Alex turned his head and lowered his voice only so West could hear. "A plan is always a good thing to have, but every now and then, you need a little improv, too," he said, quoting West back at the medical clinic in Willop.
The others could see West playing the entire operation out in his head. His eyes moved under the lids and his mouth uttered soft, indiscernible words.
Meanwhile, Jenny nudged Steve's midsection. "You think this'll work?"
"Hard to say, but I think it's our best chance. Let's hear what West thinks."
"Jones, I'll be the first to admit you are right. There are a ton of ifs, maybes, and a chance for any part to bust, but this is our only shot. Alex, your plan makes the most sense strategically. We can hope to maintain surprise, and in the event it goes to shit, well, we adapt…"
West wiped the glass with a towel, then pulled out the dry erase marker and went over his plan.
"We do like Alex said and tamper with the panels. When the maintenance comes out to fix ‘em, Travis and I will be there," West said nominating the Army Second Lieutenant.
"Hooah.”
"Then Clint, Kim, Charlie, Dylan, and Matty, will wait at the southern fence line. Depending on the skin tone of the people responding, either Travis or I will change uniforms. When they head back in, we use the infected as a distraction and breach from the southern fence line and silently take out the guards in the tower."
"I can do that, no problem," Steve said coldly.
Alex pulled his cousin aside privately and said, "Thatshould be a problem, Steve-O. Infected are one thing, but you've never killed anyone before."
He doesn't know about Jimmy, and you shouldn't tell him, Steve thought. "If we want this to work, we all have to do things we might not normally do."
West's words brought the two cousins back to the table.
"Steve will hold the southern tower and lay down fire when we need to evac. The rest of us work our way through the building to the security office. Once Matty gives us access, we will split into teams with different objectives. I will go with Travis to deploy charges inside the loading dock. Clint and Kim will place their charges inside the labs. Charlie and Dylan will remain with Matty and hold the first floor. Initially, if we run into resistance, avoid shooting unless absolutely necessary. When the first shot rings out, it’s game on. I don't love it, but it'll do."
"Great plan, but what about the rest of us?" asked Eddy.
Alex followed. "Ya, I didn't hear my name in there. I think you forgot to include me, West."
"That's because you're not going inside. I'm sorry, Alex, but you're a liability, and we can't have you getting sick or potentially changing in there."
"That's bogus man and you know it!"
"I didn't say you wouldn't be involved, just not with the direct assault," West began to clarify. "You will be with the secondary team led by Nick, and your role is of equal importance. You, Eddy, and Nick, will be providing cover fire. Two on the southern hill and one on the north to surprise the guards once they converge on our location."
"Alex, it's okay," Nick said, hand on his shoulder. "I'm going to be out there with you."
Alex shrugged off the gesture. "No, it's not okay. I'm tired of being treated like a leper." Frustrated, he marched out of the RV.
Nick looked to West. "I'll talk to him. We will be ready to do our part."
"West, I may have miscounted," Travis said, bringing the attention back to the plan. "With each one of us in certain locations, how do we get the infected to the facility?”
"I just thought of that." West cocked his head from side to side, as though moving mental chess pieces around the board. "I need everyone in their designated places. I guess I'll do it. I'll run and meet Travis at the solar panels."
"That's a pretty long run, hermano. Not to mention the timing might be off."
Then came a nomination no one was suspecting.
"I'll do it."
Jenny looked up and met Steve's surprised expression. "Steve, I know what you're going to say, but it doesn't involve shooting, just running and I'm pretty quick. I used to play soccer, and in PE in school, I could run a mile in six minutes and thirteen-seconds." She looked around at the dubious faces and continued, "I remember because I got a Coke for beating the boys."
"She is small and can move around and hide easier," West mumbled.
Nick frowned, but Steve vehemently disagreed. "You can't possibly be considering that, West."
Jenny grabbed the marker and began illustrating. "You said the infected are locked up in the casino here. I can get a head start here," she said, marking a location roughly a quarter mile away.
West snatched the marker back and completed the potential route. "Then you run as fast as you can to the panels. Once you get that far, I want you to break away and climb the foothills on the south side. Alex and Nick will be there. Stay with them until it's done."
Lisa had been watching everyone's lips and felt the need to protest. "But she's just a child."
"Normally, I would agree with you, but I'm not seeing another way out unless Marilyn or Christopher wants the job, but I highly doubt it. Jones is a coward. Ally has a hurt ankle, and, Lisa, you’re deaf, no offense, but you wouldn't be able to hear the infected behind you, the guards in front, or any changes in plan."
Everyone looked to the last eligible person.
"I-I would, but there's no way I could outrun those things. The last time I ran was when I was her age. I'd never make it," stated Kelly.
West sat back and dragged both hands down his face. "Jenny, I want you to know exactly what you're getting into. You won't have anyone there to protect you if something goes wrong."
"I understand. I'll be fine."
From the back, Harry Jones scoffed at the plan. "Let me get this straight, and I'll try to bypass the point about a ten year old girl being used as bait."
"Hey, I'm fourteen, you ass!"
A chill ran through Steve's body. Watching Jenny's defiant, independent attitude reminded him so much of Sarah.Sarah never shied away from a fight. She never went looking for one, but she always held her own, and Jenny is getting to be just as tough.
"Moving on," Jones said, gaze shifting to West. "You intend to sabotage the solar panels in hopes that a pair of idiot repair people come out and fix it, mind you, they will have an escort of guards with them. Then, during their repairs, you plan to sneak up on said repair personnel, knock one out, change into said man's clothes, and hold the other at gunpoint, hoping he won't scream for help or warn the others at any time. Then, drive into the facility while still holding repairman number two at gunpoint, making your way past the guards at the checkpoint and walking straight in the front door where there is a security office immediately on the left. Then you want to use infected, you have yet to corral and control, to distract the guards at the main gate on the east so you can break through an electrified fence on the south side. After, the man on the inside will coerce repairman number two to open the side door to allow you other assholes into the building. Then use our resident computer hacker here to access the security system that he knows nothing about, how long or even if he can control, to gain entrance into the locked areas of the building to plant explosives. And finally, silently make your way out and set off the charges, thus destroying the facility and the vaccine. Now, did I understand that correctly?”
"Yes."
"Oh, okay, good. I just wasn't sure when this real life moment turned into a ridiculous fantasy action movie where it all goes smoothly,"
Slowly, West rose to his feet, and exited the booth. "Who said anything about smoothly? This is going to get bad and bloody," West said, staring at Jones, but the words were for everyone.
The room quieted; the tone serious and somber.
"Make no mistake, I do not expect all of us to make it out alive. Nothing would please me more than a completed mission with zero casualties, but I have no delusions. Based on limited planning, our parameters, and collective lack o
f experience, I would expect high casualties and a low probability of success. But itis all about the mission, nothing else. We must succeed. If anyone wants out, now is the time. I need you all, but I can't force you."
Despite their individual reservations, no one so much as raised a hand. Then a call came in through the handheld radio, breaking the silence.
"West, it's Charlie. Come in, over."
Agent Kim tossed the radio to West. "Go ahead."
"Dyl and I are seeing some action, might be something, might be nothing. We can't tell."
"What is it exactly?"
"A chopper is about to take off. I can see a guy with a briefcase, and a woman following him. Correction, now it looks like there are four guards coming along for the helicopter ride, too."
"Well that should help your odds," Jones gibed. "That takes four of the hundred guards out of the equation."
“Charlie, does it look like any of the vaccine is being transported with them?”
“Negative, not that we can see.”
"Alright. Stay frosty. I will be there shortly. Over and out." West placed the radio back on the kitchen table. "Does anyone have any questions about what we are about to undertake?"
The group was a mix of concerned, anxious, scared, and ready faces, but no questions were asked.
"Alright then. Get whatever rest you can. We will do one final briefing at 1400 hours, then the mission will commence at nightfall."
As the group dispersed for lunch, Steve remained behind, blocking Jenny's path out the side door.
"Jenny, why are you doing this?"
"I want to do my part."
Your part? You could die. Or worse. Don't do it. I can't lose you, too, he thought, but the objection wasn't translated to words.
"I guess I should probably stretch and get ready," Jenny said, words unsure as though she was hoping for a reason not to.
She pressed the handle on the screen door and was one foot out, when Steve said, "Jenny?"
"Ya?" she replied, face hopeful.
"Um...just...just be safe."
Chapter 3
“The Attack”
Twin Lakes, Nevada
December 1, 2009
1707 hours
A coyote called for the dark side of the moon.
After the howl echoed off the foothills, all that remained were the quiet clicks and clatters of boots over the cold Nevada desert.
Leading the way, Travis Goessling zigzagged through the field of giant solar panels and not long after, the Army Second Lieutenant slowed to a stop. "This is the control box, right?" he asked, unable to use a flashlight.
Using night vision goggles West inspected the rectangular steel housing and confirmed. "Everyone, report when you're in position," he said into a handheld radio.
Travis unlatched the panel. Inside were a nest of cables and wires on the right, and on the left was a complex computer screen with digital meters labeled with electrical abbreviations.
A radio call came through, interrupting the assessment.
"This is Eddy. I'm in position."
"Strobe your flashlight twice,” West replied, gazing at the northern foothills. He caught the second flash. "Gotcha. Sit tight."
Travis stepped back from the panel and scratched his head. "You know what we're dealing with? Cause I skipped my advanced electronics class."
"Let me have a look."
"Why not just start cutting lines?"
"I thought about it," West said, fingers running up and down the clusters, "but that will draw too much suspicion.”
A second call came through. "This is Charlie. My team is in position, over."
Travis grabbed the radio from West's pocket. "Stay frosty. We are still working on the panel. Shouldn't be long."
Nick came through next. "Alex and I are waiting to the south. Good location, we can see the whole compound. We'll wait for your go, over."
"Here, I'm going to loosen a few plugs," West said, arm completely extended into the electrician's nightmare of unmarked cables. "Let me know if you see anything happen."
"Stop. Whatever you just did dropped three of the ten green meters down to the red," Travis said, tracking the change.
West clamped the panel shut. "Good. Now we wait."
After a minute, West grew impatient and grabbed the radio. "Anyone see any movement?"
"Nothing from up here," Nick called back.
"Maybe we should loosen up a few more cables?" Travis suggested, but not a second after the words left his mouth, the perimeter lighting flared on, illuminating the grounds like a professional athletic stadium.
"The front gate is opening, and a maintenance crew is coming out. Looks like two men, one fat and white and the other skinny and white," Nick reported. "Be advised, there's a security team leading them."
"Alright, this is it, everyone. Get ready. Ally, tell Jenny she's up."
"Ally here. Jenny is off with a good head start. She shouldn't be long."
"I got eyes on her with the night vision," Alex followed up. "She's got a decent lead, but there's a shit-ton of infected behind her. Looks like they can smell the blood rag she's carrying."
"Alright, now radio silence unless absolutely necessary."
"Looks like I'm up, hermano," Travis said, stripping off his equipment. He could tell by West’s frown that he wanted to be the one to infiltrate.
"Travis, we only got one shot at this-"
"I know. I know what has to get done."
A minute later, the security escort pulled up and stepped out of their cart, rifles drawn. "Hey pussies," one guard called back to the two nervous workers behind them. "It's clear, you can get out now."
Hesitant to comply at first, the men in lab coats exited the safety of their cart.
"Just make sure you keep your eyes open, please."
"And no pranks okay? Dr. Weaver told us how you left him out here and made sounds like those things."
The guards laughed and high-fived one another.
"That was a pretty good one. He was scared shitless."
"Now shut the fuck up and hurry up. It's freezing balls out here."
Waiting anxiously in the shadows, West and Travis could hear the workers as they approached the panel.
Holding an electric lantern, the skinnier one said, "Dr. Crowley, is everything okay with Dr. Arnold? She seems on edge."
"I think she's fine, Noah," Wilson Crowley replied softly, hoping his voice wouldn't attract any undead visitors. "I know she can't stand LIA. She thinks that artificial intelligence is going to take her job, and the early visit by Dr. Stone couldn't have come at a worse time. She got her ass handed to her for not reporting the production issue."
Noah arrived at the panel first and opened it up. "Sounds like it's a blessing Dr. Stone isn't here or he wouldn't be very happy about this, the second time in twenty-four hours we've had a decrease in power."
Dr. Crowley stared at the readout and noted, "Good thing it's only three channels. Energy decrease for production is minimal."
"Between you and me," Noah began, pulling down a cotton beanie over his ears, "Dr. Stone creeps me out. He gives me a serial killer type vibe, ya know? No emotion, and a total dick..."
"You ready?" West whispered.
Travis nodded.
"You cover the mouth of the fatter guy and I'll take care of the other one." Just as West took a step into the aisle, one of the security guards flashed his light over. West put up a fist and crept back into the darkness.
"You guys done yet?"
"I swear you little girls better not be gossiping.”
"A few more minutes," Dr. Crowley replied.
Travis leaned into West's ear and said, "The guards are too close. One of them is facing us. I don't think we can pull it off."
West dragged his hands along the cold earth until he found what he was hoping to find. He picked up a rock and threw it across the center road into a row three sections down.
"What was that?" One guar
d asked, flashing his light into the general vicinity where the distinct sound of glass breaking originated.
"Let's go check it out. You're leading."
"Fuck that.”
“You know the rule, whoever spots it, gots it."
"Ugh, fine. Hey, douchebags," the guard called. "We are going to check something out."
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" asked Dr. Crowley.
"Ya. Stay here and hurry the fuck up.”
“We'll be right back."
West looked to Travis and both men knew it was time. They sprung from hiding and were on top of their prey before the two men in labcoats knew what was happening. Travis wrapped his cold hand around Dr. Crowley's unsuspecting mouth, while West snapped Noah’s neck without mercy or hesitation.
"Listen up," West said, as he removed the deceased man's clothing, starting with the coat. "You see your friend here? If you don't do exactly what I'm about to tell you, you'll end up like him, except your path will be much more painful."
Dr. Crowley's wide eyed expression pushed the limits of terrified.
"You have two options. One, you help us and you will be fine, or two, you scream and I make your life very unpleasant until you join your friend. Nod if you want to take the first option."
Wilson Crowley nodded.
"Good choice. Travis, let him go and start getting dressed."
"We don't have much longer," Travis noted. He kept his eyes on the guards as he switched places with West.
"What's your name?" West asked, stepping in front of the horrified doctor.
The Longest Road (Book 3): The Other Side Page 16