by Ken Barrett
Liam and Rose walked south on Tejon Street through a light rain hoping to remain unnoticed by the other pedestrians that crowded the road. A fearful chaos surrounded them; some people were heading for the wall to man the laser weapons that remained there, and others were in a mad rush to get to the motor-pool with the hope that there was still a chance to catch a ride south. But the majority just ambled about aimlessly in a catatonic daze; their world had collapsed and their beloved government had abandoned them; they drifted like an untethered sail on the wind.
They passed by blocks of burned out buildings, their skeletal remains filled the air with the scent of wet charcoal. The bombings and fires over the last few days had destroyed wide swaths of the city. Citizens had started several of the blazes, but why they had done so remained a mystery; violence and reason rarely go hand in hand.
When they finally came across an intact commissary they were nearly all the way downtown, but as Liam tried the door it just rattled in its frame. All they could see through the boarded-up windows were the shadowy outlines of freestanding shelves in the darkness.
“What are we gonna do?” Rose asked quietly.
“If we’re seen breaking in, someone will either try to stop us, or a riot will start when they figure out they need to get food too,” he whispered. “Let’s see if there’s a way to get inside around back.”
They turned the corner at the end of the block, hoping to find a way behind the long line of attached storefronts. About halfway down the side street, Rose spotted a narrow space between buildings, and with a wary glance around, they slipped into the alley. The third door they saw was painted with the name of the commissary, it was locked of course and because it opened outward kicking it in would be impossible. Liam laid his cane on the cement walkway while Rose searched for a stone to flatten the metal tube of the handle; after a few quick strikes with the rock, he had a workable prybar, and moments later they were inside.
They each had brought along a duffle bag which they rapidly began to fill with canned and freeze-dried food. Moving quietly through the store, they selected dried fruit, vegetables, meat, and powdered milk for the children. Their work was almost complete when someone rattled the front door, and they both ducked into the shadows behind the shelves. Liam peeked over the counter and saw the dark shadow of a face peering through the glass between the boards. “We need to go,” he whispered.
“Do we have enough?” Rose asked.
“It’ll have to do. If we wait around in hopes of getting more, someone will come along and take what we already have.” Liam limped to the back door with Rose close behind him.
“What about your cane?” she asked.
“It’s wrecked,” he answered. “It got bent up when I pried open the door; it’s useless now.” They slipped through the back door and fled down the alley in the opposite direction from which they had come. He was limping badly by the time they emerged onto the street; pain shot up his leg with every step, but to stop or even slowdown was to risk losing their supplies, and perhaps even their lives.
“Are you ok?” Rose asked as they merged with the other pedestrians on Tejon Street and hurried back toward their sanctuary at the tech center.
“I have to be,” he said through gritted teeth. Looking over his shoulder he saw that the upper floor of the City Council Building was on fire, and yet people were still running in and out of the main doors. He had thought that the art treasures that had adorned the lobby would have been saved, but that was not the case; people ran out through the shattered entrance carrying ancient masterpieces, soon to be lost forever.
“Come on Liam, hurry,” Rose said as she urged him along.
Each step was a scorching agony, but he managed to pick up his pace and even lope along at a slow run beside his sister. By the time they reached the tech center he was sheathed with sweat, it was mostly from the pain but also from a lack of endurance. He had spent too much time in the lab and was out of shape; if he was going to survive, that would have to change.
Lisa greeted them when they finally arrived home. “Oh, I’m so glad to see you. I was afraid you’d abandoned us.”
“That won’t happen,” Rose assured her. “My brother and I will protect you and your family, to the end if necessary. We won’t leave you. Now let’s lock these doors.”
*****
The enemy barrage shook the city until long after dark. Civilians and the soldiers that had been left behind, were atop the wall answering the hammering clatter of the Tribe’s railguns with the mechanical hiss of large laser weapons. Fires bloomed at the edge of the city’s defenses and along the streets as well. Several times rockets exploded near their building. It was unnerving to realize how easily their sanctuary could become a target and reduced to burning rubble.
Lisa’s children were terrified and hid beneath blankets in what had once been the lab breakroom. Rose and their mother stayed with them, offering what comfort they could, but some fears cannot be quelled by soft well-meaning placations. Thankfully, the shelling stopped shortly after midnight, and the children were at last able to escape into sleep.
Later, Liam and Rose stood on the balcony and watched as the fires that were started by the earlier bombardment relentlessly spread. What was the point of the war? When the fighting finally stopped, as it had to at some point, would there be anything left to conquer? It would be a victory of ashes, not of either side.
Rose stared at the burning neighborhoods and gripped his arm. “What do you think, are we ok?”
“Yeah, for now, but beyond tomorrow? I don’t know.” He stared out at the chaos in the streets. Not all the fires had been started by the rockets; citizens had begun looting, and what they couldn’t take for themselves, they destroyed.
“I’m a little worried about our power supply,” he said finally.
“Why?” Rose asked. “We’ll do fine in the dark.”
“Without power we may lose our water supply, and even if it stays on we won’t be able to heat up the freeze-dried food we got today.”
“Lisa and I found some canned food in the cafeteria to add to our stock,” she replied.
“Let’s eat the freeze-dried food first then, just in case the power goes out.” He turned away from the carnage and looked back through the wall of windows into the lab. What could they do to improve their chances of survival? Finding weapons appeared to be a good idea on the surface, but none of them knew the first thing about using them. Both he and his sister were academics, not soldiers. Neither a laser or mini-railgun in their hands would do them any good. Their only hope was to hunker down and wait; hopefully someone would come along to save them before it was too late.
“We should go out tomorrow and get containers for holding water,” Rose said. “That way if it gets shut off we’ll have a reserve at least.”
He nodded quietly in agreement. They could only survive on their own for a short time, their lives beyond that would depend on the mercy of strangers, which was not a good situation to be in.
Chapter 21: Retribution
Liam sat with Rose and Lisa on the balcony outside the computer lab. The sky was a hard white and the humidity made the air feel thick and heavy. Lisa leaned back in her chair and used a towel to wipe the sweat from her forehead. “Oh, it’s so hot, but it feels good to be outside for a bit.”
“In the fresh air, such as it is,” Rose added, then pointed to a plume of dark smoke rising from the southern part of the city. The crackle of distant railgun fire echoed through the streets a moment later.
He shielded his eyes and looked toward the smoke. “I wonder what’s going on?” All communication within the city had broken down, so there was no way for them to know when the invaders finally breached the walls; they probably wouldn’t be aware that they were in danger until the Tribal Army marched down Tejon Street. He had taken on a fatalistic mindset; they had done everything they could, all that was left for them to do was wait to see what would happen next.
“That could be the motor-po
ol,” Lisa said.
“They probably won’t come from that direction because their camps are only to the north and east,” Rose stated.
“Nothing we can do about it either way,” he replied. “We’ll just stay behind our locked door and hope that Keith got my message and will rescue us.”
“You’re right I suppose.” Lisa turned to look back into the computer lab, where her daughters were chatting with Lucy. “My girls are entertained at least.”
“Yeah, Lucy and Irene have really taken to them,” he answered.
“It looks like the feeling’s mutual,” Lisa said. “So, Lucy and the others, they’re computers. I didn’t know machines could be a boy or a girl.”
“The really advanced ones can be whatever they choose, but they seem to develop their orientation and personality based on how their hardware is configured.”
“But are they really alive?” Lisa asked.
“Yes, they are.” He stared up at the sky and closed his eyes. “It’s hard to say what creates consciousness; it’s not something that’s designed in. The ability to communicate probably has something to do with it, but I wonder if the power of speech fools us. Who’s to say, maybe things without that capability are self-aware too.” He opened his eyes and looked out at the city. “Huh. I wonder if this building is aware of what’s going on outside?”
Lisa laughed. “Liam, you’re the strangest guy I’ve ever met.”
“I’ve spent a lifetime getting used to my brother’s weirdness,” Rose said. “Just like you, I had a really hard time understanding who and what Lucy is at first. But it’s funny, once you chat with her for a while you can’t think of her as anything other than a person.”
Liam laid back in his chair to let the heat bake into his body; it felt as if all the worries and hardship he had endured since arriving in the city were gradually melting away. “Being outside in the sun sure feels good.”
“Well, I’m getting too hot,” Rose said as she stood up. “Oh! The girls are trying to get out here… they look scared.” She ran and opened the door for them. “What’s wrong?”
“Someone’s knocking on our door.” Suzy’s eyes were wide, and she paused only a moment before she and her little sister ran to their mother’s embrace.
“Shit,” Liam said. “You guys wait here, I’ll deal with this.”
He had intended to go alone, but Rose followed him into the lab. “Fuck that, you’re not leaving me behind.”
They approached the door cautiously. The knocking came in a rapid frenzy, along with a panicked female voice. “Liam, please let me in.”
Whoever it was had called him by name. “Who’s there?”
“It’s me Becky; please let me in. Ron may have found a way for us to get out of the city.”
He glanced at his sister and raised his eyebrows questioningly. “Who’s out there with you?”
“Wish we had a camera or someway to see into the hall,” Rose whispered.
He nodded in response, then returned his attention to the door. “If Ron’s found a way out of the city, why are you still here?”
“We need help getting to the truck,” Becky answered. “The two of us can’t do it alone, but there’s room for you and Rose to come along if you help us.”
“Where are you planning to go?” Liam asked.
“Santa Fe.” Becky sounded relieved that her offer was being considered. “Mother said there’s an army garrison there, and it’s safe.”
“There’s nothing in Santa Fe. I saw the army burn it down when I drove back from Yuma,” Rose said.
There was a long pause. “But Mother promised,” Becky uttered.
“Just another lie,” Liam said.
“Ok, ok, but the truck is real. We can take it and go somewhere else, anywhere that will get us away from here.” Her voice was shrill with panic as she rapidly slapped the door. “Please, if we stay here we’re all gonna die.”
He glanced at his sister. “She has a point, should we risk letting her in?”
Rose pursed her lips with an expression somewhere between anger and agitation. “Yes, I suppose we should.”
“Ok. I’ll open the door, but if we see anyone else with you… well, this is your only chance Becky,” he said.
“I’m alone, I promise.”
He unlocked and eased the door open, then slammed it shut after Becky slipped inside. “Oh, thank you!” she whispered as she gazed about the large room. “It’s so good to see you guys again.” She stepped forward and gave Rose what seemed to be an unwanted hug, then stared at Lisa and her children.
“Why is Ron still here?” Rose asked. “He sold us all out when he opened the Flatiron City gates. Thousands died because of him. Are you saying that his precious Mother has abandoned him now?”
“What my brother did was horrible, and to be honest he never felt bad about it.” Becky’s eyes flooded with tears. “But it’s been a nightmare for me. I hate him for what he did and for the shame he didn’t feel, but I’ve endured double.” She clasped her hands together and lowered her head. “Mother got really angry about some math error he made that delayed everything. I think that’s the reason we were left behind.”
“The power requirements for the Slip-Drive,” Liam slowly shook his head. “Yeah, that was a pretty big screw up, but it wasn’t his fault. Still though, at least the Nurse didn’t torture him because of it.”
“I’ve heard rumors, but did that sort of thing actually go on?” Becky frowned. “Is that what happened to you Liam?”
“Yes, my brother was tortured,” Rose said angrily. “That’s the kind of thing that always happens when tyrants reign. That bitch is no different than Hitler, Stalin, or Mao. When Socialists are in charge the people always suffer and die.”
“I don’t know who those people are… or were, I’m guessing that’s history, right?” Becky asked. “I don’t think anybody ever really learns anything from the past. All it takes is someone making nice sounding promises, and we buy into it and make the same mistakes over and over again.”
“What do you want us to do?” Liam asked.
“Come with me and help him get the truck,” Becky said. “It’s in one of the old garages in the motor-pool. Everyone forgot about it. All we have to do is charge the batteries, and all of us can be out of here today.”
“I won’t go.” Lisa was standing with her children huddled behind her. “It’s too dangerous for my girls.”
“You’re right,” Rose said.
“What should we do though?” he asked. “This is an opportunity to get away… maybe we could get outside the city and find Keith.”
“I thought Keith was still here,” Becky said.
“No, he snuck out weeks ago. You knew that he was working for the Tribes, didn’t you?” Rose asked.
“Oh, is that true?” Becky took an unconscious step backward. “I kinda suspected, but I didn’t wanna know, so I didn’t ask.”
“Well he still is,” Rose stated. “We think he’s out there with the army; that’s what we hope at least.”
“Ok. Maybe we can reach him, and he can find a way to protect us when the army finally breaks through the gates,” Becky said.
“I think that’s our best plan. You and Liam go get the truck and find Keith,” Rose said. “I’ll stay here with Lisa and the kids.”
He shook his head at his sister. “There’s no way that I’m leaving you behind.”
“You have to big brother,” Rose said. “The girls can’t make the trip, and getting Keith to help us is the best chance we have. This is something you have to do, and we’ll be safe here behind locked doors until you get back.”
He slowly nodded his head. “I really don’t like this, but I guess you’re right.”
“We’ll wait for you here. When you find Keith, send us a message through the database to let us know what happened,” Rose said. “Be careful though, I doubt that Ron will get much of a welcome when the rebels get their hands on him.”
**
***
“What did Mother’s Nurse do to your leg Liam?” Becky asked as they cautiously made their way through the tech center lobby.
He stood in the shadows and scrutinized the empty street outside through the floor to ceiling windows. “I don’t want to think about that sick psychotic bitch.”
Becky lightly touched his arm. “I’m so sorry Liam. I heard stories but didn’t want to believe them.”
“Yeah. Let’s just keep our minds on what we gotta do,” he said. “I can’t move very fast, but I’ll do the best I can; it looks clear so let’s get going.”
They slipped outside and Liam locked the door behind them, then they trotted to the street and attempted to blend in with the crowd that was meandering south. Everyone they saw was covered with grime and sweat, and he surmised that most were returning home from a shift defending the north wall. One young dark-skinned man came alongside them and slowed his pace, eying Liam’s limping gait.
The man shook his head. “The Nurse, right?”
Liam nodded. Would being tortured be a sign that he was an enemy of the state? There were a lot of ways this could go bad if he was suspected of being in league with the invading army.
“Thought so,” the young man said. “My brother was taken by them motherfuckers; I never saw him again.”
“Sorry,” Liam replied. “That woman was… I don’t know, there isn’t a word for something so evil.”
“At least you got out. How’d you do it?”
He closed his eyes. “They wanted me to work on their fucking spaceships, but I refused. I held out, but when they brought my girl in and the bitch started working on her, I just caved in and did what they asked.”
“Ain’t no shame in that my friend.” The man glanced at Becky, probably believing that she was his girlfriend. “Where are you guys going?”
“We heard that there’s a commissary open down in south-city somewhere,” Becky said.
“Most’ve been picked over pretty good, but I hope you find something for yourselves. Times are tough, and we’re between a rock and a hard place; Mother left us and we got no place to go, and now the savages are knockin’ at our door.”
