“You’re okay,” she spoke softly.
“Yeah, how about that?” Michael stepped closer. “May I sit down?”
Robi nodded.
He sat in the chair near the cot. “Your daughter healed me.”
“First?” Robi asked.
“Yes.”
“You must have been the worst.”
“I certainly don’t feel it. Parker is sleeping. You’re next after Martha rests.”
Robi’s head hung low again. Then after a pause, her shoulders bounced and she released a single sob.
“Hey.” Michael reached over and grabbed her hand. “Hey, come on.”
“I failed her. I failed Parker. I failed Eva. I failed. I never saw it coming.”
“Neither did I. I was talking with Parker, and that’s the last I remember. I was hit twice, and I don’t even know what did it.”
“A Loomis. It had to be a Loomis. It was the biggest thing I have ever seen in my life.” She sniffed. “I tried, Michael. I tried. We were laughing and joking and the next thing I know, she’s in my arms. I know she was dead. She died instantly.” Robi began to cry.
“Robi come on.”
“How are people supposed to look at me as a person, a leader, when I let a little girl die? She trusted me.”
“Robi, what happened today wasn’t a leader’s fault. There’s an old saying that goes, ‘A good leader knows when to stay back and knows when to put themselves in harm’s way.’ Well, today, you weren’t a leader, you were a mom. I am so sorry that this has happened.”
Robi returned the grip to Michael’s hand. “I’ll never be able to look at Parker again. Oh, God, Parker. Does he even know?”
Michael shook his head. “I don’t know. Jeb and Tate, they’re out there looking.”
Robi lifted her arm to wipe her face and paused. She stared at the bandages.
“You lost your hand, Robi.”
Robi’s eyes closed tight. “I knew I was hit. I didn’t know I lost it.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault. But I appreciate your sympathy.”
“That’s because I know how you feel.”
Robi looked up.
“Yeah, I do. It was right after the drop. There were eight of us. We were headed for So Cal. A little girl, maybe six, Amanda, was in our group. I took her out to play. She didn’t have any family left. We found her roaming the streets. We were playing, laughing, tossing a ball and... and the dogs came. I hadn’t seen them before. It was a first. They were in a pack and I told her, ‘Don’t move. Please don’t move.’ She started to cry and she ran.”
Robi whimpered. “Oh, God.”
“I tried. I tried, you know. But I was too late and they were too fast. She was so young and she depended on me. I felt for the longest time, that I failed her. I carried the guilt.”
“How did you get through it?”
Michael took a deep breath. “I only allowed the pain and stopped carrying the guilt when I realized that I didn’t fail her, this world failed us. You didn’t fail Eva. I don’t care how good you are, you couldn’t have stopped it. That Loomis, or whatever it was, eyed us. He had us pegged. He carried out a plan before we even knew he was upon us. Just like the dogs, there was nothing that could be done.”
Robi said nothing.
“If you want to cry, Robi, it’s ok. But cry for Eva. Cry for her father. Cry for the kids that remain and pray that we can make this place better. But don’t cry over failure. By doing that, you are undermining what is most important right now, and that is the loss of a precious child.”
Another single sob and Robi just leaned forward. There was no more that Michael could say or anything he could do, but as a new friend, who had been where she was, all he could do was offer a comforting set of arms.
Robi accepted.
<><><><>
Parker’s head was down. He knew. Robi could tell by the look on his face that he knew.
He sat on his cot, staring at his hands.
With Michael’s aid, Robi walked into Parker’s section.
“Parker,” Robi eeked out his name with emotions.
Head still lowered, Parker spoke softly. “I knew. I knew the second I saw that thing. I caught him in the corner of my eye when he took down Michael. I barely had a second to lift my weapon, call out. Nothing. And in that second, I thought … this is it. We’re all done. I woke up to find Martha on my chest.” He finally lifted his head. His mouth opened to speak and he paused. “My God, Robi, look at you.”
She knew she was as pale and weak looking as she felt. She could barely stand, yet she tried. “I’m sorry, Parker. I am.” Feet dragging, Robi moved to his cot. “I tried.” She bent over lowering herself to him.
Michael braced her as he pulled a chair. “Sit.”
Robi shook her head.
“Sit, you lost a lot of blood,” Michael told her.
Robi lowered to the chair. “Parker, I swear to you, I tried. I tried. It happened so fast.”
Parker squeezed Robi’s arm. “So she’s gone? My girl’s gone?”
Michael replied. “We aren’t sure. Jeb and Tate …”
“Yes.” Robi stated. “Yes. I saw her. I held her. I failed her. They’re looking for her, but I know. I know. I’m sorry.”
“Why … why am I alive?” Parker asked. “Why? Obviously I was hurt enough for Martha to work her magic and Martha hasn’t touched you. So why me?”
“I can’t answer that,” Robi replied. “I don’t know.”
“It’s a waste,” Parker said. “I’m on old man. I’m in my sixties. I don’t want to live. She’s all I had. All I had. When this camp packs up and goes, I think I just wanna stay behind. I’m done.”
Jeb’s voice startled them all when he spoke. “I hear you Parker, I do. I can only imagine what you are going through right now. The pain, the loss.” He stepped closer to him. “I cannot say I know what you’re feeling, because I don’t. I haven’t been there. But she has …” He pointed to Robi. “So has Greek, Manny, and so many of the other people here. They know what you are feeling. If giving up is what you want, I’ll respect that, but I don’t understand it. In my opinion, your dying with Eva would make her death meaningless.”
Parker lifted his head, a twinge of anger on his face. “How can you say that?”
“We’re survivors in an attack on our world,” Jeb said. “So in essence, we have an obligation to fight, to win, to take it back, and that starts with living. Eva, by living, was fighting this war. You giving up is surrendering.”
“I’m an old man, Jeb,” Parker told him. “How can I make a difference?”
“Like I said, by living, by standing up and saying you took my kid, but you won’t take the world she loved.” Jeb continued. “You’ll fight, by living to win another day.”
Chapter Fifteen – Back Track
July 27th - Los Angeles, CA
The heat was unbearable in the garage, stale, sticky, and despite attempts to maintain cleanliness, it had started to smell.
It was hollowed out, and not much was left.
Jeb kept peering over his shoulder to Robi, who packed a bag and moved slowly. She was still pale, too pale. Her mood was down, and she had withdrawn some.
“This is our best option,” Michael told him. “The pictures, the location of your diner. It all connects. There is something there.”
Jeb swiped his hand over his mouth. “But there is also a nest of Atranda.”
“Which we know aren’t there because they’re waiting on us,” Michael replied. “They aren’t intelligent enough to have foresight.”
“There has to be people there. But where?” Jeb asked.
Mas spoke up. “Fifty-One of Area. Huge it is said to be underground.”
“That is Roswell,” Michael added.
“Yeah, but come on. Area 51?” Jeb asked. “We go there, we bring a hundred and twenty people across a desert and nothing is there, then what? Plus, we did the flyers.”
/>
“Those people killed in that diner,” Michael said, “weren’t living in that diner, and you know that. Was there anything else around?”
Jeb shook his head.
“They had to be below. They had to have come up through that diner.”
Jeb breathed out heavily. “Okay, if we get moving here within the hour, we’ll hit there by afternoon. What’s in the area? We have to move these people if Roswell doesn’t pan out. I want an option.”
Michael nodded. “I’ll work on that. Have you thought about how we’re taking out these things?”
“I’m working on it.”
“Supplies of much, craft we have taken. Sure of that, I am,” Mas said. “Built I can, something, on way.”
Jeb gave a single nod. “Sounds good. When they get back, you take a look.” He turned his head to the call of his name from Tate, and excused himself from the meeting. His brother was a sight for sore eyes, and even though Mas and Sam assured Jeb that no more Loomis were in the area, he still worried. After all, Tate, Mas, and Bishop had been tearing about the main ship, salvaging it for days.
“Where’s Sam?” Jeb asked approaching Tate and Bishop.
Tate wiped the sweat from his brow. “Organizing the second truck. But we’re done.”
“How are you holding up?” Jeb asked. “You two have been going nonstop for days.”
“Eh,” Tate grunted. “Fine. Hot as balls out there.”
Bishop shrugged. “I’m fine. It isn’t hot at all. But we’re done. We got it all into two tractor trailers. Sam is going to fly the surveillance pod overhead and keep us posted if he sees anything.”
Tate asked, “What’s going on here?”
“We’re ready,” Jeb answered. “Packed up. We scavenged all we could from this city in the time we’ve been here. We’re locked in on supplies for a while. Eventually, unless we get things moving, we’ll have to go out again.” He snapped his finger. “On a good note, two men from Andrews found a tanker off the highway, and it was pretty full.”
Bishop scratched his head. “So we have four tractor trailers, the RV, a school bus, and a tanker going to Nevada. We got enough gas?”
“Hopefully,” Jeb replied. “Gas is the least of my worries. We’re a big fucking moving target.”
Tate nodded in agreement, “What about the flyers?”
“Yep. They’re done. But that was Robi’s project. She had everyone and anyone able to write writing them, and they’ve been tossing them out all morning.”
“How is she?” Bishop asked.
Jeb looked over at Robi. “I don’t know. Only one she speaks to is Michael and Nick.”
“Why is she still so pale?” Tate questioned. “Didn’t it work with Martha?”
“Nope,” Jeb answered. “Because she wouldn’t let Martha work her magic. Robi’s excuse was it wasn’t making her hand grow back. I think it’s guilt. I’ll try to talk her into it. We need her strong and right now she isn’t.” Jeb gave a swat to Tate’s arm. “Good work you two. Go catch up with Michael and I’m gonna talk to Robi. We’ll get this moving.”
The amputation site still pained her, and Robi was far from healed or well, and she knew it. All she wanted to do was sleep, but she couldn’t. The final item was placed in the backpack and she lodged it next to her body, using her only hand to try and zip it closed. But it was awkward and she ran into problems.
Jeb reached down to help.
“I can do it.”
“Let me help,” Jeb said.
“I …” She turned her body sharply. “Can do it.” And with all she had she finished the zipping the zipper.
“Why do you have to be like this?” Jeb asked.
“Because I refuse to be an invalid.”
“You can’t even be classified as an invalid.”
With a disbelieving huff, Robi turned to him. “What does that mean?”
“It means you can’t be an invalid until you’re not sick. Right now you are far from well. Once you’re well, I’m not gonna help you.”
Robi just stared at him. “Is there something you wanted?”
“We’re getting ready to leave. I want to start moving people into the vehicles. I came to ask you to let Martha do her magic on you, get you back to normal, get you feeling well.”
“I’m on my way,” Robi said. “I can’t take a chance of using Martha when someone may need her more than me.”
“I need you in top condition, Robi,” Jeb said. “We look to you as the leader. Right now, you aren’t in top condition.”
“No kidding, Jeb, I lost a hand. But … Mas said as soon as we settle and I’m healed, he’ll work on something.”
Jeb snickered.
“That’s funny to you?”
“It’s just that they make radios out of baby food jars, so aren’t you worried about how they’ll make a replacement hand? It might be a can opener.”
Robi lowered her head trying not to smile. “I’m sure whatever it is, it will work.”
“And the faster you heal, the faster …”
“Jeb.” Robi shook her head.
“Robi, I know you’re down. I know you feel really bad about Eva. I do. But prolonging your suffering isn’t bringing her back, and it isn’t going to make you feel better. Nick needs you. Martha needs you. We all need you if we run into a fight. Do me a favor. Please. The trip is four hours. Ride the bus and hold Martha? Please.” Jeb reached out his hand to her face. The second his fingers touched her cheek, Robi jerked back and stepped away from his touch.
Robi slowly nodded. “I’ll think about it. I really will.” She grabbed the backpack and turned.
He watched her walk away, and then Jeb’s eyes shifted to the lone flyer on the table. It was a handwritten flyer, just like the hundreds of others. Not every flyer was the same or said the same thing, but they all conveyed the same message. A group of survivors was headed to Roswell. They needed people to join forces. The flyer cautioned against radio use.
They were left around the city, or as far as people could get on foot.
Jeb hoped, he really hoped, that the flyer worked, because he knew with the battle ahead, they needed all the people they could get.
Chapter Sixteen – Back Track
July 27th – Two Miles Outside Roswell, NV
Robi woke and Martha was sleeping. She knew the instant she opened her eyes that she felt better. She had heeded Jeb’s advice and held Martha. There was no pain, no weakness, and she unraveled the bandage that covered her wrist. The stump was clean and smooth, as if she had been born without a limb. She leaned over and kissed Martha, whispering, ‘thank you’. As she stood, she saw Parker.
“You look better,” he said. “Much better.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Why are you sorry?” Parker asked.
“I feel as if I cheated to get well.”
Parker shook his head. “Then I cheated too.”
“How are you?”
“I’m doing. Minute by minute. Hour by hour. I’m doing.” He reached out to her. “We’ll get through this Robi, we will.”
“I know.” She nodded then looked. “We aren’t moving. Are we here?”
“We’re a few miles out, yeah. We got here a little bit ago. You passed out right away and missed Sam trying to fly that craft. It did manage to put a smile on my face.”
“He didn’t crash, did he?” Robi asked.
“No, he landed. Right now, we’re waiting on Jeb and the group to get back for scouting. Sam said he saw a large group of Atranda over our destination.”
“We knew that.”
“But we thought it was a lot less. They went to look so they can come up with a plan.”
Just as Robi nodded, Nick walked in the back bus room.
“Mom,” Nick said as he walked to her. “You look so much better. How do you feel?”
“I feel physically normal.”
“I’m glad you let Martha work on you.”
“It was either that or lis
ten to Jeb badger me,” Robi said.
“Speaking of which …” Nick pointed to the window. “They’re back.”
<><><><>
The masses of people were already outside when Jeb, Tate, Bishop, and Michael returned.
Robi hurried to them, and Jeb knew the second he saw her she had taken his advice and allowed Martha to work on her.
“You look so much better,” Jeb told her. “Thank you for …”
“What’s the situation?” Robi cut him off.
Michael extended his phone. “I got pictures. Definitely a structure. Concrete and small, and it looks like there is a manhole near it. This could be a missile silo or a bunker. There was a fence, but it’s hard to see it now.”
Robi moved her finger swiping through the pictures. “Jesus, how many are there?”
Tate answered, “I counted thirty five.”
‘Thirty five! I thought they didn’t come in packs that large,” Robi said.
Tate shrugged. “They were congregating and hanging over each other. It looked like an Atranda orgy.”
Robi lowered the phone and handed it back to Michael. “So something is there they want.”
“I think there are people below, yes,” Michael answered. “But we can’t be sure.”
Sam broke through the group. “From the air, you can tell this is a base of sorts, because the color of the desert changes. There is a clear cut perimeter that the Atranda obviously broke. They can’t get to what they want so they are waiting.”
Robi looked at Jeb. “Any ideas?”
“We have to take them out.”
“No shit,” Robi snapped.
Jeb’s jaw twitched. “If I can finish. We have to take them out. But the problem is there are so many. We have four weapons, tops, that can take them out. We can pulse them, but I don’t think even with that blast that we’ll be able to without risking some of them escaping and attacking. My concern is the ratio of us to them and weapons power. Can we get them before they get us?”
Sam answered. “Yes.”
Jeb looked at him.
‘The pulse is enough to take out half,” Sam explained. “They are massing. You are right in assuming that if we set off one, half will disperse. So, we set off two pulses.”
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