To Survive

by Mike Staton

  “Do we have a name for who we’re meeting with?” Cooper piped up from the back. “Or are we just… you know, walking in and screaming, ‘Yoohoo, Danielsville people!’?”

  “Dakota Grole and Anton Pipper.” Percival pulled out a map of Danielsville and spread it on the table before him and over the roadmap. He tapped a building at the corner of Grey Street and 14th. “There’s a two story pharmacy here. That’s where we’re supposed to meet up. They didn’t tell us their exact location, just that they’d be here. They’re being cautious, like we are.”

  “No shit. Our five to their two?” Samuel moved to look at where Percival pointed.

  “On their turf.” Percival tapped the map once more. “They could have the whole place booby-trapped for all we know. Or they could have two dozen folk hiding around.”

  Cooper swept brown bangs off his forehead. “You really expect them to be that way?”

  “It’d not surprise me.” Percival folded his arms over his chest. “For every friendly survivor I found, there were four who weren’t too welcoming. Or were too welcoming entirely. I think we should approach this super cautiously. But we’ll reevaluate this once we get there.”

  “We go in quietly, here.” Judith tapped the southwestern portion of the town map. She’d moved so quietly, Percival hadn’t even noticed her crossing the room.

  He nodded once. “I can agree with that. But we’ll need to reevaluate once we get closer regardless. Who knows what the place looks like now.”

  Judith stood up straight and nodded.

  “Any other questions?”

  A host of shaking heads met his gaze. “Good. We’re heading out tomorrow morning. They’re expecting us in four days, so we’re going to shoot for three.”

  “And scout the fourth?” Judith asked.

  “And scout the fourth,” Percival echoed. “We’re not going into this blind.”

  * * *

  Kat was the last person to leave the briefing room. She’d stood and stared at the maps, committing each detail to memory. She wanted to know where she was should the shit hit the fan. Being the last one out, she collected both maps, folded them nicely into rectangles and shut the lights out in the briefing room as she left.

  Cooper stepped up behind her as she rounded the corner into the short hall. “Everything alright?”

  “Yup.” She didn’t bother looking at him.

  “You just… part of that discussion you were super cold and distant.” Cooper’s pace quickened for a moment to put him next to her.

  “Yup.” She’d meant every word too. If she caught up to the assholes who’d ruined her home she’d make every last one of them pay.

  “Still upset over the other day?”

  She glanced at him. “No. I’m not.”

  “Why the terse responses then?” He stopped just short of entering the bunker’s living room.

  She stopped as well and looked up at him. “I’m not upset with you, Cooper. I’m figuring things out.”

  “And the iciness?”

  “I’m… You don’t need to worry. I’m not some psychopath or nothing.” She glanced at his hand.

  “I didn’t think you were.” Cooper took a deep breath and let the next words out in a rush. “Do you really feel that some folk don’t deserve to live?”

  Her gaze fell to study his boots for a long moment. As she lifted it to his chin, she drank in his well-fitted BDUs and gorgeous features. She didn’t even mind the stubble creeping up along his strong jawline. “Yeah. I do. There are some who aren’t meant to be ‘round here. Those that’re too dangerous, too…”

  She shrugged. “Too hostile. The jackasses who devastated our home are folk I list among them.”

  He looked away for a moment. “I disagree.”

  “We’ll have to agree to disagree then.” She started to turn away, paused, and turned back to him. She reached up and lightly touched his cheek, turning his gaze back to her. “Hey. Just because we disagree on something doesn’t mean we can’t be friends. Or have each other’s backs. I ain’t forgotten what you did for me on the way here.”

  Cooper’s face twisted through a mirage of hurt before transitioning back to somewhere between neutral and kicked puppy. “I suppose.”

  She sighed softly. “Cooper…”

  “No, I get it. You’re just colder to some things than I.”

  She heard an implied ‘me’ in his sentence. “That’s not… Okay, that’s true. But you’re not among those things. Alright?”

  “Sure.” It was his turn to turn away.

  Viper quick she reached out and snagged his beautiful, delicate, strong hand and pulled. He froze, similar to how she imagined she looked when he’d tapped her nose just a few days before. She traced her hand up his sleeve and looped fingers at the nape of his neck.

  She took a deep breath.

  Now or never.

  And leaned up on her tiptoes as she pulled down and brought her lips to his, kissed him gently.

  He remained frozen for a moment, blue eyes staring at her. The moment passed, his eyes slid closed, and a hand appeared at the small of her back as he embraced her.

  The kiss lasted another few mind-blurring seconds that seemed to stretch to the infinite horizon and back before she settled back to her heels and dropped her forehead to his chest. She gasped for breath, calming her racing heart and spinning senses. “I like you.”

  “What?” Cooper didn’t sound nearly as shaken as she did.

  “I said I like you.” Kat cleared her throat and pushed back from him. “I… uh. I need to go.”

  “Do you?” Cooper certainly sounded happier.

  She glanced up at him and found a small smirk on his pretty face. She thumped his chest once and pulled away from his intoxicating touch. Almost immediately she wanted to slip into his warm embrace once more. “Yeah. I need to have a quick talk with Ian about Gloria.”

  “Gloria?” Confusion bloomed on Cooper’s face.

  “Mmhm. The Remington 700 sniper rifle in our stock.” She took the moment of equipment talk to center herself. She could still feel his lips on hers, the delightful taste of his honeyed tongue, the sweet tang of his last meal. The scent, mint and chocolate, that wafted from him. “Need to see if I can upgrade my rifle. Love my .22, but carrying something with a touch more stopping power’d be extra awesome. And our raid…”

  His finger touched her lips as she glanced away. “Where does this leave us?”

  “I… I don’t know.” Kat could feel her cheeks heating up. She did know she wanted to just spend an hour wrapped up around him exploring his mouth, but didn’t want to say that. “I don’t know. I need to get myself centered again.”

  He nodded. “Just going to throw this out there: the arm’s length sucks.”

  She stepped backward away from him and shook her head. “Yeah, I know.”

  She wasn’t running away from him. She truly had to chat with Ian. And soon.

  “I’ll figure things out.”

  *

  Kat stroked the delightful polycarbonate rifle. She slid the bolt into place. She let her fingers trail over the body of the rifle, taking in the tactile feel of the gun. It was a sensual stroke as her fingers drank in the smooth feel. After a moment she slid one hand under the gun’s stock and under the body and lifted it smoothly into the air. She peered through the scope set atop it and let out a soft sigh of delight as the wood of the barn’s far wall jumped into focus far closer to her.

  “You done making love to the damned thing?” Ian stopped at the door to their makeshift armory.

  Kat started and clutched the rifle tighter.

  “That was uncharacteristic.” Ian moved into the room.

  Kat set the rifle down and snapped a quick salute to him as embarrassment washed over her. She’d transferred the desires she’d been feeling for Cooper in the bunker to drinking in the tactile feel of a beautiful weapon. And felt horrifically exposed having fondled the weapon, even if she were doing little more than
ultimately checking the weapon’s status.

  A status that was beautifully efficient in its ability to dispense long-range death.

  Ian returned her salute. “Kelly said you were looking for me.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Cooper also said you were looking for me. As did Judith and Percival grunted something noncommittal. What do you need, Corporal?” Ian stopped a couple of feet from her. “And, what’s gotten into you, Kat?”

  “Which would you like me to answer, sir?”

  “Both. As your CO and your friend. In that order, Corporal.” Ian leaned against the table she’d set the rifle up on.

  “I wanted to requisition this rifle and three magazines as well as half a dozen boxes of ammunition.” Kat looked away from Ian as she laid her hand on the rifle. It was a beautiful piece of equipment, black and awesome; equipped with a scope and bipod for stability. She’d set three magazines out on the table next to it.

  “Planning to lay siege to something?” Ian looked over the arranged hardware.

  “No… Well, maybe. I just want to be prepared.” Kat flushed slightly. Her list of requested equipment hadn’t sounded so big in her head. Now that she’d spoked it out loud, it did sound a bit ridiculous.

  “What’s wrong with your .22?” Ian sat on the edge of the table and folded his arms over his chest.

  “Stopping power.” Kat looked her friend over. The folded arms might indicate he wasn’t going to say yes to her. His relaxed manner told her the opposite.

  “You can put more rounds down range, faster, and we’ve more to spare. It’s also quieter than the .300 you want there. Lighter.” Ian listed a host of reasons to opt for the smaller weapon.

  Reasons she’d already thought of. “And if I come across anything with armor, my .22 won’t cut it. I also wanted to carry it as my primary weapon. It’s something that I’ve done once or twice before. The Remington would be my stationary rifle. With the silencer, it’d be only a little louder than the .22. And you know I can hump that much, sir.”

  Ian let out a soft chuckle. “I remember the time you knocked me on my ass because I called you weak in your first week. Glad we’ve moved past that. But seriously, what trouble do you expect to run into that you’re going to need 90 rounds of ammunition in a hunting rifle?”

  “So, I can take the rifle with me?” Kat knew she glowed with joy and simply didn’t care.

  “I didn’t say that. I asked what you expected to run into out there that would require this firepower.” Ian’s tone turned serious again.

  “Armored zombies? Death cultists?” Kat shook her head. “The assholes that hit us.”

  Ian was silent for a long moment. “Take it and one box of ammunition. We’ve defensive use for the rest here. It’ll make you lighter as well.”

  “Not by much.” Kat grinned. “But, I’m not arguing. That’ll be more than enough. Thank you, sir.”

  Ian nodded. “And my other question?”

  Kat dropped her gaze to the rifle. When had she become so transparent? She’d done so well to hide her emotions and feelings from everyone.

  “Stop thinking about it. I’ve known you longer than anyone else here.”

  That was true. Kat hadn’t followed Ian to Brown College, but she’d certainly gone there after a recommendation from the same mentor as Ian’s. And they’d both attended the military school together before college. “Someone’s in my head and I’m having trouble getting them out.”

  “That the only reason you’re distracted?” Ian’s expression turned pensive for a moment as he seemed to draw in on himself. “Are you good for this mission? I’m asking as a friend, not your CO.”

  “Yeah. I’m good. I mean, you can always count on me.” Kat slipped around his first question. “I can pull it together when it’s most necessary.”

  “I know. I watched you shoot. And that was in the middle of your grandparents’ funeral. It’s the in between time that worries me. You know how sharp you’ve got to be when you’re out there.”

  “I’m good, Ian. Trust me? I’m handling this.”

  “You’ve not outright said what ‘this’ is yet. Nor who it involves. Is it someone going with you?” Ian’s arms slid to his side and braced against the edge of the table.

  “Ian…”

  “Kat…” he echoed her.

  “I’ve got this.” She turned her gaze to the piece of hardware on the table and focused on it. She didn’t want to talk about wanting to slip off and kiss on Cooper right now. She couldn’t turn it off, which bothered her a little bit, but talking with Ian about it wasn’t going to help. “If that changes, you’ll be the first person I come to.”

  Ian pushed away from the table and strode across the small room to a metal filing cabinet. He opened the top drawer and withdrew a box of ammunition; then a second. “Load your magazines, put the partial box back. Do you get me?”

  Kat accepted the boxes, nodded, and snapped a salute and stood at attention.

  “At ease, Corporal. Go about your business.” Ian strode toward the door. He stopped just short of it. “Oh, and Kat?”

  Kat looked up at him from the magazine she’d started loading.

  “Cooper hurts you and I’ll break his knees.” Ian’s smile was cold as he slipped out of the room.

  “What is it with men feeling the need to protect me all of a sudden?” Kat grumbled. She’d need to have a chat with Cooper. She didn’t want everyone to know that they had… Whatever it was they had going on.

  * * *

  Percival sat on the edge of his cot in the quarantine shed, head in his hands. He’d heard a distantly familiar voice on the wind again. It’d taken him longer than he’d like to identify it as the voice of someone he’d shot. Shot in the face. Shot dead.

  Jessica whispered on the cold, westerly wind. She whispered of a small horde meandering toward the farmhouse. He stroked his temple and tried to force the voice out.

  The creak of the door opening snapped his attention to it. Ian stood outlined in the setting sun’s light. “Colonel.”

  “Oh good, you’re still awake and with us.” Ian pulled the door closed behind him. “Have a moment?”

  “Fewer every passing second.” Percival let out a sigh. “I can feel things getting worse.”

  “Are you exercising your option?” Ian’s hand drifted slightly closer to his sidearm.

  “No. Not what I meant… Colonel, I got a bad feeling about the west. Can I put a suggestion to up patrols that way?”

  Ian looked stunned for a second by the request, then nodded. “I can spare an extra man or two for watching from that direction. What’s inspiring this intuition?”

  Percival shook his head and redirected. “What’d you stop by to talk about?”

  “I’ve two personal requests for you.”

  “Go on.” Percival sat up straighter. “I assume this means you’re asking as Ian Pull not Colonel Pull then?”

  “That’s correct.” Ian glanced at the door behind him. “The first request is there’s someone in Danielsville I want you to keep watch for.”

  “Who? And why are you bringing this to me now instead of yesterday so I could include it with the rest of the briefing to my team?” Percival watched Ian carefully. He didn’t quite like where this was going.

  “Because she might not even be there.” Ian brought his gaze back from the door to Percival. “I don’t know that she’s even there. I know she was there before the shit hit the fan. I know s—“

  “Who is she? Ian, I don’t know you well enough to speculate right now. Your mom, your sister, an aunt? I thought you were from Colorado, but I might well be misremembering.” Percival interrupted him.

  “She is my, was my girlfriend. Lieutenant Krista Adams.” Ian’s gaze dropped to the floor. “We had a fight right before things got real bad. She was stationed—“

  “So, full army, not ROTC from the college?” Percival interrupted again.

  “Airforce, but yes, she’s enlisted. Graduate
d a couple years before me.” Ian’s face fell into shadows as he looked down, but Percival could hear the smile in his tone. “We met in Colorado. Same academy as Kat.”

  “Mmhm. Ian, I don’t mean to rush you past memory lane, but…” Percival cleared his throat. “I have an early morning tomorrow and I’d prefer to not be dead tired. I’ve enough issues with being sick.”

  Ian’s tone snapped back to being professional as he looked back up. “Right. I apologize. If you could inquire about her, find her, I would be in your debt.”

  “I’ll be happy to do that for you. Do you want me to keep silent or can I tell my second about this new objective?” Percival didn’t bother pointing out that if his second was left in the dark and he turned halfway there, this wouldn’t get done. He also didn’t see the need to ask if she could be trusted. If Ian trusted her, Percival was willing to trust her.

  “You can tell Kat. She probably will even be delighted to hear of the new development.” Ian took a deep breath. “Which brings me to my next request. This one is to be kept under wraps and to yourself.”

  Percival hiked an eyebrow skyward. “I’m a fairly honest person. If this is something shady…”

  “Hardly. Just… Keep an eye on Cooper. Alright?”

  “Okay… Why?” Percival had a pretty good idea as to the ‘why’ of the matter. He mostly just wanted to hear Ian say it.

  “He’s taken an unhealthy interest in Kat.” The words came out of Ian in an icy, breakneck torrent.

  “She’s a big girl, you know. Perfectly capable of handling herself.” This side of Ian amused Percival. He’d seen the ROTC Colonel protective, but not over an individual.

  “She’s innocent in…” Ian shook his head, apparently unwilling to talk about what he knew as far as Kat’s sex life went. “Let’s just say this is uncharted territory for her and I don’t trust his intentions.”

  Percival nodded. “You want me to chaperone.”

  “Keep an eye on him.”