Pulse ; No Power

by Skylar Finn

  “That’s because they were,” Xavier answered when Ailani mentioned this. “We have a guy in the camp who does metal work when we need it. Comes in handy.”

  Vines swung free as Nick pulled the door open. The commune wasn’t immediately visible on the other side. Instead, Ailani and the others found themselves facing a dark tunnel and a dead end.

  “After you,” Nick said, ushering them all inside.

  They piled into the tunnel, and Nick shut the door behind them, enclosing them in utter darkness. Ailani’s lungs constricted as her eyes struggled to make out the shape of something. She never liked being in the dark, not unless there was a night sky about to keep her calm. She felt around and bumped up against wet clothing. She took Keiko’s hand and squeezed.

  “Excuse me,” Nick said, politely making his way to the other side of the tunnel. He grunted as he ran into someone. “Sorry, X. Where’s the damn handle—? Ah! Here it is.”

  Something creaked, and light flooded the small hallway. It wasn’t a dead end after all. There was another hidden door set on the opposite end of the tunnel. Ailani squinted and shielded her watering eyes against the sun. They all stepped out. Ailani and Keiko gave twin gasps.

  The commune spread out before them. It was enormous, far larger than Ailani had ever pictured when Walt first started talking about it. It was at least a mile wide, and who knew how deep. The “hill” stretched around the edge of the commune and faded into the distance. Furthermore, it was not all tents and teepees like Ailani had expected. There were buildings of all shapes and sizes and for all intents and purposes. Right away, Ailani spotted a canteen and a market where people could trade for fresh food or new handmade clothing. Everything was crafted from materials found in the earth. Even the paint on the buildings bore the unmistakable hues of turmeric, hibiscus, and other items that could be mixed for bright colors.

  The people were another thing to behold. The commune was home to at least two hundred of all ages, shapes, races, and religions. The one thing that seemed to bond them was their desire to live off the beaten path. No one rushed here or there. No one wore worried looks or furrowed brows. Men played with children on a nearby swing set. Women patched holes in some of the older buildings’ stucco. Teenagers arrived from another hidden door on the west side of the commune, each with a canvas bag full of wet dirt from the river’s edge. Everyone had a job to do, and no one had a problem with the role they had landed.

  “As you might have guessed, we thrive on cooperation,” Xavier said. “Everyone pulls their own weight. If you don’t, you get kicked out. Easy rules to remember.”

  “Pretty strict rules,” Keiko said. “What about handicapped members? Or people who are mentally ill that can’t always report for duty?”

  “We either provide them with accommodations or assign them to a job they’re able to perform without issue,” Xavier answered. “And we actually host quite a few people who used to struggle with depression, anxiety, or something of the like. Turns out unplugging from the rest of the world is one of the best medications we could have offered them. Many of them are in remission and haven’t relapsed since they arrived at the commune. We think it’s because we’re always working and exercising. We have a couple therapists on site too, but living is here is kind of like a permanent mental health retreat.”

  They stopped at a hut near the edge of the commune. Beneath the thatched roof was a selection of bows. Most of them were made from branches, but there were a few that contained more complicated moving pieces. Barrels were filled with different kinds of arrows, depending on the hunter’s purpose. Ailani wondered where they found metal in the middle of the woods to shape into arrowheads. Behind the counter, a man in a sleeveless shirt greeted them.

  “Back so soon?” he asked Nick and Xavier as they returned their bows and quivers to him. “I just sent you out there.”

  “We picked up a couple of strays right outside the wall,” Nick said, jerking his head over his shoulder at the trio. “Figured we would get them set up before Bill had the chance to pull his security clearance crap again. Hey, do you know what’s happening out there?”

  The man returned their bows to two empty slots in the shelves behind him. “Happening out where?”

  “Never mind.”

  “Cap, this is my nephew,” Xavier said, thumping Walt’s shoulder. “And these are his friends.”

  Cap grinned at the trio. “Pleased to meet you. Welcome to Illyria.”

  The commune—Illyria—was too big to cover in one tour, but Nick and Xavier did their best to cover the basics. The camp was built like a small city. Communal places like the cafeteria, trading center, and hospital were all near the front. The next layer consisted of recreational areas, which included a large stage for entertainment purposes, a court that could be used for basketball or tennis (though the balls, rackets, and baskets were improvised), and a gazebo for simply lounging about. Beyond the recreational area was housing. Some people lived in big dormitories with only curtains for privacy. Those with family or partners had small one or two room huts. Nick and Xavier pointed theirs out and let the trio look around inside. There was a decent-sized bed, a basin for washing your hands and face, and even a private toilet.

  “We referred to the Romans for a plumbing system,” Xavier said. “Potable water’s kind of necessary if you want to keep disease out.”

  “Where do you get clean water?” Keiko asked.

  “The river,” Nick answered. “We have filtration systems to purify it, but when they back up, good old boiling works too.”

  “And where does your waste go?”

  “Our own private landfill,” said Xavier. “Don’t worry. It’s miles from here, but if you stay in Illyria, you’ll have to work there at some point. Everyone’s required to do three days of sanitation work per month. It’s fair. No room for complaining.”

  “Oh, I’m looking forward to it,” Keiko joked.

  Nick clapped her on the back. “That’s the spirit. Let’s get you to the clinic and see what they have for that ugly gash on your back. Guess you could use some dry clothes too, huh?”

  “We’ll meet you there in a bit,” Xavier said, holding Walt back as Nick led the sisters toward the front of the commune. “Walt and I have a few things to catch up on.”

  Ailani grudging left Walt behind, but not before checking over her shoulder that Walt was okay. Thankfully, he grinned from ear to ear and hugged his uncle again. They were two peas in a pod, and Ailani was glad to see them reunited. She caught up with Keiko and Nick.

  “Ah, shit,” Nick said when they reached the market where the clothes were made and sold. He stopped the sisters from stepping out into the open. “Bill’s here.”

  Ailani peeked around the edge of the building. Other than the people managing the market, there was only one man looking through the wares. He was not beefy and bald like Ailani expected. In actuality, he was tall and gangly with waves of naturally highlighted hair.

  “Follow my lead, okay?” Nick said. “We gotta play it cool.”

  Nick cleared his throat and pulled his shoulders down and back, pushing out his chest to make himself look as big as possible. Only then did he step out from the corner they were hiding behind to approach the market stall. Ailani and Keiko hurried after him.

  “How’s it going, Bill?” Nick clapped the taller man on the back as he pretended to browse through the available clothing. “We just dropped by for some new things.”

  Bill looked calmly over the sisters, taking in their dripping clothes. “No.”

  Nick stiffened. “Don’t be like that. You don’t have the authority—”

  “If we continue to let people in without some kind of mandatory screening, this community will collapse,” Bill interrupted. “You don’t know what they’re carrying with them or if more will follow. This is the exact thing I’m trying to stop from happening. It’s for the good of Illyria.”

  “You didn’t have any problem letting that Travis kid in,”
Nick retorted.

  “That Travis kid came with a bunch of things we could use,” Bill said. “Not to mention he’s a hard worker. We put him on sanitation duty for a solid week, and he didn’t complain once, even working with a half-healed broken ankle. These two don’t look like they could hack it one day here.”

  “Sir, I can assure you—” Ailani started.

  “No one spoke to you,” Bill snapped at her. “Why did you come here? We don’t have hair products or fancy phones or a connection to the Internet, and we’re not some little place you can come to ‘unplug’ for a while just so you can go back to your useless lives in a week.”

  “If you pulled your head out of your ass and let someone else speak, you might already know that nowhere has Internet or fancy phones or hair products right now,” Keiko chimed in. She glared at Bill with her arms crossed. “An EMP blast fried the entire United States. Soon enough, everyone’s going to be living like you guys. The least you can do is pass on what you know.”

  “Why should I?” Bill asked. “They don’t deserve it. Hell, it’s about time we had another apocalypse. Maybe it’ll clear out some of the idiots.”

  “Like us?” Keiko challenged.

  “Like you!” Bill shot back. He stepped up to Keiko, and though he towered over her, she refused to give him one ounce of space. “So you can either get out of here while you still have the chance or face what I have to give you—”

  “Hey!” called a familiar voice. “I know them!”

  A handsome guy trotted up to the market, limping subtly on one foot. As he reached the stall and flipped back his long golden hair, Ailani gasped.

  “Trip?”

  20

  A burst of absolute glee flooded Ailani as she leapt into Trip Travis’s arms. He laughed and spun her around in a clumsy circle. He wore a makeshift medical boot around the ankle he’d broken, and he looked like a bona fide member of Illyria through and through.

  “What are you doing here?” Ailani asked him. “How did you get here? How’s your ankle? And your mouth? We thought you were dead. We thought your friends and those people from the beach—”

  “Whoa, whoa, whoa!” Trip made a heeling motion with his hands and chuckled. “Slow down, Ailani. We’ve been apart for a whole month. We’ve got a lot to catch up on.”

  “You know these clowns?” Bill grumbled to Trip. “Is it worth letting them stay?”

  “Absolutely,” Trip said, nodding emphatically. “Actually, I don’t know the little one. I’ve only heard of her. But I wouldn’t have made it here without Ailani’s help. She’s strong and level-headed. You don’t have anything to lose if you let her stay.”

  Bill looked over Ailani once more. “We’ll see about that. Where’s that jacket? I asked for it ten minutes ago!”

  He wandered off to bother the market workers about the jacket. Meanwhile, Keiko gazed at Trip starry-eyed. Ailani snapped her fingers in front of Keiko’s face.

  “What’s with you?” Ailani asked. “You look like you’re melting into goo.”

  “You’re Trip Travis,” Keiko sighed, unable to tear her eyes away from Trip’s face. “I’ve seen all of your movies.”

  Trip flipped his hair out of his face. His hair had grown so much since the last time Ailani had seen him, as had his beard. His body had changed too. He had lost all the bulky muscle he’d put on for the movie they’d been filming, but he looked stronger and leaner now. His face was thinner, and he had a blotchy tan. None of it took away from his natural good looks. On the contrary, Ailani thought he looked better than he had in any movie she’d ever seen of his.

  “You’re a fan?” Trip asked Keiko, his voice pitching with excitement.

  “You have no idea,” she said.

  “That’s awesome!” He shook Keiko’s hand. “Your sister told me all about you. It’s so good to finally meet you.”

  Keiko tried to play it cool as their fingers mingled, but Ailani couldn’t hide her smile at the sight of Keiko hopping up and down on her toes.

  “M-me?” she sputtered. “You!”

  Trip pulled Ailani against his side in another hug. “I’m so glad you’re here. Where’s Walt? He’s okay, right?”

  “He’s here too.” Ailani rested her head against Trip’s sculpted chest and took a deep breath. His lemony essence was still there under the scent of fresh earth and sweat. “We just arrived. You didn’t answer my questions! When did you get here? How did you get out of Malibu?”

  “Funny you should ask,” Trip said. “Did you get your clothes yet? No? Hey, Mary!” he called into the tent. “Can you get my friends some dry stuff to wear please?”

  Mary was an older woman who worked at the market. She smiled longingly at Trip and gave him a thumbs up. He returned it with his signature grin, and Mary went to work pulling outfits from the racks. Ailani and Keiko changed into their new clothes behind a curtained dressing room.

  “You fit right in,” Trip said once they emerged.

  Keiko pulled at the collar of her new shirt. “This shit’s itchy.”

  “You get used to it,” Trip said. “Come with me to the cantina. You must be hungry, right?”

  Keiko tripped over her own feet to get next to Trip again. “I’m starving.”

  Trip held out his arm, and Keiko linked hers through it. Ailani suppressed a laugh as she followed the odd pair out of the market, across the grass, and into the cantina. It was set up like a buffet, though the selection of food available was not quite as extensive. The plates, bowls, and utensils were all hand-carved from polished wood. They loaded their plates and found a seat at one of the long cafeteria tables, where Keiko scooched so close to Trip that their elbows knocked together when they lifted their forks.

  “So?” Ailani prompted Trip. “How did you get here? Spill the details.”

  “I knew about this place ever since I overheard you and Walt talking about it at my house,” Trip said as he dug into his meal. “When Jacob and Israel showed up at my house again, I realized I couldn’t stay there for much longer. They were going to run the place into the ground, and let me tell you, they did it quick. We ran out of food in a few days.”

  “So how’d you get out with a broken ankle?”

  “I braced it with a piece of driftwood and a bunch of duct tape,” Trip replied. “Then I waited until everyone was asleep, took the Cadillac, and cleared out of there. By the time they heard the engine fire up, I was already halfway down the block. I saw Jacob in the rear view mirror. He looked pissed.”

  “I’ll bet,” Ailani muttered.

  “All I had on me was a bottle of water,” Trip went on. “And the idea that you and Walt were out there somewhere. It might sound weird, but I didn’t want to wait out the apocalypse with anyone else but you two.”

  Keiko’s elbows puddled on the table as she rested her chin on her palms and sighed, “That’s so romantic.”

  Ailani stepped on Keiko’s toes under the table.

  Trip delicately chewed a mouthful of freshly caught fish. Even in a commune in the middle of nowhere, his manners were perfect. “Anyway, I didn’t have much to go on to find you guys, but I knew Illyria was somewhere in Northern California. I drove to my storage unit to get my seaplane—”

  Ailani nearly choked on her fish. “Your seaplane?”

  “Yeah,” Trip said, oblivious to Ailani’s outburst. “I learned how to pilot a few years ago. I used to take that plane out on the weekends all the time whenever I wasn’t filming. It was one of my favorite things to do.”

  “It still works?” Keiko asked. “Even though the EMP hit?”

  “It’s old,” Trip replied. “I wanted to learn how to really fly a plane, you know? Without having to rely on all the fancy gadgets that all the new ones have. Plus, I like antiques. Thankfully, no one had broken in and stolen it. Anyway, I flew up the coast a few weeks ago and started scanning for this place aerially. It took me three days to find it. I kept flying over it because it’s so well hidden in the land. Finally, I spotte
d some smoke from a fire and made my way in. Good thing too. I thought I was going to starve to death.”

  “So you’ve been here for weeks?” Ailani asked.

  “About two and a half,” Trip answered. “That guy Bill was kind of a jerk about letting me in, but I told them they could use the seaplane whenever they wanted if they let me stay. Do you know they got it to run on oil made from animal fat when it ran out of gas? Necessity really is the mother of invention.”

  Keiko hadn’t eaten a bite in several minutes, engrossed in Trip’s story. “So do we really have to work sanitation?”

  “Sanitation isn’t so bad,” Trip told her. “They have a pretty good system in place to make it as clean as possible to work there. Pretty sure they made me shovel there for a whole week just to see what I was made of. They’ll probably make you guys do the same thing.”

  “What’s it like living here otherwise?” Ailani said. “Are the people cool? Is it as meditation campy as it looks?”

  “It’s not too bad,” Trip said with a noncommittal shrug. “Mostly I’ve been lonely. It’s hard to make friends when everyone else already knows each other.”

  “Where’s your plane?” Keiko asked. “Can you fly it still?”

  “It’s parked near the lake, buried beneath a ton of brush to make sure no one else finds it,” Trip said. “And why wouldn’t I be able to fly it?”

  “You said you gave it to the Illyria people.”

  “I said they could use it if they wanted to,” Trip corrected her. “I didn’t say they could have it. It’s still my plane.”

  “How far can it go?” Keiko questioned. “Could it stand a long trip?”