Golden State Partisans

by Robert Boren

  “That little lady has organizing skills,” Tex said. “Saw that back at the warehouse. That’s valuable as hell.”

  “Yes, I see too,” Jules said. “Back to Alexis. Watch, right? Develop.”

  “We should apply colors to rate,” Ted said. “Yellow means we watch. Green means we trust fully.”

  “What about in-between?” Sparky asked.

  “Red,” Tex said. “Let’s make it bold. To review, Karen and Dana are yellow, Shelly and Alexis are red. Agreed?”

  “Yes,” Jules said. “Morgan?”

  “Green, partner,” Tex said.

  “Why green?” Jules asked.

  “She showed courage under fire at the card club,” Sparky said. “She also had the smarts to leave my number for Robbie to find.”

  “She did well in the action at the Volvo dealership, too,” Tex said. “She’s solid, and she’s only focused on Robbie. They’re inseparable. There won’t be any intrigue.”

  “Okay, green,” Jules said. “Who else?”

  “Haley and Brianna rode with me,” Ted said. “They both seem solid, but we haven’t seen them in any action to speak of.”

  “Haley fought at the Volvo dealership,” Sparky said. “She’s good.”

  “Okay, make her red,” Tex said. “How about Brianna?”

  “She didn’t say much to me,” Ted said. “Bryan’s infatuated with her.”

  “She return affection?” Jules asked.

  “She stuck to him like glue,” Ted said. “Bryan is a babe in the woods with women, but he was trying with her, and she didn’t resist him. I think she’s scared to death.”

  “Of him?” Sparky asked.

  “No, of the war,” Ted said.

  “Yellow,” Jules said.

  “I can go along with that,” Ted said.

  “How about the lesbians?” Tex asked.

  “Audrey’s a doctor,” Sparky said. “Automatic green, and we need to protect her.”

  “Anybody disagree?” Jules asked.

  Nobody said anything.

  “Okay, green it is,” Sparky said. “How about Brooke?”

  “She’s hard as nails and smart as a whip,” Ted said. “Maybe a little too aggressive. I think she’s at least a red.”

  The others nodded in agreement.

  “Okay, who left?” Jules asked.

  “Tisha, Ashley, Allison, and Katie,” Ted said.

  “You have a mind like a steel trap, partner,” Tex said.

  The others chuckled.

  “Tisha’s got a hell of a case for Gil,” Tex said. “She’s as loyal as the day is long, but to Gil, not to the group yet. I think we should rate her a yellow. Probably should move them up together if they prove themselves.”

  “I can go along with that,” Sparky said. “I think we have to put Katie in the same category.”

  “Agreed,” Ted said. The others nodded.

  “Ashley?” Jules asked.

  “Yellow,” Sparky said. “I don’t know if she can handle the violence.”

  “Yeah, I picked that up too,” Ted said. “I agree.”

  “One more,” Jules said. “Allison.”

  “She should get at least a red,” Tex said. “Talked with her some. She grew up in the country. She’s good with guns. Done a lot of hunting. She has survival skills too. Good backpacker.”

  “How do you know that?” Ted asked.

  “She knows things that a non-backpacker and non-hunter wouldn’t,” Tex said.

  “She killed several enemy fighters at the Volvo dealership,” Sparky said. “I’d give her a red, but I’d lean towards green. She was good. Very good.”

  “Red,” Jules said. “That it.”

  “That’s not all you wanted to talk about, is it?” Ted asked.

  “No,” Jules said. “We stay here two days. Then we head up coast. Same as last time. Stagger departures. No clumping.”

  “Where we going, partner?” Tex asked.

  “We go to Gilroy. Set up at ranch to east, like this place.”

  “Okay, then what?” Ted asked.

  “Then I tell you rest,” Jules said.

  “Dammit, Jules, don’t do that shit,” Ted said.

  “No choice. If any of you captured, forced to talk, the set up with Ivan down drain,” Jules said. “I can give general plan. No detail. You understand, no?”

  Sparky sighed. “He’s right, guys. We’ve got a job to do.”

  Ted shook his head. “I don’t like this, but screw it. I’ll play ball. What’s the general plan?”

  “Separate San Francisco Bay area from Sacramento. Then part of group help Ivan’s team to lock down bay area, other half help Ivan’s Sacramento team.”

  Tex laughed. “Hell, you gave us quite a bit right there.”

  “He didn’t give us what the enemy could use,” Ted said. “That’s good enough. Sorry I gave you crap.”

  “Understand, old friend,” Jules said.

  “What comes after this?” Sparky asked.

  “Mop up, go back to lives,” Jules said. “May need to help Ji-Ho in south.”

  “Is he having problems?” Ted asked.

  “Most of force wiped out,” Jules said. “He call before meeting.”

  “Shit, you didn’t think we’d want to know that?” Ted asked.

  “Need focus for last discussion,” Jules said.

  “Is he safe?” Ted asked.

  “No, but he survivor,” Jules said. “You know this. Battle wagon intact. Out of ammo, but working situation now. Most of core team live.”

  “Wish I knew that earlier,” Ted said. “I could’ve mentioned it to George and Malcolm. They could’ve stopped by.”

  “I know where George and Malcolm go,” Jules said. “Ivan watch. They help people more important than Ji-Ho.”

  “They told me they’re going to run down some serial killer stuff,” Ted said.

  “That’s what they think. They end up helping old friend.”

  “Who?” Sparky asked.

  Jules just smiled.

  To be continued in Bug Out! California Book 5, coming soon!

  Cast Of Characters

  Note: some of these characters are not in this book. They will show up in later books.

  Dulzura RV Park Group – Mostly retired people, but mixed. Full-timers.

  John – Older man, drinking problem, but fighting it. Brave and strong.

  Sarah – John’s wife. Doesn’t his like drinking, but loyal anyway. Good heart.

  Clem – Old widower. Shrewd with sense of humor, and technically savvy.

  Sid – Indian, capable, good man in fight, loyal, cunning.

  Yvonne – Sid’s wife. Resourceful and brave. Younger than him by ten years

  Harry – Older man, heavy, doesn’t move well, good negotiator and strategist.

  Nancy – Harry’s wife, retired school teacher. Smart but has problems with stress.

  Sam – Owner of RV Park. Middle aged, strong, wily, cautious. Former Navy Seal with some PTSD issues, which he has mostly under control. Good in a fight, knows modern military tactics and weapons systems.

  Connie – Wife of Sam. Thinks one step ahead. Keeps park running. Deeply in love with Sam.

  CHP Officer Ryan – Older officer. Brave, sense of humor, borderline redneck, good in fight, but has temper.

  CHP Officer Patrick – Just past rookie status. Extremely good with guns. A little green. A little hapless. Good in fight. Brave to a fault.

  Jack, aka One Eye – Barona Indian, friend of Sid’s who helps at the battle of Fernbrook.

  Hank – police officer in the town of Julian. Older man, gray hair, feisty. Joins group after they destroy the enemy checkpoint in his town. Works with Jason.

  Jason – police officer in town of Julian. Younger, fast with a gun, smart as a whip. Aggressive. Joins group after they destroy the enemy checkpoint in his town. Works with Hank.

  Kaitlyn aka Still Pool – young woman in Barona Tribe. Curvy, pretty face, strong personal
ity. Goes after what she wants, loyal and passionate, smart.

  Megan aka Sage Flower – young woman in Barona Tribe. Tiny, delicate beauty, feisty, loud, aggressive, brave, smart. Wicked sense of humor.

  Zac aka Sandy Creek - young Indian warrior. Brave and handsome, cunning.

  James aka Crossbow – young Indian warrior, expert with weapons, especially crossbows. Brave, funny sense of humor, loved by the tribe.

  Ryan aka Touchdown – young Indian warrior, brave, fast, CIF MVP in High School, great in a fight.

  Tyler aka Quiet Fox – young Indian Warrior, smart, thinks a couple levels deep, quiet, reserved, observes and thinks before acting, usually makes right choice. Future Chief.

  Nurse Grace – Emergency room nurse, taking care of Sam and Connie at the hospital in La Quinta. Pretty middle-aged woman, tough as nails and smart as a whip.

  Kenny – warrior with the Barona Tribe.

  Bradley – warrior with the Barona Tribe.

  Silver Wolf – overall chief of the Barona Tribe. Older man, medium build, looks younger than his years. Total tech nut, very talented and inventive.

  Kerry aka Yellow Bird – young warrior. Fast, too emotional. Unpredictable.

  Shane aka Red Snake – warrior, a little older, family man but also great fighter.

  Will aka Swimming Bear – warrior, early thirties, negotiator, helps Silver Wolf with technology.

  Mia – wife of Tyler. Strong, beautiful, smart. Delicate features, hair-trigger emotions.

  Riley – wife of Ryan. Very small, below five feet tall. Beautiful face. Has Ryan wrapped around her finger.

  Abby – wife of James – heavy set larger woman with an infectious smile and a gentle, kind way about her. Beautiful face.

  Redondo Condo group – Thirty-something

  Robbie – Thirty-something son of Frank and Jane from original series. Brave, thoughtful, writer, shy, cynical

  Morgan – neighbor of Robbie, love interest. Strong, more outgoing and aggressive than Robbie, pretty, transplant from Utah, good with guns.

  Gil – Robbie’s best friend from High School. Hispanic. Good with guns, brave, sense of humor, cautious, protective.

  Steve – Robbie’s friend from college. Smart but not serious, surfer, scrappy, good in fight

  Justin – Robbie’s friend from high school and college. Sparks with others, temper, suspicious nature but good heart

  Killer – Pit Bull – from Justin’s family. Strong, protective, dangerous to evil-doers.

  Colleen – girlfriend of Steve. Beautiful redhead. Flighty, aggressive, but loyal and loving.

  Katie – Steve’s sister. Strong, rebellious, great in a fight, beautiful. Justin adores her. She brings out his courage.

  Cody – neighbor who lives across the street from Frank and Jane’s Condo. Friends with them. Tough reserve police officer and early resistance fighter. Large muscular man in his early thirties with a military style haircut, light brown hair, and a goatee.

  Sparky – Morgan’s boss at the card club. Big, dangerous man with a shady past but a good heart. Protects his employees to a fault. Has underworld connections. Not a good person to mess with.

  Ivan the Butcher – mob boss. Most people assume he’s from Russia, but he’s actually an American who built his organization in Russia and Europe, before being hounded back home by the EU authorities. Dangerous and unpredictable, but a strategic thinker. Childhood friend of Sparky.

  Jules – right hand man of Ivan the Butcher. Belgian national, good in a fight, a little crazy but very calculating.

  Tex – Friend of Sparky and Jules. Crazy with wicked sense of humor, great in a fight, brave to a fault.

  Ted – Robbie’s boss at the restaurant. Former Navy Seal, tricked into joining the battle by Sparky. Old friends with Ivan the Butcher.

  Stacey – cook in Ted’s restaurant, acquaintance of Robbie’s. Heavy-set large man, good in a fight, not the brightest but loyal and brave to a fault.

  Jordan – black man, former Army Ranger. Near genius tactical expert. Brave and cunning, trusts nobody until he’s sure, then as loyal as the day is long. Wicked sense of humor.

  Dana – beautiful girl who was kidnapped by the UN to use as a sex slave. Rescued by Jules’s team after the battle at Torrance Civic Center.

  Karen – beautiful redhead, daughter of Gil’s boss. Captured and held at the Torrance Police Station with the other girls. Not sure where she fits in the group.

  Tisha – wild young woman, former captive. Small, tattooed and pierced, fiery, hard to handle, brave and loyal but prickly. Passionate.

  Alexis - a brunette with a hauntingly beautiful face and a thin build. Tough and loyal but with a sadness in her that she battles constantly. Valuable member of the team.

  Brooke - tall, dark haired beauty with a strong build and a defensive demeanor. Lesbian. Protective of her woman. Fierce, loyal fighter. Touchy but with a good heart. Smart.

  Audrey – Doctor. Lesbian, close to Brooke. A small waif with ginger hair and freckles.

  Lily – a small blonde, willowy, with a delicate face. Has emotional issues. Bipolar. Suicidal. Barely survived captivity.

  Shelly – short, perky blonde with a beautiful face and a way with organization. Valuable member of the team.

  Ashley - Curly-haired brunette with a dancer’s body and grace, with a quiet demeanor. Not sure she’s up to the fight, but feels it’s her duty. Likes Jordan, because they both have the theater bug.

  Brianna - a young-looking girl with an innocent face and curly light brown hair. Not very confident. Frightened by the war. Stacey is pursuing her, and she’s okay with it, but not passionate.

  Haley - an ice blond with a curvy figure and a lot of self-confidence. Good fighter.

  Allison - a redhead of medium build. She has a country look to her, innocent but with a touch of mischief. Expert hunter and backpacker, champion level shooter. Ready for anything. Will become a principle in the group over time.

  South Torrance Group – Ages from 19 to 24. Well-to-do parents. Some recently on their own, some live with parents. Gun hobbyists. Immature but with enthusiasm.

  Seth – defacto leader of group due to calm, easy going nature mixed with charisma. Gets along with everybody in group. Slightly more mature than the others. Has serious girlfriend, centers his life around her, in love.

  Emma – Seth’s girlfriend. Beautiful, was popular in high school, aggressive, controlling, but nice, loyal. Needs Seth when she gets scared or upset. Doesn’t like Matt or Trevor much. Feeling is mutual. Likes Angel.

  Trevor – talented, brilliant, great with guns, nutty, good sense of humor. Aggressive with temper. Likes to argue. Younger than the others by a year. Came into group as Seth’s friend, closest to him.

  Angel – cynical sense of humor, honest and trustworthy. Hispanic. Lives with family, but inching out. Good in fight. Seth’s best friend. Pivotal member of group, head for business and practicality. Slightly more mature than the others.

  Matt – Angel’s oldest friend. Funny, problems with drinking, emotional, secondary leader who sparks with Seth sometimes, but they are close in ways the others aren’t. Good in fight, image is important to him, womanizer. Has serious girlfriend but cheats on her.

  Kaylee – Matt’s girlfriend. Nice, talented, good friend of Emma, clueless about Matt’s infidelity, doesn’t like him drinking, getting tired of his childish behavior. Beautiful in an exotic way, Korean.

  Ji-Ho – Kaylee’s rich uncle, lives in compound on north-west side of Palos Verdes, overlooking ocean. Brave and smart, loyal, understands what it’s like when government gets too much control. Can relate well to younger people, even though his English isn’t great.

  Gus – combat tactics trainer, met group at gun range. Great organizer and leader. Serious. Destined for greatness if he lives long enough.

  Government/Authorities

  Governor Sable – fourth-term governor of California. Old-style liberal – coming to the conclusion that there real
ly is something wrong with the Administration. Knows how to do the right thing, and usually does after fits and starts. Watch out when he gets angry.

  Jennifer – Sable’s black secretary. They were lovers years ago, now friends, but Nancy keeps her distance because Sable still loves her. Competent and smart – Sable’s underground advisor.

  Saladin – evil Islamic leader, trying to move the US towards martial law with terror attacks. Acting in collusion with the President and others. Kills without mercy or regard for innocent bystanders. Pretends to be pious, but only uses his religion to gain power. Human trash.

  Commissioner Frawley – head of CHP for California. Currently in prison after going against the Governor and the Administration. Strong character, brave, will make difference.

  Deputy Commissioner Katz – second in command at CHP – also in prison. Hates Jihadists. Dangerous man to his enemies. Near-genius intelligence.

  Assistant Commissioner Cooley – third in command at CHP, in prison with other two commissioners. Black man. Brave, strong, emotional, smart. Always has your back. Wicked sense of humor.