A pair of security officers stood outside of the conference room. One of them opened the door for him, knowing right away Hopper had access. The wood door swung without a sound and he stepped inside.
In the middle of the room was a long rectangular table. There were only five chairs at the table, one on the nearest side, obviously his seat, and four on the opposite side for the CEO and whomever she’d brought along. A pair of board members sat to the left of a tall, black boss chair, shuffling through papers and speaking softly. The oversized chair opposite Hopper was facing away from him. An aide occupied the fourth chair and was speaking in hushed tones, but stopped when she saw him enter.
“Ma’am, he’s here,” she said. The woman was middle aged and had her hair pulled back in a severe bun. Hopper thought she would have made a great drill instructor based on looks alone.
The tallest chair spun around slowly to face General Hopper. He stood behind his chair, not at attention, but respectfully waiting for permission to sit. The board members and the aide fell silent and stared at him.
Completing the rotation, Sonja faced him with a smile. “Please have a seat, General.”
“Thank you, ma’am,” he said, pulling out his chair and easing into the plush leather.
“I’m on pins and needles here. Was he there?” Sonja asked, leaning forward on the table. She clasped her hands in front of her and fixed him with an even gaze.
General Hopper gave her a quick nod. “Yes, President War was in Goshen, ma’am. Denard and I spoke with him.”
A collective gasp filled the room.
“How did he look?” asked Mr. Danson, one of the board members.
Hopper looked at him and shrugged. “He seemed well enough, I suppose.”
“Incredible,” said Mrs. Winters, the other board member.
“Incredible, indeed. How did he take the news you two delivered?” Sonja asked.
“As well as can be expected. Surely Doctor Denard conveyed all of this to you, ma’am. Was there something more specific you needed from me?” He had no idea why he was playing messenger boy for the CEO.
“You make a good point, General. The board and I have decided we will bring President War in, as a guest of honor if you will. In fact, we’re going to pardon the residents of Goshen as well,” Sonja said, watching General Hopper carefully.
General Hopper was taken aback by this news. It wasn’t just out of the ordinary; it was unprecedented. Sure, the former president was in Goshen, alive and well. But that shouldn’t mean they pardon the entire town. It would jeopardize the entire population program the company had been running for years. An operation Hopper had kept a close watch over for the duration of its existence. He knew one day the world would re-establish itself and eventually HAGS would be in the history books as either the saviors or the sinners. Either way, Hopper was prepared to stand on both sides of the fence once it was determined which side would be in power.
“Ma’am, I have to say that is quite a surprise. We’ve never pardoned an entire survivor node before,” General Hopper said. “Has this been discussed with Dr. Denard yet?”
“The medical team and population control specialist have all been consulted. But do you know the best thing about being CEO?” Sonja asked, leaning back in her chair and smirking at him while causally twirling her pen in her hand.
General Hopper had a few ideas, but he played along. “No, ma’am I do not.”
“The best thing is that I make the final decisions. People can raise their concerns and propose alternatives ...” Sonja held her hands out wide. “But in the end, I decide.”
“Ma’am, doesn’t this jeopardize the population program? What do we gain by bringing this man in? He’s not really the president of anything these days, except maybe the town.” General Hopper slid his hands off of the table, leaning back slightly to sit up in his chair.
“He can be valuable in a number of ways. These aren’t your concerns though, General. You are in charge of security. In this case, we will not be in need of your extraction teams –”
“They are one of the last survivor nodes for us to harvest and the Vipers are a rowdy bunch who need to be –”
“Enough!” Sonja said, slamming a fist on the table.
It was quite unlike General Hopper to question the CEO, but he felt she was crippling their chances of realizing the company’s goal of rebuilding a better America.
Sonja sat up and smoothed out her tight suit jacket. She cleared her throat. “I have pardoned the town and wish to bring in President War unharmed. You will carry out my orders. Do I make myself clear?”
General Hopper watched her for a moment while his career flashed through his mind. His decades of training in the US Army conditioned him to consent to her orders. He had retired and knew he could forge his own path now. There was nothing constraining his set of choices. Yet looking at her, he knew he was answering to a scientist, not a military strategist.
He felt a small sense of duty to HAGS, yet he ultimately felt a duty to his country, which this woman and her company had, intentionally or not, destroyed. Had she actually meant to bring the world to its knees? Was she truly out to cure the problems she created?
Hopper looked down at his hands, resting folded in his lap. He wanted a brighter future for his children and grandchildren, but his long held suspicions about Sonja Ingram seemed to be confirmed by her about face on Goshen and President War. Perhaps she only wanted him here to neutralize his effect on those outside of the Farm?
She had no intention of rebuilding America, of making it a great country again. Somehow, secretly, she was ultimately seeking to grab and retain more power for herself. With the only known treatment in the world against the allergen and perhaps the largest standing army, Sonja Ingram was choosing to change course despite everyone’s protests.
“No, ma’am,” General Hopper said slowly. The room fell silent. The words slipped out before he made the conscious decision to say them. It gave him momentum and rather than try to piece together a broken vase, he forged ahead. “I will not follow your orders. You care little for the well-being of the country and are clearly intent on consolidating your power like a dictator.”
General Hopper stood and glared down at the stunned CEO staring back at him. A red blush raced up her neck, but before she could speak, Hopper pulled out his sidearm and executed Sonja Ingram with a single shot to her once undeniably pretty face. Her body slumped forward onto the desk where her hollow head made a thump on the surface. As her lifeless figure slid out of the rolling chair and onto the floor, a streak of blood remained on the table following her path to the ground.
Sonja’s rat faced aide squeaked in shock, covering her mouth with both hands.
“General, how dare you!” shouted Mr. Danson.
General Hopper shifted slightly to his left and shot him as well. The dead board member’s body slumped into the chair as it rolled backward, resting against the wall that held most of the splatter from the victims’ brain matter. Mrs. Winters flinched as blood splattered on her face. Tears trickled down her cheeks, and she shook her head at him, silently pleading to be spared.
The security guards rushed in but stood frozen, unsure what to do.
General Hopper turned his head slightly and said, “Inform population control and security that extraction will commence on time as planned.”
The guards hesitated.
“Carry on,” General Hopper said.
“Yes, sir.” The guards exited the conference room to carry out the order.
General Hopper pushed his chair back and walked around the table. He pulled back the tall chair, shoved Sonja’s body out of his way with his foot, and sat down. Hopper leaned over and pulled the aide’s notepad closer to him so he could read her notes. He could inspect the contents of her briefcase later.
The first sheet of paper was speckled with droplets of blood. He tore the paper off the pad. Mrs. Winters gasped at the sound.
“You are free to go,
Mrs. Winters,” General Hopper said.
She scrambled to get up and leave, barely stifling her sobs. She left in such a rush that she didn’t even bother to pick up her stuff.
General Hopper looked around the room at what he had just done. Looks like I just shot right up the corporate ladder. He sighed in relief and leaned back in the chair to catch up on the inner workings of Hathaway Agricultural Genetic Sciences.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Collin War shifted in his saddle and was grateful to see the outskirts of Missoula ahead of him. They had spent the first day emerging from the valley and reaching the road before they camped for the night. Along the way he marveled at how breathtaking the surrounding country truly was. Once outside of the valley, it was easy to remember how Montana had earned its enduring title as the Big Sky State.
The following day was long and spent trotting easily along the road. Collin’s legs ached and he tired of the jostling, but he fared better than some. He’d insisted on an early start this morning, so they could reach town and hopefully spend the night before rushing back to Goshen.
“Now that is a sight for sore eyes. Wouldn’t you say?” Brady asked as he stopped his horse beside Collin.
“I can’t wait to get off of this beast and walk. My ass is killing me.” Collin shifted again to relieve the pressure on his butt. “Check ahead with the binoculars. See if there is anyone moving around.”
“Sure. I’ll dispatch a couple of scouts too, so we don’t run into an ambush.” Brady turned in his saddle and motioned for a couple of riders. He gave them orders and they trotted ahead. Brady reached down to the saddlebag and pulled out a large, black pair of binoculars. He scanned the area and then handed them over to Collin. “I don’t see anything so far.”
“Let’s keep moving. A little slower, though. We’re making good time, but I don’t want to rush into a trap,” Collin said. Brady nodded in agreement. Collin turned to Hannah, who sat on a horse at the edge of the road, staring into the bushes. “Hannah, can you lead us to the hospital, please? I don’t know Missoula well enough to take the lead.”
Hannah turned and looked at him. Collin saw her eyes were red-rimmed. She had lost Ketan in the theater fire and was undoubtedly still mourning him. Without a word, Hannah nudged her horse with her heels and moved ahead of the group. Collin felt a twinge of guilt over the whole thing. It was his idea to go to the theater, a place Mac must have known he would use at some point. At least the man was dead. One less problem to distract him from the revolution he was preparing to lead against HAGS.
Collin turned and smiled at Julie. She rode the small horse cart they would use to transport the centrifuge she needed to make the serum, along with whatever other critical medical equipment they could find. Julie smiled back at him and gave a small wave. She looked like a natural behind the reins.
She was one of the only people he truly trusted. Julie had nursed him back to health, showing him nearly two decades of dedication. The good doctor had pioneered the serum using his blood, and she successfully patched up Koby with limited supplies after the hospital attack. Despite all the uncertainty and danger to her own life, even after the loss of her daughter, Julie had been a steadfast supporter. He was so grateful for her.
Collin turned back to face Missoula’s suburbs, if they could be called that, and scanned the area with the binoculars. His conclusion was the same as Brady’s. There was nothing to see. Was all of America a ghost town like this? Was he fighting to save more than anything but Goshen? He paused for a second and tilted his head as he thought about it. Collin decided it didn’t matter; Goshen was worth fighting for. He held up his hand and motioned for them to move out.
Hannah led them through neighborhoods that were quiet as death. No faces peered at them from the abandoned houses. Yards were overgrown with tall grass, weeds, and saplings seeking to establish themselves. A couple of squirrels chattered nearby and a bird chirped as it flew past.
They turned at an intersection and passed a small gas station on the corner of the next block. In the distance were some taller buildings. Collin felt excitement grow in his chest. He tried to contain the feeling though, because they were still off in the distance. If anyone still resided in Missoula, then it was possible survivors would be defending major medical facilities.
Collin pulled his rifle from the saddle holster and held it across his lap. The horse barely needed direction from him. It followed the others and maintained a nice, even pace. Free of distraction, Collin inspected the town and was amazed by the amount of overgrowth.
Nature had nearly two decades to reclaim the land, and she had wasted little time. Grass, weeds, and in some cases, vines grew from cracks in the road. Leaves filled the gutters along the curbs, which were covered in dirt and fluffy green moss. A tree had fallen on a pair of small houses. They looked almost like ancient ruins you might find in the jungles of a foreign land. It gave Collin an unsettling feeling.
The scouts returned and pulled alongside Collin and Brady. In hushed tones, one of them said, “No sign of people anywhere. A few blocks up on the right hand side is a hospital. The parking lot has some abandoned cars, but other than that it looks completely uninhabited.”
“Great work. Keep roving around, no more than three blocks out. Let us know if you spot anything,” Collin said. Tiny was heading up the rear guard, so all they had to worry about was someone sneaking up on them while they were inside the hospital.
“Roger that, sir,” the scout said and motioned for his buddy to follow. At the next intersection, Collin saw the scouts split up and ride opposite directions on their security patrol.
“Sounds like good news to me,” Brady said, smiling.
“Yeah, let’s hope so. I’d like to avoid going deeper into town.” Collin continued scanning the surrounding buildings, houses, and bushes.
The map said Missoula had survivors, but so far there had been no sign. It was almost impossible the town knew they were coming. If the survivors knew Collin’s group was approaching, then surely they would have been confronted by now.
“You think we’ll find what we’re looking for?” Brady asked.
Collin nodded. “I do. But until we get to the hospital, keep your eyes peeled. I don’t like how quiet it is.”
“I hear ya. I’ve been wondering where all the survivors could have gone. Would they stay on the outskirts of town? Or take up a big building? Stay in town or run to the hills? It’s hard to say, but I agree. It’s too quiet.” Brady pulled his rifle out of his saddle holster and followed Collin’s lead by scanning the buildings for any sign of an ambush.
Hannah slowed her horse and turned to face Collin. “We’re almost there. This is the nearest hospital. Just down there on the right.” She motioned with her hand.
“Thank you, Hannah,” Collin said, giving her a sympathetic smile.
“You’re welcome, but we’re not done yet. We still have to find what you need and get back.” Her tone was tired and maybe slightly annoyed.
“You can stay outside on watch, if you’d like,” Collin offered.
“No, I’m fine. Thank you. Keeping busy helps.”
“Okay. Just let me know if you need anything.”
“Will do,” Hannah said.
The hospital was a squat looking five or six story building set back off the road behind a large, nearly empty parking lot. Across the street, red brick buildings that reminded Collin more of a warehouse district than a medical campus surrounded them.
“Okay, let’s set up a perimeter around the main entrance and get inside to look around. Dr. Horner will lead us through the hospital since that’s her domain,” Collin said to the soldiers around them.
“Yes, sir,” they replied in unison.
Tiny trotted up on his horse. He looked a little absurd atop a horse. Even though it was a large horse, Tiny still seemed to make it look small by comparison.
“I’m am so ready to get down and walk,” Tiny said. He groaned and winced in pain a
s he shifted in the saddle causing his horse to do a side step and shake his mane.
“I’m sure he feels the same,” Brady joked, motioning to the horse tasked with the job of hauling Tiny atop its back.
“What’s the security plan?” Tiny asked, ignoring Brady.
“You can come in with us, but leave your men outside to guard the entrance. I’d also like to get a couple of soldiers up high to give us overwatch. I sent the two scouts on a roving patrol with a three block radius,” Collin said. He looked between Brady and Tiny. “Can you guys think of anything else?”
They looked at each other and shook their heads.
“Very well. Let’s make it happen so we can find what Julie needs and get the hell out of here. I want to be in Goshen when those bastards come back,” Collin said. He slid off of his horse and groaned as his own legs took his weight for the first time in hours. The long ride had been difficult for him. He stretched and flexed his muscles, then did a few squats to get the blood flowing.
“You gonna survive?” Julie asked him with a giggle.
Collin groaned as he turned to face her. “Maybe. Must have been nice to sit on a bench.”
“It was fairly comfortable,” Julie said, climbing down from the horse cart. She walked over and stood next to him. “Yep, my legs feel great. Maybe you should wait here while we go hunting?”
“Not likely.” Collin guffawed. “By the way, on the ride back, we’re switching places.”
Julie laughed. “You wish. Now stop foolin’ around. Koby’s waiting for us.”
The horse cart stayed right in front of the hospital entrance. Soldiers took the remaining horses into the parking garage and tied them off on a railing. Then, the soldiers took defensive positions around the area. Collin flanked Julie while Brady and Tiny followed behind them and they all started into the hospital.
Living for War: The Collin War Chronicles Page 16