Where We Stand

by Angela White

  “Us,” Dog snorted. “Another one. Great.”

  All three males snickered and the small tension in the tent broke. A mental conversation quickly started between the four of them.

  John came in a bit later to find them that way. He’d been tending Jennifer in a different tent.

  It was a bit unnerving to hear only silence and then sudden bursts of laughter, but John didn’t spend time on it. They were about to start packing for the move and he had patients to secure. Then, he and Anne had their personal belongings to take care of. After that, he might crawl into his bunk and die. The pain was stronger, and John mourned the few weeks of life he’d gotten back and lost again so soon.

  “He needs help,” Adrian stated. All of them had picked up John’s unblocked thoughts.

  Charlie made a motion.

  Adrian denied it. “Too soon and Jennifer can’t risk it.”

  “There are no other healers here?” Conner asked quickly.

  “No,” Adrian answered dryly as the flap opened again. “We have two, and they’re both out of order.”

  The boys turned at the quick steps behind them, and Dog lifted his head from Adrian’s empty boots under the bed.

  Tonya paused at the stares, uneasy, and forced herself to go to John. She held out a small package. “I was told to give this to you for research and development.”

  John peered inside the package, but knew what it was before the smell hit him. “Thank you.”

  “I was paid,” Tonya stated to stop that feeling of being a part of these people. “You’ll get another bag in a couple weeks. Let me know from there.”

  John slid it into his pocket and turned to a shelf hanging from the wall. “Take this, for your store.”

  Tonya quickly pocketed the stomach calmative, smiling. That, she needed. “Great.”

  She went to the flap, feeling Adrian searching her. She tossed a small joint onto his bed. “For after the kiddies leave.”

  Adrian smiled at her and Tonya stumbled at his happiness. Still obsessed or not, he was about everything a woman could want.

  “She’s nuts,” Tonya muttered as she ducked out into the rain and spotted Marc and Angie coming toward the tent. “And fighting a losing battle. When Adrian wants something, he gets it. She, of all people, should know that.”

  11

  “Who was that?” Conner asked, still staring at the flap.

  “Kenn’s woman, Tonya.” Charlie filled in, getting up to clean. This was the only thing worth missing time with Tracy for–others like himself. He had so many questions!

  Conner gave a man’s chuckle. “No wonder he’s so happy. Hot woman, baby on the way, place at your side. He’s got what all of them want.”

  Charlie and Adrian turned gaping stares at Conner.

  “What did you say?”

  Conner tried to take it back. “I could be wrong. Yeah, I’m probably wrong.”

  Adrian stared at his son in wonder at the guilty, proud flashes he was getting. “You’re a healer. That’s how John’s patients are getting out of here so quickly.”

  Conner’s face darkened. “It’s why Garret kept me alive at first. One of the snake women poisoned him.”

  Conner gazed at Charlie in resignation. He couldn’t hate someone who was so much like himself. “I thought you would be, since Adrian’s your dad, too.”

  Charlie chuckled at the joke as the flap opened again. “My dad just came in, with my mom.”

  Conner turned to glare in confusion. “Brady’s your dad? She’s with Brady?”

  Adrian grimaced.

  Charlie caught it and nodded coldly. “Yes. And he’s perfect.”

  “Makes sense, I guess. Both of your parents would have to be special to produce you,” Conner guessed. “I’ve never known a male who could do as much.”

  “What did you say?”

  Charlie echoed his own question. “Marc isn’t…”

  Dog padded by, hand-worn bandage falling off to reveal no injury.

  Charlie glanced at Marc and everyone felt time slow.

  Dog was healed.

  No one else had been here that could do it...

  Charlie saw the truth at that moment.

  “Wait,” Adrian grabbed his attention as best he could. “He hasn’t told her. Don’t do it.”

  Charlie jerked out of Adrian’s weak grip, set to start shouting, to release the pain.

  “She doesn’t need to be hurt again, son,” Adrian tried again. “Take it out on him, not her.”

  Charlie wanted to scream, but was stopped by coming adulthood. He’d been so sure it was his mom who was injured again when the mission team returned. He’d been ready to insist that she quit the Eagles or he would leave, but looking at her happy smile as Marc pressed a kiss to her temple, Charlie was frozen in indecision.

  “He has the late shift over the big Mess,” Conner threw in. He’d heard Kenn and Adrian going over the schedules. “You can get him alone.”

  Charlie gave a curt nod and turned his back to the couple slowly approaching. “You’ll have to help me.”

  Adrian grunted. “Go talk to John. Slip out while she’s checking me over.”

  Charlie immediately went to John.

  Marc knew even without Adrian’s silent warning, and kept Angela distracted so that the furious boy could slip out.

  “How will you handle it?” the demon asked.

  “As best I can.”

  “Some advice?” the demon offered carefully. He knew the line they were on this time.

  “Might as well,” Marc answered. “I’m damned either way now.”

  “Make a deal. Give him something he can’t refuse. Work on earning his trust after.”

  The demon sent a single image.

  Marc suspected it would work, but wasn’t sure he could buy his son’s silence. If he kept sinking into the wrong choices, it would eventually drown him.

  “We’re going to the camp Mess for dinner. We’d like you to come along,” Angela stated, looking at Conner. “It’s time to meet them.”

  Adrian didn’t protest and Conner stood up slowly. “What should I say?”

  “Your name, rank, and serial number,” Marc joked, noting how nervous the teenager was.

  Conner grinned. “The truth?”

  “Yes, except for the magic. Our camp hasn’t accepted that yet.”

  Conner took Marc’s words to heart and settled in for an hour of pretending to be something he wasn’t.

  Adrian and Marc exchanged a glare that Angela read easily enough.

  “I’ve protected your son.”

  “I’ll do the same for yours.”

  Angela interrupted the growing testosterone. “Charlie will come with us.”

  All three males went still and quiet.

  Angela turned to look for her son and found only John. “Okay, well, Matt can. Get him, will you, Brady?”

  None of them questioned her choice, too glad to have dodged the first bullet in this newest emotional gun battle.

  “All set for tomorrow?”

  Angela shrugged, not struggling to act like she hadn’t gotten any of it. What was hard was knowing that Adrian was in on it with her, not Marc. “As far as I can tell. I sent out the clearing crew. They’ll work through the night and return when the next shift goes out.”

  “Theo does a fine job as crew leader.”

  “I noticed that,” Angela agreed, picking up the hint in his voice. “He and a couple of the others are doing some FND.”

  Adrian didn’t ask for details, though he wanted to. It was her ship now. He’d only thrown the hint as proof to himself that she had it covered. Theo and his small group had been on Adrian’s list for a while, but only mentally. It was gratifying to know she’d gotten them on her own.

  “We’ll check on you later.”

  They exited the tent together, leaving Adrian and John to stare after them with a wide variety of concerns.

  Matt and Marc joined them as they reached the Mess and go
t into line for a tray. They were stared at, but not actually questioned as they got their food and set their trays on the center table.

  Angela looked around. “This is Conner Mitchel. He’s the only survivor we were able to bring out of Little Rock. The Major killed everyone else.”

  The camp erupted into a loud blur of comments and questions that Angela withstood by Marc’s side. As they quieted, she began to give them half-truths and outright lies.

  Marc winced in all the right places, telling the camp it was the first time she’d given the story, and they settled down to their meals and a tale. Conner also began eating, but he paid attention to Angela’s version of the story so that he would be able to keep the details straight. The biggest lie she was telling was that Adrian had gone in there for a whole load of kids. He hadn’t known, of course. He’d been risking everything for his son and want it to or not, that meant something to Conner.

  The listening Eagles were impressed with Angela’s ability to convince a crowd, but they were mostly relieved to have their story. They could talk to the other men and the camp about the mission now, and they were grateful to their new leader for handling that. Thanks to Adrian, the Eagles hated telling lies.

  Angela and Marc answered the few questions, then directed the talk toward the move and coming celebration. The camp was promised a great time, to be on full water rations, and that they would see Adrian as soon as John cleared him. It was all accepted with only a few grumbles. The thought of unlimited showers and jugs of water went a long way and Angela was relieved. So far, so good.

  12

  “How are they taking it?” Neil asked, joining Daryl at his post.

  “Good. He’s being shown camp hospitality from almost everyone.”

  “She’s good at this.”

  “Yeah, like she was…”

  “Born a Mitchel.” Neil finished, chuckling. The joke of Brady’s words to Kenn was currently running through the ranks.

  The crowd at the Mess was in high spirits, laughing and talking passed the normal time when they would have sought the shelter of their tents. Even the rain couldn’t dampen the excitement of finally getting the story.

  “Hey, did you see Kenn earlier?”

  Neil groaned. “Another prank?”

  “No, but he wasn’t sure. Should have been there for him checking Tonya’s convertible and his Bronco for the move after a backfire. Hilarious.”

  Neil snickered and continued to more important things. “Mitch asked for a timeline on being able to ever drink again. Marc told him he could have whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted, and then to leave.”

  Daryl whistled lowly. “Brady means it.”

  “Yeah. Mitch hit the showers and went to bed early.”

  “No way!” Daryl exclaimed.

  “Yeah. It’s working.”

  “Good.”

  “You get the time for the final meeting?” Neil asked.

  “Yeah, midnight, but not the where.”

  “She hasn’t said yet. We’ll get a call.”

  “That works.”

  “What’s she doing after the meeting?” Neil wanted to know.

  “Rounds, then a private session in the medical tent with Adrian. You get the details?”

  “No, I’m on the camp for it. You’re not using any rookies?”

  “No. Kyle wants only the top men on her.”

  Neil approved. “Call me if you get even a vibe. I’ll be around.”

  “You know it.”

  Neil spotted Samantha coming through the drizzle and took note of which direction she went. Her hair was wild despite the rain, steps sluggish. She wasn’t at her best right now and the darker it got, the easier it would be for someone to sneak up on her.

  He hit his mic, following instincts. “FND volunteer at the animal area for shadow detail.”

  “I’ve got it,” Alex called in.

  His tone said he already knew who it was for.

  “I’m on the other side of camp. Ten minutes to be in place.”

  “Copy.”

  Neil felt better. Alex was a crack shot. Samantha would be safe while she wandered and listened.

  13

  “This is the last of it.”

  Tucker marked it off the list and then helped his buddy lower the last crate into the ground. They’d been on hard labor chores for so long that it took them half the time it did the others to bury a load of supplies. Why they were doing it still hadn’t been explained, but the two men had stopped asking a while ago.

  “I’ve been thinking,” Tucker started, searching around to make sure no one was in earshot. “About leaving.”

  Anderson had had the same idea, but hadn’t been sure how to bring it up. “After this load?”

  Tucker agreed, giving him a hand as they climbed from the hole. “Yeah. This will be our stock until we get set somewhere for the winter.”

  Anderson looked around, gaze lingering on the center fire, where a few of the wilder camp members were drinking and joking in the rain. “We takin’ anyone else?”

  Tucker was listening for anyone who might overhear. “We can arrange some company for the trip, I think. You have anyone in mind?”

  “No,” Anderson said, awkward. He knew Tucker meant women, but Anderson had meant other men for protection.

  Tucker grabbed a shovel and tossed it to his friend. “Let’s do an extra set of rounds on third for FND. We can talk then.”

  Anderson continued shoveling dirt over the supplies. He would have a short list figured out by then. He’d put women on it, too, but he planned to lean towards the men. Whores could be picked up anywhere. These men were trained and that would be a distinct advantage out in the wilderness.

  “Damn. Hang on.”

  Tucker grabbed a plastic-covered stack of papers. “We forgot the rule sheets.”

  Anderson helped him clear a hole to drop the small bundle into, and the two men hurried to finish.

  “Why does he bother?” Anderson asked, wiping sweat from his face. “There’s no one ever out there when we’ve gone back to collect it.”

  Tucker made sure no one had overheard, then tried to explain. “Adrian hopes the people who find it will follow the rules on the papers and spread them around. That’s why there are so many copies in each supply batch. He thinks it will help the other survivors.”

  Anderson snorted scornfully. “You can’t help the dead.”

  “My thoughts exactly. Come on. Let’s hit the showers and volunteer for duty.”

  14

  The Plans

  A.

  Leave a body and run for the mountains. Get set up to fight the force that will come when they discover it was a fake.

  By then, we have to have the camp helping and accepting magic. We’ll fight every time, search out new weapons, and keep securing our home bases until they stop sending troops.

  B.

  Leaves Safe Haven unprotected.

  Drop a body and ambush the troops that come to collect it. Get secrets and details from them, and attack the bunker to ensure our future safety.

  C.

  Gives away the element of surprise

  Leave a body and a fake trail for the camp. Call openly for fighters/survivors on the radio, and risk the enemy coming in a much larger force to wipe us out. If we win, the bunker will be so short on men that they won’t retaliate for long time.

  D.

  Pointless to kill for only a week.

  Kill the first troops sent so that it takes time for the bunker to find out and send more. This only adds roughly seven days to arrival time.

  “As you can tell, they all stink, but we’ll do the best we can with what we have to work with. We’ll start with option A. Can anyone think of a reason why it won’t be successful?”

  Several men opened their mouths, but after searching through the list, there wasn’t much they could say.

  “Does anyone have something to add? Another option?”

  Again, there were little
details that could help, but no master plan to save them, and Angela kept on schedule. She needed this to be short and sweet.

  “Okay. I’ll talk to Adrian before I hit my tent for the night, find out if he has anything to add. We all set for the move?”

  The rest of the final security meeting was updates and plans for moving the camp, and only one person in the tent noted the V standing out on Angela’s chin.

  Marc studied her cool confidence, how she was prepared for every question the men asked. If she was this ahead of the others... What does she know about me now?

  “All of it, of course,” his demon replied promptly. “You’d better start giving her credit for the intelligence. She’s got another plan and she’ll need help with it.”

  Marc waited for the others to finish and clear out, and he spent the time pondering the demon’s advice. If he confronted Angela, there was a good chance she’d do the same to him over his secrets. Was he ready to face that?

  “Ready or not, here it comes,” the demon warned, fading.

  Marc turned around to find Angela staring at him with hard chips of blue ice.

  “We should talk.”

  Marc sighed. “Yeah. Here or later?”

  Angela hadn’t expected cooperation and she sank down into the hard chair as she lit a smoke.

  Marc took the seat across from her. “I have some things I need to tell you.”

  Kenn and Zack met a bit away from the tent, both upset at how short the actual war talk had been.

  “What’s going on?”

  Kenn wasn’t sure. “She has other plans. She’s not gonna let us off the hook for trying to manipulate her.”

  “Did you notice how she put just enough details on A to get it to pass?” Zack asked, slightly in awe. Being given fifth in command had come as a complete shock.

  “I’d say she picked that up from Adrian,” Kenn commented. He didn’t like it that all four of the men who’d been in tent were now higher ranked than him, but he was dealing with it. Adrian would change things around when he took back over.

  “Yeah.” Zack waited for Kyle and Neil to go by, then leaned closer. “Can we trust her to make this happen? Like we would Adrian?”

  Kenn wanted to say no and found he couldn’t. “I’ll get back to you on that.”

  15

  “Are you sure?”