“But like I was saying, I was in the hospital for treatment of some medical condition that I have, and I saw you in the hospital. You smiled at me and gave me a high-five,” says Isiah.
“I hope you didn’t hurt my hand,” I joke with Isiah.
“I think you said something along those lines actually. You came to the pediatric floor a couple times when I was there, and I saw you talking and playing with a couple of the kids,” says Isiah.
I hear the sound of a helicopter.
Lauren looks at me and I look up at the ceiling of Isiah’s condo.
“Must be Abdul leaving again,” says Bakari to Isiah.
We all hear the sound of a helicopter taking off and flying away from the condo building.
I stand up and look out one of the many floor to ceiling glass windows.
“May I take a look out from your balcony?” I ask Isiah.
“Yeah, let’s all go out there,” answers Isiah.
Bakari opens the large oversized sliding glass door.
Lauren and I enter the large wrap around balcony.
I look out from the balcony and see the helicopter that just took off from the roof of Isiah’s condo building.
Isiah and Bakari join Lauren and me outside on the balcony.
Lauren looks out and she sees downtown Tampa, parts of Channelside, Bayshore Boulevard, the river that leads into the bay, the University of Tampa, and Davis Island.
“I hope you know that we know what building we are in now, so know need to blindfold us again,” I say to Bakari and Isiah.
Isiah looks at Bakari and asks, “You blindfolded them?”
Bakari smiles and answers, “Yeah, Saba wanted to try out one of his new inventions.”
“Are you kidding me Bakari?” I ask.
Bakari smiles and answers, “I’m sorry Dr. Briggs, but I couldn’t help myself. We won’t blindfold you again.”
I shake my head and smile at Bakari.
“Good, those blindfolds were squeezing my brain,” jokes Lauren.
“You must have seen a lot of stuff that has happened from this view up here?” I ask Bakari and Isiah.
“Actually, we haven’t been here much. We have had to jump around to different properties and areas at times,” answers Bakari.
I see the helicopter fly out of view, and it makes me think of TJ and his problem with Bakari and the Ghosts.
“What happened with TJ and the helicopter?” I ask Bakari.
Bakari looks at Isiah.
“Don’t look at me, I’m sure it’s something you and your men did,” says Isiah to Bakari.
“I don’t know what he’s talking about exactly as we have been helping to protect the zoo and several areas around here,” answers Bakari.
“Well, I know TJ told me that his helicopter was shot at when he and a couple people went to the zoo to find a friend of ours and his fiancé,” I say to Bakari.
“You know Darby?” asks Bakari.
“Yeah, I also know Bo, Barrett, TJ, Janet, and Nicky,” I answer Bakari.
“Everything is connected B, I keep telling you that,” says Isiah.
Bakari rubs his right hand across Isiah’s bald head and replies to Isiah, “Yeah, yeah. I know. I’m starting to believe that now.”
Isiah jokes, “Finally.”
“Did you meet Aisha?” asks Bakari to me.
“No, I haven’t been inside the zoo or met many people from the Pride,” I answer Bakari.
“The Pride?” asks Bakari.
“Isn’t that what they are called?” I ask.
“I don’t think they call themselves that, but I like that name for them,” answers Bakari.
“Bo or TJ told me that was their name, but I guess that was their name for them,” I reply to Bakari.
“That’s part of why I wanted to meet you Ryan. Well Lauren as well, but we need your help... I need your help,” says Isiah to me.
Lauren and I intently look at Isiah.
“Our group and I are trying to find good people to join us and make sure Tampa Bay is secure from the military and any other threats around here,” says Isiah.
Lauren looks at me with a nervous look on her face.
“My health is limiting my ability to physically fight the dead and the living, but I have other gifts that are very useful in this new world,” says Isiah to me and Lauren.
“Before I tell you any more of our plan and what we want from you and your group. I need to know if you are in,” says Isiah to me and Lauren.
I look at Lauren and ask, “Are we?”
Lauren looks at me and answers, “I’m good with whatever you decide. I go where you go.”
“Okay then, I think we are in,” I answer Isiah as I look at Lauren.
CHAPTER 17
IN
“Excellent, we were hoping that we could count on you to join us,” says Isiah to me as Lauren and I stand on Isiah’s balcony.
“What do you want from us exactly?” asks Lauren to Isiah.
“We will see what skills you all have and then go from there,” answers Bakari.
I make eye contact with Isiah and Isiah asks me, “Are you going out on runs and putting yourself in danger Dr. Briggs?”
“Please call me Ryan, Isiah,” I answer Isiah.
“Okay Ryan. I will from now on, but are you going out with your team on missions, runs, and dangerous situations?” asks Isiah.
“I am a lead by example type of person, and I don’t like barking out any orders to anyone that I wouldn’t do myself,” I answer Isiah.
“Do you think that’s smart for such an educated man such as yourself to be out killing zombies with a katana?” asks Isiah.
“I see where this is going, but yes, I do. I like being part of my team and a big part of our plans,” I answer Isiah.
“Ryan has cut back his involvement recently and he has been trying to avoid taking unnecessary risks,” says Lauren to Isiah.
“There is no judgement with whatever you do, but I was curious about what you and your team are doing,” replies Isiah to Lauren.
“I just recently lost my father and his loss has opened my eyes to the world and the true dangers that are around us,” I say to Isiah and Bakari.
“I’m sorry for your loss. We lost our parents a couple years ago and we both know how hard it can be to lose a loved one,” replies Isiah.
The watch on Isiah’s wrist beeps and Bakari looks at Isiah.
“I think we gotta get you into bed and rest now,” says Bakari to Isiah.
“Yes, unfortunately it is my time for some more treatment. Thank you for meeting me Ryan and Lauren. It was nice to meet you both and I’m glad you will be joining us,” says Isiah to Lauren and me.
“Thank you. It was nice meeting you Isiah,” says Lauren.
I shake Isiah’s right hand and say, “Thank you Isiah. I hope we are able to help each other for a long time.”
“Me too. I look forward to seeing you again Ryan,” replies Isiah.
A person opens the sliding glass door and Isiah drives his power wheelchair into the living room and into his bedroom.
Lauren and I look at Bakari.
Bakari says to us, “Well, that’s my brother Isiah. I wish his body was as strong as his mind. He’s the smartest person I have ever met, but also the most crippled.”
“But what’s the plan here? What do you really need from us and my group?” I ask Bakari.
“Let’s walk and talk. I want you to see what you are getting yourself involved in, and I’ll take you to your friends,” answers Bakari.
Lauren and I follow Bakari out of Isiah’s condo and onto the elevator.
Bakari hits the button for the eleventh floor.
“Where did Cyrus go?” I ask Bakari as the elevator doors close.
“He’s probably back in his condo or at the cafeteria or somewhere around here,” answers Bakari.
“How many properties do you guys have?” I ask Bakari.
“In Tampa or all together?” asks
Bakari.
I’m kind of shocked by the question that Bakari just asked me.
The elevator stops at the eleventh floor and the elevator doors open.
“I guess in Tampa and all together,” I answer Bakari.
Lauren, Bakari, and I exit the elevator.
“I think our last count was 222 properties, but who’s counting,” answers Bakari.
I look down the hallway and see a long hallway that has several different rooms and doors on each side of the hallway.
“What’s on this floor?” asks Lauren.
“A whole bunch of things. Saba’s lab, the cafeteria, our communications center, and several other rooms,” answers Bakari.
Bakari starts walking down the hallway and Lauren and I follow him.
“We can use your help in a variety of areas. We are trying to secure Tampa Bay first, other parts of Florida, and then hopefully other parts of the country,” says Bakari as he walks down the hallway.
“Are you in touch with other parts of the country?” I ask Bakari.
Bakari opens the door to his communication room and I see a large room full of people.
I look around the communication room, and I see a large group of people who are standing near laptops, computers, radios, and other communication devices.
“We are trying to, we haven’t had much luck lately, but a couple people were able to talk with survivors from Colorado, Texas, New Jersey, and New York a couple weeks ago,” answers Bakari.
Bakari closes the door to the communication room, and takes Lauren and I towards another closed door.
“My men and I were out trying to get the power back on before we saw you at the water treatment plant,” says Bakari.
“How did it go at the water treatment plant?” asks Bakari to me.
“We couldn’t do anything there without electricity,” I answer Bakari.
Bakari opens another closed door and takes us inside the room of the door that he just opened.
Lauren and I enter the room and we see a large open room with tables, chairs, weapons, equipment, and people.
I look around the room and I see Phil, Jon, and Matt standing next to Saba and a couple different people.
“Hey Ry!” shouts Jon.
I wave to Jon and I walk towards Jon, Matt, and Phil.
Lauren and Bakari follow behind me.
“You guys okay?” I ask Phil.
“Yeah, how about you?” asks Phil.
“Where is Shaun?” I ask Phil.
“He’s in the cafeteria still. He’s in heaven there,” answers Phil.
I smile and joke “I bet; it’s been about an hour since his last meal.”
“How did it go with Isiah?” asks Jon.
“Pretty good, he’s a nice guy,” I answer Jon.
I see Saba tightening a screw on the back of an electronic box.
“What’s going on here?” I ask.
“Saba, is trying to get this portable box working that would help us charge our devices,” answers Phil.
“It’s a power bank. A solar powered power bank that I custom made,” says Saba.
“Ryan, I want to show you and Lauren the cafeteria next,” says Bakari.
“Okay,” I reply to Bakari.
“Bring them over to the cafeteria whenever you are done here, but don’t take forever Saba,” says Bakari.
“You got it boss,” replies Saba.
Bakari takes Lauren and me over to the cafeteria.
“I see you guys have a lot going on here, but again I don’t understand what you want from us,” I say to Bakari.
I walk into the cafeteria with Bakari and Lauren.
“We have different positions, units, and jobs for everyone here. When we work together, we can be successful… And that’s what we want from you and your people,” replies Bakari.
I see Shaun sitting at a table with another person and they are talking.
I walk over to Shaun and hear Shaun say, “No way. The Humvee is a better vehicle than a tank.”
“I see you made yourself right at home here,” I joke to Shaun.
Shaun looks at me and replies, “Yup, they have so much good food here. I may never leave.”
“Thank you, Ayo. Please go tell Saba to meet us in here in like five minutes,” says Bakari to the African American man that was sitting with Shaun at the table.
“Yes sir,” replies Ayo to Bakari and then Ayo walks towards the cafeteria door exit.
“What were you guys arguing about?” I ask Shaun.
Bakari asks Lauren, “Do you want anything to eat?”
Lauren answers Bakari, “I’ll go see what you guys have.”
I look at Lauren and Lauren asks me, “Do you want anything honey?”
“Yeah sweetie, thank you. See what they have and pick out a couple things for us,” I answer Lauren.
Lauren walks away from the table and checks out the food that they have at the cafeteria.
I sit down at the table that Shaun and Bakari are sitting at.
“Well Shaun, what were you and Ayo arguing about?” asks Bakari.
“We were discussing weapons and vehicles. Ayo said that a tank is the best vehicle to have right now, and I said that a Humvee is actually better than a tank,” answers Shaun.
“Great conversation,” I joke.
I look at Bakari and ask, “How are you doing all this here? All this food? Technology? Resources?”
Bakari looks around the cafeteria and answers, “It wasn’t easy getting to this point, but we are actually at a pretty great place right now.”
“I’d say so, your place here makes our home look like a shanty town,” says Shaun.
Bakari smiles and says, “I invested in a startup technology company, per my brother’s request, and a communications company. So we had the in with technology and communications years before the world fell apart.”
“Smart,” I say.
“Yeah, my brother saw the big picture for when I was done playing ball. I owe a lot to him. With his guidance and help, I made so much more with my investments than I ever could playing football,” says Bakari.
Lauren comes back over to me with two plates of food and two bottles of water on a plastic food tray.
Lauren puts the plastic food tray on the table, and I look at the food that she has on the plates.
“How do you have chicken and vegetables here?” I ask Bakari.
“It’s not what you know, but who ya know. And I know a lot of people,” answers Bakari.
Phil, Matt, Jon, Saba, and Ayo walk over to our table and sit down.
Lauren and I eat some of the food that Lauren got for us.
“I can’t believe this place Bakari. It’s pretty awesome. You weren’t lying,” says Jon.
“Thank you, Jon. I’m glad you don’t think I’m a liar,” jokes Bakari.
Matt looks at Bakari and asks, “Can I ask you a question?”
“You mean another question?” jokes Bakari.
Jon and I laugh at Bakari’s joke.
“Well, yeah. How did you know that Dutch and Cage had our weapons?” asks Matt.
Bakari looks at me.
Shaun looks at Bakari.
“I know they seem like good guys, but they aren’t. They do decent work on weapons, but they have done some terrible things,” answers Bakari.
“They do shit work. My gun mods are way better,” says Ayo.
I look at Shaun and see that the news about Dutch and Cage is bothering him.
“You okay Shaun?” I ask.
“Yeah, I just don’t agree with what was said about Dutch and Cage,” answers Shaun.
“I’m not trying to put them down at all, but they have killed a lot of people and have taken a lot of things from people around Tampa Bay,” says Bakari.
“How do you know that?” asks Shaun.
“We have seen it,” answers Ayo.
“So they are collectors?” I ask.
“I don’t know if they are called that, bu
t yeah basically, they have killed people, wounded people, and taken their stuff,” answers Bakari.
“I wonder how many people they have with them. Collectors will be there new name since they go around collecting stuff from the people they have killed,” I say to Bakari.
Shaun looks down at his empty food tray and quickly gets up to throw his empty plate and garbage away.
“He’s definitely mad about the news about Dutch and Cage,” says Phil to me.
“He’ll get over it, but I’m sure he wanted them to be good guys,” I reply to Phil.
Saba sees the orange badge around my neck and asks to see it.
I hand him my orange badge and Saba looks at it.
Saba shows the badge to Ayo and Bakari and asks me, “Where did you get this orange badge?”
“We got our badges from a guy named Jacob,” I answer Saba.
“Do you mind if I show you something about these badges?” asks Saba.
“No, please do,” I answer Saba.
Saba puts the orange badge on the table and takes out a small knife and a pair of tweezers.
I’m concerned what Saba is going to do next with his small knife to my badge.
SVAASH!
Saba makes a small cut into the center of my orange badge and I ask, “What are you doing?”
“Showing you something,” answers Saba as he grabs something out from the center of my orange badge with his tweezers.
We all look at Saba and my orange badge.
“You see that. It’s a tracker,” says Saba as he shows me the small flat electronic piece that he just took out of my orange badge.
“What the fuck?” asks Phil.
“I wouldn’t wear those orange badges anymore,” says Saba.
“Give your orange badges to Saba right now,” I say as I look at Phil, Matt, Jon, and Lauren.
Shaun walks back over to our table and I tell him to give Saba his orange badge.
Shaun tosses his orange badge to me, and I give Saba Shaun’s orange badge too.
“Why would they want to track us?” asks Jon.
“Why not is more like it,” answers Phil.
“The government has to be spying on us, and I’m sure they want to know who is alive and what is going on in every place that they can,” answers Shaun.
“Do you have any more of these orange badges?” asks Saba.
“Yes, we have a bag full of them,” I answer Saba.
Fight 4 Us (Book 10): Ghosts Page 18
