: Awakening The room was

dark and overwhelmingly cold. A large capsule stood right next to the wall, and lights suddenly began to flash. A moment later, its interior illuminated, revealing a man inside. The substance inside had crystallized, but under the influence of an electrical impulse, it began to melt, eventually leaking out through the open filters. Another electrical impulse woke the man, who seemed unaware of what was happening around him. The equipment installed in the capsule immediately injected him with body-enhancing drugs.

"What's going on here?" the man said, barely able to speak.

With difficulty, he managed to rise from the floor and look around. When the apparatus finished performing the necessary operations, a screen on the capsule's wall activated.

"Subject's health status... normal." The computer began analyzing his general condition—physical condition... 82%, memory status... 99%, dehiscence successful.

After completing the test, the capsule suddenly shut down as if it had lost power. The man looked around again; two flares lay on the worn desk. Unsure what was happening, he slowly walked towards the exit of the room.

When he reached the top level, he stood before a huge hatch. The control computer, however, was working perfectly, and the bulkhead began to slowly open, revealing the interior of the old sewers. He continued on his way to a ladder leading to the surface. When he lifted the hatch and climbed out of the sewers, he fell to his knees at what he saw. About 500 meters away lay the ruins of a city.

"Where am I?" he said to himself, slowly moving towards it

. "I don't advise you to do this," he heard suddenly behind him.

When he turned around, he noticed a man standing over him.

"Who are you?" he asked, trying to stop himself from falling .

"I'm Morgan, you better come with me, I'll take you to safety.

" "What happened here?

" "Are you strange, have you been on drugs?"

"I'd like to say I'm fine, but I'm not sure anymore.

" "Wait, you're not from the shelter, are you?"

"It's hard to say," he replied uncertainly.

"And you know nothing," Morgan said in surprise. "Well, I have some bad news for you," he added, coming closer.

"What are you talking about?

" "Of course, you're not aware of nuclear war?

" "Nuclear war? You must be flooding

." "So what do you think of what you see?" he replied, pointing at the ruined city

. "I don't know, maybe it's all just a figment of my imagination. And where are you going?

" "To Reno, it's not a pleasant city, but I have some things to take care of there, get going. Believe me, it's not safe to be here alone in your situation."

The man looked back and saw a caravan heading their way.

"Who are you exactly?

" "I'm Logan. What year is it?" he asked, approaching one of the wagons.

"2238," the man replied, "July, by the way."

Two days later they arrived, and the city didn't seem safe.

"We have to do something about him," one of his men told Morgan. "We can't drag him along. He hasn't said a word since we found him.

" "You're right, I'll talk to him."

Logan stood nearby, watching two gangsters guarding the entrance to the casino.

"Logan," Morgan called out suddenly.

"What's the matter?

" "I'm afraid this is where our paths diverge. I have obligations to merchants and I have to move on soon, and you clearly have your own affairs you don't want to tell us about.

" Morgan, you can't imagine the situation I'm in. Two days ago, I learned I'd lost everything. The last thing I remember was being kidnapped and suddenly waking up in a completely new world

. "What are you talking about?" Morgan was surprised

. "I know it's hard to believe, but the last year I remember was 2010.

" "Are you saying someone froze you for over two hundred years?

" "No way. But I understand you, you saved my life, and I'm grateful. I'll move on alone; I have to go back to where it all began

." "Well, I hope we'll meet again," Morgan said, handing him the gun. "I hope you find it useful."

Logan took the gun and said goodbye to Morgan, heading deeper into the city. He stocked up on ammunition at a gun shop. Walking down the main street, he came across a casino, which he involuntarily decided to visit. Sitting at a table and listening to a wretched comedian, he began to realize the situation he was in. Deprived of everything he knew, he had to rebuild his life.

His thoughts were interrupted by a fight; several gangsters grabbed one of the patrons and started punching him. Logan reached for the gun and put it to one of the men's head.

"Okay, enough of this, let him go.

" "Stay out of it, savage, or you'll end up like him," one of them shouted

. "I don't think so. Get going, buddy, we're leaving this place," he said to the man, who stood up and approached him.

Logan slowly moved toward the exit.

"Not this way," he stopped him suddenly. "There are guards at the door," he said, throwing a grenade toward the window.

When the explosion occurred, they both ran outside and ran toward the exit from the city.

After a few minutes of running, they managed to hide in a ruined building.

"Thanks, man," he said

. "What was that all about?"

"I was supposed to deliver some things to them, but they robbed me on my way here. I'll give you a piece of advice, don't go back there... Ever

." "No problem. I'm Logan

- Kevin Stavros," the man replied.

After a moment of silence, he rose from the ground and holstered his gun.

"Well, Logan, do you have any plans, or do you want to come with me?

" "Where are you going?

" "South to your house ."

"Actually, I had some plans, but I guess they can wait

." They both stood and headed toward the exit from town.

SIX MONTHS LATER

From the top of the mountain, a vast expanse of wasteland was visible. Logan sat leaning against his rifle, thinking, when Kevin approached him.

"I finally found it.

" "What are you talking about?" asked Logan, still lost in thought.

"Now, I'll show you something only a few people know about, a hidden spring

." "You mean water?

" "Exactly, come with me." It took me a while, but I managed to locate the entrance.

They both descended and delved deeper into the mountain, where a huge cave lay. Deep inside was a small spring.

"Where did this come from?

" "I have no idea, but I suspect the water comes from some distant treatment plant; its owners probably don't know they're leaking.

" "After such a long journey, it's not fit for drinking.

" "On the contrary, I once tested it with my companion in an old bunker; it's of first-rate quality. In some cities, you can get worse

." "Good to know for the future. Haven't you ever tried to determine its source?

" "I did, but geodetic scans didn't reveal anything. I think finding the spring is impossible.

" "It's a shame. It might be some kind of shelter, but shouldn't we be going now? We were supposed to meet your friend.

" "I know. I'll fill the canteens and we can go."

After several tiring days of travel, they managed to reach a farm in the middle of nowhere.

"Where are we?"

"It's my friend's farm, maybe you'll learn something from him.

" "Why doesn't it surprise me that this place is near Reno?

" "Everyone makes life as easy as they can, he just runs his business without getting in anyone's way."

Two guards stopped them at the gate, but one of them recognized Kevin, and they both went inside. The farm had several buildings surrounding the owner's house, who came out to meet them.

"Stavros? I haven't seen you here in months. I heard about your adventure in Reno.

" "Hello Michael, that's how it is. Life isn't all pleasures, if you haven't forgotten that yet

." "How could I? Who did you bring with you?"

"It's Logan, we hope you can help us."

"Help?" he wondered, looking at the stranger. "Depends on what.

" "I'm having problems with my past," Logan replied.

"Come inside," he said after a moment of silence.

"So, Logan, what exactly are you looking for here?" he asked, handing him a glass of clear liquid.

"I'm not sure. Kevin said you could help me explain a few details about my past.

" "What exactly?

" "A long time ago, I was subjected to an experiment, but something went wrong, and I ended up a long time away from home

." "Interesting," Michael smiled. "I think I understand what you're saying.

" "What do you mean?

" "Right after the farm was built, a lone wanderer came here, saying something about hibernation, a lost past, and searching for others

." "That might explain everything." A glimmer of hope appeared in Logan's eyes for the first time in a while. "From what I remember, I wasn't alone." However, I understand there's also bad news

. "Unfortunately, I can't help you find him. But I can direct you to California, that town in the south; Kevin will know where it is. It's not much, but you might find some answers there." Go, my clients will be arriving soon, I'd rather they didn't see any strangers here.

"You're right, come on, Logan, the sooner we get there, the sooner we'll get some answers," Kevin said, rising from his chair .

"My man at the gate will give you some supplies. It was good to see you again, Stavros

. "You too, Michael, see you later

." The guard at the gate gave Kevin a package, and the two set off south.

After a few days, a walled city came into view.

"We're here," Kevin replied with relief.

"I hope we find something here, and we didn't come all this way for nothing

." "This trip definitely won't be wasted, I know a great bar here," Kevin smiled

. Inside the city, a strangely toxic atmosphere prevailed. The authorities placed great emphasis on maintaining peace, which was evident in the large number of police officers roaming the streets.

"Have you been here before?" Logan asked

. "I've done business here a few times, I don't like this city. We'll find my friend, spend the night, and try to find something in the morning

." Night fell quickly. Logan left the building and headed deeper into the city. Walking along the wall, he reached the gate. In the distance, he spotted a bar, which he decided to visit before heading back to town. Inside were a few people who didn't react kindly to the stranger's appearance. Logan sat in a corner and began to think again, sipping the alcohol he'd obtained at Michael's farm. After a few minutes, a short blonde woman entered, looked around, and sat down at the bar. Clearly irritated by something, she ignored the three drunks' taunts.

"Baby, come with me, I'll show you my deathclaw," the staggering muscleman teased.

After a few more inappropriate remarks, he found himself on the floor, struck by the force of the girl's blow. His two friends, seeing this, grabbed the girl and began dragging her outside. Logan put away his canteen and rose from his chair.

"Lucky me," he said to himself and, reaching for his gun, approached the drunks

. "Okay, mentees, leave her alone," he shouted, taking aim.

"Get lost, savage, find your own woman," one of them growled.

Logan looked down at his clothes and, after a moment of silence, hit the drunk with the butt of his gun. The other shared his fate and landed on the floor, struck again.

"Come with me," he said to the girl as he stepped outside

. "Wait, I know you." She stopped him in the doorway.

"Do you know me?" he said, surprised.

"From the room where we were being frozen.

" "Right," Logan realized. "Now it dawns on me." "

Never mind, we'll talk about it later

." "There are more of us." I met a man who told me about the others. I think everyone we saw in that factory ended up here.

"So where are they?

" "Probably scattered somewhere in the wilderness, let's go before they sober up

." Kevin was waiting for them at the gate.

"Where have you been?" he asked.

"You won't believe it, look who I found.

" "I see, you went on a date and didn't take me.

" "This is Cleo, the same thing happened to her as to me

." "Are you kidding? And you met her by accident?

" "Looks like it.

" "Cleo? I've heard that name somewhere before," Kevin mused. "Never mind, we have to get going.

" "Why?

" "A group of bandits have set up camp nearby, someone took out a few of them, and now they're looking for the newcomers.

" "Oops," Logan said pointedly.

"Oops? What does that "oops" mean?

" "That we should get out of here

." "We can't leave you alone for a moment. Let's go before they find us.

" "But where do you want to go?"

"We'll hide for a while and come back here another time.

" "That's not a good idea," the stranger interrupted their conversation.

"Who are you?" Logan asked.

"I'm Jake, Michael sent me. I'm one of you.

" "How do you know you're not mistaken?

" "I remember you from the hall. Come with me, we'll take my companion and head east," he said, turning and heading towards the exit of the city.

The remaining three followed him. At the exit, they met Lara, who was waiting for Jake, and they all set off together.

"Where are we going?" Kevin asked

. "To New Colorado."

"So it exists?" Kevin asked, surprised. "I was going to go there, but I always had the feeling someone had made this town up.

" "Probably because it's a bit far. Let's hurry, those bandits have been hot on our heels for days. "

The next day, Jake decided to stop for the night in an abandoned factory standing alone in the middle of nowhere.

"Are you sure about that?" Kevin asked

. "It'll always be safer there than behind some rock," he replied, stepping inside.

Night quickly enveloped the area in darkness, an unpleasant cold seeping in through the broken windows.

"How long has it been since you left your pods?" Cleo asked suddenly, breaking the silence that had lasted several minutes

. "About a year and a half, two months after thawing out, we left our shelter.

" "You were lucky," Logan interjected. "I woke up in an abandoned shelter, I have no idea what caused my pod to open.

" "Didn't you figure that out?" All the pods were recharged just before thawing. The operating system detected low energy levels and performed an environmental scan, along with a general examination of your body. Everything was normal, so it initiated dehibernation. The health monitoring system administered a booster, and here you are.

"But that was six months ago; your pods opened over a year earlier

." "From the research we conducted, we learned that, depending on power consumption, the pods used in the project will open over a five-year period. The first of us awoke three years ago, which means the pods will continue to open for another two years."

"Project? Why do you call it volunteering?

" "We managed to establish certain facts before our pods lost power; we managed to extract certain information. We were abducted by members of the NOD organization, and the project itself is called cryogenesis.

" "Just revelations," Logan said. "Do you still know what the purpose of all this is?"

"We don't have that much information. We're just trying to survive somehow." John, the first of us to leave the pod, headed east where he found a group of natives with whom he founded New Colorado. Nine members of the project have lived there ever since.

"What was that?" Kevin shushed everyone and stood up.

"I can't hear anything," Cleo replied.

Logan stood up and slowly walked to the window, reaching for his gun. When he looked out, he noticed a light near the factory.

"We have company, put out the fire," he said to Jake.

Kevin grabbed his rifle and disappeared into the darkness. The only sound was his running up the stairs. Logan and Jake climbed onto the platform and signaled for the others to go upstairs.

"Who do you think it is?" Logan asked

. "I'm afraid it's the bandits who were chasing us."

"Better and better," Logan said, heading for the stairs.

"Where are you going?

" "We can't defend ourselves here."

By the time they reached the top, the bandits had already entered. One of them drew a rifle and headed toward the remains of the fire.

"Give the others," he shouted to his companion. "They're here.

" However, before the second bandit could turn around, a bullet from Kevin's gun hit him. Jake leaned out from the ceiling and dispatched the second attacker. The sound of gunfire drew the others inside.

"Spread out," Kevin said, hiding behind an old machine.

One of the bandits began to climb up. Logan braced himself against a tool cabinet and pushed it down, right on the bandit. Then their leader stepped inside. The tall man stood in front of the stairs, pulled an energy grenade from his belt, and threw it at the enemies hiding behind the machines. The electric shock shocked Kevin and Logan. Then the man climbed the mountain and reached for the rifle slung over his shoulder.

"I was going to kill you right away," he said, raising the weapon, "but I think we haven't tortured anyone in a while."

Three more of his men ran up to take them with them. Jake appeared just in time, and with a burst of his rifle, he eliminated all the bandits. Kevin rose from the ground, grabbed the grenade the bandit leader had, and threw it at the others waiting below.

"We have our only chance to get out of here now," he shouted, running downstairs.

"He's right, we should get out of here before they recover

." "We can tie them up.

" "It won't do any good, they're just part of the gang; when the rest arrive, we'll be screwed

." Night was still enveloping the wilderness, but Jake and the others decided to set off as quickly as possible; they still had two days to go, and the bandits had no intention of giving up the pursuit.

The rest of the journey was uneventful, and soon they saw the mountain range beyond which lay New Colorado.

"Jake," Logan suddenly began,

"What's this all about?

" "I got the impression you knew those bandits

." "It's true, they once lived in a settlement near where Colorado is now. When it was first built, one of them, the one we killed at the factory, decided to smoke us out. He attacked the town and killed several natives. He was expelled from the village for this and started his own band. Some time ago, he returned and destroyed the settlement, and its leader and his men took refuge with us.

" "So that's why he was chasing us?

" "Exactly, he couldn't get them inside the town, so he attacked caravans heading our way. I hope everything calms down now.

" "You said they'd be chasing us."

"Perhaps I was wrong, perhaps they're not so strong without their leader. In the future, we'll have to be careful crossing the mountains ."

Their conversation was interrupted by Kevin, who was the first to reach the top of the mountain range.

"What did you see there?" shouted Logan

. "Our destination," Jake replied. "We're here."

Logan stood next to Kevin. Beyond the mountains stretched a plain with a town on it.

"This is New Colorado?" Cleo was surprised to see the town. "That's not what I expected

." "Everyone says that," Lara replied

. "Nevertheless, this is your new home," Jake stated, heading towards the town.