Baxter’s War

by A. L. Roberts

  Akiko shrieked as White partnered with Black, both kicking the loamy mound with hind legs, filling the pit she dug. The teenager scrambled to get out when Black nipped her arm, drawing blood.

  “No,” she said. Tears poured as the dogs work until dirt swallowed everything up to her waist.

  Black stared at Akiko, wheeled and went to Gladys’s moldering crow gouged remains. Both he and White ripped at her stiffened limbs, tearing through the jeans she wore, biting into bone and gristle as Molly yowled while sitting beside the distraught girl.

  Once the pair finished defiling Gladys’s corpse, they brought over each body part, placing them before her. As for Gladys’s head, Black dropped the object facing Akiko.

  Akiko clutched her hair, pulling at the long strands. She kicked in a tantrum as Molly howled. Black focused on the two without moving. White returned to the damaged army.

  Akiko longed for her parents. Heat burned into her heart. She served Black and White and they turned her into a common slave. She gazed at the uncaring sky and imagined the accusatory stares of her dead family.

  Akiko locked her brown eyes on Gladys’s gray face and screamed until she passed out. And she dreamt of dogs ripping her apart.

  71

  Moraine started her morning with a cup of hot coffee and a smile. Casey played in the park near the hotel they lived at. And her new friends enjoyed a respite from the difficult combat drills she put the fighters through during the week.

  Moraine kept confident of the dogs arrival from the north if unhindered. After Gladys's demise, her trip by car lasted forty-eight hours through torn landscape. She faced collapsed bridges, broken roads, floods, and fires until arriving at Bakersfield. With the obstacles considered, she calculated the Canines rate of march.

  Her talk with Hank helped clarify her purpose in destroying Black and White and their Canine army. Grisby alluded to playing both sides for his advantage. From her understanding, Grisby wanted to find out what his weapons could do if uninterrupted.

  Black and White challenged her. They operated with a ruthlessness she found disturbing. Gladys paid with her life in saving Casey. An act performed by a woman she met once, and while in the process of dying.

  Both dogs proved flexible, outmaneuvering the humans. This made her wonder, with such a large army filled with vicious beasts, did any conflict arise amongst them.

  Jenny rushed outside wearing a purple two-piece bikini, jolting Moraine from her thoughts. She streaked to Casey, scooped her up and ran for the gated pool.

  Moraine smiled. “You got a nice ass,” she said from where she rested on the patio.

  Jenny turned, winked and continued on as Casey giggled and screamed in joy. “Come on, Moraine, relax.”

  Moraine waved, nursed her steaming brew. She hated blowing Black and White off as ordinary dogs embedded with fancy chips. Hank scoffed at Black and White’s ability to a point.

  For Hank, seeing meant accepting the Canines without question. However, once a person saw the dogs and experienced their uncanny abilities, sudden belief resulted in death. And Moraine wished to reduce the chances of more casualties.

  Moraine stood and stretched. She needed to get the plans moving. For one, insuring the city barricade stayed secure. The past week consumed her with constructing defenses throughout Bakersfield and training the local militia for a dog attack.

  Moraine approached the glistening pool, warm sunlight danced off the blue surface, throwing wet diamonds against Jenny’s ebony hair and Casey’s blond locks. Pete dove in, sprung up a few seconds later waving at her to join them. Alice lay sunbathing on the side.

  Jenny moved to the pool’s edge, propped Casey on the warming tiles. “I see that stare. What’s happening?”

  Moraine glimpsed away. “I want an update chat with Hank.”

  “You guys chatted nights ago. Are six days of silence boring you?”

  “I enjoy peace and quiet. But not surprises.” Moraine hunkered before Jenny. She liked the woman’s angular face. “They’ll be here soon.”

  “How long do you think?”

  “A few days more, Jenny. Gladys hurt them, but I don’t know by how much.”

  “Maybe they're out of the fight.”

  “No, they are relentless.”

  “Well, go do your thing, Moraine.” Jenny lifted Casey. “Us girls will hang out and flirt with the boys.”

  Moraine blew Casey a kiss and gave Jenny a wink. She left everyone to their fun and headed for City Hall.

  She walked the busy streets until reaching her destination. Bakersfield City Hall sat low with wide concrete steps, railings and a reflective glass front tinted from the blistering sun. She climbed the stairs, people greeted her, cops and armed locals alike. A few stared at her with smug smiles on their faces. If they didn’t swallow the dog story, reality remained their sole teacher.

  She spotted a lap dog loitering around the entrance. The tiny animal paused, locking eyes with Moraine as if she worked for the dog catcher. A shiver spasmed the dog’s back, and the beast darted off into the brush.

  Moraine shrugged off the moment and entered the cool building. The guard let her bypass the metal detector. She took the stairs to the second floor.

  And stopped.

  A Delta Force operator meandered the hallway. He paused, held her gaze for a few seconds, and glanced towards the office open door. As calm as possible, he tapped his collar.

  Moraine understood the signal for an officer on deck. The operator surprised her, giving her the chance to brace herself for what came next.

  72

  Moraine kept her weapons secured in a rifle safe lodged in her hotel room. She became accustomed to a week absent of fighting and ensured her weapon stayed away from Casey. But the combat knife strapped to her right hip went everywhere.

  Despite the knot lodged in her solar plexus, she pushed forward, entering the hallway lined with portraits of former mayors. The waxed floor and beige walls jumped out at her with their brightness.

  The operator canted his chin and three bearded big guys stepped into the hall from the office. None toted rifles, but she knew their capabilities.

  “What are you assholes doing here,” she said.

  Grisby exited next, followed by a sheepish Mayor Hank Armstrong in tow. “Master Sergeant Baxter.”

  Moraine’s muscles tensed, she refused to run. “Coward.”

  General Grisby hung near the team, resembling a Chihuahua protected by larger canines. “Hank and I finished discussing this dog problem.”

  “And?”

  “They’re on their way, Moraine. And my compliments to your defense of the city, nice setup. But not necessary.”

  Moraine made fists so tight her knuckles cracked. If she killed Grisby, Casey might lose another parent. “You’re not planning on stopping them?”

  “Afraid not, Baxter.”

  Moraine unfurled her fingers, forcing herself to relax. “We will if you don't mind.”

  Grisby smirked while shaking a finger at Moraine. “I informed the mayor here, if he doesn’t harm the dogs, he would receive all the help he needs.”

  Moraine shifted to Hank. He lowered his gaze. “Where’s Robert?”

  “Hi, Moraine,” Robert wormed himself through the group.

  “I don’t believe this. Black and White are on a murderous spree and you’re supporting them.”

  General Grisby frowned. “What do you expect, Moraine?” He sauntered up to her, pausing within six steps. “They are my tickets for a promotion and California is a testing ground. Nobody cares about you freaks and geeks in this state.”

  Moraine glanced at Delta Force, estimating her speed at attacking Grisby before his bodyguards took her out. Jenny would be a good mom to Casey. She walked up to Grisby. “Hank, he’s the government guy. He created Black and White.”

  Hank shuffled his feet. “Moraine, the general offered the city money.”

  “He promised you help?”

  Grisby snickered. “I
sure did.”

  Hank nodded. “He also told me about what happened in Afghanistan. He said your mental health is questionable.”

  Moraine’s head trembled. She gazed at the floor. A cold shiver flittered up her spine. Killing Grisby would be fast.

  Grisby smiled at Moraine. “I explained to this fine American help is available for Bakersfield if the dogs pass through unmolested. I need this experiment to work.”

  “Afghanistan?”

  Grisby raised both hands. “It’s all in the past, Moraine. Besides, how’s Jenny doing?”

  “My Erik is not alive because of you.”

  Robert touched his chest. “I’m so sorry about Erik.”

  Moraine fought against crying. She felt her cool headedness slipping. “You people are animals, worse than those dogs. And you call yourselves Delta Force? Damned mercenaries working for this sonofabitch.”

  Robert's face contorted, his lips wrinkled. “Moraine, the Damascus Project is my fault.”

  “You never expected to find me here did you, Grisby,” she said. “You thought I died, eaten by the dogs.”

  Robert neared Moraine, his brown cheeks streaked with tears. “Please forgive me, Moraine.”

  “Forgive you for what you sniveling bastard?”

  “For this.” Robert jerked Moraines knife out its sheath, spun on his heels and drove the Seal Pup's honed metal deep into Grisby’s abdomen. The scientist shoved Grisby from Moraine and towards the pack of Delta operators.

  Grisby’s shouted. He grabbed Robert’s arms. The Delta Force operators pounced on the scientist. K-Bars plunged into Robert with fury.

  Robert gurgled a cry and dropped. He landed on his back, eyes fluttering. His wounds bloomed crimson over his shirt. His neck gushed red spurts. “God, Moraine.”

  Moraine rushed to Robert’s side, knelt and leaned close to his left ear. “Fuck you.”

  She patted his pants pockets, searching for the tracking device. Grisby continued bleeding. Both men moaned the last rites to a death ritual she got use to hearing.

  Moraine found Robert’s cellphone. His dulling glare harbored regret. Soon his focus traveled beyond her world and through the ceiling.

  She retrieved her knife from Grisby’s gut, drawing fleshy strands. The man spasmed, blood crept from his mouth. Her eyes flicked up to the wall of contained power staring down on her. “Are you guys going to look at me or fight?”

  The biggest operator removed his mask, revealing a dark face with wide apart war hardened eyes. “Master Sergeant, we’re with you.”

  Moraine watched the other four agree, nodding heads. “How many are you?”

  “Twenty-five now,” he said. “The rest are watching the helicopters.”

  “I apologize for the others I...”

  “We didn’t know the details. He warned us you gone rogue. But, we understand. You didn't shoot the dogs, so here we stand.” The leader gestured at Grisby. “I’m Sergeant Robinson.”

  Moraine cleaned her knife on Grisby’s uniform before sheathing the wicked blade. She rose and shook Robinson’s hand along with the other members.

  She turned to Hank who appeared dumbfounded by the swift violence. “You ok, Hank? You aboard?”

  Hank gave Moraine a slow nod. “Yea, I guess I am. What you said a few nights ago is true.”

  Moraine wanted to give the cellphone slash tracker to Jenny. “Let’s get up a quick plan. I’m not expecting this battle to be a clean one.”

  Hank stared at Grisby whose movements slowed to muscle twitches. “What about him? We can save him.”

  Moraine spat on Grisby’s forehead. “Let him bleed out.”

  73

  Black marched the Canine army for eight days in silence with White at his side. Three of his best generals succumbed in a swift ambush conducted by a single human. The other Cadre members talents lay in administration and logistics. Not battle. He suspected trusting Gladys a foolish idea, but he offered her a chance, and his offer of mercy damaged them.

  Hundreds of Canines died, and a few children too weak to withstand the medication loaded into the water trough. When he woke the morning after Gladys poisoned them, he expected everyone to recover.

  Instead, he faced death. Hubris he blamed on the many killed underneath his command. He and White thought themselves supreme over their enemies, but the main enemy was adopting the pride of man. Too much arrogance destroyed the troops and half the baggage train.

  He stared in awe and shock as his favorite Canines fell at Moraine’s hands. The Cadre demanded they not charge in as she fought. Let the violence play out. No need to risk Moraine killing them all.

  A day after the poisoning, Akiko survived. And they forced her to bury the Canine generals. The Cadre called for her discipline, and Akiko’s place as a low human reinforced.

  Black and White discussed other soft options to handle Akiko. They admired her, and their aggressive act pained them both, so they hid their emotions from the Cadre, concerned the group attacking them for such weakness.

  The Cadre considered Akiko’s punishment enough. After punishing Akiko, Black stayed at the scene as White left to nurse the injured army and baggage train.

  He waited for Akiko to wake after passing out from seeing Gladys ripped apart and her detached head place on her lap. He ordered Molly to stay with the girl and help her climb from the pit.

  Black kept his chin high while walking and ruminating over his past actions. He gazed at his scouts. Their numbers dwindled from one hundred to twenty-five. He needed to replenish the soldiers, and so far Bakersfield became their next biggest city.

  White huffed as the Cadre walked behind them. “We are nearing Bakersfield, Black.”

  Black closed his eyes, allowing the Damascus Chips to do their work. He sensed a strong vibration in his mind. “Yes, I understand.”

  “Powerful.”

  Black focused on the Damascus Chips and discovered an orbiting satellite. “Imbuing us with refreshed thoughts.”

  White remained silent for a few minutes before speaking again. “Akiko has changed after what we did.”

  “But, any question concerning our status is null.”

  White whispered. “Do you believe the Cadre might challenge our position?”

  Black pondered White’s words. “The possibility is always there. Even though gaining our immense knowledge is difficult, they realize their own potential.”

  White blinked several times. “Amazing what power does to beings.”

  “I agree. We are a threat. The first kind in history.”

  “What is keeping Moraine from stopping us?”

  “The general is. But he’s protecting you and I for his purpose, not for ours. So we must plan for an attack from both sides.”

  “We will enter this game six moves ahead.”

  “Yes.”

  “Here comes Molly,” White announced.

  Molly rushed up, bowed with wagging tail. “Bakersfield is thirty miles away.”

  Black looked at White. “We stop here and meet with the Cadre.”

  Molly whimpered. “Another thing.”

  “What,” Black said.

  “Moraine is there. And they are waiting for us.”

  74

  Akiko perched herself on a hill after completing her duties. She fed dogs and children, ensuring the baggage train supplies remained filled. Below, and in the distance, Bakersfield lounged in the late afternoon sun.

  She blinked. A twitch developed near the corners of her lips, a trembling grin of sorts. This occurred after Molly helped her from the grave dug for Gladys.

  Akiko blocked out how she retrieved the dismembered Gladys and buried her parts. She recalled picking up the woman’s cellphone after her and Molly completed their gruesome task. She read the texts while returning to camp. The exchange between her and Moraine detailed how Gladys escaped with Casey, and their planned trip to Bakersfield.

  Akiko couldn’t believe Gladys intended to murder a few babies to achieve her
goal. Gladys, she figured, meant to target the dogs, and the kids got in her way.

  After her ordeal at the lettuce field, she returned to pick up little bodies with the help of surviving teenagers. They spent the day digging graves, piling corpses into Bucky Brown wagons and hauling them to the shallow holes for burial.

  She asked Molly to seek permission to bury the dogs. Molly returned with a positive answer, and both sides worked at burying their dead.

  Once done, Akiko took a break. Anger burned within her for Gladys. She didn’t expect Gladys's sudden brutality. After the mass burials she searched Gladys’s belongings, finding pill bottles prescribed for Moraine Baxter.

  She attempted reading the medication names stamped on the bottles. Hydromorphone 10mg, Oxycodone 100 mg, fentanyl 5mg, and Ketamine 100mg each. She tossed the bottles into canvas bags and headed for the trough.

  Akiko arrived at the trough and discovered an empty MRE container hidden underneath the metal tub. A powdery white residue coated the bag’s innards.

  She made sure not to touch the power, or inhale what stuck to the insides of the plastic bag. She chucked the bag, and using her shoe toe, stuffed it beneath the big trough.

  Her feelings danced between high to low as they marched to the next site. She cried without restraint while walking, and other times calm suffused her soul as if she swallowed one of Moraine’s emotion numbing pills.

  Her mind bounced between hate for Gladys and the Combat Canines. Molly kept her company, displaying genuine affection, not an act ordered by her superiors.

  Akiko thought hard on her mom and dad as the days of marching blurred into hours. She feared the dogs, not wanting to die by being torn apart. Her father never screamed when the dogs attacked him. Her mother, however, screamed something awful.

  Akiko wiped the tears away with her fingers. “I’m sorry, mamma,” she said to the warm sky.