Chapter 2

A less than a week ago, I was sitting in my desk in home room, staring at the white board where our teacher would project the news from this morning. Our world has been on the brink of war for 10 years. With modern technology scientist have developed A.I. drones capable of not only destroying our homes and buildings but also take out our power grids and our communications in one fell swoop. Just like during the Cold War, all of the most powerful countries started hoarding A.I. drones, insuring that if one country attacked, the other would be able to decimate the others entire population. The A.I drones, which were no bigger a bird and were virtually undetectable until it was too late. In addition to being lethal, they didn't cause the same environmental effects that nuclear weapons would cause, which would allow the winners to inhabit the land and use the resources of the fallen nation. If there was anyone left that is. Because of the A.I. drones, most countries decide to get rid of nuclear weapons as they were too volatile and not as effective. Since every major power had access to the A.I. drones, every time there was a conflict between two countries, everyone was on high alert for an all out war. Recently the tension had been much higher than it had been in the past few years, with drone strike drills increased to twice a week at school. Despite the threat of a potential world war, I was able to live a relatively normal life in our small town of Blue Rivers New Hampshire. My mom worked as a nurse at Blue Rivers medical clinic in the center of town, and my father was an environmental researcher who has been studying the wildlife in this area since before I was born, which is actually how they met. My father was had just finished his post-doctorate in environmental science and had come to Blue Rivers to work at the wildlife institute at the edge of town. During a hike in the woods, my father fell into a ravine and broke his ankle. His team had lifted him from the ravine on a stretcher and carry him to the clinic where my mother was working. My father said that the moment he saw her he thought that he had saw an Angel. My mother would laugh and say, Andrew my love, that was the drugs talking. Regardless of what my father saw, he used his witty banter and joyful demeanor to win her over that night. They were married a year later and a few years after that me and my Brother Max were born in the same clinic where they first met.