Nomad Mortis

by Craig Martelle

  They were also older than the average recruit, which helped with their common sense.

  “Final cleaning of the barracks, then move into your new home. While some of you will fill holes in the existing four platoons, the majority of you will form the foundation of a new platoon, a light reconnaissance unit. You will continue to train in how best to move to an objective, how to observe without being seen, and how to exfiltrate without leaving a trace behind. That will be your mission, ladies. And despite the fact that there are a number of warriors who have much more time in the trenches, we thought it best that you keep your established leadership structure. Effective immediately, I’m promoting Kimber to platoon sergeant and Kaeden, Marcie, and Ramses to corporal as your squad leaders.”

  Ramses had started at ground zero, but having been raised by Werewolves, he had a keen instinct that none of the others had.

  Boris watched the reaction of the privates in the platoon and no one seemed surprised or put out. The recruit leaders had distinguished themselves and earned the trust of their fellows.

  Boris knew that others would not take it so well, like the mayor, Auburn, and Cordelia. He expected to get an earful. He also hoped that the colonel would shield him from the worst of it.

  “Sergeant, front and center,” Lieutenant Boris ordered.

  Kimber marched from her position as first squad leader to stand in front of the lieutenant.

  “Sergeant Kimber reporting as ordered, sir,” she said while saluting smartly.

  Boris saluted and then started to speak quietly.

  “Take charge of the platoon, clean up the barracks, prepare it for the next mob of recruits, and get with Sergeant Nickles for permanent room assignments. By dinner time, you will have all this completed, and then, you’ll form the platoon, account for everyone, and release them for three days of liberty.”

  “Aye, aye, sir,” she replied, saluting a second time. He returned her salute, executed an about face, and then headed for the barracks.

  She turned to face the platoon. All eyes were on her, and she was as comfortable as she’d ever been with anything in her life.

  Then she was struck by a pang of guilt. She knew that hers and Auburn’s children were being put permanently on hold.

  When Terry Henry Walton stormed the compound and freed her and her fellow captives, she had known that that was what she wanted to do. She wanted to protect those who couldn’t protect themselves. Still, Kim had avoided the Force for as long as possible, but finally there was no denying it. She was home.

  “When I give the command to fall out, you will fall out, head for your rooms, and clean them, top to bottom. Inspection in thirty. Squad leaders, make it so. Fall out!” She projected her voice from her diaphragm to be loud without yelling.

  The platoon took one step back and then ran like a mob toward the barracks. She didn’t understand why it would take longer than five minutes to clean anything, but she’d given them a cushion for the expected amount of grab-ass that would inevitably take place.

  It was a happy group of people who ran for the barracks.

  She had an inkling of what was ahead, as did her brother, Marcie, Ramses, and Camilla. The newcomers had adopted Camilla and made her one of the family. They’d talked with the colonel and he told them about the need for reconnaissance assets.

  Kim and Kae knew that the colonel would always be uncomfortable with putting his children in the middle of a firefight. Reconnaissance was the least likely to subject them to enemy fire, but it was also the most important, requiring the very best of them to execute.

  The colonel considered it a win-win. Kim saw a great deal of running in her future. She also knew there would be much hiking and all of it done with full gear. Good thing her husband was the resident rancher where he would leverage his influence to get her the very best in leather boots. Same for the others.

  Hell, she’d ask for her whole platoon!

  If he was still talking to her.

  Japan

  Akio’s pod landed and he walked off without ceremony. He hadn’t seen Yuko in a couple months and he missed her.

  He joined her in the command center, where she offered him tea as if he’d stepped away only moments earlier. He didn’t have to say anything as he took his place at the low table, sitting on a cushion placed for his use.

  “They are ready for the next phase,” Akio mentioned.

  “I had no doubt that you would not return until they were,” Yuko replied.

  Akio bowed his head as she handed him a small cup with strong green tea. He took one sip and set the cup down, then picked it up and took another drink. Yuko raised one eyebrow as she watched.

  “We must introduce them to tea. They have a drink made of chicory, thistle root, dandelion root, and a variety of nuts. I prefer your tea,” Akio said politely, not disparaging anyone or the drink that he found unpalatable.

  He looked at Eve, wondering if she had any new information. He’d contacted Eve and Yuko daily while he was in North Chicago. There had been no new developments. Two more conversations between Mr. Smith and the rough voice from Germany, but they didn’t expose any details or clues as to their exact locations.

  They would have to do it Terry’s way, with boots on the ground, as he would say.

  “I will be taking a group to visit the New Schwabenland,” Akio said. Yuko nodded to acknowledge that she heard.

  “Nothing new, Eve?” Akio asked, even though he already knew the answer.

  “Nothing new,” the EI replied.

  Akio didn’t need to say anything else. He closed his eyes as he savored the last of his tea, then held his cup out for a refill. Yuko poured the cup full.

  “I will go, too,” she told him.

  “As you wish,” Akio answered, happy that she would be there. He knew the Weretigers were capable, but Yuko was someone he was always happy to have at his side.

  All Akio needed was the “Go” order and he would take his team to face the enemy. Akio looked to Eve, before returning his attention to his cup of tea.

  When Eve gave the word, they would call Terry on their way out the door.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Somewhere in the Wilds of Wisconsin

  Terry had set a blistering pace for the recon platoon. They carried full packs plus extra weight.

  Cory was supposed to accompany them because she was convinced that her father was trying to kill her boyfriend. He told her that if it didn’t kill him, it would make him stronger.

  She didn’t agree with the statement. If it didn’t kill him, then it would make her use her gift to heal him and he’d become more and more wary of loud noises until he would refuse to leave his room. It took her siblings to convince her that they’d be fine.

  Kae, Kim, and Marcie stood with Ramses, waiting for their orders.

  “Set camp here, rough, leave no signs,” Terry ordered in a low voice.

  Kim nodded and passed the word using hand and arm signals. The thirty members of her platoon evaporated into the brush where they found individual places to sleep that wouldn’t give notice of their presence—game trails, tree branches, underneath bushes. They stayed away from grasses and weeds that could be crushed and leave signs of their passing.

  Terry was digging deep into his knowledge from the past and from what he’d read about the reconnaissance Marines of old.

  And he couldn’t help but watch with pride as his children—natural, adopted, and daughter-in-law—worked like the warriors he’d hoped they would be. He had been disappointed when they hadn’t joined the Force when they were younger, but they proved how mature they were by joining when the time was right.

  He felt for Kaeden and Marcie. Their children, Terry’s grandchildren, were left behind to get raised by the community, their grandmother, their uncle, and others.

  He was doing what he vowed not to do; he was taking the warriors away from their families.

  When they returned from this exercise, he’d call a family meeting
and fix it, even if he had to carry one of the children on his back. He remembered taking Kae into Cheyenne Mountain when the Forsaken were still alive. Kae had been in more battles by the time he was ten than most people had seen in a lifetime.

  Why should his grandchildren be any different?

  In a different era, he would have been considered an abusive parent, but he didn’t beat his children. He only exposed them to the real world, and the real world after the WWDE was a dangerous place.

  Thanks to Terry and Char and the others like Billy Spires and Felicity, who believed in what was possible, civilization was returning to humanity. North Chicago was a new paradise, a place of integrity and respect. Prejudices were gone because people needed each other to survive and they willingly helped.

  Death was the great equalizer.

  The average citizen faced less and less prejudice, but as long as Terry lived, he wouldn’t let them forget how it could tear apart the fabric of a society. They could never forget what brought them close and kept them together.

  As long as Terry kept the bad people out. To do that he needed help, and there was no one he trusted more than his own family. His sacrifice had become their sacrifice.

  Akio, you need to enhance them as Bethany Anne enhanced me, he prayed. Help them survive what I’m doing to them. Please.

  When they returned to North Chicago, Terry needed to make a call to Japan. Maybe he would cut this trip short. There was also a wedding he wanted to attend.

  ***

  Mayra and Mark walked to the mayor’s office, looking more like friends than betrothed.

  Isn’t that what a partnership is all about? Cory thought as she waited on the steps leading to the mayor’s office. Char was in the office helping to move the furniture. Sue and Timmons were there, along with Kiwi and Gerry, James and Lacy, and Jim. It was a small group.

  Felicity was scowling because she had hoped that Marcie would make it back in time. She cursed Terry Henry under her breath.

  She continued to grumble as the sky darkened with a summer lightning storm.

  “We won’t let that put a damper on anything!” Char said happily, trying not to look at the mayor. The rain started before Mark and Mayra made it across mayor’s park. They started to run, hand in hand and laughing all the way.

  Up the steps and into the mayor’s building. Mark slipped on the marble, but recovered before he went down. They both tried to shake the water from their clothes.

  “I’m glad I spent extra time getting ready this morning!” Mayra said jokingly, looking through the door and into the rain. Mark stood beside her, patiently watching. They wore what they wore to work in the kitchen. Felicity was dressed in her best with full makeup. She sighed, wondering if anyone would ever find a good reason to dress up.

  Kiwi, Gerry, James, and Lacy offered their congratulations. Timmons and Sue joined in with a hearty cheer.

  Char left the office to join the couple standing by the door. “We have everything set up and can start whenever you’d like,” Char offered.

  “A small ceremony wasn’t meant to be,” Mark said unapologetically. Felicity clenched her jaw until her muscles creaked.

  She didn’t like surprises.

  Kiwi watched the mayor carefully before deciding that something needed to be done.

  “Who are you angry with?” Kiwi asked quietly. She was gifted in dealing with animals but found that her talent carried over to understanding humans, too.

  “What makes you think I’m angry?” Felicity drawled softly. Kiwi waited. As the chiefs in her tribe had taught her, sometimes words were unhelpful in getting people to look inside themselves. Guilt would make them speak when no amount of encouragement could.

  “My daughter is in the FDG,” Felicity finally admitted.

  “As are two of mine,” Kiwi replied evenly. She moved to stand in front of Felicity and spoke barely above a whisper. “I know exactly what you’re feeling. I went through it with Ayashe. Camilla was easier. I know that Colonel Walton does everything possible to limit the risk to our kids, and make no mistake, they are all of ours. Everyone has sacrificed something for everyone else.”

  Felicity looked down, her features softening as Kiwi continued to speak.

  “We raised our daughters where they wanted to serve the people of North Chicago, keep us safe. Isn’t that a higher calling that we should all be proud of, while at the same time being worried, since that’s our job as their mothers?”

  Kiwi smiled and tipped the mayor’s chin up so the two mothers could look into each other’s faces.

  “I guess I get to see my grandkids more,” Felicity conceded, not looking old enough to have grandchildren. Kiwi looked young too, but not as young as Felicity.

  “How are things going with Ted?” Kiwi asked out of the blue. Sue snorted, then excused herself and went into the hallway.

  “Ted. He has such great qualities, but I fear that he will never see mine. I think that I’ll end up torching his room and make him move in here. I still have a lot of tricks up my sleeve,” Felicity laughed, seeing her pursuit of the Werewolf as more of a game than a true love interest.

  She would always think of him as eye candy, plus he seemed so shy, which added a certain allure. It made the chase more enticing.

  Once Kiwi had Felicity smiling, she returned to the previous topic. “Marcie’s platoon is supposed to be back today, so we should be able to see them, hopefully soon.”

  “How do you know?” Felicity wondered. As the mayor, she thought she should have been up on the movements of the FDG, but then again, she had enough to worry about with all of North Chicago requiring her attention.

  Inside the wire, as Terry had been telling the mayor for the past thirty years.

  “Ayashe told me,” Kiwi replied.

  “Of course. I’m sorry, I keep forgetting that you’re not twenty-nine-years old.” Felicity smiled with her perfect teeth.

  Kiwi pulled Felicity into a hug and whispered into her ear. “Marcie will be okay.”

  Once the two women separated, Felicity put on her figurative mayor’s hat. “What’s the holdup?” she shouted.

  Mayra turned. “All of them wanted to come,” she said softly. “Who was I to say no?”

  “All of who?” Felicity asked.

  “Those rescued with me, freed by Terry Henry and the others here like Char, James, Gerry, and my Mark,” she answered. Mark looked away, blushing with embarrassment.

  “Kae was there, too,” Char added, “and Kimber, but we won’t have to wait long.”

  Char had reached into the etheric and found Terry Henry running toward the mayor’s building. He would be there momentarily, and he had the whole platoon with him.

  ***

  The group of women rescued included many who had found partners, others who remained alone, and many of them worked with Mayra in Claire’s Diner.

  They had gathered in the diner to prepare a feast to celebrate, but then it started raining. They thought they’d wait it out, but it wasn’t stopping, so they finally committed to getting wet. One by one, they ran from the diner and headed for Mayor’s Park.

  As a mob the twenty-three women ran, some older but none of them too old. The ones who had been youngest during the time were the least scarred, but Mayra had been the rock for all of them, both during their time in captivity and afterwards.

  Mayra was finally ready to move on. Mark had waited patiently for decades. Their time had come.

  The women slogged through the park, as Terry and the platoon entered from the other side. They were running in formation, carrying full packs and weapons. The survivors saw the warriors from the FDG, and it gave them comfort.

  Terry slowed the platoon to a walk, the warriors stopped as one, and they turned quickly before breaking formation and heading for the steps into the mayor’s building.

  The colonel was the last one in. Char held him off as he angled for a hug. Water ran freely from his clothes. She wrinkled her nose when he was an arm�
�s length away.

  A week in the field and he hadn’t bathed. He smelled like a wet dog.

  The platoon dropped their packs and stacked weapons as far away from the mayor’s office as they could get. It was already crowded and more people were coming.

  “Wedding party into the office!” Sue yelled over the cacophony in the hallway. They’d moved the furniture to the side to give them the center of the room, but more and more people filed in, first being Marcie, Kim, Kae, Ramses, and Camilla. The platoon stayed back while the survivors wedged into the entrance.

  The wedding party was shoved forward until there was almost no room in the office. If someone had passed out, they wouldn’t have been able to fall over.

  Terry didn’t mind being pressed tightly against Char, although she would have preferred her husband to be dry.

  Felicity raised her arms and called for quiet. Terry was impressed that she was able to get her hands over her head. The murmur remained at a low roar. Terry took a deep breath and Char wasn’t able to get her hands over her ears in time.

  “QUIET!” Terry bellowed.

  “Motherfucker,” Char whispered, shaking her head.

  “Damn! Sorry, lover,” Terry apologized in the calm aftermath of his attention-getting effort.

  “Thank you,” Felicity said with a tip of her head. The mayor looked happy with Marcie at her side, with Kim wedged in tightly on Marcie’s other side. The braying of a coonhound came through the doorway.

  “I thought he was locked up,” Cory apologized. There was a brief struggle in the hallway as the dog tried to get through. Camilla grabbed him and held him close.

  Felicity couldn’t see what was going on, but when silence returned, she started her speech.

  “About a million years ago, Billy Spires supported marriage as an institution, something different than what it had been before—a way for the government to tell us what we could and couldn’t do, a way for people to fight in a court of law. We don’t have that silliness anymore,” Felicity drawled, smiling at the older couple before her.