The glow of burning plasma blocked out the setting sun. Nobody in the cities could have hope to survive this onslaught. Anyone who was found fleeing from the surrounding area was gunned down mercilessly.
USS America
The huge aircraft carrier rocked heavily in the massive waves, a hurricane had been buffeting the convoy for two days now. People on board the ship had to stay hunkered down inside but many were too exhausted to do anything other than sleep anyway.
In the medical wing William Morris stayed by the bedside of his friend, Moose was fast asleep on the side of the bed when he was rudely awoken by the nurse coming to change the sheets and empty Brooklyn’s catheter bag.
“You really should get some food mate; you have been here since the start of the voyage.”
Moose smiled meekly but he shook his head, I made a promise that I wouldn’t leave his side until he recovers!” Moose smiled, “I want to be here to take the piss out of the bitch.”
The nurse shook her head, “I’ll get some food sent up to you but I suggest you go take a quick wash while I give your friend here a sponging down.”
Moose smiled gain, “Are you trying to say I stink?” He smelt his pits.
The nurse nodded, “I could smell ya from outside, now go on.”
Moose did as he was told.
When the young radar operator returned there was a steaming hot pie sat on the bedside table.
Moose smiled, ‘What a babe’ he thought to himself. He also appreciated the cold bottle of water that rested on the floor beside his chair; it had been tied to the chair leg so it did not get lost when the ship listed in the storm.
As moose lifted the napkin he noticed a scribble on the other side, he turned it over and smiled as it gave the nurse’s room number. If Brooklyn were only awake, he would never live it down that I pulled his nurse.
The waves continued to pound the ship as it made its way across the Atlantic at full speed. Moose looked lazily out of the tiny window. The light barely got through and the artificial light gave him a headache.
The voyage had been pretty uneventful as battle reports from the American mainland faded from the airwaves. The crew had hoped it was because they were out of signal range but they knew deep down that it was more likely that the resisting troops had been wiped out.
Moose woke with a start in the pitch black as fingers gripped his hair and gave it a sharp yank.
“Ouch, what the hell is going on?” He yelled, his first thought was that the cheeky nurse had returned.
“Moose? Is that you?” A croaky voice came from the bed; it was weak and sounded disorientated.
“Brooklyn, is that you mate?”
“Moose it’s me, where the hell am I?”
Moose dived onto the bed and embraced his mate.
“What the hell are you doing mate, get off of me!”
Moose laughed, he jumped up and turned the lights on.
Brooklyn shielded his eyes, “Could have warned me you bastard.”
Brooklyn slowly acclimatized to the light but he still did not know where he was and what he was doing laying in a bed. As he looked around the room he noticed that he was in a medical bay. A colostomy bag hung from a post next to the bed and there was an intravenous drip next to him.
“What happened to me?”
“Not now Jnr, I’ll be back in a minute. I promise.” With that moose sprinted from the room as he went to alert the nurse.
Brooklyn tried to sit up but he was strapped to the metal bedposts. He suddenly felt very sick and as he yanked his head to the left he threw up all over his pillow.
The nurse, quickly followed by a naval doctor ran in and relaxed his restraints; they placed a bowl in front of him and the young Navy pilot cucked up again.
The nurse called for moose to get him a glass of water.
While Moose left the room the doctor started to complete his checks. He shined a light into Brooklyn’s eyes and watched his pupils dilate.
“Good.” He remarked and ticked something off of his list. The doctor continued to ask Brooklyn if he could feel his touch along his arm.
Brooklyn nodded.
The doctor did the same with the young pilot’s legs.
“Yes,” Brooklyn said but was then sick again as the ship rocked once more.
Brooklyn was told to take small sips of his drink; this would help with the sickness and the dehydration.
Brooklyn did as he was asked and the doctor finished off a few more tests.
“Where am I?” Brooklyn asked again.
The doctor took Moose to one side, I have told him he needs to rest. You can fill him in later.”
Moose shook his head, “With all due respect doc, Brooklyn will keep asking until he gets the truth, he is stubborn like that. It would be best to tell him and then he can get some rest.”
The doctor did not look convinced but he gave in. “Ok, but call us if anything changes, anything at all. Otherwise, I will be back to do some more tests in an hour.”
Moose took a seat next to Brooklyn and told him to brace himself as he was not going to like the news.
Brooklyn listened in horror as Moose recalled the events of the last six days. From when Brooklyn’s plane was shot down and they just managed to eject. Brooklyn was knocked unconscious and Moose had pulled him free of the trees that they had been tangled in.
Then how Washington was completely encircled by Aryan ground forces. The American armed forces had put up a brave resistance but in the end, the enemy forces were just too strong and General Westmoreland had signed an unconditional surrender.
They were now on the USS America on route to England with the rest of the surviving forces who had managed to escape, thanks to the Navy.
Brooklyn sat in disbelief he did not speak for a few minutes and his lip trembled as he tried to find the words he was looking for.
“Shit.” Was the first thing he could get out, he then promptly threw up in the glass bowl.
Moose shook his head, “I’ll clean this up buddy but you need to get some rest.”
Brooklyn passed the bowl over and then lay back down, he nestled his head into the pillow as his eyelids felt heavy. He could feel tears forming.
Moose returned the washed out bowl next to the bed.
Brooklyn looked up, “Have you heard from my mom and Pamela?”
Moose rested his hand on his friend’s back, “Your mom is on Hawaii, she is safe for now.” Moose paused, “Nobody has heard anything from Pam mate. But that doesn’t mean she wasn’t evacuated.”
Moose ordered him to get some rest.
Brooklyn fell into an uneasy sleep as tears rolled down his cheeks.
Brooklyn woke with a start; Moose was still sat by his side reading a magazine on aircraft.
“What time is it?”
“Three pm, you have been out for five hours. The doc had popped in a few times. I will fetch him now as he wants to complete more tests.”
Brooklyn was subjected to a multitude of procedures designed to test his memory, if he had sustained any brain damage and how his motor skills were. He passed with flying colors and when the doctor was satisfied he was given a small hot meal.
Brooklyn was told to go steady for the next few days until they got to England.
Over the next few days the young Naval pilot grew in strength, he went to the onboard gym with Moose for a light workout under the supervision of the nurse. Brooklyn’s pain grew into anger.
“Moose, we are going to get these fucks back for this, you know it and I know it.”
Moose nodded, he could see the intensity in his friend’s eyes. That was when he knew his friend was back for real. Tears again welled up in Brooklyn’s large brown eyes but this time they were tears of rage.