Old Man

[Joe Nomalos]

This is a short story I came up with when I was bored in class. It's a little more than just an action or revolution story. It's more about finding yourself and accepting change and above all things,making yourself matter. It's kind of depressing at first but I just kinda figured. The world literally changed over night. Monsters literally fell from the sky. Cyborgs and aliens walk around casually now. My grandparents can barely deal with whats on cable. I thought it would be nice to see hwat the now world would be like from the POV of someone who'd been around long before the monsters or aliens. Someone who worked so hard to find a place in the world then lost that place in a matter of moments. PLus I just kind of like th eold man. Hope you enjoy it.

 

[Joe Nomalos]

Old Man​

Chapter One: The New World​

It was just cold now. Cold and the metal. There used to be more. He remembered when there were lakes and rivers. Animals, real animals, everywhere. Bears, caribou, jackrabbits, and even timberwolves. Now there was just the cold. He was an old man in a new world and it didn't really need him.
The iron factory loomed over him and the others and they entered into it's steel belly. Peter punched in. He went over to his line and began throwing scrap metal into the flaming grinder.
It was a simple life now. No real purpose for an old man like himself. Everything he knew about life pertained to the old times. Times when the aliens stayed on the screen and didn't go around glaring at you with their red eyes. The times when bad wheather was just wheather and not some portal sending a horde of monsters into your backyard. Of course Peter himself had never seen any of the monsters but he had heard about them. Green things that shot poison at you and small crab things that attached themselves to your brain and turned you into zombies.
Yup. It was a new world and Peter Ivers was just an old man pining over the old days. God how he missed the old days. He'd been a steel worker back then. It wasn't the most important of jobs and he'd still been an old man but he'd been an old man with a place. Now he was nothing. Too old to join the Combine and too young to just roll over and die. He had no place so he worked at this God forsaken factory. Picking up the metal, throwing it into the grinder, picking up more metal. He didn't know what all this metal was for or even where it came from. He just threw it into the grinder.
Chancellor Breen came on the monitors. Not the real one, just the bullshit picture they liked to cycle around. Then the voice that was even more fake bullshit than the picture played it's bullshit message.
"We here at City 61 ore processing would like to thank all of our workers for doing such a wonderful job and procuring a safe and peaceful future for the people of Earth. The Combine and Earth, making the universe a better place."
City 61. City 61! Was he the only person who realized the place was called Anchorage? Was he the only person who cared? City 61. It wasn't even a city. Not really. No one cared though. No one but him. He was an old man waiting to die in a new world. Hopefully his wait wouldn't be too long and maybe, just maybe, before he went, he could do a little bit of good.
Peter Ivers picked up a larrge chunk of metal and threw it into the grinder. He picked up another.

 

[Jintor]

Yeah, Groovy. Definitely. Good POV.

 

[Sloth]

That is awsome, better than some of the "Rebel" POV stories

 

[eatbugs]

Too true, some of the stories about rebels just get tedious, I mean it's all been done before.

 

[Joe Nomalos]

Old Man​

Chapter Two: Coming Home​

The kid was already screaming when Peter came home. He could hear his daughter screaming back.
"Stunning Betterton, you do not talk to me that way, I am your mother."
"I don't have to listen to you you stupid civvie."
Peter heard a door slam and his daughter, Elaine, came back into the living room, crusing under her breath. She jumped when she saw him.
"Oh, Dad, you scared me half to death. How was work?"
"It was alright. Did you guys eat already?"
"No, dinner'll be done in a little bit."
Elaine went over and kissed her dad's rough cheek. Even her kisses seemed weary anymore.
"I love you, Dad."
She hugged him.
"Is everything okay, Laney. You want me to go straighten that kid of yours out."
She laughed humorlessly.
"He wouldn'tlisten to you. You're just a stupid civvie."
"Yah," Peter said, "I heard. I see his father's being such a good influence on him.
Elaine started toward the kitchen.
"Don't start, Dad."
"Elaine, I just can't seem to figure out why you're with that man. He definitely doesn't treat you right. He's the exact opposite of Georgie."
Elaine froze a little at that name.
"Dad, please."
Peter started to feel a little ashamed.
"I'm sorry, Laney. You know I didn't mean to bring up, George. I just dont know why your with that dumbass, Carl."
Elaine spoke to her father without facing him.
"Dad," Elaine said sternly, "I'm with him because he can protect us. Because he can promise my kids won't get shot on the way to school. That's why. I'm sorry if that's not enough, Dad."
Peter turned to go.
"Sorry, Laney," he said, "I just miss George is all."
"So do I, Dad."
"I'll be put on the back porch."
"Okay, Dad. I'll call you when dinner's ready."
Peter went out to the back porch to wait for dinner
The back porch was Peter's favoriteplace. it was the only place that still really felt like home. There house was located on a bluff and Peter could look out onto the cold shore and, better yet, the beautiful Northern Lights that shone liek fire. When Peter was back here he could just sit in his chair and make believe it was the old days again. He could bring out a radio with some Little Richard or Bob Dylan, he could head over to the aged tire swing and have a sit, he could even light up a pipe and get a small buzz. The back porch was where Peter sat, watched the lights, and reminisced.
Peter watched the auroraborealis dance in the night sky, blocking the far away stars that had once held so much beauty to him btu now just seemed like glowing caution signs. Maybe it was because he now knew each one of those far away lights held more creatures and bad times and any fo them could just show up here whenever they wanted. It was a scary thought. One he could block out while he sat ont he back porch.
Peter closed his eyes and made believe it was the old days when City 61 had been Anchorage, when Laney and the kids came to visit during the summer, when ore processing had simply been a steel factory, and when George Flanders had still been alive.
George Flanders and Elaine Ivers had been friends since kindergarten. They grew up together and fell in love as they did it. Peter had not only liked George but had thought of George as a son and when George had asked for Elaine's hand in marriage he swore he was more excited than even Elaine. They were a perfect couple and they had given birth the a perfect child and they had been happy, until the storms had come.
It was Kat's first birthday, Peter hadn't been able to attend due to a bad back injury, and they had been in the back yard with most of Geroge's family. A portal opened right above there pool and dropped something in. It had been one of the first portal storms and none of them knew what the hell had just happened. George, brave as he was had gone to see what the hell had dropped into his pool. A giant fish, the coroner's called it an Icthysaur, leapt up and literally bit George in half.
Elaine and the kid had come to live with Peter after that and they lost touch with the rest fo the family. Then the Combine had come and mad everything better and Elaine had met a soldier named Carl Betterton. Kowing her child would never really be safe as long as she was a civilian, she seduced and married Carl and five years later they gave birth to the exact opposite of Kat. A little shit by the name of Stunning.
Now things were as they were. George was dead. Carl was in control. Kat was eleven. Stunning was six. Elaine was unhappy. And Peter was waiting for death.
"Hey, Pop-Pop."
It was Kat, sitting on the tire swing, watching the lights.
"Oh, Kitty-Kat," Peter said, "I didn't even see you there. Watcha doin' out here, sweetheart."
"Just watching the lights."
Kat got up and walked over to her grandpa. She was tall for her age, brunette with beautiful blue eyes and Peter knew in a few more years they'd have to beat the boys away with stun batons. Katrina, Kat for short, was the only person in the house, Peter thought, that still seemed haappy sometimes and Peter knew he loved her. She was the spitting image of her father and the last real good thing in this world. Smart and strong, Kat ahd a bright future ahead of her.
"Can I sit with you, Pop-Pop?"
"Of course, Kitty-Kat."
Peter patted his knee and Kat took a seat.
"Pop-Pop, tell me again what Daddy was like."
Peter smiled. Her favorite story. Peter started on his spiel.
'First thing you should know about your father, Kat, he was the bravest man in the world."
"Braver than you, Pop-Pop?"
Peter smiled again.
"Yes. Braver than me by far."
Peter sat and told his perfect grandaughter about her perfect father.
Peter had just finished when he heard the door bang open.
"Carl's home," Kat said with a less-than-enthusiastic-tone.
She got up and went inside. Peter followed her.
"Holy shittin' bullsquids," Carl bellowed, "I am starvin' like Marvin. Where's dinner."
"I'm puttin' on the table now," Elainse said carrying a silver platter to the table. Carl went to her and she set down the platter. Peter watched disgusted as Carl shoved his tounge down his daughter's throat and squeezed her rear.
"Carl," Elaine weakly scolded with a weary smile.
Kat and Peter sat at the table, next to each other. Carl sat at the head.
"Stunning, come get your dinner."
Stunning trundled in wearing a plastic Combine kiddie mask and toting a toy pulse rifle.
"Shut up, stupid civvie," Stunning mumbled behind the mask as he sat down. Peter shot a glance at the boy. Carl pat his son on the back.
"That's my boy," he said, "don't let any civvies tell you waht to do. You're better than that."
"Damn straight," the boy said.
"Watch your language," Elaine scolded.
"Hey," Carl shouted, "Don't you yell at him, civvie."
"I'm not a civvie, Carl. I'm your wife."
Carl raised his hand to slap Elaine. Peter stood up.
"Don't you dare raise your hand to her," Peter yelled.
Carl stood up with a smile.
"I suggest you sit down, old man."
"Or what?" Peter said fiercely.
Carl fingered the right side of his belt, showing off his stun baton.
Peter resigned and sat down. Carl followed.
"Let's eat," Elaine declared and lifted the silver cover off the platter.
Steam wafted off the platter and the most delicious smell filled the room.
"Crabs," Carl said delighted.
Sitting on the platter, steam stillr ising off it, was the juciest bunch of head crabs ever. The meat was white and tender, what resembled as bones already picked out. They all dug in and everything was okay for a little bit. Peter and his grandaughter talked about her day and how good she was doing in school and Carl and his son talked about all the civvies he taught a lesson too today and how one day he was gonna be just like his dad and Elaine just watched it all, glad to have some peace for a little bit, trying to ignore the horrid comments her son bestowed upon her while her husband watched with an all too cheery disposition. Then dinner was done and Elaine was clearing the table.
"Great meal, Mom," Kat said with a smile.
Peter agreed as well as Carl.
Elaine took all their plates and carted them to the kitchen.
As she went to get Stunning's plate he deliberately spilled it all over the floor.
"Clean it up, civvie," he said with a smirk.
Peter and Elaine both held their tounges. Elaine started picking upt he mess. Then Stunning picked up his cup and dumped it all over Elaine, laughing happily.
Elaine quickly stood up, surprised and angry.
"You little shit," she said and clenched her fist.
Carl shot up just as quick as she had and backhanded her across the cheek.
"Don't you dare talk to him like that."
Peter shot up, not as quick as the others but pretty fast for his age, and went to defend his daughter. Carl brought out the stun baton and threatened Peter with it. Peter backed off.
"C'mon, old man. Gimme a reason."
"Dad, don't. I'm fine," Elaine said rubbing her cheek.
Peter thought about it for a moment then thought better.
"I'll be out on the porch."
Peter left for the porch, his daughter still rubbing her cheek.
Out on the porch he stared back up to the beautiful lights and pushed away his daughter's pain, his family's pain, and his own pain. He tried to imagine it was the old days and Kat came outside and sat on his lap.
"Grandpa?"
"Yes, child?"
"I hate, Stunning. Is that okay?"
"Yes, child, that's okay."
He wrapped his arms around her.
"I love you, grandpa."
"I love you too, Kitty Kat."
"Grandpa?"
"Yeah, Kat?"
"Can you tell me a story? One of the good ones from the old days."
"Well which one do you want to hear?"
"I don't care. As long as the good guys win."
Peter smiled, or tired to at least, and held his grandaughter tight.
"All right, I'll tell you a fairy tale," he said, "A long time ago in a galacy far, far way..."