by Maxey, Phil
“I heard you talking last night, about private Diaz? That she can control the monsters?”
“Yeah?”
“Well, Reed has the gift too. That’s how we ended up with Rory, we were in a bigger group, out there, in the city. One day, we were caught out in the open by these things, most of us were killed, but my boy saved myself, Emilia… and Rory. He saw that and from then on kept us close to him.”
Zach got up and sat near Reed. “Is that right, you can sense the creatures, and control them?”
The boy nodded.
“Can you sense them now?”
He nodded again.
“Okay so now we got two Cascaders, even better, let’s get the hell out of this place and get back on the road south,” said Harper.
Zach lowered his head thinking out a possible way he could continue his journey to Boston without a Cascader at his side. They made it from New Mexico to the camp by luck and the fact that the area had a low density of E.L.F’s, but up here in the northeast they were everywhere. His luck wouldn’t hold out long enough to get him to his destination, and that’s even if he could find Abbey. There was only one option if he wanted to continue, a Cascader needed to go with him.
He jumped to his feet in frustration, making Reed jump. Then walked into the kitchen area behind the bar.
Fiona looked at the rest. “I’ll talk to him.”
When she walked into the gloom of the long room lined with silver-chrome worktops and appliances, she found him leaning up against one of them. She walked up to him and put her hand on his shoulder.
“If I go alone, the chances are I won’t make it out of the city. But if I take a Cascader it means, taking Diaz, and that would leave the rest of you under the protection of a child. Which is also not something I could live with,” he said not looking at her.
“I’ll go with you, we can run and hide. Like how we did when we left the prison.”
Zach looked at her, his eyes wet and red. “You have seen the city, there must be a hundred different species of E.L.F all within a few miles radius, any one of which we wouldn’t stand a chance with.” He hated each of the words that were coming from his mouth, because he knew what they ultimately would mean. If he went it would have to be alone, and that would also mean almost certain death. Abbey was a Cascader, there was a chance she could get through this. If he died trying to find her, she would never forgive him, or herself. He sighed.
“Look, we take—”
A noise made them both turn around.
Bower was standing there. “I’ve got an idea.”
*****
Bower, Zach and Freeman looked out of the restaurant window at the radio tower which reached into the sky, a mile to the west.
“How do we know we can even broadcast from that thing?” said Zach to Freeman.
“If we’re lucky they would of had a back up generator. We get that running with some of the fuel we have, then we can transmit to the camp.”
Bower patted Freeman on his back. “Meh, this is nothing, a quick run over there, hook up the cables, and then we call home, simple. Done it a hundred times before.”
“We did it once,” said Freeman.
“Well that’s better than never,” said Bower.
Diaz and Harper appeared behind them. “We’ve got the spare fuel ready downstairs, we just need carry it.”
“Still not sure we shouldn’t just drive it to the location, and keep use of the fifty Cal,” said Bower.
Zach shook his head. “You said it, there’s a safari park of E.L.F’s just a few miles from here. The less we can bring attention to ourselves the better, and as soon as those vehicles engines start up it’s noise and heat.” He walked to the back of the seating area, where Fiona was with Ada and her kids. “We’re ready to go. I’ll stay in touch on the radio,” he said to Fiona, then smiled and looked at the two children. “We’re going to send a message back to our camp, and then we’ll probably have to go for a short ride, and then you get to take a trip on a helicopter.”
“Really?” said Emilia almost jumping out of her seat.
“Yup, all the way back to our base. It’s not the camp, but it’s safe there and you can rest up before the journey back to the camp.” He looked up at Ada who smiled and nodded back at him.
Fiona nodded too and then he, along with Bower, Diaz, Freeman and Hayes quickly descended the eight flights of stairs and emerged into the bright sunshine of the morning.
Diaz immediately closed her eyes, her head twitching from side to side.
“Harper, Hayes you’re carrying the fuel at the start, if it becomes a problem Freeman and I will take over.”
They both nodded and ran to the Humvee, carefully lifting the heavy metal canisters from the backseat.
Bower then looked at Diaz. “Anything?”
“There’s E.L.F’s floating around, not far, I can’t get an exact sense of where they are, just that there close.”
Zach emerged from the back of the other Humvee with a handful of grenades, two he clipped onto his jacket, the other two he handed to Bower who did the same.
“Let’s move out,” said Bower.
They all ran out of the parking lot, staying away from the road and cliff edge that ran down to the river, instead keeping close to the fences and trees which sat at the back of homes and businesses further back.
“There’s something coming!” said Diaz.
“In here!” said Zach, as they all ran under the cover of a small group of trees and bushes.
There was a loud rushing noise and the air grew noticeably cooler. A creature looking like a huge manta ray rose up from the drop-off to the river below. Its wings were easy a hundred feet across and as it passed overhead, dust, rocks and earth swirled around them like a mini-hurricane. Its long tail clipped one of the trees nearby sending its topmost branches crashing to the ground just a few yards away.
As the sound of its wings grew quieter they all sighed in relief.
“We need to move, now,” said Diaz.
Springing to their feet they scuttled forwards through the trees and across the overgrown lawn area, that ran along the road. Soon they arrived at a junction, with one of the roads that ran up to the tower.
Harper and Hayes stopped out of breath.
Bower grabbed took one of the canisters. “I didn’t realize you two were so out of shape, might be time to hit the track when we’re back at the camp.”
Freeman took the other canister.
“We got this, just make sure the path to the base of the tower is clear,” said Bower to Harper and Hayes, who then unslung their rifles and ran up the small hill which headed towards the tower.
The rest followed closely behind. A short while later, they were all running along a small pathway which had an impressive view of the city in the distance. The radio tower rose two hundred feet above their heads.
“There’s an entrance over there,” said Zach pointing to a set of dark glass windows and door.
They quickly moved across the parking lot which sat with two vehicles still parked, and up to the entrance which had a small wall of sandbags around it. Zach tried the door, opening it first try. They all ran into a lobby area which was shrouded in shadow even with the sun blazing outside. Around them were sheets lying on the floor, together with buckets.
“Looks like people were living here at one point,” said Diaz.
“Let’s see if this roll of the dice has paid off,” said Bower. “Hayes, Harper split up and if this place has a back up generator, find it.” He then turned to Freeman. “You’re running this show, where to next?”
“Just need to make sure their transceiver is still operational, usually it’s inside an equipment room.” He walked across the lobby looking at the signs above the various doors. “This way.”
Soon they were walking along a dark corridor making Zach turn his flashlight on.
“In here.” Freeman pushed open a plain door to reveal a large circular desk, covered in comput
er keyboards and screens. Beyond was a large glass window which had a sign that said “Recording studio” above it.
“Now what?” said Bower.
“No creatures seem to have gotten inside here, that’s good, but it’s a modern setup, if we don’t get the main power online to these computers, we’re not transmitting anything to anyone.”
As Bower clicked on his radio to see if Hayes and Harper were having any luck, Zach walked into the small sound studio. All over the walls were newspaper clippings combined with printouts of images of various creatures, and scenes of battles between them and soldiers. Most of which looked American, but some had other uniforms. His foot slid on a piece of paper, which he picked up. “Nature’s revenge!” said the headline from the front page of a newspaper.
“Zach?” said Bower.
Zach walked outside.
“They say they found something in the basement. Freeman’s gone down there to check it out. Looks like this crazy plan might work.”
“The crazy ones usually do.”
Freeman’s voice came from Bowers radio. “They got a generator. Hasn’t been used since way before the Cascade, but we’re putting the fuel in now. We should be good to go in a few minutes.”
“That’s what I’m talking about, Kentucky outpost here we come,” said Diaz.
Zach clicked on his own radio and gave Fiona an update.
Just as he finished all the screens around him lit up, and white noise came from a speaker somewhere in the walls.
“That’s my boy,” said Bower.
Freeman reappeared with Hayes and Harper, he walked straight to the chair in front of the circular desk, sat and swore.
“What?” said Zach.
“It’s all password protected.” He began looking around and feeling under the desk. “If we’re lucky they kept it somewhere close.”
“Look under the keyboard,” said Hayes.
“Who keeps their password under their keyboard?” said Harper incredulous.
Freeman lifted the black plastic set of keys. Strapped to the bottom was a white piece of paper with seven letters and one number written on it.
“Ha!” said Hayes.
Harper rolled her eyes.
Freeman quickly typed the password in, and the screen changed to one of rows of numbers and boxes with digital versions of old style electronic meters. “Okay, someone go into the studio and start talking on the mike.”
Harper jumped forward quicker than anyone else. She looked through the glass, and Freeman raised his hand. She then started singing, which boomed out of all the speakers around them.
Freeman scrambled to adjust the volume, while the others winced.
Bower looked at Harper, moving his hand across his throat. “Stop!”
She did.
“Right, we’re ready to go. I just need to hit this button on the screen and we should start transmitting.”
“Let’s do it,” said Bower.
Zach walked into the studio. Harper smiled and handed him the mike.
Freeman used the mouse and tapped on the button. A part of the screen flashed red. “What?” He said leaning closer to the monitor.
“What’s the problem?” said Hayes.
“We’re not transmitting, it’s saying there’s something wrong with the transmitter.”
“You mean the two hundred foot tower of metal outside?” said Harper.
Freeman sat back in the chair. “Yup.”
“Fuck,” said Bower. “We were so close.”
“Maybe that’s why they left this place, their antenna was busted,” said Hayes.
“Yup,” said Freeman. “There might be a fix. If I can climb up it.”
“That’s some climb, and we don’t have any rope,” said Zach.
“What choice we got?” said Freeman.
Everyone looked at Bower, including Zach.
“I don’t know, your ass is going to be out there for everything to see.”
“Either I go up and see if I can sort the issue, or we give up and go back to the apartments, pack up our stuff and drive all the way back to KY.” Freeman then looked at Diaz. “You got my back right?”
She hid her anxiety. “You know it.”
“Right, let’s get this done,” said Bower.
After checking with Diaz that there was no E.L.F’s nearby, they found the exit to the small roof which sat at the bottom of the tower. A cool breeze washed past everyone as they stepped out onto it.
Freeman looked up, then quickly looked down.
“You got any experience climbing?” said Zach.
“Some, with my dad when I was a kid. But that was with ropes.”
Guilt threatened to overtake Zach’s thought processes, if this guy fell to his death it was on him. “If you don’t think you can do this, we won’t, we’ll just leave.”
“I’m fine, sir.”
Freeman moved up to the closet steel beam, made sure a small bag of tools was secure on his shoulder, then took hold on the slender looking metal and pulled himself up.
Back in the studio Hayes sat looking at the notes that Freeman had left him on how to transmit. There was also the plan of where and when any choppers should be sent, if they had arrived at the outpost. It all seemed pretty simple, but he kept reading over it anyway.
Harper, Diaz, Bower and Zach kneeled near the edge of the roof, watching down into the valley for any sign that anything was heading their way.
Freeman carefully reached for another diagonal piece of metal and lifted himself up. He looked down at the others now forty feet away. He took a deep breath and looked up. Still some way to go. He resisted looking out to the city, that was a distraction he didn’t need.
“So many friggin monsters,” said Harper looking at the newly formed jungle and life within.
“Not helping,” said Diaz looking down the sight of her rifle in the same direction.
Zach looked up at Freeman, who was now halfway up the tower. Not far.
Freeman stopped for a break and looked up. He could now see the antenna along with a few small dishes. He could also see a tangle of frayed wires, like they had been chewed on. That’s got to be the problem.
A wave of newfound strength flowed through him, and he reached for the next beam as a strong wind started to buffet him. As he climbed his mind showed him images of hanging off the face of a sheer cliff, with his father above shouting at him to keep going. He paused momentarily and smiled, then reached for the next beam.
Almost two hundred feet below, Diaz looked up shielding her eyes from the noonday sun. “He’s almost at the—” A jolt of sensation ran through her. She quickly turned and looked down the sight of her rifle again towards the city.
“Yup we see them,” said Bower. A multitude of dots were jostling and moving around the huge plant covered buildings, including some that were taking to the air. “Tell me what’s happening Diaz?”
She closed her eyes. “There’s so many… it’s like they have all become aware of us, I don’t know what changed!”
“Could be the generator, they’re picking up on it somehow,” said Zach. He stood and looked up the tower. Freeman was at the top working on something, but it was hard to tell what exactly. He then looked back at the street from the way they came to the apartment block and the two Humvees sitting outside. He looked at Bower. “I’m going to get the Humvee and bring it back. Keep him protected best you can!”
“Can’t Fiona bring it back?” said Harper.
“She needs to stay with the family,” he said running across the roof.
At the top of the tower Freeman briefly looked down seeing Zach disappear through the roof exit. The sight troubled him but he continued fusing wires back together, cutting the frayed parts off and then rejoining them, using his teeth when he needed to as a third hand.
Back on the roof, Diaz looked on as the dots in the air started to take shape as they grew closer, and the trees in the valley shook and shuddered. “We can’t hold that many E.L
.F’s back, not even if we had ten times our number!”
Bower clicked on his radio while looking up at the tower. “How long? Over.”
Freeman swore, then dropped the wire he was holding, letting it swing back against the beam and unclipped his radio. “Few minutes, I’m almost done. Over.” He then attached it back to his jacket and grabbed the wire again.
“You got thirty seconds, then you need to start climbing down. That’s an order. Over.”
“Yeah, yeah,” said Freeman to himself concentrating on the plastic and metal strands in front of him.
“They’re gonna be here sooner than that!” shouted Harper, nervously moving her rifle left and right at the airborne creatures now clearly visible.
“If anything comes within twenty feet of us, we open fire, everyone got that?” said Bower.
“Yes, sir!” they both replied.
“Diaz, the first biggest meanest looking SOB you see, you take control of it, and use it to protect us!” said Bower.
“That’s the plan, sir.”
Freeman clicked on his radio. “It’s done! I’m climb—” He finally looked out at the city and realized what was only a few seconds away. Without hesitation he slid down the closest beam, just as what looked like a beetle the size of a large refrigerator flew past him, filling the air with a high pitched buzzing noise.
Inside the studio Hayes had heard Freeman’s message, and then gunfire started up soon after. He looked down at the piece of paper again, just to check one final time and started clicking on the screen in front of him. Screeches of unknown creatures came from outside as he adjusted frequencies, then clicked on the large transmit button. He then sprang out of the chair and ran forward a few feet, before realizing he had left the piece of paper on the desk, turned around, grabbed it and then ran into the recording story, where he started to relay the message to whoever might be listening.
Blurs taking on the forms of large and small creatures filled the air over the roof, swooping and swiping at the three soldiers desperately trying to defend it.
A large bat like creature squealed then dived towards them.
“I got this!” shouted Diaz, throwing her hand out in front of her. The creature stopped like it ran into a wall, then hovered.
