The Oracle Paths Chapter 2 Global panic

Long ago, Jake had grown accustomed to savoring a hearty breakfast before heading off to his job. He'd start with a bowl of milk, followed by a generous serving of cereal, a piece of fruit, and perhaps a mug of tea or coffee. This was the classic French morning ritual. Sweet flavors leading the way. Yet, that routine dated back over five years, to the time when he resided in his uncle's villa.

During those days, he paid little heed to the nutritional worth of his meals. Life was comfortable, free from concerns about sustenance. What Jake overlooked back then was the aftermath of the False Third War, when major cities faced devastating bombings. This led to a real crisis in living space and labor force. Over half of each nation's inhabitants had crowded into those urban centers and capitals.

Regions spanning dozens of kilometers around such areas transformed into barren wastes. The inner lands, typically sparsely settled and set aside for farming or grazing, emerged as the fresh urban hubs. Iconic capitals and renowned cities rose anew, mostly retaining their original names but with subtle tweaks to mark the shift into this modern age.

Paris, the site of his parents' work and tragic end, was revived as New Paris. Constructed squarely in France's heartland, where once only cattle roamed. Naturally, it sprawled across vast territory. Far too expansive, in truth. Consequently, fertile farmland dwindled.

As a result, the era of food plenty drew to a close.

The 'upside' varied by nation, with populations slashed in half. A point for celebration, indeed. Ahem... staying ever hopeful. Embrace positivity no matter the circumstance.

It ought to have worked out smoothly. Reduced territory, slimmer numbers—the ideal match. Yet, actual events unfolded otherwise.

Driven by terror, folks bred like hares. Within two decades, typical families produced three or four children, occasionally five or beyond. Early welfare aid was lavish for those grieving lost loved ones or kin, even jobless ones. The illusory security at the onset of nuclear winter drove the frantic even wilder.

Population figures swiftly rebounded to pre-False World War levels, while food output lagged far behind. Naturally, prices for all victuals soared dramatically.

For the less fortunate who couldn't keep up, synthetic vegan powders turned into loyal companions. To preserve some joy in dining, these 'Happy-Meal' mixes included insects for anyone fighting their meat cravings.

Cheap junk beverages and snacks remained within reach, at least...

Regardless. Breakfast skipped for Jake. Twice-daily doses of that revolting stuff proved plenty. Oh, and the mandatory iodine pills morning and night. Radiation lingered above safe thresholds. Without breakthroughs in meds and nanobiotics, tumors would have claimed many more of the leftover populace.

He rushed out from his apartment, nicely situated in New Paris's upscale sector. Truth be told, most neighborhoods resembled each other. After all, the metropolis was freshly built in record time. Save for rare outliers, early dwellings were mostly uniform public units.

He hopped into the nearest available taxi, easing back as the views blurred past the glass. The driver stayed silent, immersed in her private musings. A woman in her middle years, her dark locks streaked with stress and exhaustion.

He never reached his office.

Mere moments after boarding, a stark white blaze engulfed his surroundings in searing brilliance. Tires shrieked in protest, sending chills through him as the cabbie slammed on the brakes. Jake's forehead smacked the seat ahead when the ride jolted to a halt.

Dazed stars spun in his vision, mingling vivid hues with the lingering glare etched on his eyes. Shouts from every direction pounded his head, hindering any chance to steady himself. Echoes of collisions and wrecks only deepened his disorientation.

Gradually, his vision cleared, revealing a chaotic tableau. Several folks convulsed on the pavement from the abrupt light surge. A poor kid seized up right in the crosswalk's center—that sparked the initial smash-up.

One frantic motorist veered wildly, plowing into elderly ladies exiting a market, then crashing into a power post. Clearly, he wasn't alone in his panic. Bloodstains and flipped cars littered the scene. It was a horrifying panorama.

Finally, he looked skyward, toward the flash's source. His eyes bulged in disbelief at the impossible spectacle, struggling to contain his shock.

A gleaming silver orb hovered above. Enigmatic azure energy veins pulsed across its sleek, reflective shell. Immense in scale, it cast shadows over all of New Paris. Even more awe-inspiring, a colossal counterpart loomed higher up, dwarfing the moon if his gut feeling held true!

My God! An actual spacecraft. A damn extraterrestrial war vessel. They were smack in the midst of an Independence Day scenario. Soon, fellow onlookers spotted the orbital crafts. Fresh bursts of cries and wails erupted louder than before.

But the frenzy didn't persist. The azure glows intensified, swelling with luminosity. After an agonizing stretch, a release occurred.

Countless silver orbs, bat-proportioned, erupted forth, racing downward at breakneck speed. Straight for the earth. For them.

No further urging was needed for the crowd to bolt in terror. Jake witnessed an aged, stooped man discard his cane and dash like a juiced-up youth. Adrenaline wrought wonders. Still, that elder would suffer for his exertion later on.

Jake held his ground. He'd never boasted bold bravery, nor was he a total faint-heart. Above all, logic guided him. These drone spheres moved at ludicrous velocities, nearing sonic speeds—fleeing was pointless. They'd overtake anyone in under ten seconds.

Truthfully, they closed in quicker. Before he could react, one latched onto him. A soft azure scan swept over silently. Then, matching veins ignited on its form. Onyx metallic fluid poured from the gaps, snaking to his right arm. It wound around his wrist repeatedly, tightening with each loop.

Moments passed, and a sleek, high-end accessory—like a premium Apple watch, er, extraterrestrial band—now adorned his right wrist. Surveying the area, he noted others staring blankly at their fresh accessories. A few dimwits kept sprinting desperately. The drones swiftly ensnared them too.

Calm gradually returned. Folks shook off their fright bit by bit. Corpses and gore still surrounded them, but officials would handle the cleanup.

To everyone's relief, the drones retreated to the silver orb, which ascended swiftly, fading as suddenly as it had appeared, like a dream half-remembered. The massive lunar craft blinked out too, vanishing in a flicker. A sour feeling lingered for all.

Their debut brush with aliens—a landmark in history—had concluded. Back to the daily grind.

Those needing to file crash reports did so, while others dialed insurers or medics. Luckily, in the 22nd century, cars mostly piloted themselves, with crises handled via smart automation.

The sparse wrecks stemmed from enthusiasts clinging to manual control. Cab and bus operators rarely steered; they merely collected fares while lounging.

"Vzzzzt! Vzzzzt!"

His device buzzed in his pocket shorts, chiming a grand melody far superior to his wake-up tone. Though modern phones rivaled early 21st-century supercomputers in power, their design stayed familiar. Water-resistant, flexible as gum, equipped with holograms—yet fundamentally unchanged.

He picked up the incoming line. It was his cousin Anya, whom he hadn't spoken to in three weeks.

"Jake, tell me you're okay?" she asked, her voice shaking with deep concern.

"The number is not available now, please try again later."

"Fucking asshole!" she exploded in fury. "Here I am, fretting over nothing, you damn fool! What am I supposed to do with you?"

"I'm fine, thanks. I'll call in sick today. I have to check out this thing on my wrist. Can't focus on work with it there anyway."

"Okay, Jake, you're probably not the only one skipping out. Gotta go now. Ring me if you need anything! Bye!"

Anya's chats always wrapped up this way. She'd verify his well-being, then disconnect promptly. They shared tighter bonds in youth, but her demanding role at the Earth government consumed her schedule. This incident would surely amp up her burdens.

Ultimately, Jake notified his absence without hassle, then returned to his place.

The moment had arrived to uncover the mysteries concealed within this alien wristband.