From Within

by Brian Delaney

  A nervous sweat broke out on his forehead. It wasn’t that hot out so he couldn’t blame it on any heat. It was actually a gorgeous spring day. His palms began to sweat too. He wondered how he could be so comfortable on t.v. in front of millions but nearly broke down when it came to hiding one little secret from the guard, a stranger. No time left now, he was only steps away from the guard.

  “Howdy, sir,” Marcus said to the guard.

  The guard nodded his head and said, “Marcus.” He reached into the small toll-booth sized guard shack and retrieved a clipboard. “Heading to the cafe again?” he asked as he looked down at the clipboard.

  “Yes, sir,” Marcus said. “I want to get a cup of their fine coffee before they ship me out of here for a few days.”

  The guard flipped through a couple of pages attached to the clipboard. “Hold on now. It looks like you were off base earlier this week. Is that right?”

  Marcus raced through several options in his mind. None of them seemed to mesh well with his plan to stay off the radar for a little while. Lying could very well bring more attention to him.

  “Oh,” Marcus said. “Maybe I was. I’ve been so busy that I couldn’t remember when the last time I was off. What day does that say I last went to the cafe? You know, I actually am not sure what day today is,” he told the little white lie thinking it wouldn’t hurt him.

  “It says you went two days ago on Sunday. It’s Tuesday. Sorry, Marcus. I’m not going to be able to let you off today. Rules are rules.”

  “My mistake,” Marcus said with a slight chuckle. He hoped he was acting well enough. “I’ll just grab a coffee from the mess tent. I just like the cafe’s coffee so much better. Have you been over there? They just always seemed to have the freshest coffee. Maybe they buy whole beans and grind it themselves. Maybe I’m just too used to the coffee here.” He laughed.

  “Nope. Haven’t been there,” the guard said straight-faced. He wasn’t joining Marcus in any of his laughter. “Maybe I’ll make it in there the next time I’m out and I’ll give the coffee a taste. I’ll let you know what I think.”

  “Yes, thank you,” Marcus said. “That’ll let me know if it’s all in my head.” He smiled. The guard forced a smiled back. “I’ll see you next week then.”

  “Bye, Marcus.”

  Sometimes Marcus wished people didn’t recognize him so easily. He had no idea who the guard was. He had probably seen him before, but there always seemed to be a different one every time he left the camp. He wondered if his nervousness showed too much. If he was too awkward in the exchange the guard would easily be able to report who he was.

  Marcus walked towards the mess tent as not to alert the guard. He would have to pretend he was on his way for the cup of coffee. Now he had to come up with a new plan. Maybe he would get a crappy cup of coffee from the mess tent. He was already heading in that direction anyways. He had to figure out some way to get to the cafe and thinking over a cup of coffee might do the trick. Then the thought crossed his mind. He had passed a few tents by now and was out of sight of the guard. He turned abruptly towards the center of the camp, making a B-line to the administrative tent.

  He walked into the administrative tent. It technically was a work day for him and he should probably appear like he was working. There was a tent next door for the WWNL personnel but he still had business in this tent from time to time. He went to Anthony’s office along the side of the tent. His door was open but the office was empty. He remembered seeing Anthony in some of the other offices some of the times he came in here to find him. He peeked his head into the open door next to Anthony’s office. This office was empty as well. He moved on. The next office was empty as well. All of their doors were left open. He had never seen Anthony’s or any of these other doors left open, ever, not even when their habitants were inside. He wondered if the had been called away in a hurry.

  Marcus looked towards the center of the tent and saw there were plenty of people looking busy in the open desks that surrounded the center conference room. The conference room. He could see through the window into the room. From where he stood all the way across the tent he could tell there were people in the room. Anthony must be in there. He turned back to the open office. He saw some papers on the desk. He thought they had ‘TOP SECRET’ written across the top. He looked back around. Satisfied no one was watching him, he darted inside.

  Once inside, he noticed a coffee maker with a full pot of coffee sitting on a table that wasn’t visible from the open office door. He thought for a moment that he could use the excuse of stealing some coffee if he got caught. So much for laying low, he thought. He would have to be quick to not get caught. He looked down at the page.

  TOP SECRET Level One Security Only. STEP TWO Procedures

  He felt adrenaline rush through his veins. His heart began to pound. This must be the ‘next step’ Mara almost spilled in that meeting. The sense of panic that overwhelmed him caused him to quickly skim over the document.

  ...eradication of mobs and generally violent regions.

  ...acceptable non-violent civilian losses…

  Non-nuclear option only

  Avoidance of CMA assets and Level One Security interests is HIGH PRIORITY

  ...acceptable CMA asset losses…

  Planned option: MC-150A 30,000-pound SAT-Guided Ordnance

  Marcus couldn’t believe what he was reading. The last half of the page was five columns of the smallest font size legible. It was a list of different cities. There were so many cities from all over the country. They were planning on bombing nearly every large city in the United States. They not only didn’t care that millions had already died, they wanted all those people dead. They wanted millions and millions more dead. What could be the reason? Marcus was unable to comprehend it. His head began to spin. He felt dizzy. He looked down again, there was another page. He looked at the door. Now that he was in the office he couldn’t see out the partially open door. He didn’t hear anyone nearby. Here goes, he thought. He figured he could always play it off like he knew what the ‘Next Step’ was all along. Kenneth had said they were keeping him out of the loop so he could only hope it would work. He slid the top page aside.

  Reestablishment plan named STEP THREE. Summary of plan follows:

  Marcus skimmed down the list.

  -Remaining population, assumably from camps, will conform to CMA plans and work schedules.

  -New population centers, as defined in STEP THREE document, to be established.

  -Utilities and services to be wholly owned assets of CMA.

  -Laws and duties of government will be set in regulatory document, currently named 1000.1 (to be renamed),

  -CMA founders, Level One Security, will set areas of governance, and will be the governing body.

  -All non-conforming subjects will be either be reeducated or terminated, depending on law or decision of governing body.

  -Time frame: currently set for Spring/Summer 2037.

  Marcus thought he might be sick. He wasn’t sure if he could read anymore. He reached into his pocket and brought out his personal phone. He opened up the camera and quickly snapped a picture. He quickly returned the phone to his pocket. Stepping back, he turned and leaned his forearms against the table, trying to slow his breathing.

  “Mr. Braden, what are you doing in here?” a voice said.

  Marcus nearly jumped. He stood up straight and turned to see General Bryce, the military commander for the Northeast Region. He was quite the intimidating man. Marcus thought anyone who reached the status of general would have to be. Did he see me taking the picture of the document?

  “Oh General,” Marcus said. “You startled me. I...uh...apologize for being in your office. I was looking for Anthony.” He was trying to collect his thoughts.

  “Well he clearly isn’t in here, Mr. Braden,” General Bryce said. He made a sweeping motion across his office with his arm after completing the statement.

  “Yes, I know,” Marcus said. “I came
into your office to see if Anthony was in here. I’ve seen him in here before when looking for him. I assumed he could be since he wasn’t in his own office.” Marcus was worried he was rambling, which might make him look even more suspicious than he already did. “Anyway, I saw your coffee and was going to steal a cup. Is that alright with you? I was hoping that you, being a General, that you’d have more premium coffee than the mess tent.” He smiled, hoping to lighten the mood in the room.

  General Bryce narrowed his eyes at Marcus, studying him. “That would be fine. I can’t finish a whole pot anyway. I’m a bit of a coffee snob. I take it you are too?”

  “Oh yes,” Marcus said. “I make it out to the cafe in town the once a week I’m allowed just so I can get some different coffee.”

  General Bryce stepped to his desk and saw the pages he had left out. Marcus took a styrofoam cup and poured himself some coffee.

  “Would you like me to pour you a cup?” Marcus asked.

  “No, thank you, Mr. Braden,” General Bryce said. “I’ll get one after we are finished with our meeting in the conference room.” He paused, looked down at the pages and then back to Marcus. “Anthony is busy in the meeting as well. What did you want to see him for?”

  “I overheard about a supply issue,” Marcus said. “I thought it would be some decent news as filler for when I’m gone. I was going to get permission from Anthony for a vehicle or the helicopter.”

  The General pushed the two pages back together and pursed his lips. Marcus thought he no longer looked like he was in any mood to chat about coffee. He was trying to conceal his growing fear.

  “I’m sure it would be no problem,” General Bryce said without looking at Marcus. He took the pages along with another folder from the top of his desk and stepped to the door and opened it wider, a clear signal for Marcus to leave. “I’ll let Anthony know that you were looking for him and that you’ll be leaving the base to cover a story.”

  “Thank you, sir,” Marcus said and he stepped towards the door.

  “Mr. Braden,” the general said as Marcus passed him, “make sure I am in here before you come in next time.”

  The General, only slightly shorter than Marcus, stared directly at him. Marcus was drawing from every ounce of his being not to show any fear. General Bryce was trying to establish himself as greater and more powerful than Marcus.

  “Of course, General,” Marcus said. “I do sincerely apologize. I shouldn’t have come in. I was tempted by the coffee,” Marcus laughed, hoping humor would settle the General down.

  General Bryce smiled. Marcus was fairly sure it was a fake smile, perhaps to conceal the anger he felt towards him. Marcus wasn’t sure if the General figured out that he had read the document or took a picture of it.

  “Feel free to stop by for a cup of coffee whenever,” General Bryce added. “There are just too many high-security items in my office for people to be in here without me. I’m sure you understand. We wouldn’t want you to get into trouble.”

  General Bryce was still smiling. Marcus thought the smile might actually be sincere. Maybe the General would let this go and not tell anyone that he had caught him in his office. Most importantly, he was beginning to become fairly certain the General didn’t see him take pictures of top secret documents.

  “Thank you, General,” Marcus said. “I definitely will. Very good coffee, by the way,” Marcus said holding up his now half-empty styrofoam cup.

  General Bryce smiled and nodded. He stepped out of his office and closed the door behind himself. Marcus turned and walked towards the tent exit, not looking back. After exiting the administrative tent he breathed deeply and quickened his pace towards the WWNL tent. Now he would somehow have to gather a team that he could fool into letting him make a stop at the cafe.

  Reaching his desk, he tossed the now empty styrofoam cup into his trashcan and dropped all his weight in his chair, letting out a long sigh. He sat for a moment trying to catch his breath and collect his thoughts. He wasn’t out of breath from rushing from one tent to the next or from facing the General. He was out of breath due to all the information he had learned. Marcus unlocked his desk and started to gather the few things he always brought with him when he went out for a story. He looked around the tent to try to spot Blake.

  Marcus placed his hand on his breast pocket, feeling for the memory stick. The memory stick was now full of incomplete information. Before gathering a team he needed to change the message. How were they going to stop full-scale annihilation? He supposed it didn’t matter quite yet. He needed to pass this on immediately. A plan could be made from there. The network the ARF seemed to have would most certainly include a military portion. Marcus relocked the items in his desk and took off for his Conex container.

  *****

  Marcus was again sitting in his dimly lit Conex container with his laptop perched on his legs. He typed as fast as his fingers allowed him. He tried to get every bit of information he could remember. He knew there had to be some sort of way to send pictures but he wasn’t the type to be able to figure it out without instruction. He added to the message that he had a picture of the document but didn’t know how to send it. He completed the encryption process and placed the memory stick back in his breast pocket. Marcus raced off back to the WWNL tent.

  He hated the WWNL tent set up. He never remembered where he could find anyone when he needed them. He went from area to area asking for Blake. He could freely walk the office area and halls of the WWNL building with his eyes closed. He was way out of place in the much smaller workspace of the WWNL tent. He figured the smaller space should have been easier. He saw Kenneth approaching him.

  “Hey Marcus, what are you up to today?” Kenneth said.

  Marcus, not wanting to be assigned something from Kenneth decided to tell him his faux story of supply chain issues in the region. “I overheard something about supply chain issues this morning. I figured I’d get Blake and go check it out. It’d be good filler for while I’m out of town for a few days. Viewers won’t get the impression that Ava is running solo and I’m not around anymore. They might stop watching if they thought that.” He smiled at his own light joke.

  “Supply chain issues?” Kenneth asked, not paying any attention to his joke. “What kind of issues? I haven’t heard anything about it.”

  “Not quite sure,” Marcus said. “Just overheard something about it walking around camp this morning. I got cleared with General Bryce earlier to use a chopper or a vehicle to go investigate.”

  “Now I’m curious,” Kenneth said. “Let’s go get Blake. I’ll come along with you. I don’t have anything else important today.”

  No, Marcus thought. His heart sunk. When was the last time Kenneth tagged along on an on-site investigation? There wasn’t even a solid story yet. Were they on to him? Had Kenneth been in the meeting with General Bryce? Did General Bryce tell him of their whole interaction? Was there no step in this uphill battle that didn’t include a possible hidden land mine? Was this his battle in this war? Hit after hit after hit. Why was it up to him alone to endure all of this?

  Chapter Twenty

  “Everyone, drop your pistols,” the man said motioning towards the three women with his rifle.

  A shot rang out, piercing the air and piercing their ears. Each of the three women dropped to the ground and covered their heads with their arms. They all wondered why the man shot and who had been hit. What sort of evil drove this group? They were threatening rape and now they killed one of them? Only seconds had passed, the three women slowly looked up. The man who had wanted the three of them was on his knees, slumped against a tree. The lights from the vehicles allowed them to see the dark liquid seeping down his face.

  The other man raised his rifle, only aiming towards a general direction into the trees and started firing. Beth, realizing what was happening, scrambled for her pistol. She fired several shots at the man. The bullets pelted his body. He let go of his rifle and stumbled back a few steps and dropped to the ground.
They heard yells coming from the convoy of vehicles. They must have heard the shots.

  Will came running out of the trees.

  “Don’t shoot,” Will said. “It’s me.”

  “Oh, thank God,” Beth said as she lowered her pistol. “I thought he shot you.”

  “He came close,” Will said. “I was pretty sure he couldn’t see me. I was going to come around the side to get him next.”

  Lea was helping her mother up. Both of their faces were puffy from crying. Will put an arm around both of them in a wide hug.

  “We need to get out of here,” Will said. “They definitely heard the shots. I’m sure they saw the truck parked down there on the road too. We need to get to Lewis’s. I didn’t imagine there’d be so many of them,” Will said as he looked over at their property. He sighed. “We probably can’t stay at Lewis’s either if they are going to be here. It’s too close. There’s no way we can fight a group that big.”

  “I know,” Beth said solemnly.

  “He’s still alive,” Lea said. She pointed to the man Beth shot.

  They all went over to him. He had an arm across his chest, grasping his side. He was breathing heavily.

  “Oh no,” Beth said as she put a hand to her mouth.

  “Beth, is that Tanner?” Juana asked.

  Beth nodded her head.

  “The Tanner that you work with?” Will asked. He stepped forward and lowered his head towards Tanner trying to get a better look in the dark.

  “Yes,” she answered.

  Tanner was normally a clean-shaven man. Now he had an overgrown beard. He was in his mid-thirties and was always kind to everyone while Beth worked with him. The bad economy had come down hard on Tanner. He was a computer programmer that had been laid off and was forever trying to re-enter the field. The only job he could find in Oakhurst was at the gift shop with Beth. He couldn’t afford to move to find work. Now in this new world, it appeared he joined the mob that pillaged his own hometown.