Fire From the Sky: Friendly Fire

by N. C. Reed

  Fat chance.

  The People's Liberation Army was the largest single military on the planet. The Communist Government of China maintained power only because the PLA was behind them. No way was the PLA going to tolerate any kind of 'freedom' among the 'beloved workers and peasants' of the Middle Kingdom.

  Millie had begged and pleaded with her parents not to go. To give up this ridiculous action that was doomed to fail. There were other ways to combat the evils of the communist giant without exposing themselves continuously to danger. But her parents were nothing if not determined and would not be swayed. Part of an organization backed by Chinese ex-pats in America as well as wealthy members of Taiwan society, the Longs were thoroughly convinced that if they threw enough money and effort at the problem, they would win.

  So it was that Millie was alone when the CME had turned the world off, most likely separating her from her parents forever.

  “You okay?” Leon's voice broke her from her reverie and she looked up at him from her chair. He was on his feet, looking down at her with concern evident on his face. At that moment she wondered if she actually loved the younger teen. She promptly stomped on that notion, refusing to entertain it or give it a foothold.

  “Ah, I'm fine,” she lied, waving her hand. “Just over-thinking something. I do it all the time.”

  “So do I, and that isn't what it looks like,” Deuce frowned slightly. “If something's wrong you should say so, Millie. Don't let it lay on you until it makes you crazy. It ain't healthy. You know?”

  She felt her heart melt a little more at the look of concern on his face and the sound of it in his voice. Dammit. She was supposed to be stronger than this. How was he doing this to her?

  “I was thinking about my parents,” she sighed, deciding it was far too late to start ignoring him now. “About how we parted, and how I will almost certainly never see them again.”

  “Where were they?” Deuce asked, returning to his seat and leaning forward in interest. It made her want to reach out and stroke his face, it was such a tender movement. Damn him and his cuteness. His distracting and unnerving cuteness. Her mental foot was tiring from all the stomping.

  “Taiwan,” she told him. “They operate, did operate I should say, a radio service that broadcast into Communist China. That's where I learned about long and short wave radio. They were in Taiwan checking on the program and probably participating themselves when the lights went out. I was just wondering if China had decided to invade since most electronic defense measures are probably toast now.”

  “I'm sorry,” Deuce said earnestly. “That's a rough pill to swallow.”

  “I begged them not to go,” Millie was looking at the floor now, fighting the tears that threatened to bloom. Don't cry, don't cry, don't let him see you crying.

  “I begged them not to go because it was a lost cause anyway and I told them that,” she continued. “Not the most kind thing to say to people who devoted their lives to trying to free others from the yoke of Communism. But I could see that their efforts weren't going to work so why couldn't they? They just patted my head and told me how proud they were of my grades and be good while they were gone. I mean, is it too much to ask that they just stay here with me? You know, where they were when I graduated? Taiwan. First time a boy asked me out, was my father there to threaten him if he didn't behave? Nope. Taiwan. My first peri-”

  “Hey, hey, hey there!” a startled Deuce interrupted. “Are we about to get into TMI territory here?” She looked up at him, initially angry that he had cut her off. But then, as it registered on her what she had been about to say, she flushed a bit. Then she noticed the look of alarm on his face and broke down laughing.

  Laughing so hard that tears she had been fighting back could flow as tears of laughter and happiness instead of tears of sorrow. Deuce joined her, happy that he had managed to lift her spirits, but making a mental note that Millie needed to speak to someone about this.

  Deuce was honest enough to admit he liked her. Millie was pretty and had the generous curves that boys his age enjoyed seeing but . . . she was also smart. Very smart. Smart enough for him to actually converse with and not just talk to. Maybe not as smart as Leanne, but not far behind, either. He had also noted that her tendency toward biting sarcasm and wit was somewhat in abeyance when it was just the two of them alone. To him that meant either she didn't think enough of him to use it, which he doubted since she just wouldn't spend time with him at all were that the case, or else . . . or else maybe she liked him the same way he thought he liked her.

  Leon the Deuce had never been in this unique position before. He'd never encountered a girl smart enough that he could enjoy her company for more than half-an-hour before becoming bored. He'd been around Millie for more than a week now and was starting to wonder if this was what infatuation felt like.

  “Oh, my God!” Millie broke him from those thoughts as she wiped her eyes. Before the CME, wiping tears would have resulted in runny mascara but she no longer worried much about such things. She had never worn make-up to feel good about herself, but instead to foster her Goth image. Her wardrobe was mostly black just as her make-up had been, both complimenting her normally dark mood. She had never given much thought to how people looked at her, or what they saw when they did look her way.

  She was rethinking that strategy now.

  Deuce, for his part, was convinced she looked just fine sans make-up of any kind. He was also convinced that her laughter was the best thing he had heard in days, and it pleased him no end that he was responsible for it.

  Before either could say anything more, the phone rang just before the radio started demanding attention. Both returned to work, their discussion left for another time.

  ***

  Gordy watched as Mattie Simmons helped work the garden on the hill, carefully cutting grass from the rows and middles to help the plants grow. When Mattie had left the clinic she had ended up housing with Dee Talbot and her children. While Dee had a son, he was very young still so that the presence of another female would be comforting rather than the opposite. Dee Talbot had welcomed the young woman and made her feel at ease, and Mattie was adjusting to her life on the hill.

  Gordy had worried that his mother and sister, or worse his girlfriend, would insist that Mattie stay with them instead. He had been prepared to move out of the house if that happened. He had not said as much, simply been ready for it. He would not spend a single night under the same roof as Mattie Simmons, as he didn't trust himself to behave if she started slinging blame at him and his family again. He needn't have worried, however. Both his sister and his mother were rather put out by Mattie's tirade, and had made it known in no uncertain terms that Mattie Simmons had no place in their home.

  Gordy had to admit that Mattie was behaving thus far, but still couldn't bring himself to trust her. So, he kept an eye out for trouble whenever he was nearby.

  The last week had been one of adjustments for everyone. One great and wonderful thing had been the addition of six trained and experienced military personnel to the security team. Essentially an entire shift added to the roster. That had reduced the number of watches everyone had to stand, which allowed for a little more sleep and more time to take care of other duties. Gordy didn't mind security detail, but they had almost reached a point where it was all they had time for. Having the new help was wonderful.

  Having extra muscle had been just as welcome once it was discovered what was in those armored trailers.

  ***

  “I . . . don't know what to say,” Clay finally managed. He had spent twenty minutes reviewing the contents of the two munitions trailers Shane had brought with him during a meeting held the day after they had 'released' the Shirley woman.

  “Well that's a first,” Mitchell Nolan snorted and Shane cackled in agreement.

  “Where the hell did you manage to get all this?” Clay asked. “And . . . you got it after the wave hit?”

  “And the trucks,” Shane nodded. “Ka
ndi got it. All of it.”

  “How?”

  “Well, she was part of Sustainment Command, and she had the authority to order trucks loaded out for delivery to wherever,” Shane replied. “So, when her and Sienna decided they were coming with us, she cracked her knuckles and sat down at a keyboard, several of which were still working thanks to preparedness and the Texas power grid, and started typing orders. For the next thirty minutes it was 'hey, can you use these?' or 'hey, do you want this?' or 'what about one of those?' and so forth. Few hours later it was just show up with orders and drive away in the trucks.”

  “Unbelievable,” Clay was shaking his head. “We have got to get this shit in the ground before there's nothing left but a crater.”

  That led to a three day work binge with dozers digging and scraping as logs were cut and pulled into place, ready to line the walls of a new munitions bunker. The armored trailers were a nice touch and after much debate it was decided to leave everything loaded and use the trailers themselves to help enhance the strength of the new bunker. The fortification was made over large so that getting trucks in and out of the hole to move the trailers if it became needful would not be a problem. The end result of their labor had been a completely log-lined structure partially buried in the ground, with rock and earth overburdened along the top that left it looking very much like a Native ceremonial mound. The mound was then covered with hay left from winter to hold the soil and to foster the growth of grass. It would not take long for the site to look as if it were merely a geographical feature.

  The 'mound' was built to be driven all the way through, with the entrance and exit both covered as well, with drainage in place around them to prevent water from running inside, a lesson learned from the first such structure built behind the Sanders' residences. It was a bit more difficult to manage with a truck entrance, but still possible. With the mound built in such a way, it would be a simple exercise to pull in, hook the trailers up and then pull them out again should the need to move them arise. As a plus factor, the mound would also make an excellent storm shelter.

  The remaining armored trailer had been carrying dry goods and had been off loaded into Building One along with the semi-trailer carrying the canned and freeze dried foodstuffs acquired for the (at that time) coming disaster. As a precaution, food stores were spread among all three buildings to prevent the loss of everything in the event of fire or other disaster. Among other items, Kandi Ledford had acquired web and field gear, DBU uniforms, boots in every size that had still been available, and dozens of other items that no one would miss until they needed them, including a complete set of Army field manuals covering everything from emergency first aid to wilderness survival to improvised weapons and explosives.

  “How come none of us thought of these?” Nate Caudell held up one of the books.

  “Uh, Nate?” Mitchell Nolan asked. “Do you not know how to do that stuff?”

  “Of course I do!” was the indignant response.

  “Then that's why we didn't think to get the manuals,” his friend nodded.

  “Oh. Yeah,” Nate tossed the book back into the tub it had been stored in. “That makes sense.”

  “Of course it does. I said it.”

  ***

  The twins had listened to Kandi Ledford for all of ten minutes before promptly turning over all inventory controls to her, lock stock and tablet. The young woman was a real and actual organizational genius and had years of experience in managing ridiculously large inventories. They spent the next four days going over every scrap of paper and every program they had with her, walking through every storage area and bunker to acclimate her to her new job.

  “You guys have done an amazing job with this,” she told the preening teens. “I've seen professionals who wouldn't have done this well, never mind any better.”

  “Thanks,” came the reply. In unison of course.

  “Have you guys ever seen The Shining?” Kandi asked, looking at them speculatively.

  “We've heard of it.” Again in unison.

  “Imagine that.”

  ***

  “And it's a Cummins?” Jake mused, looking at the engine compartment of one of the M1117 vehicles.

  “Rated for 260 horses at just over 825 foot pounds of torque,” Sienna Newell nodded proudly. “She isn't the strongest or the sexiest, but she's got it where it counts,” she patted the hull fondly.

  “And you have a parts inventory with you?” Jake asked her.

  “Not just for these, but yes,” she nodded. “After such a long trip, they really do need an overhaul. I was dreading that to be honest, until I walked in here and met you.”

  “Aw, shucks,” Jake scuffed his boot as if kicking a can and Sienna laughed delightedly.

  “We moved most of my shop that survived down here,” he continued seriously. “We try not to use anything heavy to save on power, but we do have a generator for times when we need to run the heavier stuff, like the mill or the press. We don't have a lift, but the twins designed this building with a trench, so we can still get underneath,” he pointed to the grate covered service 'trench' running down the center of the floor.

  “We shouldn't need that for these babies,” she told him, “though that crane will come in handy,” she pointed overhead. “Man, those are some sharp kids,” she shook her head.

  “Just don't ask 'em to drive.”

  ***

  Beverly sat down with Brick (Byron) on Leon's front porch. She had always appreciated how comfortable the house was especially considering its age. It had a homey feeling that was hard to find even before the lights went out.

  “How may I help you Miss Jackson?” Brick asked politely. She studied him as he spoke and realized she had missed a great deal about him in their interactions. Admittedly she had not been analyzing him at that time, but some warning signs she should have caught, she had missed.

  “I was approached by Xavier to act as a professional buffer between he and you in an effort to, in his words, clear the air between you.”

  “Miss Jackson, I have a great deal of respect for you,” Brick said quietly. “Please don't misunderstand what I am about to say. The last place you should be is between Xavier and I.”

  “I happen to agree with that sentiment,” Beverly nodded. “Your brother, however, made some excellent arguments in favor of my helping you. Apparently one of his teammates suggested that if he pulled his head out and actually spoke to you, there might be excellent reasons behind your behavior that has so upset him. That you might have actually acted in their best interest rather than your own. This had never seemed to occur to him until now.”

  “How unusual,” Brick raised an eyebrow. “It isn't often something gets by him in such a manner. Very well, what did he say?”

  “Just that,” Beverly replied. “I want to hear both sides of your tale and then try and see where, if at all, there might be a starting place for the two of you to talk. We as a group need the two of you to at least be neutral to one another. Both of you are great resources, assets if you will, and we need you. There's no secret to that nor should it be a surprise. We cannot, however, function properly with the two of you each literally at the throat of the other.”

  “That is true,” Brick agreed. “Very well. I will tell you what happened, with the proviso that you are acting in your professional capacity and that what I say stays between us, with the possible exception of Xavier as needed. Is that agreeable?”

  “Of course,” Beverly nodded.

  “Then allow me to offer you something to drink. It is not a short story.”

  ***

  “What are you doing?”

  Xavier actually jumped at the sound of Clay's voice, turning almost guiltily to face his former commander with binoculars still in hand where he had just been observing Beverly Jackson interact with the oaf. With Byron, he corrected himself mentally.

  “I assume there is a perfectly reasonable explanation for why I find you casing my Old Man's home?” Clayt
on's voice had a very dangerous edge that not a full dozen people on this ranch had ever heard. Xavier Adair was one of those who had.

  “I am not casing your Old Man's home,” Xavier managed to sound offended and hurt at the same time. “You make me sound like some common thief. Were I to be a thief, I assure you I would be an extraordinary thief.”

  “I'm sure,” Clay didn't even nod. “What are you doing?”

  “If you must know, I asked Miss Jackson to serve as a mediator between myself and the baboon,” Xavier nodded toward where said Miss Jackson and baboon were sitting on Leon's porch. “I was trying to ascertain if she was making any headway or if he would merely dismiss her out of hand.”

  “And?” Clay asked.

  “It would appear that she has convinced him to participate, at least for the time being,” Xavier spoke slowly, almost reluctantly.

  “You better be serious about this,” Clay warned.

  “I would not have started it were I not,” Xavier promised. “It was Shane, believe it or not, who placed the idea in my head. Mentioning that I should at least hear what the gorilla has to say. That he might have a perfectly reasonable explanation for how he had acted, or perhaps reacted. And she is a professional. If there is any hope of our having even a minor reconciliation, then we will have to have assistance. Too much bad blood lies between us otherwise.”

  “I'm proud of you, X,” Clay almost smiled.

  “Please, let us not get emotional,” Xavier shuddered as he put away the glasses. “I would have to wash it off and they've already shut off the hot water.”

  ***

  “If I didn't know how fast we could run through everything I'd think we were in great shape,” Clay mused as he met with Kandi Ledford and the twins for an updated report on the inventory.

  “Well, technically we are in great shape at least for the time being,” Kandi reminded him. “You guys were already doing well and our additions have just cushioned that along with filling a few empty areas that you had.”