Grabbing your trusty flipcam from your backpack, you snap it into place just as several more meteorites penetrate the Earth’s atmosphere. You tilt the camera upwards and careen into traffic, doing your best to keep the blinding trails in sight. Just as you pass the Cafe, you see another biker zoom in next to you. You recognize her face. She’s in your chemistry class. Elisabeth? Yea that sounds right.
She glances over at you and nods in approval at your camera. As you enter an unfamiliar part of the city, it is clear that Elisabeth knows her way around better and you start to follow her lead.
One of the flaming trails comes unnervingly close and you are both nearly knocked off your bicycles by the shockwave. Undaunted, you and Elisabeth hurry toward a thin trail of smoke coming up from a nearby park. That must be where the meteorite struck!
Side by side, you zoom into the park. Traces of acrid smoke cut the otherwise deliciously rich forest smells and you glory a bit in the temperature change as you charge onto a trail through the trees. As you work your way through, the trail narrows and you are glad of your time practicing on the single track near your house. You take the lead here, avoiding rocks and sandy spots with ease, and appreciate that your compatriot seems to do the same.
You arrive at the impact site and pop the camera off your handlebars before abandoning the bikes. You have about five minutes with the meteorite before emergency crews arrive, and manage to capture some truly intense video. The point of impact is a gaping hole in the soft peat lining the forest floor, trees torn asunder. Chunks of meteorite glow like coals spilling from the mouth of the impact site, each bit of firey space matter creating its own smoulder. The smoke counterpoints the freshness of the forest with a specific smell that is not something you can identify, but is also not something you will ever forget.
Thankfully no one was injured in the meteor strikes, but your brave videography gains you immediate notoriety both locally and on the internet. Elisabeth gets very little of the credit, regardless of your attempts at including her in the fanfare. Despite the adventure, the two of you do not become friends; myriad influences of high school life prevent you from seeing each other much or even seeking one another out. You find yourself thinking about her often, though -- the brave one who joined your quest. Not just joined! She led the way for most of it! Maybe she is someone who could accompany you on your adventures...?
The End.
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If you loved this to death, consider buying a copy of Armageddon: Pick Your Plot to see what other adventures Percy and Elisabeth get up to!
