Segment 3

The ribbed walls of earth stood tall, rippled from the underground cosmic surges exchanging paved solidity and soil with one another. Like a scrunched blanket the waves continued intermittently throughout the pattern, some stone barriers towering much higher then others.

I presently stood at the doorsteps to one of the five worst situated hot-zones emplaced in history. The news only thickened when I came to the realization that the other four stood before me. They're waiting, crumbling, and watching as the ensemble tippy toe around the broken mass. Praying that we don't misplace a step before we make their unpleasant acquittance.

But that was a promise none of us could make.

My newly adopted partner trailed sluggishly behind, panting heavily at every five second interval before asking for a breather. His eyes glistened when he finally noticed my steely resolve crossing the border between the inane normalacy and the twisted future.

"How can you be so calm?"

"I've seen this before Tim... in my dream"

"My name's not Tim, it's Walsh."

"My mistake, you just appeared like a Tim"

"What about you Soldier? What did they call you before the incident?"

Jerry. Mike. Steven. Monikers always had the same ring when you forgot your own. It's been so long since I needed one.

"Just call me Jerry"

"So Jerry, you some sort of seer?"

"No Tim. I've just seen this before"

The pleasant banter between the two of us continued swimmingly in comparison to that of the communication exchanged between Walsh and his silent minion. He'd grunt and the quiet man would waddle up to his master. A moment later he'd fetch the water reservoir and pass the glorious liquid without asking for a sip himself.

"Just how far away is this distant beacon of ours Jerry?" Walsh's voice hollowed more and more as the gained distance and earthly tides grew between the two of us.

"It's quite a distance Walsh. Some would even say it's more then that"

"More then what?"

"Never you mind about that right now Walsh; just try and keep up"

The world was on tilt. The pinball slung to a side, placed precariously by men and monsters alike. I was unwilling to explain just how far away the button lay when I knew Walsh wouldn't live long enough to relish in it's discovery.