With her ears ringing, Maya heard cries for help coming from her left, where the crowd had parted. Maya ran over.
“She’s been shot!” a woman yelled.
“We’re paramedics,” Maya said, repeating herself a few times so that people slowly shuffled backward and away from the injured woman. “Step out of the way.”
The woman lay on the ground, clutching her shoulder and crying.
“A bullet ricocheted off that invisible wall and hit her,” a man said.
“We’re going to take care of her,” Maya said. “Everyone, stay back!”
Maya kneeled next to the woman. The bullet had entered her right shoulder near her ball and socket joint.
“It hurts! Please help!” the woman pleaded.
“We’re going to take care of you, ma’am,” Maya said. She turned to Reno. “Keep her stable and stop the bleeding. Is there anyone else who needs to get to a hospital?”
“I don’t think so.”
Maya ran to the rig and retrieved the stretcher from the back. She unfolded the legs and hurried back to where Reno had been holding gauze pads over the woman’s wound, replacing them when they turned a deep, crimson red. Some people ignored the injured woman, but others had circled around her, giving Reno room to work and clearing a path through the crowd for Maya.
At least people still care about their fellow humans. For now.
Maya lowered the stretcher and, with Reno’s help, loaded the woman onto it. They rolled her to the rig and secured her inside. Reno jumped into the back with her, shutting the doors.
Maya climbed into the driver’s seat and threw the rig into gear. She took one last look at the crowd and the police trying to maintain some semblance of order.
I hope you guys are on the other side and far away from this thing. But if you’re not, stay away from it. Mom is coming.
She turned on the siren and sped away.
13
Transcript of news broadcast, WLVG Channel 2 Las Vegas
Sally Whitehead: For breaking news, we’re going back to Ashley Acuff, who’s been covering this story for almost 36 straight hours—even before the mysterious dome dropped over the city of Nashville. We had made some jokes about what was happening, but this is no longer a laughing matter. In fact, on behalf of WLVG, I want to apologize if those jokes inadvertently offended anyone, now that we’re all seeing how serious this is. Ashley, what are you hearing?
Ashley Acuff: Yeah, Sally, that’s right. Things here are much different than they were when the astronomers were still analyzing the data feed from the gamma-ray observatories. It has become evident to not only the scientists, but to everyone, that there is something headed our way. The level of gamma-ray emissions first detected over 300 light years from Earth was just the beginning. It seems as though the emissions have been tracked from deep space to our solar system. And just a few hours ago, I was told that some of our top-level military satellites detected a physical object passing around the sun, and on a trajectory headed straight for Earth.
Sally Whitehead: I don’t understand, Ashley—what exactly does that mean?
Ashley Acuff: Well, we’re no longer talking about the stuff of science fiction movies, I’m afraid. It’s obvious that sentient beings created the gamma rays that originated from that distant galaxy. And what we know now is that they have sent something to Earth. We can’t say for sure yet what that something is, but we do know that it is a physical object, dare I say an alien spaceship.
Sally Whitehead: Have the astronomers confirmed this yet? Have they gotten any images from our satellites? It seems like we’d be able to detect an alien spaceship approaching Earth.
Ashley Acuff: Surprisingly, no. Most scientists agree that space is so vast that it’s impossible for us to detect everything flying through our solar system. In fact, there have been several asteroids that have flown right by the Earth and we didn’t know about them until they passed. Our computers are constantly gathering data from the skies above, but we simply don’t have enough scientists to interpret and analyze it all in real time.
Sally Whitehead: But we would have known about an alien civilization so close. 300 light years is not far when you’re talking about space. Where are they coming from?
Ashley Acuff: When I first spoke to Dr. Helson of the National Science Institute, he had said that Einstein was one of the first to acknowledge the possibility of wormholes—a theoretical tunnel that goes through time and space which would allow travel to and from distant points across the universe. Our technology isn’t advanced enough to even test this theory, but its quite possible that an advanced life form could.
Sally Whitehead: Are any officials from the National Science Institute talking to you now?
Ashley Acuff: Nothing. I’ve heard that they know the general shape and dimension of the object, but they’re not releasing any specific details at this time.
Sally Whitehead: It sounds like they’re withholding information from the public, Ashley.
Ashley Acuff: That’s what our entire newsroom thinks, as well. None of the scientists I spoke to earlier are returning my calls. Developments are being channeled through a dedicated media spokesperson who can’t—or won’t—answer our questions.
Sally Whitehead: Things have changed dramatically since yesterday. I think most scientists realize that what’s happening in our solar system is directly connected to the dome over Nashville. Have any of the government spokespeople shared any information on that?
Ashley Acuff: None. Nothing at all. Even the President has been silent on the matter. I’ve got to tell you, there’s a growing sense of anxiety and discontent on the streets. Either our scientists don’t know exactly what’s happening or our government won’t let them talk about it. And if the dome and the gamma-ray emissions are in fact connected, in any way, there’s no telling how people are going to react or what’s going to happen.
Sally Whitehead: What is your advice to our viewers? Reports tell us this object is currently behind the sun. Do the scientists know when it will arrive?
Ashley Acuff: The media spokesman has not given us any specifics. However, I have gotten an unverified communication from someone inside of NASA, a person I believe to be reliable. This person claims that whatever is in the sky, and behind the sun, will reach our planet in three or four days. This is based on the trajectory and speed measured across the solar system. But that’s all we know, and again, I must stress, this is from an unnamed source, if a reliable one.
Sally Whitehead: Thanks, Ashley. Well, as you’ve all heard, there are things about the Nashville dome that remain a mystery. For now, sit tight and stay tuned to WLVG as we continue our live coverage of what the media has dubbed, “Gamma Gate.”
14
Maya maneuvered through the crowded streets to the hospital while Reno tended to the gunshot victim. He had kept the injured woman stable, assuring her that her injuries weren’t life-threatening. The deeper they drove into the city, though, and as they approached Centennial Park, the traffic and crowds swelled. Even from miles away, Maya could see the strange obelisk in the sky. People on foot pointed at it as they presumably headed there to get an up-close glimpse of the strange monstrosity which had destroyed the beloved Parthenon.
“Are we almost there?” Reno asked Maya.
“Working on it. I’ve never had to drive through this many people in the middle of the street.”