Project Terminus

by Nathan Combs

  Cole wanted to know if the sites for the EOP and the new sniper hide had been selected, and Randal informed him they had not. Then he said, “I’ve thought about this for months, Cole, but since we weren’t able to man them we never scouted positions. You know what we need. Why don’t you take a couple of guys and make it happen—make sure the EOP can accept reinforcements from the side or backside without undue exposure to an enemy. We’ll want to keep one of the SAWs at the EOP and maybe one or two of the AT4s too.”

  “Are you expecting an armored attack,” asked Cole.

  “No, but I’d rather be safe than sorry. I wasn’t expecting The Light either, and you know how that turned out. Let’s get those two positions on-line by the end of the day. Bill, make up the watch list.”

  Wade and Randal walked onto the plateau and Randal said, “These are really good troops, Dad.”

  “They are, Son. But I want you to promise me something. Until civilization returns, which isn’t likely to happen in my lifetime, I don’t want you to ever let your guard down or assume anything. Like you, I’m nervous those dipshits found us. If it happened once, it can happen again. And we both know The Light is not the only game in town. We’re going to have to fight to protect what we have. Unfortunately, I think the rebuilding of civilization is a long way off.”

  Six days after the merger began, it was complete. Fort Terminus was restructured. They added new tents, reconfigured the old ones, built his and her toilets and showers, and significantly expanded the mess tent, which became the focal point for meetings and recreational pursuits. The kids were in school and being taught by two highly qualified teachers, and Linda, lord of the kitchen, had more than enough help. They had designated hunters, fishermen, woodcutters, and animal tenders. Maggie and Becky had two new assistants in the hospital, and Carol was performing dental work on a regular basis. She set up a weekly game night, complete with badminton and horseshoe tournaments. The EOP was operational and two man patrols were out on a regular basis.

  There was an undeniable chemistry between Chris and Sara. Wade sensed it at the hide in Robbinsville and it was palpable when he returned. Chris hovered around her like her personal bodyguard under the guise of ensuring she didn’t do anything out of line. Sara wasn’t so coy. She liked Chris and she didn’t try to hide it. So it came as no surprise that on the sixth day after the merger was complete, Chris took Wade aside. “Dad, I want you to know that Sara and I are a couple.”

  Smiling, Wade asked, “Are you asking for my approval, Son, or are you telling me something you think I didn’t know?”

  “Sorry, Dad. She is here. And we have incorporated her into the family, and I…

  Wade put an arm around his shoulder and said, “No one deserves it more than you do, Son. And truth be told, I like her. She’s perfect for you. I think you’re perfect for each other. So if you’re asking for my blessing, you have it.”

  Chris looked as though the weight of the world had been lifted from his broad shoulders. He smiled and said, “Thanks, Dad. I love you. I have to go tell Sara. She’s nervous as a whore in church. But don’t go anywhere, she has some Intel you need to hear.”

  In minutes, he was back with Sara on his arm. Both were smiling, and Sara sheepishly said, “Thank you, Wade.”

  Wade smiled and said, “Sara, please…you don’t need to thank me. I’m not God. But if I were, I would approve of the two of you together. What did you need to tell me?”

  “Perhaps you should bring Randal and Bill into the conversation. Maggie too. I think it’s important that they hear what I have to tell you.”

  Chris said, “I’ll go get them. Sara, why don’t you go get Maggie?”

  Five minutes later, Wade, Randal, Bill, and Maggie sat in the medical tent with Chris and Sara. Chris said, “Go ahead, Sara. Tell them what you told me.”

  Sara took a nervous deep breath and said, “It’s about Nina. I do hope she’s dead. But in my heart, I know she’s not. And I know we haven’t heard the last from her. I know her, perhaps better than anyone else in the world. You all know why. What you don’t know is how darkly evil and twisted she is. You saw her on stage one time. I saw her every day for nine months. You have to understand that she is extremely intelligent. You know she’s beautiful. But what you don’t know is that she is also light years beyond ruthless. If you cross her, she will kill you and eat you. It’s that simple. I’ve watched her kill and suck the blood out of infants right in front of their horrified parents. I’ve seen her have sex on stage in the blood of her victims. But what I really want to impress upon you is that she is the most vengeful creature ever created. And if she lives, she’ll figure out who destroyed her cult and she will seek revenge. We need to prepare for that day.”

  Bill stood up. “I appreciate what you’re saying, Sara, but if she did manage to survive, and if her ass shows up, it’ll belong to me. I’ll tan it and hang it in the center of Fort-T and we’ll use it for a dartboard.”

  The image of Nina’s tanned ass hanging in the middle of Fort-T with darts sticking in it made Sara laugh. But she shook her head and said, “That would be awesome, Bill, but I promise you, if she reappears it won’t be that easy.”

  The next day, Wade sat with Adam, Maggie, Highlander, Jody, Chris, and Sara on the edge of the plateau, looking down into the valley. Wade thought, Chris and Sara would never have happened in the civilized world, but they are ideal for each other in today’s world.

  Turning to Adam he said, “See that big flat area over there by the river, Son? Someday there might be a little village over there. And people will be living in real houses, not tents. Before that can happen, we have to figure out if we can construct a dam to generate electricity by using the river and the rapids.” He pointed towards the white water section of the river.

  “Where will we get the stuff to build a dam, Dad?”

  “When it’s safe, we can search for the stuff we need. If we can get electricity, we can have running water and bathrooms.”

  Adam looked confused. “But, Dad, we already have electricity.”

  Wade smiled and said, “Yes, we do. But I’m talking about enough power to supply a small town. Maybe even a big town. And we can’t do that with the wind and solar system we have now.”

  Highlander said, “You know, Wade, I brought books on hydro-electric power and how to build and generate power from a small system. Do you want me to research it?”

  “That would be great, but it’s going to be awhile before we reach the point where we’d seriously consider it.”

  Maggie looked at Wade. “It really doesn’t hurt for us to dream a bit now, does it, Wade?”

  Wade smiled. “No, Mags, it doesn’t hurt to dream. I know everyone here feels good about our accomplishments. And we have a right to. We’ve made a lot of progress. I just don’t want us to get ahead of ourselves, because I know we’re still going to face our share of adversity. But at least we’re at the point where we can dream.”

  Roughly three years after the collapse, deep in the heart of the North Carolina wilderness, Fort Terminus had established a foothold for civilization.

  Chapter Twelve

  Alliance

  Severe storms ravaged the mountains between Robbinsville and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Tennessee, forcing Watts and Little Soldier to hole up for nearly two days. Consequently, the eighty-mile trip took four days. Upon arrival, they went to Captain Stuart Benjamin’s office where they found him staring out the window. He said nothing and didn’t move.

  Tyler and Derrick stood mute in front of his desk for an uncomfortably long time, until Tyler finally said, “Boss?”

  Benjamin swiveled his chair to face them. “I watched you ride in, Tyler. You’re back early. What did you find?”

  In a quiet voice, Little Soldier replied, “This is some heavy shit, Stu…really heavy.”

  Benjamin rose, went to the door, looked into the hallway, and after closing it said, “Sit down.” He pulled his chair close to th
em and in a low voice said, “Tell me.”

  When Little Soldier completed the narrative, Benjamin pursed his lips, nodded thoughtfully, and said, “Okay, Tyler. The fact they killed seven hundred people is definitely problematic. The question is are they pros or killers? Your professional opinion?”

  “They’re pros all the way, Stu. At a minimum, they’re ex-military…probably Special Operations. Jackson won’t be able to intimidate these guys. No way in hell.”

  “And your best guess on the people they blew away?”

  “Well, they burned all the bodies,” said Little Soldier, “even the body parts, so…man, I just don’t know.”

  “Come on, Tyler. Best guess.”

  Little Soldier thought for a moment. “My instincts tell me whoever those people were, they eliminated them because they weren’t good people.”

  “That’s interesting. You’re saying they had it coming?”

  “I don’t know, Boss. You wanted me to guess, so I’m guessing.”

  “Is there anything else I should be aware of?”

  Little Soldier and Watts locked eyes.

  Watts said, “Stu, you know we aren’t cowards, but we don’t want to go up against these guys for any reason. I—as a matter of fact, both of us—think you should not give Jackson this information.”

  “You think I should lie to him, Derrick?”

  “Well, maybe not an outright lie, but if he decides to send in the troops to get food or anything else from these guys, someone’s gonna die.”

  After Tyler and Derrick left, Captain Benjamin pondered his next move. He trusted their assessment of the situation, and knew if he told Jackson the truth, the man’s ego would mandate a response. And it wouldn’t be the right one either. I can’t put off telling him for very long. He’ll get the word they’ve returned PDQ, if he hasn’t already. And then he’ll want to know why I didn’t get my ass over there to tell him what they found.

  With an idea germinating in his mind, he headed to Jackson’s Palace.

  ******

  While Watts and Little Soldier were on patrol in North Carolina, Jackson designated an entire building as his palace, and evicted the occupants. Then he placed trusted guards to maintain security at the double entrance doors, and secluded himself inside his new royal digs.

  Jackson’s palace consisted of a sitting room, an office, a living room/den combination, a kitchen, and a bedroom with an attached bathroom.

  In the palace bedroom, Susan Small was sitting on the bed, staring past the iron window bars, through the dirty glass. Her body sagged. Her face was blank, like a clean sheet of paper.

  When Jackson entered, she didn’t move.

  He walked to the bed, placed his hand on her shoulder, and said, “Good news, Susan. You will no longer have to work. No more lab crap for you.”

  She turned to look up at him, and pleading with her eyes, asked, “Why are you doing this, Roger?”

  “Queens don’t work, Susan. They rule. And by the way, from this point forward, you will not be allowed to leave the palace at any time, for any reason, unless I’m with you. For your own safety, of course.”

  Susan Small was a bright, articulate young woman, and she realized a screw was loose in Jackson’s head. In her opinion, he was delusional and totally nuts. And that further frightened her.

  “If I’m not allowed to work, what am I supposed to do all day, Roger?”

  Jackson grinned at her, and she thought, Oh my God, I can’t handle this.

  Benjamin approached the palace entrance, the guard saluted, and Benjamin told him he needed to see Jackson right away. The guard radioed the residential floor and moments later motioned for Benjamin to proceed.

  During the walk to the palace, the idea that took root in Benjamin’s mind was in full bloom. When the residence door opened, he entered a receptionist’s area, now referred to as the palace sitting room. No one had seen Susan since Jackson abducted her, and he was worried. While waiting, he pondered a way he could bring her up without pissing Jackson off.

  Five minutes later, Jackson opened the door. “Sir Benjamin, how good of you to come. Please, come in.”

  Benjamin wanted to punch him in the face, but knew he would never get out of the building alive. He repressed the urge and followed him to the inner sanctum.

  “So, tell me, Stuart, what’s on your mind?”

  “Sir, my men have returned from the patrol to North Carolina, and I’ve come to fill you in on what they found.”

  “Yes, yes,” replied Jackson. “I was informed they were back. I hope you’re going to give me some good news…like they found an entire group of survivors who are in need of our protection?”

  “Well, not exactly, sir, but close. They watched a group of men who they believe are ex-military blow up a football field with approximately seven hundred people on it, killing them all. They aren’t sure why they did it, but they think the ones who were killed were bad guys. It’s also possible this group controls that area, much like we do, and those people failed to pay their taxes. They couldn’t examine the bodies because they were piled in the middle of the field and burned, but they did manage to follow them twenty-five miles back to their camp. They weren’t able to get an exact count, but they believe the group in question consists of twenty to twenty-four men, women, and children.”

  Jackson stared at Benjamin for a full minute. “We cannot have splinter groups charging taxes and killing people for any reason. Those people, whether they were good or bad, were citizens of the United States of America. And Stuart, I am the king of the fucking United States of America, and I will not have renegades killing my subjects. And I will certainly not have them taking what is rightfully mine. Is that clear?”

  “Yes, sir. Perfectly clear, sir. And I agree with you a hundred percent, sir.”

  “Well, why wouldn’t you agree with me a hundred percent, Stuart? Am I missing something?”

  “No, sir, it’s just a figure of speech.”

  “Well, Stuart, I don’t do figures of speech. Is that clear?”

  “Yes, sir. It won’t happen again, sir.”

  Jackson stared at Benjamin for another minute. “We’re sending in the troops, Stuart. Get them ready to go. Then get out there and take them down.”

  It was all Benjamin could do to maintain his composure. This asshole has completely lost it, raced through his mind, but he showed no reaction and put his plan into motion. “If I may be so bold as to make a suggestion, sir?”

  “Yes, Stuart, you can offer a suggestion, but my mind’s made up. We are going to take this group out.”

  “Sir, please hear me out. I believe I can convince them to cease and desist their rebellious ways, and in the process, you’ll gain assets and instant income from North Carolina.”

  Jackson didn’t even think about it. All he heard was the word income. “Well certainly, Stuart, if there’s a way for us to offer these insurrectionists our protection instead of killing them, and as long as they’re willing to pay their fair share of taxes, then I will listen to what you have to say.”

  Benjamin almost let a smile form, but caught it just in time. He continued in all seriousness. “We don’t know why they killed those people. There may even be a reasonable explanation. My tracker followed six men and one woman back to their camp. He believes there are six men and six women, which makes sense, and perhaps six to twelve kids. That’s how he came up with the figure of twenty to twenty-four people. My suggestion is, I take a dozen of our men—maybe fifteen—locate their camp, and talk to them. I will explain that in order for them to be protected by the king, taxes have to be paid. I will make them understand our king, King Jackson, is a just and benevolent king, and does not wish to punish such a small group by annihilating them.

  “They may be ex-military, but they can’t be much more than a stone-age group. After all, I’m a hundred percent certain they don’t have access to nuclear power like we do. When they see our mounted men in full battle dress, I’m positive th
ey will realize resistance is futile. They definitely won’t want to risk injury or death to their women and children, and I’m positive I can convince them to do the right thing and pay their share of taxes. In exchange, they can remain autonomous and do as they wish, with the exception of killing other citizens of the United States of America, of course. I will make them understand that if they have a grievance against another group, they are to bring that grievance before the king who will resolve the issue. Failure to do so will result in swift and just retribution by the king’s men.”

  Jackson was smiling. “I like that, Stuart. Not bad. Not bad at all. But what if they tell you to go fuck yourself?”

  “Well, sir, then we go back with the Bradley and a full complement of troops and end the revolt.”

  Jackson thought it over and said, “Okay, Stuart, make it happen. When do you intend to leave?”

  Benjamin looked at Jackson and with his best subservient voice said, “I will leave on the morrow, Sire.”

  Jackson smiled at Benjamin. “You’re actually starting to get it, Stuart. I may have misjudged you after all.”

  After leaving Jackson’s palace, Benjamin muttered, “I will leave on the morrow, Sire,” then screamed inwardly. Fuck!

  Taking a deep breath, he gathered himself. Disappointed he was unable to bring Susan into the conversation, he acknowledged that with the wheels in motion, there was no turning back. He returned to his office and called the barracks, telling the guard who answered to find Little Soldier and Watts and send them to his office ASAP.

  Ten minutes later, Captain Benjamin was telling them to grab a seat. As before, he checked the hallway, carefully closed the door, and pulled his chair close.