by Cliff Deane
In an effort to lighten his mood, Levi said, “One thousand, you say, very good. I just hope we don’t run out of uniforms; that will leave us with only around fifty-five thousand left.”
Gus spoke up with his concerns about troop morale, saying that he felt that a PX system and Enlisted, NCO, and Officer’s Clubs should be created or morale could plummet.
I think we should get Ben involved in this project to supply the mobile facilities. We might also consider establishing a chit system of payment so our military can begin to receive some bennies.
Of course, that will entail increasing the size of our military to provide support for this service. Levi, I am very concerned about keeping a handle on this whole thing. Do you think Ben can keep us fed? Holy crap, General, that comes out to one and a half tons of food per day.”
Levi shared Gus’ concern and felt the only way to know was to see if Ben could be able to come through. He also said that Gus had given them all much food for thought, and that all of his ideas made sense, and his points were legitimate concerns, but what choice was there. In another two months, ROA numbers would be up to two thousand, against what, one hundred thousand?
“Yes sir, I agree that the number is fifty to one, but we have some things going our way, too; training, weapons systems, artillery, well, okay, mortars and an air attack section. Our enemy appears to have only small arms, and they are strung out among the larger cities to the north of DC. This situation most certainly turned the fight in favor of the ROA.
So,” said Gus, “if we can pull this off, I guess I should lay out the birth of a plan that I had in a dream a few nights ago. Now, consider this; assuming we can remain a viable force throughout this campaign, rather than disbanding our large force, might we set up small Platoon sized Outposts all over the country to provide some law and order. If we took one thousand ROA Troopers, we could place thirty-three small thirty-man Platoons to provide safety and security for communities in lots of places.
So, whadaya think?”
Levi looked at Gus with awe, and said, “What do I think? Gus, it’s genius. My God, it can be done. I love that idea, why it’s like the Cavalry Forts of the Old West. Oh, hell yes, let’s further develop this plan. Gus, do you realize the potential to help communities all over the country, wherever they are wanted, of course. Look out villains; the ROA is coming for you.
Gus, we have to find a way to hold our force together until we end this Caliphate business. Just in case you can’t tell, I am excited.”
Levi was almost giddy at the prospect of being able to help people all over the country, and maybe, just maybe, this New Dark Age might not last for five-hundred years after all.
Kate and Susan
22 May 1630
Lincoln Bedroom, WH
DC
Susan was given the Lincoln Bedroom for the night, and as she was getting washed up and ready for her dinner date, Kate Levins dropped by for a visit. She said, “Hi, Susan, can I come in for a minute? I’d like to talk to you about my Dad.”
Susan thought, uh oh, but said, “Of course, Kate grab a chair and tell me what’s on your mind?”
The two sat across from each other with a coffee table between them.
Kate said, “Susan, I’m just going to blurt this out, and I hope you understand. It seems pretty obvious that we both love my Dad, well, in different ways, you know, with him being my Dad and all.”
Susan interrupted and said, “Kate, I do know how much you love your Dad, and I would never, ever try to come between the two of you, and as far as our being in love, that might just be putting the cart in front of the horse. It’s true, we certainly have feelings for each other, but love, I don’t know if that’s right.”
“Susan, maybe you don’t know it, but anyone who sees the two of you together knows. Look, I guess I am a bit jealous, but if you and Dad are really meant for each other, then, well, you have my blessing. Besides, I think you are awesome.
The second thing I wanted to talk to you about is; how do I get into Flight School. I suppose you know how Dad brought me back from the hell I lived in, and now I can see that he is so worried about me that, well, he might make a mistake, but that’s not the only reason I’m asking about Flight School. Could you help me get tested to see if I have the ability to make a pilot?”
Susan smiled broadly and said, “Kate, of course, I will see that you get tested. I went to a civilian Flight School when I was fourteen and got my license. I don’t see why you couldn’t do the same. You might only be thirteen, but you look much older, probably eighteen. When would you like to take the aptitude test?”
“Just as soon as I can.”
“All right, how does this sound? When I bring Gus back from Lejeune you can fly back with me, and we’ll see what’s what; deal?”
“Deal!” said Kate.
“Okay,” said Susan, now for the part about your Dad. Okay, I’ll admit that he does rock my world and that is something that no man has ever done before. I guess if there really is such a thing as love at first sight, then okay, I’m in.
Kate, you are really special and grown up for only thirteen, and for that, I am a bit sad, but in this new world, you are exactly what you need to be. You are becoming one hell of a young woman,” and in that seeming blink of an eye, the two women became incredibly close.
“Oh, one other thing, keep your mouth shut about your real age because as far as I know, you are eighteen. Can I tell your Dad about this, or do you want to spring it on him?
“Thanks, Susan, but I’d better tell him, myself. I’m so happy that you support me in this.”
Susan looked at Kate and said, “I just hope you know what you’re getting yourself into. Remember, hon, there will be no special favors or considerations. If you make it through this program, you will have earned it all by yourself, period; fair enough?”
“Fair enough, Susan, I’ll let you get back to what you were doing before I barged in, bye.”
“Wait, Kate, would you like to join us for lunch?”
“Oh, no thanks, I’m having lunch with Kevin, bye,” and she was gone.
Levi dropped by Susan’s quarters to escort her to the President’s Dining Room for their luncheon date. The Officers and Senior NCOs ate there, while the lower ranks ate in the Main Dining Hall.
Levi knocked on her door and waited for her to accompany him to lunch. Instead, she opened the door, grabbed the front of his uniform and dragged him inside, then slammed the door.
“I have so much to tell you, but I think it will just have to wait,” said Susan.
The pair arrived for lunch roughly forty minutes later than planned and asked Gus and Lt. Colonel Pickett if they could join them.
Gus smiled broadly and said, “Of course, and with a bit of luck that afterglow will fade before you two go back to work.
*
22 May 2300
The Lincoln Bedroom, WH
DC
Susan lay in the crook of Levi’s left shoulder and had been for about an hour. She seemed so peaceful, and Levi was pleased that she felt comfortable enough to sleep, without fear, knowing Levi was there. This was the first time in five years she had been so relaxed.
Levi however, was a bit less relaxed, because his shoulder was beginning to cramp and ache. Finally, he had to awaken her to get some blood and feeling back in his arm.
As he tried to gently reposition his shoulder, Susan awoke and yawned in a most alluring feline motion while stretching her arms and body.
“I guess it’s time to go, huh?”
Levi did not want to go, but his concern for both propriety and Katie made his return to his quarters mandatory.
He said, “Yes, but not because I don’t want to stay.” He looked down at Susan where she lay naked, and said, “Susan, you are so beautiful and leaving you right now is definitely one of the most difficult things I have ever had to do, but I think it is the right thing.”
Her lips formed a coquettish smile, and she said,
“Levi, you are such a sweetie; here you are all worried about my virtue. I don’t want you to go, but I understand. She got up to use the toilet while Levi finished dressing. He waited for the two minutes it took for her to return so he could tell her how he felt.
“Susan, you must know that I am forty-three, which makes me eight years older than you. With so many handsome young men out there, why would you choose me?”
She ran to him and threw her arms around his neck and said, “Because we belong together, but I have to add that I was wrong when I said you were a sweetie, what you are is a dope.
Levi, if you have changed your mind, please tell me now, then get out so I can pick up the pieces of my heart. I am not a tramp or a one-night stand. I did seduce you, but I do not have loose morals, well, with anyone but you.”
Tears began forming in her eyes causing them to glisten as she looked up at him and awaited his response.
Levi was thunderstruck when he heard her say these things.
“I love you, Susan, and if you want this old man, then I will spend the rest of my life trying to make you know it.”
Again she threw herself into his arms and said, “You had better not be playing me because losing you now would be too much.”
Levi said, “Playing you? Let me make something perfectly clear to you; I have loved only two women in my entire life, Sarah and another beautiful young woman named Susan Turner. No, Susan, I don’t play with anyone’s heart.
So, let’s knock this nonsense off, and if you decide that you don’t really love me, then I’ll be so upset that we’ll probably lose the whole danged war.”
She laughed and said, “Come here, ya’ Dope; I’m yours for as long as you want me, and I will love you for forever and three days. Now get to your own bed, good night, Levi.”
Levi’s knees felt weak, but he felt wonderful as he walked down the corridor to the former President’s bedroom. When he entered the room he looked over to Katie’s bed; she was not there!
He ran to the hallway and shouted Kate, Kate! I’m going to kill that Kevin he shouted. The bedroom door across the hall opened a crack, and Kate stuck her head out saying, “What is it, Dad? Is something wrong?”
“Kate, thank God you’re safe; wait, is Kevin in there with you?”
Kate said, “No, why would you even think that? Come on in; we need to talk about a couple of things.”
When he entered the bedroom, Levi did his absolute best not to look under the bed, or in the closet and bath.
Kate started laughing and said, “Dad, please, go ahead and look for yourself. There is no one here but us chickens.”
“No Kate, if you tell me Kevin is not here, then I believe you, and I apologize for my outburst and jumping to such a stupid conclusion.
Okay, what would you like to talk about? Oh, and why aren’t you in your bed?”
“Smooth Dad, real smooth; okay, I’m over here because I want you to see how I am maturing and no longer fear that you’ll leave me.
Dad, I kissed Kevin, tonight, and it was pretty good, well, good enough that I’d kinda like to do it again. He is so patient with me, and he makes me feel special, not like you make me feel special, but in a tummy flutter kind of way, you know?”
Levi was close to tears of joy at the two huge steps his little girl had taken this night. He said, “Do I need to shoot Kevin?”
“Oh, Dad, of course not; he told me that he would not even try to hold hands or anything else until I was ready. I did tell him that holding hands might be okay, we’ll see tomorrow. The other stuff, well, I don’t know, and that frightens me a bit, you know?”
“Yes, Katie, I do know, and just don’t feel pressured to do anything before you know it’s right, Roger that, Trooper?”
She smiled and said, “Roger that, General, and that reminds me of one more little thing we should talk about.”
Cautious now, Levi asked, “Okay, and that would be, what?”
Kate took a deep breath and blurted out, “When Susan brings Gus back, I’m going to Lejeune with her to take my aptitude test for Flight School; good night, Dad.”
“Good night, my Aunt Tillie’s toenails; what makes you think you can go to Flight Training, you are only thirteen years old?”
“Okay, okay, I understand your concern, and I’ve been considering my response; here it is. First, I am only thirteen years old in years, but you know as well as I do that I am much older than that. Second, Susan got her Pilot’s License when she was fourteen.
Dad, the truth is that I am growing into a woman at an incredible speed, and now it’s time that I try to spend a bit of time fending for myself, and for that, I think I am ready. Please don’t have hurt feelings; you know I love you, and that I would never want to hurt you. Please let me do this.”
Levi was resolute in his response when he said, “Kate, no matter what comes into play here, the bottom line is that you are thirteen, and not eighteen.”
“But Dad, look at me, no, come on, really look at me like it’s the first time. Now you tell me how old I look. You’re saying that I am too young to learn to fly, but not too young to line up the sights on another person and pull the trigger?”
“Kate, you have to know that I can’t put you in Flight School at thirteen years of age. Everyone will think you’re getting special treatment, and I won’t do that or even have it said. I’ll tell you what, you figure out a way around that conundrum, and we’ll talk. Now, good night, sweetie, I love you.”
“Whoa, whatever it was you said about your Aunt Billie’s toenails, I have thought how we can get around this anthill of a concern to you.”
“I should have known; I should have known, and it’s Tillie, not Billie, you were setting a trap for me, weren’t you. Okay spill it, so I can say no and go to bed.”
“Oh, Dad, you can be so obtuse. The answer is very simple, now just let this sink in. There are only a few people at Lejeune who know me, and you know darned well that they will keep their mouths shut. So, all I have to do is dye my hair and go by the name of Katherine Jarvis, until I finish training and get commissioned as a 2nd Lt.”
Levi stood and said, “Good night, Kate, I’ll speak to you in the morning,” and with that, he left her room, but instead of going back to his bed he returned to Susan’s bedroom to speak with her about this lunacy.”
By 0200 of 23 May, it was finally settled, Kate would report for Flight School in the next Pre-Flight Class if she passed her aptitude tests.
Levi then returned to his bedroom and before entering he saw that Kate’s light was still on.
He tapped lightly on her door and heard her say, “Come on in, Kevin.”
Levi threw upon the door and saw Kate laughing like crazy, before she said, “That’s what you get. Still, you should know better.”
“Kate, you are going to be the death of me, you know that?”
“Okay, Dad, I’m sorry, I guess it was kind of mean; forgive me?”
“Yeah, yeah, I forgive you. I’m not quite so sure about Kate, but I am surely gonna miss my sweet Katie if you pass those tests. My ace in the hole on this is that there is no way you’ll pass the Entrance Exam, not at thirteen. So go ahead, and if you pass, I’ll ok this horrible idea.
Tell me, sweetie, have you ever taken an IQ test?”
“Yes, of course, when I was ten I had to take one to begin the pre-college math courses.”
“What? Are you kidding me? Okay, what was the IQ score?”
Kate looked Levi squarely in the eye and said, “It was 165.”
“165, have you been scamming me since I found you?”
“Dad, I hope you would know that could not be true. If you had not rescued me when you did, I would have been dead ten minutes later.
During those horrible four months, I had the smarts literally beaten and raped out of me. It took months before I even began to start thinking about anything but being safe by being with you. No, Dad, I swear, there was never any scam; everything that happened between us
was, and is, real. I love you, and you will always be my rock.”
Levi said, “Kate, I thought perhaps you had developed a split personality because you switched back and forth from Katie to Kate. You had the crap scared out of me.
Come here, daughter, I think we both need a couple of hugs.”
Kate ran into his arms and bear hugged his neck. Yes, thought Levi, at moments like these, she will always be my li’l Katie; Flight School, oh, man, poor Kevin.”
***
Chapter 3
One Bullet
23 May 0800
WH Helipad
DC
Levi walked Susan and Gus to the Helipad; while Gus was gearing up to climb into the Co-Pilot’s seat, Levi and Susan were saying goodbye one more time.
Susan, I missed you like crazy after the last time we were together, and without a doubt, I will miss you, even more, this time. I think I’m going to like this better when you and 2nd Lt. Kate are here and under my command, I mean, well, you know what I mean.”
Susan smiled and said, “Yeah, Dopey, I know exactly how you feel; my heart may be too heavy to get this bird off the ground.”
They had said their goodbyes earlier in private. Now, she saluted, then climbed into the Cobra, and after winding it up, she and Gus lifted off bound for Lejeune.
Levi and Kate watched until the bird was out of sight before returning to the jobs at hand.
They had taken about five steps from the Helipad when the loud crack of a rifle was immediately followed by a thud as the round hit Levi squarely on the right side of his back. The impact threw Levi to the ground where his head made brutal contact with the cobblestones lining their path.
As Kate knelt down she screamed, “MEDIC!” and she could see the spreading bloodstain soaking into Levi’s uniform blouse, and also seeping from under his head. She quickly placed her fingers into the hole of his shirt and pulled in opposite directions, tearing the material. She then grabbed Levi’s first-aid packet and began applying direct pressure to the wound.
