T L Payne [Payne - Sudden Chaos

Traffic around the airport was at a standstill. The radio said protests had shut down the roads into the terminal. Erick Wynn looked in his rearview mirror. He considered turning around and heading back home. But if he did not get on the plane, he might get fired.

His boss at the Ford Motor Company assembly plant in Chicago had insisted he fly down to Mexico to oversee the implementation of the new programming for the automated production system. Erick was furious since his wife was eight-and-a-half months pregnant, and he did not want to leave her alone.

If the project was so important to the company, why didnt they hire competent people to run it?

A knock on Ericks drivers side window startled him.

Move it, the officer said and pointed his traffic wand toward the exit ramp.

Erick pulled ahead and exited the highway. He followed the line of cars winding its way through streets lined with warehouses that eventually led to a parking lot at Chicago OHare International Airport. Erick parked in the first slot he saw open and rushed to the terminal, only to find that all flights had been delayed. As he stood before the departure screen, he tried to remember the last time he had seen so many delayed or cancelled flights.

Erick reached into his pocket for his cell phone. He tapped his wifes number and waited. Instant panic set in when Amy didnt pick up. He left a message on her voicemail that his flight had been delayed, asked how she was for the hundredth time that day, and then pocketed his phone.

Empty seats were sparse, but he found one near an American Airlines customer service desk. Ten minutes passed, and Amy had not returned his call, so he dialed her mothers number. Amy and her mother, Sharon, were close. When they werent together, they were on the phone with one another. That was too close in his opinion, but he wasnt a pregnant woman, so he assumed that was the norm.

Erick wasnt close to his motherhe had never been. His family was complicated. He was the only child to parents who never wanted children. He had been ten years old when his father left them. Ericks mother blamed him. Most kids feel like its their fault when their parents divorce, he had been told, but Ericks mother had explicitly accused him of being the cause of the divorce on numerous occasions.

Erick tried Amys number again, then Sharons. He was now truly panicked. He called Sharons work phone and only got her voicemail. He was in the middle of leaving a message, saying he couldn't reach Amy and was coming home, when the phone went dead. Erick removed the phone from his ear and stared at the black screen. He tried to power it up, but it acted as if it was dead.

It cant be deadit had a full charge.

Then the lights in the terminal went out. A collective groan rolled through the concourse. Erick stood and looked out the window. He didnt know what he expected to seea storm, tornado, something to explain the power being out.

Dont worry, the generators will turn on in a minute, said the elderly gentlemen sitting next to him.

The man sat facing the window with his wifes hand clutched in his lap. Erick pictured him and Amy at that age, flying off to visit their children and grandchildren.

I wonder what knocked out the power this time? The weather was supposed to be clear today, Erick said, turning toward the man.

Probably those cyber hackers the news has been talking about all week, the elderly mans wife said, her voice soft and frail.

Ericks throat tightened at the realization that hackers could have caused a blackout. He had heard talk about hackers on the news lately but dismissed it as media speculation. His buddy, Larry, had believed the reports, but Erick couldnt see them as a real threatuntil now. He had been more concerned about a coming economic collapse. The countrys debt was unsustainable, in his opinion, and he foresaw an economic collapse that would plunge the world into chaos. He had been preparing for such an event as a member of a local prepper group. Members of the group had been preparing for a variety of end-of-the-world scenarios, but Erick had found none of the others fears plausible.

He pictured the citys last blackout and remembered the chaos it caused. His first instinct was to run to his car and race home, but he remembered that the streets surrounding the airport had been blocked with protestors. Racing anywhere was out of the question, even if he could get his car out of the parking lot.

Shit. Now my phone is dead. I just freaking charged the damn thing too, a woman sitting behind them cursed.

Erick instinctively checked his phone again. The same black screen greeted him instead of the usual picture of his pregnant wife. He stood and surveyed the terminal, towering over the heads of the other would-be passengers at six-feet-six inches tall. Erick reached down for the extended handle of his carry-on bag.

Ive got to get home, Erick said.

Good luck. Be safe out there, the elderly man said.

Thanks, Erick said over his shoulder as he wheeled his bag toward the main concourse.

As he rushed around a corner, he ran right into two security officers. His carry-on bag went skidding away as he stumbled over the mens feet. One officer steadied him as the other picked up his bag.

Slow down there, man. Where are you rushing off to? the officer asked.

I need to get home to my wife.

Sorry, but no one is allowed to leave right now. We are on lockdown because of the power outage.

What? You cant do that, Erick said, taking his bag from the other officer.

It is a standard protocol. If youll go back to your gate and wait, we should have power restored shortly. You can get your flight rescheduled if you need to, the officer said, leading Erick back toward the gate.

Erick complied, even though that was the last thing he wanted to do. If they locked the doors, he could not leave, anyway. He felt trapped. He pictured Amy giving birth at homealone. His greatest fear was that she would be alone when she went into labor. Hed promised her he would not let that happen. Hed even scheduled vacation days for the whole week before and after her due date.

He checked his watch. Sharon would be staying with Amy while he was away, but she wouldnt arrive at their home until after work.

Shes not alone. The neighbors are right next door. The hospital is three miles from our house. They have backup generators. If Amy goes into labor early, one of the neighbors will drive her to the hospital. It will be fine. Just chill out. Dont overreact.