by Kate Morris
He jogs along the corridor until he comes to the apartment he’s sharing with the family. He’s already prepared to leave since he packed earlier today after the tour. He was going to suggest their departure later on this evening to Doc and Derek after his latest series of covert, nighttime discoveries on the base.
Within minutes, they are moving. Robert gives him a set of night-vision binoculars, which are different than the ones they use at the farm but appreciated nonetheless. He also gives him three extra mags for his rifle and another two for his .45 Smith. This may not be enough if a lot more than the suspected fifty men show up. He knows the numbers rank near a thousand or more for this group. Robert’s men are following in two vehicles; a car and a pick-up truck painted in camouflage colors. It’s pretty corny looking, but the fifty cal mounted in the bed helps improve the status just a little. Paige rides in the backseat with Lucas and Doc while Cory drives and Derek rides shotgun. They are speeding along route 65 going south at a pace that will likely get them all killed should a herd of animals run in front of them.
“I want to go with you,” Paige announces from the back seat.
“Negative,” he shuts her down.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Paige,” Derek adds. “This is a night attack. It’s totally different tactically than what you’ve been in before.”
“I’d like to be a part of this, sir,” Lucas says next. “I do have the experience, and I snaked a few extra clips for my AK from my dad’s arsenal.”
“What do you think?” Derek asks Cory. “You’ve worked with him and G a lot more than I’ve had the time for.”
“As I said, this isn’t my first time,” Luke says.
Cory wonders what he’s referring to because most of the time, Lucas is quiet and reserved, not a big talker.
“In Portland,” he explains but just barely.
“I don’t know, man,” Cory says.
“And while we lived in the woods out there and then again at the bunker and on the way to the farm multiple times. I can handle it. I won’t need a babysitter when the shit starts,” Luke says, surprising Cory even more. Also, this is probably the most he’s ever revealed about himself.
“Fine by me then,” Cory says.
He glances in the mirror to see Paige giving a pouty look.
“I need you and Doc at the farm to help Derek. If we’re all gone, that ain’t good, Red.”
“All right,” she says in agreement but still looks pissed.
“Yes, I am quite sure the girls are very nervous right now,” Doc acknowledges about his family. “We must get home to the farm. I guess I was wrong that it was going to be a good time to leave. We shouldn’t have left the farm or stayed so long at Robert’s base.”
“Don’t beat yourself up over it, Herb,” Derek says. “I agreed with you that it’d be ok. This stuff happens. It happened all the time in the Army. You plan, prep, and crap happens at the last minute that screws it all up.”
“Right,” Cory says, not wanting Herb to blame himself for the actions of a few renegade assholes. “Nobody can predict when idiots are going to start acting like idiots.”
“I suppose you’re right. It was just bad timing on my part,” Herb tells them.
“I’m glad we’re all riding together, though,” Cory says, changing the subject to alleviate Herb’s guilt. “I wanted to talk to you guys tonight anyway.”
“About what?” Derek asks.
“I did a little more exploring tonight on the base- that’s where I was when you couldn’t find me.”
“I figured you were out chasing women,” Derek harasses.
He shoots him a look that lets him know he doesn’t appreciate that. Derek immediately looks to the back seat at Paige and says, “Sorry. I was just messin’.”
“You don’t have to apologize to me. What’d you find out, Cory?” she quickly asks, obviously not wanting to get into their relationship in front of everyone.
“They had a building way off the main stretch where they had stashes of stuff.”
“What kind of stuff?” Derek asks.
“Food and weapons, meds, clean water,” Cory answers.
“Who? The people? You mean they’re stealing?” Paige asks him.
Cory chuckles and says, “No, I wouldn’t guess that it’s the people doing it. It’s all under lock and key.”
“How’d you get in?” Paige questions.
“Really?” he scoffs.
“Oh.”
“Why would anyone have these things hidden away?” Herb asks.
“It’s the same as it was in the bunker,” Lucas says quietly.
“What do you mean?” Herb asks his grandson.
Luke sighs as Cory carefully maneuvers the vehicle around a wrecked oil tanker on the freeway.
“My father and the government out there- well, the government officials, not so much my father- kept enough food, rations, and supplies to keep the government running should the system fail, in case of a drought or some sort of natural disaster.”
“They were hoarding food and meds for themselves?” Paige asks with an incredulous note in her voice. “To keep themselves alive if they ran out of food for the people?”
“It never happened, of course, but it was there just in case,” Luke answers. “The new government felt it was a necessary precaution in case of a collapse. They thought if they all died, too, from either starvation or disease, then the whole city would collapse.”
“Gee, how noble of them,” Paige criticizes.
“I agree,” Luke says. “I believe Parker had a lot to do with putting that policy in place. My father was not so keen on the idea, but others were.”
“There were also three working vehicles hidden behind that building,” Cory offers.
“Escape vehicles in case the system fails and the people turn on the government,” Luke tells them. “We had the same thing at the bunker.”
“Wow,” Paige comments, not bothering to hide her shock. “I feel like I just woke up in the middle of the Bolshevik Revolution.”
“Has traces of imperialism, I know,” Lucas agrees.
“But this is why you left Colorado in the first place,” Derek says. “I don’t get it.”
“Is this just history repeating itself in a new location?” Cory asks Luke.
“I hope not,” Luke says. “It’s just that…I don’t know.”
“What?” Derek pushes.
“I was hoping he would leave some of his men behind. They aren’t all so well-intentioned as my father.”
“People are flawed,” Herb says. “It’s just a fact of nature. Perhaps my son felt that they could make a change once they arrived here and had the opportunity. For now, it probably makes him feel more comfortable being surrounded by people he knows and trusts. Their flaws are something that he might feel he can work around.”
“If they are willing to change,” Derek says. “So far, it seems like there are so many of the bunker’s same policies that have followed them.”
“The model that they used out there may work here for a while, like Herb is saying,” Cory says. “They will have to make changes to it all soon or else the people will become just as disappointed with the way things are being run as they were at the other place. Then they’re going to have a real shit storm on their hands.”
“They are doing great things in their medical research facility,” Herb tells them. “That’s one positive piece of news to report, I suppose. I worked with some of their doctors who are trying to manufacture vaccines. We discussed the diseases they’ve seen so far and the ones with which we’ve come into contact, as well.”
“That is good news, I guess,” Paige observes quietly.
Cory knows she is likely still thinking about Parker. The guy is an obnoxious asshole who has the hots for her, and Cory would like to lay him out flat on his back. Or put Simon on him. He’s good for that, too. Instead, he tries to join in the conversation about the scientists on Robert’s staff and
their medical advancements. Doc seems a little jealous of their facility. It’s funny because Cory has always just thought of him as a farmer first and the town’s doctor second. To hear him speak about their research, of which he is quite fluent, just seems out of the box for him. He realizes how smart Herb really is. Then he brings up Reagan and her love of research, too, and Cory is also reminded of what a super brain Little Doc is, as well.
“Cory, there is a matter I’d like to discuss with you in the next few days, one which I’ll need your help with,” Doc says.
“So don’t get your keister shot off tonight,” Derek jokes.
“Yes, sir,” Cory replies. “And, yes, I’ll make myself available whenever you need me, Doc.”
“Thank you, son,” Herb replies.
Cory really hopes he isn’t about to get lectured by Doc for messing around with Paige without being married to her. Kelly already warned him that he’ll likely get his ass chewed for it, but it has yet to happen. He admires Herb a lot and doesn’t want to displease him.
The time on the dash reads 12:30, and Cory pushes the vehicle even faster as their surroundings become more familiar. As soon as they are within five miles from the condo village, Cory calls a halt to their trip, leaves the family to make it home to the farm without him and Luke, and hitches a ride with the remainder of Robert’s men. He watches with a heavy heart as the truck carrying Derek, Paige, and Doc speeds away, led by the other men from Robert’s base. Paige’s eyes were filled with dread and worry as she slid in behind the wheel. Two of Robert’s men jumped into the bed of the truck to guard it while their buddies kept to their own vehicle to lead the way. Together they made a team of eight, and Cory hopes that will be enough men to keep her safe if they are attacked before they get home.
He radios John and his brother as they speed toward the condo village. Cory taps the roof of the cab to let them know to stop. They pull off the road as John comes over the radio.
“Gotcha’, brother,” John says.
“We’re coming in to help. What’s the sit rep?”
“Vacation over so soon? Miss me too much?”
“Affirmative. How’s the weather at the community pool?”
“Taking on heavy fire from the south,” he returns, sounding slightly winded.
Cory can just barely hear the shots in the distance as he and the others disembark. He moves the team forward with a hand signal. Luke follows close behind him as he leads the way.
“Come in from the north,” John orders. “You should run into Kelly before you get there. I’ll let him know.”
“I’m here,” Kelly responds. “I’m about to move in, so hurry your lazy asses up.”
“Got it,” Cory answers. “Be there in five.”
He orders the men to speed up and sprints ahead. His brother and John are in a dangerous situation. He’s not sure how long it’s gone on, this battle, but he’s eager to get involved.
It doesn’t take long to find Kelly, who has Chet Reynolds with him. He quickly explains that John has the Johnson boys with him. They squat as his brother sketches his plan of attack in the dirt at their feet. Cory pushes his night-vision gear up and waits for orders. He swigs from his water bottle and stashes it back in his pack.
“We need to flank, gain entrance. K-Dog’s gonna meet us at the back gate and let us in. These asshats don’t know there’s a gate back there. John’s group is taking fire here,” he says, indicating the mark in the dirt with a stick. “Once we’re in, we’ll come at them from the inside. John’s taking on heavy fire. We need to get him some relief. Cory, you take your squad and push in from the east. There’s a line of trees here,” he says, pointing with the stick. “Use caution. They hit the wall with an RPG about twenty minutes ago. They just haven’t been able to get in yet because K-Dog’s men and John’s group are holding them off.”
“Got it,” Cory says.
“We could also come at them from this position,” Parker says, at once getting a glance from Kelly. “This seems to be the better point of entry.”
Kelly looks at Cory as if to say, “who’s this idiot?” He even rolls his eyes for good measure.
“You remember Parker from Robert’s camp?” Cory reminds him. In the distance, he can hear the single tap-taps from John and his men’s rifles. They are conserving ammo but also keeping their enemy under control.
“Uh-huh,” Kelly answers.
His brother will not tolerate someone stepping into a battle and within two seconds ascertaining that he knows better. None of them even know if Parker has experience with this.
“I want eyes on that technical, too,” Kelly says, ignoring Parker completely. “They’ve got one parked out front. Simon already took out the shooter, but like most rats, they’ll send another one from the nest soon. We need to disable it.”
“Where’s the Professor?”
“Where you’re headed. Work together and push forward from his position. Leave us three men and take the other three with you. Push them hard. We need to end this. We just didn’t have enough men to get in there to help K-Dog and Paul yet. Wait for my signal,” Kelly tells him. “Good luck, brother.”
He bumps his fist against Kelly’s and leaves through the cover of the small forest behind the condo units. Luke jogs right along with him, pace for pace. He seems calm and quite at home in this situation. That’s good. Cory can’t afford for anyone to wig out right now. He calls Simon on the radio and gets an affirmative that he won’t shoot them, even though Cory thinks his friend would like to, at least shoot him. Knowing Simon, he already saw them coming through his scope.
“We’re moving in from here,” Cory tells Simon the plan once he’s found him in the woods.
Parker steps forward and says, “I’m the ranking commander here, and I say we push in from the west side. There’s more cover of trees and less obstruction to get in our way.”
“You are not the ranking anything here, dude,” Cory corrects him. “Just follow us.”
He stands behind a tree and waits until he sees the green, laser from Kelly’s rifle pointing into the night sky. Even if their enemies see it through night-vision goggles, they won’t understand what it means to them. He does, though. It’s Kelly, and he’s inside the condo village’s perimeter and in place. He’s ready for them to push into the crowd of assholes.
They move forward, but Parker and one of his men take off in another direction.
“Damn it!” Simon hisses, mimicking Cory’s thoughts.
“Fucking prick,” Cory remarks.
“Let’s go,” Simon orders and begins jogging again.
Cory continues on with Simon, ignoring the change in plans issued by the new ranking commander. If Parker’s men take on friendly fire, it’s on them. Cory won’t lose sleep over it. If there’s one thing they never do, it’s change plans in the middle of a mission unless it is absolutely necessary or they are under attack and need to get out of the area fast.
Cory glances one last time their way before tightening up the space between himself and Simon. Parker’s men who stayed with Cory seem to know what they’re doing. They don’t bunch up but move one at a time until their partners can run ahead to keep the area clear and to cover one another. It’s the same way he and Simon were taught by John, Derek, and Kelly. He notices that Lucas moves with the same precision. He also notices that Luke stuck with them and ditched Parker the second he decided to split from the group. The only one on their team who doesn’t move with tactical practice is Parker. He is screwing up their formation.
As they draw nearer to the scene, Cory can see at least six vehicles and men hiding behind them. This is a different modus operandi than the highwaymen have used before. They’ve never ambushed people at night that he knows of, and they usually attack people on the road, travelers. With the exception of Dave’s compound and possibly that night with Paige at their cabin near Clarksville, neither of which was able to be confirmed as their work, they usually attack in broad daylight. This night atta
ck will work to Cory’s advantage. A daytime assault is much different than one in the dark. Confusion and panic can set in quickly if their plan falls apart, which he has every intention of making happen. If they are not equipped with night-vision gear or have experience doing this at night, then they will easily defeat them.
There are at least fifty men, maybe sixty or seventy, a few additional dead ones on the pavement. Cory takes cover behind a house across the street from the gated community. He knows that his brother and John came here years ago and ended up freeing the women and children who lived in these condos from their captors. Now they must help their closest allies again. Simon runs past him and takes cover behind a dirty car parked in the side yard of the home. Cory is sure it was abandoned there and not actually from before the fall. It has that apocalyptic look about it. Missing side door, faded and chipped paint, weeds growing up and out of the windows and hood, half of it burned to a crisp. He’s pretty sure this wasn’t a soccer mom’s carpooling vehicle. It’s good cover, though, and he joins his friend, pressing his back against it. Luke runs to the house next door and squats low at the corner near the front porch. He’s got good cover, which makes Cory glad. He doesn’t particularly want to return Doc’s new grandson to him with a bunch of holes in him. Also, he’s a lot more afraid of G and what her reaction would be if Cory got her brother killed on his first mission with them. She’s a feisty little shit.
“Crap, someone’s gonna get on that fifty again,” Simon says as he peers through his long scope.
“We’re in position,” Cory says into his radio, hating that he doesn’t have his throat mic with him.
Before he gets an answer from his brother, Parker’s group begins firing.
Chapter Twenty-two
Paige
She swerves around a dead deer in the road, forcing the truck onto the berm for a second. Her nerves are rattled, fried, at the prospect of what Cory is going into and what her brother is probably already in. Paige is tired of warring and battles and violence. She’d had enough of that when she was on the road with her friends. Most of the time they tried to steer clear of it, but sometimes they had no choice, especially if people were trying to steal what meager provisions they had on hand, usually food.
