Afraid of the Dark

by Chris Hechtl

“What are we... oh UAV feed?” Kyle asked. He studied the image. “They're using the garbage truck as a ram. They've got a dumpster up to protect the passengers.”

  “Where do you think they're from?” Jolie asked.

  “No idea. My best guess is either up the 60 or from Rancho Belago. I'm leaning to the Rancho angle actually,” Wayne said.

  “Yeah me too. Because...” Shane pointed to a figure but the video moved and he was no longer on camera. “I'm pretty sure that's the prick who kept my gun,” he growled.

  “Really?” Wayne asked amused. “Think he's come by with his friends to return it?”

  “If they are, that's a lot of friends for a simple road trip,” Shane muttered watching them. “I count ten,” he said as they watched a cluster of men get together and talk. Two kept looking up and pointing to the UAV. One pointed a weapon at it. The camera immediately jigged as the pilot took evasive action.

  “Yeah, they know they've been spotted. Now the question is, do we go out and meet them or do we let them come to us?”

  “We let them come to us. We go out there we're sacrificing most of our defenses for no return except surprise,” Kyle said.

  “That and you want to be in on the action,” Jolie said amused.

  “Actually, the downside is letting them damage our defenses. But we'll see how it goes,” Wayne said.

  “Positions people. By squad on the wall. I want four squads here by the dozer ready to go,” Hernandez called, waving.

  “Glad you made it,” Wayne said nodding to the soldier.

  “Damn near didn't,” the private said looking a little tired. “Traffic was a bitch,” he said.

  “It can be,” Wayne smiled a tight lipped smile as he nodded to Torres and her crew.

  “Get the dozer out in front of the gate. If they want to ram it they aren't going to like the reception they find,” Shane said.

  “I love it,” Walt said climbing back into his rig. He revved it back up and waved to the gate. “Move it!” he called waving his hands to some of the guys in the way.

  It took them a minute to set up. Just long enough for the UAV to get back into a limited sight line. They made sure that everyone was set and then Shane turned back to the laptop. They watched the camera feed stabilize further out. They looked up; sure enough the UAV could be seen doing a lazy figure eight over Sunnymead and Fredrick, pointed down to Graham. After about a minute the group got their act together and move out.

  They rumbled up Sunnymead and slowed at the turn. They seemed to pause before continuing. Most of the tractor trailers were milling about on the corner. The garbage truck rumbled up Fredrick picking up speed before slowing as Walt brought the dozer out and onto Fredrick directly in front of them. The garbage truck screeched to a halt and the armored truck slammed on its brakes right behind it. Shane grinned grimly at the loud high pitched sound of air brakes in action.

  “That's far enough,” Shane said over the intercom. Walt had cut it close; the blade of his dozer was just touching the dumpster.

  Men began to pile out of the vehicles, all of them armed. Wayne signaled and the squads went from squatting in their positions to half of them standing in full view. Each and every one of them was armed. A few were sporting RPGs.

  “Shit man, RPG! That's a fucking RPG! No one said nuthin, about that man! Ain't happenin, man! We can't go up against that!” A would be raider yelled. He wasn't the only one on the Rancho side that looked pale and nearly hysterical.

  “Shut your yap or I'll do it for you!” a guy yelled turning on the near hysterical man. “Someone belt that coward!” he yelled waving his arm in disgust. He turned to study the wall and gate. Shane noted it wasn't Gonzales or Harris. Interesting. He was dressed as a banger with the bandannas.

  “I've got a feeling they've scoped us out before. This however wasn't expected,” Wayne said softly. Shane made sure the mike was off and turned.

  “I think you're right. I'm just glad they wanted a direct confrontation over attacking one of our field teams,” he said.

  “True. They would have had their heads handed to them if they had,” the deputy said. His eyes glittered as one of the tractor trailers on the corner opened up and men spilled out of the back. They milled about; looking for cover and finding only their trucks offered any. With a bunch of RPGs pointed their way it was dubious cover at best.

  “A hundred easy,” Leon said softly to them.

  “Probably,” Shane said studying the group. All were armed to varying degrees. Most had fire arms but a few had just bats or improvised weapons. One guy had a cross bow.

  “I believe you told me to stay on my side of town and you'd stay on yours. Care to tell me why you're trespassing on our territory Wex?” Shane said into the intercom.

  The lead raider looked around, trying to spot him. He snorted softly. He wasn't ready to expose himself just yet. No need to make it easy for a sniper. “We need supplies,” the man yelled after a moment. He didn't have an uppity attitude anymore.

  “So do we. I even offered to trade. I ended up losing my nine mil to you Wex remember?” Shane replied. “You made it quite clear, you didn't want to trade, you didn't want us anywhere near you. That's a two way street,” he said coldly.

  The man smirked and turned to the armored car and snapped his fingers twice and then waved to indicate someone else come out. After a moment a woman came out. She looked at them and then came over to the lead raider. Wayne groaned.

  “Someone you know?” Shane asked. He grimaced and then shook himself as he recognized the woman that had been in the meeting. She was pretty battered, blouse torn, her hair was a mess and she had bruises on her face.

  “One of the city council I think,” Wayne answered as the lead raider leaned over and talked with the woman softly for a moment. She was dressed in a filthy business suit. Her blond hair was done up in a messy bun held together by a pencil or pen. She had wire rim glasses on; one of the lenses was broken. She seemed more than a little scared of the lead raider. She kept looking up at the wall and then down to her scuffed shoes.

  “Someone's counting noses boss,” Leon said. Shane looked over to the young man. He nodded his chin to a red Toyota SUV. “Guy with a beard. He's checking us out.”

  “Nice,” was all Shane could say. He shrugged. He was keeping less than ten percent of his force exposed here.

  “Think they'll distract us while another group hits another point?” someone asked.

  “Doubt it. Bill and the others got that covered,” another guy said. Shane felt a sudden concern for an attack from within? What if they had snuck in some people as refugees? Then he thought about it again. If they had, why would anyone turn their coats? They had it a hell of a lot better here than in Rancho.

  “Quiet,” Hernandez said. He looked at the boss. “Mexican standoff.”

  “Not quite. They've lost the element of surprise and the initiative. They also don't have the firepower and I think they've finally come to realize that,” Shane said as he watched the conference unfold. A third man was there talking with the raider and council woman. She looked scared but finally nodded and turned to them just as the wind picked up and ruffled her dress. She shivered. It must be cold in that thing. It was barely fifty out and that mini dress was pretty mini. She had a lot of bruises on her thighs Shane noted, eyes narrowing. Most on her thighs. Inner thighs. He felt himself growl an ugly growl.

  “I am a council member of Moreno Valley. My name is Lorean Lockheart. As a city council member I hereby issue this proclamation to claim all assets within city limits under the law of eminent domain,” she said waving a piece of paper.

  “Lady that ain't worth using as toilet paper!” someone on the mall side yelled.

  She looked at the fluttering papers. “I assure you these are real and binding. It is a legal document. Signed...”

  “No, it isn't,” Shane said over the intercom. She gaped at him. “In order for a document to be legal it has to be signed by the correct parties, notar
ized, and then filed in the state courts. It also has to pass judicial muster and offer compensation. Secondly you're referring to eminent domain which is the seizure of real estate, not personal property. In short lady you don't have a leg to stand on and you and I both know it,” Shane said firmly, glaring out at them.

  One of the raiders pointed in his direction. A few turned to look. The gun turret on top of the armored truck swiveled to cover his side of the wall. Walt's dozer rumbled, the gunner on top swiveled his turret to cover the truck.

  “We want food. Ammo. Fuel. Give us what we want and we'll leave!” the lead raider called. It wasn't Wex, more's the pity. Shane would love to frag that little bastard's ass. The twit still had the same outfit on; all he had added was a bit of black and white war paint on his face. Cute. “No one has to be hurt!” he called throwing his hands apart. The council woman stared at him and gulped. She stepped back as the lead raider turned in place.

  “You're going to leave anyway,” Shane said. “The easy way or the hard way. Your choice,” he growled.

  “You're making a mistake!” the raider called.

  “No, you did it coming here. No dice. I don't deal with terrorists. You want something from us you're going to pay for it. In goods or in blood. Your choice.”

  “Let's do this face to face, come on bitch,” the man said, grabbing the woman by the elbow and dragging her across the dividing berm to the gate.

  “Sure, he's going to get the same answer,” Wayne said as they left their observation position and climbed down the ladder to the gate. Wayne tapped his body armor and moved ahead of Shane. He took out his side arm and held it up as he touched the door handle. He pulled a small five foot high side door open slowly. His eyes flickered in anger as he noted the lead raider holding the woman in front of him with the muzzle of a familiar Beretta to the side of her head.

  “Your choice man. I'll kill the bitch right here right now. Her death is on you. Just give us what we want. We'll go away.”

  “Until the next time you want something and the next. No, no deal. No dice,” Shane snarled. He came to the door, pushing Wayne aside. He looked at the woman; her eyes were wide and frightened. He stared into the lead raiders eyes. After a moment the raider's eyes shifted and he licked his lips.

  “I'll make you a promise. You kill her here you won’t make it a foot beyond where you are standing. By the way dumb shit, that's my gun you've got,” he said, noting the gun.

  “Oh?” the guy said waving the gun a little and pretending to look at it. “So it is,” he said smiling a little. “You're the one I took it off of? Didn't think you had the balls to be here.”

  “Yeah it is. So you've had your one free ride.” He looked into the woman's eyes. “Sorry lady, but I've got nearly thirty-thousand people here.”

  She whimpered a little. The guy dug his hand into her hair and yanked down until she stopped. Her head was back but she didn't dare move. Hernandez was near, looking through a crack. He put the tip of his barrel to a gap and looked at Wayne. Wayne looked at Shane. Shane looked at them both and cocked his head to one side.

  “I tell you what. We'll trade. You like to trade? Fine man. Trade. We'll take one of those RPGs and ten, no twenty! Twenty rounds. You can have this bitch in exchange. We don't need her.” He shoved her hard and then yanked her back by her hair. She gulped and tears fell.

  “I tell you what. I'll let you and your men go alive. She stays. I'll even let you keep your vehicles, your clothes, and your guns. As an extra special bonus I'll let you keep your balls,” he said coldly and quietly staring at the man again. He made sure to lock eyes with the bastard. “We've got a thing about people who rough up women and children. The last one didn't live very long after we got a hold of him.”

  The lead raider's eyes widened and he gulped a little. Wayne looked savagely satisfied, crossing his arms in front of him. The raider looked at him and saw the sheriff's badge on his armored chest. “You're a cop.”

  “And so are a few of our other people. Plus the guy pointing a gun at your head is a soldier. I'm a soldier. We kill every day. We're used to death. So you want to play?” Shane said, voice dropping to a deathly whisper. “Fine let's play,” he said eyes gleaming coldly.

  The guy's eyes went comically wide. He looked back to his men and then shook his head. Apparently he was gauging the distance to safety and didn't like what he saw. He looked up to the wall once more saw the men and women looking out or down at him. Saw the death written all over their faces.

  “Up to you man,” Shane said almost conversationally.

  “Fine, keep the bitch. She ain't that hot a lay anyway. Just another worthless mouth to feed. We don't want her,” the raider said, pushing the woman to Shane. He caught her as the raider backed up fast. He didn't turn his back on the wall, just moved fast back to his own people. “Let's go!” he yelled to his crew. They got into their vehicles and backed up.

  “We're going to let them go?” Wayne asked as they pulled out. One truck went over the dividing berm and got caught. Another managed the maneuver and kept going. The truck that was stuck rocked for a moment, tires spinning like mad before the people inside got out. They looked at the wall and then took off fast on foot, following the others.

  The garbage truck was abandoned. The driver and passenger got out and ran after the others. “Here take her,” Shane said pushing the woman to Wayne as he stepped back and closed the door. She was crying hysterically, trembling like a leaf. She clutched at him desperately, thanking them hoarsely over and over in a tangled babble of words and whimpers.

  “You're fine lady, calm down,” Hernandez said shaking his head. “Shit,” he said in disgust, hefting his rifle. “So much for blowing something up today,” he said. He sounded a bit disgusted.

  “Just be glad. I'd rather conserve the ammo for the aliens and not get any of our people killed,” Shane said as Kyle wheeled up. “Thanks man, I think the RPGs spooked them into backing down better than I'd hoped.” Apparently Wex hadn't told his people that they were going to go up against RPGs. Or they had discounted it. He'd smelled some liquid courage on Wex. He wondered how many others had come drunk and spoiling for a fight? Bet they were sober now. Sober and pissing themselves all the way home.

  Kyle studied him and then nodded slowly. His eyes flicked to the woman clutching at Deputy Wayne. His lips curled in a disgusted growl and then his hands flicked down and he spun about and took off.

  “Take her to Doctor Niederman. He'll give you a check up and some food miss,” Shane said. She nodded and clutched at his arm as he watched her leave. Wayne helped her into a car and then closed the door.

  “She armed?” Shane asked Wayne who shook his head no. He climbed in and they took off. “Good,” Shane said turning to the others. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and hit Gabe on speed dial. “Gabe...”

  “Boss that was cool!” Gabe gushed.

  “Gabe...”

  “Seriously man, I bet that guy was knockin' in his boots. Pissing himself. Shit man, so cool how you just stared them down! Everyone's cheering here! I put it up on all the screens and everyone's going nuts!”

  “Gabe...” he sighed patiently, waiting for the big guy to wind down so he could get a word in edge wise.

  “Seriously I mean... what? Oh yeah, oh sorry,” he cleared his throat and then his voice calmed a bit. “Sorry boss. What can I do for you?” he asked.

  “UAV. Keep tracking them. Make sure they don't go knock over one of our satellites. Warn anyone in the area.”

  “Allies?”

  “Them too. They need to know.” He didn't want them to hit someone smaller now that they knew the mall was too big a mouthful to chew.

  “Roger,” Gabe said, suddenly quieter.

  “Right. Let Bill and the others know. Stand down the mall and other outposts to Green in an hour if they return to their base. What's Torres 10-19?”

  “Torres? She's um...”

  “Here,” Torres said waving to him. She was s
tanding with her group. He nodded to her. “Want me to shadow them?” she asked. He nodded.

  “Leon,” he turned to the big guy. Little Leon looked up but he waved to him. Big Leon looked up when someone poked him. “Get some of your crew out there to get rid of those vehicles. Check them for problems first. Watch for booby traps. Strip any fuel, tools, equipment, and weapons out.”

  “Roger,” Leon said nodding.

  “Keep them outside Leon. Dump them nearby,” he called after the young man. Leon waved as he kept moving.

  “What a day,” Shane sighed. “Gabe you still there?” he asked, looking down at the phone.

  “Yeah boss.”

  “I want an all departments report on the incident and I want everyone and I do mean EVERYONE to review the emergency procedures. We had way too many people not knowing what to do. I don't want another drill. We shouldn't have to drill more than once a week. Damn it they should know by now what to do. Get their department heads to fix this. I don't want that happening again.”

  “Roger boss.” Gabe suddenly sounded sheepish.

  “Out,” he replied shutting the phone and turning. “What a day,” he said looking around. The good news was he hadn't had to kill anyone. The bad was that the outside was an even more dangerous place now. Great. That was all they didn't need.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  Jerry nodded to the others in the council as he came in. He took his customary seat and sighed, tapping a control on the chair to give him a massage. “Okay, whichever one of you thought of swapping the chairs out for these is a genius,” he said, voice dripping with feeling.

  There was a smattering of chuckles from the others. Jayne smiled as she sat back and toyed with a stylus. “I think we're about ready to begin right?” she asked, looking at Shane.

  “Just about,” he said nodding. “How are your patient’s doc?” he asked, nodding his chin to Jerry.

  “Better. Resting comfortably. It seems the relief of being away from the Rancho group made Miss Lockheart break down, so we sedated her. Apparently Deputy Harris and Private Gonzales are dead, she wanted to pass that along,” he said.