The New Reality

A day passed when the Osprey finally made its exit from the half-collapsed hanger. Jason and one soldier sat in the back while the other piloted the Osprey high into the cloudy sky. To their relief, the Osprey was equipt with microbe filters and airtight doors allowing them to remove their masks after a few minutes of flight. For the first time, Jason got a good look at the people who had saved him. Their faces seemed familiar to him, but he couldn't place them to any names.

"Jason, I am glad we got to you when we did." The voice was as familiar as the face it came from.

"Well, I am as glad as you are." Jason said with a smile to pair with it.

"I know you probably don't remember me, but my name is Phillip." All at once, everything clicked.

Phillip was a man that Jason had become friends with in basic training before they separated into their respective branches. It has been around two years since they had last talked before today. Jason and Phillip talked about their experiences that led up to where they are now. Phillip said that up until the collapse of the government he was working in the Mediterranean sea fighting pirates. Towards the end of his story, Phillip went deep into detail about when Africa fought its civil war.

"It was unlike anything I had ever seen Jason. The horizon was lit up by explosions and flames for weeks from the constant fighting. It went from us keeping pirates away to us blockading Africa from sending ships across the sea." Phillip was staring out the window as he spoke.

"So they didn't want the refugees from getting to safety?" Jason asked hooked on the story.

"No, we saved the refugees. They didn't want ships themselves getting by due to the risk of the war spilling out of the country. Couldn't be too careful with a place that big." Phillip said his eyes making contact with Jason's for the first time since the story started.

Phillip went on talking about the rotations of people stationed near Africa being stopped. He talked about how big the risk was when an aircraft or a ship would be in when coming that close to the war. None of the nights for the two years it took for the war to an end was quiet. The air was thick with smoke and gunfire. His story touched on the women and children they rescued who talked about an upcoming dictator. They described him as ruthless but also beneficial to the country he was building.

"So they hated the war but not the guy who was rising through the ranks from it?" Jason asked trying to learn as much as he could.

"Yes, they said he would kill anyone who was in his way. They also said if everyone would give in to him would be taken care of very well." Phillip shrugged not knowing the real answer himself.

"I see. Well, now that beneficial dictator is ripping apart the rest of the world." Jason said as he looked out at the foggy sky.

"I was amazed that he managed to unite Africa under one flag. It just pisses me off that this is what he decided to do with the power that he gained." Phillip said as he laid his head against his bag.

"Do you think we will ever be able to get back to any form of normal after this?" Jason asked not taking his eyes from the window.

"I think normal can never return until we can find a way to make all of our buildings viral resistant." Phillip said with a hint of worry in his voice.

"That will be a long way out." Jason felt his own resolve fading with each question.

"Sadly. I hope we will have a safe place to stay soon." Phillip said as he drifted to sleep.

"I hope so as well." Jason said drifting off to sleep.

In the midst of his sleep, Jason dreamt of what could be next in his path. Would he be safe? Would he die? If he died was his life worth it? What would be on the other side of the veil after he dies?

"Jason wake up." A voice repeated as he was shaken awake.

In a sleep heavy haze, Jason opened his eyes to see Phillip putting his mask on and tossing Jason his. Slowly he put it on trying to wake himself from what sleep was still plagued his mind. When he looked out the window sand was beginning to kick up around them. He felt that they must have found another base to land at until the doors opened. Outside of their Osprey were nothing but ruins of what used to be an American airbase.

"We are going to exit and search for supplies in what's left of the buildings. Stuff like filters for our masks and maybe some food we can sanitize later." The pilot ordered over the headset.

"Understood." After saying this Jason set into full focus.

The door opened and within seconds Jason and Phillip exited the Osprey. They could hear the door shut behind them as they entered a nearby building. Shock set in as they had gotten met with dead piled up near the door like they ran for the exit before dying. He quickly pulled himself together as he stepped over them to get to a cabinet that stood near the back of the room. Within the cabinet, he was able to find a box and a half of filters for them to take with them. This brought a sense of hope to his mind about their situation.

"Phillip I found a lot of filters for us. I will take these back to the Osprey and come back to search for more supplies." Jason said with a hint of excitement of his find.

"Sounds good. Please be cautious. We aren't out of the woods yet." Phillip said barely audible through the static of the lines.

As Jason exited the building a bad feeling fell into the pit of his stomach. This feeling caused him to run to the Osprey and his mind started telling him not to reenter the building. He reached for the headset while he argued with himself. That was when his radio cracked to life.

"Jason we need to leave right now." Phillip's voice was heavy with a sense of stress.

"What is wrong Phillip?" Jason's voice sounded strained with worry.

"This building is rigged to explode and I don't think we will make it if I move. At least now that I look at it." Phillip chuckled slightly after ending his sentence.

"So then what now?" Jason asked his voice starting to sound erratic.

"Leave me here." Phillip sounded like he was filled with sadness.

"I can't do that." Jason spoke as the doors to the Osprey began to close.

"Goodbye old friend." Phillip said as the radios lost signal.