Dead States | Year Zero | Nebraska

by Marty Brockschmidt

  The herb mixture, from Hazel, she added to each drink worked quickly and the soldier's passed out at their tables. Stu Redding set down his coffee cup and guided the two guards to the floor.

  Crystal closed the door to the Club and spoke to Stu. “You don't need to be here for this next bit.”

  Stu pulled his knife and stabbed it through the temple of each of the guards. “In for a penny.”

  The Sergeant's radio crackled. “Redding, General wants you in his office five minutes ago.”

  Stu tapped his radio. “On my way.”

  “Sounds like Sara got a bit impatient. Amy and I will take it from here.” Crystal observed.

  “You two watch your six. This thing is a long way from over.” Sergeant Redding cautioned as he exited.

  Crystal and Amy, followed Stu's example with the guards and knifed the brains of the soldiers passed out on the tables. Wiping off their knives on the backs of the last soldiers, the two women retrieved holsters that had been stashed behind the bar and put them on. Reaching under the bar they pulled out machetes and duffel bags. Slipping the empty duffels over their shoulders and keeping a firm grip on the machetes the two walked out of the Club.

  Josh Wade had yet to pull a time with the women. The General was not a man to reward failure and Josh wasn't exactly crushing it as a recruitment officer. The only two young men that he had gotten to join up, got sent to the infirmary, by a younger boy and his mom. Not exactly the fierce fighting men General Mayhue is looking for.

  However, Josh made it a rule to not ask too many questions when favor was going his way. Getting on the list and have at one these girls, was such a step up from the backwater brothel's Josh was used to. He wasn't going to complain one bit about drawing the simple girl, especially since a deep conversation was not on his agenda. What she lacked in wit, she seemed to make up for in enthusiasm, whisking him into the bedroom as soon as he entered her room.

  Jillian directed Josh to sit onto the bed. “Boys are so silly. I just don't see why you get so crazy for this.”

  Josh drank her in with his eyes, she talked like a child, but her body was smokin.

  Jillian placed her left foot onto the bed, reached down slowly, unstrapped the shoe from around her ankle. Taking the shoe off she placed it into Josh's lap. Reaching under her skirt, revealing more of her thigh to Josh, she undid the stocking. Using both her hands she slowly rolled the stocking down and slipped it off.

  Jillian put her foot on the floor, slowly unrolled the stocking in front of Josh's eyes and placed it around his neck. “Hold on to that.”

  Josh couldn't help himself from raising the stocking to his nose and breath in the smell of this girl.

  Jillian placed her right foot onto the bed and repeated the process of removing the shoe and stocking, but this time lingered, giving Josh a view of her inner thigh. Josh ran his hand up her smooth calf, over the knee and then, using just the tips of his fingers, across the thigh. He placed his other hand up behind the back of her skirt and squeezed her bottom. Leaning in, Josh ran the tip of his tongue over the thigh, before giving it a kiss.

  Jillian stared up at the ceiling and counted to ten, before pushing Josh back and lowering her foot to the floor. Again she placed the stocking around Josh's neck and stood in front of him. Crossing her hands behind her back, Jillian slowly twisted her shoulders side to side. Josh's eyes, like a puppy following a treat, tracked the mounds of her breasts as they moved. Jillian stopped rocking, raised her hands and undid the first two buttons on her blouse.

  Leaning forward so that Josh could get a full view of her cleavage, she slowly removed the stockings from his neck. Turning around Jillian bent forward and placed the stockings onto a nearby chair, before coming to sit next to Josh on the bed.

  Jillian undid a couple of more buttons and opened the blouse for Josh's view. “Why do boys like these so much? Always wanting to touch them and squeeze them and kiss them.”

  Josh's heart was about to beat out of his chest. His breath was coming in gasps. Looking up from Jillian's breasts he gazed into her eyes and then her full lips. Josh raised his hand, stroked Jillian's hair, then slowly pulled her head forward as he leaned in to kiss her.

  Crystal came up behind Josh, put her hand over his mouth, pulled his head back and slit his throat from ear to ear with the machete. Josh's blood sprayed out, soaking the bed and covering Jillian.

  Jillian clapped her hands in child like glee. “I did good, right? I remembered everything Miss Cynthia told me.”

  Crystal let Josh's limp body fall back onto the bed and with a two handed swing of the machete, she cut his head clean off. “You did perfect sweetie. Now get cleaned up and wait quietly here until Miss Cynthia comes to get you.”

  Amy came to Cynthia's room last, finding the men in the previous four rooms as mesmerized by the woman's slow strip tease as Josh was by Jillian's. However, when she entered Cynthia's room she saw Cynthia calmly seated on the couch. On the floor was Beast, shirtless and his pants down to his ankles. Protruding from his chest was the decorative end of a hairpin and trickle of blood running from the corner of his mouth.

  “He got in a hurry.” Cynthia said with a shrug.

  Amy stood over Beast's lifeless body, the bloody machete at her side. A drop of blood fell off the machete onto Beast's mouth. His dead eyes opened wide and his hand reached for Amy's ankle. In one swift movement Amy removed his head from his body. Carefully picking up Beast's bald head, to avoid the snapping jaws, Amy added it to the other four heads in her duffel bag.

  Amy gave Cynthia a hug. “So far so good. I got to get back and help Crystal clean up the Club. How are you holding up?”

  Cynthia gave Amy a thumb's up. “Don't worry about me. You two have the hard part. I'll get the ladies up to the clinic and we'll ride this out with Doc.”

  The final patrol change for the night came a few hours before first light. A guard was stationed at the front and rear exits of each of the three buildings housing the townspeople. In addition two guards were assigned to each building to patrol up and down the floors of the buildings. At the main entrance to Timshel, two guards were posted and two more constantly patrolled the perimeter. A final guard was posted in the security building to monitor the perimeter cameras and motion detectors.

  Percy slid out of his second story window, on a rope made from bed sheets. When Percy hit the ground, Bill pulled up the rope, while Percy moved to the back of the building, hugging the wall all the way. Percy slowed his pace as he approached the rear of the building and waited for the perimeter guard to pass. As soon as the perimeter guard moved on, Percy moved up behind the guard at the back door. Putting his hand over the guards mouth and pressing him into his chest, Percy buried the sharpened stick he had used on Mae, through the guard's ear.

  Percy touched his radio. “One clear.”

  On Percy's command Bill left the building to bring Mac and his companions to the security building. Percy proceeded surreptitiously to the rear of the next building, again waiting for the perimeter guard to pass before taking down the rear exit guard on the second building.

  Percy touched his radio again. “Two clear.”

  Jason and Justin, exited the second building and followed in Percy's footprints. By the time the two caught up with Percy, he was sending the message. “Three clear.”

  The security building was Mayhue's tactical eyes and ear in and around the compound. Percy's team could not move into the courtyard without being caught on a monitor. Even the entrance to the security building was outfitted with a motion detector and camera. Fortunately, Mick as the resort's caretaker, had lived in this building prior to it being taken over by Mayhue. Mick's workshop was attached to the building and it had its own entry way in.

  Keeping low, Percy led Jason and Justin to the workshop entrance. The three entered quickly and as soon as the door was closed, Percy flicked on a flashlight. Moving slowly to not disturb the materials stored in the shop, they made their way to the security buil
ding side door. At the door Percy gave his flashlight to Jason and removed his boots.

  Bringing the sharpened stick up to attack position, Percy signaled to Jason to turn off the flashlight. After a moment to allow his eyes to adjust to the gloom, Percy slowly opened the door and crept into the security building on stocking feet.

  Private Hunter Deinz did not mind pulling this graveyard shift as long as he was inside. Sitting here in the security office, he could smoke, get a cup of coffee, play a little solitaire and still stare at the monitors. Leaning back in his chair, with his feet up on the desk, Deinz toyed with the controller to pan one of the courtyard camera's. A faint creak of the floor behind him, caused Deinz to pause.

  Percy's hand slid over Deinz's mouth. “Ach, the coward who likes to hit olt vomen. Must be my lucky day. It certainly is not yours.”

  Deinz's feet kicked on the desk as Percy slowly pressed the stick through Deinz's ear and into the brain. Deinz eventually went limp and Percy released his grip on Deinz's head. Going back down the hall Percy called in Justin and Jason and retrieved his boots.

  “Jason, let Mister Parsons in.” Percy directed, leaning against the wall to put his boots on.

  Bill, Mac, the Colonel and Dakota all hustled in when Jason beckoned. Mac pumped Percy's hand. “Good to see you Gunny. Now what can I do to help?”

  Percy chuckled. “That is vhy I asked for you to be brought here. You can be our eyes. Ve have almost taken back the town, but still must take the guards in the courtyard and those on the perimeter. If they see us coming and raise an alarm, Mayhue could mount a defense.”

  “We can do that.” Mac replied.

  “What's your plan Gunny?” Colonel Paige interjected.

  “Bill and Jason vill take the perimeter patrol, Justin and I have the guards at the gate. Then ve take the courtyard guards all together.” Percy explained.

  “Take Dakota with you.” Colonel Paige said, not exactly as an order, but still in a way that declining was not an option.

  Percy subconsciously stiffened to attention. “Yes Ma'am. One more thing as we move on the courtyard guards, tell the militia to take the buildings.”

  Mac took the radio handed to him. “Okay. When do you take Mayhue?”

  “Ve don't. The Captain and Corporal Landers vill deal with him, once the town is safe.” Percy replied with a mixture of pride and concern.

  Percy retrieved the sharpened stick from Private Deinz and began to move out, but Colonel Paige stopped him, handing him her own knife. “Good hunting.”

  Percy took the knife and snapped a quick salute. “Yes Ma'am.”

  The lights at either side of the gate, shed a pool of illumination around the immediate vicinity of the gate. One guard had positioned himself in one of the towers, while the other paced back and forth in front of the gate. Dakota slipped his bow off his shoulder and knocked an arrow. Dakota first pointed to himself, then to the guard in the tower. Then doing a two finger point to Percy and Justin, followed by a walking motion of his fingers and finally pointing to the pacing guard.

  Percy nodded and took a moment to time the guards pace and judge the time it would take he and Justin to close the gap. When ready Percy raised three fingers, then two, then one. Percy and Justin sprinted forward, with Justin being just a bit faster and dropping the guard with a flying tackle. Percy arrived, placed a foot onto the guards chest and thrust the borrowed knife into the guard's skull.

  A moan from the behind them caused Percy and Justin to snap around, only to find the guard in the tower collapsing across the rail the point of an arrow protruding from his back. Percy motioned to Justin to climb up and make sure the guard was finished and didn't turn.

  Returning to Dakota, Percy laid out next steps. “Justin take Dakota to our meet up at the rear of 'B' building. Dakota keep your bow handy in case one of the perimeter patrol got past Bill. I'll swing around the other way.”

  Colonel Paige focused on the monitor showing the courtyard. Mac showed her how to pan the camera and zoom in. “It's going to be a trick coordinating three strikes simultaneously.”

  “They've had a couple of months to figure this out, I'm sure Gunny has a plan.” Mac said encouragingly.

  Percy was the last to join them at the meet up location, on the way around he had time to reconsider the plan to take the courtyard. “Dakota how far can you hit a target with your bow?”

  Dakota shrugged. “Forty yards, fifty if the target is big enough.”

  “A head shot.” Stated Percy.

  Dakota nodded. “Better to be under forty.”

  The five men made their way down along the outside of 'A' building, stopping when they had a view of the guard at the front of 'C' building. Once again with silent hand gestures, Dakota laid out the plan. Dakota pointed to himself, then the front of 'B' building. Making a bow shooting gesture, he pointed to the guard at 'C' building. Pointing to both Bill and Jason he indicated the front of 'B' building, then pointing to Percy and Justin he followed with a point towards 'A' building.

  Percy nodded and gave a thumbs up, they would move when Dakota fired. The men moved into position, Dakota's shot was further complicated by the guards head being partially obscured by a post. Dakota needed to risk being seen to make the shot, in a fluid movement Dakota got into position, raised up and shot. The guard in front of 'A' started to yell in alarm, but was silenced by Percy's knife being thrust into his mouth and up into his brain.

  Mac seeing the guards drop picked up the radio. “Do it. Take the buildings now.”

  PFC Bender dutifully did as he was ordered, go down the hall, up the stairs, down the hall, down the stairs and repeat. All to make sure none of the townies got any ideas about slipping out at night and going over the fence. Bender had been on duty less than an hour, but long enough to be dulled by the monotony. Nearly at the end of the hall, Bender thought he heard a child's giggle.

  Turning around Bender saw nothing and turned back shaking his head. Before he could start moving he heard the giggle again, this time when he turned around there was an open door, halfway down the hall.

  Bender walked back to the open room and when he stood at the doorway the child giggled again. “You kids quit foolin around and get to bed.”

  The giggle came again, causing Bender to walk into the room. “Okay I'm gonna have to wake your parents.”

  A massive hand clamped around Benders throat. “Don't bother I'm already up.”

  Krista and Britney's small hands quickly stripped the Private of his weapons and radio, while Lou's hand squeezed tighter and tighter on his throat. Private Bender clawed at Lou's arm and hand in vain as the life slowly seeped out of him.

  Lou kept his focus on Bender, but spoke to the girls. “Britney Rose, you two don't need to be seeing this. Get yourselves across the hall.”

  Britney hesitated, causing Krista to tug her away. Lou kept his grip on Bender's throat long after the Private's body had quit moving. Eventually, Lou set the body down, picked up the rifle the girls took from the Private and thrust it hard through the skull.

  Lou walked across the hall to the waiting girls and nodded to Krista. Krista smiled and spoke into the radio, “Cap, 'A' building is free.”

  Private Misler had just reached the third floor, when a loud retching from the room nearest him stopped him. Suddenly the door popped open and Sue Anne called out. “Please he's real sick. We need to get him to the doctor.”

  Misler looked at the man sitting there holding a bucket and shook his head. “No can do, he's just going to have to ride it out until morning.”

  Lupton retched hard into the bucket again, causing Sue Anne to tug at the Private's arm. “Lup won't make it that long. We got to get him to the clinic.”

  Lupton stood up carrying his bucket and retched again, less than a foot from Misler. “Hey back up there, I don't wanna catch whatever you got.”

  Juan came up behind Private Misler and grabbed his arms. Lupton pulled the shiv, he'd made from a toilet brush, out of the buc
ket and ran it up under Misler's chin. Juan moved the limp body to the side as Lup exclaimed. “About time. If I had to fake throwin up one more time, my left nut was going to come up.”

  Juan smiled at his friend's grumbling. “That, my friend, would have been a loss to humanity.”

  Lup chuckled as he radioed. “Building 'B' is free.”

  Matt Brenner exited his room just as the guard was approaching his door. “Time for you to go, asshole.”

  Rory Biggs brought up his rifle. “Dude, go back to bed.”

  Matt grabbed the barrel and ripped the rifle from Biggs' hands and slammed the butt into Biggs' head, followed by jabbing the butt into Biggs' midsection. “No, it's time for you to go.”

  Rory Biggs was staggered by the blows from his own rifle, but became really scared when people began filing out of there rooms and began to surround him. Shoves and pushes quickly changed to slaps and punches. Rory Biggs collapsed to the floor, slowly losing his grip on consciousness. The last thing he saw was Doug Myers' prosthetic foot coming down to slam into his head.