Bad Moon on the Rise (Soldiers of New Eden Book 3)

by T. L. Knighton

  As if on cue, more shots ripped toward him.

  He dropped low, putting himself below the level they'd seen him at before, then pushed out and snapped off two more shots.

  More shots echoed, now is ridiculously quick succession, and again nothing came toward him. Off in the night, violence shattered any remaining semblance of tranquility. Then, just as suddenly as it started, it ended. Silence once more became the rule for the night.

  "Coming out," Billy said after several tense minutes.

  "Gotcha," Rick answered.

  Rick stood and walked toward the quartet as they faded back into the moonlight from the dense shadows.

  "Dad's down. He needs a doctor," Rick said.

  Sully nodded. "I'm on it," he said, then turned and ran back toward town.

  Billy, Al, and Scott all ran toward Jason's downed form. "Let's get him inside," Billy said, then picked the other man up as if he were nothing more than a rag doll.

  ** ** **

  Rick looked at his father, still unconscious, as Doc Simmons poked and prodded. Billy and Sully stood on one side of the small room, Megan on another. Out in the living room sat Al and Scott, each armed and ready for whatever might come. He also knew that a half dozen Rangers maintained a perimeter outside.

  Provided they didn't start shooting themselves instead.

  "Well," the doc said, snapping Rick's attention back to inside of the room. "I've done what I can. He's got some ribs that are probably cracked at least. Probably a concussion too, but I don't see any signs of internal bleeding, which is good. We'll just have to wait and make sure he wakes up."

  "Who wakes up," Jason grumbled, his voice sounding gravely.

  "That would be you," Doc said with a smile. "Good of you to join us."

  Jason nodded for a moment, then groaned. "Ow. That wasn't too good an idea, was it?"

  "Not really. You took a pretty good blow to the head," Rick said. "Among other places."

  "Depends on your perspective. From here, feels like a pretty bad one," Jason replied.

  "Fair enough," Rick said, taking the banter as a good sign.

  Doc Simmons stood and walked to Rick. "He needs to rest. I know he's working something, but that's got to go on the back burner for now."

  Rick nodded, his eyes glued on his father.

  "I'll check back tomorrow morning. Keep him awake for tonight. I'm worried about that concussion, so keep him up and talking, okay?"

  "Will do," Rick replied as he looked at the doc and smiled.

  Doc smiled in return, then eased himself out of the room.

  "Rick?" Megan asked.

  He raised an eyebrow and looked at the investigator. "Ma'am?"

  "A moment?"

  Rick nodded, then followed the older woman as they worked their way through the house and stepped outside.

  "What's going on?" Megan asked.

  Rick shrugged. "You mean other than this whole 'New Lords' shit? I don't know anything more than you do. Probably less."

  "Not that. With the Rangers."

  He took a deep breath. "Honestly? I don't know. Too much sniping at each other, everyone seems to be looking for a reason to throw down, and I really don't know why."

  "In Miller's Crossing, we had me and two other Rangers. We didn't have any problems, but I've heard stories…"

  Rick nodded. "Yeah, me too. I know the thing in Somerton was true. Knew one of the guys involved. He'd been here for a few months."

  "And here?"

  Rick looked around, making sure none of the Rangers were within hearing. "Not shooting each other bad. Not yet, at least. That thing I told you about in the garrison? That's about the worst we've had."

  "Yeah, but where the hell were they?"

  "When?"

  "While some assholes were trying to turn you and your dad into a lead depository."

  "Ah," Rick said, then shrugged. "No clue. I figured they'd be along soon enough."

  Megan laughed. It sounded strange coming from her, completely devoid of any mirth at all. "I had to interrupt their card game after Sully woke me up. He'd already gotten the doc but figured you'd need some help."

  Rick felt his blood boiling.

  While Rangers were technically only to operate outside of the town, there was a policy in place that they responded to gunfire and worry about jurisdiction later. While Jason lived on the edge of town, barely enough to say he even lived in town, it was still close enough to the barracks that they should have heard. Especially if they were awake.

  "They like you, so I think this shook them up a bit, but…" Megan shrugged.

  Rick nodded. "They used to like me. Once I get Dad through this though? I doubt any of them are going to like me too much."

  "Don't lose it," Megan said. "I need you. I can't let you get like these others are."

  Rick smiled sadistically. "Oh, you don't need to worry."

  "Let me do some poking first, okay?"

  "Why?" Rick asked.

  "This is too widespread to just be accidental. It's systemic. I just want to find the root cause. Ask around, see if anyone I can trust has any ideas. Folks like your dad."

  Rick considered for a moment. His eyes kept being draw to the pockmarked wall. Massive gouges of hardened mud missing, debris littered the ground beneath them.

  Finally, Rick nodded. "Okay, I'll hold off. For now. But if this shit gets in the way of catching these guys…"

  Megan nodded. "If that's the case, you already have my permission to do whatever you need to."

  Rick heard footsteps against the hard trail. Someone was running toward him. Just one, so it wasn't a threat. At least, he sure as hell hoped not.

  A familiar blonde face shone in the moonlight and Rick felt a mountain of anxiety drop off of his shoulders as she ran into his embrace.

  "Rick, I heard about your dad," Katie said. "Is he alright?"

  He looked into her deep blue eyes, eyes still hard from her experiences before they'd gotten together, but tempered with the knowledge that she could handle herself from here on out.

  "He's going to be alright. We just need to keep him up tonight," he replied with a smile; his first genuine smile since he'd rounded that same corner.

  She nodded, the moonlight glinting off of tears he hadn't seen before. Rick took his wife in his arms, enveloping her in his embrace. "It's okay," Rick said soothingly. "He'll be fine. Seriously." He ran his hand along her blonde hair.

  "It's just…he saved me. He can't…"

  "He won't," Megan said. She'd been facing the same nasty customers when she first met Jason. While the two hadn't chatted much, there was something of a bond between the two women. The two often joked about how they'd bonded over being held captive by brutal cannibals.

  Katie nodded and wiped her eyes. "Can I see him?"

  Rick smiled softly and nodded. "I think he'd like that."

  She smiled in reply, then walked toward the door.

  "Where's Allison?" Megan asked.

  "Staying with Hector's family."

  "Still?"

  Rick shrugged. "More like 'again'. They keep asking for her to come over. I think it's helping them deal. Probably because Allison's so full of energy. It's kind of infectious."

  Megan chuckled. "That's good. Whatever helps them deal with that, you know?"

  He nodded. "Yeah. I'm just glad she isn't dealing with it herself."

  "Yeah, me too." She looked off in the dark for a long moment before continuing, "Deal with your dad for the next few days. Whatever he needs. If you need anything from me, let me know. I'll keep a detail here, just in case. But after that, I need you. Right now, you're the only Ranger I can trust if the shit hits the fan. Understood?"

  Rick nodded.

  Megan smiled, then patted his shoulder as she walked down the trail.

  ** ** **

  Megan walked through town. She still couldn't believe how much the town had grown since she'd first arrived in the back of a wagon with her family. Them and Katie Jenk
ins, that is.

  "Excuse me, Investigator Hernandez?" a mousey voice called out from behind her.

  She turned and looked. Norman Boutham was someone who'd been pointed out to her before. By quite a few people. Based on what some people had mentioned, her skin crawled at the thought of talking to the man. Still…

  "Yes?"

  "Hi, I'm Norman Boutham. We haven't met, but I thought I should find an opportunity to chat with you."

  "And why would that be?" she asked.

  "Well, Sheriff Calvin's not in the best of shape. We've all heard what happened after all."

  She nodded once, but offered nothing else.

  "You see, Sheriff Calvin's admitted to me personally that he attracts these kinds of people. This time, they were focused on him, thank God, but next time? I think you can agree that such things are risky."

  She looked at the other man quizzically. "If that's what's going on. I find it surprising that the sheriff would tell you this."

  "Oh, but he did," Norman said, ignoring any hint of her doubt. "And it's time we had a new sheriff in this community. While I'm not the most physical specimen, I think we can agree that Sheriff Calvin isn't anymore either. The difference is, I understand how to delegate. I was hoping I could count on your support?"

  Megan smiled mirthlessly. "First of all, as an investigator for the Rangers, I'm not permitted to take any sides in local political races-"

  "Oh, I know that's the official stance," Norman said. "However, you and I both know that such things don't hold up to reality."

  "For another," she said, ignoring his interruption, "Jason Calvin saved my life personally. You're out of your head if you think I'm going to side with someone like you over a man like Jason."

  Norman's eyes widened in surprise, but just for a moment. As his features settled, a sly smile crossed his face. "So it's like that, huh?"

  "Excuse me?"

  "You're in this together. The two of you, you're out to destroy this community."

  Megan gazed at the other man in utter disbelief. "Are you insane?"

  "I see it now. You're all out to destroy this town. You want Calvin to bring these people here. You want them to kill and destroy innocent people."

  "I'm serious, are you freaking insane? No one wants that."

  Norman nodded his head. "Yes, you do, but I won't let you. No, I won't," he said, then walked away while occasionally shooting her nasty looks over his shoulder.

  Megan stood there, still not believing what had just happened. Holy crap. I thought the guy was creepy before, but I didn't think he was batshit crazy. Better pass the word to keep an eye on this guy.

  ** ** **

  Jason made his way through the house carefully. The week since the attack healed him enough that he could manage a bit on his own so long as he didn't have to reach too much. The ribs seemed to be cracked at the very least. Luckily, beathing didn't hurt too badly, so he doubted they were real breaks. Like that makes me feel all tingly inside, he thought.

  A knock at the door sounded throughout the living room. "Great," he mumbled. "Just when I'm trying to figure out lunch."

  He made his way to the door and looked through the peephole. Paranoia wasn't his hallmark, but since he was about as effective at unarmed combat as a wet kitten right then, he figured prudence was the better course of action.

  Outside stood Tabby, a bowl covered by a towel in her hand.

  Jason smiled as he unbolted the door and opened it. "Miss me that bad?" he asked, leaning against the doorjamb, but just for a moment. His ribs decided that no matter how suave it may look, they were having none of it.

  Tabby laughed at his obvious discomfort. It sounded almost musical to his ears. "Something like that," she said.

  Jason motioned for her to come in with his head. His ribs made no objection to the gesture.

  He bolted the door behind her. As he turned, he saw she'd already sat the bowl on the table and removed the towel. The magical aroma reached him and beckoned him to follow, a olfactory siren's call to his inner foodie. "You didn't?" he asked, already knowing the answer.

  Tabby smiled and pointed to the chair. "I figured you were going into withdrawals by now."

  Jason chuckled, then winced as pain ripped through him. "You know me too well," he said as he grimaced.

  He pulled out the chair and sat. Looking down, his eyes devoured the sight. Large but relatively thin slices of beef, slices of carrots, baby corn, all swimming in a brown sauce that made his mouth water in the mere thought. His stomach growled in response.

  "Donna finally confessed how she knows how to make this stuff," Tabby teased.

  "Oh?" Jason asked, taking up a fork that seemingly came out of nowhere.

  "She said she's actually from Albany."

  Jason looked up at the woman. "Oh?"

  She nodded as she pulled a chair out and took a seat. "Yeah. She apparently wasn't a fan of your work, so she didn't want to admit she'd read it."

  "The journalist's burden," Jason joked, turning his attention back to mixing the fried rice with the sauce. "She's not the first person to tell me that. Let her know that it's no big deal, okay?"

  Tabby laughed. "But she wanted you to know that the reason it tastes like that place's is because she worked there and learned how to make it."

  "What are the odds?" he said with a playful smirk.

  She shrugged. "Depends on how you look at things."

  Jason took a bite of the food. "Oh God that's good," he said as he chewed, figuring manners be damned.

  "She thought you'd appreciate it."

  He finished chewing before he spoke again. "Tell her I do. And thanks for bringing it."

  "Can I ask you something?"

  Jason considered for a moment. "Will it be less cryptic than the last time you asked questions?"

  She laughed and said, "Absolutely."

  He nodded. "Fire away."

  "What happened? I mean, we know you got jumped, but there's people wondering if you're the guy to keep them safe. I'm trying to tell them to wait until they know what really happened, but…"

  Jason nodded thoughtfully. "But there's this whole legend that's sprung up, like I'm some kind of hero whose twelve feet tall and bulletproof?"

  "Something like that," she confessed.

  He took another mouthful of the food, and chewed it as he thought. He swallowed, then looked at the woman seated next to him. "Long story short? There was a pile of them, it was dark, and they set up an ambush. They got the drop on me."

  "Basically, something that no one else could have handled better?"

  He shrugged. "Maybe. I don't know, but I don't see what I could have done differently."

  She nodded. "I can sell that."

  "Sell it?"

  "Like I said, people are wondering. The thing is, they're doing it in my tavern, so I'm in a good position to do something about it."

  Jason nodded. "Well, in that case, sell it. It's the truth."

  She smiled, playfully. "Don't worry. I can be convincing if I need to be."

  He returned her smile. "I bet." After a moment, he asked, "Norman Boutham?"

  She nodded, albeit reluctantly. "Pretty much. Megan told me he'd talked to her too. From what she said, though…well, I think the guy's off his meds or something."

  "Oh?"

  "Yeah. She said he went on about how the two of you were out to destroy the town."

  He laughed. "You mean the town I've risked my life for?"

  She nodded again. "Yeah. He hasn't said it to anyone else as far as I know, but still. I don't see why Megan would make up something like that. It's not like she's telling everyone about it, so the whole politics thing isn't holding any weight there."

  "Yeah, that's not her style anyways."

  A long, awkward silence hung in the air.

  "So," she said, "when are you cleared to go back to whatever?"

  "Not sure. Doc said three to six weeks total for the ribs, which are the worst of it at thi
s point."

  She nodded. "You need to get back into fighting shape after you get the go ahead?"

  It was his turn to nod. "Yeah. Needed to before this, truth be told. I was slipping back into old habits."

  "So you've said. How so?"

  He smiled. "Yeah. Back before the nukes, I was a chubby boy. When I saw Columbus…well, I had to get home, but I was a couple days walk away. By the time I got there, Jess and Rick were gone. She left me a note that she'd gone to her mom's place in North Georgia. Almost no food, a long ass walk, and a few scrapes along the way, and all that chub went bye-bye."

  "I can see that."

  "I did a lot of changing out there. Then, I get there and Jess got taken by some asshole who thought might made right, so I disabused him of the notion."

  She nodded. "Heard about that. Something about his head being removed from the rest of him?"

  "I disabused him of the notion in a pretty aggressive manner, okay?" he said with a joyless grin.

  "Well," she said, "if you want any help, I do know something about getting you back to where you were."

  He nodded. He'd actually been considering asking her for some help, knowing that part of a fighter's regimen was to burn fat with a minimal loss of muscle. Since she was the only professional fighter around these parts, it made sense.

  "I'd appreciate it," he said. "I figured you knew what to do."

  Tabby nodded. "Good. When you get the all clear from the doc, let me know. I could use a workout partner anyways."

  Jason smiled. Tabby still boasted the lean and muscular of a women's UFC champion, so he could picture her still in training. Then he realized that she was probably going to kick his ass and his smile faded.

  ** ** **

  Rick looked around at the wreckage. A bus had been ripped to shreds by gunfire. He couldn't even fathom how many rounds had been fired. The brutality of the assault would have been bad enough, but it wasn't.

  Leaning next to a nearby tree was a lone man. He'd been cut up, slashes up and down his arms and legs. Judging by the amount of blood on the ground, he'd been alive when it happened too. Around the man's neck was a sign that simply read, "Vengeance".