by Logan Keys
But Michelle forced away those dark thoughts.
She rose and started to pace. They were just taking longer was all.
She couldn’t go back down the stairwell, could she? That would be too risky.
A sound in the hallway caught her attention. It sounded like something was clicking and there was a ding.
Michelle pulled her gun out of her pocket and walked towards the hallway on weak knees.
Slowly she crept along the glass windows until she saw a faint light at the other end. She swallowed and slid closer. What if they found another way in?
Just then, the doors to the elevator slid open, and Bob came rushing out. He spotted Michelle hiding in the dark. “Are you hurt? Tell me you’re okay?”
“I’m okay. I’m okay,” she said, and she grabbed him into a hug.
“Did we do it?”
He nodded and smiled. “We did it. Well, Cameron did. Come back down with me.”
The ride down to their floor in the elevator was filled with relief. Michelle was nearly dizzy with it. Once they got to their floor Bob pushed the emergency stop and the elevator stood open, waiting for only them to use.
Cameron was already at work over a computer in Reese’s office.
“The links are all duds, but I think I can try to use the more archaic methods. They transmit back to us via radio waves…see they’re still sending information to the antennas here, but…well the healthy ones are.”
“Healthy ones?”
“Yeah. Some are basically just shields but no longer viable otherwise.”
“Is that good?” Michelle asked. “Will they stop blocking the sun?”
“No,” Cameron said. “They’ll still do their job even after they stop working. Unfortunately, that was the beauty of this plan. One and done.”
Cameron worked for a while then paced. He worked some more, mostly speaking to himself, each time pulling more hair out and cursing in frustration. “Think, Cam, think!”
“Okay,” Michelle said. “Why not talk it out with me. What are you trying to do?”
“I wasn’t sure. I thought maybe there was a way to control them or maybe I could figure a way to send them into a different orbit.”
“What would that do?” Bob asked.
“Nothing…at first. But perhaps they’d get too low…Uh. How to explain. They have thrusters and perhaps I can trigger those to fire and send them into lower orbit. Most of the satellites are in mid to high orbit to avoid sending them into our atmosphere by accident over time. I’m trying to do the opposite of what we’d been trying to do from the start. I’m trying to make them destroy themselves, but the thing is, it’s not like I can just drive them around like a car. I can send them into lower orbit by speeding up the orbital speed, maybe. But perhaps I just cause them to increase altitude that way as well.”
Michelle cocked her head. “You’ve lost me.”
“We also have most of them geostationary which means in one place. I’m trying to make them come lower, to get into our atmosphere and…”
“And what?”
“Well, fall,” he said.
Bob stood straight as did Michelle. “You can do that?”
“No. It’s impossible,” Reese provided.
“Not impossible,” Cameron said. “Improbable. There is a difference.”
Chapter 7
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Rita insisted that she only needed an hour’s sleep, so once they were pulled free of the ditch, they reluctantly got back into the SUV and let her drive them onward to Oklahoma City. It was pitch black outside, no moon, and the temperature was dropping. Snow fell gently onto the hood of the SUV while they mostly drove in silence because no one wanted to ask the question on everyone’s minds. Why hadn’t her son moved?
Benton was the one who didn’t read the room and so he was quick to point out the obvious…mouth of babes and all. “Why doesn’t that man wake up? Is he sick or something?”
Rita flinched but clamped her mouth shut. Her wild eyes scanned the road, pretending to be ultra-vigilant. But Colton knew she was avoiding the question.
“He’s probably just tired,” Rufus said, not wanting to scare the kid.
Colton sighed and gazed out of the window.
“How much further,” Bart asked.
“Not much,” Rita said, and it was clear she was going to be happy to be rid of them once they arrived in Oklahoma City. Probably because she had something to hide. Colton didn’t care much about that. Sure, if she killed her son, maybe that’s something he’d want to be aware of, but wouldn’t he know if it were a dead body?
He’d hope so.
Bart leaned forward and spoke low so only Colton could hear. “Ten bucks says that’s a dead guy.”
Colton rolled his eyes. “You don’t have ten bucks.” He paused a beat. “Twenty says it’s a dummy.”
“You’re on.”
Bart sat back and Rufus must have guessed what they’d been on about because he snorted a laugh.
“What’s that?” Rita asked.
“We must be close,” Colton said to distract her. “Looks like they have some sort of checkpoint up ahead.”
Beyond the outer limits of the city, Colton could see fires burning. Some looked like buildings that had caught, others…. were they having some sort of party? From this distance it was hard to tell. In the night, the light glowed like beacons of humanity that still rose high into the sky in defiance against mother nature.
The weather would win. They would die. But not quietly.
“They’ve got the entrance blocked off.” Rufus, Colton, and Bart shared a long look.
Rita tisked. “Military is trying to control every little move. That’s why Jakey was too smart to enlist. Weren’t you?”
The man didn’t move. Or dummy. Or whatever he was. He was perfectly still, and covered by his jacket and blanket. He didn’t even appear to breathe.
Bart hummed to the back of Colton’s head. “Dead guy,” he sing-songed.
Colton shot him a stern look then leaned forward towards Rita and away from his brother. “There’s a line of people waiting to get in. See that truck? Just pull up behind them.”
Rita did. Once they were in line, Colton frowned, and a sinking feeling grew. “Bro, you see that?”
Rufus answered, “Inspections.”
“Spot check,” Benton said. “They do it on base all the time.”
“How do you know that?” Rita asked Benton.
“His father’s---was military.” Colton glanced at Benton who avoided his gaze, lip quivering. “But that guy right there, Bart. You see him? The light’s flashing on him, look now.”
Bart leaned in and squinted. “I don’t see anything.”
Colton snapped his fingers, anxiety spinning through his body. “I dunno what type of uniform sports hunting camo pants. Out of regulation.”
Rufus sat straight as they watched the fake military member pull the driver in front of them out of his truck. He roughly pushed them to the ground, face grinding into the asphalt.
“Rita,” Colton said quietly. “I’m going to need you to ease back up in reverse then pull a u-turn. You need to get us out of here and fast. Without them noticing.”
“What? Why?” Rita’s head swiveled dramatically. “I need to get into that city and that’s what I’ll do. The military is the government’s strong arm, but they won’t bother me.”
Colton gritted his teeth. He’d had about enough of crazy Rita at the moment. “They aren’t military.”
Her expression grew suspicious. She turned to look Colton up and down. “How’d you know?”
“I’m active duty…Ma’am.” He used the term loosely since she might be a murderer.
“Then why ain’t you with them?”
Colton breathed loudly through his nose. “I’m just not.”
Rita glanced at the fake military member with sly smile. “You dodged your duty, didn’t you?”
“It wasn’t a dr
aft.”
“Yeah. But you ain’t supposed to be on the loose, are ya? Well, that’s okay, I’ll just tell this nice fella here once we get our turn that I’m harboring a criminal and he’ll let me into the city and onward towards my daughter. Probably escort me for my trouble of turning you in.”
Rita pulled forward before they could protest and the man with the fake uniform approached with a rifle in hand. “Step out of the vehicle.”
“All right by me,” Rita said with fake niceness.
She got out, and Colton watched with his mouth wide open as she pointed at him through the window, telling the man how Colton had gone AWOL.
“What do we do?” Bart asked.
Rufus shook his head, pulled his pistol out. “This isn’t a military checkpoint so, I don’t trust it. These guys are up to no good. You boys ready?”
Colton closed his mouth with a snap and pulled out his gun. “Yup.”
Bart whistled through his teeth, pulling out a gun as well. He made sure it was loaded and said, “Hey. Check on that stiff for me and tell me if I won. Ya know, before we get shot by the hunter all jacked up on stolen valor.”
Colton leaned forward but the fake military member returned. “Get out,” he said.
They all kept their guns low. “Why?” Colton asked.
“Because the lady over there is saying you skipped out. AWOL. Get out, soldier.”
Colton grinned when the guy’s gaze shifted. He knew that being with a real military member would only give up the ghost about them all being fake. “I’ll get out, but leave the kids in here, okay?”
“Sure.”
Colton got out and tucked the gun into his belt, concealing it before he walked around the front of the car. Rita was talking charismatically to the fake uniform next to her as Colton approached them.
He was busy taking in the amount of fire power he was up against. Colton counted two guys with real military grade weapons and up high was a tower, but it was empty. They had to just deal with these knuckleheads, so best option would be to try to even the score.
“Look, man,” Colton tried. He raised his hands up. “Can’t you just give me a pass?”
The guy seemed little interested in the AWOL situation and was more interested in what they hosted in the SUV. “How many people are with you?” he asked
“Just the kids and my brother and friend.”
Colton glanced over and spotted the driver from the truck earlier. He was sitting on the side of the road, hands tied. The other people they’d checked were on the side of the road as well. No one was getting through. And past the checkpoint there was a row of cars pulled over and parked.
They were arresting everyone it seemed.
Colton put a hand behind his back. First, he made the number two with his fingers, for two men. Then, he made the thumbs down, guessing they’d know he meant they’d have to take them out.
“Hey,” Colton said, pretending confusion. “What is that?”
“Come back here,” the guy snapped as Colton walked towards the entrance. “That’s none of your business.”.
Colton walked towards the row of cars anyway, drawing him away from the SUV. Just as he’d hoped, the guy followed him.
He made to reach for Colton to stop him, putting his weapon down. If he’d had any training, he would have simply kept his distance, aimed his rifle. But now, he was closer---close enough to grab hold of.
Colton spun around and elbowed the guy in the face so hard he fell flat on his rump. As he went down Colton already snagged the rifle and in one fluid motion had it up and aimed at the other fake military member.
“Don’t move!” Colton shouted. “Put your gun down.”
The guy lifted it instead. Colton fired and the man flew back, jerking like a puppet on a string before landing flat on his back.
The one on the ground with a bloody nose, fumbled for a radio. “Dusty, we got trouble. Get over here!”
Colton aimed at him. “Put it down.”
The guy dropped it and put his hands up. But then he smiled. “You’re dead,” he promised.
Colton backed towards the car. Bart was outside of the SUV now, along with Rufus, and they had their guns out and aimed. “Calvary’s arriving,” Rufus said jerking his chin at headlights coming from the city in the distance.
Colton grabbed Rita by the arm, but she spun away from him. “I can’t leave! My daughter.”
“Who knows if she’s still alive. These guys have taken control of the city!”
Rita backed away.
“All right,” he said, snatching the keys from her, and running for the SUV as the Jeep screeched to a stop on the other side of the checkpoint.
“Let’s go!” Colton shouted as he dove for the driver seat just as gunfire popped off from behind him.
Rita screamed and fell, clutching her chest. Colton glanced back in horror to watch the woman crumple to the ground.
Rufus jumped in the back and Bart was at the passenger door, still outside. He shot off a few rounds to try to suppress the new arrival’s fire, wildly since he was struggling with the door latch. “Aw man!” he cried, as he pulled open the door.
Jake went tumbling out and Bart jumped over his body and leapt inside. “Told you! Dead guy!”
Colton did a double take, but he was already flooring it in reverse. The wheels spun before they caught. They jerked backwards without the door even closed yet, and the front tires rolled over the dead guy with sickening thud.
Rita watched them with a glazed expression, clearly losing too much blood to survive. Colton cringed with guilt as they flew backwards, running over her dead son in the process.
The checkpoint opened, and the jeep flew towards them in pursuit.
Colton jerked the wheel, and the kids screamed as they spun around the other direction. Bart got his door closed. At full speed, they took off down the dark highway.
“Go!” Bart called, watching the Jeep gain on them. He rolled down his window and hung out of it with his gun.
“Get back inside!” Colton said as they hit a crack in the road that threatened to dislodge Bart altogether. “Get in here!” Colton pictured his brother falling out onto the road and then crushed by the Jeep’s tires. “I mean it! Get inside!”
“Nah!” Bart yelled, the wind blowing through his open window. He was now sitting on the door. “I always wanted to do this,” he shouted.
The Jeep was right behind them. Pop. Pop. Pop. Bart fired at the other car and they swerved but he’d missed the tires.
The back window of the SUV shattered as they returned fire.
“Get the kids down!” Colton yelled, and Rufus put them onto the floor before he reached his arms out of the back of the SUV to also shoot at the Jeep.
Colton could see the hole in the Jeep’s window as Rufus struck right through the driver’s seat. The Jeep weaved, then finally lost control, turning too fast into the dirt on the side of the road. It swerved then jerked and finally kicked to the side before going side over side in a roll.
Rufus pulled his arm back inside.
Bart also pulled himself back into his seat, leaning back, brow sweaty, face pale.
Colton glanced at him and watched him grimace for a moment before it dawned on him. “Bart,’” Colton said, his blood turning cold. “Are you…
Bart lifted his hand from his side to show the blood flowing over his shirt and onto his pants. “They got me.”
Colton swallowed. “You’re going to be all right, okay. It’s going to be fine. Put pressure on it.”
“Rufus,” Colton said, and his voice cracked. “Are the kids all right?
“Yes,” Benton answered quietly. “Lily’s scared but she’s okay.”
Colton nodded, sweat trickling down his spine. “All right. Hold on, everyone. Just hold on.”
Chapter 8
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
A nightmare. That’s what this was. As Brittany was lead outside by her shackles, without Paige. She had a feeling
that Dusty felt Paige was too big a threat to test this far. But her…he liked scaring her. Making her follow him like a dog was invigorating. His words. She, on the other hand, felt like this could not be a true reality. It wasn’t that long ago that Oklahoma City was a thriving metropolis. Low crime. Reasonable economy. But now, it’s cities were filled with filth an excess garbage. People were drinking in the falling snow, and there were giant bond fires throughout the place for heat.
The buildings all around them were nearly destroyed by their use of the tanks, well, what was left of them after the earthquakes, tornadoes, and fires. Worst of all, Dusty seemed to have hundreds of people who’d joined and were part of his game. They’d conquered the city, and now they were celebrating.
Someone had put on some music, and though a few women gave her a guilty glance, they went back to laughing and joking soon enough, even dancing with the idiots who Dusty had talked into being part of this charade. To them, he was king. They all moved out of his way, shook his hand, patted him on the back.
Brittany was paraded in front of them all. Proof that he could do what he wanted. She was like a prize for the wicked, and she fought the dread that built higher and higher over the imaginings going on inside of her head. He’d said “entertainment” and all sorts of vulgarities spun through her mind. Which was probably part of the plan. When she was afraid, she was so very small, which made Dusty no doubt, feel larger than life.
Dusty walked in front of the crowd, and someone had set up a microphone for him to speak. Brittany trailed behind, wishing to hide, but someone prodded her with a gun to stand closer to Dusty on a stage they’d put together out of wooden crates.
The audience was a ragged group of dirty survivors that filled the streets as far as she could see, men mostly, who had black smears on their faces. War paint.
“Tonight,” Dusty said, barely above the loud feedback that hurt Brittany’s ears this close to the giant speakers. “We celebrate true freedom. Not…not their definition of freedom. Ours. No longer is someone else making the useless rules for us. No longer are they ordering us---micro managing us---into their subservient existence. No. My friends. We make our own destiny now!” They clapped and cheered.