by L T Anderson
Ryker looked at Dion. “We’re on our way to the Depot. Sit tight.”
Chapter 42
Earth Movers
By early afternoon, the fog had lifted in and around Tremayne. Activity on the west side had increased to an uncomfortable level. Two-room temporary housing units filled the once-empty vacant lots in Old Town. The portability of the buildings facilitated ease of setup and breakdown. Signs on the small structures advertised free housing for the homeless. All one had to do was sign their name and catch the next shuttle to the designated area on the outskirts of Old Town. The lines of homeless families, couples and individuals had become so numerous it was hard to distinguish between those waiting to sign up for their new homes and others awaiting their shuttle to the outskirts.
Will peered through his infrared biocular from a standing position through the center hatch in his BearCat. He attempted to count the number of vehicles headed toward him at Tremayne’s west checkpoint. Gotta be a hundred trucks…at least. He flipped his headset’s mic down. “Nico, Nico. It’s Will. Do you copy?”
“Gotcha, Will. It’s Nico. Go ahead.”
“I’m not really sure why, but there’s about a hundred or so trucks rolling this way.”
“Copy that, Will. What kind of trucks?”
“Big ones. Looks like they’ve got those huge earth movers on the back.”
“10-4, Will. The Changers are probably setting up to clear some more land for another housing area.”
“I’m sure of that, bro. But there’s enough machinery coming to scrape land for ten new subdivisions.”
“They’re definitely stepping up the pace.”
“I’m heading over there. We gotta stop this. At least slow it down.”
“10-4. Leave six Cats at the checkpoint. It shouldn’t take more than four of you. Keep me apprised. I’ll contact headquarters.”
Ryker walked over to the communications console in the Depot and patted Ace on the shoulder. “Move over, buddy.”
Dion caught Ace’s attention. “Have you heard back yet?”
“Yeah. Jimbo radioed in a minute ago. Said they were just pulling up to the gate.”
Ryker’s impatience got to him. He tapped the talk button. “Hey, Krys. It’s Ryker. Do you copy?”
The response was immediate. “Stand by, Ryk.”
Ryker sat back in the command chair and looked at Dion. “Guess we finally get to meet Felix.”
“Yeah,” Dion said. “Six months ago if you’d told me we’d willingly allow Changers to hole up here, I’d have laughed.”
The radio cracked. “Copy, Ryk? Krystal. It’s Dr. Yaz, all right. We’re 10-19.”
“10-4, Krys. Meet us in the Depot.”
“Break, break. Nico here. Ryker, you got the console now?”
Ryker stepped away to make room for Ace.
“Ace here, Nico. What’s up?”
“Not quite sure yet. Just advising you there’s some activity on the west side. A shit-ton of big trucks rolling in with earth movers.”
Ryker looked at Dion. “More housing tracts already?”
“Copy that, Nico,” Ace said. “What’s your move?”
“Will’s headed that way. We’re gonna try a little blockade. I’ll need some direction, though.”
“Stand by, Nico.”
Technicians manned every computer terminal in the War Room at Changers headquarters. Levi, Silver, Curtis, Johnny and Xander stood dead center viewing a flat-screen on one wall. The convoy of earth movers displayed on the monitor extended more than two miles along the eastbound rural highway.
Levi barked orders to the technician at the control console. “What’s that activity?” He pointed at the monitor. “Five miles from the city limit.”
The technician glanced at his monitor. He used two touch pads to obtain the proper coordinates and zoom the camera. “Five foreign vehicles, sir.”
“Status?” Levi said.
“Hostile, sir.”
Silver snorted. “Punks.”
“Negotiation time, Leader?” Xander said.
Levi smiled and crossed his arms. “Let me think about this.”
Curtis looked at Levi. “There’s nothing to think about. Blow through the blockade.”
Johnny smiled and gently patted Curtis’ shoulder. “I like your style, bud.”
The technician pressed a button on the console. “Convoy Unit One, this is Control One. Do you copy?”
“Control One. Convoy Unit One. Go ahead.”
“Unit One, you have a hostile blockade in your path. Approximately two miles ahead. Stand by for orders.” The technician sat straight and stared at his screen.
Curtis looked at the huge monitor. He recognized the five BearCats. He looked back at Levi.
Levi stroked his chin and gazed at the big screen.
Curtis leaned over the technician and pressed the talk button. “Convoy Unit One. Continue to your destination. Ram the blockade.”
Will had parked his BearCat in the center of the highway facing the convoy of earth movers. One BearCat was stationed on either side of him. Two additional trucks filled the gaps behind the three.
He squinted into the sun, pulled his goggles down off his helmet and flipped his mic down. “They’re coming in hot, guys.”
The driver in Unit Two responded. “Copy that, Will. I got ’em clocked at about sixty MPH. We activated the highway warning sign at three clicks out. Hope they can read.”
“First ten trucks already passed that sign,” Unit Three said.
“Unit One, Will. Unit Four here. We’re backing out, 10-4?”
Will cranked the ignition on his vehicle. “All units, pull out! All units pull out!”
His eyes were glued to his right-hand side-view mirror. Come on. Come on, come on! He jammed the gearshift into reverse and pressed the accelerator to the floor. The rear of his BearCat bumped into the front of Unit Five. Move, move, move! He heard the sound of metal on metal—his rear bumper on Unit Five’s front bumper—and smelled the burning rubber from his tires. He never saw the first truck in the convoy when it smashed into his vehicle.
The screech of steel tearing steel pierced through the insulation on Will’s helmet and past his headset. The wide bumper on the eighteen-wheeler was constructed like a cowcatcher on a freight train. BearCat Units One and Two were tossed aside. The two Punk trucks spun complete 360s and barrel-rolled before coming to a rest on their sides on the dirt shoulders of the highway.
Silver tossed her tablet on a table adjacent to the main control console. “Well, that settles that, I guess.”
Levi’s ire rose. “I did not give that command!”
Johnny snickered and jabbed an elbow at Curtis.
“Very ballsy, Dyer,” Xander said. “The cute little blockade set up by the Punks did not delay our project at all.” He glanced at his watch, then looked at Levi. “Not even one second.”
“You have damaged our ability to negotiate with the enemy, Dyer,” Levi said.
Curtis crossed his arms. “The Punks are weak. They have no room to negotiate.”
Silver gazed at the large monitor on the wall. She watched the convoy of heavy vehicles streaming down the two-lane highway toward Tremayne. “He has a point, Leader.”
Curtis turned to leave. “I’m going to get something to eat. Anyone join me?”
Johnny glanced quickly at Levi before following Curtis.
Silver and Xander stood on either side of Levi and watched the two as they walked away.
Levi raised a finger toward the door. “I did not give that command!”
The door to the War Room swished open. “That’s a fact. But you should have,” Curtis said as he and Johnny stepped out into the corridor.
Chapter 43
More Than Friends
Ace leaned forward at the communications console in the Depot. “Nico, buddy. Ace here. You copy?”
“Gotcha, Ace.”
“Sorry about the delay. What’s the status there?”
“Blockade didn’t work. Those semis blew right through. From what I can tell, we got injuries but everybody’s gonna live.”
“Holy hell, Nico.”
“Yeah. Ambulances headed that way to haul off Will and three others. Unit One and Two trucks are pretty much totaled.”
“Glad to know everyone’s alive. We’ll get five replacement Cats headed your way. Send Will’s Units Three, Four and Five back to headquarters. We’ll roll tows for Units One and Two.”
“10-4, Ace. But don’t send just anyone to replace Will. This place has become kinetic.”
“Got that covered, Nico. I’ll roll Lace with the replacements. She can cover that west side.”
“All good, Ace. Just know things are getting crazy here. I’ve never seen this many people in this city before. We got a plan yet?”
“We got a plan. Hang in there.”
“10-4.”
Dion glanced at his cell. “Good job, Ace. I have a conference call in five with Rudie and Jas. When Krystal gets here with Felix, tell her I’ll catch up when I’m done.”
“You got it, boss.”
Dion headed for the Depot’s side door. He snatched his leather jacket off a nearby barstool and turned to Ace. “Send Jimbo and Winter back to Tremayne to check on Will and his crew. Any of them healthy enough, bring ’em back here. They’ll recuperate a lot faster.”
Ryker stood outside the Depot in the Punks’ compound. Black shadows faded to gray and blended with the mostly concrete structures when the sun dropped below the horizon.
Just as everything seemed to be drying up, the weather forecast had replaced the fog with rain. He peered into the gray, searching for headlights. As anxious as he was to meet Felix, he found it impossible to quell the battle that was raging between his heart and mind. Butterflies fluttered in his gut when he heard the approaching BearCat. Krystal’s coming.
He glanced up at the darkening sky, knowing his heart was winning the battle.
Dion sat alone on a barstool in his quarters and swirled a bottle of beer in the condensation on the bar top. He snuffed a cigarette out in an ashtray and immediately lit another before dialing a series of numbers into his cell. He tapped a nearby remote control to transfer the audio to the ceiling speaker.
The call connected to two recipients simultaneously.
“Yo, bro!” It was Rudie. “Long time, my friend!”
“Well, if it isn’t my favorite scab rocket and Dion,” Jas said.
“I’ll scab your rocket, Jazzie,” Rudie said.
Jas chuckled. “So what brings on a conference call, Dion? What’s it been, about six months?”
Dion managed a weak smile. “First, I’ve gotta ask you two a question. How’s everything going in your territories? In general.”
“Pretty smooth sailing since you guys whooped the Chybrids,” Jas said. “Seems the Changers kinda let up on us for a while. We got a little mild activity now, but nothing we can’t handle.”
Rudie agreed. “Yep. You guys put up such a ruckus, those mothers pulled forces from here and sent ’em west. I gotta agree with Jas, though, as much as it pains me. Changers are steppin’ it up lately.”
Dion took a drag on his cigarette and followed it with a hefty swig of beer.
“You’re awfully quiet, Dion,” Jas said.
Rudie agreed. “Yeah. ’Sup, dude?”
“They’re at it again. The Changers. We’re swamped. They’re overwhelming us.”
“Whoa,” Jas said. “What’s happening?”
“Long story short?” Dion said. “Their newest project consists of thousands of humanoids. They’re building new subdivisions inside the Perimeter—mostly in Tremayne. Their plan is to populate the big cities with these things and have them assimilate with the Bystanders. We know of one incident where they actually replaced a Bystander with one of these humanoids. They call them SOUL Chybrids.”
“Holy shit, bro,” Rudie said. “Changers tried that in one place here. One subdivision. We chased ’em out, though.”
“That’s it?” Dion said. “They’re out now?”
Rudie cleared his throat. “Well, not exactly. We got ’em out of the city, but they set up in a county area. Outside our Perimeter. We let it go since we don’t have jurisdiction there.”
“You need to go out and hit ’em in the county,” Jas said. “We don’t let those suckers breathe in the east. Give ’em an inch, you know?”
Dion walked around the bar and grabbed another beer from the fridge. “Jas is right. But I’ve gotta tell you two, we have bigger problems here. And I need your help.”
“Anything, Dion.” Jas sad. “You know that.”
“But they’re already movin’ here,” Rudie said. “I don’t know what we could do for you.”
Dion took a swig. “I need you each to send 2,500 armed vehicles, with troops.”
“No can do, pal,” Rudie said. “You just heard we got the same thing going on here.”
“That’s a lot of force, Dion,” Jas said. “We still have to defend our territories.”
Dion looked up at the ceiling speaker. “If the Changers are successful here, neither of you will have any territory to defend.”
The ceiling speaker was silent. Dion checked his cell on the bar top—the call was still connected.
“Guys?”
“And you’ll be commanding our troops?” Jas said.
“No, I—”
“Ryker?”
“Not Ryker either. We have a new addition. It’s a long story, but I’m asking you two to trust me.”
Jas relented. She sighed. “Good enough for me. Dion’s our brother, Rudie. He’s never steered us wrong.”
“Okay,” Rudie said. “We already owe you, my friend. How soon you need this?”
“Yesterday.”
Ryker greeted Krystal as she stepped out of Jimbo’s BearCat. “Hey, Krys.”
Jimbo and Winter rounded the truck from the back. “Hey, bro,” Jimbo said. “Felix is quite a character.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Much better-looking than I had imagined, too.”
“I’ll grab the gear,” Winter said. “Rain tonight.”
“Oh, hey,” Ryker said. “We got four guys at the medical center. Dion wants you two to head back to Tremayne and do a quick look-see. If they’re good, bring all four back here.”
Winter’s shoulders slumped. “Seriously? Tonight?”
“Yeah. One of them is Will.”
Winter sighed and looked at Jimbo. “Let’s grab some coffee before we head back out.”
“Sounds like a plan, sis,” Jimbo said.
Felix meandered around the truck and stood next to Krystal. He nodded at Ryker. “Hello. I recognize your voice as Ryker.” He extended his hand. “I am Dr. Felix Yaz.”
“Nice to meet you, Felix. We’ve all been anxious.”
Krystal turned to Felix. “Before you get settled, I’d like you to see Fred and Thomas.” She glanced at Ryker, then lowered her voice. “They’re both pretty close to timing out. If there’s anything you can do—”
“Did you notice that Silver brought a small titanium container with her when she arrived here?” Felix said.
Krystal looked at Ryker. “When she first got here, right?”
“That’s right,” Ryker said. “When she left for Tremayne that night, I’m pretty sure she left everything here.” He thumbed over his shoulder. “It’s probably still in her quarters.”
“Splendid,” Felix said. “I will need that for our friends, Fred and Thomas.”
Ryker turned and headed toward the Depot. “Right this way.”
Fred dozed peacefully in his bedroom inside his new quarters. He had set the music volume on the ceiling speakers to a whisper.
Thomas sat in Fred’s recliner in the living room, channel surfing the news networks. Dammit. Can’t get away from these stu
pid Changers adoption commercials. What ever happened to that stupid lottery? He clicked the remote control again and stopped on a twenty-four-hour weather channel. Rain. Whoop de doodle. A quiet knock on the door pulled him out of his funk. He tossed the remote onto the coffee table and stretched his arms above his head. “C’mon in.”
Krystal and Felix entered and closed the door behind them.
“Hey,” she said. “How’s Fred?”
Thomas motioned to the bedroom. “He’s napping. Not feeling too well.” He glanced past Krystal. “Who’s this?”
Krystal smiled. “Oh! Let me introduce you.” She turned to Felix.
“Wait just a minute,” Felix said. He turned his back to Thomas and faced the door. His loose-fitting suit hid the vibration when he changed back to his normal appearance.
When the doctor turned to face Thomas, he smiled. “Thomas, my dear, dear friend.” He hurried across the room and the two embraced. “How good it is to see you again!”
Thomas pushed back and held onto his friend’s shoulders. “I never thought I’d live to see this day. Dr. Felix Yaz outside the Underground. How have you been?”
“Oh, I am fine. But never mind that. I have heard Fred is not doing so well.” He raised his eyebrows. “May I see him?”
“Oh, yes,” Thomas said. “He’s in here.”
The three walked quietly into the bedroom. Felix bent over his prone friend and felt his forehead. “Very clammy.” He placed an ear to Fred’s chest. “Hmm. Oh, dear.” He stood up and looked at Krystal. “I do hope Ryker is successful in finding the titanium case.”
Felix turned back to Fred and gently prodded the Rogue Changer’s shoulder. “Fred? Can you hear me?”
Fred stirred, moaning ever so slightly.
Thomas started at a loud double rap on the door. He hurried into the living room. It was Ryker.
“Good, you found it,” Thomas said. “C’mon.”
The two walked into the bedroom, and Ryker handed the titanium box to Felix.
The doctor set the container on the nightstand and tapped the combination into the keypad. “Roll up his sleeve.”