Apex Fallen

by C. A. Michaels

  The first vehicle had parked up, twenty meters from the door. A second truck crawled into view, with a man sitting on top of the cab, aiming a machine gun at them. It was crudely bolted onto a pintle-mount on top of the cab but, improvised mount or not, it was ominous and threatening.

  “There’s at least another one or two vehicles out there,” Lance said, having focused on the different engine sounds he could hear. Dan nodded without taking his eyes off his sight.

  “I’ve lined up the gunner,” he told Lance.

  “Rog, I’ve got the first vehicle, then.”

  Dan’s mind was assimilating the situation and creating a simple plan he would execute if a gunfight broke out. He would fire a short burst at the gunner, eliminating the greatest threat. His first round would go straight into the man’s solar plexus, and the follow up two-to-three rounds of the burst would be delivered in the vicinity of his chest and head. Short, sharp and brutal – but survival was at stake, so compassion didn’t come into it. Dan could see through his non-master eye, which was still open and taking in the wider scene, that there was activity in the front vehicle but a driver and a passenger had remained in the second vehicle. And it was the second vehicle that was his target. He trusted Lance to take care of the first, so he needed to drop all three of the occupants in the gun truck. After he fired his burst at the gunner he would drop his point of aim onto the driver and fire a double-tap just above the dash-board.

  He wouldn’t wait to see the effects of his fire but would realign his sights onto the last occupant without pausing and fire another double-tap. He could drop all three of the threats in the best part of a two seconds, he reasoned, and then he would have to move. He would stay low, so to avoid Lance’s fire, but he would scramble half a yard to his right, and continue the fight from there. It wasn’t much of a move but it was the best he could manage and, as had been drilled into him, you always change your firing position if you want to live. Only the lazy and suicidal stayed in one place. In a blink of an eye Dan had devised, confirmed and reinforced his plan to himself. Gunner, driver, passenger, move. All that was needed was something to set off the gunfight.

  “Man advancing,” Lance said, and Dan could hear his voice both from behind him, over his shoulder and through his head-set. Lance must have set his mic to voice-activation and anything he said would be transmitted via his radio. Which was smart, as he could now give a running commentary to the entire team without taking his hands off his weapon. Dan kept his sight aligned on the truck’s gunner, but he was able to pick up additional details. A reasonably crude cross had been spray-painted onto the doors and bonnet of both trucks, and it looked like everyone had large pieces of cloth, all a light blue color, tied around their left arms. Otherwise they seemed to be a completely disorganized grouping, with only a couple of weapons on show – the machine gunner on top the vehicle, holding what looked like a heavy duty Kalashnikov with a drum magazine underneath it, and two M16s with the other truck’s crew. Dan’s attention was focused on the gunner, still, but his gaze continued to flick almost involuntarily back to the advancing man.

  “At fifteen meters, weapon in low ready, he’s seen us,” Lance rattled out. The man must have been expecting to see them as he didn’t show many signs of surprise. He kept his weapon low and raised his left hand in a greeting.

  “We’re going to cleanse the area,” he called, his voice gruff and gravely. It was hard to judge his age behind his wide-brimmed fly-fisherman’s hat and sunglasses, but Dan instinctively placed him as forty-something.

  “Stand by, looks like they’re going to open fire on hacks,” Lance called before the air was split apart by the repeated cracks of gunfire a moment later. The ghouls must have crept around the trucks as they arrived, and the barrage of shots was now pushing them back again. Dan couldn’t see what they were aiming at part he guessed it was effective, as their fire slackened off after fifteen or so seconds. Disciplined fire, he noted. Only single rounds fired and the gunner had kept his safety on and his weapon pointed in their direction. Which meant that they were keeping the suppressive weight of fire the machine gun offered in reserve for other threats. Other threats, like their group, if it all went tits-up, Dan thought. He kept his reticule steady on the machine gunner’s stomach and his breathing regular.

  The man Dan had labeled Fisherman on account of his hat and his tan fly-fishing vest stood back up.

  “There’s no point hiding in there, folk. You need to be moving, and you need to be friendly, you hear? There’s no place out here for preppers going it themselves.”

  “Hold it,” Lance called out, at volume. His mic registered the volume and automatically toned the volume down, so Lance’s voice remained a reasonable level over their headsets without deafening them.

  “We’re not preppers and we’re not on our own. We’re United States Army, and you need to identify yourselves.”

  “Army? That’s a first,” the man called back. “But that would account for your toys there.” He could obviously make out our weapons and kit, Dan thought, which was good. He needed to know that he was up against a serious force. Deterrence was a good policy.

  “And us? We’re survivors, man, and we’re doing our best to hold on out here. And I don’t mind where you think you’re going, but there isn’t any mistaking the world now. You are either part of the community that’s coming together or you’re going it alone, so you need to choose carefully.”

  “You need to be clearer!” Lance called back, letting some anger and urgency creep into his voice. “Whose community? I’ll remind you that we are United States Army here, so don’t think to threaten us, as you won’t like the outcome.”

  The man chuckled, albeit slightly nervously. “The threats not mine to make, sir. And I don’t understand this world anymore than the next man, but the United States Army ain’t much use any more, you know? And I don’t think the United States exists anymore, either, from what I’ve seen.”

  “Steady,” Lance called back. His voice was controlled and level, and he did better than Dan would have managed if he was the one doing the talking. Hearing someone say that the US Army wasn’t much use and that the United States of America didn’t exist hit him harder than he could have expected. Those were words he had never thought he’d hear and they hit him hard. The possibility that the man was telling the truth his him even harder, though.

  “We’re pretty clear proof,” Lance continued, “that the United States Army is still out here, and can assure you that the US Army’s bullets are just as fucking lethal as ever, so you’d better not stand in the way of me or my mission. Is that clear?”

  “Clear as day, sir,” the man replied. “Now I don’t know where you’ve come from or where you think you’re going, but I’m going to tell you that there is evil out here, everywhere, and there’s only one way to save yourselves from it, and that’s with us.”

  “And who is this ‘us’ you are talking about?” Lance called back.

  “Those of us loyal to those around us, you mean? That’s who we are now. I’m not much of a church going type, but there’s only one force out here that’s speaking to me about a way ahead in this world, and that’s Drake. This is the tribulation, and we’re being tested. You can shoot me, but I’ll tell you I’m standing firm to God now.”

  “OK, that’s great – but you can do so away from here, without pointing machine guns at us?”

  Fisherman shrugged. “Have faith, sir. We don’t need to be your enemy. If you want to live in this purgatory for eternity forever then you’re on the right track to do so. There is no waking up in heaven, anymore, and no more forgiveness if you take the wrong side in this war. Our sins have been delivered onto us and we have to choose sides. Judgment won’t look kindly on those who don’t heed the signs and take the wrong stand. You need to listen to the Church and you need to hear the way forward if you want to survive the coming Judgment, sir.”

  “Are you getting this?” Lance said quietly.

&nbs
p; “Sure are,” Julia replied, quickly. “It’s hard to miss.”

  Another man appeared around the side of the vehicle and stepped up so he was alongside Fisherman. He was unarmed, and looked as if he was a businessman who had just thrown his tie and jacket off and rolled up his sleeves. Only a few days worth of growth around his cheeks gave away the fact that he was in the midst of a disaster zone and not in a conference.

  “Easy on the bible-stuff, Kale,” the new man said to fisherman and then turned to Dan and Lance.

  “We aren’t here to preach to you, and we’ll be on our way shortly. I’m not particularly religious or God-worshipping myself, not before and not much now. Most of us aren’t. Kale here is one of the exceptions. But there is one force keeping everything in order out here, and no offence, but it isn’t the Army. Only the Church has responded, and only the Church can shelter and shield the survivors were are finding. If you want to join us you need to say so, otherwise we are leaving you and you’ll be on your own. But don’t stand in our way, either, because there are plenty more of us, and I gather there aren’t many of you.”

  “There are enough of us,” called back Lance, “and don’t think you can dictate terms to us. And you won’t move or leave or do damned near anything unless I give you the OK too, so don’t push it. You need to tell me who you work for and what you’re doing, and not in bible-bashing terms, either. I want to know what it is you are up to.”

  Fisherman seemed to defer to Suit, as Dan had mentally labeled the second man who seemed to be in charge.

  “We’re the only ones who can hold anything together right now. The only voice after this all started was the Bishop Drake, who brought all of us survivors together and has been the only difference between death and salvation for everyone out here. We’re assembling centrally and we’re rebuilding. Drake Hamilton, the Bishop who is leading the effort, is pretty straight up and down about how things need to be. He’s talking about the period of tribulation and how God’s Kingdom will emerge from all of this. I’m not sure about that, and to be truthful I don’t care – but I have no doubt that he’s our best – damn, our only – hope to survive through this.”

  “What about police, the emergency services?”

  “What’s left of them, you mean. They’re with us, too, a few at least. Those that are left. You need to listen, there is nothing left but Drake, the Bishop Deaconate. He is holding it all together. Everything, it’s all down to him.”

  “How is he holding everything, and what are you doing, here, now?”

  Suit waved his arms. “We’re trawling for survivors. We’re gathering. And it’s working. After the outbreak and the turning the Bishop used his station, his radio station, Arise, to send out the only directions anyone was giving at the time. He called everyone in to central Boulder, he rallied all those that could make it. He’s since moved his station onto the Mesa, taking over the laboratory, and now has enough power to transmit his message on all radio freqs, pretty much, so the message is getting out there.

  “Once enough survivors gathered patrols were organized, and we’re driving the area, broadcasting the same message on loud-speakers if we’ve got ‘em and making sure that they are heading in to us. The direction Drake sends, it’s to strap white onto your arm and to move during daylight. Walk and fight, drive and fight, do what you must to get to him. He thinks it’s testing putting your faith in God as the first step. Those that make it are chosen, and we’ll do our best to pick up those that are walking when we see ‘em. We’re getting a few, too. But they have to be putting their faith in God – you know, walking and marking their arms as pilgrims coming in.”

  “Do you believe that?” Lance asked, some anger creeping back into his tone, but Dan could tell he was also curious.

  “My friend Kale here does,” Suit said, indicating Fisherman. “To be honest I don’t. To be honest I haven’t been a believer in anything any Church has said in decades. But it doesn’t matter, because it’s survival. And Drake is the only way things can be held together. We’re being lenient, this patrol, and doing our best to help the survivors. The Bishop, the Deaconate Bishop who is the centre of everything out here, is clear on his instructions, that you either put your faith in God and in Jesus Christ and his Church, which is the voice of Drake, and you can be saved. We’re out to pick up those walking in, having declared themselves as wanting to join us.” Suit paused and looked around him, then continued on in a quieter tone.

  “He’s also pretty specific that there isn’t any grey area, and if you don’t mark yourselves with white you’re to be treated as forces of the Anti-Christ, and we’re supposed to kill ‘em. Kill you, I guess.” Suit shrugged. “That’s Drake’s version, but he was a fire-breather before this kicked off, you know, one of the fired up types, and everything he has seen has only confirmed his beliefs and driven him even to greater extremes. By fire-breather I mean real, fire-breathing kinda stuff.”

  “And you?” Lance asked.

  “Me? Not a chance in believing that there is an afterlife or heaven or a kingdom coming, but he’s all we’ve got, you know? He’s strong, and he’s got a vision that can hold people together. Without him there is nothing right now, nothing! And he’s right about the current situation. It’s either the community or nothing, and the community he is assembling is the only possible way anyone could survive out in the world.”

  “I’m Christian,” Fisherman said, interrupting Suit. “Always have been. And I reckon that the Deaconate Bishop – his title he’s using – is gone too far. I don’t know what the meaning of this is – I do think we’re being tested by some higher purpose – but I don’t think those who are struggling without arm bands are the anti-Christ, as Drake tries to say. I’m out here to hope, this whole patrol is, and what we and a lot of the others are doing is the Christian thing. You know, giving everyone as many chances as we can. Giving them a chance to put an arm-band on, giving ‘em a ride and telling Drake’s boys they were on the way when we found ‘em, openly declared as part of his followers. But we can’t let people stand in our way, either. We have a community back there depending on us.”

  “Most of the patrols we’ve got out are doing their best and showing leniency,” Suit continued. “Most of us are just ordinary guys and girls out to do our best and help, against the turned. But those that were part of his movement before, that were living with him on his settlement just out of town on the Mesa, well, they’re full on believers. They share his fire now more than ever. They’ve got a good grip on the weapons and the groups coming in, and they’re doing things by the book – by Drake’s book.”

  “And the rougher folk, too, they’re joining in on the believer’s end,” Fisherman interrupted again. “I don’t like all of it, either, but I do know that there is an evil out here and Drake’s community is our only hope right now.”

  Suit nodded. “Some of the scum of society are coming out of the wood-work, but Drake is giving them a chance. Giving ‘em a purpose, and keeping them close, too, under his original followers.”

  “So what do you do when you come across people like us, who don’t want to follow your Bishop’s great plan?”

  “We walk away, man. We should drop ‘em all, according to Drake, but we all talk afterwards and come up with a cover story we’re all clear on before we head back in. We don’t do Drake’s word exactly, not when it’s murder. We interpret his orders, which is a risk to us, you know? We want to help, not add to the suffering out here, and we’re willing to bend Drake’s rules so we’ve got a clear conscience.”

  “But the others,” Lance prompted.

  “Yeah, some of the others he’s got out on patrol are brutal. They do Drake’s exact word, which is killing anyone who isn’t working to his plan. No quarter, as they think they are taking down those aiding the antichrist or some shit. Drake’s said that you’re either with us or against us, and they take that to be the black and white truth.”

  “And this is a world you want to live in? Drake�
��s world, where everyone else, everyone around you who isn’t following the exact script he’s given you, is an enemy?”

  Suit chuckled. “We’re not dumb, not at all. Understand, though, that Drake’s the only one out here offering any hope right now. The community he has assembled is over two thousand strong, and it is growing every day. Apart from that, well, it’s what you see around you. Chaos. The only thing that can help us survive right now is strength and support, and that’s what Drake is gathering. It’s what he offers. We’re helping save others and we’ll do our best to continue to do so, but the community he’s built is the only option. He’s gathered everyone around, and is still gathering, and those few cops and medics that have survived have no choice, either. They’ve come in and are part of his world. We all are. I hope that we’ll rebuild, and that we’ll be able to find an existence and a life that isn’t Drake’s fire-brimmed world of salvation through battling and defeating the forces of the anti-Christ, but it’s only been a few days. We’ll see that when we come to it. And we know it’s not a perfect community. Drake has around and behind him his true believing disciples who are borderline lunatics, and they will do anything for the man. He’s also gathered around him a lot of guns and bullets and weapons, and he controls them with a lot of care. The rough and tough who are turning up, too, are becoming part of his inner guard. We don’t see many of them, but they seem to have it pretty good, and I wouldn’t want to cross them yet. We’ve spoken about our future in our group, and maybe we’ll set out on our own in the future, when there’s chance and clarity to find a life away from Drake’s hate-filled world. But right now there isn’t. I’ve got a daughter in the community, and the only thing that can keep her safe right now is those that have banded together. Serving Drake’s a small price to pay to keep her safe. It’s a hell of an imperfect world around us now so I think our current means of survival is as good as we could wish for.”