Beginnings

by Sandra R Neeley

  Lethal looked back at General Ferriday. “I run my own missions.”

  “Acceptable. But we may have other missions we’d like you to participate on as well,” General Ferriday answered.

  Lethal thought about it. “Fine. Done.” Lethal turned and walked out of the building with his squad.

  “You’re actually going to let that man loose with a helicopter and weaponry?” Roscoe asked.

  “That man may be able to lead us to other locations that we know nothing about. He’s obviously got a lead on something that was strong enough he sought out a computer to research it on. He and his men have lived it. Maybe they have a better chance at finding those more deeply embedded than our original teams do,” General Ferriday answered.

  “I understand that. But he seems more angry than most,” Roscoe answered.

  “Some of them are. Others just want to be left alone. Still others are carrying on as though nothing was wrong. Those are the ones I’m most worried about — they’re time bombs. Eventually the reality of what they’ve been through will come crashing down on them. But that man, he’s Maddox whether he cares to admit it or not. He is not a loose canon. He’s just as in control as he ever was, he’s just operating on gut instinct now.”

  Roscoe sat back in his chair. “No he’s not. He’s operating on whatever the demented fuckers turned him into. And that is what worries me.”

  “Everything about this worries me. But what am I supposed to tell these men? ‘Hey, sorry about what happened. We rescued you, so go be happy now.’ That’s not going to happen with most of them. Those like Maddox, they’re going to want a pound of flesh. And Lord help me, but I believe they deserve it,” General Ferriday said.

  “What about this Law person?” Roscoe asked.

  “If they’re beginning to form some type of governing body, I can only see it as a good thing. Hopefully, Law is content to remain at peace here. If so, this could be the very best we can hope for. We need to speak to him and see what his mindset is, make sure that the majority of those here agree with his leadership. Find out what all he has in mind. Call a meeting tomorrow at the latest,” General Ferriday said.

  “On it. I’ll go track down Law and find out who he is,” Roscoe answered.

  “And get a pilot. Explain the situation and Lethal’s squad. He’ll be their assigned pilot and needs to know in advance what Lethal plans. He’ll have to have flight plans etc. before they can take off. And it would help if he’s of the same mind as Lethal and their group.”

  “I’ll talk to Smitty. He’s laid back, but preached a tooth for a tooth. I think he’d fit right in with them. Excellent pilot but flies by the seat of his pants if you’ll pardon the pun,” Roscoe answered.

  “Very good. I’m going to make a few calls. See what we can do to get some computers set up. Maybe in there,” General Ferriday said, looking over at the meeting room.

  “We heard from Sarge early this morning, he’s headed back. Should be here by nightfall tomorrow. Only three of the males were alive when they arrived. Apparently the owner was able to initiate the collars on two of them before Sarge and his men could get to him,” Roscoe said.

  “Damn it! I knew that Geneva tip was more shaky than the rest. That’s a damn shame. Two men lost,” General Ferriday said, shaking his head, with pain showing on his face.

  “It is. But, at least they’re at peace now.”

  “Any females?” General Ferriday asked.

  “One. She’s in really bad shape.”

  “Do we have all we need ready for them?” General Ferriday asked.

  “Doctors, psychologists. Safe places to sleep and food. If they need something we don’t have, we’ll get it as soon as we know,” Roscoe said.

  “Alright. I’m going to see about getting computers set up for them,” the General said.

  “And I’m going to find Law and set up a meeting,” Roscoe answered.

  “Let the clinic know about the woman Sarge is bringing, too,” General Ferriday added.

  “Will do,” Roscoe answered.

  Chapter 20

  The din of many male voices all speaking at the same time sounded like a soft rumble through the building as General Ferriday, Roscoe, Law and several other males sat at the table in the front of the large meeting room. General Ferriday stood and banged his coffee cup on the table a few times, then waited for the males to quiet down.

  “Hello, gentlemen. As you will remember, I’m General Ferriday. I’m pleased you’re all here. Today we’re coming together to discuss the future of Alliance Ranch. This land, gentlemen, and all that is on it, including this group of buildings I’ve constructed, is Alliance Ranch. It’s my land, handed down through generations. But now, it’s been incorporated as a non-profit and belongs to all of us who choose to stay.

  As I explained when you all arrived, you’re welcome to live here, work here, play here. But like any community, we will have to respect the laws and rules of the community in order to keep it a positive and functioning society. Which brings me to Law. Have you all met Law?” he asked, indicating with a sweep of his hand toward the male who was now called Law. “It is my understanding that Law has been unofficially elected to act as your representative in all things regarding the community of Alliance Ranch. Your mayor, or governor so to speak.”

  Of the sixty or so men assembled, some nodded their agreement, some applauded, and a few actually voiced their support. There were of course more than a couple of them that just sat quietly, waiting to see how things would play out.

  “Very well. We’ve been in talks with Law and have a basic starting point. I am the President of Alliance Ranch. Roscoe is my acting partner and oversees the accounting and legal aspects of day-to-day operation. Law is your main representative. None of us are a single entity. We all work together toward the same end. Law will have a board of additional representatives that will assist him to oversee Alliance Ranch. All of us are available to any of you at any time. This is a democracy. Our own private little town that offers us a place to be ourselves. A place to not have to be forced into a society that doesn't understand us or what any of us have been through. A place to be at peace. I’m going to give Law the floor now. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to speak up.”

  “I got one,” a voice from the middle of the room said.

  “Let’s hear it,” Law answered, getting to his feet.

  “Who’s bankrolling this place. Can’t be cheap. What the hell do they get out of this? I’m not signing on to be anybody else’s anything,” the male said.

  “I am,” General Ferriday said, getting to his feet again. “I willfully donated the land as you already know. Built the buildings. Had the utilities run. And I formed the Alliance as a non profit so that it can become a working, functioning organization that can continue to be self-sufficient. The land was my family’s. The money is, too. I have no family,” he said, looking directly at Lethal. “My friends are military just like I am. Each of you has been repaid for your service with betrayal and brutality. If I can give you a chance at a life, and give you a place to be home if you have no place else to be, then I’ve achieved more in my life than I ever thought possible.”

  The man who’d asked the question gave a single nod of his head, all his suspicions alleviated.

  “Now, as we were saying, we plan to build a community here. We’d like to assemble a board of at least six males — you elect them, that would help us institute the laws we all feel would benefit us as a community. We’ll need security to help enforce these laws, and to patrol the land. That land will include all of it, not just where this community is established, but the perimeter of it as well, and that includes the General’s home and private areas. These buildings are temporary for the most part. We’ll need volunteers who’d like to join a construction team to build more permanent structures and housing. We’ll need people to work in almost any area of the community you can imagine. If you want to be a part of this, please be su
re to place your name on the list we have here,” Law said, holding up a clipboard and showing it to them before putting it back on the table. “If you’re still going by a number, please choose a name. Doesn’t matter what it is, if you like it, it’s yours. We got another list over there,” Law said, pointing to Roscoe who held up another clipboard, “we need you to let us know your names so we can get them recorded.

  We also know some of you just want to be left the hell alone. That’s fine, too. We’ve talked about allowing you to choose a place to live that isn’t in the middle of the community. Find somewhere, run it by us, as long as it’s secure, close enough that we can all protect one another if need be, and the General approves of the location, we’ll help you build if you want us to.”

  “You keep saying community. I don’t see no women here, with the exception of a very few,” one male said.

  “We don’t expect you to live here for the rest of your lives and be celibate. At some point we may hire outside people to come to the community, and we may even go to work outside the community. We will meet other people, women that may want to come live with some of us. Women will come into your lives at some point. But, the women who are here up to this point are married to the vets that volunteered to free us, volunteered to come work with us as we reacclimated to life outside of hell, or are those that were there with us,” he finished quietly. “Those that were there with us are completely off limits. Unless they show a pointed interest in one of you, stay the hell away from them. Anybody else, if she’s married, leave her alone. If anybody says no at any time, leave them alone. We aren’t in captivity anymore. We aren’t drugged anymore, and we sure as hell aren’t animals.”

  “If we don’t plan to stay?” another asked.

  “Then don’t. All we ask is that you keep your mouth shut about what happened to you, and where we are,” Law said. “But if you get in trouble out there, reach out to us, we’re coming to help.”

  “This is much larger than we ever guessed it could be,” the General said. “There are others out there, still in need of being saved. To some degree it’s known that someone is on to them, but it’s not been made public knowledge. And we don’t want it to be. As long as we believe there are more of you out there, we will continue to search. If we go public with this, the chances of finding those still missing are slim to none. We need to keep this under wraps as long as we can for their safety, and for the chance to find them and give them the chance you all have now.”

  “What if we want to help free the rest?” a very deep voice from the far right of the room asked.

  “Let us know. We’ve got several teams of volunteer veterans that continue to make runs every time there’s intel to indicate we may have located another squad. Matter of fact we’ve just been advised that one of your own squads is not interested in standing down. Instead, they’re going to continue searching for others like us. We’re in the process of approving them and putting them through protocol. If you want to do the same, let us know.”

  A very large male, tall and dark with unruly hair stood and looked around the room. “Which squad?”

  “Lethal’s squad,” General Ferriday said. “They’ve agreed to work from intel we provide and in conjunction with us, but will also be free to follow any leads they come across, provided they check in and give us an idea of where they are so we don’t end up in the same area causing both missions to fail.”

  Lethal stood and locked eyes with the male.

  “You’re One. The first One,” the male said.

  “I am,” Lethal answered.

  “I’m in,” the male said. “I have some payback to deliver. May as well sprinkle it with a little positive as I go freeing some others along the way.”

  “We got a full team,” Scorn said.

  “Never hurts to have another,” the male answered.

  “What’s your name?” Lethal asked.

  “I was Two of Squad 6. Now, I’m Feral.”

  “That’s a cool ass name,” Scorn grumbled. “Why I gotta be Scorn, I wanna name like that.”

  “Because your name fits you,” Lethal answered.

  “See me after this,” Lethal told Feral before taking his seat.

  “This board you’re forming, the laws and such. What if we don’t like a law, or a decision that is made?” another asked, getting the meeting back on track.

  “That’s why we’re going to have a board that governs us. It’s impossible for everyone to be completely happy with any rule driven society, but, it’s democratic. We’ll all vote on every decision made. You have a particular problem with any of them, come to us, we’ll work it out. We’ll have weekly community meetings, and special sessions as needed.”

  An hour later and the meeting was finally wrapping up. “Thank you all for being here. If you need anything else, or have any questions that occur to you later, come find us. If you have somebody you’d like to nominate as a board member, bring the information to… well, I don’t have an office yet, but I’ll get one,” Law said.

  “You can use mine,” the General said. “This building, that office,” he said, pointing to the second office after entering the building. “I’ll put in another one just past it for me later on.”

  “Alright, the second office right there, that’s mine. Come let me know who you want on the board. We get more than six, we’ll have an election so to speak. Any problems, that’s where you come. But basically, don’t kill anybody, don’t cause trouble, stay away from the females unless they expressly say they want your company, and we’ll be just fine. If you need something, let us know, we’ll get it. If you’re having trouble, don’t be afraid to talk to the professionals the General has brought in for us. It helps to talk to them. I go over to the clinic every single day and take advantage of my time with the psychologist there. We’ve been through some shit, people. There is no shame in asking somebody for help dealing with it.”

  “Before we call an end to this meeting, I have to ask. Does anyone remember their lives before this? Does anyone have any idea who they are, or want anyone to be contacted on your behalf?” General Ferriday asked.

  A couple of the males looked around nervously but said nothing aloud.

  “We know that you were drugged. We know that your actions were not your own. And we know that you may not wish to return to the lives you once had because each and every one of you is much changed even if you do remember anything. But if you have an idea of who you used to be, it will help us connect the dots, help us trace how you ended up where you were so that we can prosecute those who put you in those circumstances.”

  “Or kill ‘em,” Feral added a little too happily.

  “After we get the information we need from them, possibly,” the General agreed. “But, we need some of them alive. We will need proof after we’ve gotten as many free as we can so we can be sure that nothing like this ever happens again.”

  “Say we take ‘em alive, what do we do with them?” another asked.

  Law looked over at the General and Roscoe before answering. “We’re building a holding facility, a jail.”

  “I volunteer to be warden!” one of them yelled.

  “Me, too!” another shouted.

  “Anything we need to address today?” Law asked. When no one answered he summarized it all. “Great. Good start we got going. Remember to record your names, sign up for whatever job you want if you want one, go see the doctors if you haven’t already so we can get a medical record of you since we all know the drugs we were subjected with were not approved by any damn body. We may need to have a starting point if you ever develop complications. And don’t be afraid to ask for help. We’re all just doing the best we can every single day.”

  As the males got up and started filing out of the building talking amongst themselves, General Ferriday raised his voice to be heard above them all. “Lethal, if you could stay behind for a moment…”

  Lethal turned back into the meeting room and stood against the wall, w
aiting for the General to make his way to him.

  “I’ve made arrangements for your helicopter. Weapons are aboard and waiting for you. Where are you going?” General Ferriday asked.

  “Michigan,” Lethal answered.

  Roscoe and a man they hadn’t met yet walked up beside General Ferriday. “I need a flight plan before you can take off,” Roscoe said.

  “We’re flying to Michigan,” Lethal repeated, clearly not interested in giving away any other details.

  “This is Smitty. He’s agreed to be assigned as your pilot. He’ll be shuttling you to wherever you need to go,” Roscoe said. “But, before you can take off, we need a flight plan. We are getting around most regulations by registering as private corporate owned aircraft, but we still have to file flight plans,” Roscoe pressed, glaring at Lethal.

  “First, stop looking at me like that, or you will not walk out of here. Second, if I wanted you to know where we’re going, you’d know,” Lethal said, pushing off the wall and taking a step toward Roscoe.

  Roscoe lifted an eyebrow and stepped toward Lethal.

  “Brother, you do not want to do that,” Steel said, shaking his head. “Thought you’d have figured that out by now. Most of the men in here already know better.”

  “No, you do not want to do that,” General Ferriday said. “I’m well aware of the damage both of you can inflict. It’s not necessary by any means,” he said, stepping between Lethal and Roscoe.

  Feral stepped up to the group, then moved silently behind Roscoe. and winked at Lethal to let him know he’d take Roscoe out if he gave the word. He just stood there waiting.

  Lethal saw Feral step up but didn’t give any indication that he knew he was there, he didn’t want to break eye contact with Roscoe.

  “We need something to file with the FAA,” General Ferriday said to Lethal.

  Valor reached into his back pocket and pulled out several sheets of folded paper. He offered them to Lethal who took them, though he continued to stare at Roscoe.