by Chris Hechtl
“What good is a gold necklace against an alien? Or a diamond pendant?” Jayne said, wrinkling her nose. Tamara nodded.
They'd managed to get some of the gear they needed into the hands of the field people. Some had been reluctant to turn over things like night vision goggles or heavy weapons. Jayne had wanted to force them but Shane had offered the people compensation instead.
“We've got John's and the furniture stores cleared again,” Bill said.
“Again?”
“They move in at night. We really need people there but no one wants to be exposed. I can't say I blame them.” He looked at Bob.
Bob spread his hands and then juggled his coffee cup so he wouldn't spill a precious drop. “Not me man, I can only put out so many fires at once. We've only got so many resources.”
“True. At least we've got the warehouses online. Finally.” Sams, Costco, Winco, and the other warehouse stores were now back in business as dual factories and housing complexes. It had relieved a lot of the crowding in the mall and at the hotels.
“Yeah, but its still a pain in the ass. Security is going to have to do a full lock down. And since the roofs aren't insulated we have to crank the AC.”
“Joy.”
“I've had to add a layer of electric fencing around our generators again. Twenty two went down when something got in and tore it up.”
“Something?”
“Couldn't tell what it was. Decayed.”
“Ew.”
“Yeah, that was a fun clean up. Its not like you can go in and hose off the electrical stuff.”
“Yeah.”
“That crew earned the bonus this week,” Bob said with a head shake. “Hopefully I don't have another problem like that. Putting more fencing up put me behind schedule again and its sucked up more of our fencing. We're going to need more.”
“Joy.”
“Any word on water?”
“Nothing in the pipes. We've got crews going in and sucking out any pools they find. Fortunately, since the heat has let up it's cut back on the evaporation a bit. We're getting enough to cover for our population, the construction, and the factories, but only just. Recycling can only help so much.”
“Are we seriously looking into closing the loop?” Bob asked.
“At least partially. I can't say I like the idea of drinking my own recycled pee, but hey we're in a desert and in a survival situation. If it worked on the ISS for so many years it will work here. In time.”
“Ew.” Tamara wrinkled her nose.
“Yeah well, until then what we're going to do is treat the water to a gray state then hand it over to the construction and manufacturing crews. It won’t be potable but can be used by them.”
“Gee thanks,” Bob said dryly. “I'll remember not to wash the dust off me with it.”
“Pass that onto your crews as well. Try to keep the dust spraying down as well, I know its hard, but we really don't have a choice here.”
“I know.”
“Harvest teams have hit some of the fruit areas. I wish that those people in Riverside hadn't ripped out the orange groves.”
“I know. Any idea why the aliens didn't pick the trees clean?” Shane asked, turning to his wife.
“I've asked doc, he's not sure. We're getting scattered reports that the aliens avoid citrus for some reason. If I can get a live animal I'd like to run a test or two.”
More than one person looked decidedly uncomfortable with that idea. Jen saw it and sighed. “I know, I know, too much too soon. We have to learn sometime folks.”
“Sometime. Not now though. Too many people freak at the very idea of being outside still. Bring one of those things in and there will be a mass panic and rush for the doors.”
“Which we don't want,” Shane said with a grunt.
“I can tell you flash bangs and spots are the way to go with the aliens. Torres team has been the point on the new spots Gabe came up with. His party poppers. They look good and passed the trials. I know, I know, you've got lights rigged around the perimeter forming a light fence that the predators don't like to cross. I know. But I suggest you set up lights outside the perimeter that you can turn on remotely.”
“Okay,” Bob mused.
“Something strategic,” she looked at Shane. He raised an eyebrow. “If they don't see it as a threat they will ignore it. At least we think. If oh, say they rush for the wall and get hit from in front and behind all at once...”
“It will stun them. Easier to kill if they aren't moving. I get it,” he said.
“And it will push the perimeter out more at need,” Ross said with a nod. “Smart.”
“We can also use the motion sensors, the security lights on houses and buildings,” Jen suggested.
“Um, Jen I'm limited on power here,” Bob said delicately.
“I know. What I'm thinking about, and this is just a suggestion,” she held her hand out. “This is a suggestion, but you could pick up the solar ones from the stores and the houses. Hook them up like you're doing with the cell sites.”
“Oh!”
“The motion detectors could push the perimeter out even further,” Ross mused. “Give us a hundred yards of daylight in an area and I'm wondering if any of the alien predators will come into it. Then again...”
“All the prey animals will congregate to it,” Jen said with a grimace. “Something I thought of and currently don't have a fix for,” she said with a sigh.
“Well, work on it,” Bob said.
“We will.”
“I've got something for you as well,” Shane said looking at his wife. She leaned back to give him her undivided attention. He cleared his throat as his index finger doodled on the table top absently. She knew that doodling during meetings helped him concentrate but it drove her crazy sometimes.
“It turns out the aliens are starting to cover windows and doors.”
“Cover?”
“Yes. Some have figured out the curtains. They aren't tearing them up, but they are peeing all over them. A few houses have blinds that were closed too. We're not sure if they did it or the people who...” he shrugged helplessly. She nodded. The initial invasion had happened at night after all. But then again, some people left their blinds open 24/7. There was no way of telling if they had been open before or not.
“They are also covering the skylights and clear windows with a goo.”
“Goo.” She wrinkled her nose. “Define goo.”
“I... I think its either their crap or something else. Stinks to high heaven. Some of the houses that we haven't hit yet had them. It dries like a paste.”
“Oh.” She looked thoughtful for a moment. “I'll need a sample,” she said wrinkling her nose.
“I know. We took a few and sent it to the lab I think. They might be in the truck still.”
“God I hope not. It'd be worse than leaving a dead fish in the truck overnight,” Walt said in disgust.
“Probably,” Shane said with a grimace. He'd been wiped out last night and hadn't thought of anything except a hot meal and shower when they had got back. Now he regretted it. He hoped his sinuses wouldn't regret it shortly.
“Okay, so... anything else new?”
“Stores are balancing out. We've had a small fruit harvest from the plants Jen had us bring in. We're having a run on citrus right now,” Jayne reported.
“Prevents scurvy,” Doc said with a smile.
“Good.”
...*...*...*...*...
Shane came out when Bill called him on the radio. “Boss you better come out and take a look. Walt brought some new toys home to play with,” he said.
“Where?” he asked, keying his mike.
“Sears boss. Where else?”
He snorted. Where else indeed? Sears was their primary machine shop still despite the inroads the warehouse stores were making as they were turned into factories. “Be there in five.” He looked over to the others. “You two can handle it from here?”
“Sure we got it
, go see what's going on,” Wayne said with a wave.
“Think of the bat cave. Dude! Bruce Wayne! Why didn't I think of that before!” the kid said bouncing. Wayne rolled his eyes.
He made it out the lower entrance and around the berm. He could hear trucks rumbling nearby. He rounded the crude wall and nodded to the sentry. “What's up?” he asked.
“See for yourself boss,” the sentry said pointing. Shane rounded the corner to see Walt leaning on the step board of his lead rig, waving a cowboy hat and holding onto the side mirror. He snorted.
“Hey boss! Lookie what followed us home! Can we keep it?” he said grinning. “Can I, can I?” A few people were looking at Walt like he was an idiot. Damned if he cared.
“If you promise to feed it, walk it, and change its oil...” someone said chuckling.
“What the hell are we going to do with a dozer that big?” the sentry asked shaking his head. Most of the equipment Bob was using were small D8 dozers. This thing though was a modern monster. It probably sucked diesel like crazy.
“You'd be surprised,” Shane said shaking his head. “Yeah Walt, you feed and take care of her and you can keep her.”
“Yippee!” Walt said throwing his hat in the air. He swung out to catch it but missed.
“Seriously, what do we need that for?”
“Tank?” Another guy said grinning. The others glanced his way and then started to grin. The last efforts to make a tank had been a mixed thing. This thing looked like a tank already.
“Tank hell, I'm thinking of just using it as a dozer. We can use a big one here,” Shane said waving. “Okay Walt, get your toys together and we'll put them to work. I want you to get with Bob and see where he needs you first,” he said waving.
“Sure thing boss,” Walt said hopping down and picking his hat up. He dusted it off and then grinned. “I'll call her Bertha 2.”
“Like a kid with a new toy,” a woman said, rolling her eyes but smiling a little.
“Yup,” Walt said strutting, thumbs in his suspenders. “Who's the man?”
“Funny Walt. Just remember we need these beasts working not sitting around collecting dust,” Shane said raising his voice so those milling around could hear it. A few raised their hands in mock surrender and moved off.
“I'll find Bob. He's...”
“He's here,” Bob said rounding the corner of the defensive wall. “I think we need to put this to work right way. I can see all kinds of uses. Starting with hitting that track of houses and apartments right here on the other side of Eucalyptus,” he pointed to the South.
“Not Towngate?” Walt asked turning and pointing in that direction.
“No, here. We might have a use for Towngate. Right now we're going to knock that area flat. Clear it out, and then knock it down. It’s a haven for the animals in the area. We'll turn it into a killing field or a moat.”
“Or both. Whatever works,” Shane said nodding in agreement. “That'll cover our Southern flank once we get it sorted out.”
“Right. I'll see if we can get some water in there when we're done. That'll serve as a deterrent and as a local reservoir for us.”
“Good idea Bob, put it in action,” he said with a nod.
“I've already got crews in there clearing it,” Jayne said coming around the berm. “It'll take another day or so to get what we can out of it. I want to clear all the food and weapons. We've got the utilities shut off already. We're pulling everything including the appliances.”
“Good. Don't want to hit a gas line.”
“You're going to hit a lot of them with that thing. Flatten them; rip them up, the works. Gas is shut off. Just don't hit the areas the crews will mark red.”
“Ah...” Walt said, now sounding dubious. “To late to back out?”
“Have someone else, several someone else's trained on that beast and the others. We'll go from there. You're too useful to just be doing that.”
“Come on boss, I was looking forward to some demo,” Walt said. It sounded almost like a whine. Shane wasn't sure if he was kidding or not.
“Yeah I bet. But the idea of a gas explosion isn't so hot?” he asked.
“You could put it that way,” Walt admitted.
“Go with Jayne's crew and take a walk through,” he said. Walt nodded. “Go armed though, its a nesting site.”
“Check for propane tanks,” Bob said suddenly looking thoughtful. “I mean for barbeques. Generators too,” he said. Jayne grimaced. She took her walkie talkie and passed the order along. There was a noticeable groan on the other end. Apparently that little thing had been overlooked. Shane winced. His crew was trained to pick them up. Apparently the others hadn't caught onto that.
“Make it another day then boss, we'll need to back track and start over,” Jayne said when the griping ended.
“I know. Just work on it. One day at a time,” he said turning.
“Damn it, the club houses and shit, crap,” Jayne said shaking her head. “Computers, cameras. It'll take a week.”
“We don't need...” She turned a glare on Bob before he could finish.
“You know when we're ever going to make more Bob? More computers? More cameras? Blankets? Shit Bob, Jen's right, take the long view. It might take a little more time but we can hack it. We'll go through one building at a time if we have to. Clean it out of everything. Every damn thing. Right down to ripping out the electrical fittings and the boxes. Hell, even the copper plumbing if we can swing it. We can store it in the empty shipping containers or whatever. I've got a feeling we'll need it later,” she said. “This is going to go on and on, for years. Decades. Or forever maybe. Better get that through some thick heads now.”
Bob looked a little red. Shane put a hand on his shoulder. “She's right Bob,” he said gently. “They might find more weapons in there. Or other things. And she's right about the computers and stuff. Who knows when we'll get more. Might as well save what we can while we can. If we don't want it we can trade it.”
“All right,” Bob said grimacing. “If that's the case you don't mind if I send Walt over to the freeway side and rip up there while we wait?”
“Nice trench moat? In that blank field area? No, be my guest. Make it a deep one.”
“It'll be deep in some pockets, but narrow. Which means it can be leapt.”
“Shit,” Shane said grimacing. “I forgot the terrain for a sec there. Yeah, I gotcha, do the best you can. We'll get this sorted,” he said.
“We meaning me. You've got the big picture to keep in mind boss,” Jayne said. She waved him onward.
TJ came over and waved to them. “Make sure you wear your helmet or hard hat. Eye protection and steel toed boots too. Seriously. You don't want something falling and knocking what little sense you've got out right?” she demanded. “Or stubbing a toe and breaking it?”
“Um...” Walt looked at the boss. Shane shrugged. “She's got a point. Don't drop everything but try to get the gangs to put some safety gear on during breaks or whenever. Figure it out.”
TJ nodded. “Jayne told me about the crews in there and the shifting priorities. I'm going to need a day of down time to get my section heads trained on the new priorities. And we're going to need the dock crews trained on how and where to sort it all, not to mention where to store it.”
“Okay,” Shane said. “Get on it.”
“That's what I'm doing. A little advance notice would have been nice though,” she growled, shaking her head and walking off. Bob and Walt grimaced and turned to follow.
Shane looked down at his tablet then frowned. “Wait Bob, guys get back here a sec,” he waved them back.
“What? We're burning daylight you know!” Bob said in exasperation as he turned.
“Priority change. Here, look,” Shane said holding out his tablet.
“What are we looking at?” Bob asked, taking the tablet. “Map of the area. Okay...”
“Check this area. Start there,” Shane said pointing to the left side across the stree
t from the Lowes shopping center. “Construction equipment can get in there. Dig a nice moat there. That way you can get used to the equipment and get some work done too.”
“Riigght,” Bob said with a nod. “And its not tight quarters either. Okay, I see what you're getting at. We'll make it work.” He waved to Walt. “Walt head to the parking lot across the street from Lowes.”
“Day?”
“No!” the... Ah hell, hang on,” Walt said. He took the tablet and walked over to the driver.
“I want that back!” Shane yelled. He shook his head as Bob climbed onto the rig and pointed out where he wanted the crew to go. “Ah hell,” he said as Bob hung on and Walt pulled out. He waved a dismissive wave. “Fat lot of good that did. Now I need a new one.” he turned.
The sentry looked surprised and held up a hand. “Don't look at me boss, I ain't got one.”
“Funny,” Shane said with a snort as he shook his head. “Everyone's funny. Everyone's gotta be a comedian. Let's get something done here shall we? Where were we...? Oh yeah getting a new tablet...”
...*...*...*...*...
Jen, the science team and Nate the veterinarian led a team to dissect alien corpses. Any new aliens encountered were taken to them right away. They had their own dedicated freezers now to avoid contaminating the food ones. Apparently Doctor Phillips storing his samples in Hermes' fridges and freezer hadn't gone over well.
They dissected the animals and documented their findings both on video and electronically. Gabe even set up a laser scanner so they could scan each bit into the computer for later study. An MRI would have been better but Doctor Niederman had refused to allow them to use the one remaining machine they had. Jen was amused that everyone gave them a wide berth after a major dissection. A nice wide berth straight to the showers.
...*...*...*...*...
Torres found nests in Shakey's, the Sunnymead hotels, and Chuck E. Cheese. It took her a day to clear out. There were some casualties when a bull Hellcat tore up the place. “I never liked that place anyway,” Torres muttered.
...*...*...*...*...