Stolen Liberty: Behind the Curtain

by Thomas A. Watson

  “I’m not tellin’ nobody nothing, Robbie. You going to let your newest ‘old lady’ in on it?” Jerome prodded Robbie.

  “Heck no. It’s Sunday. I keep the Sabbath holy, man. No honeys on my free day,” Robbie chuckled as he started up the cruiser and let it idle. He did avoid dealing with his rotating stable of girlfriends on Sundays. As a rule, he reserved that one day a week for either himself or Kristi and the kids.

  Robbie waved at Jerome before he pulled away from the Polka Dot one last time and headed home. He made a mental map of Kenosha and decided to avoid the parts where the rioting would be getting out of control near the courthouse and the surrounding bars. His home, just south of the downtown area along a quiet residential street, gave Robbie a sense of pride.

  He had struggled with school most of his life, but his time after serving and healing up from his wound had given him a clarity of mind. Robbie tried his ‘hand’ at different trades, but nothing fit him. He worked as a laborer on a job site where the realtor needed some upgrades to flip it quick. The foreman, an old high school buddy, kept Robbie on as a favor, but Robbie saw where the real money could be made. After spending time after work one day talking to Mr. Peltman, the real estate guy, Robbie knew for sure that he wanted to give it a go.

  Using his G.I. Bill money, Robbie attended classes and worked odd jobs while rooming with a sweet little thing who didn’t charge him rent. He did have upsets along the way, he had to find another bed to sleep in when his sugar momma got jealous and kicked him out. Robbie slept in his truck a few nights until he found another place to lay his head. Robbie sighed as he remembered Daphne Rutledge. Legs a mile long and jet-black hair down to her sweet bottom. Of all the girls before and after, Daphne had seen straight through his cocky attitude and still let him crash at her place. Her roommate didn’t appreciate it, but then again, Philip Morgan did follow Daphne around like a lovesick puppy.

  That relationship had lasted long enough for Robbie to save up enough for his own place. After that, the trail of destruction he left in his wake made him smile to himself under the helmet. Daphne and Philip married recently, so at least that was one that really did get away.

  The real estate license test had been easy for Robbie, but he’d wanted something else to help him succeed. He took his normal core classes required by the university, but he focused on the business side of things. Robbie knew he could talk his way through a business deal, and he knew the basics for buying and selling houses, but he wanted to know how to keep the success rolling.

  When he had graduated with his Bachelor’s in Business Management, the whole team had showed up to celebrate. Kristi had brought up the kids, and Mom and Pop had made the trip, too. Times had been tough in the beginning with the housing market tanking, but meeting Jerome had really gotten him on the road to being comfortable. The modest home he’d picked up at the lowest point of the housing bubble had been in terrible shape. After the fiasco with the plumbing at Kristi’s place, Jerome had taken the time to train Robbie by gutting his own house and completely redoing the pipes and wiring. Robbie discovered that the real hard part was getting the plaster and wall texture perfect.

  A year later, Robbie had a brand-new home. The hardwood floors gleamed from the meticulous work he had put into the sanding and multiple coats of stain and varnish. Robbie had camped out in his garage until the fumes had cleared out.

  Robbie eased up the drive and pulled to the garage behind the house. He reached into his jacket and pulled out the remote to disable the alarm and raise the single overhead door to the bay where he housed the Harley. He circled the bike around and backed in. He killed the engine and closed the door with the remote. He swung off the bike and worked the helmet off.

  Like most garages, he had installed extra shelving and overhead storage. He also had a large powder magazine bolted to the floor near the rear of the bay.

  Blaster listened to the engine of his Harley cooling as he cleared his mind. “It’s too late to go shopping tonight.” He locked up the garage and made his way into his house to plan for the coming collapse. Robbie felt the ground under his feet shift and he knew the time was coming when he would need to gear up for another war. A war in his own country by his own government.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Ohio

  Pulling up to his house, Randy put his truck in park as the tractor pulled up to the barn. Getting out, he saw Cody jump out of the cab of the tractor. “It’s only noon, why are you stopping?” Randy called out, grinning.

  “Mom called on the CB and told me lunch was ready, and she better not have to come out in the field to get me,” Cody huffed.

  Randy headed over to Cody and they both walked toward his parents’ house. “Trust me, you don’t want Mom coming out in the field looking for you,” Randy laughed. “I only did it once, and she spanked me the entire way back to the house.”

  Cody turned to him grinning, “Yeah, Pop told me about that. That’s why I’m here.”

  “Yeah, if I can’t outrun Momma, you definitely can’t,” Randy laughed.

  Stepping on the porch, Cody opened the screen door. “You would think, with only one real foot you would slow down,” Cody said, holding the door open.

  “Hah,” Randy huffed. “I’m still just as fast. I’m the bionic man.”

  Walking into the living room, they found Oliver and Lena staring at the TV. Seeing the look of shock on their faces, Randy froze. “What wrong?”

  Slowly shaking his head, “The government has declared the ACLU and the NRA terrorist organizations,” Oliver mumbled in shock.

  “Do what?!” Randy shouted and ran around the couch to stand beside his parents.

  “Sunday there was some shooting in Wisconsin and then twenty minutes later, another in Colorado,” Lena said, staring at the TV. “They said both protests were arranged by the NRA and ACLU. Both houses met Monday and this morning made the announcement.”

  After talking to Charlie yesterday, Randy knew all that but didn’t tell mom. Looking at the TV, Randy saw a reporter talking and in the upper right corner, a small screen showed a riot with police shooting into a crowd. “Why are the cops shooting into the crowds?” Randy asked as Cody moved over beside him.

  “Look at the uniforms,” Cody said, pointing at the TV. “Those are federal agents, not cops.”

  “They took an oath to protect and serve!” Randy shouted, watching the officers shooting into a crowd.

  “That’s from Wisconsin. The riot there only intensified since Sunday. They said the group firebombed the courthouse and shot four officers,” Oliver said.

  Feeling his heartrate speed up, Randy stumbled back into the couch and dropped down. “Oh, shit,” he mumbled, and Cody turned to him with wide eyes.

  “Did you see the Polka Dot bar?” Cody asked timidly.

  Staring at the TV hard, Randy only nodded. “Isn’t that the bar Robbie goes to?” Lena asked.

  “Yeah, he was there last Sunday,” Randy said, pulling out his cell phone. Tapping the screen for Blaster, he watched the number pop up and ring. After four rings, the automated message came on. Hanging up, he tapped the screen for Charlie.

  On the second ring, “Shadow,” Charlie answered curtly. “Can’t talk now, Blaster is okay. Stay close to home until you hear from me. Stay cocked, locked, and ready to roll hot.”

  Before Randy could say anything, Charlie hung up. “You get him?” Oliver asked.

  “That was Charlie. Robbie’s number went to voice mail. Book said Blaster was alright, but to stay close until he called,” Randy said, setting his phone on the coffee table. He looked up at his dad. “What is this shit about?”

  “Some water bill that was passed,” Oliver said.

  Getting off the couch, Randy felt constrained and the need to move. “Charlie said that wasn’t up for a vote yet.”

  “Well, it seems they passed it over the weekend behind closed doors,” Oliver related, moving over to his chair and sitting down. “None of the networks are
even talking about the bill, all they are covering is the violence.”

  Lena moved over to her recliner beside Oliver’s and sat down. “So, you’ve heard of this bill?” she asked, but never turned from the TV.

  “Yeah, but Charlie said it would never pass and if it did, it would be challenged,” Cody said, sitting down. “That’s all Book said?” he asked, watching the ticker at the bottom of the TV as it read out other cities where violence was breaking out.

  “No, he said stay cocked, locked, and ready to roll hot,” Randy answered with sigh. Walking around the couch, Randy headed for the door.

  “Where you going, son?” Oliver asked, looking away from the TV.

  “Getting ready to roll,” Randy said over his shoulder. “Book wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t need to do it.”

  Cody jumped up as Randy walked out the door. Breaking into a run, Cody caught up to him as he stepped off the porch. “You don’t think Blaster is in trouble, do you?” he asked as they headed to Randy’s house. “Surely Charlie or Robbie would’ve called last weekend if he was.”

  “Don’t know, but if he is, I’m going to help,” Randy replied.

  “Now you’re talking,” Cody grinned.

  Reaching his door, Randy looked over at Cody’s innocent face and smiled, “If this goes down, we are fighting the feds. You ready for that?”

  “For my team, I’ll fight the ocean,” Cody declared, walking past Randy and opening the door. “I may not beat the ocean, but it will damn sure know I was there.”

  Laughing as a mental image of Cody ‘Karate Kid’ kicking waves filled his mind, Randy followed Cody inside. Cody headed into his room while Randy went into his small office. Opening his gun safe, Randy started pulling out weapons. “I never thought I would be doing this here at home,” he said with a sigh.

  After his weapons were laid out, he went to his room and changed into tan tactical pants and a polo shirt. Grabbing his tactical plate carrier vest from the closet and tossing it on the bed, Randy reached up in the top of the closet, pulling down two ballistic plates. After putting them in the vest, he grabbed his XD and clipped it to his waist.

  Stepping out, he found Cody in the living room, laying his stuff on the couch. “You think we need our rucksacks?” Cody asked.

  “I laid mine out just in case,” Randy said as his dad walked in.

  “Son, your phone beeped,” Oliver said, walking over and holding it out.

  Taking his phone, Randy tapped the screen. “It’s a message from Book. He says stay in place, but keep sharp,” Randy read out.

  “Keep sharp for what?” Cody asked.

  “Trouble,” Randy replied, tapping the screen.

  “Momma has food ready,” Oliver told them, turning and heading for the door.

  Cody went back to his room and grabbed his laptop. “Come on, before she starts looking for us,” Cody said, clipping his XD on his hip. All of the team had concealed permits. Even though the permits weren’t valid in Illinois, they never went anywhere unarmed. The weapons might not be on them, but they were damn sure close when they visited Kristi.

  Walking in the house, they saw Lena eating but still in her chair. “Your plates are on the coffee table,” she said, not looking away from the TV. “The President is coming on in five minutes.”

  “Hell, I barely liked the one they voted out. At least he wasn’t a politician,” Randy said, sitting down on the couch.

  Sitting next to Randy, Cody opened his laptop. “Everyone loves a politician, you can buy one to suit any need,” he chuckled, grabbing his plate.

  “That’s the problem,” Oliver commented, sitting in his recliner. “They are worse than a whore. A politician will get in bed with anyone and do anything; a whore only gets in bed for sex.”

  “You hush,” Lena said, popping his arm and Cody stifled a chuckle.

  “Got that right, Dad,” Randy agreed, reading the ticker at the bottom of the screen. “They are having riots in Columbus?”

  “Yeah, reports started coming in after you walked to your house,” Lena said, turning back to the TV.

  “Momma, I wasn’t gone but for fifteen minutes!” Randy cried out.

  Staring at the TV, “I know, son, but the riots are spreading fast. Four state governors have called out the National Guard,” she related, grabbing a glass of tea.

  Lifting his gaze off the ticker at the bottom of the screen, Randy looked at the display beside the reporter showing scenes of riots. “What the hell?” he gasped. These weren’t kids rioting, these were adults. Many were wearing uniforms and working clothes. “Where is that at?”

  “Billings, Montana,” Lena answered, shaking her head. “They are at the federal building.”

  As Randy watched, a group of officers with shields charged the crowd, then the screen suddenly cut off and showed the emblem of the United States and a steady tone sounded. The ticker at the bottom of the screen read: This is a message from the President of the United States on the Emergency Broadcast Network. Follow all instructions given and comply with all law enforcement demands.

  “What the fuck?!” Randy shouted, standing up and staring at the TV.

  “Randy, watch your mouth,” Lena snapped, and the screen changed to show a small man sitting behind the desk in the Oval Office.

  “My fellow Americans, I come before you today with a heavy heart,” the President said with a nasal voice, looking down at some papers he was holding. “I have enacted four Executive Orders, one which suspends Posse Comitatus, and I have ordered military units into several major cities to quell the violence that has broken out.”

  The President stopped and looked up from the paper. “This violence has erupted from a few dissidents complaining about a law the elected legislature has passed. Yes, I signed the Water Act. It safeguards the water for our children and future generations, and I will not tolerate any who would want to jeopardize our children’s rights to clean water when they inherit the earth.

  “First, the five-cent federal tax on water will go into effect this week on the first of May. All owners of private wells, you will contact your local government for placement of a water meter in the next thirty days. Once your meter is in place, you will be taxed retroactively for the past two years according to your uses from May first. To all homeowners that have water frontage or standing water on your property, you will make an appointment with your local tax office to be assessed your tax per gallon on water touching, standing, or flowing through your property.”

  The President stopped and looked at the camera hard. “Those not complying within ninety days will face property seizure. We can no longer, not take responsibility in preserving this planet for our children. All businesses with wells will have six months to comply or apply for extensions. Any person, family or dwelling that receives government assistance can apply for exempt status. All you need to do is go to the IRS website and apply. Each person receiving government assistance will be allowed exempt status on five hundred gallons a day. That is what is offered for basic needs and after that, you must pay the tax. All government housing is exempt.”

  Still staring at the camera, the President put the papers down on the desk. “Now, this morning I signed an Executive Order classifying the ACLU and the NRA, terrorist organizations. The ACLU was trying to justify in court, the reason people had a right to not pay this tax and their right to protest. Many of the protesters you see acting violently have been confirmed to be members or have ties to the ACLU and the NRA. I have been advised that the members of these organizations have been ordered by the leadership to protest with violence. If it is proven otherwise, I will remove them from the terrorist list. Until then, I have enacted an Executive Order limiting the Second Amendment. You may still own firearms, but they must be registered, kept in a safe, stored separate from ammunition and not removed from your residence of registration. All gun owners have thirty days to register your weapons with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives via their website. Any
firearm not registered in these thirty days will be classified as an illegal weapon and the holder will be charged with penalties that carry ten years in prison per weapon.

  “Any current or past member of the ACLU and the NRA must register with local law enforcement in the next ten days. After registering, you must turn over all weapons. If you are cleared and found not to be a threat to this great nation, then your guns will be returned.

  “As of now, a warrant for the arrest of any standing administrative member of the ACLU or NRA has been issued. I urge you to turn yourself in, to the nearest federal institution. Homeland and the FBI are already looking for you and if you’re innocent, you will have your day in court. Unlike you, this government believes in due process of law, but we will not be intimidated by your actions.”

  Looking away from the camera, the President picked the papers back up and took the top one off, setting it aside. “I have recalled military forces from overseas to help local law enforcement quell this violence. Every member of the UN has passed this legislation, yet only here in America have demonstrations turned violent and disrupted the peace. I know it is only a small fraction of our population, yet it still shames me to call myself an American when this group fights against doing what is right for the children now and future generations. Several members of the United Nations have graciously offered assistance to help suppress these violent few. As President, under Executive Order 13603, The National Defense Resources Preparedness, I am allowing UN forces to assist the United States military in suppressing the violence from this small section of dissidents until this time of crisis has passed.

  “All UN forces will be answerable to US military liaisons and will follow the rule of law of the United States,” the President said, then looked back at the camera. “It troubles me that this small group has caused this much turmoil, but I can’t let them further endanger the citizens and infrastructure of this great nation.