Resistance Rising

by Matthew Savage

  Chapter 14

  The Factory

  Nolan walked into the farmhouse. The family sat with Danny, who tried to ask questions but wasn’t getting the answers he wanted. Julia smiled when Nolan walked into the kitchen.

  “Are you all going to find my husband?” Julia asked.

  Nolan sat at the table. He didn’t want to lie to her but wanted to get the family back together. Nolan poured himself a glass of water before he answered.

  “We are going to check out the factory tonight,”

  She didn’t look pleased.

  “You are going to go there. I said the boy wasn’t to be trusted. He is a troublemaker…”

  Nolan interrupted. “Troublemaker or not. That is all we have to go on. We will see if it plays out. I made contact with D.I command and I am trying to organize a way to get you all out of here.”

  “We aren’t leaving until we are with my husband,” Julia protested.

  “You can’t stay here,” Nolan told them. “This rebel cell isn’t a place for a family on the run.”

  “I don’t know about that,” Danny chimed in.

  “It is amazing you haven’t been caught yet but this can’t be kept secret for long,” Nolan said looking at Danny before he looked back at Julia. “If you are to remain safe then, we will keep you somewhere else. The Insurgence with help find the missing people. When we do you will be together.”

  “How are they supposed to get out?” Danny asked.

  “I am waiting to hear back from command,” Nolan said.

  He didn’t think Danny liked the idea of being told what to do. This was his rebel cell and Nolan came in barking orders. The way Nolan saw it was that someone had to do something in the interest of the people they were trying to protect.

  Nolan told them he would let them know the plan when he finds out. Nolan stood and left the kitchen. Danny followed him. He managed to stop Nolan just outside the house.

  “You need to see here, boy,” Danny started. “I have been doing this much longer than you.”

  “Then you should know better,” Nolan said.

  “I have fought in a war,” Danny said.

  “Then you know how far the US is willing to go to win. Look what happened to the Middle East. There is nothing left. What do you think they will do if they find out what is going on here?” Nolan didn’t break eye contact with Danny.

  “Find that town,” Danny said.

  Nolan didn’t move. Danny turned in his chair and headed back into the house. Nolan stormed towards the barn. He couldn’t believe his uncle. He thought the farm was protected. Lee stood leaning against the side of the barn. He must have watched the exchange.

  “You won’t win against him,” Lee said. “I would know I have been trying.”

  “He thinks cause this is on US soil it will stop them from destroying it,’ Nolan said flustered.

  “He wants to be in control. He doesn’t like someone taking his power.” Lee said.

  “Something tells me that the Security Bureau won’t care about his power,” Nolan snapped.

  “I am on your side. I told you that we will join,” Lee started. “Don’t act like I am the enemy.”

  “Sorry,” Nolan said.

  He knew he was letting out his frustration on Lee. He just needed to vent. He hoped where ever Sarah was, that her recruiting mission was going better than his.

  Nolan and Lee walked into the barn. It was relatively empty. A couple people were counting the weapons. Nolan wondered how many weapons they had collected from their raids. He also hadn’t seen the barn too full of people. He assumed their operation took place mostly at night which did make hiding it a bit easier. The thought of his father, Neil, going out every night came to the front of his mind. Nolan pushed the image out of his mind.

  His team had set up a makeshift area in the barn. They were trying to gather any information on the factory. When Nolan and Lee walked up Terri looked up and smile.

  “We found some old satellite photos, but we can’t find it on an updated map.” Anthony said.

  “Did they tear it down?” Nolan asked.

  “If they tore that place down we would know. News spreads fast around a small town.” Terri informed him.

  “That could be what caused problems in the first place,” Ian added.

  “Do we know anyone who has been there recently?” Nolan asked.

  “I am not sure,” Lee said. He thought for a moment. “We could bring Mark. He patrols around the area. He might be able to help us get close without getting caught.”

  “If he is up to it,” Nolan said.

  “I will give him a call. He might still be busy with our mess,” Lee said.

  He walked away to call Mark. The others worked while Nolan took a walk around the barn. Terri stopped working to follow him. Nolan wanted to know what they have going on.

  “You said you have vehicles?” Nolan started. “Where are they?”

  “One of Danny’s friends has an old silo and a couple of barns. He was kind enough to let us keep the stolen cars and trucks there.” Terri told him. She looked at him as if he thought this would be impressive.

  “Not keeping everything in one place certainly helps,” He said.

  “We keep a lot of our weapons here, under the barn. The rest are kept in several locations so other members can get access to them.”

  “How many do you have?” Nolan asked.

  “A lot! I am not even sure we have enough bullets for all of them. The trucks we raid tend not to have a whole lot of ammunition. Most of the ammunition we get are from the soldiers.”

  Nolan continued to inspect the barn.

  “How many people do you have working for you all?”

  “Our ‘fighting force’ which is a loose term, is around forty. We have many more members helping in various other aspects.”

  “If rumors around town move quickly don’t you think the USSB will find out soon?” Nolan asked.

  “I don’t think so. This town is not thrilled with what is going on. I think most people know something happened to Lucas Valley. They are too afraid to do anything.”

  Nolan nodded his head. He could see how that could happen. He would hate the idea of his family disappearing.

  “I really want to thank you for coming to help us,” Terri said. She took a step closer to Nolan. “I think being a part of the Insurgence will be a good thing.”

  “You are going to join?” Nolan asked.

  “That was your plan wasn’t it,” she said.

  She took another step closer. His insides seemed to squirm. Was she going to kiss him? In the middle of the barn?

  The barn door opened and Nolan took a step back. Lee walked into the barn. He called Nolan over who moved quickly towards Lee. He took one more glance back at Terri. Why did he ruin this again?

  “You got a call,” Lee said.

  He seemed very short with Nolan. Lee handed the cellphone to him. Nolan answered. It was Lieutenant Carol. Or at least he thought it might have been. The voice was distorted but it was a woman’s voice.

  “Hunter, we are unable to do a pickup in the area at this time. The area is too hot. If you can move the family to Indy then the pickup can be arranged.” The voice on the other side said.

  “I will make it work,” Nolan said.

  “Stay safe. Out,” the voice said.

  The line was disconnected. Nolan informed Lee of what they have to do. Lee thought for a moment.

  “I think we can find someone to take them,” Lee said.

  “Good. Sooner the better.” Nolan said.

  “Mind if I have a word?” Lee asked.

  “Not at all.”

  Lee walked back outside the barn. Nolan followed. Lee walked some paces away from the barn to a large tree. Lee turned to face him when they reached the large tree. He had an angry look on his face.

  “What is it?” Nolan asked.

  “Do you have a thing for Terri?” Lee asked.

  “What?” N
olan was confused. This is what they needed to talk about?

  “Don’t act like you have no idea what is going on?” Lee said.

  “I don’t know what you are talking about,” Nolan lied.

  “You have been sneaking off with her,” Lee said.

  “We haven’t been sneaking anywhere. I just met her. I don’t know anything about her.”

  “Good because I have been going after her for a long time. Alright?’ Lee said.

  “Fine,” Nolan said.

  “Don’t fuck this up for me,” Lee said and stormed off.

  Nolan didn’t get the feeling that Terri was into Lee. He needed to keep his distance from her if he could. The Insurgence needed to unite the small groups fighting, it doesn’t do well if Nolan dates one of the leader's girlfriends. But she wasn’t his girlfriend.

  Nolan entered the barn. His squad watched him. Nolan made a subtle gesture with his head in a, ‘don’t ask’ kind of way. Anthony nodded in understanding. Ian continued to work. Terri who didn’t see him enter spotted him now. Nolan could tell she was trying to make eye contact. He did his best to avoid her gaze. He got to the area where they were working when Terri spoke.

  “I called Mark,” She started. “He suggested we wait for nightfall before we go.”

  He can take us?” Nolan asked.

  “Yeah. We didn’t talk too long he was still dealing with the mess.” Terri said.

  “We will wait and hear from him before we go. Hopefully, it will be sometime tonight,” Nolan said.

  Over the next several hours Nolan did his best to learn as much as he could about their operation. Danny had started forming the group sometime before the takeover. It was mostly people with similar interest who had been writing their local government trying to stop the negative change. When it seemed that they weren’t being heard, then Danny and Lee decided to take a more direct approach to getting change. They wanted to become a separate country of their own.

  Nolan sat on a hay bale. He had made contact with D.I command. Explained the situation to them. He asked if they had heard from his sister but they weren’t allowed to give any information about it over an ‘unsecure line’. Nolan hoped she was safe. He was a little surprised she wasn’t back. Terri came and sat next to him. Nolan didn’t want to walk away. It would be rude. He told himself he wouldn’t flirt. Nolan got a whiff of her. Had she put some perfume on? He wondered.

  “You have been asking a lot of questions around here,” Terri said.

  “I just want to know how you all got involved. I just wonder why you didn’t try and join the Insurgence. I also want to find out what about the Insurgence would make people not want to join.”

  “Government failed us. We are a small town. No one thinks about our needs. ‘The big picture’ is what we are told. We don’t want a new government with the same problems.”

  ‘It won’t be the same…”

  “Yes, it will.”

  “We have the chance to create something different. Something better than the old one. Let’s be honest, anything is better than the old government.”

  “At this rate,” Terri started with a laugh. “You’re not wrong.”

  They sat in silence next to each other for what felt like a long time. Nolan cleared his throat.

  “Why did you get involved?”

  “I have gone to school with Lee almost my entire life. When I was very little my mother got cancer. It was horrible. She withered away right in front of me and my father’s eyes. When she did pass it was just my father and I. He didn’t have much family. The family he did have, we didn’t talk to.” She looked sad. Nolan figured she hadn’t talked about her mother in a long time. If ever. Terri continued. “My dad was a farmer. He farmed all sorts of stuff but his big thing was medicinal plants. He loved it. My father was extremely educated so doing something like growing a crop that so many people used to help with their illness. Like… Like cancer,” She stuttered. “My dad thought it was like he was able to do something that helped people like my mom.” Nolan smiled. Terri didn’t. “The government stopped caring about those medicinal plants. It didn’t help enough people. It didn’t feed them. They wanted us to grow different crops. Something like corn or anything else that they needed. My father refused. It was his business. They tightened their grip. Eventually, they seized our farm, for no reason,” She added looking at Nolan’s face. “They didn’t need a reason. It killed my father. They didn’t give us a chance to move. To pack our things. Nothing. My father lost everything. Everything of my mom’s. Their photos together. Everything.”

  “Didn’t you try and fight it?” Nolan asked.

  “Of course. Small town though, no one anywhere else cared what was going on here. My father was extremely low. He burned down our old farmhouse. Stood in the house as it went up in flames.”

  Several tears ran down Terri’s face. She wiped them away and turned her back on Nolan. He had a hunch that Terri didn’t want him to see her cry. He rubbed her back.

  “I was on my own. Danny took me in. Paid me to work the farm with Lee. Helped me get through high school. I was pissed that no one in the government helped. No one came to see me. They told me he had died but no one tried to find me a home. Nothing. They did nothing,” She said the last words with hate in her voice. “Danny told me what they were doing. What they wanted. He told me that he didn’t want the same thing that happened to me, happen to someone else. He asked me to join. Lee made me his second in command. I have been doing this ever since.”

  Nolan couldn’t find words. He couldn’t believe how little was done to help her. He also understood why she didn’t think a big government was useful. He didn’t say anything however, he just rubbed her back. As she wiped away tears. Lee came into the barn. He spotted Nolan and Terri. Nolan stopped rubbing Terri’s back. Lee practically ran over to them.

  “What happened?” Lee said. He didn’t make eye contact with Nolan.

  “She…” Nolan started but Lee interrupted.

  “I was asking her,” Lee spat.

  “Lee, it is fine. He asked how I got involved. I told him.”

  Lee’s attitude changed. He hugged Terri. She hugged him back but she still kept some distance from him. When Lee broke apart from her, he looked at the two of them.

  “I just got off the phone with Mark, He is on his way. Get your things. We are going to get moving.” Lee said.

  Nolan jumped off the hay bale and helped Terri down. They grabbed their weapons and supplies and waited outside of the barn. It wasn’t long before Mark showed up. He had his truck. Lee suggested taking the van. Mark was reluctant but only agreed if he could drive. Nolan made the call and said Mark would lead them. Lee wasn’t thrilled with the idea but gave in.

  “He knows where he is going. He is the one getting us close. You have to let him take the led,” Nolan explained.

  They piled into the van. Nolan imagined took Mark’s truck, then they would stick out like a sore thumb. The van was full, considering they had Red Squadron along with Lee, Terri, and Mark.

  They left the farm. Mark told them he would take the back roads. They didn’t want to get stopped too close to Lucas Valley. The farm roads were dark. Nolan looked out the window of the van and he could only see a few feet from the road. He saw the light from the Quad Cities glow on the horizon. He had forgotten how dark the country got.

  “Sorry we made you work so hard today,” Anthony said to Mark.

  Mark laughed. “What are you gonna do? You all saved that family. Trust me the USSB wouldn’t have gone easy on them.”

  “I believe it,” Ian said. “They say why they wanted them?”

  “Not to us. We are told very little now. We were just told that USSB agents were attacked.”

  “So, you have no idea where these people would have been taken?” Nolan asked.

  “Not a clue. It certainly isn’t jail of any kind. That is run by the country and state police. We would hear about that. Just a mystery to me as it is to you.”r />
  “Do you ever patrol out here?” Anthony asked.

  “No, Mostly highway stuff or if the Security Bureau needs assistance.”

  “Honestly I had forgotten about this factory. It has been closed for over ten years. When it closed the small town around it basically became a ghost town. The factory gave people jobs. When the jobs were gone, the people were gone.” Mark informed them.

  He watched the road before slowing the car down. He turned down a dirt road and drove towards some crops. He found a small narrow road where they could park the car. It was just off the main road, where it wouldn’t be seen. Mark turned off the car.

  “Alright, the factory will be on the other side of this ridge. We should have pretty clear sight. If it is running we will be able to observe it from here. If it isn’t and we want to look around this will give us a good amount of cover to get close enough to cut through the fence.” Mark informed them.

  “You should wait here,” Nolan said.

  “What why?” Mark asked.

  “If we need a quick exit. You will be here waiting and if anyone comes from behind. You will be able to alert us.” Nolan explained.

  “Fine,” Mark said reluctantly.

  The group got out of the car and Nolan led the way towards the ridge. The area around the factory was overgrown. Nolan wondered if it was well-kept when the factory was running. Nolan hiked up the large ridge that overlooked the factory. When he came towards the top, he had to crawl, in order to avoid being seen. The others followed his lead. He wasn’t about to get caught causally strolling towards this factory. If it was still running.

  The group slowly crawled until they were at the top overlooking the factory. The factory was alive with people. Nolan couldn’t believe it. He went in his backpack and found some binoculars. He put them to his eyes and scanned the area.

  “What do you see?” Ian asked.

  He was very close to him on one side. Lee was on the other side of Nolan. Nolan scanned the area trying to make out as much as he could.

  “I see, people, loading crates into trucks. The work clothes are ragged…” He continued to look. “Those are USSB guards. I can see their patch. There are so many of them.”