The Life After War Collection

by Angela White

  Neil rubbed a gentle hand over her furrowed brow. “It’s okay. Go to sleep, now.”

  Samantha groaned, realizing what had happened. “I’m sorry.”

  “No worries,” Jeremy stated from her feet. He’d already begun to clean up. “Just get a little more sleep while you can.”

  Samantha wanted to help take care of the mess, but her roiling stomach said she had more urgent needs. “I’ll be back.”

  She ducked from the tent, almost running to the bathroom.

  Neil followed, waiting while she retched. He was hoping the disruption of the dream was all that had upset her stomach. He didn’t understand much about descendants and even less about pregnancy.

  Neil held out the wipes when she emerged and they walked to the smoldering fire can as she cleaned her face and hands. The towels flamed up the instant they hit the red wood in the bottom of the can, bathing them both in fire glow.

  Samantha felt Neil’s hot gaze, but all she wanted was to brush her teeth and she moved around him to take care of that. Afterwards, she needed to eat so her stomach would settle down.

  A sharp pain lanced through her side and Samantha winced, but kept going. She’d had a few of those, but didn’t want to alarm her men. The doctor had her scheduled for a visit and she would tell him everything.

  Neil’s lips disappeared into his scowl, but he managed to keep from nagging her when she vanished into the tent only to come right back out, kit in hand. He trailed her to the showers, annoyed with both her and himself. He would have to figure out a better way to wake her from her nightmares. Flying objects were dangerous, but so was this sudden alertness.

  Neil stayed outside the door, approving of the heavy security that Marc was almost finished with. Not everyone would like the guns on the QZ tower, but Neil was betting the boss would be pleased.

  Neil gazed through the shadowy flickers around them, not spotting any members up this early and he wondered if the mess had food going yet. If Samantha wasn’t going to sleep, he could at least get her to eat.

  Neil was pleased when Samantha came from the shower and headed exactly where he wanted her to go. He finally spotted someone else moving. The large shadow and limp said it was Doug and they exchanged surprised greetings as they entered the mess.

  “What are you doing out so early?” Doug wanted to know.

  Samantha laughed. “Was gonna ask you the same thing.”

  “Had to piss again,” Doug grumbled. “And Peggy was up.”

  “Over here.”

  Peggy sounded annoyed, and Neil and Samantha joined the couple hesitantly. Neither of them were in the mood to listen to people arguing.

  Peggy already had stacks of plates set out and she handed one to each of them. “Li’s got a small buffet set up inside the truck for the early risers. Go get something. Coffee’s on the stove.”

  The trio followed orders without replying, aware of her bad vibes.

  “What’s she upset about?” Neil asked lowly when he thought they were out of earshot.

  “I didn’t go back to bed, I guess,” Doug rumbled. “Didn’t want her wandering alone.”

  Neil understood that. He didn’t want Samantha alone either.

  Samantha wasn’t paying attention to the men or to the sweaty cook who greeted them happily. Her attention was on the stacks of pancakes that Li Sing was packaging for breakfasts for laboring people who wouldn’t be coming to the mess. “Can I?”

  Li pouted. “You not wait four minutes?”

  Samantha grinned. “For fresh?”

  Li bobbed his head. “You get ‘em hot and sweet.”

  “I wait!” Samantha groaned and took the stool in the corner, plate and cup still in hand. She loved watching people cook. She’d even enjoyed the shows on TV. That was how she’d found Kendle’s program. Her cooking gals had been replaced by Survival Challenge and Samantha had been sucked in from episode one. She’d only lost track because of her lack of free time.

  Neil took a small plate of the muffins and fruit cups that had been chilled, and left the truck, not wanting anything as heavy as Li’s pancakes. They went down light, but hit hard. It was perfect for a mother-to-be with too much acid in her guts.

  Neil joined Doug at the table and noticed a small plastic device lying by the big man’s plate. It looked like a pen with a needle in the end and Neil winced when he realized what it was for. It would suck to have to poke yourself multiple times a day.

  “You gonna do it?” Peggy asked, glaring at Doug.

  Doug scowled, fork stopping. “Geez, woman! Let me eat!”

  “You’re supposed to do it before you eat,” Peggy insisted, picking up the tester. “Get it over with.”

  Doug’s big arm pushed it away, fork coming up. “Later!”

  Already pissed, Peggy leaned down and jabbed the needle into his hand.

  “There!”

  “Ow! What the hell!”

  Beep!

  Peggy eyed the readout and tilted it toward Doug. “You’re okay. You can eat now.”

  Doug cradled his hand, gaping at her. “You... You’re not… Ow!”

  Neil quietly left the table. It was safer inside the truck. Samantha would protect him.

  2

  “Tell them air in the pipes causes it, that they’ll hear it regularly. Compare it to the way the corn stalks howl.”

  Theo, tired, only nodded at Angela’s instruction. The eerie howl would worry some of their people, but most of them would accept that explanation. In time, he would want the truth, but right now, all he could think about was sleep. Even his complaints seemed unimportant and he had accepted Angela’s comments on the impossible not really being so.

  “Go on,” Angela ordered him off. “I’m good on updates.”

  “I should escort you in,” he stated uneasily. The bad vibes about her going in had lessened as the weariness caught up. “I don’t like not going over it all again when they’re finished.”

  “A few hours yet?” Angela asked.

  “Yes. They’re checking welds and ropes right now.”

  “Just have them tell Marc, instead of me,” Angela suggested, already sure Marc wouldn’t go to bed until after she was topside. “He’ll stay within an arm’s length of me at all times.”

  “Yeah, that’ll work,” Theo agreed. Marc would keep her safe no matter what happened. “Thanks.” Theo was in his bed in less than a minute, boots still on.

  Angela, waiting by the QZ gate, observed the two guards who had just ended their shift over Tara and Missy.

  “Boss,” Daryl greeted her. “New shifts up, QZ is clear.”

  “Good. Calm night?” Angela asked Kendle.

  “Uh, mostly. Kid had a bad dream. Both went back to sleep without coming out.”

  “What have you picked up?” Angela insisted, trying hard to treat Kendle like any other Eagle.

  Kendle frowned, though she’d been warned to be ready for this. “I only tried a couple times and couldn’t get anything from either of them. Like…steel doors and bottomless pits. Creepy.”

  Daryl’s expression said she should know, but he didn’t speak. He hadn’t said a single word to her during their shift and he planned to keep it that way.

  “Why?” Angela demanded, upset with them both. “She’s an Eagle. She fought in our war. Do your duty.”

  Angela rotated to scold Kendle and found the Survival Challenge star cringing away.

  “What the hell?”

  Daryl felt it too, though not as strongly, and was able to choke out, “Heat!”

  Angela immediately understood, forcing a barrier around herself that wouldn’t let anything get through without notice. “That’s me. Sorry.”

  Both Eagles recovered, but kept their distance, and Angela wasn’t offended. “It’s an emotion thing.”

  Uneasy, Kendle retreated further and Angela pinned her in place. “If you can’t try, you can’t stay.”

  “And I told you to teach her something on every shift.”

&nbs
p; Marc’s voice behind them held all the warmth of an iceberg.

  Daryl sputtered, “I waited until we weren’t on duty because I knew we’d fight and be distracted.”

  “Fine,” Marc approved. “What lesson?”

  “We’re going to the training tent to get her kai lessons going,” Daryl defended. “And you know I wouldn’t abuse my skills to hurt her.”

  “Does she know that?” Angela asked.

  “Uh,” Daryl turned to Kendle. “I wouldn’t, you know. No matter how mad you make me. I’m a good guy.”

  “There’s no such thing,” Kendle intoned, leading the way. “But come try to convince me anyway. I won’t be able to sleep yet. Maybe you can bore me into it.”

  Angela swallowed a snicker. She didn’t want to like Kendle, but that spunk was hard to ignore. If Kendle ever settled down, she would be leadership and as much as Angela hated it personally, she also was anticipating it. Kendle would be a vigorous defender.

  Of the women, her witch stated, still staying back and quietly taking energy to store.

  And those women will defend their men and children together. It will all work out in the end, Angela answered. She believed that, but she also knew it couldn’t happen without pieces falling into place perfectly. She wasn’t counting on that, but she wasn’t going to interfere with however fate chose to handle that future. She’d done her part. Now, others would attempt to do theirs.

  And when you end up on opposite sides? the witch questioned. Will you regret your actions then?

  Never! Angela swore furiously. Never.

  “Are you all right?” Daryl asked. Marc was scanning the foggy mountains cliffs and shadows, but Daryl had caught some of the emotions flashing across Angela’s face.

  “Distracted,” she answered, smiling a bit at the word. Distracted didn’t even come close to her mental state these days, but this was a vacation with servants compared to what was coming.

  “You know where I’ll be,” Daryl said dryly, and left them alone.

  Marc took a moment to admire Angela’s hair in the sharp sunrays that were beginning to break through. It was like fire dancing on darkness.

  Angela swept the defenses that Marc had handled overnight. She assumed he would keep going until she told him it was enough, which it wouldn’t ever be if the future didn’t change.

  Wanting to be sure he understood her views on it, she asked, “Can we add another tower, with a few more guns?”

  Marc’s expression was priceless.

  “Really? I love you so much!”

  Angela let the laughter roll and it brought the bubble over them to life.

  Those awake to witness it stared in approval and relief. The shield was brilliant blue, with steaks of green and gold–calm and happy. There were faint tinges of yellow and even orange here and there, but the majority of her people were safe and snug, and the small percentage didn’t dent her mood. It was much less than 17%.

  Marc, unhappy but unable to protest, said, “Theo’s ready for you. They had a great night.”

  “Sweet.” Angela didn’t have to be told that putting Jennifer with them had helped. It was why she’d assigned the girl there. Jennifer’s mind was a priceless resource and it would be used for the future. “Let’s go.”

  3

  “We’re all set,” Theo said, holding out a rope.

  Marc frowned, but still didn’t protest as Angela strode confidently to the cave entrance. She’d submitted to wearing his gear and the ropes, though none of the men were wearing them. There wasn’t anything else he could say to keep her from going inside that cave. Afterward, she was off-duty and supposed to eat, then sleep.

  “You stay close,” Marc ordered, unable to keep silent as he attached the final rope to his belt.

  “Yes, dear,” Angela joked. She understood his nervousness. She had a touch of it herself, but she didn’t want anyone to know.

  “Clear room,” Kyle ordered, he and a small crew coming to provide her escort. They would be leaving afterwards.

  Before she could protest, Kyle snapped a second line onto her caving belt, and then secured it to his own harness.

  “No offense,” he told Marc.

  Marc laughed, aware of Angela’s displeased expression. “None taken.”

  Angela refused to get upset and drew her personal bubble in tighter. Now that she knew it worked, she would teach the other pregnant women to do the same and cut down on awkward moments. She would also dedicate a new notebook to handling descendants.

  The cave entrance was wide and littered with cords and equipment. Only a small path was cleared through the boxes and crates of equipment that the building crews had requested first.

  Angela walked around them carefully, hoping the teams were establishing a system of organization. Things would go quicker.

  The cave floor was a nightmare and Angela understood Marc being so paranoid, but she wondered if Kyle had been this way with Jennifer while she worked in here.

  Not seeing the damp patch on the sheet of metal that had recently been dragged in to cover part of the gap, Angela’s boot slipped and sent her flailing toward the edge.

  Marc snapped his rope and caught her as she was jerked away from the danger zone.

  Angela clutched Marc’s arm, stomach cramping. “Change the belt–now.”

  Marc realized where the pressure had been centered and swore furiously as he worked the harness links. He hadn’t even thought about it.

  Angela concentrated on breathing evenly and the drip of the water down the walls. When she was reasonably confident everything was okay, she pulled out of Marc’s hands and headed for the next area.

  Shaken, Marc indicated for Kyle to take her side and tried to get his breathing under control. He and Kyle had agreed that Angela, more than anyone else here, was a target. She was clumsy at times and drew danger without meaning to, and she had reckless moments that they held little control over. Both males had agreed that until the cave was safe, Angela would be harnessed to at least one of them, but preferably both. Their caution had just been proven necessary and Marc was incredibly grateful for that decision. It all could have ended right there in front of him–a simple, agonizing arm’s length too short.

  Kyle’s men patted Marc’s shoulder as he caught up to the group, shortening the rope to Angela. They understood his near panic and respected him even more for roping her against her will.

  “This will be a main living area. TVs, games, and that list,” Angela instructed, trying not to think about how near she’d just been to death. “This next one will be perfect for our training.”

  The crew followed her through the first level of the cave, taking notes and staying close in case she slipped again. When they reached the second level, where a rope waited to transport them to the next landing, Angela felt the tension increase.

  “If I can’t do this, then the herd can’t do this,” Angela informed them, using Kyle’s arm for balance as she put her boot on the first rung of the rope ladder.

  Her point was hard to argue with and the males waited tensely for her to reach the bottom, where several Eagles were already standing guard. They had security set up throughout the caves and all the exits would be on camera as soon as the power was on.

  Angela climbed from the ladder, aware of Kyle waiting to drop down by the rope that had been put there for that reason. She got out of the way and his big body came through the hole.

  Kyle made contact with the sentries who had come over at the noise, and then took up a nearby post to wait for the rest of the crew.

  Angela, tethered to Kyle and Marc, also had to wait. She passed the time by studying what she could see of the caverns around them. This second level held multiple areas, each with their own set of tunnels and caves. She noted that the cleaners had been here too, but they hadn’t been able to remove the odor of dampness. Angela didn’t think there was enough bleach to accomplish that. Mildew and mold always lingered in caves.

  Once everyone was down
and in place, Marc nodded and Angela went into the first cavern, taking a mining hat from the box before he could tell her to. She flipped on the light and adjusted the angle, then led the way. This wasn’t something she needed to be scared of. It was something she needed to learn, to perfect, and then be able to pass to her herd. If they didn’t get a chance to try living here, nowhere would satisfy them.

  “We’ll make this the sleeping side,” Angela stated, pointing to natural cuts and crevices in the walls that would eventually be their shelving. “Same setup as usual, but I want Eagle stations in each area. One man, one female–one senior, one rookie.”

  Marc and Kyle were making notes, but the rest of their protection detail was paying attention to their surroundings and not caring for the shadows and the odd groans and moans of the earth. It was more than unsettling. It was nerve-wracking.

  “I want the bathrooms for the sleeping area over here,” Angela said as they entered an adjoining cavern. The smell of mold increased. “Once we reinforce that gap, it might be perfect for the composting toilets.”

  Angela pointed at a small indent in the center. “Put a washing system there, something for hands and faces for half a dozen people at a time.”

  Angela moved to the cavern across from the sleeping side and immediately spotted a ledge that they needed. “Use this room for the showers. Have the buffalos put on that ledge, once it’s evaluated and supported. Place the showers in a six-cube around an Eagle station–same setup as the sleeping. One male, one female–one senior, one rookie.”

  “That’s going to cause some problems,” Marc commented, thinking of their more prudish and shy members.

  “I prefer they’re safe and not raped,” Angela stated. “The women will get over it after hearing you say that. Also, it allows the men to be in the next shower over, so they know their female or child is protected.”

  “We’re using the new stalls, right?” Kyle verified. “The ones with the full doors?”

  “Yes. The Eagles will only be there to prevent problems and because of their presence, there shouldn’t be any,” Angela answered, sweeping the walls for bugs. She didn’t detect anything crawling, but knew better than to think insects weren’t down here. “We’ll need something for the bugs. A gel maybe, so it won’t be ruined by the dampness.”