The Gathering Storm

by Marshall Miller

  Kathy was the perfect spokesman, just as Adam had believed she would be. Her looks attracted those men, and a few women, who wanted to watch eye candy on the reconstituted nationwide broadcasting system. Her proverbial and legendary–at least in the old adult movie industry–‘perky’ demeanor woke many households in the morning with a smile. She always managed to soften the blow with her delivery of the sometimes difficult news. People soon found out when she interviewed people she was not an emotionless airhead, but instead, a woman who actually cared about her fellow humans. A prime example was when the first Eaters, who reproduced and traveled at an unexpected exponential rate, hit the west coast.

  Despite Adam’s specific instructions to the contrary, Kathy had finagled a security team and air transportation to the Oregon coast, near where the Columbia River met the Pacific, behind his back. Adam was furious when he was informed that she was near the radioactive contaminated Columbia River, but it was too late to bring her back. Kathy had an ability to persuade others of the validity of her plans, whether or not they had been cleared with the powers that be. In service of the truth, permission and caution be damned.

  Near a small active port created by the Tschaaa, Kathy had interviewed some of the first humans who had encountered the Eaters and survived. They were with Tschaaa and robocop overseers to salvage materials from the abandoned structures, vehicles, and boats left up and down the Oregon and Washington coasts. Somehow, some Eaters made it to mainland America, possibly on an abandoned former Chinese barge that seemed to belong to some smugglers.

  China, now run by warlords, knew that the Occupied States were creating disposable goods and wealth once again, as well as providing surplus food. The surplus was both fresh and leftover canned and dry goods salvaged from abandoned buildings in harvested areas. And the surplus also gave rise to a thriving smuggling industrial. While the Tschaaa surveillance system noticed the slow moving surface vessels, the aliens did not care as long as they stayed away from breeding areas and Cattle Country.

  Adam watched the taped interviews with a mixture of pride and seething anger. One minute, a young couple of humans, with two young children, were talking about these weird creatures they had seen. Then, without warning, a couple of Eaters had attacked. Kathy continued to broadcast as she pushed the husband and wife to safety, putting herself between the Eaters and the kids. The attack had happened so fast, and the threat was so new, that the security team was flat-footed for a few seconds. Kathy screamed at the creatures, waving her arms to distract them. It worked. She was seconds from death, but the kids had escaped. Assault rifles and shotguns, finally on target, blasted the two creatures to bloody bits six feet from Kathy, on camera.

  As the security team approached, Kathy was heard to say off camera, “Whoa! That was kind of scary, wasn’t it, boys and girls?”

  On camera, Kathy was seen being hugged by the mother of the two children, who thanked her between sobs for saving her children. It was great footage that showed, Squids or no Squids, humans still cared about other humans. Basic humanity could still exist.

  Kathy’s perky smile returned, as she chatted with the security team while they did a quick examination of the remains. It soon occurred to security that where there were two creatures, there could be more, they quickly bum-rushed the survivors off the beach. “Hey, guys, it’s hard to run and broadcast at the same time, you know,” she quipped, and giggled.

  Adam personally reamed the security team a new asshole for letting Kathy convince them that a several day trip to the West Coast was somehow authorized, and almost getting her killed. Then, he gave them medals and bonuses for courage in face of a new and very dangerous enemy. Kathy became the symbol of what was right with the government. After all, if she worked for the Director, and she put herself in harm’s way to save others, especially children, then it was logical that the Director and his people must still have a strong spirit of humanity. They care. This broadcast also reached the Feral and Unoccupied States of America.

  Feral areas began to have access to power and the grid, as they tapped and hacked in, with Adam’s people intentionally looking the other way. If the so-called “enemy” is actually helping make your life easier, it is harder to convince people to risk their lives to attack it.

  Adam repacked his ditty bag and briefcase. His team and a small security detail were to fly to Cape Canaveral for a nationwide special broadcast about the pending spaceplane launch. This was one subject that seemed to generate a lot of positive feedback from the surviving populace. It pointed to the fact that, at least for the people outside Cattle Country, the Tschaaa were trying to better humanity’s lot in literally astronomical proportions. Why would they do that if they planned to eat them?

  Mary Lou entered his office. “Ready, Boss?”

  “Finishing touches, Mary Lou. Is Kathy here?”

  “Yes.” Still with the cold demeanor whenever he mentioned Kathy. Like oil and water, those women did not want to mix. The fact that Kathy was now becoming a household name did not help the relationship. It had gotten to the point that both women made blatant attempts to show off their physical assets when they were around Adam in his office, or in the broadcast studio. This was bizarre because he was having sex with both of them behind closed doors, whenever time permitted, so he already had intimate knowledge of both their bodies. And both knew he desired them. It almost seemed like they were showing off more to each other, than to him.

  Today, for example, they were wearing almost identical blue pants suits, tailored to accentuate every feminine curve. They kept glancing in each other’s direction, occasionally locking eyes.

  Adam knew people–women in particular–were sexually competitive, but this was beginning to get ridiculous. He was thinking of having a lengthy discussion with them after work someday. That was, when he had the time. Right now, he needed to complete this broadcast.

  He rounded up Kathy and Mary Lou and they headed down to the main building entrance. The Chief met him curbside in front of the building, a look of frustration on his face.

  “Boss, two of our three security troops are down for the count with some nasty food poisoning. I can find two more, but it will just take a few.”

  “Are the pilots armed?”

  “Yes, Boss.”

  “Well, grab a couple of your special briefcases for us, and let’s hit the road. The trip is going to take a while as it is, and we have a busy schedule. I don’t need more delays. The pilots and flight engineer will just have to do double duty, if necessary. Besides, Cape Canaveral has Tschaaa security out the ass, several robocops and even some lizards floating around.”

  “Okay, Boss. Let’s head to the airport.”

  The lone remaining security officer was a Sergeant Jackson, a tall, sandy-haired man who had come in the last group of new arrivals. Chief Hamilton had told Adam that he had an extreme gung ho attitude, having been the child of a white Supremacist that hated those of a darker complexion even before the Tschaaa appeared. He thought the Squids had been a godsend. Adam never really trusted fanatics. It had been his experience that people of extreme views were hard to control, and it was not unknown for one to suddenly become just as fanatical about a view once held as opposite. People such as these seemed to just enjoy being fanatics, the basis of their fanaticism being secondary to their enthusiasm for holding opinions contrary to the majority of the population.

  Yet, Jackson seemed to be completely beholden to the Chief, who he appeared to treat like his long lost savior. And because the Chief was loyal to Adam, Adam thought Sergeant Jackson also must be loyal to him by default.

  They arrived at the Key West Airport, where the re-engined DC-3 Gooney Bird was being prepped for takeoff. Part of a small fleet that had operated out of the Florida Keys pre-strike and infestation, this plane had the original Pratt and Whitney engines replaced by a more modern TurboProp, which upped the top speed and load carrying capability. It was set up to carry some twenty passengers quite comfortably, so
me of the seats modified to face each other over small fold down tables.

  Mary Lou and Kathy intentionally sat opposite one another, which piqued Adam’s curiosity. After a smooth take off, he began doing some subtle people watching as the Chief played a game of solitaire with a well-worn deck of cards. Sure enough, periodically, the two women were giving each other incredibly dirty looks. Adam was also fairly certain he saw a couple of single finger salutes flashed at each other when they assumed no one else was watching. He clenched his teeth. This had to stop. Without warning, the plane lurched. At the same moment, Adam heard a loud “bang” from the port side engine, which belched smoke, then stopped.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, this is your Captain speaking. The port engine just shit the proverbial bed, so I will be looking for a field to set down on. Please fasten your seat belts. Thank you.”

  The pilot and co-pilot were both former Air Force and airline pilots that had survived the last few years by being very good at what they did. After thousands of hours of flying, this was the first serious in-flight emergency that Adam could remember.

  An old civil aviation field, only just cleared off by the locals at Adam’s behest and payment, was found north of Miami.

  “Director, do you have anyone following us?” the pilot asked over the intercom.

  Adam unbuckled his belt and went to the cockpit. “What do you have?”

  “We have an old Cessna 172 shadowing us all of a sudden, ever since the engine blew. It’s making me very nervous.”

  “You and me both, Captain.” Adam quickly returned to his seat with the others. He noticed Sergeant Jackson was staring at Kathy, like he expected her to say something to him.

  “Alright people. You know the drill. Rig for possible crash landing, seat backs up, tables stowed, put you head down on your knees, hands on the back of your neck just before landing. Kathy, Mary Lou, quit screwing with each other.”

  There were two surprised looks. “Don’t say anything. We have a Cessna 172 behind us, which may have up to four people jammed in it. Chief, Sergeant Jackson, prepare to repel boarders when we roll to a stop.”

  “Yes, Boss.” The Chief checked the special briefcases he had stored under the seats.

  The approach the Captain made was flawless, and he greased the DC-3 onto the runway with one engine. Adam planned on giving him a bonus. As the plane was braked to a stop, Adam and the Chief were already out of their seats. Sergeant Jackson was still staring at Kathy with his bright blue eyes.

  “Care to join us, Sergeant?” the Director asked, his hand on the Sergeant’s shoulder. The Sergeant rose from his seat quickly, and suddenly Adam found himself staring down the barrel of Jackson’s M-9 Beretta. Jackson then spoke the first words anyone had heard from him the entire flight. “Goodbye, traitor.”

  Adam’s peripheral vision caught a blur of movement, as the Chief threw himself at Jackson. Then the Sergeant’s head exploded and Mary Lou screamed, as she and everyone else was splattered with Jackson’s blood and brains. It took all a few stunned moments to register that Kathy was the one holding a large caliber two shot derringer in her hand. No time to ponder. The flight engineer hauled ass back to Adam, who waved him off.

  “Problem taken care of. Get ready to help us with the Cessna.”

  Adam and the Chief each popped open a briefcase. Adam pulled out an MP-5K sub compact submachine gun with a twenty round magazine. The Chief pulled out a sawed-off double-barreled twelve gauge from his case, and grabbed up the M-9 Beretta the dead assassin had dropped. The flight engineer had a well-used M-2 Carbine with a thirty round banana clip he had kept stashed onboard somewhere.

  “Stay here ladies, and get down.” Adam, Chief and the Flight Engineer made their way to the rear hatch door.

  Mary Lou stared at Kathy. “Where in the hell did you get that?”

  “Around,” answered Kathy. “A girl has to keep her secrets.”

  Mary Lou grabbed Kathy’s left bicep, digging her sharp fingernails in. “I told you not to fuck around when it concerns Adam.”

  Kathy raised her Derringer, and pointed it at Mary Lou’s face. “Let go of my arm, bitch.”

  “This isn’t over!” she hissed, releasing her grip and backing away quickly.

  “I know,” Kathy hissed back, lowering her weapon to her lap.

  Adam, Chief Hamilton, and the flight engineer scrambled out of the Gooney Bird and used the tail plane as cover. The Cessna was taxiing toward the DC-3 and began to slow some fifty yards back.

  “Shoot first, ask questions later,” Adam ordered, and he began to empty his weapon’s magazine into the Cessna. The flight engineer opened up also with good accuracy. Some forty rounds later, the Cessna, its gas tanks unprotected and its body unarmored, began to fall apart and burst into flames. A figure bailed out of the passenger side door, rolled, and popped back up, firing some kind of assault rifle. Adam pulled his Glock 26 and began firing as the flight engineer fired the last rounds in his Carbine magazine. One of the men hit the individual and he went down.

  “Damnit! You didn’t let him get close enough for my twelve gauge,” the Chief protested.

  “Well then, go ahead up and check for survivors, Chief, if you want something to do.”

  “Okay, Boss, will do.” Chief Hamilton swung wide and came at the Cessna from a ninety degree angle.

  “What’s your name again, Sergeant?” Adam asked the flight engineer.

  “Forrest, Director.”

  “Well, Sergeant Forrest, your shooting just got you a healthy bonus. Thanks.”

  “Thank you, Director. I haven’t had this much excitement in ages.”

  Chief Hamilton called back. “Everyone in the Cessna is toast and dead. The guy on the runway bought it also. Shot to the head.”

  “Damn. No one to question. Chief, come on back.”

  Adam quickly turned around and climbed back into the plane. He found Mary Lou and Kathy seething in complete silence. The pilots had un-assed the plane and were making sure the fire was out on the port engine.

  “All right, ladies. All is secure. Kathy, where in the hell did you get that gun?”

  “I brought it with me. No one asked, so no one knew.”

  Adam interrogated Kathy further. “I don’t know what was going on between you and Sergeant Jackson, but for someone that didn’t seem to have a lot of contact with anyone other than the Chief before, he seemed especially focused on you. Any ideas?”

  “Christ, I don’t know. Look, I just blew someone’s brains out. You may be used to that, but I sure as hell am not. I get stares all the time.”

  “Maybe if you kept your legs crossed and your chest in your dress, you wouldn’t get stares,” Mary Lou snarled. Kathy and Mary Lou lunged at each other, each going for the other’s face.

  Something seemed to click in Adam’s brain, a threshold had been reached, and passed. Kathy felt steel trap fingers around her throat, with a duplicate grip making Mary Lou’s eyes bug out. Both women had their heads shoved hard against the bulkhead.

  “That’s it!” growled Adam. “This shit stops now. I have more important matters than to referee a catfight. Understand?” He was squeezing their throats so hard all they could do was croak. Adam released his grip and the two women almost fell over. “I said, understand?”

  Both women managed to hoarsely whisper, “Yes.”

  Kathy, for the first time in years, began bawling in pure rage.

  “This is just fucking great!” she bellowed. “I save your ass, my ass, even her ass, and I get choked. I almost get eaten by some six legged freaks on a beach and I get shit.” She sucked in another breath.

  “Fine. Well, fuck you all! I quit! Go ahead and shoot me. Otherwise, I'm fucking gone!” Kathy stormed off the plane, almost bowling the Chief over who was just about to re-plane. Mary Lou started to make a comment, but a cold, icy stare from Adam shut her up. Adam took a deep breath, and followed Kathy.

  Sergeant Forrest was standing outside, examining the assault rifle
the Chief had recovered from the body on the tarmac when Kathy stormed up, grabbed it from him, and began marching down the field. She did not care where she was or where she was going; she just had to get away. She had never felt so betrayed, nor so rejected. Years of pent up emotions now poured out of her. The image of her dead fiancé flooded her mind, and she sincerely wished that she had died with him.

  Strong arms wrapped around her and lifted her up off her feet. She began to kick, to struggle. Adam whispered in her ear, “Kathy, I’m sorry. I owe you my life.” Kathy’s body went limp, and she dropped the rifle from her hands. Adam put her back on her feet, now having to hold her up as the shock of what had happened began to finally penetrate her anger. He spun her around, and she buried her face in Adam’s chest and she sobbed.

  “Listen to me,” Adam explained. “First, I don’t make it a habit of laying hands on women, in a way that’s aggressive, not sensual. Second, whether you want to hear it or not, I love you. I love Mary Lou. Hell, I love Jamey and Janine in my own way. But I love the Mission, my Mission, to save as many members of the humanity I can, first and foremost.”

  Adam sighed. “This is not the first time has infiltrated my team and tried to take me out. It just hasn’t happened in quite a while.” He gently tilted her face up and met her tear filled eyes. “It is not the first time someone got close to me, to try and kill me, then changed their mind.”

  Kathy started to speak, but Adam put his fingers on her lips. “Hush. Jackson believed he had a connection of some sort with you. I believe you may have also been contacted by someone after the Chief contacted you. You still love and miss your hero fiancé and hate Squids, who I am working for as much as I’m working for my fellow humans. So, you have entertained some ideas of revenge on the nearest, biggest target. Me.