Gray Panthers: Battle for Earth

by David Guenther

  Surprise, Arizona

  5 April 2126

  The sun was not yet up as he heard the phone ringing.

  "Mr. Daniels?" the voice on the other phone asked.

  His reply of "Yes" was thinly veiled with venom as he saw it was five o'clock and caller ID was unknown.

  "Sir, Mr. Goldstein would like to see you at your earliest convenience." The voice was a woman's, and sounded like she was more used to giving orders than asking for anything.

  "And which Mr. Goldstein would that be? The one whose life I saved? Or the one that bought me a drink? I doubt it was the one that tried to have me killed yesterday."

  A sharp intake of breath over the phone was the desired response as the woman identified herself as Mrs. Goldstein, Siggys wife. "Can you please come to our home as soon as possible? I will send a sedan, if it's all right with you. We can all have breakfast."

  Dan started to reply when he heard a car door slam, "I guess the car will be waiting for me?" Dan asked as he saw a black sedan in front of his house.

  "Yes Mr. Daniels, the sedan should be there waiting for you."

  Dan pulled on a pair of clean blue jeans and a loud oversized Hawaiian shirt that concealed the 9 mm he stuck into the back of his pants as he pulled on his socks and a comfortable pair of cowboy boots. He then slid his boot knife into the boot.

  Walking to the car, Dan noticed that the driver was one of his attackers from the day before, the same one who had held up his hands as a sign of surrender.

  "Don't bother to open any doors for me; I'll sit up front with you, shotgun style,” Dan stated flatly, as he got in. "I've seen too many movies where bad things happen to the guy in the back of these things, especially when they have those glass shields."

  The driver did not say a word and Dan was not in the mood for small talk. The drive to Anthem in the hills outside of Phoenix was quiet except for a classic rock station Dan tuned the radio to. The driver called to announce their arrival as they pulled up to the home. The guards opened up the gate after giving the sedan a thorough look over.

  Relief flooded through Dan as he saw Siggy standing in the doorway of the mansion waiting and not a goon squad from Siggy’s son. "Well I guess you're doing better today," Dan noted as Siggy went down the steps two at a time, nearly running to shake Dan's hand, and give him a hug.

  "Danny we have things we need to talk about," Siggy gushed as he directed Dan through the house. "That magical elixir of yours definitely took me down the rabbit's hole. That will make us the richest men in the world."

  "That juice is not for sale Siggy. I gave it to you so you will know I'm not nuts. I have serious need of your talents, not one of your partners or one of your sons, especially the one that tried to have me killed."

  "Don't worry about my son, Dan. He is on his way to South Africa at this moment where I have tasked him to open a new corporate office on his own. That will take him a while to accomplish. When he's done, it's going to be his own office with no affiliation to the family business. I'm also disinheriting him and cutting him off. I figure that’s far enough away so you may not try to get revenge on him. I love the boy, but he's a disappointment and that was the last straw. Why isn't the elixir for sale? Immortality is a safe investment."

  "The elixir is also a damn good bribe Siggy, especially since it only lasts for three to six months before you need a booster, quite an incentive. You will notice a few things while you adjust to it, your hormones are going to be going crazy like a teenager, so watch any snap decisions you make. Your face will still look the same even though you will have the body of a twenty year old. Most importantly keep your pecker in your pants, as you…."

  "Too late for that Mr. Daniels. He has shared his new talents with me for a good part of the night,” Mrs. Goldstein stated as she walked into the study from an unseen side entrance. The old lady was tall and erect. Though in her seventies, she was still an attractive woman and it was easy to imagine her as the trophy wife she must have been. She radiated confidence and walked up to the men and waved them off from standing up in her presence. “Please continue Mr. Daniels, it was not my intent to interrupt you.”

  "Well we pretty much covered the elixir; you do not need to take any of your old meds. As a matter of fact they might kill you,” Dan went on, deciding not to mention the recuperative powers the man would now have, or the effects of the pheromones…”

  ''What do you need me to do for you D2?" Siggy asked, disappointment clear in his voice.

  "Siggy, to start with, I need you to help me to get around the law so I can sell gold. I remember when the Green Earth party was able to pass the precious metals act making it illegal to own any gold or silver other than jewelry or precious historical coins. I also want to buy a large area of desert the government owns so I can build a retirement city for veterans. You can get them to give me the land on the condition I am able to provide employment to at least half of them. Since our politicians will only speak with unions or collectives, I need you to do whatever is needed to create a veterans collective on paper. Then start recruiting them for me. I also have designed a technique to create steel out of sand so I will need patents. Think you can get that done this week?" Dan asked, as he looked him in the eyes.

  "It's going to be a bitch Danny, but I'll get started right now. How much gold do you have?" Siggy requested, ready to take additional notes.

  "Sig, it's our gold mine, you're not only going to be my attorney you're going to be a full partner in the endeavors. That way we can share a cell if we fail. I plan to take back America, and make it a republic again. We are going to do that by taking people off the dole, giving them well paying real jobs. We will have our constitution back, the original, not the one they pushed through after the Iran War. The one that ruined this country and turned it into a socialist paradise. Are you up to the challenge Siggy?" Dan asked as he saw Siggy start to pale.

  "You know if Department of Homeland Security heard what you said, you would be in one of their hospitals for the insane." Sig replied as he continued, "I actually know quite a few gentlemen who share your vision and would be willing to do anything they could to help. They are already organized and number in the thousands. I will have to see if they are willing to let you join with them."

  "Wrong answer. They need to join with me. Damn it, I'm just going to lay all the cards on the table. I found a spaceship that gave me the juice that saved your life, and mine too. There is incredible technology there that will change our entire world; unfortunately we are going to be attacked by other aliens in about 20 years that plan to enslave us. I need to organize us to build an army, and produce the weapons and transport to defeat that enemy. Before we can do that we need a government that would not turn that technology and fire power against its own citizens. My plan is to recruit veterans, those who remember the republic and their oath to the Constitution. I am going to rejuvenate them and let them be our army since they have not grown up in our present day workers’ paradise and would be obliged to us for being young and healthy again. Can I count on you?"

  Sigmund walked over to a decanter and poured himself a large drink. Turning toward Dan he held it up as Dan shook his head no. A large chug from the crystal glass was followed by Siggy plopping hard into his seat. He stared at Dan for another few minutes then nodded his head. "We are partners my friend. I will get everything you asked for done as quickly as possible, god help us."

  Dan rose, "Now I have to get moving, Mrs. Goldst…"

  "Please call me Barbara, Mr. Daniels," Barbara said interrupting him.

  "OK, Barbara, why don't you come home with me so we can make Siggy nervous?” Dan quipped, as he looked her in the face, seeing a twinkle in her eyes that he had not noticed before.

  She looked to her husband, not knowing how he was going to reply to the invitation.

  "Well get going Babs, D2 doesn't have all day," Siggy laughed out.

  The ride back to his place was much more comfortable in the back seat sittin
g next to Barbara. She sat closer to him than he expected and could feel the warmth of her leg through his pants. The soft scent of both her shampooed hair and an expensive perfume that softly wafted in the air, nice but not overpowering. She put her hand down on his knee and smiled when she asked if his plans for her were honorable. He realized at that moment, his pheromones might be making a problem for him.

  "Ma'am my intentions are strictly honorable." Dan stated as her hand stayed on his knee.

  "I guess I am just a silly old woman. You would not be interested in an old woman like me." As she tried to carry on, Dan made it easy for her.

  "I would not disrespect you, or Siggy, by doing something like that Barbara. He's an old comrade and friend, and you are his wife. It would be like hitting on my sister." A silence filled the void as they rode on in silence.

  Arriving at his home, Dan turned to Babs, looking into her eyes and simply asked, "You want it too, don't you?"

  Babs exhaled as if she had been holding her breath for days, "Oh god yes! I was willing to do anything for it."

  "Would you be willing to be first Lady if I asked you to? I think once we get things straightened out, Siggy would be an outstanding president. But he would need someone who was willing to be there for him since it wouldn't be easy."

  "I would do anything for my Sig." was her reply, as she took the vial from Dan. Smiling she downed the contents. "You should really get some sleep now; it helps the process;" Dan suggested to her as she made her way to the sedan.

  Going into his living room he sat down in his easy chair. With the drapes closed, only a little light made its way into the room as he removed the old 9mm from his belt and looked at it for a moment before putting it on the table next to him. The thoughts of what he had set in motion started to nag at him as he began to second-guess everything he had planned. Feeling the need to turn around he looked on the wall where there was an American flag stored in the shape of a triangle, a field of blue with only the white stars showing. A gift from a grateful nation, after his father died during an army exercise. The flag was the only connection he had left with his father. Staring at the flag, clarity seemed to come more easily and a plan of action formed.

  Dan decided to try the new communication device Grub had given him. "Call Abdul" Dan said in the quiet dark room feeling foolish.

  "What's' up boss?" was the instant reply from Abby.

  "What's your status there? Need anything?"

  "We are getting things done boss. Grub sort of grows on you. We're going to call this place Fort Knox. I'm getting a little nervous with all the heavy metal here. Grub setup some good security, so be sure to announce yourself when you come back," Abby rattled off.

  "I'm going to do a little shopping and be out by nightfall. Going to try and bring Brent. He doesn't have a need to know yet though so he only see's the upstairs, got it?"

  "Sure thing, especially if he brings some liquid refreshment with him. Abdul out. Break"

  Heading into the bedroom, Danny could still smell a trace of Maria as he reached under the bed for the chest of coins. Figuring a dozen would be more than enough. He headed to a used car lot.

  He had no trouble buying a used truck from Honest Sauls Used Automotive Emporium; the shiny black truck was configured for off road use. Dan had Saul include a couple extra jerry cans of gasoline, along with a dozen black market books of fuel coupons for two silver coins. The heavy truck would be a nicer ride across the desert and be able to haul more. Looking at the truck, he realized it shouted "Rob Me" if he saw the outsiders or any other outlaw groups in the desert again. "Saul do you have a hammer? I need to borrow it for a minute?" Taking the hammer from Saul, he proceeded to hammer the body everywhere so that it looked like a driving wreck. "I really hate waiting for that first scratch on a new truck, ya know what I mean? I think I covered it," Dan said returning the hammer to the speechless salesman. He just looked at Dan and the damage, with his jaw hanging open. "Let me know if you have any luck catching flies partner. I'll be back for my cart a little later today." Dan laughed as he got in and drove away.

  Brent was plenty happy when Dan asked if he wanted to head out and go for a ride. Noting the truck was almost brand new and still looked like crap, he knew better than to ask. They continued to the dealer where Dan picked up the cart and let Brent have the truck to follow him in as he got in the old solar cart. As he neared Fort Knox, Abdul called him asking if he knew he was not alone. He was relieved when he realized it was Brent, and finished sanitizing the area.

  Three camp chairs were at the entrance of the mine when they pulled up. Camouflage netting covered the chairs providing shade for them yet letting a breeze come through. Brent was the first to speak as Dan pulled out an ice-filled chest of beer from the cart. "I never will understand you guys coming out here busting your asses for what you get out of it." At that moment, he shifted his chair away from the mine entrance as he caught a whiff of the porta-potty just inside the mines entrance. "I'll stick with the tavern, myself, even though selling it and retiring sounds even better." They just let Brent ramble on realizing the old man in front of them was pushing eighty. Yet he never complained about the drive out to the mine or how much it must have taken out of him. It started to get cooler as the sun started to set over the mountain behind them. Brent nodded off, still holding a half-full beer on his knee.

  Danny and Abdul softly argued about whether to bring in their old friend when they heard Grub in their ears.

  "I apologize for the interruption gentlemen, but I thought you would like to know that your friend is not who he says he is. He has been on the run from your government for over thirty years. He is still on their wanted list. When the government suspended the Constitution in 2096 as part of the Enhanced Homeland Security Act, he killed two police officers and four Department of Homeland Security Contractors when they served a no-notice warrant on his home at three in the morning. His wife and two children also died. Your friend Brent had refused to turn in his great grandfather’s .45 automatic. After the raid, a local deputy reported that the DHS contractors were abusing Brent’s wife. Brent was only defending his family, but the media refused to tell his story, instead parroting the government’s story that Brent and his wife were terrorists.

  Dan and Abdul looked at each other and just nodded as Dan held up a vial. He reached over and poured it into his old friends beer then made a loud ripping belch that woke the old man.

  "OK, it's late and I have to get home. I'll catch ya later Abby." Dan tossed the keys to the truck to him as he watched Brent drain the last of the beer and walk over to a bush muttering about having an old man's bladder. Dan fought back the laugh of how his friend would be in the morning as he got into the old cart.

  Surprise, Arizona

  6 April 2126

  The phone jarred Dan awake as he looked at the clock, 7:00 A.M. "Your dollar, talk" he muttered into the phone as he laid his head back on the pillow.

  "Dan, the deal you wanted will be done by the end of this week. My man was able to attach it to the unemployment bill that's in the house now. He convinced his committee that if they allowed precious metals back into circulation it would be easier to find any that were missed, and then confiscate them later when they repeal the bill. He comes out sounding like a hero to the rest for figuring another way to appropriate more revenue. The land deal will not be hard either. There are loopholes they made so it's easy to convert government land to select private owners. The head of the department can do it without even reporting it to Congress,” Siggy reported happily. “I have also started the process to create your Veterans Collective Corporation. I emailed you a list of veterans I thought you might want also.

  Washington DC

  7 April 2126

  Dan was still amazed as he looked around the small corporate jet Siggy had loaned him, as it descended on the rebuilt Washington DC. All the comforts he never had at home and nothing at all like flying commercial. He stretched one last time as he connected the
lap belt in preparation for landing. It was sad to see that few of the historical buildings he remembered from his youth had been rebuilt from the nuclear bomb Iranian terrorists had used there during the war.

  The young lawyer waiting with the limo did a suspicious second look at the old man getting off the plane dressed in denim jeans, cowboy boots, and loud Hawaiian shirt. Dan laughed to himself as he saw the youngster, James Keys, who was supposed to be his guide and chaperone. The boy looked to be in his early twenty, severe haircut, and a gray striped suit that likely cost more than Dan had made in the last ten years. The boy was sharp and soon had Dan on the way to Walter Reed to visit his old squadron commander from Iran. Getting out of the car walking up to the hospital the young lawyer immediately went to the left side of Dan and continued to ask if there were anything else he needed of him. As they got closer to the door a pair of army generals walking in the opposite direction passed them as he noticed the boy had stiffened and restrained himself from saluting.

  After navigating through to the hospital room, Dan was shocked and saddened to see the condition of the man who had been the very essence of life itself. Compared to the man he remembered this was but a deflated shell. He could not help but draw the comparison to concentration camp survivors.

  “Come on in Sgt. Major,” the shell of a man boomed out. Dan stiffened as he walked in, no longer a desert rat, but once again feeling like he was in uniform, he walked up to the bed and almost saluted before he caught himself. The old officer noticed and smiled, “I do that at times too.”