POV : FORT BONE

  Portals burst open in a series of blinding flashes, sending forth a torrent of people tumbling through. Two thousand newcomers spewed in, their faces etched with a blend of confusion and nervousness as they stepped into this strange new reality.

  “Welcome to Fort Bone!” a member of the Earth’s Children marching band announced, their instruments gleaming in the sun. The upbeat tempo of their music filled the air, instantly lifting the spirits of both the newcomers and the citizens of the Fort Bone Empire. The marching band paraded through the crowd, welcoming the newcomers with cheerful songs and festive banners, creating a lively atmosphere amid the chaos.

  Atlas stood at the forefront, ready to greet the new arrivals with a warm smile. “Welcome, everyone! You’ve just entered the Fort Bone Empire, and we’re thrilled to have you here!” His voice boomed confidently over the jubilant sounds of the band.

  As the crowd began to settle, Olivia, the empire's renowned diplomat, stepped forward. “We know this is a lot to take in, but fear not! We’re all friends here,” she said, her soothing voice cutting through the noise. “You’ll find plenty of opportunities in the Wasteland, and we’ll help you get acclimated.”

  Amidst the mixed crowd, soldiers from the United Earth Army mingled in, their uniforms crisp and authoritative. They had their mission to accomplish in the Wasteland and they didn’t want to fail right out of the gate.

  As the new arrivals took in the sight of the colorful band and the friendly faces, a sense of hope began to replace their initial confusion. A man in the front row shouted, “Is this for real? We get a welcome party? Isn’t this the place where you get your head blown off by the Red Fairy? And full of monsters?”

  Atlas chuckled, the atmosphere infectious. “Not if you are lucky and get sent to our settlement! You’re in Fort Bone now, and we celebrate every new arrival. You’re going to be alright here!”

  Meanwhile, the citizens of the Fort Bone Empire exchanged knowing looks, accustomed to the periodic influx of new people. Some laughed and clapped along with the music, while others shared stories of their own arrivals, creating a camaraderie that helped bridge the gap between the old and the new.

  “Stay close, everyone!” Atlas called out as he guided the newcomers toward a designated area where they could get settled. “We’ll have food, drinks, and a chance to meet some of our other residents.”

  “Let’s show them around!” one of the Portal Crushers suggested, stepping forward with enthusiasm. “The Wasteland has a lot to offer, and we’re here to help you find your place!”

  Just as they began to move the crowd toward the welcome area, the portals flickered again, and another wave of energy surged through the air. The sound of BZORP reverberated even louder, sending a ripple of excitement through the crowd.

  “More newcomers!” someone shouted, their voice full of anticipation rather than dread. The familiar sensation of new arrivals was a common occurrence in the Wasteland, and the citizens were eager to see who would join them next.

  “Alright, everyone, let’s keep this going!” Olivia encouraged, gesturing for the band to continue playing. “Every new arrival is a chance for growth, for friendship, and for building our community.”

  Atlas felt a surge of optimism. ‘This is what the Wasteland needs—unity and celebration,‘ he thought. As the music played on and the welcome wagon rolled into full swing, he prepared for the next wave of newcomers, ready to embrace whatever challenges lay ahead. The Wasteland was alive with possibility, and together, they would forge a brighter future.

  The new arrivals were unusually calm, and Atlas had to admit, it was a welcome change. Atlas didn’t know till later, after the intake interviews, that this probably had a lot to do with the extensive documentary Earth's government had pieced together about him and the Portal Crushers. Interviews with Hong Sha, Alicia, and Jim, along with social media clips from Alyx, were all stitched together into a well-rounded narrative, complete with commentary from survival experts and psychologists. The government had clearly put in the work to prepare anyone who might get portaled in, aiming for the best possible outcome.

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  The shift in attitudes from, ‘Oh my god, what are we doing here?‘ to ‘We knew this was coming, and we're mentally prepared‘ didn't go unnoticed. He realized just how crucial all his previous efforts had been when one of the newcomers, an eighteen-year-old boy, struck up a conversation with him.

  "Atlas, you remember me?" the boy asked, his eyes hopeful.

  Atlas blinked, trying to place him. "Sorry, son, I meet a lot of people, especially with the whole...celebrity thing," he said, feeling slightly embarrassed.

  The boy grinned. "Aw, come on, Atlas. We were at that VIP event together. You even signed my t-shirt!"

  Atlas wracked his brain. That VIP event felt like it had happened lifetimes ago. Well, technically, it had only been three months, but it really felt like two entire lifetimes...plus one redo.

  "I'm Johnny, remember? You even sent people to talk to my mom to let me come," the boy pressed on, looking like he was about to burst with excitement.

  Atlas’s eyes lit up. "Oh my god, you're Jim's son!" he exclaimed, the pieces finally clicking into place. "How's Jim doing?"

  Johnny’s grin widened. "He's good. Swamped with TV talk shows and the government interviews—been at it ever since you all left. He’s like a full on Atlas expert as his job now."

  Atlas nodded. "That's great to hear. I really hope he hasn't been portaled away or anything since he hasn't shown up here."

  "Nah, last time I saw him, he was still at home," Johnny replied. Then his expression faltered. "I don't know how he's gonna react to me being gone, though."

  Atlas gave the boy a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Jim’s always been a tough fella. I know he’ll trust me to take good care of you."

  ‘‘‘

  POV : AMERICA UNITED

  In the settlement of America United, Jed Lawson was having one hell of a day, and not in a good way. The Red Fairy had blown through town, leaving her signature lightning and death in her wake, and as if that wasn’t enough, 2,000 people had just portaled in out of nowhere. Unlike the Portal Crushers, who had some nice, orderly system for handling newcomers, Jed’s situation was a complete mess. People streamed in with no warning, no plan, and no clue what they were walking into.

  Sure, their attitudes were better, thanks to that government documentary back on Earth, but it didn’t change the fact that the whole thing was a bit of a shitshow.

  Jed stood, watching as the newly portaled crowd fumbled around, confused but not entirely panicked. He wiped a hand over his sweaty face, muttering to himself, “Why the hell do we never get a warning?” He could already feel the headache coming on, a throbbing reminder that his day was about to get worse.

  ‘At least they ain't screamin'‘, he thought, watching a group of people awkwardly gather their bearings. That documentary had done its job. These folks seemed mentally prepared for whatever mess they were in now. But still, there were too many of them, and America United wasn't set up for this kind of influx.

  He barked orders at a few of his men, "Round 'em up! Get ‘em outta the street before they cause a bigger problem." The men scrambled to follow his commands, herding the newcomers like cattle. The last thing Jed needed was a stampede of confused people in the middle of his settlement.

  As he turned to assess the damage the Red Fairy had left behind, his frustration mounted. Broken stalls, upturned carts, and random bursts of fire where she’d been. That little menace always had a way of leaving destruction, and for some reason, she seemed to enjoy doing it at the worst possible moments. He kicked at a splintered crate and cursed under his breath.

  'Why’d it have to be today of all days?' He sighed. He needed a plan, and fast. These portaled-in folks might have better attitudes, but they still needed food, shelter, and—most importantly—somebody to keep them in line. And that somebody was going to be him.

  One of his men, Roy, jogged up, looking a little pale. "Jed, you better come see this."

  Jed’s eyes narrowed. "Now what?"

  "It’s…uh, well, more people just came through. And some of 'em are armed. Real heavy stuff."

  Jed’s fists clenched. This day just kept getting better and better. "Fine, show me," he grumbled, stomping off toward the newcomers.

  Roy led him to a group of about twenty men in camouflage, standing near the outskirts of the settlement. Sure enough, they were armed to the teeth—rifles, knives, and even a couple of grenades. They looked like they had seen their fair share of fights.

  One of them, a tall guy with a shaved head and a mean look in his eye, stepped forward. "We don't want any trouble. But if it comes, we’ll finish it."

  Jed raised an eyebrow. "We don’t want trouble either, but you’re gonna have to follow our rules. Got it?"

  The man didn’t flinch. "As long as your rules make sense, we can play nice."

  Jed sized him up for a moment. The last thing he needed was a brawl breaking out with all these newcomers, but he knew better than to show weakness. "Alright. We’ll get you all sorted. Just don’t go waving those weapons around unless you’re provoked."

  The man gave a slight nod, and Jed motioned for his men to start escorting the group further into town. His mind raced with everything that needed fixing today—getting these people settled, dealing with the destruction, and figuring out what kind of tricks the Red Fairy was planning next.

  'One damn thing after another,' he thought.