Downtime and Death (Apocalypse Gates Author's Cut Book 5)

by Daniel Schinhofen

  “Asshole,” Becky whispered before leaning over to kiss his cheek. “Thank you for thinking of me.”

  “I always do, Gothy. I always do.”

  Chapter Twenty-five

  They did not find any people or animals when they worked their way around Moab. Alvin put them back on US-191 after Spanish Valley. “Okay, we should be good until we hit La Sal. I doubt there’ll be any trouble there, either, since only a few hundred people lived there before.”

  “Surprised we haven’t run into anything yet,” Becky said, “the idiots just outside Green River notwithstanding, of course.”

  “You did get a new rifle out of them,” Kuro said.

  “Fair enough,” Becky agreed.

  “‘Hole ‘N’ the Rock?’” Alvin said, looking at a sign. “Tourist trap?”

  “A house built into the rock. We visited it once on one of our family trips,” Becky said. “Just keep going.”

  Driving on past the tourist attraction, Alvin shook his head. The other structures that had been there had long since been razed to the ground. “Looks like there isn’t a reason to stop, anyway.”

  “Humanity,” Becky snorted.

  “My first contact with humanity was positive,” Kuro said from the backseat.

  “She’s got you there,” Alvin chuckled.

  “Point taken.”

  They passed the remains of several more destroyed buildings before taking the turn to Route 46. A couple of houses stood at the turn off, but the doors were broken open and Alvin did not feel a need to stop and investigate.

  “Couple of miles to La Sal,” Alvin said. “Mousie, get on the gun just in case, please.”

  Approaching the outskirts of the small town, the three of them were tense, wondering what they would find there. The few buildings they passed all looked to be abandoned, but not ruined. The bulk of the town was off Route 46, but Alvin did not leave the main road.

  “Maybe there were some survivors,” Becky said. “They might have been some of the additions to Green River. We never did ask before we left.”

  “Note to self; next time, ask where the new people came from,” Alvin said.

  They saw half a dozen shops as they passed through the small downtown area, all of them broken and damaged. Nothing indicated people currently in the area, so Alvin kept them rolling on down the road. They passed the last few buildings, and still nothing leapt out at them.

  “That was disappointing,” Becky sighed.

  “Do you wish me to stay up here, Hero?”

  “Come on back inside. I doubt we’ll find anything fun until we reach Paradox.”

  Dropping back inside, Kuro latched the hatch closed. “Driving through large empty spaces... we did this a lot on the way to Green River, too.”

  “That’s the American west for you,” Becky agreed. “So much open land not utilized in any way.”

  “A lodge coming up,” Alvin said, looking at a sign. “Maybe this was the hold out point for people here?”

  The Mt. Peale Inn and Lodge was dark and silent when they went by it. “If it was, they left,” Becky said.

  The radio played as they continued down the road. Alvin was starting to feel antsy at the lack of anything trying to kill them. Kuro and Becky were both getting fidgety, as well.

  “Colorful Colorado,” Becky said as they passed the state line. “Maybe this state will be more entertaining.”

  “You want something to happen,” Alvin chuckled.

  “Besides the morons, we’ve had nothing to do and I’m bored now,” Becky admitted.

  A loud roar echoed off the walls of Lion Canyon. Kuro immediately got the hatch open and manned the M240B while Becky and Alvin tried to find the source of the noise.

  “Anything?” Alvin asked.

  “No, but there is a lot of scrub and the canyon might have bounced it some,” Becky replied.

  “Gothy, to our right. Are those what you call ‘bears?’”

  Alvin and Becky looked to the right, blinking as a monstrous beast reared up beside the road a mile ahead of them. “Holy fuck,” Alvin said as he eyed the monster. “Kill it!”

  The M240B fired, but the monster dropped back down into the scrub. More roars echoed down the canyon, and more of the beasts appeared, dotting the edges of the road beyond the first one.

  “There you go. Bored now?” Alvin asked, giving the Humvee more gas.

  “Not anymore,” Becky laughed and opened her window.

  One of the beasts broke out of scrub right beside them, its paw slamming into the Humvee hard enough to push it to the side. Alvin grunted as he corrected the vehicle and kept them going. The continuous fire from the M240B finally drew out a roar of pain from the one they passed.

  “Hero, these things take an awful lot of ammo to hurt,” Kuro said.

  “Aim in front and clear a path for us as best you can,” Alvin told her.

  “That might be harder than you think,” Becky said. A few miles ahead, a dozen bears ambled onto the road, facing them. “Should have gotten a grenade launcher before they took them away.”

  “Hindsight,” Alvin said. “Okay, we’ll have to fight them until they break. I’m going to hit them. Brace for it, then do what you can to kill them.”

  The Humvee hit the two mutated brown bears leading the pack and came to an abrupt halt. Becky and Alvin were firing out their windows and Kuro switched to her handguns while the M240B reloaded. Kuro used a barrier glyph to protect herself from the teeth and claws, wishing for a moment that she could use her swords, but the barrier kept them from coming close enough.

  “Fuck,” Alvin shouted when a bear slammed its muzzle against the window. Wiping the spittle from his face, Alvin emptied the rest of the magazine from the Type 56 into its mouth. “Fucking things are possessed.”

  “Definitely more aggressive than they should be,” Becky agreed, clenching her teeth when a massive paw reached partway through the window and grazed her hand. “Look, you dumb animals, you need to fucking die, already!”

  The M240B began firing again as the Humvee rocked back. “Hero, they seem determined to get into the vehicle,” Kuro said, hunkering behind the gunner’s shielding.

  “Just do your best,” Alvin replied as he reloaded the Type 56.

  Alvin was not sure how long they were surrounded by giant angry bears, but eventually, the surviving bears broke and ran. Breathing hard, Alvin fired after them until the magazine ran empty. “You two still good?”

  “I used two glyphs,” Kuro said. “I’m fine, otherwise. We have at least three dead to loot.”

  “My gloves took a hit when the one reached in, but I’m good,” Becky added. “Damned thing did twelve damage with a single swipe.”

  “High strength... makes sense,” Alvin said. “Okay, it looks clear. Let’s loot—”

  Becky popped out of the Humvee and looted the downed mobs. She was back inside in less than five seconds. “Done.”

  “Then let’s roll,” Alvin said, getting the Turtle moving again once she was back inside. “What did you two get?”

  “A half skin and a full skin,” Kuro said.

  “A hundred pounds of bear meat,” Becky frowned. “And a couple vials of bear blood…? Weird.”

  “They were supposed to be increasing crafting mat drops,” Alvin said. “Wonder what the blood is used for?”

  “Alchemy?” Becky asked. “I can ask David via the kiosk later. His explosives are listed under alchemy.”

  “Makes sense,” Alvin agreed.

  “What about you?” Kuro asked.

  “Car, take over driving,” Alvin said and opened up his UI. “Looks like a half skin, a vial of blood, twenty pounds of bear meat, and a small packet of bear essence.”

  “That definitely sounds like an alchemy mat,” Becky said.

  “We can stash them at the base until we know what they’re used for. Maybe we’ll get a quest for them,” Alvin shrugged. “Still a good idea to ask David about alchemy outside of his explosives.” />
  “Why don’t we do that now?” Becky asked. “Take us home. We can send David the message and use the bathroom.”

  “Sure,” Alvin said, toggling the base icon. “Pitstop for ten.”

  “Welcome home,” Jarvis greeted them as they entered the kiosk room. “I can store the loot and refill your thermoses if you wish.”

  “Thanks, buddy,” Alvin said, handing over the loot he had received. “Glad we added the cabinets next to the kiosk. Makes it easier to store this stuff in a central location.”

  “Indeed, sir.”

  “I’ll be right back,” Kuro added, heading for the bedroom.

  “And done,” Becky said, stepping away from the kiosk. “David has the message. We’ll probably hear back from him tonight.”

  “Sir,” Jarvis said as he finished putting away the items Alvin had given him, “about your route. Are you sure you wish to stay on the road you’ve chosen until Placerville?”

  “It bypasses the towns. I don’t see a reason not to use it,” Alvin said.

  “It connects to those towns much like Green River was connected to I-70. Just keep that in mind,” Jarvis said as he took Becky’s items to put away.

  “You saying the roads will be filled with wrecks?” Alvin asked.

  “It is a potential hazard is all I’m saying, sir.”

  “Be right back,” Becky said, heading for their bathroom.

  “I don’t recall any trail that parallels the road.”

  “There is a trail just past Bedrock that connects to the road you plan to use past Placerville. Something to keep in mind if you find going past Paradox or Bedrock problematic, sir.”

  “I’ll keep it in mind,” Alvin said. “We’ll be heading right back out in a few minutes.”

  “Here are the items I’ve looted, Jarvis,” Kuro said when she came back to the room.

  Alvin kissed her cheek in passing as he went to make use of the facilities. Becky was coming out of the bathroom just as he reached the door. She grabbed him and kissed him hard and passionately before letting him go.

  “See you soon, Hero,” Becky laughed, leaving him blinking in surprise.

  “Damned succubus,” Alvin muttered when his brain restarted. “I just needed to use the bathroom.... now I almost need a cold shower.”

  He rejoined them in the kiosk room a couple of minutes later. Becky winked and blew him a kiss, which he pretended not to see. “Now that we’ve had our break, let’s get back on the road. I’d like to hit the San Juan National Forest before nightfall, if possible.”

  “I will have dinner ready within ten minutes of your arrival home. Be careful, sir.”

  “Will do, Jarvis.”

  “On the road again... it’s time to be on the road again. Just don’t let it be boring again, otherwise, I don’t want to be on the road again,” Becky half-sang as she headed for the Humvee.

  “The original has you beat, Gothy,” Alvin laughed.

  “I haven’t heard this song yet,” Kuro said, trailing after them.

  “We can fix that,” Becky said.

  Chapter Twenty-six

  They left the base and Alvin got them headed east along State Route 90. All three were wary, expecting another attack, but nothing else showed up as they drove along the twisty canyon road.

  “What did you find out about Paradox and Bedrock?” Becky asked.

  “Small towns, nothing of import. Paradox is set a little ways off the highway, such as it is, so we might not even see it.”

  “Hmm, probably not much there. Radio, play ‘On the Road Again,’” Becky said.

  The music kicked on a moment later. Alvin rolled his eyes at the song, but Kuro listened to it with interest. When it ended, Kuro shrugged, “I did not like or dislike it.”

  “Not a favorite,” Alvin grunted.

  “Hero, I see buildings ahead of us,” Kuro said. “The road looks… odd, as well.” She opened the gunner’s hatch and stood up so she had a better view forward.

  Alvin slowed the Humvee down when they got closer to the road that led to Paradox. A couple of buildings sat beside the road, with large mining trucks parked near them. “Huh, didn’t know there was a mine here.” Alvin slowed further and a shot rang out, pinging off the front of the Humvee. Shaking his head, he pushed the accelerator down. “Mousie, do you see them?”

  “Turn hard right, Hero!” Kuro yelled as the M240B began to fire.

  He did as she said, and his eyes widened when he finally saw the trench that had been dug through the road. “What the fuck!?” Kuro’s warning had been just enough to let him avoid driving into it.

  More gunfire ricocheted off the Humvee as Alvin drove around the trench. Kuro returned fire at the buildings and trucks, where she could make out some people in cover. When the M240B ran out of ammo, she dropped back into the Humvee while it reloaded.

  “Here we go,” Alvin said, jerking them back toward the road when he reached the end of the trench. “How many?”

  “At least six,” Kuro replied. “They stopped firing once you got past the trench.

  “We going back for them?” Becky asked, her anger palpable to them.

  “No,” Alvin said. “They’re likely dug in and ready for us to come back at them. No idea if it’s people, zombies, or something else entirely. If we come back this way, we’ll come in hot and kill them.”

  “Do you think Bedrock will be the same?” Kuro asked.

  “No idea, but we’ll jump down onto the trail roads there.”

  “Fine,” Becky grumbled.

  Getting back onto the blacktop after getting a hundred yards away from the trench, Alvin focused on the drive. “If we stop every time, we’ll never get anywhere,” Alvin said.

  “Yeah, but they fucking attacked us first,” Becky said.

  “True,” Alvin nodded and thought for a moment. “Okay. Bedrock and Paradox are connected by a few roads,” Alvin said, thinking about the map he had looked over before. “We’ll get to Bedrock in another mile or so, take a quick spin through it, then go back. Not getting into a protracted fight, though. In, kill, and get out, got it?”

  “Okay, Hero.”

  Bedrock turned out to be even smaller than Goldfield. The few buildings they passed were husks, except for the post office. It was still standing, even with a semi crashed through the front of it.

  “Someone really wanted their mail,” Becky snickered.

  “Okay, hooking back toward Paradox down the back roads. Mousie, keep your eyes peeled. We’re considering everything hostile, so fire freely.”

  “Will do, Hero.”

  “Been some time since we went all murder hobo,” Becky said. “Glad to see you haven’t gone paladin on me, Hero.”

  “If I ever become lawful stupid, you have permission to shoot me yourself.”

  “Deal,” Becky laughed. “These roads are named so oddly; 9.50 Road, X Road, 900 Road... did no one here have an imagination?”

  “Who knows?” Alvin chuckled as he kept them moving at a slow pace, trying to not kick up dust and give away their position.

  “V Road? They should have added a D to it and made it funny,” Becky sighed.

  “VD Road, where all your problems get worse,” Alvin snickered.

  “I see some buildings to the north, Hero,” Kuro interrupted them.

  “We’ll go north to start with, then,” Alvin said as he turned onto 700 Road.

  They turned onto U Road, and Alvin grinned when he saw some people clustered around a group of buildings. They froze in place for a long moment, surprised by the Humvee coming toward them, before one of them lifted a rifle and began to fire.

  Kuro returned the fire with the M240B, and Alvin increased their speed to close the distance. Gunfire pinged off the Humvee as more people appeared in the windows of the buildings and fired at them.

  “Not a very friendly welcome,” Becky laughed. “Just drive by the first building for me, Hero.”

  “Okay,” Alvin said, passing the first building. A spa
rk of flame caught his attention and Alvin resisted the urge to look at it. “What was that?”

  “TNT,” Becky laughed, an explosion punctuating her words. “It had a short fuse.”

  Alvin laughed, then cursed and jerked the wheel as something came flying at them. “Mousie, down!”

  Kuro ducked into the cab right before the improvised grenade went off. Bits of nail and metal bounced off the Humvee, not doing any real damage, but causing Alvin to upgrade his estimation of the threat these people posed.