by Robert Boren
“Is that what does the blocking of the enemy?” Sydney asked.
“No, the blocking happens automatically when the buzz happens. If you ignore the buzz, it’s no big deal. You can run the app at any time, and it’ll try to track any phone that’s tried to gain access. You can use the check boxes in the list to determine which ones you want to actively track.”
“Cool,” Don said. “And you’re sure they can’t track me by my phone anymore?”
“I’m sure,” Curt said. “Not unless they make a pretty big change to their program. I’ll figure that out in a hurry.”
“What if they do?” Sydney asked.
“Then I’ll roll out an update,” Curt said. “You know, just like Apple or Microsoft do when somebody finds a security flaw.”
“Sounds like a full-time job,” Don said. “You should train some other people on this.”
“I plan on it,” Curt said. “Sydney’s phone is done.” He pulled it off the cable and handed it to her.
“Thanks,” Sydney said. “You don’t have to run me through it. I was watching when Don did it.”
“Thanks, Curt,” Don said.
“Yeah, thanks,” Sydney said.
“No problem.” Curt winked. “You two take care. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
Sydney flashed an embarrassed smile at him as they walked away.
“He’s got another hour before he gets done, assuming this is the tail end of the line,” Sydney whispered as they left the clubhouse.
“Yeah, he’s been hitting it hard,” Don said. “That guy is really impressive.”
“He is,” she said. “I suppose he’ll make a good brother-in-law.”
“You think him and Amanda are getting that serious?”
Sydney chuckled. “She’s already that serious. Not sure about him yet. I barely know him.”
“What are you gonna do now? Help your sis?”
“Nah, I wasn’t kidding back there. I’ll only slow her down. What are you gonna do?”
“Talk to Moe about that trailer,” he said. “Want to tag along?”
“Hmmm, why would you want me along?” she asked, coy look on her face.
“Still playing that little game, huh?”
“I like the little game,” she said. “Just as long as we don’t get too far ahead of ourselves.”
Moe saw them walking up from behind the counter in the office. “Hey, you make up your mind?”
“I think so,” Don said, “Mind if I look at it one more time?”
“Not at all,” he said, pulling a ring of keys out of a drawer. He handed them to Don. “Help yourself.”
“You don’t want to go with us?” Don asked.
“No, I’m too busy,” he said. “I trust you.”
“Okay, thanks,” Don said. He picked the keyring off of the counter and left with Sydney.
“You sure you don’t want me to go someplace else while you do this?” Sydney asked.
“No, I want you to come along,” Don said. “I want to know what you think, just in case.”
“Just in case, huh?” Sydney asked, her eyes dancing. “My, but aren’t you getting forward all of a sudden.”
“No pressure,” Don said.
“I never do anything I don’t want to do,” she said. “Let’s go.”
They walked past the clubhouse to the storage yard.
“Glad Amanda isn’t here to see where I’m going,” Sydney said.
“Why?”
“You know,” she said. “I’d never hear the end of it.”
“Do you really care that much?” Don asked as they approached the trailer.
“I should ask you the same question. Where’s your daughters?”
Don smiled. “There were some other kids their age with Gray’s group. They’re over there, chilling for a while.”
“Chilling?” Sydney giggled. “You worried they might do more than chill?”
Don sighed. “Not any more than I did when we were in Deadwood.” He unlocked the trailer door and held it open for Sydney.
“This is pretty nice inside,” Sydney said as she looked around. “Nice wood paneling.”
“I think somebody refurbished it within the last few years,” Don said, sitting at the dinette. “The upholstery is new. Look.”
“Yes, that’s nice,” Sydney said. “Move over.” She slid next to him on the bench. “Four could eat here, no problem.”
“Fridge is a little small,” Don said. He lifted his arm and put it on the back of the bench seat behind Sydney. She looked at him, shy smile on her face.
“Oh, go ahead,” she said, pulling his hand down, his arm going on her shoulders. She leaned into him. “I could see myself living in this trailer. No problem.”
“Then I should take it?” he asked. “You’ve only seen this part. Maybe we should look at the rest of the place.”
“Lead the way,” she said, sliding off the bench seat so he could get up.
“Well, there’s a nice couch up at the front,” he said, leading her too it. “With these windows. The covers crank up to work as awnings, and the windows open. Screens look new.”
She sat on the couch. “Not bad. I assume this turns into a bed?”
“Yeah,” Don said. “There’s a bed in the back too, with a door that closes.”
“Oh, that’s what that door is,” she asked, grinning at him. “The door across from the fridge is the bathroom, I take it.”
“Yeah,” Don said. “The shower isn’t much, but we can use the RV Park showers. They’re pretty nice.”
“It’s we now, is it?”
Don’s face turned red. “I meant the overall we. You know, everybody. Park residents.”
“I know what you meant.” She chuckled and got up, walking to the bathroom, peeking inside. “Oh, I don’t know, I think I could use this shower. No problem. How’s that bedroom?”
“Go on in,” Sydney said.
She opened the door and went in. “Not much storage.”
“There’s more under the bed,” Don said.
Sydney laid down on the bed and stretched out. “This isn’t bad.”
Don watched her, eyes softening, heart beating harder.
“Get on, and let’s see how it takes two people,” Sydney said.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Don said.
“Don’t worry, I won’t let you have me,” she said. “At least not yet, anyway.”
Don smirked and laid down next to her, on his back. “Not too bad.”
Sydney rolled on her side towards him, putting her arm over his chest, her mouth coming to his for a kiss. They moaned into it together. Sydney broke it and got off the bed. “Gonna go talk to Moe?”
He looked up at her, heart pounding, staring at her beautiful face framed by her jet-black mane. “You’re something else.”
“C’mon,” she said. “Time’s a wasting.”
He got up and followed her to the door. She turned back to him, snaking her arms around his neck, kissing him once more.
“Wow,” he said as she turned from him and opened the door. “What was that for?”
“Just in case the first one wasn’t enough,” she said. “I think you got the message.”
“Did you?” he asked, following her out. She turned to him.
“Yeah, the first time you looked at me,” she said softly. “Let’s go.”
Don paused to lock up the trailer, and then they walked back to the office hand in hand.
Chapter 5 – Emergency Room
“Dammit,” Lita said, fidgeting in the emergency room as Madison’s foot was being stitched back together.
“Still no luck with the base phone?” Hannah asked.
“No, it just rings and rings,” Lita said. “How’s she doing?”
“The pain killer has her pretty loopy,” Hannah said. “We’re lucky she’s the only one who stepped on that thing.”
“Madison?” Lita asked.
“Don’t bother her
now,” the young doctor said. “It’s better if she sleeps through this.”
“Sorry,” Lita said.
“You guys still can’t reach your men?” he asked.
“We had to ditch our cellphones,” Hannah said. “Our land lines were in the trailers, and they all got hit.”
“I’m surprised we didn’t get hit harder,” the doctor said. “They only hit ten buildings, and seven of them were at the same trailer park.”
“You heard that?” Lita asked. “Where?”
“Radio news,” he said.
“What about the base?” Hannah asked.
“You mean down there where the fish company used to be?”
“Yeah,” Hannah said.
“There was a battle there, but the only part blown away was the airstrip behind it. Bunch of enemy choppers got shot down by our boys. Must have been something to watch.”
“How many people got killed?” Lita asked, heart pounding.
“They didn’t know yet, but that was a couple hours ago. Just about sun-up. Heard it on the drive in here.”
“They’re frantic,” Hannah said. “If they’re still alive.”
“Stop,” Lita said. “Don’t even think that.”
The doctor looked at Lita. “Why don’t you guys call the cops and tell them where you are? Maybe they can help bring you together faster.”
“That’s a good idea,” Lita said. “Is there a phone I can use?”
“Yeah,” the doctor said. “On the wall by the door. Dial nine.”
“Thanks,” Lita said. She rushed to it.
“So you girls were running from the trailer park?” the doctor asked. “In bare feet?”
Hannah shook her head yes. “The attack happened fast. We didn’t have time to put on shoes.”
“That field you ran through belongs to a fishing equipment repair company,” the doctor said. “All kinds of jagged metal laying around out there.”
The nurse walked in, carrying a tray with a hypodermic needle sitting on it. “Here you go, doctor.”
“Thanks, Mary,” he said. “Put it down next to me. Need both hands to finish the stitches.”
“What’s that?” Hannah asked.
“Tetanus shot,” the doctor said. “Just in case.”
“Oh,” Hannah said. “Good idea. Is she gonna heal up okay?”
“Yes, but she’ll be on crutches for a few weeks.”
“Got the police,” Lita said as she walked over. “There’s several cops working the scene at the trailer park. They’re going to call them and let them know, in case the guys are back there.”
“How about the base?” Hannah asked.
“They’ll check there for us too,” Lita said.
The doctor gave Madison the tetanus shot, and then stood up next to her. “She’s going to be out for a little while. She’ll be in pain when she wakes up. I want to keep her here overnight. You know what medical coverage she has?”
“No idea,” Lita said. “I don’t even know how to find out without asking her.”
“Yeah, our purses got blown up back at the RV Park,” Hannah said. “I don’t even have a driver’s license.”
“Okay, let’s not worry about it,” the doctor said. “You can stick around here, but in the waiting room.”
“Okay,” Lita said. “C’mon, Hannah.”
Hannah took a last look at Madison, then followed Lita into the waiting room. When they got there, Lita broke down, Hannah rushing to her. They hugged each other and sobbed.
“I hope they get here soon,” Hannah said. “I keep picturing Brendan floating dead in the water.”
“Stop it,” Lita said. “Please. They have to be okay.”
The door burst open. “Lita!” Richardson said, taking her into his arms.
“Oh, thank God,” Lita cried, hugging him hard.
Brendan rushed to Hannah, hugging her tight as they both cried.
“Where’s Madison?” Juan Carlos cried, shaking with worry.
“She’ll be okay,” Lita said. “She’s in there, but she’s out. Cut her foot up pretty bad.”
Juan Carlos went to the door. It was locked. He knocked on it, and a nurse came through.
“Yes?” the nurse asked.
“Madison,” he said, trying to get around her.
“Wait,” she asked. “Are you family?”
“Fiancé,” Juan Carlos said.
The nurse hesitated for a moment. “Okay, but don’t wake her. She’s had painkillers. She’s in bed three.”
Juan Carlos rushed inside. He froze when he saw her in the bed, her foot bandaged up. He got on his knees next to the bed and prayed for her. “Oh, Madison.”
“She’ll be okay,” the doctor said. “You Juan Carlos?”
“Yes,” he said, getting to his feet. “She asked for me?”
“When we first brought her in. We pumped her full of Demerol as soon as we saw how badly her foot was damaged.”
“What happened?” Juan Carlos asked.
“According to the others, they were running away from the trailer park during the attack last night. She stepped on some sharp metal in a field behind the park.”
“She isn’t going to lose her foot, is she?”
The doctor chuckled. “No, no, nothing that bad,” he said. “She’s got stitches, and I gave her a tetanus shot. She’ll be in a lot of pain, and she’ll be on crutches for a little while, but none of her tendons got cut.”
“Thank God,” Juan Carlos said, relief on his face. “Can I stay in here with her?”
“She’ll be out for hours,” the doctor said.
“I don’t care,” Juan Carlos said. “She’s my whole life.”
“Okay, I’ll have a chair brought over. Don’t wake her.”
“I won’t,” Juan Carlos said. “Thanks, doc.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Chapter 6 – Bonding
“Hey, Jason, better check this out,” Carrie yelled from their coach. He ran over.
“What happened?” he asked as he climbed the steps.
“More attacks in Austin,” she said, nodding to the screen.
“Hi, daddy,” Chelsea said. “Look at the smoke.”
“Hi, sweet pea,” Jason said. He sat on the couch next to her and focused on the news story.
“Where’s the commentary?” Jason asked. “They say what those places are? They’re not that close to the Capitol.”
“It’s weird,” Carrie said. “They’re not saying anything. Oh, wait, here they come.”
The news anchor was shown sitting behind the desk, dressed in suit and tie with graying hair. The video continued in a small window in the corner of the screen.
“Here’s what we know. Two Texas State buildings were attacked, just hours after the attack on the Governor’s Mansion and the attempted attack on the Capitol building. One of the new locations was the official residence of Senate President Pro Tempore Kip Hendrix. The other was an annex of the Capitol, used mainly for training and emergency services coordination. Both of these locations have emergency bunkers underneath them. They’re part of the structure used to protect the Texas Government in case of an extreme emergency such as a nuclear attack.”
“What’s wrong?” Carrie asked, watching Jason’s brow furrow.
“Governor Nelson was going to the bunker under Kip Hendrix’s house,” Jason said. “I hope they didn’t take him out. That would be a disaster.”
“Oh no,” Carrie said, sitting on the couch next to him.
“Mommy, this scares me,” Chelsea said.
“It’s okay, sweetie,” Carrie said. “Why don’t you go play with your stickers?”
“Okay.” She got off the couch and ran to her play box to get the sticker books.
“Think the bunker was strong enough to survive that?” Carrie asked, watching the video from a chopper flying overhead.
“Probably,” Jason said. “It’s hardened for a nuclear attack.”
“Hey, bro,” Eric said
from the doorway.
“You see this?” Jason asked, nodding to the screen.
“Oh, shit,” Eric said when he saw it. “What the hell happened?”
“Somebody tried to take out two bunkers in Austin,” Jason said.
Kim walked in behind Eric. “What’s that you said?”
“Attack on Austin, sweetie,” Eric said to her.
“We’ve just gotten word that Governor Nelson has survived the attack unharmed. We don’t have any information on his immediate location. The city of Austin is on lockdown until further notice. Please stay shelter in place until we’re sure that the attack is over.”
“So those were both government buildings?” Kim asked.
“Somebody’s hunting the leadership,” Eric said. “This is bad. We’ve still got traitors in the government.”
“That’s what I’m thinking,” Jason said.
“Hey, Jason, you see the news?” Kelly shouted from outside. Jason got up and went to the door.
“Yeah, we’re watching it now. The anchor just said Nelson wasn’t hurt in the attack.”
“Good,” Kelly said. “That’s a relief. I’m gonna go back to Junior’s rig and watch it. Just wanted to make sure you knew.”
“Thanks, man,” Jason said. Kelly smiled and left, Brenda joining him as he walked towards Junior’s Brave.
“We could still lose this,” Carrie said. “Couldn’t we?”
“Yeah,” Jason said.
“What if they attack this place like they attacked those locations?” Kim asked.
“We’d be in big trouble,” Eric said. “It’s not like we have bunkers to escape into.”
“That’s why we were afraid of staying here,” Carrie said. “It’s so exposed.”
“Did they say how the bombs were delivered?” Eric asked.
“Not that I’ve heard yet,” Carrie said.
“This is getting worse,” Jason said. “You guys heard about what happened in Corpus Christi, didn’t you?”
“No,” Eric said. “I don’t have a TV in the Class C.”
“Somebody used one of those devices that took out the dam at Falcon Lake,” Jason said. “Took out a refinery and a lot of harbor infrastructure.”
“We can’t afford to be losing oil refineries or harbor capability,” Eric said. “This sucks.”