The Fall: The Shockwave Series

By Laura Juntunen

Step into the world of The Shockwave. Moments before the first pulse hits the country, two key players reveal their connection to the dreaded electromagnetic machine.

Gretchen is a scientist working on a blood and DNA project to protect civilians from EMP strikes. Alec is working on a similar tool. He built an electric dome to keep those enclosed safe from imminent attacks.

This is the prequel to the completed trilogy, The Shockwave. Continue the series with book one, Transient Pulse.

THE SHOCKWAVE
The Fall
Transient Pulse
Oscillation Rising
Static Equilibrium

• Language: English
• Publisher: Laura Juntunen
• Release date: Sep 26, 2023
• ISBN: 9781955010160

Laura Juntunen

Laura Juntunen is a rising author of both fiction and non-fiction books. Her works include 5-Steps to Self-Made Happiness: The Happiless Chokelist Strategy, which was built around her life coaching business practices. Her debut fiction novels, The Shockwave Series, focus on post-apocalyptic survival. When not working on her author career, Laura thrives in the fitness industry as a club manager, personal trainer, and fitness enthusiast. Laura enjoys motorcycling, spending time with family, and diving into dystopian and fantasy novels with a glass of whiskey in her hand. Laura reads, writes, and podcasts out of central Indiana where she lives with her partner Brian and their two bunnies, Flop and Buck.

Book preview

THE FALL

Prequel to The Shockwave series

Laura Juntunen

Copyright © 2023 Laura Juntunen

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Paperback ISBN: 978-1-955010-17-7

eBook ISBN: 978-1-955010-16-0

Cover Design by Laura Juntunen

CHAPTER 1

Ascreen illuminated the far side of the conference room, taking up the entire wall. A dark office shown through the monitor. Bookshelves filled with untouched books lined the space around an empty desk. Someone clearly designed the space for aesthetics rather than use.

The audio connected. A shuffling sound preceded the man as he came into view: the Director. He jostled himself into the leather chair behind the desk. It creaked with his weight, straining as he moved. A small lamp clicked on and brightened the picture.

The Director continued to get himself comfortable on the screen. Gretchen did the same in the conference room. She sat in one of the twelve seats available to her, watching a secretary scurry about the side of the room. The young woman cleaned a puddle on the beverage station, having broken a bottle of water. The liquid streamed across the table and absorbed into a stack of napkins near the edge.

A cough from the TV interrupted the nearly silent room. Gretchen brought her attention back to the man. She repositioned herself, trying to ignore the pinch at the front of her left shoe. The Director sat square to the camera, his full attention on the conference call. He smirked and cleared his throat once more.

Sir, Gretchen nodded in acknowledgment.

The Director wore a crisp white suit. It shone in the dim room, as if he and his power were glowing. Gretchen did not lose the irony of his clothing. Behind his back, he was called The Shadow. This was for his habit of showing up unannounced and from the corners of empty rooms. She preferred to call him The Whale. His colossal size and slow demeanor took charge in any room he occupied, even through a screen. The nickname was more to cut down the intimidation factor for Gretchen. Though it only worked half the time. No matter what she called him in her mind, he was still an insufferable person, tough to be around and work for.

Gretchen, the Director said, nodding to her. His eyes flickered to the space behind her. Excuse me, you in the back?

The secretary, still cleaning the mess, looked up. She flushed scarlet and froze. Gretchen could nearly hear the secretary’s heart hammering through her chest.

Director, my apologies, the secretary whispered.

Yes, well, can you please make your way from the conference room? I have important business to discuss with Ms. Weber here. That’s a good girl. His eyes left the screen before he could see the young woman’s reaction.

Gretchen watched as