Chapter 1 - thunder on the horizon
My name is Robert and I am a military journalist. I am used to writing articles about military operations, located in hot spots. It almost became a habit to be away from home for weeks and always be on the alert - sometimes even weapons skills came in handy ...
Such was my life until I met Lisa. This girl burst into my life and changed it forever, I, with my explosive character, and she, with her prudence and intelligence, we were a rather harmonious couple.
Gradually, I began to visit military operations less and less and my articles became more in-depth and described peaceful problems. I even agreed to move closer to her and moved to the town where she worked.
Around the city, the highway made a loop around a small lake, on the banks of which there was a dense forest. We often liked to get out on this lake and watch the sunset. In those moments, I felt like the happiest person in the world.
Lisa introduced me to her friends and colleagues and we often sat in a small pizzeria located in the building next door to her work. It was a warm evening, a light rain had recently passed and steam was rising from the asphalt. The sun was almost down, I was driving to the city and the tops of the trees were visible on the horizon. A little more and I will reach the place where the highway makes a loop around the lake. Lisa asked me to come to the pizzeria today after her work, she seems to be a little excited talking to me on the phone and wanted to tell me something important.
After all, I have not yet told that the Lisa worked - she was engaged in software development at the Orbita corporation, it seems they were trying to work there with some kind of military technology to move "cargo". But I'm not very tech savvy.
She said they have a large development department there and a bunch of all kinds of equipment, I was surprised how she could combine the talent of an engineer and such beauty.
Having almost reached the city, the car stopped obeying - suddenly the engine turned off and the headlights went out. It began to darken quickly and a strong crack was heard from the speakers!
I jumped out, there was silence around.
The highway ran through the forest to the Orbita technology building where Lisa worked and a bright flash of light appeared on that side, which immediately went out, leaving a pale green glow in the sky. Thunder rumbled in the distance, but it was not a thunderstorm - there were no clouds in the sky. The engine suddenly started and the headlights came on.
Squeezing out of the car, I rushed to the city, trying to cut off every turn, leaving dark stripes on the asphalt, I braked sharply - the road was blocked by police cars. The entrance to the Orbita technology building has been closed. It was dark all around, there was no light in the city and the streets were empty. I did not meet a single police officer, only a neon sign of a pizzeria flickered somewhere in the distance where Lisa was supposed to be waiting for me ...