“Love you too,” she called over her shoulder.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
SOMEONE THREW A vest, helmet, and night vision goggles to Connor. He geared up and kneeled behind the barricade, close to the entrance of the cave, and aimed his machine gun at the trees.
Another whistle rang out. False alarm. A soldier stumbled out of the bushes with his hands raised.
Boom stood and lowered his weapon. “Koyama?” He motioned the man forward. “Report. Where are your men?”
“We were captured, Commander.” Koyama eased forward. “I escaped during the chaos of the fight.”
Connor watched the man, struck by his familiarity. To get a better look, he pulled his night vision goggles down around his neck right as Koyama raised his left arm to block the last rays of the setting sun. A familiar tattoo wound around Koyama’s forearm. Without taking his eyes off the man, Connor leaned closer to Boom and whispered, “He was not captured. He defected.”
Boom’s brows scrunched together and he gave his head a slight shake. “Are you positive?”
“Snake on his arm?” Connor asked between gritted teeth.
Boom didn’t have to answer. The expression that twisted his features said it all. “Bring him in alive if possible,” he said to Connor. “We will need some answers.”
Connor aimed his gun at Koyama. “Drop your weapons and walk in slowly.”
“What?” Koyama asked. “Boom, what’s going on?” Then he seemed to notice Connor. “Aha,” he said with a chuckle. “I don’t know what this guy has been telling you, but when I was captured, I saw him getting cozy in the Progression tent.”
“You didn’t look captured to me,” Connor replied. “And I would have been hard to miss since I was sitting right next to you before you attacked Liberty. After what you’ve done, I’d like any excuse to kill you, but unfortunately, Boom wants you alive.” He wiggled his trigger finger, barely resisting the urge to shoot. Koyama would still be able to talk without his kneecaps after all.
Koyoma lowered his gun and knife and put his hands on his head. Then he eased forward. He was almost to the barricade entrance when a white flash appeared at the tree line. Koyama went down.
Connor lunged for Koyama, grabbed him by the shoulders and dragged him behind the barricade. Koyama wasn’t wearing a vest and the gunshot had torn through his chest. His shirt was drenched in blood. Connor tried to apply pressure to the wound, but knew it wouldn’t matter. Koyama was as good as dead.
“Now do you see why man shouldn’t be as cruel as nature?” Connor asked. “Survival depends on it.”
“It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive.” Koyama started coughing. His eyes were clouding over as life ebbed from his body. His voice was quieter when he spoke again. “But those who can best manage change. The world has changed. We adapt or we die.” Then he closed his eyes and released his last breath.
“Oh yeah?” Connor asked. “And how’s that working out for you?”
Only gunshots replied. More flashes lit up the tree line and the soldiers behind the barricade returned fire. Boom grunted and dropped to his knees. Connor abandoned Koyama’s body and crawled to his friend’s side to find out where Boom was hit.
“My arm,” Boom said when he saw Connor. “I can’t see how bad it is.”
Connor examined it and told Boom to quit being such a baby over a flesh wound. Then he motioned for the medic and pulled his night vision goggles back on and rejoined the fight. The enemy troops moved out from behind the trees and pushed their assault. It was a careless move, leaving them unprotected in the clearing. The soldiers behind the barricade picked them off one by one. A second wave advanced more cautiously, hiding behind the bodies of those who had fallen and firing on the barricade as they moved.
One soldier behind the barricade fell. The medic rushed to help him and Boom resumed his position next to Connor. Side by side, they fired at Progression troops until the camp was shrouded in darkness. The stench of gunpowder and sweat hung in the air, making it difficult to breathe. Connor arms ached, but he kept firing, then reloading and firing again.
Eventually the shooting slowed, and then stopped altogether. The few remaining enemies broke and scattered. Connor leaned away from the barricade and looked down the line. Including Boom, only three were wounded. He counted it a miracle that no one had been killed. But still, fifteen uninjured soldiers would be grossly inadequate against the Progression forces. Pushing away worries about tomorrow’s fights, Connor sought the darkness of the cave to search for Ashley, calling out her name as he went.
A pile of blankets wiggled then erupted, spewing out a static-haired, tear-streaked little girl. She bolted for Connor, practically knocking him over when she reached him. “I was so worried!” she exclaimed. “There was all this shooting and yelling and I wanted to come out, but you said not to and it—,” She wrinkled her nose. “It really stinks in here.”
Connor smiled, amazed by the stark contrast. Outside was death, pain and sorrow, but the inside of the cave was life, hope and humor. For the first time ever, he understood the power of a child. He took a deep whiff. “Smells good. Like a men’s locker room.”
“Gross.” She pushed him away half-heartedly. “Hey, is everybody okay?” When he nodded she asked, “Did you find Libby, yet?”
He shook his head and took Ashley’s small hand in his. As much as he wanted to rush off and find Liberty, there was something he had to do first. Just in case he never got the opportunity again. Still holding her hand, he squatted down until he was eye level with the girl. “I will find Liberty,” he assured her. “But first I need to talk to you, Ash. Please try to understand, and don’t be angry with me. Or with your parents for that matter. Jacob and Cathy loved you very much.”
“I know,” Ashley replied. Her dark eyes held questions, but she did not voice them.
Connor’s palms began to sweat. “What all do you know about the birds and the bees?”
“Seriously?” Ashley asked. “You know I'm almost thirteen, right?”
“You’re barely twelve,” Connor replied, trying not to smile at her indignant expression. “Well, Jacob couldn’t … He couldn’t get your mom pregnant. They wanted a baby really bad, so they asked if they could borrow some of my …”
“Sperm?” Ashley asked.
“Yeah. So I went to the doctor’s office and … well … nine months later you were born. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
Ashley nodded and looked away.
She’s disappointed. Of course she’s disappointed, I— “Ash—”
When she looked back her eyes were wet with unshed tears.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I know this is a lot to lay on you. Especially right now, when Liberty is missing. But I had to tell you. You’re an amazing kid, and you deserve to know the truth. Jacob was your dad. He was a great father and he loved you so much. This doesn’t change any of that.”
“I know,” Ashley said after a time. “You’re the biological father. I already knew that.”
Surprised and confused, Connor asked, “Did Liberty tell you?”
Ashley shook her head. “Mom did on accident.” She frowned.
“What’s wrong?”
“I just don’t know what to do now. You said it doesn’t change things, but it does. Or it could, right? I mean do I call you dad now?”
A bolt of panic pierced Connor. Dad? That wasn’t a title he’d ever considered. “I could never take Jacob’s place,” he said. “I wouldn’t want to, even if I could.”
Ashley’s smile seemed forced and artificial. “Yeah,” she replied. “That’s probably for the best.”
Not knowing what to say or do, Connor chucked her cheek—like he used to when she was younger—then pulled her into a hug. “Now come on. Let’s go see if there’s anything we can do to help Boom.”
* * *
Twenty-eight Progression bodies, including two dead soldiers from Koyama’s team, were dragged
back to the camp for burial. By the time Connor and Ashley came out of the cave, soldiers had piled the bodies and were digging a trench. Connor turned Ashley from the sight and led her in the opposite direction.
Boom caught up with them, shaking his head in disgust. “I don’t understand what happened with Koyama,” he said. His arm had been cleaned and wrapped tight. “He was a good soldier.” They stopped walking and he sat on a fallen tree branch. “I’ve known him a couple years now. His sister was Air Force, stationed in Germany. His dad was retired military.” Boom frowned. “It doesn’t make sense. Tell me what you saw. Did he say anything to you?”
Connor glanced at Ashley. Her attention seemed to be focused on plucking the petals from a wildflower, but he knew she’d be listening none the less. “He was there when they brought in the girls,” Connor replied. “There was an … altercation … and Koyama … assisted with force.”
Ashley perked up. “An altercation?” she asked. “Like a fight? With who? Libby? What happened? Why didn’t you tell me?”
Connor hesitated as he tried to decide how much he could say without upsetting her further. “I didn’t want you to worry. Last time I saw her she was fine,” he said, stretching the truth as far as he could until he heard it snap. “Just asleep.”
“And Koyama?” Boom asked.
Thankful for the change of topic, Connor said, “Typical lapdog for the major. He seemed to have bought in to their whole survival of the fittest mantra. Even quoted Hitler to show off for the major. Then right before he died, he quoted Darwin and told me to adapt or die.”
“Troubling.” Boom rubbed the whiskers on his chin. “Darwin isn’t who I’d want to be quoting on the way to meet my maker.”
Connor was about to agree when a crackling noise drew his attention. He looked past Boom to where a fire had been started by the mouth of the cave to provide. Shovels continued to dig into the earth and men discussed the battle.
“There are a lot of bodies,” Ashley said.
Her eyes were round and sad. Connor moved to block her view, but it was too late.
“They’re so small,” she added. “Those are kids, aren’t they?”
Having no idea how he should respond, Connor looked to Boom.
Boom crossed himself. “Mostly teens deceived into believing that we’re their enemy.” He paused and looked at the bodies. “Excuse me for a moment.” Then he walked off, leaving Connor and Ashley alone.
“Deceived by the people who have Libby?” Ashley asked.
Connor squatted and pulled her into a hug, kissing her forehead. “I don’t know if she’s still at their camp, but I promise I’ll do my best to find her. I miss her too.” Liberty’s absence left a huge gaping hole in his life. She drove him crazy, but life without her seemed wrong and incomplete.
“You do?” Ashley’s eyebrows rose. “But what about Gina?”
He eyed her skeptically. “You didn’t really believe I liked Gina, did you?”
“But … you were spending all your time with her and you guys said horrible things about Liberty. I heard you.”
“Ash.” Connor frowned. “Sometimes adults have to say and do things we don’t mean.”
She shook her head. “I don’t un—”
“¡Maldita sea!” Boom shouted.
Connor had heard the term before and knew it was only said out of frustration and anger. He turned to see what was going on.
Boom stood on a stump by the fire. Light cast shadows on his face, exposing him as both ancient and ageless. His usually mischievous expression was pulled tight by agony as he stared out at his men. He removed his helmet and wiped the sweat from his brow.
“I don’t understand what happened here tonight,” Boom said. “Each one of us took vows to defend this country, against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” He eyeballed his men. They had stopped what they were doing and watched him.
“What’s going on now?” Ashley climbed onto a large rock to get a better view.
“Shh. Just listen.” Connor stood beside her and she leaned against him.
Boom cleared his throat. “Many years ago this country accepted my madre—allowed her to become a citizen—when she immigrated here from México, seeking a better life for her children. To my madre, the United States meant freedom. Freedom to work and earn enough money to feed her family. Freedom to educate my brothers and sisters, regardless of her low-income status. Freedom to live and let live within the confines and boundaries of fair and honest laws.” Motioning to the corpses that lay beside half-dug graves, he shouted, “THESE ARE CHILDREN!” His face distorted around the words and he shook with unmasked rage.
Ashley winced and drew closer to Connor.
“Children,” Boom repeated, this time sounding worn and sad. “What sort of cowards brainwash children and send them to their death against trained soldiers?” he spat. “The Progression is a domestic enemy, oppressing Americans, stealing away the liberties so many soldiers have fought—and died—to preserve.”
He paused and a tear slid down his cheek. Angrily wiping it away, he continued. “This is still God’s country. And I will fight with every breath in me—every ounce of dust used to create this shell—to preserve it. Hermanos …” His gaze encircled the crowd. “I will not lie to you. This battle will be long and hard. We are outnumbered. We have limited resources. I cannot guarantee that you will survive. But I can guarantee you this: if the Progression wins, this will no longer be a country you want to live in. Now, choose this day where you will stand. Will you fight by my side to preserve the dream of freedom and fairness that makes the US great?” He paused, staring down his men, his eyes alight with challenge. “Or will you abandon your country and your oaths to join the ranks of cowards who hide behind children?”
The question hung in the air, waiting to be answered.
The soldier Boom had introduced as Stein stepped forward. “You all know how the Progression killed my family and burned my house. The Progression takes what they want and they destroy everything left behind. They took everything from me. The only thing I got left is the dream and I’ll be damned if I let them take that from me.” He punched the air and started chanting, “U. S. A.! U.S.A.!”
“U. S. A.,” said another, joining him.
The hair on Connor’s arms and neck stood on end with excitement.
“U. S. A.,” others joined. Louder and louder they chanted, their voices filling the forest.
“U. S. A.,” Connor and Ashley added their voices to the chorus. Ashley’s face beamed with infectious hope that seemed to temporarily hijack her emotions. The world had gone to hell, Liberty was still missing, but in that moment hope rekindled. Like a wildfire it swept through the crowd. Connor allowed himself to burn with the courage and tenacity of the soldiers.
Hope.
That same hope shattered when a shrill whistle cut through the chanting. The group grabbed for weapons and turned to see what new threat approached.
“Don’t shoot!” called a voice from the trees. A horse stepped forward, bathing the rider in light from the fire. A man rode bareback, clutching a body slumped over in front of him.
“Jeff?” Ashley asked. Then her breath caught. “Libby?” Ashley lunged forward.
Jeff? The man’s presence didn’t make sense. Connor suspected some sort of trap. He grabbed Ashley’s arm and held her back.
She eyed him angrily. “What are you doing? That’s Jeff and Liberty!”
Connor didn’t answer. He knew he should be scouring the area, searching for some sort of ambush, but his focus wouldn’t leave Liberty. He watched for the rise and fall of her chest or any indication that she was alive.
Boom ordered Jeff to drop his weapons.
“I will comply,” Jeff replied. “But I don’t think it’s safe to move Liberty. She needs medical attention.”
Before Connor realized what was happening, Ashley wiggled out of his grip and bolted for Jeff shouting, “Don't shoot! I know him. He’s a friend!”
> “Ash, stop!” Connor yelled, reaching for the girl. She spun away from his hands and within seconds stood beside Jeff. Her eyes widened as she stared at the guns that were now aimed at her. Frustration ate at Connor. “Boom!” he shouted.
He didn’t have to say more. Boom gave the command, and the soldiers lowered their weapons. Connor rushed forward, unsure of which of his girls to grab first. Liberty was worrisomely unconscious. The camp medic helped Connor lower her from Jeff’s horse, then checked her pulse. He lifted her eyelids and shined his small flashlight into her eyes.
Jeff dismounted, removed his weapons then endured a put-down. Despite Connor’s objections, Ashley wouldn’t leave the man’s side. She wrapped her arms around his waist and squeezed, declaring that she knew he was a good guy all along.
Jeff looked uncomfortable. His hands rose and fell like couldn’t figure out where to put them. Finally they landed on the top of her head. “Uh … thanks.”
Connor wasn’t so sure of Jeff’s allegiance, but his attention remained on Liberty.
“How long has she been out?” The medic asked.
“Um … a little over four hours,” Jeff replied.
“Four hours?” The medic checked her eyes again.
“But this isn’t the first time today,” Jeff said. “She was hit with a tranq dart this morning. And …” he hesitated, looking like he’d rather be anywhere but in the middle of a group of soldiers. “She might have hit her head when she fell off the horse.”
Connor tensed. “The horse?” he asked, standing. “You dropped her?” He took a step toward Jeff.
Boom motioned for one of his men to stop Connor.
“Not me.” Jeff held up his hands. “Earlier today, when they were bringing her and Ashley to the camp. One of the men said she fell off the horse while she was unconscious.”
Rescuing Liberty: Perseverance Book 1 Page 21