Conflict (Cascade Book 4)

by Phil Maxey

  Zach smiled at Dr Keira Chapman, who he had quickly grown to like over the past twelve hours.

  “She’s sleeping?”

  Zach smiled again. “Yes. Thank you for all you have done.”

  “My pleasure. How’s the headache?”

  “I’m coping.”

  “Take some more pills around noon.”

  “Hows…” Zach didn’t have to finish for Dr. Chapman to know who he meant.

  “Considering what she’s been through, she’s doing remarkably well. I told her that we have some very good plastic surgeons. I think that helped. Okay I’ll leave you to all your plan making,” she then left.

  Zach sat on the table next to Fiona. “How’s Cal?”

  “More embarrassed than anything.”

  “He took down three of theirs before another three got him, he’s got nothing to be ashamed about,” said Bass.

  “It’s more not being able to take the shot on Tinley.”

  “Tinley’s gone forever, that’s all that matters. But he’s okay?”

  “Broken rib, black eye. Doc says he’ll be fine.”

  “I talked to the General not long ago. She said they can send out another squad, if we need help getting back,” said Bass.

  Zach shook his head. “Tell her that won’t be needed, or at least shouldn’t be. I don’t think any of the gang will be coming after us anytime soon, but the sooner we start our journey back the better. The Doc said Abbey will be okay to move after a few hours, so that gives us a leaving time of around noon,” he looked down at the map, while drinking the coffee. “If we do six hours that puts us between Jackson and Monroe.”

  “We could stop back at the pharmacy near Jackson. I can’t see all the supplies there being gone by time we return,” said Fiona.

  Zach smiled. “That sounds like a plan. Work with Bass and Michael, get us ready to move out at midday, and Bass, tell the lookouts to watch the skies, not just for E.L.F’s.”

  Bass, Fiona and Michael nodded then left, Raj went to leave with them, but Zach indicated for him to stay. He then closed the door to give them some privacy.

  “Did you see what went down last night?”

  “Not really, I was in the Humvee at the start, but then Bass ordered me into the tank when they attacked.”

  “You didn’t see what happened on the river? With Abbey?”

  “I saw her being pulled onto the bridge, but that’s all, why? Did she demonstrate her abilities? I only caught a glimpse of the E.L.F as it submerged back into the river.”

  Zach sighed. “All I know is the E.L.F went from attacking anything it could, to just attacking Tinley and the Hell Fire gang, and I have to think Abbey had something to do with that.”

  “Have you had a chance to talk to her about it?”

  “She was in and out of consciousness for the early part of last night, and then sleeping most of the rest. I’m not sure if now’s the time to really have that conversation.”

  “She probably already know’s Zach.”

  “I know.”

  “Do you want me to talk to her?”

  “No, I should have told her long before now. I’ll tell her.”

  “Well if she did affect the E.L.F’s behaviour last night, she demonstrated a level of connection with the creatures which is already on par with Cal’s abilities. It would seem peoples abilities can lay dormant for a while and then usually a traumatic event can trigger them.”

  “Does that mean you still don’t know who might have been affected by the Cascade?”

  Raj hesitated in his answer. “We can test for the extra DNA. But even if we detect it, we don’t know if they will develop abilities. For some they feel different and start to influence E.L.F’s straight away, for others they act no different. We don’t know why some do and some don’t. We don’t even know what causes the extra DNA, although my thinking is it’s probably a form of virus. I know that’s not much of an answer.”

  Zach smiled. “No it’s not,” he patted Raj on the back. “You’ll figure it out. I better check back on Abbey.”

  Zach took advantage of the following few hours to get some sleep, laying half off the small sofa that was in the office with Abbey. He had planned to wake her up around 11 am, but he didn’t have to as she woke him.

  “When were you going to tell me?”

  In a fraction of a second he went from sleepy confusion to consternation for keeping a secret from her. “I was going to tell you the evening of the day you were taken…how you feeling?”

  She limped back and sat down on the side of the desk she had been sleeping on. “Don’t change the subject, when did you know?”

  Each question made him feel worse. “The General told me at Brads, just after I was shot.”

  Abbey’s eyes were blood shot, and he couldn’t tell if she was crying or angry or something in-between. He went to move towards her, but she put her hand up.

  “When are we leaving?” her gaze remained on the space in front of her and not towards Zach.

  “We need to talk about what happened last night. In the river, what you did.”

  “I don’t want to talk about it.”

  “Abbey?…”

  She uneasily stood up. “I’m going to need a crutch of some kind.”

  Zach sighed. “Sit back down I’ll get you something.”

  “You’ll have to find me, I need to see how Daisy’s doing.”

  Soon they were back on the highway heading west, driving through freshly fallen snow. Zach found a coat stand, which once broken apart became a acceptable crutch for Abbey to prop herself up with. It was decided that she would stay in the army truck, with the doctor, Cal and the other injured. Fiona, Zach, Raj and Michael occupied the remaining Humvee. While Gregg’s drove the pickup Abbey took from the Hell Fire gang.

  Zach looked at the blanket of brown frosted branches of countless trees flood by and tried to suppress the anger he had with himself for damaging the best relationship he had in his life. She’s alive. And so was everyone else he cared about. Relationships can be repaired.

  The next three hours passed without incident and they were soon driving into the same parking lot they left just a day earlier, accept this time snow laid a few inches deep.

  “Same as before Bass, back the tank up to the entrance. Over.”

  “Will do. I have the General on the radio, she wants an update. Over.”

  The vehicles were parked quickly, and everyone apart from a small crew for the tank moved inside.

  Zach crouched inside the limited space in the back of the tank and clicked on the radio. “I’m here General. Over.”

  “Good to hear that bastards dead. Over.”

  “Yes it is. Over.”

  “How’s everyone doing? We have informed the families of those that lost their lives. They will be given full honors. Over.”

  “We’re good. Abbey’s…she’s up and around. Doc says there won’t be any permanent damage to her leg, but she might have restricted use of some of her fingers on her left hand. Over.”

  “But she’s alive. Over.”

  Zach went to smile and emotion threatened to overwhelm him. He swallowed. “She is. Over.”

  “The council have rescheduled the segregation vote for tomorrow. From what I’m hearing it will go the right way. I’ll leave it up to you, if you feel that’s information worth passing on. Over.”

  Zach hadn’t given the vote a second thought for days. “If it goes the other way, there will be exceptions right? People in the armed forces?”

  “Don’t worry Zach, there’s no way I’m letting Cal, Abbey of anyone else under my command, be taken anywhere. Over.”

  Inside Abbey hobbled along the full aisles, awkwardly filling a large plastic sack with candy, chips and bottled drinks.

  “Planning a party?” said Raj smiling.

  “I know some youngsters who would kill to have some of this stuff,” her thoughts drifted to the other young men and women she used to teach at the comput
er centre she almost got off the ground.

  Raj stepped forward and held the sack open. “Here, let me help.”

  A few seconds of silence passed as Abbey chose more items.

  “You can’t expect to be able to deal with everything that’s happened to you straight away, it’s going to take time.”

  “I know.”

  “And you shouldn’t blame Zach for not telling you.”

  “Cal was told.”

  “He was told because once we found out what had happened to him, it was decided that him knowing would help him deal with the changes he was going through. You’re not the only one who has the extra DNA and who hasn’t been told Abbey, it’s on a case by case basis.”

  “No offence doctor, but you’re not in a relationship with me. He should have told me. It would of…I could of,” she sighed. “It would had been easier. He should of known that.”

  Raj struggled with the weight in the sack. Abbey smiled. “I think I have enough.”

  “He made a mistake, but who hasn’t? Where shall I put this?”

  “You can leave it here, I’ll collect it when we leave tomorrow.”

  The night came fast. Bandages were changed, and patrols watched around the building until the sun crept above the horizon, and sugary food was handed out as breakfast.

  Michael burped, while sitting on the pharmacy counter. Around him were open soda cans and empty packet of chips and candy bars. “I think I might stay here instead of going back.”

  Cal and Fiona sat in front of the counter with their backs up against it.

  “Your mom would never let you,” said Cal smiling.

  “Meh, I’ll send her a card at Christmas, she’ll be fine,” they all giggled.

  Michaels expression changed to a more serious tone. “It’s good to see you…all well and shit.”

  “You mean apart from the ribs, the eye and who knows what other physical crap is wrong with him?” said Fiona.

  Michael smiled. “Well yeah.”

  “I got a hot bath waiting for me when I get home…How’s…”

  “Hannah?”

  “She’s good, man. Its been…real cool to take Megan to the park, do the family stuff, although she seems convinced I need to learn German,” he laughed. “But yeah, it helps knowing you got people that care.”

  Cal and Fiona smiled and nodded.

  “You two should come over, Hannah makes this great…“ Cal had his hand up to his temple and his face was one of pain.

  “What is it?” said Fiona.

  “We need to leave, there’s E.L.F’s on their way.”

  It wasn’t long before they were packed and moving at a good pace along the snow covered highway. Abbey was back in the Humvee with Raj in the back, while Zach drove and Fiona navigated.

  After three hours they were passed the point where they had the run-in with the first Hell Fire gang members and found the drone wreckage. It had taken this long for Abbey to build up the courage to talk about how she felt. “So I guess everyone knows by now that I’m…different.”

  Zach went to say something, but stopped.

  “The Cascade has changed us all, some in obvious ways, some in not so obvious ways, but we are different,” said Fiona looking back over her shoulder. “And anyway where’s the negative, now you got like super powers or something!”

  A small ripple of laughter moved between them.

  “Different is the right way to look at it. All of us are effected by the environment in certain ways as we grow, it’s part of the natural process of being a human on this planet,” said Raj.

  Abbey smiled, her friends comments only partially helped. The last few days had been a rollercoaster she never wanted to be on. But it’s over. Thoughts and images entered and left her mind just as quick as she tried to control them. Tinley is finally out of their lives. But he caused so much death. But we’re going home. But you’re a freak. She closed her eyes, trying to still her mind.

  When she opened them again, it was dark. “Wh…where are we?” she reached down into her backpack wincing in pain, and grabbed a bottle of water.

  “Almost home, only thirty minutes to the eastern gate,” said Zach.

  “Not a moment too soon, my butt has become one with this seat,” said Fiona stretching. Raj and Zach laughed.

  “How you feeling?” asked Zach to Abbey.

  She sipped the water. “Parts of me feel like they don’t like me much, but I’m dealing. You?”

  It was the first time she had asked how he was since that moment when they embraced days before. “I’m dealing too,” he smiled, and then turned his attention back to the road. Way off in the distance glows could be seen in the direction of the camp. He clicked on his radio. “This is Captain Felton from rescue squad one, we are approaching east gate two, would be appreciated if it was open when we get there. Are the walls being attacked, I can see what looks like tracer fire. Over.”

  No response came. Zach repeated the request, after a few minutes a voice came on the radio that he didn’t recognise.

  “Captain Felton, the gate will be open for you, but we are experiencing some attacks from E.L.F’s on the north side. Over.”

  “Okay, we should be in around ten minutes from now. Over.”

  “What is it?” asked Fiona.

  “North wall is being attacked.”

  A few moments later the thin strip that was the silver gray of the wall lit by the moon above was visible through the tree’s on the horizon. To the north around eight miles off, explosions and streaks of red lit up the sky.

  “Home sweet home,” said Abbey not meaning to sound sarcastic. She looked at Raj. “I guess you got a lot to write about when you get back to the lab?”

  “You wouldn’t believe how much, I’ve filled this…” he held up his notebook. “But first I need a drink.”

  “Didn’t know you drunk doctor?” asked a surprised Fiona.

  “Ha, I never used to.”

  The convoy slowed as they moved through the opening huge steel gates, up ahead there were lights of vehicles on the road.

  “Looks like we got a welcoming party,” said Raj.

  “We got lots of wounded, be good if they could be seen quickly,” said Zach as the convoy stopped. A solder in his late thirties walked up the outside of the Humvee and stood just outside the window, which Zach opened.

  “Shall we just follow?” said Zach.

  “Captain Felton, we understand you have two Cascaders under your command, we need them to come with us.”

  Zach sensed Fiona reacting next to him and put his hand up near her. “Sergeant is it?”

  “Sergeant Bower, Sir.”

  “On who’s authority has this order been issued?”

  “By the authority of the council, Sir.”

  “The people you talk about are military, and the council has no jurisdiction over them.”

  “That changed earlier today. The council voted to find and detain all those that have been effected, including any in the military. Sir. Now please, will you tell those effected to come with us, I believe they are Cal Rodriguez and Abbey Reisner.”

  Zach realised that the lights were spreading out around the convoy and just visible alongside them were the barrels of automatic rifles.

  “There’s no fucking way they are taking him, Zach,” said Fiona, who had her hand on her door handle, and he was sure the other hand on a handgun.

  “Zach, please don’t let them take me!” Abbey’s voice pleaded from behind him.

  The world around him slowed and started to fall apart at the same time.

  He clicked on his radio. “This is Captain Felton for General Trow. Over,” static came back from the speaker.

  “Captain, General Trow has been relieved of duty. We are ordered to take these two with us, we don’t want to use force, but we will if we have too.”

  Zach turned to Fiona and Abbey. “We can’t fight our way out of this, if we do, they will shoot us,” Fiona went to open the door, an
d he put his hand on her arm. “Fiona! They will shoot him.”

  Fiona looked at Raj. “Can’t you do anything?”

  Raj looked back stoned faced. “If the council have voted…”

  Zach turned to Abbey. “Go with them, I promise I will have you back with me as soon as I find out who’s in charge.”

  Abbey’s face changed to one of resignation. She put her hand on Fiona’s shoulder. “I’ll make sure he’s okay, Fiona, you have my word.”

  Zach turned to the soldier waiting outside. “Okay, they are coming with you.”

  CHAPTER 25

  Zach’s humvee slid to a halt outside the main gates to the Core as rain fell from above. The sound of distant gunfire to the north mingled with the rain hitting the vehicles roof. Two guards stood in front with their guns raised. A third walked around to the drivers side and the doors open window.

  “We’re not letting anyone in tonight.”

  “I’m Captain Felton, I need to see whoever has replaced General Trow.”

  “Captain, the Core is now under the authority of the council and like I say, there’s no one going in there tonight, those are my orders so I suggest you turn around.”

  “Where’s the General now?”

  “I have no idea.”

  As the intensity of the rain increased around them, Zach backed up the Humvee. “We need to find Trow, maybe she can make sense of what’s happening.”

  “We find out where they are and break them out tonight,” said Fiona, her anger just about being controlled.

  Zach looked at her in the shadows, next to him. “This is not some abandoned town we can just walk into, do what we want, and walk out of. They will be well guarded, and then what? We will have to make it out of the camp. Breaking them out isn’t an option right now,” he emphasised the final word.

  Fiona sighed in frustration.

  “We need more information on how this came about. Tinley’s dead, that’s got to count for something. I think I know where the General calls home, let’s try there.”

  Soon they were driving through a residential area in the south western quadrant. Large multi-story homes with gates swept by, most of which had exterior lighting.

  “So much for limited night time use of electricity,” scowled Fiona.