Resistance

by Robert Boren

  “They still might figure this out,” Sparky said.

  “Yes, but by time they do we be long gone,” Jules said.

  “Damn, there’s a lot of smoke and fire coming out of the hotel room,” Tex said.

  “We didn’t kill a bunch of civilians, I hope,” Sparky said.

  “Room at end of hall,” Jules said. “We rent room next to it. Should be okay.” He made a right turn onto a big street.

  “Is this Lincoln already?” Tex asked.

  “Yes, my friend,” Jules said. “Del Rey is small town. Very small, except for harbor.”

  They flew down Lincoln, passing the freeway off-ramp, where several UN vans were waiting for the light.

  “Look at that,” Sparky said. “I thought they were shorthanded.”

  Jules glanced at him, grinning, and then pulled his phone out of his pocket. He hit a contact and put it to his ear.

  “Sergei,” Jules said. “Enough of them here now. Go. Attack.” He listened for a moment and nodded, then ended the call.

  “So you guys staged this to draw UN forces away, huh?” Tex asked.

  “Yes, they think we only team,” Jules said. “Surprise coming.”

  “How long can Ivan keep this up?” Sparky asked, watching as Jules turned onto Bali Way.

  “Long enough,” Jules said. “We jump-start. Citizens take over.” He turned right on Admiralty Way.

  “You hope,” Sparky said.

  “If no, USA doesn’t deserve to be free,” Jules said. “I have faith.”

  “Me too,” Tex said. “Even the lefties in California will get tired of the yoke eventually, when they see it takes more than it gives them.”

  Jules turned left into the driveway, approaching the three round high-rise buildings. He drove into the underground parking structure of the middle one. “Change out of UN clothes. Leave guns in van.”

  “How long has Ivan been using this place?” Tex asked as he changed.

  “Two months,” Jules said. “We move out soon. Within next couple days.”

  “Unless they find you before that,” Sparky said as he was changing. Jules parked about ten spaces from the elevator.

  “You worry too much,” Jules said. “Come. We take elevator to top floor.”

  “Leave all of the guns?” Tex asked.

  “Yes,” Jules said. “Other tenants in building.”

  “Makes me a tad nervous, but okay,” Tex said, putting his massive revolver under the seat in the back.

  The three got out and rushed to the elevator. Jules put a key into the panel and hit the button for the penthouse. The elevator car rose all the way to the top without stopping.

  “Here we go,” Jules said as the doors parted. They stepped into the hallway and walked left, to double doors. Jules knocked. A dark-skinned, smarmy looking ex-boxer opened the door, eyeing them for a moment. Then he smiled. “Jules. These the guys you told us about?”

  “Anton, how you?” Jules asked.

  “Enjoying the ride,” Anton said. “Welcome.”

  “Tex and Sparky,” Jules said. “Guess which one is Tex.”

  Anton laughed, looking at Tex’s cowboy hat. “I’ll buzz you in. Ivan’s busy, going on TV soon. Relax. Have a drink. Have a woman. Several to choose from. Ivan should be ready for you in a couple of hours.”

  “Thank you, Anton,” Jules said.

  They walked to the next set of double doors, which clicked as they approached. Jules pulled them open and ushered in Tex and Sparky. The lounge was dark, like a night club, with a bar on one side, booths around the outside edge, and small round tables in the middle. There were half a dozen pretty woman milling around, some of them attending to two other men who were sitting at a booth against the wall.

  “Hi there, Jules,” said an Asian woman with hair dyed red, wearing a skin-tight black dress. “Who are your friends?”

  “This Tex and Sparky,” Jules said.

  “Hi, Roxanne,” Sparky said. “We’ve met, remember?”

  “Yes, of course I remember,” she said, smiling as she offered her hand. “You haven’t been around much the last couple of years.”

  “I’ve been busy running the operation in Gardena,” he said. “How’ve you been? How’s your daughter?”

  “She’s going into High School this year,” Roxanne said. “Can’t believe it.”

  “Time flies,” Sparky said.

  “Shall I bring over a couple more women?” Roxanne asked.

  “Please,” Jules said. “You join us, I hope.”

  “For a little while,” she said. “There are others coming tonight. I’ll be pretty busy.”

  “Let’s grab booth, gentlemen,” Jules said. They walked to a big circular booth in a dark corner.

  “This place for real?” Tex asked, looking around the room.

  “The boss likes a certain style of living,” Jules said.

  “Yeah,” Sparky said. “That’s why I quit coming around so often.”

  ***

  “We’re there already,” Seth said, following Ji-Ho’s huge motor home off the freeway. They got onto Route 79.

  “I thought we were going to skirt the town,” Angel said.

  “We are, mostly,” Seth said. “We just got to go by some housing developments and strip malls. Take us about ten minutes tops, especially during this time of night.”

  They drove down the dark street, nearly deserted.

  “I’m liking this,” Angel said.

  “The area?” Seth asked.

  “No, the lack of checkpoints, dude,” Angel said. “Haven’t seen any being set up yet.”

  “I’m sure they’ll get to it,” Seth said, eyes darting around as they drove. “Wonder if the enemy has broken into the house yet?”

  “I’m sure they’re at least watching it,” Angel said. “Wish we didn’t have to give up our phones.”

  “Me too,” Seth said. “Trevor’s still back there. I was really worried about him.”

  “Me too,” Angel said.

  “We’re already leaving the town,” Seth said as they drove into the dark countryside. “I’m getting tired. Glad we’re almost there.”

  “You and me both, dude,” Angel said. “At least you got a woman to keep you warm.”

  Seth shrugged.

  “What, you got problems with Emma?”

  “No, not really,” Seth said. “It’s not like we can be alone now.”

  “Oh, that,” Angel said. “I’d figure out how to be quiet.”

  Seth chuckled and shook his head. “The grass is always greener on the other side.”

  “You’ll have to watch Jamie,” Angel said. “So will Matt.”

  “Ah, he’s okay,” Seth said. “I’m not worried about it.”

  “Whatever you say, dude,” Angel said. “Ji-Ho is slowing down. Taking that small road to the right.”

  “Yeah, this must be it. Dark back here.”

  “Sure is,” Angel said. “Wow, that’s a nice park. Look how huge it is.”

  “Figured it was gonna be nice,” Seth said. “Matt told me about it.”

  “There’s the driveway. Tight fit for that big coach.”

  “Tell me about it,” Seth said, following the massive RV through the gate. He followed it to the back third of the park, to a deluxe space against the side of the hill, big enough for several RVs and several cars.

  Ji-Ho stopped the big diesel and opened the door. Emma and Kaylee rushed out as Seth parked. Trevor backed his motor home in the second space. Gus and his friend pulled their trailer in on the far side, and Jamie parked Ji-Ho’s big SUV behind his RV.

  “I didn’t think we’d get here in one piece,” Emma said, walking up to Seth. He hugged her.

  “Get any sleep?” he asked.

  “Nope,” she said. “Mostly talked to Kaylee and watched the scenery roll by.”

  “You guys hear what happened back home?” Jamie asked as he strolled over with Matt and Kaylee.

  “No, man, what happened?” Angel ask
ed.

  “Somebody blew up a lot of the tanks the UN brought in to reinforce the checkpoints.”

  “You’re kidding,” Seth said. “How’d they deal with the tanks? It takes more than small weapons fire to take them out.”

  “TOW missiles,” Matt said. “Pretty crazy. Wonder if it was that Ivan guy again?”

  Trevor came out of his RV and walked over. “Hey, guys.”

  “Glad you made it okay,” Seth said. “Jamie said somebody blew up a bunch of the tanks at checkpoints back home.”

  “Really?” Trevor said. “I’d better get my hookups done. I got a TV.”

  “So does my uncle,” Kaylee said.

  “What’s he doing?” Jamie asked.

  “Said something about leveling his coach,” Kaylee said. “So he can put out the slides.”

  “Yeah, I got to go do that too,” Trevor said. He went back, Seth following.

  “Anything I can help with?” he asked.

  “Yeah, after I get leveled you can help me connect the electrical and water,” Trevor said. “Probably a good idea to have somebody else know how to handle this thing.”

  “I’m game,” Seth said.

  “I’m gonna go help Kaylee in Ji-Ho’s rig,” Emma said.

  “Okay, go ahead,” Seth said. “I’ll see you a little later.”

  Trevor watched the two women walk away. “Everything okay between you two?”

  “She’s scared,” Seth said.

  “Well, for once I can’t really blame her.”

  “You don’t like her at all, do you?” Seth asked as they went into the coach.

  Trevor got behind the wheel, started the engine, and hit the Auto Level button. “I don’t like the way she treats you, and I know she can’t stand me. She’s nice to look at, at least.”

  “She is that,” Seth said. He felt the RV lurch around as the levelers came down. “Whoa.”

  Trevor laughed. “We take the cat on camping trips when we don’t have anybody to feed her. Ought to see her run around when this is working.”

  “How do you run that?”

  “Easy,” Trevor said. “Start the engine, make sure it’s in park and the parking brake is on, and then punch this button here that says Auto Level.”

  “It’s done already,” Seth said.

  “Yeah, time to run out the slides. By the way, never run out the slides if she’s not level. It can cause the slides to get out of alignment.”

  “Important safety tip,” he said. “How many slides?”

  “A big one on the driver’s side, and a small one on the passenger side, in the bedroom. The buttons are on this panel here.” Trevor led him to a small panel on the wall next to the bathroom door. “Just toggle the switch to “OUT” and hold the button until you hear the motor slowing down.”

  Seth watched as Trevor did both of them. “Wow, that gives you a lot more room.”

  “Yep,” he said. “Let’s go around back and do the rest.” They went outside to the rear driver’s side and connected the electrical, water, sewer, and cable TV.

  “That’s not so bad,” Seth said.

  “Yeah, I love these things,” Trevor said. “I’d take this and live in it if I could.”

  “That Class C looks like more hassle,” Seth said, nodding at Gus and his friend using the jacks to level.

  “Nothing wrong with Class Cs,” Trevor said. “They cost a lot less than Class A motor homes, that’s for sure.”

  “Hey, Trevor, check it out!” Ji-Ho shouted from his rig.

  “That guy really likes you,” Seth said.

  “I know, I like him too, but I wish he’d back off a little.”

  “Back off about what?” Seth asked.

  “Kaylee.”

  ***

  “That’s it, Saladin,” said a Syrian man, driving the UN van up the street. There were two ruined UN vans on the street, one of them burned out.

  Saladin looked nervously around the residential area. Ji-Ho’s imposing house was two doors down, across the street. It was behind a high fence, but the gate was bent open. Two police squad cars were on that side of the street, about half a block down.

  “The UN Peacekeepers are working with the local cops?” Saladin asked.

  “No choice,” the driver said. “You sure you want to check this out yourself? It might not be safe.”

  “You sure they’re gone?”

  “There’s been no noise at all. We’ve had people surrounding the property for a few hours now.”

  “You know who owns it, I hope,” Saladin said.

  “A man named Ji-Ho.”

  “Chinese?” Saladin asked.

  “Worse. Korean,” the driver said.

  Saladin got out of the car and walked over to the gate. He had to squeeze through. Several UN Peacekeepers were there, the police officers watching them.

  “And who might you be?” one of the police officers asked.

  “I’m a district supervisor with the UN,” Saladin said. He pulled out credentials and handed them to the officer, who studied them with his flashlight. The other officer snickered.

  “I didn’t know there were pockets in those outfits,” he said.

  Saladin flashed a sly smile as he took back his credentials.

  “They look fine,” the first officer said. “What are you planning to do?”

  “Break a window and check the inside,” Saladin said as he walked away.

  “Why would you want to do that?” the first officer asked.

  Saladin stopped and turned to him. “These people killed nearly thirty UN Peacekeepers tonight.”

  The first officer shrugged. Saladin turned and continued to the front doors, muttering something in Arabic.

  “Hello, sir,” a UN Peacekeeper said. “I’m Heinrich Goltermann. Do we have permission to break in?”

  “Yes,” Saladin said. “Try a window.”

  Heinrich nodded, then looked at another UN Peacekeeper. “Gunter, break the window.”

  Gunter hit a window next to the door with his night stick. It made a loud noise, but didn’t crack. “Sorry, sir, this isn’t glass. It’s some kind of thick plastic.”

  “You have a battering ram,” Saladin said. “Let’s break the door.”

  “Go get it, Gunter,” Heinrich said.

  “That’s probably Lexan,” Saladin said. “It’ll be harder to break than the door.”

  “Why would he have that?” Heinrich asked.

  “Probably involved in illegal activity,” Saladin said.

  Gunter was back with the battering ram, and attacked the door with it. After about five minutes of repeated hits, the door broke open.

  “Wow,” Heinrich said. “They build things tough in America.”

  “This isn’t normal, and neither is the owner,” Saladin said. “Let’s go.”

  Five UN Peacekeepers rushed inside with guns drawn, checking out each room. Saladin looked at the police officers.

  “Are you gentlemen coming inside?” Saladin asked.

  “Nah, this is your show,” the first officer said. “Don’t steal anything.”

  Saladin smirked.

  “It’s clear, sir,” shouted Gunter from the door. Heinrich and Saladin walked inside, looking around.

  “The oven is on,” Saladin said. He shut it off, then opened the door. “Somebody cooked a pizza.”

  “We surprised them, at least,” Heinrich said.

  “They still killed all your men and escaped,” Saladin said, not looking at him. “Where do those stairs go?”

  “Lower level,” Gunther said.

  They went down and looked around, finding a closet door. There was a vault door behind it.

  “Look at this,” Heinrich said.

  Saladin rushed over and looked at it closely. “This isn’t locked.” His brow furrowed. Something’s not right.

  “Gunter, go check it out,” Heinrich said. “I’m right behind you.”

  Gunter pulled the heavy door open, eyes wincing as if there would
be an explosion. Saladin moved to the back of the room, next to the balcony doors, pushing them open. He looked out over the ocean, and then it struck him. The boat attack.

  “There were weapons in here,” Heinrich said from inside the vault. “You can smell them.”

  “What do you think is in that back area?” Gunter asked. “There’s a door.”

  “Open it,” Heinrich said.

  The sound of a metal door opening came from the vault. Saladin turned to watch, but stayed by the balcony doors.

  “Wow, there’s an army drone in here. It’s got a flashing red light on the bottom.”

  Saladin bolted off the balcony, into the pool below as the building blew up.

  To be continued in Bugout! California Book 3, available now!

  Cast Of Characters

  Note: some of these characters are not in this book. They will show up in later books.

  Dulzura RV Park Group – Mostly retired people, but mixed. Full-timers.

  John – Older man, drinking problem, but fighting it. Brave and strong.

  Sarah – John’s wife. Doesn’t his like drinking, but loyal anyway. Good heart.

  Clem – Old widower. Shrewd with sense of humor, and technically savvy.

  Sid – Indian, capable, good man in fight, loyal, cunning.

  Yvonne – Sid’s wife. Resourceful and brave. Younger than him by ten years

  Harry – Older man, heavy, doesn’t move well, good negotiator and strategist.

  Nancy – Harry’s wife, retired school teacher. Smart but has problems with stress.

  Sam – Owner of RV Park. Middle aged, strong, wily, cautious. Former Navy Seal with some PTSD issues, which he has mostly under control. Good in a fight, knows modern military tactics and weapons systems.

  Connie – Wife of Sam. Thinks one step ahead. Keeps park running. Deeply in love with Sam.

  CHP Officer Ryan – Older officer. Brave, sense of humor, borderline redneck, good in fight, but has temper.

  CHP Officer Patrick – Just past rookie status. Extremely good with guns. A little green. A little hapless. Good in fight. Brave to a fault.