Free Military / Time Travel Romance: The Stranger In Sector 27 - A Post Apocalypse Love Story (Book 1) by Lilly Babineau

Chapter One: The Stranger
    Wielding an old-fashioned AK-47 and wearing camouflage army attire, Lt. Jackson “Jaxx” Branton was the embodiment of a good soldier, patrolling through a seemingly abandoned row of dilapidated buildings in a dangerous sector of the old city’s ruins. The year is 2217 and the world is in a post-apocalyptic state. At age 25, Jaxx had known only this world his entire life.

Man had foolishly pushed the limits of the Earth for over 200 years and now most of the natural fresh water is gone and food and drinkable water is extremely hard to come by. Survivors of this world struggle to stay alive by any means necessary. Cannibalism is now a big problem in many parts of the world.

The strongest of the male survivors were born and raised to be soldiers, protecting the communities of people from the outside dangers. The women scavenged for food, treated the wounded and bore children to repopulate and build numbers. Everyone had their role, as that is what was needed to survive. Food was scarce, so people had to make do with what they had available.

Their communities were predominantly caged off towns and cities consisting of abandoned buildings and shelters. It was a rare sight to see an unfamiliar person in their protected communes. The place where Jaxx lives is now known as Cartopia, and it is a far cry from the place called New York City, as it was once known.

When Jaxx found the stranger, she was unconscious in an alley. He didn’t recognize her, so he was cautious while checking her pulse. It was there, but very faint. Who was she? How did she get here? Her clothes and general appearance weren’t much help either, because never before had he seen such strange clothing. Unsure if she was a cannibal from another part of the world, he handcuffed her ankles together and then her wrists. Throwing her over his shoulder, Jaxx carried her back to a nearby first-aid station.

He nodded to a couple of medics that were glancing in his direction when he walked in, and laid her down on an available cot. Making sure the shackles on her wrists and ankles were secure, he sat back and watched her, still wondering who this strange young woman was. She wasn’t moving and her pulse wasn’t getting any stronger, so he signaled to one of the on-looking medics for assistance.

“I found this girl in sector 27 while patrolling. She was unconscious and unresponsive, and to this point she is still isn’t responding.” He explained. The medic nodded, and turned to get the appropriate treatment. Inside the syringe was an extract of a wild plant often effective for waking people who are unconscious. After injecting the serum into her bloodstream, all that was left for them to do was wait. It didn’t take long.

She jerked awake and began thrashing her restrained arms and legs. Her blonde bob was matted with dirt from the muddy puddle it landed in when she dropped unconscious. Her eyes were a piercing blue and her skin was fair and unscathed. Her teeth, surprisingly perfect.

Where did this girl come from, he thought to himself. He was mesmerized by her and the way she looked. So different from the other women around here; not at all in army attire or medic robes. Even as a couple of medics ran over to restrain her further, dosing her with a sedative, he couldn’t help but study her. Snapping out of his daze, he realized that he recognized the words she was screaming.

“Branton! Lt. Jackson Branton!” She was screaming his name over and over. He shook his head, unsure that he was hearing her correctly. “Jackson Branton!” She repeated loudly. By this time the medics were staring at him curiously.

“This never happened!” He glared at them and shooed them away. They left obediently. The girl was sedated, tears soaked her face and she was now simply whimpering his name. He sat on the cot next to her, moved the hair away from her face and looked at her directly into the eyes.

“Miss, I am Lt. Jackson