Survive the Signal Fanfic

[ChainsawAdams]

When people hear of my job, they instantly think I'm living the life. Working doing what I love, hanging with rock gods with my hand on a button. Little do they know that button is small and labeled with red tape and a magic marker. -ON THE AIR-

Being a disc jockey for a small coastal town in Maine is nothing like blasting the airwaves in the metro areas. My home town, Cambden, is a semi-popular port for die-hard fishermen. My primary duties are to relay information from the weather service to the sailors out at sea. Sure I get to play music between each minor crisis but if I play a song offending one of the many 60 to 70 year old fishermen set in their ways, well lets just say it's not hard to find someone else to press this button. So I keep it mild. Hits of the oldies, some smooth jazz while throwing in the rat pack to stir things up. Sometimes I have something clever to say. On other days I just put the whole thing into automation for the whole day just to sleep in. And before you ask yes, I live in the studio. It's much like a lighthouse, I have to be at the ready for when disaster strikes.

It really isn't half bad. Especially now with the internet. I never took up any hobbies but suddenly I've been collecting the greatest hits of sites you need a credit card to access. I suppose I could go out to go to the market, maybe attend church though I don't know why. But instead I receive my goods meals on wheels style. Not an ideal life but I feel as though I've carved out my own small patch of paradise. The greatest feature of the studio is the view. Ocean on all three fronts. The crashing will lull you to sleep if your not careful. Some say the phantoms of dead sailors may visit from time to time. If so I'll take a request and dedication. I don't discriminate and their isn't much that truly frightens me. This is useful in a town knee deep in superstition.

Taking in a deep sigh the bare red bulb in the corner lit up. Information was coming in from the weather station. Grunting to myself I sat up and ruffled my hair and put on my panda shaped slippers. "Work, work, work..." I didn't say this exactly negatively. I could work in the comfort of my own home in slippers, boxing shorts and a torn up indie-band T-shirt. A simple life filled with the sounds of the past. I checked the clock and groaned, 3:50 am. It must be breaking news to wake him off hours. Finding the rail from his room in the basement I began to ascend the spiral staircase. I had named each step but wasn't feeling chatty enough to greet them.

Passing the first level live in area, I reached the second level used for housing the massive broadcast hardware. It hummed with life. A sound I no longer even heard as it has made the same tune since I had first arrived. Over time it just got lost in the waves. In my slippers I could almost glide over the hardwood floor of the production room where I slid to the counter which held the obnoxiously red rotary phone stamped with a large black batman symbol. Taking a moment to think of something to say I then picked up the phone with a smile.

"Commissioner lets please make this quick. I need to pry a dog out of the grill of the bat-mobile and Robin won't stop polishing his bat-pole!" On the other end their was a sigh.

"Evan, You finally lost it haven't you? Told you your mind couldn't handle the strain." Evan shot up instantly recognizing the voice.

"GREAGGER! Where have you been? You sholuld know this phone is for the emergency broadcast network. I know it's silly but they REALLY take their responsibilities seriously over there."

"Yeah, I'm just discovering. But yeah, I was on assignment in Iran and was just brought back on a return trip with the troops. Didn't have a place to go so headed back to the old city and took up a research gig here until I find something better. But it's great to hear your in good spirits." I started to rifle through the cabinets for food.

"Yeah, that's great. But to what do I owe this call. Your not the sentimental type. What's the news?" Instantly I could hear stirring on the other end. "Greagger?

"Listen, some stuff has been going on. Media in the major cities have been giving on and off reports but as part of our jobs is to keep the public informed I figured I'd let you in the look." I had to groan again.

"Did I mention how early it is?"

"At first we figured it was just some flash mob. A practical joke for the public until the incidents began occurring in most major cities. We're still getting calls. It started in a way no-one understood. People were walking into the city. But what's the harm in that right?"

I smirked "Maybe we'll solve our health crisis after all. Power walking!"

"That's what some people thought. And the thing is you can't call in to the police to report people walking so it got dumped on the medias doorstep. It's now been 10 hours these people have been walking in from outside the city limits and their numbers continue to grow. Some thought that this could be a political action like "Occupy Wallstreet" but some of these people walk in dressed for work, a date, or completely naked. Also, some of them have bare feet and they've been leaving bloody footprints behind the." Evan quickly grabbed a pen and paper.

"And the Military refuses to get involved?"

"We're celebrating our victory over terror, we have a new president, it would be political suicide to order the troops on US citizens who have not actually broken any laws except for nudity and jay walking. Local police have been setting up barricades to coral the hordes but once in the city they all went in separate directions making containment near impossible. And that's where we are right now. A silent flood of silent nobodies enter the city and begin to blend into the public." I continued to write furiously as he listened to Greagger.

"So these people...They didn't say anything? Aren't they responsive?"

"They're dead to the world. Several have been hit by cars refusing to move or avoid being hurt. When spoken to they don't respond. It's like they're being called to something and nothing can deter them. Greagger tried to think of more to say but he was baffled and while he wanted to say more he had nothing more to add. "Anyways, I don't know if this has hit the coast yet but you should tell your listeners to take precautions until we figure this out.

"Right." I said nodding finishing his notes. "We get hit by allot of storms so these people know how to hunker down. I hate to cut this short but it's time for me to address the world."

"Goodluck..." Greagger replied before he heard a click on the other end. Shaking his head he hung up the phone and tried to think of how he would handle this situation. The townsfolk didn't care much for high tech so for those who did have tv might only have 2 channels. It appears that he was about to become very famous, VERY quick.

Our coastal town is isolated in every sense of the word. Their was only one true paved road leading into town square from the nearest city to the west, Greenwhich. Just as small and though 80 miles away it's our closest neighbor. The land to the north is a breeding ground for some sort of endangered turtles so it is protected by the nature preserve and to the south was a vast swampland. Most of the elders folklore and stories are centered around this mysterious area. Old folks spin tales of witches, cannibalistic demons, and vengeful spirits of all shapes and sizes dwelling within. Truth be told it's to keep them away from the dangerous sink-holes and venomous animals, however six years back a Vice Squad from New York busted a hidden drug lab deep into the sticks. That was a good week for us. Allot of tourism and tired officers seeking a place to sleep. As far as law goes around here that would be 'The General'. His real name is Edgar Franks but he was a well respected General in the war before returning home. The officers and deputies were all members of the Frank's family. It had been their birthright since the first brick had been laid. Putting the pad and pen down I began to dial the sheriff unsure of what to report. Before I could put anything together the signal buzzed a few times and then clicked.

"In Gods own holy name this better be a VERY attractive woman or I'm going back to bed." I had to smile hearing our fearless leader on the other end.

"Private Evan Siles sir..." Normal I would tag on a joke or sarcastic comment, but the situation was serious and not hearing my quirky matter he could hear the general give him his attention.

"Siles? Siles, why are you calling me at such a late hour. The waves are clear and thier's not a cloud in the sky. It isn't Jamousen again is it? His wife says he's been on the wagon since February." I smiled. If Jamousen was on the wagon clearly he had a broken wheel. Remembering the situation he straightened himself out.

"Sir, we have a potentially serious situation brewing." I stated so briefly it was like a dagger.

"......uh...well where is it? What's happening?" I could hear him putting on his reading glasses on the other end. Working in radio you tend to get an ear for detail.

"It's not here....I'ts everywhere. I just got word from the newsroom in the city. It's a bizarre phenomenon that has been going on near a day. But it sounds serious and I don't have time to tell you and then report it on air. I'm calling for a favor. I need you to blast the storm siren." Then came a long silence.

"Boy, have those radio waves made you finally go mad!? I ain't going to wake the whole town on some prank."

"This is no prank!" I snapped back as I began searching the channels on the rooms TV. Luckily the tower gave my devices a boost in signal giving me access to the global network. Seeing the images almost made me drop the phone. "It's real. It's on EVERY channle and if we don't act now it could be in YOUR town. Now you know me. I am a law biding citizen who dedicattes his life to keeping our boys at sea safe. And while I'll admit I enjoy using a humor you often don't approve of....you know I take my job and duties to this town seriously." I could hear him working through his statements on the other line.

"Fine. Give me a moment and I'll blast the horn twice. And if this is some "War of the Worlds", bit. I'll have you run out on a rail. Best be prepared to address allot of angry folks." The phone clicked and I took a deep breath sprinting over to the control station. I flipped on more tv's. I saw images I couldn't understand. Major highways backed up as several dozen individuals walk mindlessly towards major cities. The inner streets of Chicago, Minneapolis, Seattle filled with police roadblocks that caused these mindless walkers to back up, gather, and eventually overcome. Then their were others, close-ups of one or two of these individuals. They looked as though they were sleepwalking. The only difference being their gaping mouths and their eyes that had lost all pigment. I jumped as I heard the first blast of the storm warning system. Then the second. From my perch I could see the houses light up one by one. It was time to address my public in a way I had never done before.

Taking a seat I cut the record short. It t felt like I was unplugging the reality I had lived in up until now. I then pressed the black and yellow striped button and soon an automated voice was heard.

"This is an announcement of the emergency broadcast system. I repeat, the following is a message of the emergency broadcast system. Stay tuned for details." The their was a long beep after which my mic went live.

"Citizens of Cambden. This is Evan Siles with an emergency broadcast. I was recently made aware of a situation that has gripped the entire nation. Given our isolation, up until now it has gone unnoticed to us. It appears that in large metropolitan areas across the US, men and women have been walking into the city as if in a daze. They do not speak, take no effort to avoid personal injury and their eyes have turned white." I rubbed my temple trying to figure out how to continue.

"Police have tried to stop them or hold these individuals using blockades but as they grow in number it is not strong enough to hold them. Up until now no ineffective citizen has been harmed but so far no one seems to know the reason or cause for this outbreak of what can only be described as mass sleepwalking. From here on in I will be monitoring the situation on satellite news station and personal contacts. Please do not call the station for extra information as I need it open to pass along vital information." I drummed my fingers deciding how I was going to finish this off.

"Although I have no authority for this situation, and their is no real plan of action for this type of event I suggest everyone to stay inside until we can decide on a plan of action. For now I am asking our sheriff, mayor Stevenson and Dr. Anna Pierce to join me in the studio to observe these reports first hand and make an official announcement for further actions. For now simply sit tight, keep your radio on and try to stay calm. With that said I'm sending you a track from B.B King. Be sure to stay tuned, this is KTAA." Hitting the button on the second record player I sighed. I hope I had handled the announcement properly. The General was sure to be furious until he saw the reports himself. Stevenson could call a meeting of the city council and maybe the doc could pick up on something by seeing the situation for herself.

Heading to the fridge I grabbed a soda. Non of that diet or 'zero' stuff. I drank the hard stuff. And I figure, even though it's bad for me, I don't drink alcohol so I figure it balances itself out. Plus the caffeine and sugar kept me going like the energizer bunny. Taking a look around I just realized I hadn't had guests in some time. The place was built for function, not fashionable. And I never was the neat and clean type. But I suppose it didn't matter much. The town already had their own opinion of me carved in stone. The mad scientist atop the great mountain living in the solitude of his castle. To be honest I 'm slightly proud of this title.