Afraid of the Dark

by Chris Hechtl

“I know it answers the question on what to do with all the people to keep them busy and employed,” Shane said with an amused half smile. “I'll have Torres or Wayne provide security. There was a sweep yesterday but that doesn't mean anything,” Shane said. “I'll tag along as well.”

  Bob turned to look at him and he shrugged. “Why?” Bob asked.

  “Why not?” Shane said moving off to his truck. “I'll see you there after lunch,” he said with a wave, taking his hard hat off and tossing it in the truck before climbing in.

  “Shit,” Bob muttered looking at the crew. A few nearby who had apparently caught part of the conversation were looking at him in concern. He shrugged. “Looks like we've got more work folks.” He turned as they looked at each other and headed to check the pour.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  Jayne shook her head as she came into the conference room. Bob scowled at her but didn't say anything as he took a sip of coffee. “Hello to you too,” she said picking up the pot and pouring herself a cup. “Someone forget to put sugar in your coffee?” she asked.

  He grunted but didn't say anything. She looked at him and then to the others. Wayne wasn't looking happy. Nor were any of the other men for that matter. Hernandez looked pissed. “Someone want to fill me in on what's going on?”

  “The expansion. It's a bit much,” Shane said shaking his head. “We've been going over the man power numbers. Its beyond the scope of stage three.”

  “What's the problem?” she asked taking her seat.

  “I don't see a problem,” Jerry said coming into the room. Jen smiled at him. She looked drawn and tired but willing and able to get things done.

  “The problem is people aren't thinking what a project like this entails as usual. They just point and say hey, let's do that. Why not?” Bob snarled throwing his hands up in the air.

  “Its a lot of work. We get that,” Jen said.

  “No you don't. Its a lot of work Jen. A lot of work. My work. My people. His people,” he pointed to Wayne and the other field team leaders. “And its not going to be very safe or very successful. Its also not going to work very well, and its not going to be done overnight. Six months maybe. A year, yeah. But not tomorrow or even next week.”

  “The apartments...”

  “Are a major problem,” Hernandez interjected. The women looked at him. “Purely as a defensive structure they suck. The berm wall is nice in theory; its about a sixty degree slope so it'll keep most small animals back or at least stall them. The problem is we don't have a moat in front of it, and most of the damn aliens are big. A twelve foot slope is nothing to them.”

  “Not to mention the wall at the top,” Bob said tossing an image of the apartment complex onto the table. It was a standard 8x11 print. He pointed to the perimeter. “We've got maybe twenty feet from the edge of the berm to the buildings. In some places more, in others less. We're going to have a hell of a time working that out.” He threw a copy of an air shot onto the table as well.

  “You're up to it Bob.”

  “I...” He glared at both women. “I don't care what it looks like. The question is will it hold up. If a Bull Hellcat comes up that berm will it stand up to it? What about if it decides to climb the damn thing?”

  “You fire on it?” Jerry asked. The military experts in the room look at him in a mixture of amused tolerance. “I mean kill it right?”

  “Doc, we have to be extremely lucky to kill one of these things,” Shane said. He glanced at Doctor Phillips who for once was coming in the door. “Ask the doc there,” he said as the others turned in their chairs to nod a greeting. “Just how hard it is to kill one of those things? Let alone doing it from above at a downward angle, doc? Apparently we don't know what we're talking about when we try to explain it ourselves.”

  “Impossible?” the doctor said smiling as he poured himself a cup of coffee and took his seat. “I'm assuming you mean the Hellcat? I caught part of the discussion from the hall as I was coming in.”

  “Exactly doc. We've got some rounds that will do damage, but it'll be a lucky shot to kill one at that angle. Their armor deflects it.”

  Jen and Jayne glanced at each other. Jayne shrugged. She opened her mouth but Hernandez picked up before she could. “See, its not just that either. That apartment complex is a warren of buildings. Buildings with windows, doors, and vents. Chimneys. All sorts of things. We have a hell of a time cleaning it out every week. Now imagine people inside. They would attract more animals.”

  “But the wall...”

  “The wall would make a few pause. A hopper swarm would hop or fly right over it,” Wayne said in disgust. The women stared at him. He nodded to Jerry and Doc Phillips. “Ask them what a hopper swarm could do to someone. I've seen it. It's not pretty. I've seen the panic it generates when someone even mentions the Locusts now.”

  Jerry shivered as the women turned on him. He spread his hands apart. “Let's...”

  “Let's just say it’s like being the center attraction of flying piranha,” Doctor Phillips said. Jerry looked at him and nodded. Jen nodded too. Jayne sucked in a breath, looking a little pale. She remembered the theater incident. “Now imagine them getting inside a complex. Or nesting somewhere and we run across them. Its happened once here remember? It's a big fear here I bet,” he said looking at Shane who nodded.

  “Trust me, when we the experts at killing these things tell you it's not as simple as you think. Or trust the expert on building that it's not as easy as just slapping a wooden wall up and covering it in paint.”

  “We didn't say that,” Tamara said sounding annoyed.

  “No, you just marginalized our opinion. Making it sound like it was no big thing. That it wasn't something we hadn't done day in and day out for months now,” Hernandez snarled.

  “Easy,” Bob said. “That's my wife you’re growling at. Not that I don't agree with you.” Tamara turned a wounded and angry expression on Bob. He returned her basilisk look with his own glare.

  “Let's tone this down a bit and look at it from other perspectives. Utilities for one. We don't have the methane. We do have plenty of electricity though, at least until we run out of fuel to make it.”

  “Thought you were working on that?” TJ asked. “No wait... dur.”

  “Come on, no one can make gas that easy. Okay maybe with some algae tanks and stuff we can make some, but not nearly enough to cover what we need.”

  “Oh.”

  “To do this, the windows would have to be boarded up and covered. Metal shutters at least. We'd need insulation too. We'd have to pack people into the buildings because it wouldn't be fair if only certain people got in. That would mean needing more energy, AC to cool the buildings so they don't attract alien attention. Converting all the gas appliances to electric. Then of course there is your avenue Jayne, TJ, supplies.”

  “Supplies?” TJ asked.

  He nodded. “Supply distribution. People living in the apartments will have their own kitchens, and therefore will want their own food. Toilet paper. Furniture. That means decentralization of critical resources when we can least afford them.”

  “I see its a headache,” Jayne said rubbing her brow. “I guess in our excitement we didn't think it through well enough,” she sighed.

  “Exactly. I know we want to restore some semblance of what once was. I'd love it too,” Shane said, looking at his wife and then back to the group. It was hard to look at the disappointment in her look as she bit her lip. “But there is a thing about too much too soon. Strategic over reach could easily kill us. What we can do is do things in stages.”

  “Stages?” Jerry echoed.

  “Stages. For instance trying to do the entire Towngate complex all at once is insane. Bob here is going to need weeks of planning to do it. They will need to dig up major sections of the areas for foundations. That means checking for utilities and rerouting them. We're not getting any more from them, but the last thing we need is a fireball if they ever come back on or have pockets of trapped gas or
something.”

  “Or a water main burst. There is still some water in the lines. We're using pumps to pull what we can out. I'm not worried about electric or data. Sewer is a problem. But we can deal with it. In time like I said,” Bob said nodding grudgingly.

  “Exactly. In time. Bob wants to dig up Eucalyptus along that side of the complex.” He pointed to the map, tracing his finger along the road. “That will solve our moat question but it will cause traffic issues. However that will also take months to do. Months of using fuel and wear and tear on our equipment.”

  “Ah,” Jen said nodding as she leaned forward to study the map.

  “What I can do is work on the projects we've already planned. The Towngate center remodel is about done. I've got another two days to finish the last pour, a day for it to cure, and then onto the next. Say a week for the last pour to cure so I'll shift the guys doing make work there to work on the digs here and here,” he said pointing to 215 border near Sams. “We should be able to do something there. I was planning a series of curtain walls...”

  “Like a castle,” Shane said nodding. Bob looked up and nodded. “The mall is the keep. The others,” he pointed to the Lowes, Home Depot, Costco, the hotels, Winco, the storage center and Canyon springs plaza places. “Each of these is a fort.”

  “So...”

  “So what we're doing here is the outer town wall. Think Roman times. The Romans would set up a keep and basic fort then a wall around a town. That evolved into a castle and a walled town in England. We're falling back into that practice.”

  “That's a lot of coverage,” Bill said. He looked tired, but he wanted in on this since he was head of security. “We're not going to be able to cover it all. Cameras can only do so much. Don't even begin to think about lights.”

  “No, we need people on it in strategic places just like we've got here. We'll have to set up hides or turrets or something. Something to allow a force to get to a place quickly but remain under cover from the aliens' heat vision. Bunkers,” Hernandez mused. “Which is going to be a pain in the ass to man twenty-four seven.”

  “I thought during the day...” Jerry said frowning.

  “Hoppers and Felhounds operate during the day doc,” Wayne said shaking his head. “As do the herbivores. Last thing we need is some turtle or other monster to come waltzing in and crush someone. Or a herd to come in and tear up the area.”

  “True,” Shane said with an amused nod. “What we're going to do is focus on the areas that are the easiest to do. The areas on vacant lots. Here and here and here,” he pointed to areas on the map. “We'll set up gates on the roads we want to keep. While we're doing that we'll have to carefully study the sections with stuff around it.”

  “I was actually looking forward to using the school,” Lorraine the English teacher said quietly. Hernandez glanced her way.

  “We're still cleaning it out. It's a mess. Every night we have to start over.”

  “We'll get there. Just don't expect miracles overnight ladies,” Shane sighed, shaking his head as faces fell.

  “I've got about a thousand layabouts doing make work right now,” Jayne said. “We can put them to work. I was planning on shifting them to clean and repair the buildings as they become available.”

  “Which you can still do. But any with construction experience, hand them over to me,” Bob said. “We'll put them to work. I'll make sure they earn their keep.”

  “Part of the problem is some of them don't want to work. They want to turtle. Or they just want to sit on their asses and eat and sleep,” Hernandez snarled.

  “That's not fair!” Lorraine said.

  “Its true,” Hernandez said, eyes flashing. “You know it, I know it, we all do. There are the workers and the people who sit on their asses and bitch. Bitch, bitch, bitch. Why can't this happen faster. Why can't we have this? Why can't we have that,” he said with a high pitched mocking voice as he threw his hands up in the air.

  She rose out of her chair but Shane stood faster. “Enough,” he said firmly, leaning forward and using sheer command voice to back them both down. “We don't need to nitpick. Mateo didn't mean you personally Lorraine, so don't worry about it,” he said looking at her. She stared. He turned to Hernandez. “You didn't did you?”

  “No,” he said quietly. “No offense.”

  “Some taken,” Jen said quietly. “But we'll adjust.”

  “I think Hernandez just pointed out the whole walk a mile in someone else's shoes before you judge.”

  “Um...”

  “He was about to at any rate. Which we're going to do. Gabe,” he turned to the big IT guy. “Gabe I want camera footage of some of our raiders put up on the net and on our local news. People need to see that its not all fun and games. Start with the footage of the apartments and the buildings nearby.”

  “Yeah, uh sure,” Gabe said nodding.

  “Good. I suggest anyone who runs into someone griping about things not moving fast enough be pointed to those links. They need to see what they are talking about before they put their feet in any deeper in their mouths.” He shot an amused look at Jen who was just staring at the table. Jayne didn't look up from staring at her cup.

  “We're going to work on the apartments again today. Torres and Wayne are going to focus on the rest of the city. Mateo and I will work on the apartments.”

  “You personally?” Jayne asked surprised.

  “I'll even wear a camera. Want to come?” he asked. She blinked. “We're pretty sure there is nothing big in there.” He glanced at Gabe who looked up from his laptop and grunted.

  “No, no, don't think so. Gremlins, Creeplings, maybe Hoppers, not sure.” He spread his hands apart.

  “Oh is that all,” Jayne said dryly. “Pass.”

  “Right,” Shane said with a nod. “See? No one wants the dangerous jobs,” he held up a hand as Jayne's eyes flashed. “No offense Jayne, but you just did it. Didn't you?” he asked. After a moment she sat back and stirred her drink but didn't say anything. He let the moment linger before nodding. “All right then. We've got work to do. Art, you said something about work on your end?”

  “We've got the carpentry works set up now. I'm working with Kyle to turn out some basic parts. Wood stocks, shields and grips for the weapons. Basic bunk beds and other things on demand.”

  “Good, good,” Shane nodded.

  “I'd like more people with lathe experience if we can find them.”

  “Talk to the personnel department,” Shane said nodding. “Put a call out on the web,” he said. Art blinked and then nodded. “Now... we've got generators... I heard you've got a possible new customer TJ?” Shane asked.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  After the meeting Shane was spotted by a mob and confronted. An angry leader of the mob demanded they use the apartments. He recognized Rubix in the crowd, but he wasn't the instigator. Or at least not the one talking. From the look of it Rubix had found himself a front man to do his dirty work.

  Shane shook his head at the thought. He really didn't have the time or patience for politics. He tucked the man under his arm and informed him he was more than welcome to move in now. He could go over there and clean out the Gremlins, Creeplings, Locusts and other animals. The man sputtered and back peddled.

  “Come to think of it, we're going there right now, so you can lead the charge. Come on. We'll go together. Go get your weapon or you can come as you are, I don't think the aliens will mind.” He turned to the crowd. “How about the rest of you? Huh? Any takers? It's fun. All you have to do is go into a room and try to stay alive. A bit like whack-a-mole but with aliens and its dark and they attack from all directions. Its scary but fun. Like a haunted house or a video game except you can really lose your leg, or your life. You just have to try to get the first shot in before the alien rips you apart,” he snarled sarcastically.

  “Anyone? Anyone at all?” he asked looking around. Mateo smirked slightly and then stared as a few people scowled. “Come on people, there are
always openings. We lose one or two people a day on the teams. Most are just injured. A few lose a limb but hey we've got four, so we've got spares right?” he said looking around.

  “Who wants to donate an arm or leg so you can live in a nice comfy luxury apartment? And just think, we get to do this every day. Every morning we get to go over there to clear the place out to make sure its safe before the work crews can go in and pull as much food and gear out as they can. So, anyone want to do this? This little chore?” he demanded coldly, locking eyes with the ones in front.

  Most of the crowd mumbled but didn't say anything in particular. He let the silence grow for a minute and then chuckled. “I thought not. Just as long as someone else does it. Go do this for me. I'm too lazy to do it.” He glared at their sullen angry expressions.

  “I'm too scared,” he said with a whiny mocking voice. “Why haven't you done this for me? Why haven't you...? People get back to work. If you don't have work I'll find you some work,” he said looking at the guy he had tucked under his wing. The guy brushed the arm off and stomped off.

  Jayne watched them go and shook her head. She locked eyes with him. He shrugged. He turned to Mateo. “Come on, time to get to work,” he said softly.

  “Yeah,” Hernandez said nodding as they head to the armory.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  “I don't like this man,” the driver said, glancing around nervously. “Fog's soup man,” he said. Early mornings could be like this, with fog. Normally it burned off as the sun came up. This had lasted a bit longer than usual, so they had gotten a late start.

  Hernandez grunted and got out of the truck as the driver shut it off. “You worry too much Stan,” he said as he checked his gear and clicked his mike. “Mall Three Alpha in position, ready to begin first sweep,” he said. They were on Heacock, about to sweep the apartments near Dracea once more. It was a pain in the ass job; he wished they would just dozer the entire complex. Hell all apartments were death traps. Take the one the mob had sicked them on two days ago. His team had taken ten percent casualties. One fatality. That had really really sucked. At least the griping had died down to a dull roar.