Rebel Heart

She listened, unable to fathom the magnitude of chaos he spoke of.

"Protect those below. Some of the private industry's greatest minds are with the VP in the cliff. The VP you can let rot," he added.

She smiled faintly despite her concern.

"General Greene has spent too long at war overseas to know where Ohio is. I've told him you'll help him."

"Of course, sir, but I-"

"Take care, Lana. I hope to see you again."

His ominous farewell silenced her. She watched him as he walked with confident, quick strides to the awaiting shuttle. The shuttle disappeared behind buildings as it headed towards one of the seven helipads on the compound. Heart pounding hard, she turned to face her destination: the command hub, where all emergency operations and critical infrastructure back-up networks and systems for the East Coast were routed in a time of crisis.

"You there, Angel?" Guardian's voice penetrated her spinning thoughts.

"Yes."

"You all right?"

"I don't know," she admitted.

He was quiet for a moment before he spoke in a softer tone. "I won't let anything happen to you, Angel."

She bit her lip, wondering why the gentle words of a stranger affected her as they did. A gust of pine and jet fuel scented wind whipped by her. She stared at a helicopter as it lifted nimbly into the air, imagining Mr. Tim and other politicians aboard it. Two more helicopters landed at different helipads while the searchlights continued to rove the compound. Members of the elite federal government and military personnel darted between greencars and buildings, the buzz of radios and shouts adding to the compound's chaos.

"I'm not ready for the end of the world," she whispered.

"I'm glad I thought to create an emergency chocolate stash."

"Chocolate?"

"I've got extra," he said. "If our paths cross, it will probably signal the end of the world, but if they do, I'll consider sharing. Guardian out."

Lana shook her head, wondering what kind of man thought of chocolate at such a time.