The Event Series (Book 3): The Archive and Beyond

by Thomas Larson

  We drove on for about 45 minutes or so and we reached a place where a Route 40 headed west and I-70 went sort of northwest. We looked at the maps and it seemed that although it was a smaller road, not an interstate, it seemed to be shorter, and more direct to our final destination.

  We rolled on via Route 40; the route itself ran parallel to the rail lines. We drove through towns like Arapaho, and Cheyenne Wells. Just before Cheyenne Wells we found a little airstrip, but it had no fuel we could use. We thought we might have to break into our emergency reserve but we got lucky, again. We saw a big freight train, with like a hundred cars each just parked on the tracks. We checked a couple of the train engines and found that there was enough diesel fuel for us to fill up.

  When we reached a little town called Kit Carson, we decided that it would be there that we held up for the night. It was late, well 6ish, but the thought of trying to make that last dash to Cheyenne Mountain and arriving right at about sunset seemed to be not a good one, better to arrive in the morning.

  We found a little kind of ranch bed and breakfast to stay at. As we were unloading, I smelled something, it was smoke, it was cooking smoke, like bacon, or ribs. Tom smelled it too. We decided that it might be something to check out.

  It did not take us long to find the place, the town was a small one. There was a woman and two kids, they had a grill going cooking burgers, pork burgers we were told. She freaked when Tom and Asuna approached her. But they had no guns drawn; Code and I had them covered, if needed.

  The woman called to the house and a man walked out. It was scruffy, and gaunt, but then so was the woman, and the children were just dirty little ghosts. The man had a shotgun, and he pointed it at Tom, I was tempted, I could have……

  But in the end, they were able to convince him that they were just travelers and not there to hurt or rob them. The man, Bob, lowered the gun. He was still distrustful, but seemed good at the moment. The distrust melted away when Tom called us out of hiding, and then sent Code back to the truck to get a few cans of food to give them.

  I was still on edge, this seemed wrong, maybe I have been out here too long, and maybe I am just paranoid about anyone outside the family.

  (Tom) Weather was not good this morning; we had a tornado come by, real close. It makes you think and realize how puny we humans are.

  Asuna drove today, I just relaxed and played navigator. Okay, I asked questions of Winston about where we were and what the best way for us to continue was. He did actually come up with a good idea for us in getting off of the interstate and take a state road.

  It was about 3 pm when we first saw the Rockies. I thought back to some of my trips cross country from the days before the meteor. One in particular, when I come through Kansas and saw them, looming in front of me. It was emotional then, and more so now.

  I always loved this part of the country, the mountains, the Southwest. I once wanted to move here, but stayed in Connecticut because of Anne and Margo. Maybe it is time to stay now.

  We drove through towns with great little names, Cheyenne Wells, Arapaho, and First View, which was where the mountains first popped their peaks into view.

  We found a train, a big one stopped along the tracks and we were able to fill our tanks, it would be the last stop for fuel we would need to make before Cheyenne Mountain.

  We pulled into a little old west like village, Kit Carson, another great name, and found a little place to stay, the Kit Carson Inn. As we were unloading, I caught the whiff of meat cooking; someone is here, in town. Margo caught it too, she had the Barrett ready.

  We all started to move toward the smell, I had Margo and Code stay behind us and under cover. Asuna, Lucy and I just walked down the middle of the street.

  We found the house over on 4th avenue, the smoke was coming from around back. There was a woman and her kids in the backyard cooking what looked like burgers on a cement block grill. We must have scared the shit out of her when she saw us. She shouted “Bob” and he came running out of the house with a shot gun.

  He pointed it at us, and his first word was, “Talk!”

  “Okay, what would you like me to say?” I replied.

  “Good, you’re not fucking dead! That is good”

  “I think so,” I said with a smile, “We are just travelers, on our way to the base.”

  “You with the Army?”

  “Ah no, we just have a package for them,” I told him. “Bob, its Bob right?”

  “Yeah”

  “Okay, see I am a little concerned with the shotgun, could you maybe point it somewhere else?” I asked.

  “Oh, oh, yeah, I, well you know.”

  “Yes, more than you realize. We are cool, and we mean you no harm. Now I am gonna call my daughter and her ….ah friend, I don’t want to have you get freaked out by it.” I explained, and while doing that thought about what I had just described Cody as. I think he is a little more than a friend, but that, we’ll, leave it be.

  Margo and Code stepped out of the shadows of a house nearby, the sight of the big gun and the glare in Margo’s eye made Bob realize how close he might have been to being a blob of pink mist on the wall. But it also showed him, the family, that they were safe with us, we truly meant no harm.

  I sent Cody to get some canned goods. We were near the end of our trip and these people looked half-starved. We could, should share.

  We talked with them while we ate, they shared burgers, we returned the favor with baked beans and tomatoes that we had canned.

  I explained that we were on our way to the base, but left out details about the cure or our reason for going. It might be that although I did not think that they were dangerous, or might try something, it seemed a good idea not to tempt them. But we would leave them a package with some of the pills and a note explaining before we left in the morning.

  They had moved into the city about a month ago. The family was originally from Limon and that place became too hot, there were bad people there and some had even reverted to cannibalism. Out of fear they left.

  We hung out with then until after dark and then headed back to the inn. The trucks were fine and we settled down for the night. We set a watch, and Lucy seemed to be all ears. Little voice, little voice, something wrong.

  Lucy nudged me.

  Moving shadows outside the window, human, looked like 5 or 6, no grunts, no Zom noises, these were people. I tapped Asuna, she was already awake, then BOOM, the 50 Cal fired off a round, gunshots from Margo and Cody’s room and the door to our room burst open, bad move. Lucy took the first one by the arm, then throat, Asuna dropped the second, and I got Bob right in the forehead. We killed them all, except one. Asuna had gut shot that one, and although he was going to die, he talked for a little bit first.

  Lenny, the survivor, said “We, Bob, his family and a few friends had been driven out of Limon, and had moved here. We would wait, like spiders, for travelers or an occasion military patrol to wander close by and then re-stock the meat locker. We waited until dark because you all seemed a little too hard for us to take in daylight.”

  The ones who we just killed we left as they were, fuck them, and let them all suffer until they fall to pieces. Let them eat their own, they were Zoms while they were living, so it seemed fair.

  I was pissed, guess you could tell. We loaded up and were out of there very quickly after that. I almost felt bad for the kids, almost.

  Before we left we set fire to much of the town, this place was evil, and it needed to die.

  We drove about a half hour and then pulled over, hidden from the road. Back to the east we could see the glow of the Kit Carson. We snoozed, taking turns on the watch. Tomorrow we would be at Cheyenne, thank God!

  August 15th

  (Lance) I spoke to the Major today; they have safely reached Fort Knox and completed their mission. But there was something in his voice that seemed wrong.

  “Major, is everything, everyone okay down there?” I asked.

  “Yes, everyone is fine, but
there is a little issue that we’re trying to iron out before we return. I can’t go into detail right now, but I am working on it.” He replied.

  I could tell he was not happy, I wondered.

  “Major, while I have you, I spoke with Commander Gaines and he told me that there is an old underground military base here near Hadley. Maybe you can check with the folks down there and see what they can give you for information on it. You could take Sat-Command of it if it is functional,” I suggested.

  There was a moment of quiet on the Sat-Comm, then he replied, “Yes, yes that is an excellent idea, yes, the Mass Militia, we could claim it as our base of operations.”

  There was a different sound to his voice, almost a hopeful sound.

  Del and I rode out to look for the base around noon time. We were able to find it in the side of a mountain in Hadley. It was just off of I-91.

  We followed the directions that the Pittsburgh had sent us and eventually came to a large metal and concrete doorway which lay at the end of an old paved road. The door was built into the side of the mountain. The door had a sign that said “Five College Underground Library Archive.”

  We were unable to open the door; there were clearly some special keys or codes needed to get in. The idea of even trying to blow the doors open was crazy if this place was designed to withstand a nuclear attack so anything we had would probably do little more than make a smudge.

  Disappointed, we rode back to camp. Tay had put together a nice little dinner with some fish that she had caught, along with corn and salad. While we all ate, I told them about what Del and I had found.

  That was about it. Skinny Dipping for Del and me after Tay and Teckla headed back to the horse barn, and Steven and Michelle had turned in early. We just floated in the water holding hands like a couple of otters and watched the stars.

  (Tom) We made Cheyenne Mountain today; it was about an hour drive. We all talked a little on the way, I think we were trying to shake off the cannibals and killing them. It had been a while since we were in a fire fight. Killing has never been something I was crazy about, it is, was needed in these times, but still, I never got used to it. Yet this was different, this was like Brother Gabriel, or the Bikers, they were evil, truly evil.

  None of us talked about the burgers, it is something that is best left buried and hopefully forgotten.

  When we arrived at the mountain, all I could think of was an old episode of some sci-fi series; I think they even used the entrance in the filming. As we approached the gate, I could see two Abrams tanks following us with their main guns, we were toast if they wanted us to be. As we got to the little guard house at the main gate, a corporal and another soldier came up to the trucks. I had the window down.

  “Sir,” the corporal said respectfully, but sternly, “You are on restricted military land and as such, trespassers, can you state your name and business.”

  “Sure, I am Tom Williams, and I’ve just driven cross-country to deliver a package to your medical staff.”

  The corporal snapped to attention as did the other soldier, “Commander, sir, I am sorry, we were not expecting you for another two days,” and he ran to the guard house and was on the phone.

  The gates opened and one of the Abrams that was blocking the path started up and opened a gap for us to pass through. I looked at Asuna, she shrugged.

  We were directed to park just off to the side of the main, what would I call it, the blast door or main entrance? As we were getting out of the trucks, a group of 10 well-armed soldiers ran up and formed a protective shield around us. Then two officers, a three star (Air Force) and a two star (Army) with a similar entourage came out of the entrance.

  As they walked up, the circles of soldiers opened and the generals came face to face with us.

  “Commander Williams, Lieutenant Yagami, Welcome to Cheyenne Mountain. I am General Osgood, this is General Welles. I am glad you made it safely.”

  Asuna and I looked at each other, questions, Commander? Lieutenant? It was the same thought on both our minds.

  “I, well, we had some adventures on the way, but we made it. This is my daughter Margo, my sniper and her, ah, wingman Cody. We’re glad to be here, but how did you know we were coming?” I asked, sounding very puzzled.

  “We received two messages that you were on the way, the first was from Captain Katzung of the USS Pittsburgh, and then the second was from the Massachusetts Militia HQ, someone who identified himself as Operative Lance.” Wells said.

  “Ah” I smiled and nodded, not knowing what else to say.

  A captain in the entourage suggested, “Sirs, perhaps we should get inside, we have reports of Hunter A’s in the area and we are exposed.”

  “Thank you Captain James, we shall follow your suggestion, Commander, have you and your people had breakfast?” asked Osgood.

  “Ah, no, that would be great.” I was still very confused.

  “Good, but first, why don’t you bring your vehicles into the underground, we want to keep them safe, I hear you have a very valuable package for us,” suggested the three star.

  We drove into the facility and parked. I am guessing the timing was very good because just as we got out of the Coyote, one of the Abrams opened up with its machinegun and moments later we heard an explosion.

  “One less Hunter” said the two star proudly, “My guys, you owe me a dollar General.”

  The main tunnel was huge, a big round concrete cave the width of an interstate highway that had been dug into a mountain. There were tunnels running off to the left and the right. I am guessing that there were levels up and down because as we moved deeper into the main tunnel we could see what looked like elevators.

  As we walked, General Osgood told us that “We have received word that a Major Barkley of your group has successfully reached Fort Knox with his package and now with your arrival things may finally be turning around. If what I am told is true about your deflector, the Hunters may no longer be an issue to us and we can start to break out of our little cloisters.”

  Deflectors? I am not sure what this guy knows, or has been told, so we shall have to see.

  We were led into a small dining cafeteria, officer country, no doubt. Time to start getting some answers, and for that matter, sharing some information. But first, scrambled eggs, bacon, yes, they have BACON, and real coffee. It is good to be a Commander.

  “General Osgood, I need to ask you a few questions to clear up some stuff in my mind. The first is who are the Mass Militia, and why do you think I am in command of them?

  He looked at me for a moment and between forkfuls of eggs, told us that months ago when the camp had made contact with the Pittsburgh using the satellite communications device that we had recovered. We were designated by the remaining military, the Fort Knox HQ, as the Mass Militia. Your original leader was a guy, code named Henry, with a second in Sat-Command of Major Barkley, regular army. When Henry was killed in action against the Hunters, Barkley took over.

  So far I was following.

  He went on to say that in the course of the last 8 or so months a lot of things have happened and although the Mass Militia is not regular army or military, they are an adjunct type unit. They were mainly used for intelligence information and surveillance, although not much was happening in your neck of the woods.

  “Then, you and Lt. Yagami returned,” added Welles.

  “Sir, meaning no disrespect, but I was a corporal with the Japanese Defense Force, not an officer,” mumbled Asuna.

  “Yes, that was true, but you are also the third senior JDL member in the states and Fort Knox felt it was not good to have you not be an officer. So congratulations LT.”

  “Okay, well what about me then? I was out in…” I caught myself before I added ‘space’.

  “Space” added Wells, “The Pittsburgh filled us in. And it was Major Barkley and Captain Katzung who forwarded the recommendations for your Commission.”

  “Barkley said that you and your people saved his butt a
number of times early on, and that under your leadership the folks at your camp have done well,” Added Osgood.

  I sat back, overwhelmed. I never thought about it, what I had done in that perspective. I just did what I needed to do, or what I believed was right.

  After a few minutes, I leaned forward, looked at the Generals and said, “We do not have a deflector per se.” They looked at each other, and were confused.

  “We have a pill, a pill that disposes or cures the virus that turns people. It was developed by some friends of ours, the QUalz, and it seems to work. We have met a hunter and it did not even see us, it left us alone. But the Hunter went on later and attacked a pack of Zoms that were nearby and a woman that had not been cured.”

  “So you’re saying that if we take these pills, we are not going to comeback as Munchers and we are free to not worry about the Hunters?” Asked a Colonel who was sitting at the table with us.

  “Pretty much, we have not tested the re-animating yet, but that is really good luck, it means none of us have died since we took the pills.”

  Asuna and I explained a little about what we had experienced in our trip cross country, the devastation in the cities, and in particular what we had seen in Kit Carson. It turned out there had been a scout party that had not come back about a week ago and the search efforts were unsuccessful; they had not thought that there might be living humans doing ambushes out there, and it could explain why the Hummer that had been driven by the patrol was never found.

  We told the command staff that we would spend the night with them, but then we were planning to start back toward Romanica.

  Asuna and I had lots to talk about, this crazy militia thing, the ranks, but more interesting the impact the meds might have on allowing the military to start breaking out of their hidey holes. And that is kind of wrong, it is not like they are hiding, it is more they are, have been restricted in their movements.

  It was nice to get a hot shower and sleep on clean sheets. And in a way, it may seem odd, but in a way I felt we are back on the Sky Crystal.

  (Matt) We covered about 400 miles today, and it was pretty uneventful. The folks at Wall Drug were good enough to make us a breakfast of cornmeal pancakes.