Blue Plague: Rage

by Watson, Thomas A

  “Okay Dad,” Jake replied.

  “Dad,” Danny called.

  “Yeah, sweet pea?” Bruce said.

  “Can you really skin a man alive?” she asked.

  Bruce thought about it, “I don’t know but we’ll find out today,” he told Danny as he took the gag out of the woman’s mouth.

  “I had no choice. I never did anything to anyone!” the woman cried out in Bruce’s face.

  “You lying bitch! We’ve talked to the hostages and they said y’all women were worse than most of the men!” Mary screamed.

  “Daddy,” Bruce heard from behind him and turned around looking at Mindy holding the nail gun. She had called him Daddy before but not with that affection.

  “Yes Mindy,” Bruce said.

  “Please let me do this. I really need to,” Mindy told him.

  Bruce looked in her eyes and saw she was remembering her own time in hell. Bruce put the handcuffs on and raised the woman up. Unlike Stick, she didn’t have the weight to dislocate her shoulders. Bruce swung her over to the log. The woman started kicking with her feet as Bruce grabbed them holding them over the log. David ran over to help Bruce. When they had her feet still Mindy walked over.

  “You could’ve helped the women and kids but you joined in, knowing what it was like. You enjoyed it,” Mindy said as she shot nails through the woman’s feet into the log. Mindy went all the way around each foot emptying the nail gun as the woman screamed.

  “I had no choice!” she yelled.

  “Neither do we. My Daddy’s going to show you the errors of your ways now,” Mindy said putting the nail gun on the table.

  “Daddy,” Bruce heard from behind him and knew it was Buffy.

  “No Buffy you can’t help. This was different,” Bruce said not looking back.

  “I didn’t want to, well I do, but one of the judges is blinking a lot,” Buffy told him.

  Bruce turned to the judges, “I wouldn’t,” he warned them. Turning to Jake, Bruce told him, “Jake, I want you to get one man each hour to come here. I want you to tell them they are to come here and stare at the judges and never look back at me for any reason.”

  “Can I take first watch?” Jake asked.

  “No, but you can come later after you tell the others what needs to be said but the same rules apply even to you. Anyone caught breaking the rules will be on shit detail for one month,” Bruce told him. Jake nodded and left with the group.

  A few minutes later a young woman from Omega came over and stood in front of the judges making sure they watched. Bruce turned to the woman nailed to the stage. “This is just the beginning lady. You aren’t the first woman to feel my wrath nor will you be the last,” Bruce said pressing the winch to raise her up. The log she was nailed on provided the weight needed to dislocate her shoulders. “Now let’s play,” Bruce told her as she screamed.

  It was 2100 and Ted and Carl were sitting outside of Ted’s RG. They were going to go on patrol for blues but none were even close so Willie canceled the mission. After Jake came over giving his speech, no one talked about raping anything. Both Ted and Carl had pulled judge watch duty already. Many of the hostages wanted to watch but Willie wouldn’t let them. When they wouldn’t shut up, Willie took three to the corner of the house. Letting them peek around the corner. They watched as Bruce skinned a man alive.

  Willie brought them back to the group vomiting as Ted and Carl helped him carry the three back. “You don’t really want to watch, you think you do, but you don’t. They’re getting punishment which in this new world is rare. You’re safe as you can be in this world. Now just make your choice by tomorrow afternoon. Leave with us or go your own way,” Willie told them, leading them away going for his judge watch.

  Ted looked at Carl asking, “Did you peek?”

  “Did you?” Carl replied.

  “I asked first,” Ted told him.

  Carl let out a sigh, “Yeah I did,” he admitted.

  “So did I,” Ted confessed.

  “That man is ice,” Carl said shaking his head.

  “No, he’s colder. I know I couldn’t do that like he does. Maybe once, but not that long, that many times. He has turned it into an art. They’re actually thanking him in the first thirty minutes,” Ted told Carl.

  “It only took twelve minutes for the one I was up there on to thank him,” Carl informed Ted.

  “Well it has to be done,” Ted said leaning back.

  “Does it really?” Carl asked.

  “Carl, this group knew about us and they knew what was done to the others. The old way is dead and it never worked. The guilty are now punished,” Ted told him.

  “I’m not saying what Bruce is doing is wrong. I mean what happens after Bruce? Who steps into those shoes? I trust him with that power but what about others? His word is law and so who will be the next in line?” Carl laid it out for Ted.

  “Mike already talked about that. Paul told me the last time we were in. Bruce is going to step down when this war is over. We’re going to elect members and fix what was broken,” Ted answered.

  “Ted, I’d die for Bruce and I’m glad he’s over there doing what he’s doing. I pray that my family didn’t end up like the hostages we’ve found. If Bruce told me right now to come and help him I would even though I know it’d drive me insane. I just don’t want that to happen to him. Too much is riding on him,” Carl said.

  “Carl, Bruce doesn’t want to be in charge. We both see it and have talked about it and that’s why he has to be in charge. Bruce wouldn’t ask anyone to help him because he knows what the cost is. I think the reason he has us watching judges is to let the others know they really don’t want to do it. A lot is riding on him and we just have to trust him. Even when he does stupid shit,” Ted said.

  “I almost died when he charged those blues with that sword,” Carl admitted.

  “I almost shit my pants,” Ted divulged. “I never saw anything like that,” Ted added.

  “I never want to see that again,” Carl said.

  “Well the word is out the two wives let him have it,” Ted informed him grinning.

  “I know, I told them,” Carl said making Ted sit up.

  “Dude, I so hope you’re kidding,” Ted said with a serious face.

  “No, I went and called Mike asking him to tell them. They’re the only ones Bruce will listen to,” Carl replied defending his actions.

  “That’s so far out of bounds I don’t even know where to start. You told not one wife, but two to get a man in trouble. Dude, that’s way against man code rules,” Ted said in disbelief.

  Carl looked at Ted, “If Bruce would give me his word he wouldn’t do shit like that again I’d sacrifice myself,” he told Ted. “Bruce is that important, can’t you feel it?” Carl asked.

  Ted just stared at Carl not knowing what to say. They just sat in silence as Willie walked up to them. “Holy shit and fuck me with a tire iron!” Willie gasped.

  “You just got off judge watch huh?” Carl asked.

  “Yeah, I’m that obvious?” Willie asked.

  “Kind of and we know you peeked,” Ted let him know.

  “Well hell yeah and one of the judges is dead now,” Willie told them.

  “Oh he turned away?” Carl asked wondering what took so long.

  “No, he just died watching Bruce and listening to the screams,” Willie told them.

  “Damn, Bruce scared a man to death, for real,” Ted said in admiration noticing the screams had stopped.

  “Well let’s see if the next one yells at Bruce,” Carl said, then looked up as Bruce’s and Mike’s kids walked up.

  “No, I don’t think anymore will yell at Dad,” Jake told them.

  “Jake, when do I get judge duty?” Buffy asked.

  “Okay Buffy, you can go next,” Jake told her, tired of her bugging him about it.

  “Thank you Bubba,” Buffy said hugging his leg.

  “You really want to go over there that bad Buffy?” Carl asked not really
wanting the answer. Carl admitted to himself that Buffy scared the shit out of him along with Danny. Carl knew they wouldn’t hurt him but they still scared the shit out of him.

  “No not really,” Buffy said shocking Carl and everyone else. “But Daddy is doing something that is going to hurt him later. If I can help him I will,” Buffy told him.

  “How do you know that?” Danny asked.

  “Shh, here comes Daddy,” Buffy whispered thankful for the distraction. The others turned to see Bruce walking toward them with a pissed off expression, covered in blood, wearing only boxers and sandals carrying an arm load of stuff.

  Seeing Bruce’s face Willie moaned, “Oh shit.”

  Bruce walked over throwing down an arm load of battery packs for his cordless tools. “Those damn things don’t keep a charge worth shit!” Bruce yelled.

  “Ah Bruce, you’ve been at it for ten hours. I think they’ve held up fine,” Ted told him.

  Bruce thought about that, “Good point,” he said as Cook came over from the RV.

  “Here sir,” Cook said walking over handing Bruce an arm load of battery packs.

  Grabbing the packs Bruce yelled out, “Oh yeah! Playtime can continue.” Looking at everyone he said, “Several of them were real disappointed when the batteries died. One even asked me to continue while they charged. Their manners have improved so much.”

  “Dude, we’re just puny mortals compared to you, so go back to Olympus mighty one,” Ted told Bruce making him laugh.

  Bruce turned to leave then looked back, “Danny, you can skin a man alive,” he informed her.

  “Cool,” she said.

  Ted couldn’t resist, curiosity won as he asked, “How long did he live?”

  “Over an hour, he choked to death when I made him eat the skin I peeled off,” Bruce said walking off heading to the RV to get some food. A shiver ran up Ted’s spine watching Bruce walk off.

  When Bruce was gone Carl punched Ted in the arm. “You had to ask? I could’ve gone the rest of my life without hearing that,” Carl said.

  Danny shook her head, “Carl, don’t worry, when we get home I have some dresses you can wear,” she told him making Carl back away.

  Buffy ran over and hugged him, “Don’t worry Carl, I still think you’re tough,” she told him. That made Carl feel better as Buffy let him go.

  Jake grabbed Carl’s arm, “Don’t let Danny get to you. She puked when she peeked at the stage,” Jake informed him.

  “It was the food. I told you that Jake,” Danny said, trying to preserve her standing.

  Matt walked over putting his arm around Danny, “It was the food, I felt sick to after I ate,” he told them as Danny kissed his cheek. Carl smiled, finally seeing a chink in Danny’s armor.

  “Matt, if Danny told you it was midnight at noon you’d back her up,” Jake said shaking his head.

  “Like you wouldn’t do the same for Mary?” Danny challenged.

  “Good point,” Jake said as Mary hugged him and the group walked away.

  Willie turned to Carl and Ted, “I’m going to tell you two something and don’t laugh. Buffy and Danny scare the shit out of me, not that the boys don’t. But the boys do what Bruce tells them but those two can kick ass and don’t always listen with the same conviction,” Willie confided to them.

  They both laughed, “Dude, we can give you whole descriptions on how those two scare us,” Ted told him.

  Letting out a long breath, “Whew, I thought it was just me,” Willie admitted.

  “Man, if there is another member of Omega that’s not afraid of them then we need to throw them off for being stupid,” Carl said, making the other two laugh.

  Bruce ate fast and headed over to the picnic table which was lit up with spot lights to see someone standing over one of his playmates. Then they moved to another one. Getting closer Bruce saw they were pissing on them. When he reached the area Bruce noticed it was Matt.

  “Matt, what the hell are you doing?” Bruce asked.

  “Saving Danny from a spanking and me a broken arm,” he said moving to another person peeing on their face and the person said, ‘Thank you.’

  “What?” Bruce asked not understanding.

  “You said if Danny ever peed on someone you would spank her and break my arm,” Matt told him buttoning up.

  “Explain,” Bruce said remembering the conversation.

  “Well Danny wanted to sneak over here and pee on them. I wouldn’t let her and we got in a fight. I told her that she would’ve gotten a spanking but she just yelled at me,” Matt said looking down.

  “So you did it for her so she wouldn’t get in trouble?” Bruce asked and Matt nodded his head. “Danielle Alexandra Williams!” Bruce yelled making Matt jump back.

  Danny ran to her Daddy at close to the speed of light stopping in front of him, “Yes sir.”

  “You think you’re too old for a spanking? I’ll wear your ass out till you won’t be able to walk,” Bruce told her and Danny looked at Matt. “Danny, give me your belt now,” Bruce told her holding out his hand that was covered in dried blood.

  “With my own belt!” she whined.

  “You and Matt both,” Bruce told her.

  “It was my fault Dad not his. I-,” she just stopped and handed Bruce her belt and turned around.

  “Young lady, you might be one of my troops, but you’ll always be my daughter. I’m really disappointed in you. I’m too mad to spank you now, turn around,” Bruce told her and gave her belt back. “Go to the RG and wait,” Bruce told her. Danny took off running and crying to the RG. “Matt, you did good keeping your wife out of trouble, but you better learn to realize that it’s okay for them to be mad at us sometimes,” Bruce told him then waved him away.

  Bruce closed his eyes to bring the hate back. When he felt it crash over him, he saw Buffy looking at the three live judges and the dead one. Grabbing another gang member Bruce started back up.

  Back on the farm several had watched in mission control throughout the day, this being the first time Bruce ‘played’ outside. Mike had called wanting to know what the kids were doing to the prisoners. The radio operator told them “Branding the prisoners.” They lowered one UAV and saw the Omega symbol branded on the forehead.

  Now it was only Mike, Nancy, Marcus, Carroll, Stephanie and Angela in mission control. The command group didn’t release the video of Bruce and the prisoners. Knowing what he did was accepted but watching it pushed the boundaries.

  “Well, thoughts?” Mike asked wanting ideas as he stared at the monitor.

  “Bruce is winning the war for us,” Stephanie told him.

  “Yes winning the war but also torturing all prisoners,” Mike stated.

  “Well we won’t have to fight them again,” Angela said smiling.

  “Girls please,” Mike said knowing both would justify anything Bruce did.

  “Mike, there’s no helping it. I’m willing to bet even ‘if’ Bruce comes back, he’ll still do it. Maybe not like he is but he has built a legend now. Omega is all that’s on the short wave,” Marcus told him.

  “Marcus, normal people can’t live with that,” Mike said.

  “Yes they can, if it’s done for your family or team. In this case it’s both,” Marcus told him.

  “Okay Marcus I’m not going to ask how you know,” Mike said. Marcus just nodded as Mike spoke, “I’m leaving tomorrow to get the hostages. Before anyone says anything, I’m flying ahead of the convoy. There are less than a thousand blues near them and let’s face it. Omega can kill on a scale never seen before.”

  “Mike, are you going to talk to Bruce?” Nancy asked.

  “Yeah and let him know we saw what happened,” Mike answered.

  “He wanted us to see Mike. We’ve all wanted and offered to help him. He’s letting us know from a distance what it’s like,” Stephanie said.

  “Why?” Mike asked.

  “To let us know what has to be done, anything less and we lose. Our enemies do that so he takes it to a
whole new level. Bruce let us know what it means to be in charge and he’s willing to do it no matter what the cost is to him. He lost Debbie and he’s not losing more,” Stephanie told him. Mike studied her face as she continued, “To let you know Mike, I watched it all. I would stand by his side helping him if he’d let me,” Stephanie said.

  “I agree with Stephanie, I’d do the same. I never would’ve believed that you could skin a man alive,” Angela said in awe.

  “Please,” Mike moaned, trying to make the image leave his mind.

  “Let him fight the war Mike,” Angela said as she and Stephanie left.

  Carroll laughed, “Debbie chose wisely with them twos,” she said.

  “Carroll, Debbie wouldn’t keep letting Bruce do this,” Nancy said.

  “Yep, she would. She sacrificed herself for us. Debbie give mankind the leader it need to lead us to salvation or damnation. If it be salvation we’ll live to see it. The kids will live to see the beginning of the damnation,” Carroll told her.

  “Is it that simple?” Mike asked.

  “Yep, all we can dos is hope Bruce don’t lose what be most important. His heart, his ability to love, if he lose that, then we’ve lost,” Carroll said standing up leaving with Marcus.

  Mike looked at Nancy, “Let the clan know that we will play the video tomorrow at 1000 and all kids must be out of the Center,” he told her.

  “Mike,” Nancy said with concern.

  “I want them to know what Bruce is doing for us. You’ll make the speech before the video. I will be heading to see Bruce,” Mike said.

  “He’s getting worse,” Nancy said.

  “I have a feeling we’re nowhere near the worst,” Mike said as they stood up heading to bed.

  Chapter 18

  It was 0300 when Bruce stopped. He only had few more playmates left and he decided he was saving them with the other six. He went to the RV and showered, then went to the RG to get some sleep. Omega had let the hostages use the semis with the beds.

  When Bruce woke up the next morning the sun was just starting to rise. Stretching out Bruce noticed Danny standing outside the RG holding a plate and a cup of coffee. “Breakfast is ready?” Bruce asked.