October 3, 2025
Fragment 5: Gerald - Lockdown

Gerald couldn't wait. He grabbed his keys and got in his Rav-4, gunning it towards work. It was only after he pulled out of the apartment complex that he'd realized he was in sweats and an old tee. Oh well, nobody picks their pajamas for the apocalypse.

Twenty minutes later, he turned in to the long drive off the town road. He passed the glowing, sterile "TELTECH" sign and sped towards the data center parking lot. Gerald realized he was still clutching the brick phone in his hand against the steering wheel. He popped open the center console of his car and threw it in. While it was open, he fumbled through, face down looking for his badge. he glanced up just in time and slammed on the brakes.

A few feet in front of him was a black armored truck. Gerald would've made it for a SWAT van, but it was unmarked. As were the fatigues of the armed man standing in front of it. Gerald stared, dumbstruck. The man motioned with one hand - "Turn around." The other rested on the rifle strapped across his chest. Gerald reached down into the center console for his badge again to prove he was in the right place.

This time when he looked up, the man's rifle was drawn. Gerald yelped and put his hands up, gesturing at his badge. The man strafed over to the window and motioned downward with one finger. Gerald rolled the window down a crack when the man barked, "That's enough. Pass the badge through the window."

Gerald complied, palms sweating. He rarely spoke to anyone else at work. Sometimes Gerald would compete with himself for the record of how long he'd spend on the job before even seeing another human being. Rifles were not usually part of the contest.

The man shouted to someone behind the truck. "Critical Facilities Engineer!"

"Let him through," came the reply.

The man's face softened and he let the gun relax on the strap around his shoulder. He handed the badge back to Gerald. "You're clear." Gerald took the badge with shaking hands. The man scrunched his face. "Sorry for the scare, head on in."

At this point, Gerald was ready to go home, but against his better instincts he did as he was told. He parked in his usual spot and badged in at the side door that led straight to the facilities offices. As he walked the halls, his shoes squeaked in the silence. Gerald turned to the control room and saw Kaz over the table, looking exhausted.

"Finally! Did they call you in to relieve me?"

"What?" Gerald looked around for 'they'. "No, I just came in to see if anyone knew what was going on." As the words left Gerald's mouth, he felt embarrassed by the cloudy reasoning.

"What's going on is that the corporate fucks who run this place are trying to kill me! Sarah didn't show up for her shift 4 hours ago, and apparently they didn't send your ass as backup, so they're fine with me just sitting here, chained to this desk until I die."

"Sarah didn't show?"

"No, and I can't reach her or anyone else! My phone is dead and the landline's not working."

"The landline's not working?" Gerald mentally catalogued this with his observation from earlier. Landlines were dead as television, but basic electricity was still functioning.

"Do you have a big fucking ball of earwax lodged in your brain?" Kaz stood and grabbed his coat off the chair behind him.

"Where are you going?" Gerald asked as he brushed past.

"Home! I'm tired man! Good luck sucker."

Before Kaz could dart out the door, a man in a black trenchcoat stepped into the frame. Kaz stopped short of bumping into his chest.

"Gentlemen, a word?" The mystery man ushered Kaz back into the control room with Gerald before he continued. "My name is Nelson, and I've been sent as a representative for Teltech. No doubt you've noticed that there have been some unexpected events this evening." Gerald glared at Kaz, whose eyebrows raised in suspicion.

"You're talking about the drones? And the outages?" Gerald asked.

Nelson nodded. He eyed Gerald. Gerald felt like he was prey being sized up.

"Exactly Mr...?"

"Tennyson"

"Mr. Tennyson. Yes, Teltech was among the first to recognize the disturbances in the area, and mobilized us to help secure the facility."

Kaz jumped in. "Secure it from what? And what drones are you talking about?"

"They were all over the apartment complex! Carrying boxes for everyone, full of money, documents, everything."

Kaz cackled. "Cash delivery drones?"

"Mr. Tennyson is correct."

Kaz's jaw dropped.

"We are unaware as to the provenance of these drones. They were also reported as much more widespread than your apartment complex, Mr. Tennyson. We've gotten reports of drones in all major U.S. metropolitan areas."

"Who...?" Kaz started.

"We're not sure who sent them exactly. That's why this is being treated as the highest security risk. Data centers are locations of national importance, so we have established perimeter security and will be reducing staff to critical functions only." Nelson flaunted his command of the situation.

Kaz repeated himself, "Who are you? Last I checked, the Army wore name tags."

Nelson smiled. "We're First Securities. Teltech partners with us for on-demand security needs."

Kaz rolled his eyes. Gerald continued the questions, a lump forming in his throat. "Are we safe here?"

"We are still establishing the nature of the threat." Nelson looked at Gerald, addressing him now instead of answering questions to the audience of two. "Mr. Tennyson, earlier you indicated you had received a box. Did you also find a phone in the contents of the box?"

Gerald's pupils narrowed in panic. "No, I was at a friend's house. It was his box we opened. I'm not sure what all was in it." The words fell out of his mouth before he could stop himself from lying.

Nelson raised his chin. Gerald was sure Nelson glanced at the pocket of his sweats for a bulge. "We have had reports of some parcels containing phones. These are to be considered compromised at best, possible weapons vectors at worst." Nelson's eyes returned to meet Gerald's. "If you find yourself in possession of one, either destroy it or contact us immediately."

Kaz stared at the two of them, scrutinizing the conversation. Nelson backed out of the doorway, letting some air into the room. "Well, gentlemen, thank you for your cooperation. I'll send a security detail by in fifteen minutes to distribute your new badges and protocol handbooks while we are under lockdown."

"Lockdown?" Kaz nearly screamed. Gerald put his hand on Kaz's shoulder. It was going to be a long night.