done, broke down in tears and ran towards Mel. He immediately enveloped her in his arms, offering her comfort and understanding despite the chaos surrounding them.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEteZCO8uO
“I’m sorry, Mel! I’m so, so sorry,” she sobbed uncontrollably, her words muffled against his chest. “I can’t lose you. I can’t be without you.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtS3sLNYc7M
Mel, feeling his own emotions surging, lifted her tear-streaked face to meet his gaze. He kissed her gently, a reassurance amidst the turmoil. “It’s okay. You’re forgiven, Jules. I love you, and I won’t abandon you,” he whispered, his voice filled with emotion.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4vTuMFIVI
With alarms blaring and the situation deteriorating, they returned to the control room. A control room operator shouted that they needed to activate the fire suppression system. Both Steve and Mel yelled out in protest, but as the operator turned the key and the red button started flashing, Mel intervened with a punch, knocking the operator away from the button. He quickly turned the key back, securing the button under its glass case.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡke6vJATsgO
Helping the operator to his feet, Mel rushed to the shutdown panel as their window to input the code opened. He entered the code displayed on a notepad, but it failed. His subsequent attempts, one being more careful than the last, met the same fate, locking him out and rendering a phase 1 shutdown impossible. They stood on the precipice of disaster, with no clear path to avert the impending doom.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uZOQ0t9Vh
Chapter 10: Desperate Measures
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmmLYoJdTe
Mel's gaze fixated on the reactor, haunted by the memory of the singularity's ominous orange glow and the deafening scream as it devoured everything in its path. He spun around, his heart sinking as he realized Jules, along with Steve and John (A Reactor Controls Operator), were nowhere in sight. Panic surged through him as he darted out of the control room, looking desperately in every direction. The corridors were eerily empty, devoid of any signs of them.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNau80maZj
His eyes then caught sight of the elevator leading down to the maintenance lockers, where the protective hazmat suits for entering the reactor chamber were stored. A knot of fear tightened in his stomach at the thought of what Jules might be attempting. He sprinted towards the elevator, only to find it locked down, inaccessible. Jules locked the elevator. His mind raced with worry as he turned back, running towards the control room in search of another way to reach her.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvUP861bFs
Upon entering the control room, Mel spotted the walkie-talkie. With trembling hands, he switched it to Jules's usual channel. "Jules, come back!" he screamed into the device, desperation coloring his voice. "We need to evacuate now!"
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPueFMUJxuG
Jules's voice crackled through the static, her determination clear even amidst the chaos. "It’s my turn to save you and everyone else, sunshine," she responded. As she spoke, Mel heard the distant sound of the airlock closing in the background.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIXsZ1Cvn8
Acting on instinct, Mel rushed to the fire suppression system. He tuned the fire suppression system to release 30% of the tanks. He turned the key and slammed his fist against the button, unleashing a slight rainstorm onto the reactor as the screens showed the tanks very slowly draining. He watched, heart pounding, as torrents of water cascaded down onto the DMR, engulfing it.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZSJJEP7uf
The airlock opened, and Jules, along with Steve and John, stepped out, gazing up at the DMR being rained on by the fire suppression system. Jules looked towards the control room window and locked eyes with Mel. Through the glass pane, she could see his tear-streaked face, his hands pounding on the glass, silently begging her to return.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCQveMNBap
Mel stepped back, his gaze shifting to the temperature readings. It was a nightmare come to life. Despite the fire suppression efforts, the reactor's temperature continued to soar, now at a staggering 30,000K. The lights in the facility flickered ominously, and gravity began to fluctuate wildly. Mel felt his body being lifted off the ground, pulled by an unseen force, before being violently slammed back down. A table caught in the gravitational pull came crashing down onto his knee, pain shooting through his leg.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20cCV8awch
Gritting his teeth against the agony, Mel limped back to the control panel for support. He glanced towards Jules and the others, who were making their way towards the DMR hatch on a lift. Frantically, he tried to reach her through the walkie-talkie, his voice weak and trembling. On Jules's end, however, all she could hear was static.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAG8VkybknX
Refusing to give up, Mel, despite his severe injury, decided to head to the maintenance lockers himself. He stumbled out into the cavern of the facility. Taking the outside elevator down as far as it would go, he realized it wasn't enough. And as he was about to head for the second elevator, it collapsed, falling down into the depths of the cavern. He needed to get closer. Closing his eyes for a moment, he gathered his resolve, thought of Jules, and leaped towards a lower catwalk.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYApRuhpmJ
He landed roughly on the fence, clinging to it for a few precious seconds before letting go and falling onto the ground, landing on the catwalk leading to the maintenance lockers. Despite what was surely a broken knee, he pushed through the pain, quickly donning a hazmat suit, and ran towards the airlock.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqPEFP3Bq9
As the airlock began to close, a loud crash echoed through the chamber. "Jules!" Mel screamed, fearing the worst. He stepped into the airlock, his heart pounding, his mind a whirlwind of worry and determination. As the doors sealed shut, he braced himself for what he might find on the other side, ready to face whatever lay ahead in the depths of the reactor chamber.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mCPzxWapa
Chapter 11: A Moment Reclaimed
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVq8QXOspf
As Jules, Steve, and John reached the reactor hatch, it blew open with a hiss, signaling their timely arrival. The urgency of the situation was palpable. “Everyone, get ready to pull out the fuel cells on my count!” Jules commanded, her voice steady despite the chaos. They positioned themselves at the crucial points, their hands ready at the release mechanisms.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrwnu3Rgwq
“3, 2, 1, Now!” Jules yelled. With a coordinated effort, they pulled the levers, and the fuel cells were ejected, and
the reactor’s ominous hum and the orange glow began to fade. The DMR, the source of so much potential and peril, was slowly powering down whilst the rest of the fire suppression tanks was raining down on the reactor. They had managed to stall the reactor, averting a catastrophe, at least for the moment.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQ7efseQJa
Meanwhile, Mel emerged from the airlock and witnessed the reactor's gradual shutdown. A fleeting sense of relief washed over him, but his primary concern was finding Jules. He started down the catwalk, each step a painful reminder of his injured knee.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYXSzuPjd9
Suddenly, the relative calm was shattered by a resounding crash. Mel looked up in horror as one of the power lasers broke free from the DMR and plummeted towards the catwalk. Adrenaline surged through his veins, but his injured knee betrayed him, slowing his escape. The laser struck the catwalk, tilting it dangerously. Mel found himself sliding towards the edge, his fingers desperately clawing for a hold.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1XEgyKQTv
From the elevator, Jules, Steve, and the other employee watched in terror. Jules’ scream echoed in the chamber as she saw Mel struggling for his life. She felt helpless, her heart racing with fear for Mel.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7csjMXko9H
Mel’s grip weakened, his knee buckling under the strain. He glanced down at the fiery abyss below, then back at Jules. His face was etched with determination and fear. In that critical moment, Sona, a brave control room operator, appeared with a jetpack, throwing a rope to Mel.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMNq2M9YGt
Grasping the lifeline, Mel pulled himself up with sheer willpower. His arms ached, his knee throbbed with pain, but he pushed through, driven by his will to survive and return to Jules. Finally, he reached the safety of solid ground, collapsing just as the catwalk surrendered to gravity and crashed into the inferno below.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWhNkFPoNW
Sona quickly maneuvered them back to the reactor chamber entrance using her jetpack. Once they landed, Jules ran to Mel, throwing her arms around him, the hazmat suits creating a barrier yet unable to diminish the intensity of their embrace. Mel, grimacing with pain, managed to smile at her through his discomfort. “Getting out of this suit sounds like a good idea right now,” he joked weakly.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZZVQcyn7g
They hurried out of the airlock, and Jules tenderly assisted Mel out of his suit. Once free, she held him close, her arms conveying relief, love, and a tinge of reprimand. “Don’t you ever dare do something so reckless again,” she whispered, her voice a mix of relief and lingering fear.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXAZgqjjS1
Mel, looking into her eyes, his voice laced with affection and pain, replied, “The same goes for you.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2L8KAEaYop
Their brief respite was interrupted by the arrival of emergency services. Mel was carefully placed on a stretcher, his knee clearly injured. As they prepared to take him and Jules to the surface, and then to the hospital, he looked at her with eyes full of love and gratitude. This ordeal had pushed them to their limits, but it had also reinforced the unbreakable bond they shared.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjVYYJ9UT7
Chapter 12: A Moment of Reprieve
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3V8tGnFNkn
Days after the catastrophe at the Madison Research Institute, Mel, now on crutches, and Jules, nursing minor burns, slowly ambled towards their car in the hospital parking lot. The air was filled with a subtle melancholy, especially from Jules, who missed the simple joy of holding Mel's hand, now preoccupied with his crutches.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTm9PgyhmIJ
Noticing her quiet sadness, Mel stopped and gently directed her gaze towards him. "Hey, Sunshine, notice anything different about me?" he asked, a playful grin lighting up his face.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgetUz3pgld
Jules leaned in, examining his face with a puzzled expression. "No, Love, I don't see anything," she responded, her brow furrowing in confusion.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMASidO6MSe
"Look closer, Jules," Mel encouraged, his eyes sparkling with a hint of a secret.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Ck5qX7bNO
Intrigued, Jules peered more intently into his eyes, her face inches from his. As she began to inquire what she was supposed to find, Mel interrupted her with a long, deep kiss, a loving gesture that instantly lifted her spirits and filled her heart with warmth.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSh6gfJuzM
After helping Mel settle into the passenger seat, Jules took the driver's seat. As they drove home, Mel playfully teased her about her driving, pretending to be scared. "Watch out! Oh, that’s just a leaf" he said with exaggerated fear. Knowing full Jules is the better driver.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtz2riuE3N
Jules laughed, shaking her head. "You’re such a tease, Mel. But don't worry, your brave wife has got this," she replied, her smile infectious.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxpuHpGHbk
Once home, Jules insisted that Mel rest in bed while she made lunch. Mel, wanting to contribute, initially resisted, but one firm look from Jules, and he relented, calling after her, "Alright, my queen, but you owe me one!"
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnzl4XTKyP
In the bedroom, Jules arrived with a tray of homemade soup. She settled it on a bed table and sat beside him. As Mel reached for his spoon, Jules gently took it from him and began to feed him, adding, “Let me take care of you, my love.” After each spoonful, she would plant a soft kiss on his cheek, making each bite a moment of tender care.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrxHXeHnsm
Turning on the television for some background noise, they were shocked by the news of Dr. Helene Kaiser’s death. The report of her car found at the bottom of a cliff, presumably due to tampered brakes, cast a shadow over their light mood. Sensing the gloom setting in, Jules quickly switched to a more cheerful channel.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NHevTbrrU
Mel, holding her hand, looked into her eyes with deep love. “Jules, my beautiful wife, I’m so glad we’re safe. Having you here, with me, is all I could ever ask for.”
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulDD9Zntd6
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxMwjNca6f
As the day unfolded, they found solace in each other’s presence, a comforting reminder of their enduring love. Unbeknownst to them, their challenges were far from over. That night, as they slipped into sleep, they found themselves ensnared in a shared nightmare, a cycle of terror that would make them question reality and time itself. Was it gonna be a repeat? Or something worse?
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDW3Szv4Sxh
