Conflict (Cascade Book 4)

by Phil Maxey

  “Thank you Jennifer. Yes, Eric Tinley, or the ‘Butcher of Portland’ as he’s become known as, starts his trial today. Not though as you might think for the genocide that he bestowed upon the poor Portland survivors but for the crime of murder that he himself is purported to have admitted to committing in a secret recording made during an encounter with Captain Zachariah Felton. Making matters even more complicated is the fact that Tinley is also charged with killing…”

  Zach hit the off button, cutting the dark haired reporter off mid sentence. “I better go into Core and see what Intel they have gotten from out friend from last night. Should be back around early afternoon. You’re starting up the computer centre today?”

  “That’s the plan, as long as Tom comes through with the parts for the old PCs. Are you needed by Arnold at the courthouse?”

  “No.” Zach grabbed his keys, kissed Abbey and left.

  CHAPTER 3

  Fiona switched the TV off angrily. Cal was still sleeping in the bedroom they shared in the large three bedroom apartment they were given in the bustling cosmopolitan area which was now known as ‘downtown’. Some likened it to Manhattan, millions of people living in the only direction left open to them. Skyscrapers now fought for space amongst the sky and gun emplacements, and at their feet people walked in shadows. It was more than just a few steps up on the property ladder and Fiona gladly accepted the larger accommodation when shown the images by Captain Johnson the camps civilian liaison officer.

  The only negative, was that being so close to a gun emplacement, anytime it opened up on anything that managed to break through the walls defenses, the entire apartment rattled so much Fiona thought the glass windows would shatter, but it was a small price to pay for safety and a level of comfort that she only ever knew briefly when staying in far off places on missions.

  This morning though her mind was on the man in the other room and what a vote for segregation would mean for them. If the council insisted on people with the Cascade DNA being housed in a separate camp as was the rumor then she would be left with two options, either go with him, or they both would leave Camp Bravo completely. Either way their fantasy life in this luxury apartment was going to be short lived.

  Images of the large snake like creature and Cal standing in front of it like the snake charmers of old flickered through her mind. It wasn’t the first time she had seen him have that effect on an E.L.F but it was the first time on something so large. In the early days it freaked her out more than she was willing to admit, but she soon saw the usefulness such an ability would give them. She quickly viewed it as just a skill Cal had, and tried to forget how he acquired it.

  What she was aware of though early on was the effect it would have on others. She had seen first hand from her previous deployments how quickly people turn on what they deem to be different, especially if the different is seen as a threat. The situation the camp now faced with the ‘Cascaders’ as they were referred to in the press, had all the hallmarks of the worst of humanity rearing it’s ugly head again, and Fiona wasn’t going to allow Cal to be caught up in it.

  Cal turned over in the plush bedding and reached out for a body that wasn’t there. Over the past month sleep hadn’t been an issue and even the scar he carved into this own forehead was just a few pink faded lines which nobody could read as a word unless they knew what the word was. As he lay there looking up at the ceiling, he smiled. Not only did he feel free, but he felt as if he had a purpose that went beyond just killing E.L.F’s. Now he could help the people in this camp survive and hopefully find others too. He thought back to when his ‘gift’ had been exposed, when a creature got over the wall, a creature with stealth like abilities that somehow the sentries had missed. It was luckily spotted before it got near a population hub, but it still almost cost Fiona her life, until he was able to stop it dead in it’s tracks, just by standing in front of her. This wasn’t as much of a surprise to him as it was her, but it confirmed what he already knew and it also outed him to the others without an awkward confession.

  After, he learned that Zach and the higher-ups were already aware that he was different, one of a few hundred in the camp evidently. Before that moment he hadn’t been sure how Fiona would take him not being one hundred percent human anymore, but he needn’t had worried, she loved the man he was on the inside regardless of what the Cascade did to him.

  A lot of the time coming back from Portland was a blur to him. He was told by Dr. Joshi that this was his transitioning period, and it was a testament to his character that he got through it. The doctor didn’t know that a young man paid for that transition, but neither Cal or the others told anyone at the camp on their returning, fearing it would only complicate matters. The young man’s face was something he could remember though, the only one of all the countless faces he had put down over the years in the service. But he also knew that for once he wasn’t responsible for his actions. At least that’s what he told himself.

  Fiona stood against the door frame wearing one of Cal’s white and red striped shirts and holding a coffee. “Do we have a plan if the vote goes the wrong way?”

  Cal smiled. “It won’t.”

  “Since when were you the optimist?”

  “Since I became a superhero with powers to control animals with my mind,” he wiggled his fingers above his head.

  “I’m serious!”

  Cal got to his feet, and with one swift movement picked Fiona up, coffee included and laid her on the bed.

  “No, no, I’m going to spill the coffee over these really fancy sheets!” she giggled.

  CHAPTER 4

  Zach travelled along the backroads in his pickup, past small frost covered trees and bushes. There was not only the rescue squad that Zach was part of, but also other squads whose job it was to acquire machinery including vehicles and bring them back to the camp, the metallic blue late 90s pickup that Zach was now traveling in was one such vehicle.

  He had decided to take the more scenic route to the cave system which was expanded into an ever widening array of rooms and sub levels, but the light glinting off the lake couldn’t distract him from what he knew he had to do. Tell Abbey that she was one of the ‘Cascaders’. As he drove into the now acre sized parking lot of the Core complex, he had decided to tell her later that evening. At least she would get one more day of thinking she was normal like everyone else.

  Parking, he quickly made his way past guards at the entrance which was now two large automatically opening and closing doors, into a large hall, and then across the newly polished tiled floor and directly into an elevator, also guarded. He had made this same trip for four weeks, and each time there was something different about it, a new door, or wall so that he had to learn a new route to the operations hall almost each time. Soon he entered into the usual wall of sound and general Trow waved him over. Zach saluted as soon as he was within a few feet of the General.

  “At ease Captain. Good work yesterday with bringing the ex Hell Fire gang member in.”

  “Any actionable intel from him?”

  “Not unless you count knowing that he has a liking for canned prunes, no. He say’s the last time he saw anyone from the gang it was over a month ago.”

  “I’ll be inclined not to believe him.”

  “I want you to question him, I know you won’t be afraid to push.”

  “Okay.”

  “On a different note,” she leaned on the back of the chairs, which faced the large screens built into the cave walls.

  “You want to know if I’m going to the start of the trial?”

  “I know you haven’t seen him since we brought him in.”

  “There’s not been any need too. I’ve given everything I could remember of my investigation to the prosecutors, it’s up to them now.”

  Trow put her hand on his shoulder. “I have no doubt he will pay for what he did Zach,” she then stepped back. “Nathan is on sub level nine, ask the guards there and they will take you to him.”

&n
bsp; A few minutes later Zach was being taken down one of the newly drilled tunnels, past a series of gray metallic doors with numbers on. Finally the guard arrived at door ‘Eighty three’ and swiped a keycard across a small box, which produced a small tone sound. The door unlocked, and as soon as the guard opened it, a stifling smell of sweat hit Zach.

  “I’ve been told to give you twenty minutes,” the guard said then pointed for Zach to move inside.

  The man Zach carried over his shoulder, was sitting on a small gray bench, on the right of the nine by twelve cell. The artificial light made Nathan Miller look even older than his fifty some years, and he sat with his knee’s together, hands in his lap, looking at the floor in front of him.

  Zach walked slowly into the space which looked uncannily like the one he had become accustomed to over many years, and he could feel the pressure of the cell door closing even before the guard did so.

  He steadied himself. “Do you remember me?”

  “So what if I do?” said Nathan, not shifting his gaze from the floor.

  Zach leaned against the wall, almost opposite Nathan. “Good, then you know what I want.”

  “I’ll tell you what I told the others, I don’t know anything. Don’t know about no gang, and no fella called Geneva.”

  “Nathan. Do you mind if I call you Nathan?”

  Miller sat up slightly, indignant. “That’s my name.”

  “Life must have been pretty hard out there, scratching in the dirt, while running from the monsters.”

  “I managed.”

  “Well if you give me information on where Geneva is holed up, you can live behind the camp walls, and have your own place, I’m sure something can be found for you.”

  Miller starting rocking slightly back and forth. It had been almost a decade since Zach had interrogated someone, and up until Miller’s physical change he wasn’t sure he wasn’t making any impact.

  “I don’t know anything,” his rocking intensified.

  “Just imagine, your own apartment, warm running water, a TV. They even have a welfare program here for those that need it.”

  “I don’t know anything!” Nathan shouted, while looking directly at Zach.

  “Hey, if Geneva can provide better, then fine, carry on protecting him.”

  “Geneva looks after his people well!” as soon as the words escaped from Millers mouth, he knew he had misspoken. “I mean, that’s what I’ve heard.”

  “So you do know who he is then? Anything you can tell me, will help and that will help you.”

  Miller returned to his rocking.

  “If you don’t cooperate, we are throwing you back out into the desert, is Geneva really worth it?”

  Then Miller did something Zach wasn’t expecting, he gave out a short laugh.

  “What’s so funny?”

  Miller looked once again directly at Zach. “You and the others, you’ll all fools. Geneva helps his friends. He knows where I am. He knows where we all are.”

  A shock went through Zach’s body, making him breath in slowly, but he didn’t show it. How the hell does Geneva know he’s here?

  “Geneva can’t help you, only I can, if you tell me where he is…”

  Zach didn’t get a chance to finish his sentence, as there was a commotion outside the cell door, which then opened.

  The guard appeared, flush faced. “Captain, General Trow needs you in operations, there’s an incident happening at the computer centre.”

  CHAPTER 5

  Arnold Dawson sat in the back of his black chauffeur driven sedan, and sighed. Even with the darkened windows and it being just after midday, the reporters flash photography was making his eyes start to water. Removing his small round glasses he rubbed his eyes with a white cloth his former wife had given him on his sixtieth birthday. He always kept it in his inside pocket. Taking a deep breath, he returned the glasses to just above his nose, put the cloth away and opened the car door.

  A flurry of clicks and flashes were intermingled with questions about his role as the prosecuting attorney for the council, and what he thought the chances of a quick trial would be.

  Being in his seventies, and having practiced law for thirty years before his retirement, he knew the best course of action on the steps of any courthouse was to smile and look like this was just another day at work. But this wasn’t one of those days, this was the biggest criminal case in the short history of Camp Bravo and the council had put their trust in him to get a quick guilty verdict.

  The press said this was a slam dunk, and after listening to the recording that Tinley made in the penthouse of an office building in Roswell, Arnold was obliged to agree, but in his many years of practicing law he knew nothing ever went according to plan.

  He climbed out of the car, and stood up straight. At six foot three he could see over the heads of most of those around him, and he strode forward with confidence in his classic cut beige suit. Grinning at those around him he constantly moved forward towards the large glass doors set behind the pillars of the impressive nineteenth century courthouse.

  Guards in military uniform, pushed the reporters back as he got close to the doors, and Daisy and Theodor from his legal team joined him as his immaculately polished shoes touched the equally reflective floor of the entrance hall.

  Arnold took a quick glance at the young man and woman that he had hand picked for this case, and smiled, but this time it was a genuine smile of someone who recognised his younger self. “Both of you just breathe, this first session shouldn’t take long.”

  Walking up some stone stairs, they moved into a hallway with some more guards but no one else. Arnold turned to Daisy his co-counsel. “Remember, just look confident, I’ll do the rest.” After a quick glance at Theodor, they all entered the chamber.

  It was packed, mostly by families of those that had lost their lives on the way back from Portland, but there were others that Arnold didn’t recognise. This was all par for the course for a major trial he thought. As he walked down the central aisle, most in the large domed room quietened down, and when he got to his chair at the front, he looked across at Tinley and his attorney. Tinley was smiling. Clearly insane.

  A small balding man in uniform entered the room, and turned to the people in the chamber. “All rise, judge Reinhart presiding.”

  As everyone got to their feet, an equally small woman in her late sixties, black robes and shoulder length blonde hair entered the hushed large room and sat promptly in her seat. Everyone else sat as well.

  “We are here today to hear the case of the Council of Camp Bravo versus Eric Tinley. It has been agreed between both the prosecutors and the defendants attorneys that this case shall be decided by this court and not a military court. And with that we shall begin. Mr Dawson you may proceed with your opening statement.”

  Arnold pushed his glasses up, stood and grinned at the jury. “Eric Tinley is a mass murderer. How do we know this?” he then moved out from behind the desk, and walked a few feet towards where the twelve men and women were intently watching him. 1994 was the last time he stood in front of a jury, and in a fraction of a second, his mind returned to his wife, and how it was for her he gave up his career in practicing law to become a professor. Back at it, Carol.

  “We know because Eric Tinley admitted that he is a mass murderer. We have his admission of guilt on tape. The defense will try to argue that he killed those poor girls due to insanity I’m sure, but…” The door at the back of the court opened, and a guard appeared out of breath, spoke to some of the others guards, and they all left, just leaving the court foreman at the front.

  Arnold cleared his throat and in doing so once again glanced at Tinley who was still smiling but this time he also noticed a number of individuals also smiling and looking directly at him.

  The judge leaned forward. “Mr Dawson?”

  “Yes, forgive me your honor. As I was saying…” Arnold continued for a few minutes more, detailing Tinley’s crimes, while trying to read the jurors
reactions. Finally he got to the last part of his statement. “In conclusion, the council will be seeking the death sentence for My Tinley, which is the only possible outcome which will give justice to all that have suffered by this mans hands.”

  As Arnold turned, he felt good about how the last ten minutes had gone, his gaze then caught Tinley’s, who was smiling with the intensity of someone who clearly didn’t care if others thought he was insane. Something’s wrong.

  Arnold sat, and Daisy patted him on the shoulder.

  “Ms Helfer, if you could now give the defenses opening statement.”

  Susan Helfer stood. “The prosecution case is…”

  “Is completely true!” said Tinley as he stood, towering over his five foot four defense attorney.

  The judge frowned. “Mr Tinley, you will have a chance too…”

  “To what? To plead for my life? I have a better idea,” he then grabbed Ms Helfer by the shoulders, spinning her around, his arm wrapping around her throat. She immediately started grasping for air. A ripple of alarm and fright flowed across the room.

  The judge stood up. “Guards…” she realised there weren’t any in the chamber. “Foreman, stop him!”

  The uniformed middle aged man just shy of five foot six, reached for his sidearm and was swiftly hit on the back of the head by a large man wearing a denim jacket, with a ponytail. He then reached down and slid the revolver out of the foremans holster, walked to Tinley, and handed it to him as Tinley let go of red faced woman he was suffocating.

  Arnold was frozen half out of his chair, but sat back down when he saw Tinley with the gun. A woman at he back of the room, placed some chairs up against the handles of the large carved doors.

  Tinley walked around and stood at the front of the court, facing everyone and ignoring the judge just a few feet away. “Now, I know for many of you this is a highly anxious time, but please stay seated and most of you will be back home with your loved ones very soon.”