“Why the hell weren’t you two accountants?” Bruce asked. He loved the idea of a huge ass underground storage area but leave it to the women to bring rational reason to the table, like always.
“Did you say something baby?” Debbie asked in a dangerous tone.
“No baby, I didn’t say a word,” Bruce replied, trying to look innocent, but nobody bought it.
Debbie turned away from Bruce to look at Paul. “What about clearing most of an acre and building an eighty thousand square foot area underground? Using my calculations we can still store over five hundred million rounds in one level even without double stacking,” Debbie asked Paul. Before he could answer, Nancy spoke up.
“That size we could do in four weeks,” Nancy added.
“Well, I guess so,” Paul replied.
“Ok that’s settled, next item please Paul,” Debbie said tired of that argument and getting ready for the next, if the need arose. She knew the boys meant well but someone had to keep them under control. This was a never ending fight for her and Nancy, but she had to admit they were getting very good at reigning in the two.
“I want to get some 4x8 three quarter inch plywood and circle the fence on the inside with the plywood. Then brace it with 2x4’s. Next build an earthen berm behind the plywood. My rough calculations figure about eight tons per foot across the fence. Not only would it stop a mob from knocking over our fence but also gun fire or someone trying to knock it down. The five acre hole we were going to dig was going on the fence,” Paul replied trying for the big area again.
“See, he’s thinking ahead, let’s do the big storage area,” Mike said hopefully to the wives.
“No, we will get the dirt from elsewhere. This’s a great idea Paul. Debbie and I were just talking and we want at least ten more forty foot cargo containers buried on the property,” Nancy replied as matter of fact.
“With a big storage area, we won’t need those other containers,” Mike told her.
“If for some reason your man cave storage area blows up. Because of your boy toys that you men want to put in there, we want to make sure we have stuff left to survive on. Don’t put all of your eggs in the same basket remember. One is none and two is one,” Nancy said looking at the duo.
Damn it, Bruce hated it when the wives used his own words to win an argument. Bruce finally gave up, “Ok, we won’t build the coolest storage area ever. We will build the small punk one and we’ll be happy with it. Next Paul,” he said. Debbie and Nancy looked at him with eye brows pinched together not sure if he had insulted them.
“The towers, I was just goin’ to get some hunting towers and place them around the inside of the fence. Mike said we could use them for blue’s and lay behind the berm if we’re attacked by a gang,” Paul replied putting his notebook down.
“What about the animals?” Debbie asked.
“They’re all at the same farm where the back hoe and bulldozer are at. I was thinking ten more milk cows, hundred more chickens and a dozen pigs,” Paul said. Debbie and Nancy clapped with joy as the rest of the family bowed their heads groaning. The Mama’s had finally won the pig vote. The farmer wanted them here.
“Y’all have a hundred and ten acres fenced in here. You have two twenty acre fields in the back to rotate livestock. Adding the garden, buildings, orchard, chicken house, quail, rabbits, pheasant and the pond you have over fifty acres that aren’t being used. We need every square foot inside the fence producing,” Paul told them.
“Fine, bring the damn pigs in I don’t care,” Bruce told Paul as the wives clapped. Sure they got their damn pigs but did he and Mike get the cool storage area, oh no. Bruce was convinced it was a conspiracy, they got pigs but he and Mike couldn’t get the cool storage area. Bruce turned to Jake, “What’s the area like after our little hike?”
“South of us, the blues are dispersed over a large area. We have several thousand around us with the closest being less than a mile. Warlord has taken out blues that haven’t come down the road, those are taken out by the guard in the fort. In the last forty eight hours, the count is at one hundred and twenty eight blue’s shot. This afternoon we need to gather up the bodies. We have only shot four since change of shift this morning. In our twenty mile circumference I put the number at five thousand give or take,” Jake finished his report.
“Matt, what intelligence reports do you have to add?” Bruce asked.
“Nothing much, just on the radio the remnants of government are in Colorado and telling survivors to come there, it’s just a recording. No live broadcast in two weeks. There’re a lot of gangs on the move. People are reporting the blues are getting smarter. They’re ambushing now and they’re killing people and not trying to infect. No reports of using human intelligence but definite increase in animal instinct. They now wait around for a large group to take on a large concentration of humans,” Matt stated.
“Ok, order of action,” Bruce said standing up moving the sleeping twins off of him. “First we’re sending out four teams. One each direction of the compass to set up on the roof of a house, the team will make noise and kill whatever shows up. Each team will take at least ten thousand rounds of ammo and set up for three days unless we run out of targets. Conner, I want you to have all three Strykers ready to roll out in case the teams get in some serious shit. Have teams ready to roll in ten minutes of a call.”
“The four teams will each have four members. I will post teams later today. Matt and Jake you will both be here manning mission control. After we return from our hunting trip, two teams are goin’ shopping and another is going to secure the survivors.”
“It’s mid-October and the first frost usually comes around Thanksgiving. I want the buildings and fence done before the end of the month. We have a lot to get done during the winter. Check the board in the morning to see where you’re assigned for this mission. I have fort duty from six to midnight so don’t bug me. Don’t think because I don’t send you on a team I don’t think you’re ready. Someone has to guard the farm and be ready to pull our asses out if it goes bad. Everyone here will have to learn to be a warrior and do their part. Now, is there any other business that needs to be addressed?” Bruce asked. Frank raised his little hand and Bruce pointed at him.
Frank lowered his hand, “Can we go swimming Mr. Bruce?” Frank asked.
Bruce smiled looking at Frank wanting to thank the little boy for reminding him kids were here. “Yes Frank, after lunch we can go swimming but no yelling. Everyone must be quiet ok,” Bruce told him.
After lunch everyone that was not on duty was by the swimming pool. Bruce and Mike were sitting at the picnic table with an umbrella both wearing full combat gear. Most everyone else was wearing bathing suits but had weapons and gear set in piles on the back side of the house. Danny was teaching Buffy hand to hand fighting on some mats that they had spread out. All the wives were laid out in the sun. Bruce was looking at Debbie in her bikini. Bruce was mad that he had kids sleeping in his bed as he drooled, inspecting Debbie’s sexy body.
Reluctantly, Bruce turned to watch Danny teach Buffy how to punch correctly, on a punching bag. Danny and Buffy were in shorts, t-shirts and tennis shoes. Letting out a low growl, Bruce watched Conner walk over to his girls. From the look in Conner’s eyes, Bruce could tell Conner wasn’t looking at Danny in admiration of her fighting style. Yep he was going to have to say something to that boy. Granted Conner was twenty and Bruce did like him, but don’t be drooling over his baby girl. Bruce just wanted to tell him he had better treat his girl with respect or Bruce would break his legs. Since the last paintball game Bruce knew who had Danny’s heart. Bruce sat listening to the conversation.
Conner walked up to Danny and Buffy, “Want me to teach both of ya a few techniques?” he asked.
“No thank you, I know more hand to hand than you. I hold two black belts in different forms plus the extra stuff Daddy and Daddy Mike have taught me,” Danny replied politely and honestly to Conner never taking her eyes off of Buffy as she
continued to hit the bag.
“I’m not saying you aren’t good Danny. I saw you with the gimp but he’s not much of an opponent. I will show you how to bring down a man,” Conner stated.
“You think I can’t take a man down?” Danny asked in a pissed tone holding up her hand for Buffy to stop then turned to Conner.
“You’re a teenage girl,” Conner pointed out.
“I weigh one hundred and fifty six pounds at 5’6” with 12% body fat. I can bench press my body weight. I may be built like a girl but I can kick your ass all over this farm,” Danny stated as matter of fact.
“I doubt that. I’ve studied martial arts for ten years,” Conner said with an air of confidence.
“Ok let’s have a full contact match. The first one that taps out has to shine the others boots for two months,” Danny said crossing her arms across her chest.
“I don’t want to hurt you Danny and you would get hurt,” Conner said folding his arms across his chest.
“So, you are scared of me then,” Danny said smiling.
“I’m not scared of you. I just don’t want to hurt you,” Conner replied in a firm tone. Bruce got up and headed toward them before Danny beat the shit out of Conner.
“Danny that’s enough,” Bruce told her.
“Listen to your Dad, Danny. I don’t want to hurt you,” Conner replied smiling.
Bruce turned to Conner, “I’m not worried about you hurting her. I’m worried that she will hurt you son.”
“She can’t hurt me sir,” Conner replied.
“See Daddy, let me show him this little girl can kick his ass. You can referee and if one of us gets carried away you can stop it,” Danny replied looking at Conner.
“If you get on that mat Conner, I promise you, you’ll lose,” Bruce told him.
“I doubt that sir,” Conner replied taking off his BDU top then his boots and socks.
“I’m not going to stand between a man and an ass whopping. Danny, don’t break any of his bones or put him out of action. We have a lot to do tomorrow,” Bruce told her. Some of the confidence washed off of Conner’s face when Bruce told Danny that but not him. Debbie having heard the conversation walked over.
“Conner, don’t do it. You’re about to get hurt,” Debbie told him as she stood beside Bruce.
“Don’t worry m-am, I won’t get hurt and I won’t hurt your little girl. I’m a man after all. I outweigh her by thirty pounds and I’m four inches taller than her,” Conner replied stepping on the mat with pride. Debbie just stared at the cocky young man with her mouth open.
Debbie looked at Danny and told her, “Kick his ass Danny, just don’t hurt him to bad.”
Bruce looked down at Debbie standing at his side and wondered who this woman was and where was his wife. Looking back at the mat, Bruce saw the two get in opposite corners. “When I yell break, you’d better break or I’m coming in there, is that clear Danny?” Bruce told both of them, but was looking at Danny. Conner and Danny replied they understood and Bruce said go.
Conner charged Danny to try and grab her and use his weight against her. Danny side stepped and kicked him in the stomach. Then she kicked the back of his leg bringing Conner to his knees where she punched him in the face knocking him down. Before Danny could get on top of him and commence the beat down, Bruce yelled, “Break.” Danny stomped her foot glaring at her Dad and went to her corner.
Conner pulled himself off of the mat shaking his head as he stood up. No one in the clan was swimming now. Everyone had come over to stand around the mat watching the fight.
“Conner, do you yield?” Bruce asked him.
“No, she just got lucky,” he replied walking back to his corner. A look of anger washed over Danny’s face.
“Young lady you watch your control,” Bruce told her in a firm voice seeing Danny’s face then he told them ‘go.’
Conner didn’t make the same mistake twice. He advanced slowly toward Danny this time throwing a right punch then a snap kick. Danny blocked both with ease then snapped a kick into Conner’s thigh that made him wince in pain. Conner’s next punches and kicks were full force but Danny blocked and dodged them. When Conner threw his next kick, Danny dropped down and kicked through the leg that Conner was standing on, sending him crashing into the mat. Danny continued her kick but brought it back in an arc driving her heel into Conner’s solar plexus. The air in Conner’s lungs deflated through his mouth.
Danny jumped beside Conner, grabbed his arm and rolled him over onto his stomach. Danny put her foot in Conner’s arm pit, wrapped his arm around her leg then kneeled on Conner’s back. As his arm bent in the unnatural angle, the stars he had in his head left as the pain hit. Anyway he tried to move sent waves of pain through him. Danny leaned forward sending more pain through him. Conner knew she could break his arm in two places and dislocate his shoulder if she leaned forward anymore. He was fighting through the pain when he heard.
“Tap out or I’ll break it before my Daddy can stop me,” Danny told him. Conner tapped the mat as Bruce ran over to pull Danny off. Danny stood up letting Conner go before Bruce made it to her. “I have three pairs of combat boots. The pair I wear for guard duty, I want you to make them shine. The others, just clean and polish them,” Danny told Conner as she walked away with Bruce watching her.
Bruce helped Conner up making sure he was alright. Conner looked at him and said, “Damn, I was state champion three years in a row. When she hit me, I swear my insides shook.”
“Conner, I’ve trained her since she was five. Besides myself and Mike the only people here that can take her are her four brothers. Sometimes I think she just doesn’t want to hurt them. Debbie can take her but won’t for the same reason,” Bruce told him.
“Sir, if I ever do somethin’ that stupid again, I want you to shoot me with that Taser gun,” Conner replied moving his arm around making sure it still worked.
“Every man must have a lesson in humility Conner,” Bruce told him.
“I just got a whole semester of it,” Conner replied then walked, over to Danny.
“I apologize for underestimating you. Where’re your boots?” Conner asked her.
“Don’t worry about it. You’ve apologized so forget the boots,” Danny told him grabbing a bottle of water taking a drink.
“A deal is a deal, where’re your boots?” Conner replied.
Danny pointed to her pile of clothes, “Those are the boots I wear on guard duty.”
“Have your boots down every night after supper and I will polish them. I don’t think your Dad would like me coming up stairs to your room to get them,” Conner told her heading to grab her boots.
“Why? You can’t hurt me,” Danny replied, stating fact as far as she was concerned.
“Danny, I’m now scared of you but I’m terrified of your Dad. If you can do that to a man, I don’t even want to think what he could do to someone he thought might be sneakin’ to his daughter’s room,” Conner told her picking up her boots. “You fight good Danny and I’ll always be on your team,” Conner told her as he walked off to shine her boots. Danny just smiled as he walked off.
After the sparing match, those who were swimming went back. Buffy was looking at Danny with awe as they started the training session up again. Mike came back after leading a group to collect dead blues and throw them to a huge gator population now. At five everyone went in for supper.
Bruce ate fast, when he go up to start his guard duty he saw Buffy get up. Motioning her to sit back down, Bruce told her no. She was staying in the house and she was to watch the twins. With a discouraged look Buffy told him ok and walked over standing beside the girls. Bruce grabbed his equipment and headed to the fort.
As Bruce settled in the fort he took out his notebook to make the teams. Looking up at the monitors, he saw three blues walking down the road in the furthest camera on the road, almost a mile from the house. Grabbing his AR-10, Bruce opened up the window and waited until they came down the road. When the three came i
nto view, they were four hundred yards away. Bruce squeezed the trigger three times sending out three 7.62, go away requests. All three just dropped in the road.
Standing his rifle up in the corner, Bruce picked his pen back up. Watching the monitors while he wrote, Bruce noticed someone leave the house and head toward him. He glanced down at his watch reading 9:30. It was not his relief. It was not until the person got behind the fort that he saw it was Debbie as she climbed up the steps to the fort. Bruce opened up the door for her.
“What do I owe for the pleasure of your company ma-am?” he asked as she walked in and he closed the door.
“The kids are asleep and I just wanted to be with you,” Debbie replied walking to the far end of the fort looking out the window.
Bruce sat down in the chair looking at the monitors, “Well pull up a chair baby and let’s watch some monitors,” he said.
“I saw you staring at me by the swimming pool today,” Debbie told him. Bruce looked up at her realizing she was wearing a bathrobe.
“Well, I really couldn’t help it baby, you were in a little bikini,” Bruce told her grinning.
Debbie dropped her robe to the floor still wearing her bikini, “I thought you might want a closer look.”
“Baby, I’m not saying I’m not turned on big time but I’m on guard duty,” Bruce said dropping the grin looking up and down at Debbie.
“Well, I guess we just have to be quick then,” she replied.
“Quick is really not my style baby. You know I like to bring a lunch and stay awhile,” Bruce told her not believing what was coming out of his mouth. He was actually making excuses so his hot wife would not jump his body.
“I never said how many times we had to be quick, now did I,” Debbie replied smiling at him with a naughty grin.
Bruce stood up and started dropping equipment saying, “Oh yea hot mama.”
Chapter 10
Bruce woke to the sound of the alarm clock going off at 4:50a.m. He hit the off button with the clock only letting out a few chirps. Looking around the bed he saw everyone was asleep. He got out of bed and took a quick shower then dressed in the now familiar BDU’s and tactical vest. Checking his weapons over he slung his SCAR and grabbed his pack. Reaching back into the bed he picked up a sleeping PJ trying to hold him so something on his vest wasn’t poking him.
Blue Plague Survival Page 14