Urban Guerrilla

Chapter 2 - Nulla - Luke and Simon's Apocalypse-1

Chapter 2 - Nulla - Luke and Simon's ApocalypseA panicked voice cut into the static on their CB. “They have infiltrated my unit! All personnel, be advised, terrorists have infiltrated 1st Armoured. We are compromised and ineffective. I repeat, we have been infiltrated by terrorists planted in our units. I repeat…” They heard a loud bang followed by an ear splitting scream. The voice was replaced by static.

Simon turned to his mate, “Wow! Luke, did you hear that, terrorists have infiltrated our army units, they must have killed that guy. This is starting to freak me out.” They set their CB back to scanning the radio frequencies hoping to discover more but all they could pick up was static.

The two teenagers had been listening on their hobby scanner all morning. News stations broadcast of hundreds of synchronised terrorist attacks across the globe. The `Crusaders Of The Revelations' had been threatening to bring down the Apocalypse of the Bible for what seemed ages. Their numbers had exploded after they ran a brilliant, world-wide recruitment campaign earlier in the year. Turning on their CB scanner they listened to the police and ambulance calls with escalating anxiety.

Simon was in the habit of listening to his CB scanner when he woke before dawn almost every morning, but this was different, very different. The radio and TV told of power outages, poisoned water supplies and people dying by the millions. Internet news footage showed images of the Crusaders cutting down civilians in broad daylight. They saw people dead and dying, lying in the streets, poisoned by their municipal drinking water.

In the USA, Asia, India and Europe reports came in describing how the crusaders had also released a biological weapon, similar to the SARS virus. It had a mortality rate close to 90%. It was predicted that it would travel around the globe infecting billions. News reporters went off the air as they too succumbed to the poisoned water and infection.

By midday there were no more news broadcasts, no more TV or internet and no more mobile phone service. Then there was no more electricity either. The poisoned water caused people to die in their homes and on their way to work without even knowing what had struck them.

In Simon and Luke's neighbourhood people began to congregate outside in the street. They gathered in confused and distraught groups as they sought to understand what had happened. Many people simply dropped and died in front of their own homes. Whole families began to collapse to the ground in agony. Simon heard screaming coming from his neighbours house. He was frightened and gathered up his scanner and the backpack he and Luke prepared earlier. The boys decided to escape the city.

It was almost midday and the two teenagers could now clearly hear the approaching sound of gunfire. They guessed their army was fighting in the suburbs as they were forced back towards the CBD.

“Come on, Luke, those terrorists will be here soon, we'd better move. Our parents are probably already dead or captured by now and it's just too dangerous to stay here.” The distant gunfire was moving closer. Simon kicked his dirt bike into gear and pushed forward with his left boot. Luke did the same and their bikes leaped into the now quiet and deserted street.

There was only enough space in their packs for a few days food and water. With much regret, Simon left his remote control helicopter behind. It cost him every cent he'd earned over the entire year. Luke told him they could go back for it when things settled down. Many things were left behind the day of the apocalypse.

As they rounded a bend in their suburban street they almost ran into an army truck filled with armed soldiers. Desperate, hard faced men leveled their rifles at them. The boys pulled up sharply and put their hands in the air. The bikes coughed and stalled, silent.

“What the hell are you two doing out here? Get back home and lock your doors!” came a booming voice and they watched as an officer jumped from the front cabin of the truck. He towered above them with his hands on his hips, looking tough but his red, sweaty face betrayed his fear.

His voice softened somewhat as he said, “Boys, there are terrorists right behind us. Get out of here right now or you'll be caught in the middle when we set up our ambush.”

“We're heading up into the Adelaide Hills, sir,” said Simon. “We heard on the army UHF that the terrorists had infiltrated our military units, some of our own soldiers are terrorists, sir. They might be in every unit. The radio said the military were compromised.”

Sweat flicked from his face as the officer's head jerked back with the news. Simon thought to himself, `You didn't know did you.'

Right at that moment the deafening staccato drumming of automatic rifle fire sounded beside them. Simon swung his head around and witnessed a soldier firing short bursts of his Steyr assault rifle, killing his comrades in the back of the truck. Bodies jerked and slammed backwards from the force of the fire. The uniformed traitor then swung his rifle towards the officer and the teenagers.

Simon and Luke reacted swiftly. Kicking their bikes into life they leaped forward speeding rapidly through the gears. Luke looked back to witness the officer savagely flung backwards as he was hit by the terrorists burst of automatic fire.

The teenagers rode like maniacs through the streets and then into the hills on secret dirt tracks they knew so well. They didn't stop till they could look down on the city itself an hour later.

At one point they had ridden past a terrorist road block as rifle fire cracked around them. Terrified, they put on speed to escape, ducking their bikes behind parked and stalled cars to avoid being hit.

As they neared the top of a bush covered hill they slowed, then stopped. In front of them was a group of civilians sitting beside a Greyhound coach. They appeared lost and disheveled. One explained they were on a holiday tour when the terrorists struck, the driver headed into the hills for safety. A woman called the boys over and asked them what was happening in the city.

“Hi boys, we've been watching you ride up. Can you please tell us what's going on down there. Did our army kill the terrorists and is it safe to get back to our tour?” she asked, her face moving closer to Simon's, almost pleading for good news.

“Lady, things are not safe down there, please don't go into the city. The Revelationists are there, everywhere. We saw them kill an entire truck load of army guys and their captain - right in front of our eyes. We only made it this far on luck,” Simon told her.

Some of the other civilians asked questions and it was obvious to the boys that many of them struggled to believe that their army no longer controlled the city. One even went so far as to a***e the boys for telling lies.

“You think we're lying? Go down and see for yourself then!” replied Luke, he wouldn't be called a liar by anyone. The man shut up and put his head in his hands, rocking silently.

“What about all the dead people?” asked one of the women. “People are dying everywhere. The driver said he saw dead people in the streets and in their cars. I'm terrified. Do you boys know what's going to happen.”

“I told you before, Marian, it's been on the news. The Crusaders Of The Revelations have finally done it. They're killing everybody like they've been preaching for years. Isn't that right, boys?” a middle aged man called out to them.

“Yes, that's right. It's on the news and CB radio, that's exactly what we've heard. They're saying that the water in every city has been poisoned right across the world and we shouldn't drink the tap water.” Simon turned to the lady. “I'm sorry, miss, but things are really bad out there. The terrorists have taken control of the part of the city where we escaped from. They've set up road blocks and they're killing everyone they see.”

He looked up to see the crowd moving in closer to listen. “We got out by sheer luck. I wouldn't go down there, but if any of you want we can let you listen to our CB?” The teenager began to set up their mobile CB set from the rack on the back of his bike. Luke sat on the ground and turned up the sound.

“I'll scan our police channels and see if anything has changed. This morning we heard the armoured cavalry on UHF open channel, warning everyone that the terrorists had infiltrated their units, they were killing everyone. We can't usually listen in on the military frequencies because they scramble their transmissions, but this time was different. They must've done it on purpose. The civilian channels can sometimes come up with something useful like that.” Luke tried to sound hopeful for these clearly distraught and struggling people.

They crowded around but the news was all bad. Reports of army reversals came in from all points. They heard orders passed back and forth between police units, it sounded like the entire countryside was in a total shambles.

One piece of good news was that some of the 1st Armoured Cavalry still held out in the Adelaide Hills. Although they'd lost control of one cavalry squadron the other continued to fight against stiff opposition. They heard a broadcast for the police to organise transport and ensure civilians did not block the roads.

Sadly, few civilians survived. One police report stated that 75% of the population were either dead or dying after drinking the water. The police fared no better than any other service. The report said that the police were barely functioning with a skeleton staff. The only force in any strength was the terrorists.

“Those damned Revelationists killing everyone. I always knew they were doing the work of the Antichrist.” sobbed one woman, others soon joined in.

The woman that called the boys forward said to Simon, “I would get out of here if I were you. Just pack up your set and go into the countryside. Stick to back roads and tracks. Just get out of the city for God's sake.” She looked at them and stepped back into the crowd.

Simon nodded as he and Luke began to pack up their gear. “Miss, I hope you get away safely.” Turning to the group he said, “Good luck everybody, I hope you all find somewhere that's safe from the terrorists, and the army comes to find you. We need to go now, good luck again.” Simon kicked his bike alive and waved. He sped off along a path that he and Luke knew from their years of riding in the hills.

Simon and Luke decided they should try and contact the armoured division higher up in the mountains. They picked their way along back tracks then headed towards a service station off the main road. Their bikes sat on empty and they needed fuel.

The boys arrived at the station but everything appeared too quiet. Suspiciously they climbed off their bikes and took their helmets off. They looked around but noticed nothing out of the ordinary. Sitting out front was a battered station wagon which made the whole place look quite normal, but that added to their sense of dread. Just then Luke pointed to a figure in the window. It looked like old Mr Thornton sitting in his rocking chair, just like they'd seen countless times before. They made their way carefully towards the open shop door.

Simon waved hello but the shape in the window didn't return the wave. He pushed at the front door to the store and called out greetings but still no answer. Stepping inside he almost tripped over the two bodies lying on the floor. Luke followed and then gasped in shock. Simon stared at him with a questioning look on his face.

“What is it?” he mouthed.

Luke pointed to the hunched figure beside the window. Seated in his rocking chair was the elderly owner. His eyes were closed and his mouth open. He didn't seem to be breathing, he looked dead.