by P. S. Power
Cam, for her part, managed to sleep longer, being young and needing more than he did. After cleaning up and changing Jake just wandered over to Morris's tent office, which was empty and then followed his nose to the central area where several women were busily making the morning rice. That was a thing here. They ate it for breakfast almost every day. Even with the food assemblers people would order up rice in the morning. He could have used the one sitting to the side, untouched, but Willa came jogging over to him smiling, a steaming bowl in her hand.
"Jake! You tent man now? No woman?" She smiled while she said it, so Jake figured it was meant to be mildly teasing. After all, he couldn't teleport and certainly couldn't manage it inside ten seconds or whatever the rules said were needed to be an adult.
The rules were different for outsiders though. He was supposed to be judged based on what his community considered adult. If it was Back Before that would have been when he could drink, most likely. Now it was a looser idea, based on a thousand different things.
Most of them not really useful.
"Yep. Got my own tent and everything. I have a girlfriend though, Vicki. She's a Valkyrie." That would make him sound grown up, right?
Willa looked away, as if thinking then grinned at him.
"You girl no here? Not married?"
He had to agree with that, which got him a bowl of rice and a smile that seemed almost flirtatious, rather than mean or even playful.
"Good. You think, maybe, marry Willa?" She sounded hopeful suddenly.
Jake blinked.
"You... want to marry me?" He must have misunderstood or something, since it was a bit too sudden. She probably wanted him to perform the ceremony or something, since he was their Ba-Dehist.
Before he could clarify Morten and Tansy were there, jabbering quickly in their own language with the girl, smiling happily at her. Jake waited for the full explanation, which came almost at once. It wasn't exactly what he expected.
Tansy was the one doing the talking then, her voice excited.
"She doesn't have a rich father, but she's collected a lot of goods over the last years and her mother has four children, two boys and two girls, so she thinks that you have a good chance of having children. You'd need another tent or two, but the speed with which you got that one last night was impressive and you can both work together to get the future ones. I did explain that you were an outlander, which is obvious, but she likes you anyway, so that won't be a problem. It's a good proposal Jake. You should think about it."
He blinked some more. It just wasn't something he'd really figured would ever happen, not after Rachel had gone away. Even before that it had always been something he hadn't counted on really. Him... married?
It was a thought, wasn't it? Especially if they could ever get out from under the whole mess the world was in. The only thing there... was that he hadn't really considered surviving it at all. That hadn't been a real idea since the first day after the announcement. His biggest dream had been maybe getting a few good meals and a woman that was willing to sleep with him before he died. Willa was suggesting long term plans and that they make them together.
She was good looking too, not some girl that had to settle for him because she couldn't find anyone else, he didn't think. Even if there was some reason she couldn't get a Teleporter guy, some social stigma or whatever, she could have gotten most of the men from the House without too many problems. They were even about the same age. Of course he did have Vicki, so there was that to consider.
"I don't know how to respond guys. Willa seems really nice, I just haven't been thinking about anything like that. Plus, if I just say yes without talking to Vicki first my testicles might just end up well away from my body and I haven't even got to use them yet, so you know, a bit of care is needed there." He tried to look hopeful, but Willa looked a little troubled by what he said.
Tansy didn't seem to think it would be a huge problem though.
"It's just a marriage proposal Jake, you don't have to break up with your girlfriend, let me ask though..." She spoke rapidly, the words fluid and happy, which got a slightly subdued but not unpleasant nod from the other girl.
She was wearing a flowing white garment with pink flowers on the sleeves that looked hand stitched in place. She answered slowly, but after a while Tansy nodded and turned back to him, Morten smiling off to the side at what had been said.
"There you go. She just asks that your children be hers, if possible. Not all that unreasonable really. So, should I tell her that you'll consider it?" She was teasing now, he understood that, playing with him.
That was a mistake. Jake or Mickey it didn't matter, about something like this he wouldn't play at all.
"Um, sure? I have some other people I should give a heads up to first on the idea, but why not? She seems wonderful." She did too. It was just such a strange thing.
Really he wondered if the girl, the woman, in front of him was just playing a trick, ready to laugh at him for thinking anyone would like him enough to marry. Cam's people did like their jokes after all. It was one of their best traits. Well, other than the cool traveling things they did, but he really appreciated the sense of humor too.
She smiled though and gestured to the bowl in his hands, then walked away smiling. Tansy went with her, but Mort stayed, nodding as if trying to show support.
"Hey! Now that's something. I'm not certain she even knows that you're the Ba-Dehist. Tansy will probably tell her though, so you'll never get rid of her now that you said you'd entertain her offer. You mean it though right?"
Like he wouldn't? That would be rude and more than a little mean.
"Of course. Still, I really should talk to some people first. I'm not sure if I have what it takes to be a good husband. Especially for one of your people. I mean, you can go anywhere and I'm virtually crippled that way by comparison. Is it fair to put her in a situation like that? I'll probably never have a lot of money or anything and a lot of people seem to have a claim on my time." It was actually kind of a dismal situation, for all that he found it really flattering at the same time.
Morten slapped him on the shoulder.
"Eh. I wouldn't worry about those things. If you want to do it you'll work it out. If you don't then it's best to make that decision quickly. Of course, now that you have a tent you'll probably have more than one or two other women trying for you. Father has made a point of being vague about who you are exactly, but just being a stranger here makes you exotic and you carry weapons. Even our women are attracted to dangerous bad boys. One of the reasons I keep making a point to never leave you and Tansy alone for too long. I don't want to walk into the tent to find you two trying to make a little Ba-Dehist or something."
Jake shook his head.
"This is all so strange. I need to eat though and get with Cam so we can find the military base and make contact. I should check in with Sammi too soon. Her mother died and that's hard on a person, no matter how old they are. How are things going with you? Any problems getting people to spread the nano stuff? Or with the guards?" Jake watched the guy closely, but there was just a smile in response.
"Two attacks so far, but no one has been hurt. We have three hundred and seventeen teams out right now, working in three shifts, all around the world. Most of the major cities have been treated so far. The rest will take longer, but the supplies have been steady and no one is complaining too much yet."
They sat after Tansy brought Mort his bowl of rice, which he ate with his fingers. It was a bit sticky, but Jake followed along with the costume easily enough. He didn't have to go and retrieve Cam even, since she managed to find them before they were finished, grabbing her own bowl and plunking down beside him.
"Hey. Sorry I slept in."
Waving that away, they made plans for the day and went to change into warmer clothing, getting underway an hour later. The snow storm had lifted and they made fast progress, ending up just outside the military base, which was exactly where Robert had said it
would be. It was an open complex, about fifty buildings behind layers of wire and chain link fences. It was also surrounded by the dead.
Not for long though. Jake broke open three capsules, moving all around the area, trying not to be seen if possible in case anyone decided on some sniper practice. It took ten jumps to do it though, since they kept being attacked at each point by zombies. For some reason the military was being plagued a lot harder than the House had been. They had to be sitting in there, praying for something to break about now, he figured. There was movement behind the wire, but it was subdued, just a few people moving from one building to the next.
There hadn't been any word that Jake had heard of about them being under massive siege like this. There had to have been tens of thousands of dead there. More than that even. Still, with luck that wasn't going to be the case when they came back in a few days. Carefully. Possibly carrying a big sign that said don't shoot.
It was a funny idea. Also one that kind of made sense. Zombies didn't carry signs at all. It was a good idea and something that he decided to try and work on. They'd need some paint and maybe a white bed sheet or two for it, to use as a canvas.
They got to the House just in time for dinner, which was a nice meal, a stew with thick gravy, had lots of vegetables and real-tasting butter for the bread. No one complained about the food, since there was plenty, and Jake took a turn washing dishes when he was done. The entire crew he was with was made up of strangers though now. After that Cam took him to the Lake, the Bawdri place, so that he could try to find Sammi. It was nearly time for the whole thing there to be over, he thought, the funeral, but it wasn't about interrupting, just making certain that everyone had what they needed.
It took a while to find Samantha, having to ask several passersby first. Most of them didn't know at all, and those that did seemed to think it was strange that people would be asking after their Princess like that. Suspicious. Especially with a Teleporter girl right there, even though it wasn't that uncommon a sight anymore. Or Jake didn't think it would be.
Finally a young looking woman that had pretty green eyes pointed off at the big house set back away from the others, surrounded by a sturdy looking wall. It wasn't exactly a palace, but it was the nicest place at the camp and Jake had no doubt that's what this place was. A summer vacation spot for these people. There were thousands of them here, but wherever it was the air wasn't too cold or anything. Not in the U.S. Jake didn't think.
They walked up to the formidable gate slowly, wondering how to get in, noticing the thing actually had guards on it, two of them, that held their automatic weapons like they knew how to use them. Both of them looked about sixteen, and had light blond hair. One was a girl, the other a boy. That meant they were probably several hundred years old though, and not people to trifle with. They glanced at Jake and his side arms, but positively glared at Cam, her orange eyes and copper hair kind of a giveaway as to who and what she was.
"Halt." The one on the right, the girl, said firmly.
"Announce yourselves."
"Um, Jake and Cameron? Here to check on Sammi?" He expected the guards to give them rough treatment or at least be rude, but the woman just nodded, her brown outfit fitting tightly enough to show that she was in decent shape. Probably as a warning to anyone like him that might want in without proper clearance.
They called it in though, using an intercom, using English for it, if with an accent. They all sounded British really. Then, Sammi had once told him she was from York, hadn't she? Maybe these others were too.
A few seconds later a familiar voice called back.
"Jake? Is that you?" It was his friend, so grinning he moved a little closer to the box on the wall and called back loudly.
"Hey Sam. Just checking in. I have Cam with me."
"Send them up please." She had an accent now too, though she didn't at the House. It sounded funny, like she was faking it, but it was probably the other way around. What he thought of as her was probably the act.
The guards didn't question them and while they did keep looking at Cam like she was going to steal the silver, they were let in and led up to the front door, which opened before they got there, Sammi waiting for them herself. She looked sad, so Jake opened his arms to give her a hug, holding her long enough that the female guard started grinning in the background. That went away when Cam moved in and did the same thing, if for a shorter period of time. The male guard didn't twitch though, his face relaxed the whole time, as if it were perfectly normal for the Princess to be having visitors like them.
"Jake, Cam... Come in please."
The place was big inside and nice, but they were led almost directly to a study, a room filled with books and papers, where the girl had obviously been working when they interrupted her. She waved at the pages and sighed.
"I didn't realize how much mother actually did for our people. Darian wants me to start right in on her work, since it's my duty now. I... don't think I can go back. To the House I mean." She sounded sad about it, but resigned.
"Everything changes though. How are things there?"
"We lost a few people to an exploding person and had a strange air raid happen."The explanation went pretty quickly, since she didn't ask more than who was injured and who died. He explained the rest though, in case it happened at the Lake.
"Cam and I cleared the area around the military base, which was pretty bad. We're going back in a few days. Oh, we also met up with another Bawdri. A kid named Ricky? Said he met you once, but didn't think you'd remember him. Said you were a "snooty bitch"? Apparently a more common guy or something." Jake watched her closely, but she just nodded.
"Not a clue who he is. Probably does show that I'm snooty. Of course I've met a lot of people over the years and several of them have been named Richard. We should meet though, if he's going to be around. We're trying to find all of our people if we can. Only about a tenth of them are actually here. There's another, larger, group of us in the South, on the Island, but most of them are common, the ones here are elite for the most part, except for some servants." She rubbed her eyes tiredly.
"That sounds horrible doesn't it? You should go and visit them soon if you can. People will take heart knowing that the real Very Good Man is looking out for them. I was thinking... It won't go over well with everyone here, but we could have some of the people from the House relocated? I know the numbers must be growing fast and if it's coming under attack..."
Cam rubbed her own eyes then, seeming nearly as tired.
"No doubt. Even as we push the dead back we have problems. If we could get the kids out... Morris is willing to take them too, but spreading them around makes the most sense. We really need to find those Techno creeps and shut them down. Then we could just set up some real towns and farms or whatever without having to worry about bimps in the night." She sat on the front of her chair, eyes suddenly bright.
"Any idea of how to find them?"
"Not a clue. Not at all." Sammi didn't comment on the "bimp" thing though, or even ask what that was supposed to be.
It still sounded funny to Jake, but then, so did "blimp". Kind of a stupid word, but anything that cut the actual horror of walking dead being dropped on you was welcome, wasn't it? He decided to start calling them bimps too. It kind of stole their power away a bit, turning the attack into a joke, instead of something far more sinister than anyone should have ever thought of.
Sammi got up then and made a point of hugging them both, Cam first, then Jake for a far longer time. She whispered into his ear so gently that he almost missed it, but all the practice he'd had let him just pick it up.
"Remember what mother said."
Like he could forget?
When she'd been kidnapped a teleporter had done it. It was exactly like what happened when one of Cam's people traveled too. It could be a Technologist device, of course, since they knew that was who'd had her, but she'd also described some men that were as strong and fast as Vals, though they all wore masks.
It could mean that the bad guys had agents working with them from other groups. For all he knew they could be anyone. They could easily be some of those biological robots too. Bio-bots. It worked well enough as a name for now.
The thing to do there would be somehow getting the Telepaths to search them all out, without the whole world knowing about it. He didn't have a real clue how to set that up, but maybe he could figure something out.
Cam chuckled behind them, standing in the doorway of the room.
"Say, Princess... if you want to grab up a Ba-Dehist you need to act fast. One of the women from First Town asked Jake to marry her earlier today. She's good looking too. I know that he said he wouldn't date anyone under nineteen and all that, but Willa is forcing my hand, so I'm putting myself forward for him too. You might want to get your own marker in. Colleen too. Possibly Heather." She seemed to think the idea was funny or something.
Samantha just nodded.
"Indeed. Jake, will you marry me? Or at least consider it? I know I look young for you, but do recall that I'm many times older than you are and have a good bloodline." She said it with a smile but one that didn't hold a lot of hope.
She was right too. He couldn't have slept with her if his life depended on it. She just looked too young by far. Cam too, though she was closer. If she waited a few years he might be able to look past the whole age thing there. Sam just wouldn't look old enough for a long time. Probably not in his lifetime.
"Um, really Sammi, we already had this talk and it hasn't changed, you're incredible, but I can't. I wish I was able to look past things, but..." Misery filled his voice, since it wasn't fair to her at all.
"I know. But I had to ask, didn't I?"
Maybe. Cam didn't though, not then. Probably because she knew her answer would be the same. It left him feeling awful when they left, though Sam didn't seem that put out by it, just looking at him wistfully.
