It took nearly forty five minutes before Leila’s people began to emerge from the front door of the church and exit the gate. The seniors came first, some using canes or walkers, others being helped or carried by their younger neighbors. Amanda had them lifted onto the hoverpad as she began using Internal Analysis on each of them. Once she’d scanned them, she would inform one of the healers of their issues, and move on to the next patient. In total about thirty elder citizens and badly wounded were triaged and given at least preliminary attention.
As the healers did their thing, Leila brought the rest of her people out. Most of them carried bundles of supplies and belongings on their backs, or in shopping carts. As she approached Allistor, he said, “I’m guessing you’ve decided to come stay with us? That’s great! If you like, the droids can carry some of those loads for you.”
Leila let out a long breath. “They’re tired of being hungry. And a safe place to sleep is hard to pass up. Not all of us wanted to relocate. But for the sake of the kids and the weaker folks, we agreed to go. And yes, please ask your droids to help.”
As Allistor gave instructions to Prime, Leila called out for her people to hand their packs to the nearest droid. In short order they were all moving at a good pace up 10th Ave. Survivors pushed carts, carried or led children by the hand, as the healers walked alongside the platform, still working as two droids pushed it north toward the Phoenix. The droids kept at least one gun hand unburdened, and maintained a loose perimeter around the now much larger group of humans.
In less than ten minutes the entire procession had boarded the ship via the cargo ramp. There were many exclamations and expressions of wonder from the survivors as they took in the sights. William began introducing himself to the children, passing out lollypops that Amanda had thoughtfully provided for the occasion. Allistor reported to Kira that they were all aboard, and she closed the door before lifting off.
When they landed, they found the three Juggernauts awaiting them. Bundles were piled atop the vehicles, and children were loaded inside. As the vehicles drove down the ramps, the rest of the survivors rode the elevators down and met them at the street. Again, the procession only took a few minutes to cover the four blocks to the tower, and Allistor’s people began the process of getting Leila’s settled in.
Chapter 3
The following morning Meg and Sam, with the help of Sydney and Addy, and an expanded kitchen staff from other properties, served everyone a meal featuring delicious breakfast burritos. Scrambled eggs, sausage, and peppers wrapped in a soft tortilla, that gave the same improved eight-hour buffs as the sandwiches from the day before. As they ate, Allistor stood on a chair and made a quick speech.
“Good morning, everyone. I hope you slept well. I’d first like to say a big thank you to our chefs and kitchen staff for this amazing meal.” He paused while the combined crowd of Invictus citizens and Leila’s people clapped and cheered in appreciation. “Now, for all of our newcomers. I’ve held off on having you swear the oath that will allow you to become Invictus citizens. I promised Leila that you’d all have the opportunity to explore, to check out this place and our other properties, and to ask questions. So today is for you to do just that. My people will answer questions for you about this place, our other properties here on the continent and the Caribbean. And…” he paused, a wicked grin on his face. “You can even travel through the teleport to another planet!”
There was a full minute of murmuring before he held up his hands for quiet. “Take a look around, and decide what you’d like to do. I have assured Leila that she will retain ownership of her Stronghold at the church. And we’ll focus several raid groups on clearing the neighborhood around it, to make it safer for you if you choose to remain there. We’ll beef up the defenses, expand the walls to include the park, whatever is needed. Or you’re welcome to claim your ten acres of land pretty much anywhere outside Invictus City, including on the planet Orion if you like.”
Again he gave them a little time to absorb that info. “At the end of the day, I want you all back here. Let’s say by 5pm local time. At that point, I will expect each of you to take the oath, or leave. You can remain at your stronghold even if you choose not to become one of us. But you won’t share in the same benefits our citizens enjoy. Leila can explain that to all of you. So, enjoy your breakfast, and have a good time exploring today. I’ll see you all this evening.”
Hopping down, he took a seat and quickly ate his own breakfast. He planned to visit the other two Strongholds within the city, and his conscience itched for him to get moving. During the previous evening’s meal, he had asked Juanita, Rhonda, and Leila whether any of them knew the locations of the other Strongholds. He’d hoped Nigel could just pinpoint the non-citizen humans on the map for him, but apparently it wasn’t that easy. Nigel’s sensors didn’t work throughout the entire lower half of Manhattan yet. Only in the vicinity of the walls, and any buildings that Allistor and his people had cleared and claimed. Juanita said she knew the general direction of one Stronghold, having run across fellow human scavengers moving in that direction several months back. All three ladies had promised to ask their people to see if anyone had better information.
His meal finished, Allistor moved to his usual spot in the lobby lounge area and waited for the ladies to report in. He’d also arranged for Amanda, the teen sisters, Prime and a company of droids, as well as Bjurstrom and his raid team to join him. Just in case the occupants of the Strongholds were hostile. The Juggernauts outside were fully fueled and loaded with supplies, and Allistor had loaded his ring with enough jerky, fruit, and apple juice for a hundred people. He hoped that the other survivors would be in better shape than Leila’s, but planned for the worst.
Rhonda was the first to approach him. She had a man with her, whom she quickly introduced. “Allistor, this is Chuck. One of my best scavengers. He says there was a stronghold near the Empire State building a couple months after the apocalypse. But when the building fell, it buried the place. He doesn’t know if there were survivors or where they moved to, but our guess is they wouldn’t have gone far.”
“When the building fell? What happened?”
Chuck answered first. “In those early days, it happened pretty regular. Most buildings were damaged in the battles between the military and the monsters in the first weeks. Add in fire damage, wind, weather… lots of the taller buildings collapsed. The ones further north seemed to suffer worse. Possibly because of all the bombs and tank shells from the heavy fighting, combined with that nuke in the Bronx.”
“But you saw this Stronghold?”
“Not exactly. We ran into a couple of their guys as we were out scouting. Turns out we were all eyeing the same grocery store. We agreed to work together to clear the building and share whatever we found inside. I had a chance to talk to one of the guys for a while as we waited for the sun to come up. He told me they’d chosen a building just south of the Empire State, that had a bank in it. There were secure cages, and a vault, to hide in at night in the early days before they made it a Stronghold. There was a drug store full of medicine, and a sandwich shop with a full commercial kitchen. I was a little bit jealous.” Chuck paused, scratching his head, and Allistor joined him in remembering the first few days when there was no such thing as a safe place to sleep.
“Anyway, a few months ago we were ranging further away from our base, looking for food, and we heard a building fall during the night. When daylight came, we saw the Empire State was gone. Remembering what that guy had said, we went to investigate. There wasn’t much left of the tower, or the entire block. It fell toward the south, wiping out a few blocks, including the one where he’d told me the Stronghold had been. We saw some blood, and called out for survivors, but nobody answered. By the time we reached the place it was late afternoon, so we didn’t hang around long.” He looked a little bit guilty. “Bodies, even buried bodies, tend to attract the monsters. Especially after dark.”
Allistor reached up and patted Chuck o
n the shoulder. “I totally understand. My parents were killed when a void titan destroyed our house. My mom died in our front yard, my pop was crushed when the whole front brick wall of the house fell on him. I had to run, and couldn’t come back for a few days. By then, the canids had taken my mom’s body. I didn’t uncover my father, figuring he was better off buried the way he was. Even days later, the canids were still hanging around, and nearly killed me.”
By this time, Amanda, Juanita, and Leila had joined them. Amanda, hearing the last half of Chuck’s report, offered, “At least we have a general area to start from. I agree, if there were survivors they probably wouldn’t have moved far. Especially if they had wounded. It was nighttime, and they would have wanted safe shelter as quickly as possible.”
“It’s as good a place to start as any.” Allistor agreed. “And I’m hoping that since the System is telling me there are still occupied Strongholds, some of those folks did survive and recover.”
Juanita raised her hand, then grinned sheepishly. “Uh, one of my guys said he ran into some folks over on the lower east side. When they saw our people, they retreated. Headed toward the area of the housing authority high rises over near the FDR. Not too many other places they could go in that direction. Beyond that is the river, and the army blew up the Williamsburg Bridge, so there’s no crossing. I guess they could have used the FDR to go north or south…”
“Great, thank you Juanita. Not being from here, I have no idea where that is. But Kira has a good map on the Phoenix, and we can search from the air. Strongholds should stand out pretty clearly.”
Chuck stepped forward. “Hey, if you don’t mind, I’d like to tag along? I spent a lot of time poking around out there, and I know the area around the Empire State a little. I might be useful.”
Juanita added, “I’d like to join you, too.”
“Absolutely! Grab your gear and meet back here in ten?” Chuck nodded and dashed off toward the elevators. Though all of Allistor’s original survivors had storage rings, many of the newcomers from the City hadn’t acquired them yet. There was a limited supply available on the open market, and there were four thousand new people. Allistor made a mental note to speak to Harmon and make sure they all got one. Allistor had gifted Juanita a ring the same day he’d given her Jesse’s properties.
“Nigel can you patch me through to Kira, please?” Allistor had spoken to her the evening before about using the Phoenix to search for more survivors.
After just a few seconds, the AI replied, “Go ahead, Sire.”
“Good morning, Kira. You all set for a little search and rescue?”
“You know it, boss. Ready when you are.”
“Okay, we’ll see you in about fifteen minutes. First target is the Empire State building. Or.. what’s left of it.”
“Roger that. See you in a few.”
William showed up while they were waiting for Chuck to return, trying to slip unnoticed behind Amanda and Juanita. When Allistor cleared his throat to get Amanda’s attention and pointed behind her, both women turned and exposed the lurking squire. Allistor frowned down at the boy, crossing his arms.
“What? There might be kids there. You need me, just like yesterday!” William crossed his own arms in imitation of Allistor, and set his jaw.
Allistor had actually expected the boy to want to come, and didn’t mind. But one should never pass up an opportunity to give one’s squire a hard time. “Fine, but same deal as yesterday. You do not leave the ship for any reason.” Juanita held up a hand, and William had to jump to claim his high-five.
Chuck returned, and they headed out. Since they were taking the Juggernauts anyway, everyone piled in, and they proceeded toward the parking garage. Prime and the droids ran along on either side of the vehicles, easily keeping pace. Once they were all loaded aboard, Allistor escorted William up to the bridge where Kira could keep an eye on him.
Upon entering the bridge, he was surprised to see Kira’s two young daughters sitting at two of the command stations. “Hello there, Brooke. Hillary. What a surprise!” Allistor smiled at them, taking each of their hands and kissing them, making the girls giggle. He gave Kira a questioning look. “New crew trainees? Recruiting a little young, aren’t we?”
Kira rolled her eyes at him. “Gene’s gone out to Vegas this morning, and I figured it wouldn’t hurt to bring them along. If we get in any fights, this is a safe place for them to earn some xp.” She glanced at William, then raised her eyebrows at Allistor.
He got the point. “Well, this ship has never had a lovelier bridge crew! You think you ladies can do me a favor and make sure William doesn’t get into too much trouble?”
Both girls nodded their heads, and Hillary shot William, who was close to her own age, a look that said he’d better behave, or else. William just sighed, and took a seat at the weapons station. Having flashbacks to their first day in space, Allistor picked him up out of the chair immediately. “Ohhhh no you don’t. Let’s put you on the sensors station. You can help us look for the survivors.” Having been given a legitimate job to do, William didn’t complain. He immediately began to pull up the station’s displays and try to learn how to operate the sensors.
Kira lifted off, saying, “The building is still inside the City walls, so it will only take a minute or so to get there. I noticed it when I was flying to the park to pick up Mira and the others. It’s a big pile of rubble now.”
“So I hear. Hey, you said Gene was in Vegas? What’s going on there?”
Kira snorted. “Well, you know he flew the raid group out there that first day. And he went to Hoover Dam with them, mainly because he’s a huge engineering nerd and wanted to see the machines inside. Now he’s claimed his ten acres right next to the dam, and built a small airstrip. And he thinks he can use the alien tech you’ve given him to improve the power generation at the dam. I’ll let him tell you about it.”
Allistor grinned. That sounded like Gene. “Did you ladies claim land next to his.”
“Nope! We claimed the pirate island!” Brooke bragged.
Allistor looked to Kira, who explained. “Well, after they claimed the dam and set up the Stronghold, the raid crew went back to Vegas. They started claiming sections of the strip, and the hotels. Gene thought it would be a good idea to claim one for us, too. He has a plan to get the hotels and casinos up and running again. Sort of a… retirement income. Anyway, Brooke really liked the pirate ship out front, so we chose Treasure Island. Turns out with the main hotel, parking garages, and everything, it’s right about thirty acres. So the girls and I claimed it.”
“We’re gonna be pirates!” Brooke thrust a fist in the air.
“Shiver me timbers!” Allistor looked at her with one eye closed, pirate style. “I hope you’ll let me come visit the pirate ship when you get it in tip-top shape?” Brooke nodded her head vigorously, smiling at him.
“Okay, we’re here.” Kira reported, maneuvering the Phoenix to hover over the fallen monument to early twentieth century engineering. The displays across the front of the bridge switched to the view directly below them. Allistor saw that Chuck had been correct. The tower had leaned toward the south as it fell, smashing into and crushing several smaller buildings on the adjoining city blocks.
“Damn.” Allistor was in awe of the destruction below them. It looked like a giant hand had reached down and crushed a section of his city. After staring for a moment, he headed for the door. “I’m going to join the others in the cargo bay. We’ll open the door and look around, while you watch the monitors up here. We’re looking for a Stronghold, so walls, etc. When I give the word, start circling in an outward spiral.”
“Gotcha, boss. Good luck.”
Allistor rode the elevator back down to the cargo level, then jogged the short distance to join the others in the main cargo bay. He asked Nigel to open the door, and explained what they were going to do. After making sure everyone was secured, he spoke through Nigel. “Alright Kira, let’s go.”
She had
set the ship to hover at about two thousand feet, high enough to clear any of the nearby skyscrapers. Turning the ship toward the west, she said, “If it was me, and that building had just fallen on me, I’d go east, or south. There’s too much rubble to the north and west.” The ship began to move slowly eastward as everyone gazed down at the ground, searching for signs of life. Kira passed over Madison Ave and continued west as far as Park Ave. From there she turned south for a couple of blocks, then circled back toward the west.
It wasn’t long before Chuck shouted, “There!” Pointing down toward a small building at the intersection of 5th Ave and E. 32nd Street. “That has to be it. Man, they really didn’t go far at all. I wonder why they didn’t answer when we called out?”
The building he pointed to was close enough to the disaster zone that there was still some rubble on 5th Ave not far north of it. It was brick, just four stories tall, and there was a wall that sprang up in the middle of the wide street, thirty feet or so from the front of the building.”
“Kira, we think we’ve found them. Hover here for a minute, please. And start looking for a good place to land. Nigel, can I have loudspeaker at full volume, please? Just here on the ship. I want the people below to hear me.”
“Go ahead, Sire. I will route your voice through the external transmitters.”
“Hello down there in the building! Anybody home? This is Allistor.” His voice echoed off the street and buildings below.
They waited and watched, but nobody emerged from the building. There was a garden of sorts growing on the roof, but that was the only sign of life.
“Hello? We’re friendly. We’re here to help. We have food, and healers.” Allistor tried again.
Kira’s voice came to him. “I think I can squeeze the landing in here on the street, but it’ll be close. Might snap off a few light poles. Easier to land on Park Ave to the east, it’s a couple lanes wider.”
Shadow Sun Progression: Shadow Sun Book Four Page 4
