by Jake Bible
Hanson squinted. “Nope, still don’t- Oh, wait, yep. That shiny thing?”
“I bet that’s a charger,” Delroy said, stepping from the ATV and retrieving his carbine. “We better get down there and find out before the Boss calls again.”
***
June watched the kid listen for a moment. “What do you hear?”
The child crawled from the ATV and June helped him to stand. His body was twisted and warped from being raised in a cage and he wobbled a bit on his feet. He pointed out into the waste, cocked his head again and then pointed up out of the gulch. June patted him on the back and eased herself to the edge of the shadows to take a look.
The second the light hit her face a shot rang out and bits of rock shattered by her head.
***
“Damn! Missed!” Delroy cursed.
“Should we call the Boss?” Hanson asked.
“Shit no! If we get down there and they’s gone we’re fuckin’ dead! Better he not know until we’s got them’s bodies bagged up.”
“But, Boss said to not kill the mechie bitch, didn’t he?” Hanson asked.
“Yeah, but that don’t mean we can’t kill the others. It’s just an old woman and the breed feed,” Delroy responded.
Hanson grabbed his own carbine and surveyed the edge of the gulch. “Ain’t too steep.” He stepped onto the grade and control-slid his way down.
Delroy slung his carbine and followed.
***
“Good morning,” Capreze greeted Mastelo.
“Good morning, Commander,” Mastelo responded turning towards those accompanying him. “I have brought our council with me this morning to discuss some issues.”
Capreze raised an eyebrow. “Issues? I’m guessing not everyone wants to join forces with us.”
Mastelo chuckled, as well as a couple of the others. “You are correct. Many do not see the benefit.”
“Of course. They’d be foolish not to question,” Capeze said, gesturing to the transport. “Let’s meet inside before the heat gets too overbearing.”
The group laughed and Capreze smiled. “But, I guess you folks are used to it.”
***
“This is bullshit,” Rachel grumbled as she powered up her mech.
“Cut your old man some slack,” Bisby said over the com. “He can’t turn to the UDC brass anymore. He’s got to be feeling pretty isolated.”
“Yeah, but why take the risk of going after June? She deserted us!”
“Because, we need every damn mech pilot we can get! Think for fuck’s sake! We’re it. We don’t know what’s happened to Masters or Jay or the Rookie and we have no idea if Mathew made it to Windy City or not.”
Rachel was silent.
“Oh, sorry, Rache,” Bisby muttered.
***
“I’m detecting heavy activity on the relay net,” Shiner said.
“Yeah? Like what activity?” Mathew asked.
“Unclear. We’d have to risk detection to fully assess.”
“You know what? Fuck it! I think being fully informed is worth the risk. If the Outsider just keeps getting stronger then sooner or later it’ll be able to find us, relay or no relay.”
Shiner processed. “I do not fully agree, but I do not have a better alternative.”
Shiner/Mathew reconnected to the relay net.
“Holy fuck!” Mathew yelled mentally. “That’s a whole lot of deader minds!”
“They are massing for something,” Shiner said.
***
“I am sensing movement,” Stomper stated.
“In the cavern?” Masters yawned. “More zombies?”
“No, it is coming from the wasteland,” Stomper answered. “The ground is vibrating considerably.”
Masters processed the data that Stomper was detecting. “Hmm, if I didn’t know better, I’d say that was an army. I mean, listen to it, it sounds like thousands of feet and… wheels.”
Masters/Stomper turned towards the direction of Foggy Bottom and focused the scanners. “It is coming from that direction,” Stomper said.
“Well, I’m tired of just sitting here and waiting. What do you say we go check it out?” Masters asked.
***
“If we do find June,” Rachel said. “I can’t promise I won’t kick the shit out of her.”
“I hear that,” Bisby replied. “Whether directly, or indirectly, she led to Steve’s death. And as much as I hated that man’s blueberries, he didn’t deserve that.”
Rachel laughed a little. “God, those muffins were horrible.”
The two mechs, motor drives engaged, moved across the wasteland quickly, the wasteland heat shimmering across their exoskeletons.
“I take it back,” Rachel said. “I have a feeling June has already paid for everything she’s done. Who knows what those cannibal fucks have done to her…”
***
“Give me your pistol,” June said to Olivia as she helped the woman and two deformed children find better cover back in the shadows, putting the ATV between them and the direction the shot came from.
Olivia handed June the pistol. “We don’t have much ammo.”
“Don’t worry. If I need more bullets than what’s already in here then we are fucked,” June responded. She saw the looks in the children’s eyes and smiled weakly. “Don’t worry. This is what I do for a living. Or did, at least.”
June crouched low and scooted towards the edge of the shadows.
***
“Yep, that’s a charger,” Hanson whispered, as both he and Delroy, carbines at their shoulders, slowly approached the bend in the gulch. Neither man got a chance to step closer as June rolled from her cover, took aim and fired her pistol.
Delroy caught two bullets in the gut while Hanson collapsed instantly with a hole between his eyes.
“You fucking bitch!” Delroy screamed, falling to his knees, his hands holding his own intestines.
June approached casually and planted a kick squarely into Delroy’s insides. He fell over screaming and continued to scream as June ground down on his guts.
***
A small woman spoke first. “We understand your situation, Commander, but many of us do not see how your peril truly affects us.”
Capreze smiled and leaned forward. “It is no longer about ‘us’ and ‘them’, or about ‘you’ and ‘me’. Whatever is going on out there is bigger than all of us. I truly believe that if we do not band together, the fate of the human race is sealed.”
“But, what proof do you have?” a young man asked. “We do not know you and you did not know of us until yesterday. Why should we trust you?”
***
The ATV flew over hills and across the wasteland as the Boss spoke into his handheld com. “Delroy? What you got for me?” The Boss waited, but there was no response. “Delroy? Answer me boy or I swear you’ll end up like Chunks!”
The Boss was answered by a loud crack coming from the com then the sound of June’s voice. “Delroy is like Chunks, except for the junk in the mouth part.” June laughed. “Did you like that, Boss? I figured you could appreciate the aesthetic of a good genital mutilation.”
“I’m gonna gut you, bitch,” the Boss growled.
***
“Yeah, I don’t think so,” June responded to the Boss’s threat. “You keep forgetting I’m a mech pilot. UDC trained and tested. You think a crazy fuck like you can take me down?”
“You won’t get far with that old cunt and those little meals slowing you down.”
“Now, is that any way to speak about your own mother?” June started stripping Delroy and Hanson of their weapons. “You don’t get it, do you? You are so used to isolation that you think we all are, but it isn’t true. I have a home, I just forgot for a bit.”
***
“Jethro, if you please,” the Commander said. Jethro wheeled forward and handed each of the Skinners a tablet.
“I’ve put together a vid briefing so you all will be up to speed on the situ
ation,” Jethro began, tapping at his own tablet. “It’s only a few minutes long, but you’ll get the idea quickly.”
Capreze leaned back and watched as Mastelo and his people viewed the vid. Security footage of the UDC troops turning into zombies filled the small screens, then of the Ranchers take over of the base and finally the intercepted communication between the Bishop and the Boss.
***
Masters/Stomper crested the small hill and looked out at the expanse of wasteland.
“Well, we don’t really need scanners to analyze that shit,” Masters said sarcastically.
“But, the scanners do give us an accurate count of the forces,” Stomper replied.
“I was just kidding,” Masters joked. “You’re gonna have to learn sarcasm or ‘we’ will never work.”
Stomper processed. “The need for ironic humor when faced with overwhelming odds is puzzling.”
“Yeah, well, you’ll learn,” Masters responded, quite serious now as he watched several dozen transports and what looked like thousands upon thousands of zombies march across the wasteland plain.
***
“My God,” Mathew exclaimed. “How many are there?”
“It appears to be every single citizen inoculated, including all UDC troops,” Shiner responded.
“All of them?” Mathew gasped.
“Yes. All of them.”
Shiner/Mathew processed the information streaming through the relay net. “Where the fuck are they going?” Mathew asked.
“The possibilities are too numerous,” Shiner replied.
“Let’s narrow it down, shall we?” Mathew chided. “They are coming from their respective city/states, correct?”
“Yes.”
“Then what is between all of them and their points of departure?”
Shiner processed. “Many things.”
Mathew sighed. “But, what is the most significant choice?”
“The UDC stronghold.”
***
“We don’t know why the UDC has inoculated the city/state populations nor why their troops are assisting the Ranchers,” Capreze said as the Skinners finished watching the vid briefing. “But, we do know it’s not because they want to make new friends.”
Mastelo and the council looked at each other warily. “We cannot commit all of our people,” Mastelo finally said.
“No, of course not. And we cannot arm all of your people,” Capreze responded. “We can only arm about 80 of your people.”
“That doesn’t seem like an adequate number,” the small woman stated.
“No, it’s not,” Capreze said.
***
“We can’t handle that many,” Masters said.
“No, we cannot,” Stomper agreed as they returned to the cavern mouth.
“We need to find Jay and the Rookie and return to the base,” Masters stated as the massive mech knelt down and reached into the cavern. “And we’ll need this.”
After a couple attempts, Masters/Stomper was able to remove the salvage mech from the cavern without damage. The new mech stood upright, the smaller mech held in its fist.
“Now, how do we find Jay?” Masters mused.
“The sensors show an underground river,” Stomper responded. “They may have escaped that way.”
***
“And what the fuck is up with her pretending to be me?” Rachel asked.
“Pretty smart move, in my opinion,” Bisby replied. “It made her valuable and kept her alive.”
“Whatever,” Rachel grumbled. “Okay, I’ve got to stop trashing her.”
Bisby stayed silent, knowing Rachel wasn’t finished.
“But, Jeezus fuck, she gets under my skin,” Rachel continued. “And I don’t know why!” Rachel sighed and checked her navigation readings. “Were not even close yet, are we?”
“Nope,” Bisby responded. “Might as well do some system tests while we have the time. Wanna read the checklist?”
“Yeah, sure, whatever,” Rachel responded.
***
“You think we can track the river through the ground and find where it comes out?” Masters asked.
“Yes, our scanners are easily strong enough,” Stomper responded.
“Well, let’s get on it…Oh, shit,” Masters paused. “Matty and Shiner won’t know where to find us.”
“We can try to contact them via the relay net.”
“But, that will give our position away.”
“Our position will be compromised the moment that army crests the hill.”
“Good point,” Masters conceded. “You aren’t as basic as you think.”
“Complexity can sometimes get in the way of answers,” Stomper replied.
“Hmmm… Well said,” Masters agreed.
***
“Why are they all headed to the UDC stronghold?” Mathew asked.
“I believe that is where the Outsider originates from,” Shiner answered. “Which may mean ‘Outsider’ is a misnomer.”
“Maybe we should call it Big Fucking Ugly In My Head,” Mathew joked.
“Hey guys!” Masters called over the net. “Listen, we- Jeezus! Is it me or did the relay net get WAY crowded?”
“It appears every inoculated human has become connected and active,” Shiner explained.
“Yeah, we just saw the Foggy Bottom contingent heading our way,” Masters said. “So we grabbed Jay’s mech and are on search and rescue now.”
***
“Do you have our coordinates?” Masters asked.
“Yep, we’re adjusting course and heading that way. Keep us posted,” Mathew answered. “And go ahead and stay connected. It doesn’t really matter anymore now that the entire wasteland is about to be caught up in a net of deaders. No place to hide really.”
“Have you tried contacting the base?” Masters asked.
“No, not yet,” Mathew responded. “It’s easy for us to talk, but I’m not sure if we can access the base com system.”
“Open channel?”
“No, too risky. Everyone can hear that. Ranchers, Boilers, everyone.”
“Yeah, that’s true,” Masters agreed.
***
“Yes, send it through,” Deacon Montoya said over his com. He tapped at his console and brought up a new image on the windshield. “Bishop? Your Grace?”
“What is it now, Deacon? Is it more disappointing news from the Boiler?”
“No, Your Grace. We have received information that two of the mech pilots have been located in the wasteland. And, well, they…”
“You hesitate, Deacon, please do tell,” Bishop Wyble sat up, interested.
“Well, Your Grace, they have somehow merged with the Demons.”
The Bishop stared at Montoya for a moment. “I’m sorry, Deacon. I must have misunderstood you. Merged?”
***
“You know we’re already long gone from where you think we are,” June taunted over the handheld.
“The wasteland isn’t big enough for you to hide from me, you fucking bitch!” the Boss roared.
“Oh, I’m not going to be hiding, but you may want to. If I do see you again, I won’t be as quick as I was with Chunks.”
The Boss punched the ATV’s dashboard then turned and punched the young woman driving. The ATV swerved dangerously, but the driver regained her composure.
“Watch where you’re going, you fucking idiot!” the Boss screamed.
“Temper, temper,” June mocked.
***
Commander Capreze pointed at his tablet. “The mech base is here and we’re…here.”
The council looked at their tablets then back at Capreze.
“I don’t know how many vehicles you have,” Capreze continued. “But if we could have three of your people armed per vehicle, then I think we can stage a decent assault.”
Mastelo and the council looked from one to the other confused.
“I am sorry, Commander, but I think you have the wrong impression of our resources,” Mast
elo said. “We do not have vehicles.”
Jethro and Capreze stared for a moment.
“No vehicles?” Jethro asked. “Shit.”
***
“Return to the base, Montoya,” the Bishop commanded. “I must be presentable when His Holiness, the Archbishop arrives. And I need a secure com line so I can contact our UDC brethren. This ‘merged’ mech development is quite troubling.”
“Yes, Your Grace,” Deacon Montoya responded as his console beeped. “It appears the Boss is trying to communicate.”
“That Boiler is barely capable of grunting, let alone full communication.” The Bishop rolled his eyes and sighed. “Put him through, Deacon. “
“Of course, Your Grace.”
“You better have good news, Boss,” the Bishop hissed.
“I think I do,” the Boss responded.
***
“Think the Capreze whore is heading home,” the Boss shouted above the wind as he steadied the transmitter array in the back of the moving ATV.
“You think?” replied the Bishop.
“That’s what I fucking said, ain’t it?’ the Boss snapped. “Pull the cocks out of your ears and listen up. The. Mech. Bitch. Is. Coming. Right. To. You!”
“Oh, well then I guess we don’t need your assistance anymore, Boiler,” the Bishop laughed.
“Oh, I think you do,” the Boss said. “Unless you want my people’s sole goal in life to be attacking Rancher transports every time they leave.”
***
“Hey Biz, did you catch that?” Rachel asked over the com.
“Yeah, we must be close enough to pick up on their transmissions,” Bisby responded. “And it sounds like we’re heading the wrong way.”
“June has no idea the base has been overrun.”
“I know, I know,” Bisby replied. “But, we have no idea which way she’s coming from. We can’t intercept her.”
“Should we head back and let the Commander know?” Rachel asked.
“Probably should. This has all turned into one big giant shit show,” Bisby growled.
“It always is with June,” Rachel replied.
The two mechs reversed course.
***
Harlow sat in her mech, cockpit open to the hot wasteland wind. Below her she could hear the zombies pounding at their confinement in the transport storage compartment.