Overthrown II: The Resurrected (Overthrown Trilogy Book 2)

by Judd Vowell

  “Yes,” Salvador said carefully. “That’s right.”

  Jessica told the highlights of a story about her journey to rebellion, and in so doing, answered many of Quinn’s questions. As he listened closely, he learned that Gordon had died and Henry’s fate was unknown. But most important to him, he learned that Meg was most likely dead, victim to an apparent second round of the cancer she had beaten before. His throat stiffened with a lump of sadness that rose from his belly. He knew he had to keep his sudden emotion from overcoming him. He couldn’t let Salvador see the anguish that had welled up inside him. His own life might be in question if he did.

  Quinn forced the lump back down and spoke, mainly to distract himself from his sorrow. A sorrow he had never anticipated he might feel. “She’s really getting them fired up,” he observed.

  “Shhh,” Salvador said. “I don’t want you to miss a single thing she says.”

  Quinn dropped his head and put his hands over his face, feigning concentration. He didn’t know if he could get through the rest of Jessica’s speech if it went on much longer. She ended with the family motto-turned-battle cry, and the rebel crowd went wild. It had been a rousing, tactful speech. He was confused at the emotions he was feeling. He felt proud for Jessica, another reaction that he would have to conceal from Salvador. The crowd was chanting the word ‘Triumphs’ when Salvador switched the transmission off.

  “This is not good, Quinn,” Salvador said. “These rebels are growing confident. It’s not good at all.”

  “I agree,” Quinn said.

  “So what should we do about it?”

  Quinn thought before he spoke. His granddaughter was probably his last living relative. He felt he had to help her, even though the possibility of that happening seemed grim. He needed to slow Salvador down and allow himself more time to think.

  “This is a lot to consider, Salvador,” he said. “We must analyze their motives, just as you suggested. Otherwise, we might not learn a thing from all of this.”

  “I want us to meet again tomorrow,” Salvador said. “11 AM. And I want you to think of a solution. We can’t let this blatant disrespect continue.”

  ΔΔΔ

  Quinn walked into Salvador’s high-rise residence the next day with a plan of delay in mind. Salvador had always been a man of great patience, but Quinn had been witnessing that patience fade. He still didn’t know what he might do to get to Jessica, but he knew how he might keep Salvador from acting on his frustration with the rebels. He would suggest a more intense level of drone surveillance over the Kansas City rebel headquarters, with added drone exploration for other possible bases across the country. Then he would develop a plan for conquer and capture. He would convince Salvador that his Omega XT could handle an invasion and the taking of prisoners. And when they did, he could maybe find Jessica and rescue her. Maybe.

  “I’ve got it all figured out, Salvador,” he said as he walked briskly to the bar in the corner of the room. He poured himself a whiskey over ice. He was nervous.

  “A bit early for a drink, isn’t it, Quinn?”

  “Never too early for that,” Quinn answered.

  “I guess you’re right,” Salvador said. “Besides, we could use some refreshments for what I’ve got planned.”

  Quinn made Salvador the same cocktail with a puzzled look on his face. “What exactly do you have planned?” he asked as he poured.

  “Just a little entertainment,” Salvador said, halfway smiling. “Like one of those old action movies, but real-life.”

  Quinn’s stomach tightened. There was a tone in Salvador’s voice that scared him. He realized that his plan to slow Salvador down was useless. That the wheels of something bigger were already in motion.

  Salvador clicked a large television screen on the wall to life with a remote control. Quinn recognized the images it was showing immediately. He had seen the passing outdoor terrain many times. He was seeing the view from one of his drone’s cameras, and it was making the flight to the rebels’ base near Kansas City.

  “Ah, good,” Salvador said. “The mission has already begun. Right on schedule.”

  “What mission?” Quinn asked, trying to mute his desperation as he did.

  “I’ve decided that it’s time to send this rebellion a message, just like they did to us. That rally was just too much.”

  Quinn knew then that the flight he was watching was destined for more than just surveillance. “What’s going on here, Salvador? I wasn’t consulted on any of this. That’s my operation, my drone team.”

  “I had a feeling you might react this way,” Salvador said, taking his drink from Quinn’s trembling left hand. “And that’s exactly why you weren’t consulted.”

  “Salvador, don’t act rashly. There’s still so much we can learn. I have a very bad feeling about this.”

  Salvador looked at Quinn strangely. “You shouldn’t have any feelings at all, Quinn.”

  Quinn took a large pull of whiskey from his glass, afraid he had revealed too much. He sat in one of the room’s leather chairs and focused on the screen. He was an intuitive thinker. He recognized what was happening without question. “How many?” he asked.

  “Twelve,” Salvador answered. “Each with four Hellfire missiles and two laser-guided bombs. There shouldn’t be anything left once they’re done.”

  Quinn felt his whole body flex with tightness. He didn’t say anything more. He finished his whiskey in one gulp, then watched with dread as the deadly Reaper drones approached Camp Forager at an altitude set for attack.

  19.

  T he celebration after the rally at Camp Forager lasted deep into the night. Jacob spent most of that time in conversation with Lefty after Lefty, each of them finally welcoming him into their rebel society with open arms. He heard more “thank yous” and “I forgive yous” than he could count. At one point, Daniel saved him from the endless line of new friends, helping him escape to a locked room beneath the stadium’s corridors for an appreciative whiskey drink. The two of them stayed hidden for much longer then they planned, polishing off a rare bottle of Pappy van Winkle bourbon that Daniel had found on his original journey to Overlord and carried with him ever since. “Been saving this for a special occasion,” he told Jacob. “Nice job today.” Their friendship was solidifying quickly.

  Jessica was bombarded with revelers, too. She had reached a summit of celebrity among the Leftys that day. They suddenly adored her, and the adoration made her uncomfortable. “I didn’t think this would happen,” she told Anna. “This is crazy.”

  “Just go with it, Jess,” Anna told her. “Every girl should get to be a star at least once in her life.”

  Archer and Laz stayed close by her side like bodyguards as the party continued. “Don’t worry, Jess,” Archer said. “Anybody gets too close, we’ll handle it.”

  “I think I’m good, guys,” Jessica told them, even though she appreciated the gesture. The whole day was surreal.

  She slept later than usual the next morning, skipping her daily sunrise ritual. When she woke, she could see that the sun had been up for a while. Anna was gone, her bed crisply made. Jessica got up and took a long shower, reliving the previous day’s highlights with a smile on her face. The hot water refreshed her. She was happy for the first time in a long while, and she knew that she had done something great the day before. As she dressed, she began to look forward to what the rebellion had in store. It was time to push forward and help the Effort with everything she had to offer.

  When she came down to the lobby, she noticed a serious conversation taking place in a corner of the busy room. McKay, Daniel, and Anna were talking in private. Jacob had seen Jessica when she came down, and he approached her.

  “What a day yesterday, huh?” he said.

  “Yeah, I didn't see that coming. All I was trying to do was put a smile back on your face, Marsh.”

  “Yeah, yeah, I get it. The humble girl routine. You should be proud, y’know?”

  Jessica smiled. �
�Yeah, I guess so,” she said. “So what’s that all about?” She tilted her head toward the conversation in the corner.

  “Not sure. I think the guard crew saw something this morning that they’re concerned about. Something out on the interstate. Past that, I have no idea.”

  The corner meeting broke up and Anna started walking toward them. She had a look of concern on her face, but she relaxed slightly when she saw Jessica. “Good morning,” she said when she got within earshot. “Hope you got some rest after last night.”

  “Yeah, I’m feeling pretty good,” Jessica said. “Ready to get to work.”

  “Good,” Anna said. “I think everyone else around here has gotten a little more ready, too. Thanks, of course, to you guys.”

  “Oh, it was nothing,” Jacob joked.

  Anna smiled, but only a little.

  “What’s going on?” Jessica asked. “Looked pretty serious over there.”

  “We don’t know very much. The perimeter guards saw something strange early this morning on the western interstate. Two vehicles, military-type. Looked like ANTs, according to the guards. The vehicles sat on the interstate for a few minutes, then turned around and left, back toward Kansas City proper. A guard followed them from a safe distance until they disappeared into the city streets. That’s all we know.”

  “That doesn’t make much sense,” Jacob said. “ANTI-’s got drones. If they wanna see anything, they’ll be doing it from above, without any of us knowing it. No way they’d risk being seen like that.”

  “That’s what Daniel’s thinking,” Anna said. “He thinks this must be some rogue group exploring.”

  “Friendly?” Jessica asked.

  “No way to know,” Anna answered. “Unless we find ‘em.”

  “Whoa,” Jacob said. “You’re not going to go after them, are you?”

  “McKay thinks we have to,” Anna said. “And I don’t disagree.”

  “That’s crazy, Anna,” Jacob said. “You have no idea what you’re chasing. Hunters, ANTs, whatever. They could be baiting us, wanting us to send a search party into the city. You could be walking right into a trap.”

  “Don’t you think I know that, Marsh?” Anna snapped. “This isn’t my first rodeo. We’ll take all the necessary precautions.”

  “I still say you’re crazy,” Jacob said, turning away from her.

  Jessica, silent as the two of them bickered, suddenly spoke up. “I wanna go.”

  “I don’t think so, Jess,” Anna said. “I appreciate your spirit, I really do. But you should stay here. I’m taking Archer and Laz with me. They’ll know if these guys are Omega XT or not. And we’ve got a group of the best-trained Leftys to escort us. It’s too much of a risk, Jess. This could get dangerous.”

  “I’m going,” Jessica said with determination. “And Marsh is, too.” She turned and walked to the lobby’s glass doors that led outside. She disappeared through them quickly.

  “Well you heard the girl, Marsh,” Anna said. “Get your shit together. We’re going on a trip.”

  ΔΔΔ

  The Lefty search convoy consisted of four vehicles and sixteen people. The former ANTI- humvee that had brought Jessica and the others to Forager was first, manned with four Leftys. Next in line was a converted cargo van that carried Anna, Jacob, Archer, Laz, and Jessica, with two other Leftys. The van had been reinforced along its roof and sides with steel plates, and skinny rectangular openings had been cut in varying height throughout its body so that its occupants could see outside without being vulnerable to gunfire. The third vehicle in the convoy was a heavy-duty tow truck, which could haul a vehicle on its flat bed and tow another behind it. The two Leftys in it were part of the transportation recovery team, and they never missed a chance to confiscate abandoned vehicles. The three remaining Leftys held the anchor position in the group, riding in what once had been a pickup truck. Like the van, the pickup had been transformed with a shell of steel, and it made it look more like a robotic rhinocerous than a man-made mode of transportation. There was a .50-caliber machine gun attached to a turret in the bed of the truck, where the Lefty manning it could fire in all directions.

  The convoy set out on its eight-mile trek to Kansas City at 10:30 in the morning, not knowing how long their search might take. Daniel was there to see them off. He leaned into the open side door of the cargo van.

  “You know the rules, Anna,” he said.

  “Yes, Daniel, we’ve been over this. If it’s ANTI‑, we don’t engage. We retreat back to camp. Otherwise, approach and assess.”

  “So you do listen to me,” Daniel said.

  “Sometimes,” Anna said with a wink.

  “As for you, Jess, you stay inside the vehicle no matter what,” Daniel told her. “Officially, I don’t approve of you going. But I think I understand why you want to. Just make sure you let the other guys do the dirty work. That’s what they’re here for.”

  Jessica gave him a sharp salute. “Aye aye, sir.”

  “And Marsh, don’t do anything stupid,” Daniel said, pulling the door closed as he did.

  “Hey!” Jacob yelled. “I don’t even want to be here right now!” He began to bang on the inside of the door in sarcasm until the van started moving. “Let me out! Let me out!”

  “Don’t worry, Marsh,” Archer said, laughing. “Ain’t nothin’ bad gonna happen today. Not when you got me on the watch.”

  “And there you have it, ladies and gentlemen,” Jacob said. “What they have referred to since the beginning of time as ‘Famous Last Words.’ Thanks a lot, Archer.”

  The convoy picked up speed as they exited through Camp Forager’s western perimeter fence. Jessica put her eyes up to one of the van’s rectangular openings and watched the camp grow smaller until it was almost indiscernible to her. Then she turned her eyes away, wondering why it felt like she may never see Forager again.

  ΔΔΔ

  The streets of Kansas City were desolate and quiet. Like most cities, it had seen a concentration of the Great Dark’s carnage. The only trace of an earlier human population was the skeletons. Most people had stayed inside to die, but many had given up where they last were. On doorsteps, in alleyways, along sidewalks. It was a difficult thing to see, but Jessica and the others inside the van found it hard to look away. They stared through the van’s openings at ANTI‑’s aftermath. Jacob could feel the weight of what he had done, and he understood why Jessica had forced him to come.

  The Leftys at the front of the convoy spotted one of the vehicles from earlier that morning twenty blocks into the city. It was parked haphazardly outside a plain building that climbed high into the middle-American sky. The convoy stopped, and the Leftys from the lead humvee got out. They came to the van and opened the door.

  “We’ve got a vehicle that matches the guards’ description ahead,” one of them said to Anna. “It appears to be empty.”

  “Any sign of the second vehicle?” Anna asked.

  “No, ma’am. Just the one. Parked at the front doors of a tall building.”

  Anna considered the information. It was an unusual situation, but she wasn’t ready to assume it was ANTI- just yet. “Only one thing to do,” she said. “Check it out.”

  They unloaded out of the van while the other Leftys in the convoy were informed of the plan. Anna instructed the soldiers from the pickup and the tow truck to stand guard in the street while the rest of them explored the building.

  “What about me?” Jessica asked. “I’m supposed to stay in the van, right?”

  Anna reached into her underarm holster and handed Jessica a pistol. “I won’t tell Daniel if you won’t,” she said. “We’ve got to get some experience under your belt sometime. Let’s go.”

  The group walked cautiously toward the building. Archer led them, and Laz followed behind. They all kept their eyes and heads moving, preparing for an ambush at any moment. They made it to the mysterious vehicle without incident. Archer inspected its interior and confirmed that it was empty, then put his hand
on the hood.

  “Cold,” he said, just loud enough for the others to hear.

  “I don’t like this,” Jacob said.

  “Grow a pair, Marsh,” Anna replied. “Let’s keep moving.”

  They entered the building, a former office space with a large restaurant on the ground floor. Human bones, some still in recognizable skeletal form, were spread throughout the lobby and dining area. The smell of death had dissipated long before, but the imagery was enough to make the search party hesitate. Only Archer and Laz were unaffected by the sight.

  “Nothin’ can help ‘em now, people,” Archer said.

  “Move on, everybody,” Laz added, pushing the group from the back.

  They entered the stairwell, and Anna designated two teams to search every floor until they reached the top. Archer would lead one team, Laz would lead the other. “Let’s not waste a bunch of time,” she said, “but let’s not miss anything either. If somebody’s in here, let’s make sure we find ‘em.”

  The teams set off, climbing the stairs and then searching each office, breakroom, and closet. Jessica and Jacob, following Laz, reached the top floor of the building first with two other Leftys. After walking the entire space, Jacob declared the building empty.

  “Not yet,” Jessica said, pointing up with her finger.

  “The roof?” Jacob asked.

  “Why not?”

  They re-entered the stairwell and climbed one more flight until they reached a heavy steel door with stenciled writing that read “ROOF ACCESS.” Jacob pushed on the door, but it wouldn’t give. Laz moved him out of the way and leaned into the door with his shoulder. It moved, but barely.

  “It’s locked,” Laz said. “Probably been that way since the collapse.”

  “Or somebody’s out there and they don’t want to be found,” Jessica said.

  Laz looked at Jacob, but all he could do was shrug. They heard the second team coming up the last of the stairs.

  “We all clear?” Anna asked.