Cedric sat down with his stew and ate while he listened. Apparently, this meeting had been going on for a while because most everyone knew what was already needed. Cedric was fine with that—he hated these kinds of meetings. Though, he did have to admit to himself that they were better now that Ben wasn’t a part of them.
“Alright,” Cedric said once he’d heard most of everything. “So, our main challenge is the vehicle situation. We can’t let the cage roller or the Jeep go. We have to have those to survive here. That’s our only two armored vehicles.”
“Pretty much,” Eric said. “You’ve missed all the fun debates about that front.” Eric grimaced to show his enthusiasm.
“Yeah,” Cedric said. “That’s not really a problem. I’ll go to Qualls. I think we can work something out.”
“Oh, gee. Why didn’t we think of that?” Garcia said dryly.
“We will not rely on the FRA for help,” Sue said.
“No,” Cedric replied. “Not help. I plan on taking Master Gunnery Sergeant William Pearson.”
“Oh, gee. Why didn’t we think of that?” Garcia said in the same monotone as before.
“If this Qualls man really was a colonel in the Marines, he would outrank me. I cannot order him to do anything,” Pearson said.
“Do you have any way to contact DC?” Cedric asked.
“Long-range coms were destroyed in the crash,” Warner said.
Eric looked at Pearson for the briefest of moments before making his mind up. He stood, despite his broken ankle. “Semper Fi.”
Pearson nodded in understanding, though the message seemed cryptic to those without military training.
The rest of the gathered council members didn’t understand the exchange that took place, but they knew something had happened.
“We’ll go talk to Colonel Qualls,” Pearson said.
Cedric turned to Eric with an unspoken question.
“Yeah,” Eric said. “I was waiting on my department head to make his decision before I voiced mine.”
“But I don’t understand what just happened,” Ron said.
“Semper Fidelis is the motto of the Marine Corps,” Pearson explained. “It means always faithful. If Colonel Qualls truly is a colonel, then he will have this down to his core.”
“Let’s find out,” Eric said. “Sorry, Sue. With our department head backing this plan, it’s a majority.”
“We will see what we can get from them and meet back here after dinner,” Cedric said.
“Agreed,” Sue said as she ended the meeting.
Since Eric was laid up with a broken ankle, he stayed behind while the rest of the Nighthawks escorted three of the military personnel to the headquarters of the FRA.
Sue had originally wanted all of the soldiers to go, but Pearson explained very simply that some needed to stay behind to complete the mission should this excursion ‘go south.’ Charlie died laughing when the euphemism had to be explained to Ron since the FRA’s base was north of them.
“So, Cedric, what’s the full story with these guys?” Stewart asked while they rode in the back of the cage roller. She was the staff sergeant chosen to go on the excursion. Cedric could see she had the military look, her hair pulled into a tight bun, and a muscular build.
“Other than the Colonel, I don’t think any of them have any military training,” Cedric said. “Honestly, it’s a bunch of rednecks with a pension for being jerks.”
“Yeah, but you don’t have any military training either,” Stewart retorted.
“No, no I don’t,” he agreed. “But I also don’t claim military titles and act like I’m better than anyone else. I didn’t want this position and still don’t”
“I agree with you there,” Bennet chimed in. “You don’t need the position and don’t think I’ll be taking orders from you, either.”
“PFC Bennett,” Stewart said, “You’re out of line.”
“What have you guys been doing the past seven months?” Steph asked trying to change the subject.
Stewart played with the small toggle switch on her rifle flicking the laser on and off for a minute before answering. “We’ve pretty much been locked up in a compound going through drills and training. Patrol the compound, check for threats, and maintenance.”
“So,” Steph said looking at Bennet, “you’re telling me you don’t have any real experience fighting the infected?”
“I’ve taken down a few,” Bennet said defensively. He pulled a large knife from his belt and said, “I’ve even taken one down in close quarters with this.”
Steph stifled a smirk as she turned to Cedric, “Hear that boss? He’s even taken one down in close quarters with a knife.”
“Steph,” Cedric said.
She lowered her head to hide her laughter.
“Listen, Bennet,” Cedric said. He was about to explain what a hoard was really like when he realized he didn’t have to.
The cage roller began to slow causing the Jeep behind them to stop. Cedric stood up and peered out.
“Steph, we’ve got about a dozen,” Cedric said sliding out of the tailgate into the road. Steph slammed the tailgate closed behind her as Cedric ordered the soldiers, “Stay in here. You’ve no experience at this. No gunfire.”
Cedric pulled his pipes from his belt as Steph grabbed her machete. “I’ve got point,” Steph said as she walked around Cedric to the front.
Cedric nodded and fell behind Steph slightly to her left, “On at seven,” he replied.
Cedric watched the skin tones carefully. Among the group, there was one whose skin was slightly wrong. It wasn’t the full-blown green of the long infected, but rather a yellow-mottled tone like the man had a liver disease.
“Careful at your two,” Cedric said. Steph nodded in comprehension.
Within a few seconds, they had closed the fifty-foot gap.
Steph immediately lunged forward and brought her machete down at an angle. It sliced the top of a woman’s head off and she fell. She followed through with a quick jab into the next closest man.
When she pulled back on her handle, it was stuck. The weight of the man pulled it to the ground with him as he fell. Out of instinct, she released the handle so she wouldn’t be brought down with it. Instead, she drew her own steel pipes—a weapon she always hated to use.
Before she could engage another infected, Cedric blew past her like a whirlwind. She turned to see he’d already taken out seven of the infected. As she watched, he busted the kneecap of the yellow-tinged man and slammed his left-hand pipe into its mouth. It bit so hard on the pipe its teeth began to shatter under the pressure.
Without wasting a second, Steph stepped in and bashed it across the temple. He crashed to the ground. The remaining two infected were easy work. Cedric slid his pipes back into their sheaths and kicked out hard. The infected woman he was aiming at tumbled backward.
He grabbed her by the hair and slammed her head into the pavement. When he turned around, he could see Steph had decided to use her knife on her last kill. She was carefully removing the blade from the temple of the infected man.
Cedric turned to see Bennet and Stewart watching them over the top of the truck cab. “Come on down and help clear the road!” Cedric shouted at them.
When they arrived at the scene, Steph held her knife up to show Bennet. “I even killed one in close quarters with this,” she said with a smirk.
Cedric tried, but he couldn’t help it. He began to laugh. Stewart, knowing that Bennet deserved it, joined in the laughter too. Bennet, on the other hand, just vomited.
“What the Hell, man?” Steph asked.
Bennet just covered his mouth and pointed at the pile of brains he’d just stepped in. Steph grimaced but didn’t say anything.
After the bodies were dragged to the side of the road, they loaded back into the bed of the cage roller and returned to their excursion.
“You know,” Cedric said, “before November, we would have been there by now. It was a fifteen-minute driv
e. Now, it’s nearly an hour.”
“What changed?” Stewart asked.
“I blew up a bridge,” Steph remarked like it was an offhand comment.
Stewart looked at Steph again appraising her. “Just, like casually? Or what?”
“Like we said before,” Cedric answered. “We’ve fought these guys in the past. We didn’t have a choice. They were coming for us. We blew up the bridge to stop the fighting.”
“Did it work?” Stewart asked.
“Not really,” Cedric said. “When we get back, talk to Doc about getting a copy of our history book. It did take a bit more fighting after the bridge incident to work out our issues.”
“The book that the guy read from last night?” She asked.
Cedric nodded.
“I’ll do that,” Stewart said. “Sounds interesting.”
For the remainder of the ride, Steph, Stewart, and Cedric all talked about their lives before the infection. Bennet, for the most part, remained silent.
Twenty minutes after the roadblock, they arrived. Cedric stepped out from the vehicle and whistled appreciatively. “This looks different,” he said to Eric when he’d climbed out of the driver’s seat.
“I must agree,” Collins said. “Definite upgrade to security. And I wonder where they got a big radio antenna.”
“Library,” Cedric said. “They used to have an emergency transmitter out back. I guess they’re using it now.”
The crew stood in front of their vehicles and waited.
“So,” Stewart asked, “why are we so far from the gates?”
“The treaty says we have to be,” Collins answered.
“Is there a copy of that I can read, too?” she asked.
“Do you plan on staying?” Collins asked smirking.
“I might,” she said.
“Quiet,” Pearson said. “I see movement.”
Sure enough, the gates were sliding open. A fully armored Hummer drove out of the gate. The difference between the Hummer armor and the cage roller was that the Hummer had military grade, professionally done armor. It came to a stop halfway between the gate and Cedric’s group.
“Collins, Pearson, you’re with me,” Cedric said handing his guns to Steph. After a few quick directions for Pearson to do the same, they began to walk the distance.
“Now, now!” Colonel Qualls shouted when the group was nearly at the Hummer. “You are only supposed to bring two from your group!”
“This guy isn’t part of my group,” Cedric shouted back. “We need to talk.”
Qualls deliberated for a moment before waving them on. “I trust ya, kid,” he shouted.
When Cedric got closer, he saw who was with the Colonel. “Colonel Qualls, Corporal Davis,” Cedric said nodding to each.
“Actually, its Sergeant Davis now,” Davis said.
“Oh, good lord,” Collins mumbled.
Qualls ignored the minor insult Collins’ expression was making and instead addressed Cedric, “I hear from Davis that we had some issues yesterday. I have dealt with Miller. We’ve no room for this behavior anymore.”
“I’m not here about that,” Cedric said. “This is about something else—someone else.” Cedric pointed at Pearson. “We need to talk about some things. And, really, it would be best if we could do this in your office.”
Qualls chuckled to himself. “Invite yourself on in, why don’t you.” He paused and looked at the expression on Cedric’s face. “Have you considered my offer?”
“My answer hasn’t changed,” Cedric said.
“Well, what have we got to talk about then?” Qualls asked. “You’re not my advisor. You’re not a part of this group. You could be both, you know.”
Cedric ignored this and instead said, “Sir, we really need to discuss why he’s here.”
Qualls pulled a small cigarette box from his front pocket. “You know, I always hated cigarettes,” he said through one side of his mouth as he stuck a cigar in the other side. He slowly took the time to light his plastic lighter and inhale a few puffs of smoke. “But, I came to a realization. Cigars are now a limited quantity. So, I’m conserving my last few boxes. I have one on special occasions.”
“What’s your point?” Collins asked.
“Everything is limited these days,” the colonel said through a cloud of cheap smoke. “You’re not here to talk about Miller. You’ve brought a…” he paused studying the insignia on Pearson’s uniform. “A sergeant major?” he guessed.
Pearson squinted in slight confusion for a moment. “Master Gunnery Sergeant, sir,” he said. “What branch did you serve under?”
“United States Army,” Colonel Qualls said. “And, I’m a few years out of practice.”
“Army, huh?” Pearson asked. “This we’ll defend, correct?”
“Like I said, it was a long time ago,” Qualls said.
“This country. This is what you swore to defend. When did it offer time restraints, sir?” Pearson persisted. “We just need a few minutes of your time to let you know what’s happening. Then, if you do not want to help, we leave and you never see me again. Are we good?”
“Get in,” Qualls said walking back to the Hummer.
The others all followed and climbed in with him.
Cedric pulled a Hummer to the main gate of the headquarters and was greeted by the familiar face of Garcia.
“Dang, son,” she said as she admired the vehicle. “Even when you called on the CB, I still didn’t think you would get anything.”
“Not a bad trade,” Cedric said as Garcia climbed in the backseat. “Two Humvees for a little medicine, cigars when we find them, and the Marines take Davis with them.”
“Yeah,” Garcia said. “Not thrilled about that last part, but it is what it is. At least he’s only stopping in for a bit until they leave.”
“No,” Cedric said. “He’s in the other Hummer. He’s staying with us until he leaves. The colonel wanted to add a little support. And honestly, I think the colonel wanted Davis away from his daughter. Apparently, they’re an item these days.”
“Poor kid,” Steph said from the shotgun seat. “Never date the boss’s daughter. That’s asking for trouble.”
“You speakin’ from experience, Chica?” Garcia asked teasingly.
“No, I’m smarter than that,” she laughed.
Garcia chuckled for a moment before she changed the subject entirely. “By the way, Cedric. I’m supposed to tell you to see Eric as soon as possible. You’ve got a mission that has to be done tonight.”
Cedric raised his arm to look at his watch. “It’s already five thirty. What’s the mission?”
“My brother said that Ron is going to try to repair the long-range comms from the helicopters,” Garcia said.
“Okay,” Cedric said. “So, what? Does he need parts or something?”
“You could say that,” Garcia said as the Hummer pulled to a stop at the bay doors. “He needs the radios.”
“And let me guess,” Steph said dryly. “They are still in the choppers?”
“And a prize goes to the pretty blonde girl,” Garcia said as she hopped out of the back seat and went back to patrol.
Chapter Eight:
THOSE WHO CREATE
Cedric tapped his steel pipe on the new tire covers welded to the armor of the cage roller. “I guess we never really planned on bullets for the tires,” he said. “Looks kind of funny, doesn’t it?”
“We had to make the covers bubbles on the front so the tires could still turn,” Charlie answered as Cedric inspected them.
Cedric slid his pipe back into its holster before he climbed into the driver’s seat. He turned the key to the on position and waited for the glowplugs to heat up in the engine. While he waited, he closed his eyes and thought to himself. Fifteen minutes to the site. Fifteen minutes there. Fifteen minutes back. I should be home in time to tell Karli goodnight.
Twenty minutes later, the cage roller was off the road and barreling into a field. Cedric drove the tru
ck as fast as he could control it at the first turret housing. The bullets all pinged as they ricocheted off the metal shielding of the truck.
The front of the cage roller plowed through the small tool shed and Cedric slammed on the brakes. He put the truck in reverse and slowly backed out. Cedric waited for the dust to settle. Then, he held up his left hand and slowly motioned for Steph to get out.
She obeyed the order. Steph walked slowly to the pile of metal laying in the mound of crushed wood. She bent and clipped the wires leading to the turret. Before she could stand back up, Warner was by her side lifting the gun control box. Together, they carried it to the bed of the truck. Unlike last time, Cedric did not want to leave the power source behind.
While Steph and Warner were getting the turret, he had climbed to the roof of the truck and began to remove the solar panel from the telephone pole it was bolted to. It took him longer than he wanted to spend on it, but he finally busted the bolts out with a crowbar.
This was not part of the plan, Cedric thought to himself as he glanced at his watch.
Right as he was about to pull out of the garage, Ron had come running full speed to his door. “Get me as many turrets as you can,” he’d told Cedric. “I need the computers they used. Very state of the art.”
“Cedric,” Steph said once he’d climbed back into his seat, “maybe we shouldn’t crush the next one.”
Cedric just looked in the rearview mirror at Warner who merely shrugged his indifference. He was sitting in the cramped back seats where the extra weapon storage normally stayed. They’d removed the large wooden box to give Airman Warner a seat so he would be less likely to take a bullet.
Cedric did take Steph’s advice on the next turret though. He’d driven slowly to it, parked, and they carefully retrieved the turret system and solar panel without any mess. They repeated this process on every turret that fired at them for the next three miles until they reached the crash site.
“How long will it take?” Cedric asked as Warner and Steph climbed out.
“Hard to say,” the airman told him. “At least ten minutes per radio. No more than an hour total.” Warner grabbed his toolbox from the floorboard and shut his door.
The Living Saga (Book 2): Enduring Page 9