Hi all,
Haven't put a story here for a long time. Of course everyone knows what Y2K signifies. Just remember this is a story and fantasy. Nothing like this could actually happen.
Or could it?
Y2K
by
AlOmega
Times Square, 1999. Soon the New Year would come again - just as it always had. Like thousands of
others, Dave and Barbara had come down to Times Square to watch and wait for the New Year - the New Millenium - to be ushered in. They could see the Ball clearly enough even though they were on the edge of the crowd. They planned on being there the next year when 2001 - the actual first year of the New Millenium - would begin. Both were slightly drunk having come from a party a few blocks away. Dave held Barbara tightly as the wind bit into the warmth of their bodies. But nothing could change the way they felt
now - about each other, about the world as a whole. For them, everything was right. They had met the year
before and had lived together for nearly a year. Now at this juncture of a new millenium, they wanted to
start a new life planning to get married in ten days. This was more like a pre-honeymoon. As the wind
lightened up, Dave looked into Barbara’s eyes seeing the love brimming within. Both smiled, laughed, and
embraced tightly once again. Several in the crowd started jumping up and down as the countdown drew
nearer.
Then it happened. The Ball begain its descent. Some looked at their Millenium watches in expectation of
what would happen. Most simply watched the Ball as it descended. Then the countdown began.
Ten.
Nine.
Eight.
Seven.
Six.
Five.
Four.
Three.
The Ball stopped. The lights on Times Square flickered. Then went out. What was it?
Even though they were slightly drunk, Dave and Barbara instinctivly knew. Both were computer literate.
Both knew the problem. Both knew that Times Square was not the place to be. Clutching each other’s
hands, they pushed through the restless crowd in an attempt to leave the city. This time the lights would not return quickly.
Away from the Times Square crowd, they managed to whistle down a cab. Normally they would not have had much cash on them but this time, this one time, they had enough between them to pay the cab fare to West Orange just outside of Newerk. But Dave also knew they would need as much as they could keep to get home. Of course the cabbie was not so willing to part with the cost of the fare but Dave’s martial
training came in handy. Over Barbara’s remonstrance, he hotwired an old Ford pickup and they drove into
the night.
Back at Times Square, the people were becoming restless. A few, like Barbara and Dave, had left hurridly, suspecting what was the cause. Most remained ignorant unfortunately. But as the restlessness grew, the ignorance changed. Someone on a megaphone ordered everyone to disperse. That was a mistake. People began shouting wanting to know what was wrong. Then like a plague the knowledge spread to the ignorant. What had been called the “Y2K” computer problem was upon them. Some understood right away. Some took longer. But as understanding dawned, reason entered the mix. Many remembered the prophets of doom who had forcast the Y2K problem in the early 90’s. And like a lightning bolt goes from one cloud to
another, each one knew what would happen - what had happened. The weak were scared. They would be the first to feel the onslaught of what was to come. They paniced. But it was too late. Without their computers, the New York police lacked communication links with their stations. The people realizing that,
blew over the cops like the cold winds of winter. What little authority had controlled them was no longer
viable.
A young rocker looked at a panicing young female stockbroker. She saw him and instinctively ran. But it was too late. With no restraints, the rocker grabbed her by the arm and thrust her to the ground. Someone kicked him but he didn’t pay any attention. The stockbroker fought her losing battle as her clothing was ripped off in the midst of the crowd. Others were doing much the same. The blood from some gang members were staining the concrete as two competing gangs fought over an older couple. The stockbroker fought hard but was soon disrobed. He didn’t stop there but struck her along side the head twice rendering her unconscious. He rose grabbing her by the arm as another male pushed past him. A female dom carried her sweetheart hoping to escape the slaughter. Both were pushed into an alleyway where screams from both echoed unheaded through the night. Slowly making his way through the thinning crowd, the rocker managed to find a secluded spot. An iron bar from out of the darkness killed him as he entered. Another male took the whimpering stockbroker into the darkness. He heard the shouts and cries from nearby but paid them no heed as he forced himself into her. This wasn’t sex. It was sheer power. He could force
himself on her and did so. But in the process, her head struck concrete and she died. For all his strength, his weapon, and instincts, he didn’t know what to do next. The sound of munching from another alcove gave him guidance. Without computers, there would be no trucking, no distributions. Drivers would not know where to bring merchandise nor how much nor how they were to be paid. Without trucking, no foodstuffs would get into the city. Without food, the city would starve. As that happened, many others would
die - many others - until the survivors could leave the silent cities for the farms of the outlying areas.
But neither Dave or Barbara were part of this. By the time the stockbroker was brought down, they were in a chartered plane heading for Colorado Springs. Near there Dave and Barbara had a cabin with sixty acres.
On those acres were cattle and horses. Close by were friends to help. And stores of food, fuel, and weapons to last three years. Dave had already called ahead for someone to meet them at a private airport.
They would soon be home with friends and family. They had planned well.
But forgotten were the computers that operated airlines. Forgotten computers that could no longer guide plane or Air Traffic Controllers. Forgotten by Barbara and Dave. Then it was too late.