by Bella Knight
“Got it,” said Rota into her helmet mic. “You lead, I’ll follow.”
They made it to the safehouse. The bikers dropped off their weeping, terrified women, and took off into the night. Rota gave them tissues from her pocket, and herded them toward the brightly lit farmhouse.
The door opened. “I’m Ida,” she said. “Get in.”
Rota ran to help unload the van, so stuffed that people were sitting on each other’s laps and the floor. Babies cried. Rota carried some children, herded others. The smell of coffee came from the farmhouse.
“Cal will get the barn set up. Some of you can sleep in the hayloft,” Ida said. “We’ve got blankets and sleeping bags, and two cribs, and more. Our kids are on a hiking trip in the mountains.”
Cal was in the kitchen, frying eggs. Toast popped out of the toaster, making the terrified people jump. “Be alright,” said Cal. “Need me a helper. Anyone know how to fry up bacon and sausage?” The crying woman with the corkscrew hair stepped forward. She wiped her tears, washed her hands, and took out a skillet.
“We’ll drop the injured at the hospital, and be back with supplies,” said Rota. “Herja will guard the door.”
Herja smiled ferally. “No one will harm you.”
Rota checked on sizes, and Rota, Herja, and Skuld left them to their hasty meal and confusion about where everyone would sleep. The wounded women were bleeding, but not severely injured. Wraith and Rota went to an all-night drugstore over the county line, filled up on pressure bandages, a sewing kit, gauze, tape, and two slings. Wraith drove Rota back, and Herja went to work with the supplies with Ida as her nurse.
They took the van, and found an all-night Wal-Mart in the middle of nowhere. They loaded up carts with baby onesies, diapers, formula, and bottles for the five infants, plus infant carriers and car seats. They bought children’s clothes, from underwear to shorts and shirts to socks, shoes, and sandals. They paid for the children’s things and hauled it all out to the van, then went back in for jeans, tops, underwear, and bras for the women. They found some sleeping bags, and backpacks, diaper bags, and duffel bags for everything. They found milk, juice, fruit, snacks, and breakfast food for everyone. They bought the clothes and food, filled up the van to the point where the driver, Rota, was the only one with space for her feet, and rode out. They parked, and Cal rushed out to help them unload.
“God in heaven,” he said. “You ladies must be rich.”
“We don’t let refugees go without what they need,” said Herja, grabbing bags of clothes. “They had to leave every damn thing behind, and may be separated from their loved ones for months. No use making things harder than they’re going to be anyway.”
“Some cult, from how the women are talking. Kind of coded-like,” said Cal.
“Kind of,” said Herja. “And we pay you to… forget.”
“In the morning, my mind will go all hazy,” said Cal. Herja slipped him some cash. “Very hazy,” he added.
The escapees sat on the floor in piles, and took turns going to the bathroom. They took the sleeping bags and arranged themselves in family pods on the floor. Cal had a line of women without kids follow him to the barn; Skuld handed out the sleeping bags to them. Women came out to unpack the things from the van, distribute the clothes, put the food away, and fill up their new bags and packs. Rota and Skuld double-checked on the injured, and pronounced them well enough, not needing a trip to the hospital. The farmhouse was filled to the rafters from refugees, who suffered from shock and awe. The government had attacked early, and the Iron Knights had scattered back into the night.
“Leave the van,” said Wraith into Rota’s ear. Rota went in and left the key with one of the women. Rota went back out. “Guard the house for a few hours,” said Wraith.
“Update on Saber?” asked Rota.
“Touch and go,” said Wraith. Sigrun hung her head, struggling to breathe, and listened as Wraith gave the update and instructions to the other women. Skuld hugged her, and all three women held the back of each other’s necks and said, “With your shield, or on it.” They separated. Sigrun held the house, Rota the barn, and Skuld rotated around the perimeter. They rotated positions every two hours.
Each Valkyrie, when inside the house, spoke to the frightened women, soothed terrified children, and explained that they would not be prosecuted, would not have to testify, and would be separated only until all the court things were adjudicated. Each woman had to explain it again to some terrified mother. They were furious and scared, right down to their toes.
One woman named Ruby tried to fight with Skuld about why they were there. “Leave,” said Skuld. “We walked you out of a situation with grenades thrown around when the government got there. Go if you want. We’re not the police. We’re just people trying to keep you all alive. Did you want to be in a firefight, standing behind some door, and you die? Your kid dies?”
Ruby had the grace to look chagrined. “No,” she said.
“Then choose. This way, you all stay together, wherever the hell you end up.” She held up her hand. “I have no idea where that is, and I don’t want to know.” Skuld narrowed her eyes. “Staying or leaving?” asked Skuld.
“Staying,” said Ruby.
“Then get some damn sleep,” said Skuld. “Our sisters will need you come morning.” The woman’s eyes narrowed as well, and then she nodded, she went back to her sleeping bag.
They passed the long night with hourly updates about Saber’s condition. He held on, as they did with their patrols. Sigrun was frantic, but she held her ground. Her sisters were too, and she couldn’t falter, for their sake, and the sake of the terrified women.
Skuld heard bits and pieces about the raid from Sokn. The FBI had the men in hand, and the boys were being taken separately to a secure facility. Sokn worked to pry away the youngest ones, the preteens and early teens, and keep them out of the clutches of Child and Family Services. Sokn slipped them out the back way, and “reappropriated” them into a van driven by two Valkyries. Sokn kept track of the tidbits about the raid the FBI and ATF let fall from their lips, and checked on Saber through Wraith, and sent coded updates to Herja, Skuld, and Rota.
The second van with the misappropriated “tweens” and teens showed up about an hour before dawn. The women were delighted to get their children back, and they sat down in shifts for a huge farmer’s breakfast of ham, egg, bacon, cheese, and mushroom. It was accentuated with omelets, fruit, and orange juice which four of the women helped to cook.
Sokn drove, with a second Valkyrie following with another empty van. “ATF took the compound,” reported Sokn, as they spoke outside before going into eat, out of earshot of the women. “They tried to set it on fire, but Sigrun told them about the tunnels, and they ran in and took them down. They got Ruden Wang trying to escape down the tunnel.” Skuld and Rota pumped their fists at the news.
Sokn continued with her more detailed report. “The young men were all captured, and will be released soon. The men face some charges; most of them didn’t fire at the ATF people, and will mostly face charges of harboring a criminal. Frost, their main man, didn’t tell his charges who Ruden was, only his inner circle. Two of his inner circle is dead; Frost will be tried for shooting an ATF agent in the chest during the raid, and for ordering Saber’s drugging. The ATF agent was wearing armor; she’ll be fine.” Sokn sighed. “I need to know if the women or children were abused, but that can be done when they feel safe.”
“They’ll be glad about getting their male teens back,” said Rota. “I’ll tell them…”
“No,” said Sokn. “We vanish now. We’ve got Iron Knights and Valkyries to protect them. If we don’t know where they are…”
“We can’t tell,” said Rota. “Understood.” They left the vans, got on their bikes, and had their own farmer’s breakfast at a waffle house.
Sigrun ate mechanically, knowing the hospital food would be much worse. They grabbed each other behind the neck and said, “With your shield, or on it,” befo
re separating. The other women went to get some sleep, and Sigrun followed the sound of Wraith’s voice to see Saber. Wraith’s voice was strong, empty of emotion, her exhaustion evident. On her way to the hospital, Sigrun stopped off and got sodas and breakfast sandwiches, knowing Wraith needed sustenance.
The number of wires and tubes coming out of Saber’s body were impressive. He had a tube down his throat, and the machine was breathing for him.
“They pumped his stomach and gave him meds to help him breathe. Heart rate’s slow,” said Wraith. “Skips a beat sometimes. They’re considering a pacemaker, which will totally destroy his career. They’re watching.” Sigrun hugged her, then went in and held his hand.
Rota and Skuld came up. They had grabbed a few hours of sleep. Rota touched Wraith’s back. “We’re watching with you.”
Wraith wiped her eyes. Rota gave her report. “The women and children left a few minutes ago after a huge breakfast. The van with the teens is with them; the reunion was a little heartbreaking. They’ll meet up at a truck stop when they eat lunch. They’ll end up in New Mexico, from what I can put together.”
Wraith took a shuddering breath, unable to look away from Sigrun who was sitting with Saber. “They need to stay away from kin for a while. ATF will be hunting for them, as will the FBI. Once the trials start, it will blow over. Rugen will be in a deep, dark hole within the hour.” The “deep, dark hole” she referred to was a federal Supermax prison. “They’ll take down his entire network.”
“Good,” said Rota. “We’re getting breakfast. Skuld will watch. You’re coming with us. Then, Skuld and Sigrun will do the same.”
Wraith narrowed her eyes at Skuld. “I’m running this op.”
“Op’s over,” said Skuld. “Stand down. Take care of your damn self so you can take care of your love.”
“You gonna tell him he’s a dad?” asked Rota.
Wraith barked out a watery laugh. “Sigrun wants to make it a surprise, provided he doesn’t need a pacemaker.”
Herja laughed. “That’s one hell of a surprise for a person recovering from ketamine poisoning.” She grimaced. “Why?”
“I assume; to keep him quiet till morning. But, these are shitkicking racist thugs, not doctors, so they gave him too high of a dose,” said Wraith. She grinned. “The guy who dosed him has a broken arm and two broken ribs. He’s got charges, lots of them.”
“He’s not getting out for a while,” said Rota. “But you are. We’re leaving the hospital and getting waffles.”
“Waffles,” said Wraith. “Why the hell not?”
They took turns with the pecan waffles, the bacon, and the orange juice at a little local placed called The Big Bite. They switched out, and Wraith sat with Saber and Sigrun went to eat with Skuld.
By the time Sigrun and Skuld came back, Rota smiled as the doctor poked and prodded. “No more skipped beats. No more trouble breathing... and he’s coming around.”
They watched as Saber woke up and began pulling out his own tubes. The doctor and Wraith calmed him, and they had him cough out his breathing tube. Saber ignored the doctors and stared into Wraith’s eyes as the doctors pulled out more tubes and removed some machines. Sigrun jumped up and down as if she’d won a lottery, then she ran into the room.
Rota and Skuld watched the reunion, and then turned away. “I’m getting a hotel room with double beds,” said Herja. “We’ll nap, come back, and help get Saber home.”
“I love you,” said Rota. “I will sleep for a week.” They trudged their way out of intensive care, mounted their bikes, and rode back to the hotel to sleep.
Recovery
Sigrun grinned down at Saber. “You feel up to it?” she asked.
“What?” said Saber. He put on his shirt in a super-slow way.
“Home,” said Sigrun.
“What’s exciting there?” asked Saber. “I find my recliner. I sleep. I relax.”
“New dog,” said Wraith.
“Wait. New canine? What kind? Does the dog get along with Roxie?”
“Brown and white mix of… something. Small. And Roxie chases Rimmel, and Rimmel chases Roxie. Roxie gets on her cat tree, and laughs at Rimmel, who goes to sleep on his dog bed under the cat tree,” said Sigrun.
He got his new jeans on slowly, then his socks. Sigrun helped him slip on low boots. Saber sat in the proffered wheelchair.
“We have a dog,” said Saber. “Who the hell names a dog Rimmel?”
“A cancer victim,” said Sigrun, rolling him out. An orderly came by to do the pushing, but Sigrun growled a little and he backed off. “Died. We got the dog.”
“That’s horrible,” said Saber. “I’m sorry.”
“Didn’t know her, found her dead. Took the dog. Long story.”
Sigrun got on her bike, and Wraith helped Saber get on behind her. Wraith lashed Saber to Sigrun by hooking his jean loop into a carabiner, and hooking him to Sigrun’s jean loop in the back. Wraith did the same on the other side. She gave him a battered leather jacket she’d gotten from a used clothing store, and he put it on. Herja had already gone home. Wraith led the way, then Sigrun followed, Saber warm against her back.
They made good time, even after stopping for barbecued pork sandwiches and fries at a barbecue joint. They rode up to the house. “Wait,” said Saber, as Wraith parked. Wraith went over to unhook him from Sigrun. “Whose house is this?”
“Ours,” said Sigrun. “Wraith got a bonus.” She got off, and helped Saber off. He stood and stretched.
Warren came flying out of the house. “Dad’s home!” he shouted to the neighborhood. He barreled into Saber’s legs. Sigrun held him up, and they both embraced the small boy.
“Warren,” said Sigrun. “Be careful with Daddy. He just got out of the hospital.”
“’Kay,” said Warren. “Glad you’re home, Dad.”
Saber ruffled the boy’s black hair. “Hey.”
“We look alike!” said Warren. “Same eyes.”
“Yes,” said Saber. He looked down into brown eyes that were swimming with intelligence. “You’re super-smart, aren’t you?”
“Yeah,” he said. “Gotta gold belt in karate. Mama is showing me the Yang Short Form in tai chi.”
“Cool,” said Saber.
A girl came out, her hair braided on the side in Valkyrie style, her brown hair streaked blonde by the sun. “I’m Sondra,” she said, as the dog streaked past him and attacked the boy’s legs. Warren turned around, knelt, and let himself be smothered by dog kisses. Saber knelt and let the dog sniff the back of his hands. Sondra closed the door. “Oops. Can’t let the cat out.”
Saber held out his arms, and Sondra snuggled in. “I’m so glad you’re home,” she said. “Come in. Sorry, but Dina is having a slow day. Her bones hurt. The doctor says she can get the surgery on her hip done next week.” She looked up at Saber, tears in her eyes. “You gotta be careful with the bones. We’ve been pumping her up with calcium, but we’re extra-careful.”
“That’s why I play with Rimmel outside, or in another room,” said Warren. “Soon, she’ll be better. After surgery.”
They headed toward the house. Sigrun grinned. “Sorry, but that joy was the best thing I’ve ever seen. The cannonball of Warren.”
“She made me be quiet, not tell,” said Wraith. “I agree. I’ve never seen you this happy.” Saber threw his arms over his wives’ shoulders, and they walked in.
Dina was setting the table. Kat was lovely in a yellow dress, hair pulled back. “Gorgeous as always,” said Sigrun. “Thank you so much, Kat.”
“Kat’s gonna have surgery the same time as me,” said Dina. “Hi, Dad.” Saber gently hugged her. Her red hair was in the side braids of the Valkyries. Her eyes were green, and slightly tilted, giving her an elfin appearance. Her mouth was pursed slightly in pain.
“I’m so sorry you’re hurting, honey,” said Saber, gently. He stroked her hair. “Sit down, love.” He sat down, and she did too.
“Glad to hear you’re finall
y getting snipped,” said Wraith. Sigrun choked. Saber grimaced.
Kat laughed, a light, trilling one. “I am,” she said. “I’ll be a whole girl.”
“You been fattening up my daughter?” asked Saber. “Actually, they all look kinda… pinched.”
“We’re having fried chicken, biscuits, corn on the cob, and a caramel chocolate pie for dessert,” said Kat, grinning. “I know you probably ate on the road…”
“Hospital food,” said Saber, reaching out to stroke Sondra’s hair as well, his hand hesitant, gentle. He didn’t know her past, and was careful with his movements around the girls.
“The worst,” said Kat. “Well then, some meat on your bones, too.” She turned, and took the biscuits out of the oven.
Warren chased the dog, which chased the cat. Dina showed Saber her math problems. She’d been slowly catching up on what she’d missed when she hadn’t been on proper pain medication and acupuncture.
She showed Saber the tiny holes in her ears. “They don’t hurt, and sometimes the pain stops for a whole hour,” she said.
“I may need some of that,” said Saber.
“Warren, go outside,” said Sigrun. “I’ll get the orange ball for the dog.” They went into the courtyard, and Saber turned around to watch Sigrun go out for a long pass, and the dog streak after the ball, Warren laughing in the sunlight.
“I have a family,” said Saber, dazed.
“That you do,” said Kat. “Sondra, dear, can you get the honey butter out of the fridge and put it on the table, please?”
“Honey butter,” groaned Saber. “Kat, would you like a job?”
Kat laughed. “I was hoping you would say that. I love these little devils, and my own Sarah loves it here. I can be your cooking, cleaning goddess. Take the kids to their appointments; keep them on track with their homework.”
“I love you,” said Sigrun. She turned to Wraith. “Can we…”
“New clients,” said Wraith. “I need another bonus, but I know of some… meetings that need… protection. Yeah, I can get it done.”