Eric waited by the deck of his small outpost. It was a frosty day, but the sun would hit full force now and blast its way through the layers of ice that had formed during the night. They were already almost gone. Something those crazy aliens had been doing had really messed with the weather.

Abe emerged from the coal dust into a brisk winter morning. The sunlight was blinding and it took him a moment to adjust. He breathed deeply, and then hacked his lungs out. Fresh air was a commodity these days, and no one was used to it. He wrapped his coat tightly around himself and walked over to the pump to get some water. The ice crackled under his feet. Ice in the desert… who would have thought?

The following is a radio transcript of events that transpired on June 8th, 2040 near an unknown stretch somewhere in the triangle between San Jose, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas. Lieutenant Marks, along with Corporal Davis were a members of the US153rd Infantry Regiment, currently on inactive duty. There were no scheduled operations that day. Reader discretion is advised.

I’m Tim Marshall, a former military captain before now. Now I just work in the mines. I found this notepad laying around here, and the pen still works, so I guess I will finish this guy’s story.

Them shadows can still be seen round these parts they sometimes say. I don’t believe it much though. Anyone whos says they’s still seein shadows is pullin your leg. They all changed, jus’ like that.

About 2 years ago (2040 for those that aren’t in the know) Vegas was destroyed. No competition you see. Can’t have that. In fact, anything involving women was destroyed. Oh, you may think to yourself, did men finally snap? Did they finally become COMPLETELY insane like the women so dear to their hearts and take over absolutely? Well no, not quite. I mean, at first men celebrated somethin’ different, and then they celebrated women as they dwindled, and now that women are gone, they can only fear and at the same time covet that somethin’ different.