Black Box 86ed

by Kjelland, Andrew

  “Yep those bastards got me so surprised I damn near pissed myself,” Louie interjects. “Bullets flying through the walls while I got my Johnson in one hand all while still holding my pistol in the other just standin there pissin away in the corner of the living room.”

  “Haha that’s right. I thought for sure you were gona get that thing shot off. Now I’d ran into the backroom, and I shit you not there's this guy propped up against the wall. A big ole bag o PCP in one hand an a needle in the other. That idiot was in that house just getting high and didn't even know there was a fucking war going on. Now Louie, this beautiful son of’ve a bitch gets the idea to convince this guy they were coming for him. That a shootout was the only way he could make it. I emptied the needle in his arm put a gun in his hand an we had a battle fit for the coliseum. I swear those traterin motherfuckers didn't know what slice of hell was running at em. His guns just blazing, barely even firing at em.” Billy breaks out into laughter. “They musta thought the god dam zombie apocalypse was happening. They filled that guy with more lead then a dam pencil, an he was still goin. Sombitch let us take out half the platoon before they got em down. Me, Louie, and Watchtower just watched as the rest of the guys hightailed it outta there. It was a Christmas miracle I tell you what and when I finally get up to the good lord God almighty, I’ll give him my best words for saving our hides.”

  “Who knew that PCP actually saves lives,” Louie interjects. “I can see the commercials now PCP, an army of one,” crazy laughter breaking into uncontrolled high pitched whoops. “Wait, wait PCP…” we wait in silence for his next joke. “PCP… Aawww fuck I lost it. Anyways…”

  A knock on the door, the entirety of the house freezing at once. Followed by the familiar sequence of knocks Louie did.

  A collective exhale across three floors.

  The doorman opening well the door, a pair of arms instantly wrapping him in a hug.

  “Cavalries here,” the guy shouts.

  “Shut your dam mouth,” the door man barks.

  “O please if twenty guys can make it through the Chicago streets without as much as firing a bullet, I doubt we’re being listened to.”

  Twenty men filter into the dusty living room.

  “Where’s the VP?”

  “He’s busy,” Billy tells him sternly.

  “Well I need to talk to him.”

  “I just told you son VP’s busy, now if you mind telling me why you think you an twenty other guys find it appropriate to rank an file into the house with the most wanted man in America?”

  “What you talking about Bill we didn’t see shit coming down here.”

  “I ask if you seen shit? You think just cause you ain’t see shit don’t mean the government ain’t hiding up your fucking asshole?”

  “What the fuck you say to me?” The man crosses the room to about an inch in front of Billy’s face.

  “Hello boys,” the authoritative calming voice of Landen Paul comes from the top of the stairs.

  “Sir,” the man says nodding to him, “we’re ready when you are.”

  “Excellent, I’ll be making my final preparations and will let you know.” He motions for us to follow him, as he descends the stairs.

  Filling back into the basement he turns to us, his face a stone.

  “You must be wondering, what now.”

  “It’s crossed my mind,” Roger answers.

  “Well given the state of things, we won’t be able to escort you out of the city.” A disappointed sigh from all of us. “I wish I could I really do, but it would be putting my men at an unnecessary risk just to help out four stragglers. I have however spoken to my people stationed across the Wisconsin border and have convinced them to ferry you out of the city, you will just have to get yourselves there.”

  The group quickly sucks back in the former disappointed sighs.

  “You told us about the falling satellite and its approximate location and for that I am grateful. I’m sorry that this is all I will be able to do for you.”

  Bill comes back in to the room his face solemn holding a computer. “It’s Ronald,” he tells him, “he wants to talk.” He turns the computer around and the sunken face of Ronald Paul the commander in chief of all rebel forces is on the screen.

  “Hello Sir,” Landen says.

  “Hello son, how’s Chicago.”

  “Well we forgot to account for Murphy’s Law if that’s what you’re asking.”

  “Now when I sent you there we could not have known the Government would have gone to such great lengths to close down Chicago. Per our discussion last night I have come to agree with you. You will stay in Chicago and fight instead of the rescue mission we had planned.”

  “Good I knew you would come around.”

  “Well our larger forces will be making their push to Chicago in the coming hours. The Koch brothers and I have finally come to an understanding and they will finance arms purchases. As long as you can stay off the front lines we will get you home to Kentucky.

  “How much soul do you got left Sir?”

  “Promises have been made, but the Cox brothers and I do have a lot to agree on when it comes to the economy. We are still waiting to hear from the oil companies and the larger banks, but it looks like we have the private sector on our side in this one. Has the first group gotten there yet?”

  “Yes sir.”

  “I’ve given them direct instructions that your safe return is a priority and that you are in complete control of this operation. That being said, our freedom fighters will be attacking from the north, all 2,000 troops from the Milwaukee area. Now what we need is for a few of the men I sent you to scout the upper north side for anything the government would have to surprise us. It’s a craps shoot for what they have up there but I suspect they will be expecting us from the west and south not the north.”

  Footsteps rush down, “we got company.” The door man yells.

  “I have to go dad,” he clears his throat, “uh Sir we have Company knocking.”

  “Knock em dead son.”

  “Will do sir.”

  CHAPTER…

  The early morning sun just barley showing thought the windows of the main floor as we following Billy up the stairs. Louie stands at the top handing all four of us handgun ammo.

  “Now I know you ain’t got the shiniest toys but we can’t go round giving refugees top o the line material.”

  “Let’s go check out our welcoming party boys!” Billy yells over the men.

  “Hoooraah!” they chorus back. I turn to Grace, wrapping her in my arms.

  “Now don’t be scared. I won’t let anything happen to you I swear.”

  “You can’t say that. You know you can’t.”

  “I know but I mean it, doesn’t that count for anything?”

  She nods her head as my hand slips down her arm grasping her middle and index finger. “Are you ready?”

  “Yes,” she leans kissing me on the cheek.

  Making our way upstairs each step creaking under our weight. Reaching the top I hear a helicopter overhead shouting orders to us.

  “Come out with your hands up and stars showing, if you do not immediate do so you shall be fired upon.” Its repeats becoming more bone chilling with each verse. The rebels each take a covered window.

  “What’s the situation?” Billy yells upstairs.

  “Pretty fucked,” someone whom I assume to be Watchtower yells down. “Looks to be about thirty guys all taking positions, plus the helicopter.”

  Billy stands next to us at the top of the stairs. “Looks like we are going to have a fun morning boys.”

  Something’s off though. Everyone seems to feel it at once. A slight rumble comes over the house. It’s as if it’s possessed begging us to leave before this shit storm levels it.

  “Whoa shiiittt,” we hear Watchtower yell from upstairs. “We got heavy artillery coming straight down the block. Looks to be a tank and bout ten mor
e troops with it!”

  “Shit,” Billy exclaims.

  “Exit the building with your hands in the air and stars out or you will be fired on!” the voice from above blares down at us almost pleading.

  “Back door, back door get your asses moving, Watchtower get down here now”. Billy orders, “Where’s Landen?”

  “You got one of those RPGs?” Watchtower asks walking down the stairs, and although he’s obviously native his face is ghost white.

  “What the hell you talking about?” Billy asks.

  “Listen with that tank one shot an this house will fall on all of us. Then none of us are getting out of here. I’ll disable the tank while you guys fight your way out the back.”

  “That’s suicide!”

  “Hell no, you get out circle back around and clean up, piece of cake. I’ll keep em as busy as long as I can.”

  “Jesus Christ you sure got a sac on you.”

  “Just short a few brain cells.”

  “That still ain’t gona work they’ll be concentrating on you, won’t last a second.”

  Louie walks up. “I’d say operation breakfast sounds about right for a situation like this.”

  “Don’t seem to be much of a choice right now. Need four guys for a genuine suicide mission. Who’s got the stones and a reservation at the lords’ table?”

  A shuffling of feet, “We’ll all die if no one steps up and step up right now. Finally four guys walk up rolling up their sleeves.

  Billy takes a case out of his pocket, removing a vile of clear liquid. “Well here goes nothing.” Filling the needle, he injects each of the four men with what looks to be enough PCP to kill them. Finishing the last man he says, “Ok, now it’s just gona take a minute till we make our move. I want five men assisting in clearing the front and side yards. Everyone else will be exiting the house through the backyard. Landen is our priority; we stop for no one until he is clear the hot zone. Once the back yard is clear we will have men return to the front of the house and assist.”

  I look to the men now, the affects of the drug seem to be hitting. Their eyes almost looking beyond the walls of the house and they float away into euphoria.

  One of the men’s head snaps back yelling at the ceiling. “Then what?!” He looks almost completely different, his eyes not really registering what’s even happening around him.

  We’ll come back for you.” Billy responds.

  “Then what!?” He asks again as if he didn’t even register that his question had been answered.

  “WE, will come back for you.”

  “THEN WHAT!!” He yells at the top of his lungs while stamping is foot for emphasis.

  “WE, WILL…” Billy starts to yell but the man turns from him as if they weren’t even talking. Walking to the wall, he stops and just kinda stairs at it. “Then what?” He asks a bit more calmly as he takes off his shirt “hot” he repeats mumbling almost to himself between outbursts. His eyes never wavering from the plain white wall as he continues to take off his pants. “THEN WHAT?” He yells again directly at the wall as he rips off his green underwear.

  The men shuffle around him taking their positions around the front and back windows. Billy motioning us to the wall. “You stay right behind me. I mean right behind,” he tells us. “I’ll take your to as safe a place I can find when we are outside.”

  “Ok,” I tell him. O God, please don’t make me go through this. Please, I swear I’ll give up everything I own change my name to Teresa and just help the poor, anything I don’t want to die. Please God don’t let me die.

  “We’re not going to make it, are we?” Grace asks. “How can we make it, it’s the army. They literally do this for a living. I just make Sandwiches.”

  I smile.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “But you make the best sandwiches!” I tell her. I get a slight smile.

  “THEN WHAT?!” the drugged man yells stealing my attention, I now notice all the injected men are tripping now.

  “Louie, get em ready!” Billy orders.

  He nods and walks up to the men whispering something. They just kinda stare at him not really listening. The now naked man in the corner swinging his arms back and forth, looking at the ceiling.

  “You have one minute to exit the building with your hands in the air and stars on your chest. Live ammunition has been authorized. You are completely surrounded. Exit immediately and no one will be hurt.” The Voice from the helicopter barrels down.

  Landen, escorted by two men, take their place in the corner at the end of the line. I guess he’ll be the last to leave.

  CHAPTER…

  One Hand on Graces shoulder, the other on the trigger I stare at the ground. Fifth and sixth, we’ll be the fifth and sixth people to leave. They will take out the first, maybe the second so after the third it’s probably pretty safe, I tell myself. I watch as sweat runs down my nose holding on to the tip for dear life. A tiny panorama of the room caught in its reflection. I stair as is slowly swings back and forth from the shaking of my head. Finally it drops onto the dust covered wood floor.

  “Louie, what’s going on?” Billy yells.

  He shrugs, “they ain’t followin a word I’m sayin.”

  “Figure it out!” Billy Snarls back, “Jesus we ain’t got the time, everyone pick a man when we hit that tank, move your ass double time. Louie, Get them moving now!”

  Taking the arm of the least messed up guy, he leads him to the back door. “They’re right on the other side, you gotta kill em all or you’re dead.” Louie says handing him a pistol.

  The man’s face distraught, looking to each person in line for reassurance and getting none, he takes the gun.

  Louie spins and at the top of his voice screams. “You dumb cunts best catch me or Imma fuck your mamas asshole!” Punching one of the men in the face. He dodges the man swinging back, and sprints to the naked man in the corner, an almost thunderous clasp of an ass slap cuts the room, the man immediately chasing after him as the other two do the same.

  “WWWHHHOOOOOWWWEEEEEEE,” he screams, sprinting though the front door, the drugged men racing after him. The initial snaps of his pistol almost immediately over taken by the barrage of assault rifles from outside.

  “Now, now!” Billy screams into his walkie talkie, the fear in his voice shockingly clear. Watchtower lets the RGP fly, my stomach simultaneously drops. The first wave take one step out, the man closest to me instantly falling back, more of him on the wall now than actually in him. The piercing squeal of bullets flying in, out, and all around filling the air, as nearly every glass window shatters letting the lilac and sunflower laced wind blow into the house. We follow Billy as he steps over the dead man frantically firing in all directions.

  Stitches pulling with each strike I leap over the now human door matt. Looking to the drugged man, racing straight through the backyard, not firing a single shot. He just runs, waving his gun high in the air, screaming his head off. With sprays of blood from his neck as he takes bullet after bullet.

  I look to my left, the gun following my gaze I quickly put one man down, and look back to Billy.

  “Right there,” he yells looking to the end of the yard, and in an instant his head and much of his possessions in it wash over me. His body quivering as he crumples to the ground. No time to think I pull Grace as she stutter steps over his body and we run towards the line of trees at the end of the yard. We are feet form them when a second explosion happens above us, the heavy machines in the helicopter above struggle to keep air as it spins out of control.

  Making it to the line of trees continuous gunfire behind us. We jump down into the bushes with one man right behind us.

  “Come on get your ass over here!” he yells to the other men. The back yard completely clear of military, about a dozen and a half bodies strewn about the yard. The men about fifteen of them run into the cover of the trees. Landen being the last of them crouching next to us. We can still
hear gunfire from the other side of the house.

  “Jesus they are really giving them hell over there!” Roger yells to me.

  “What are we doing we need to move and help them out, we could still save them” One guy yells.

  “We cannot risk it we have already lost to many men and we have a direct route to get the VP out of here. Sir would you please follow me” Another man interjects.

  Landen obviously shaken stands with about four other guys and takes off through the cul-de-sac.

  “What about these two?” One guy asks pointing to us. “These pet projects lost their owner, I say we either enlist them or cut them loose right now”.

  “You guys can’t just leave us, we’ll die,” Grace begs.

  “We can’t have baggage that’s not holding their own neither.”

  “I’ll go,” I interject.

  “What?”

  “I’ll go help, just give me a real gun.”

  “What no Will you can’t you’ll die,” Grace cries. “We are already so lucky to be alive why would you push that?”

  “If we can’t go with them we are dead or worst. We have just been buying time ever since the station we need them.” An older guy stands handing me an assault rifle, and a clip of ammunition. “Here you go kid.”

  “Isn’t anyone coming with me?” I ask almost begging.

  Two guys stand up “We’ll go while you guys get the pres outta here,” one guys tells the group. “We’ll check that spot out and meet up at the Rendezvous point a little after dust.”

  “Go with them I’ll meet up with you?” I tell Grace.

  “Please don’t go, if you die I won’t have anyone left. Please don’t leave me.”

  “It’s going to be all right, I’ll see you in an a few hours stay safe.”

  “Why do you keep saying that? You know it’s not going to be all right. Nothing is all right please stay with me.”

  “I’m going that’s, that I don’t have time to argue.” I lean down kissing her on the cheek; “I’ll see you in a few hours.”