Matt says, “Ryan give me a hand. Let’s get this vehicle charger out of my truck and put it in Bobby G’s garage.”
Bobby G says, “Let me move my SUV out of the garage.”
Bobby G runs into his house and gets his SUV keys.
I help Matt get the heavy electric vehicle charger out of the truck bed.
“You really going to talk with Jacob?” asks Matt.
“Yeah, I have to. Channelside can help us.”
“They are the type of people who think they are above everyone else though. They are the rich snobs that don’t fly coach and think their shit don’t sink,” says Matt.
Phil grabs the cooler with the fish in it and takes it into my house.
Bobby G comes out with his SUV keys and moves his SUV out of his garage.
Matt and I carry the heavy vehicle electric charger into Bobby G’s garage and hook it up.
“Glad we got some solar panels for Bobby G’s house. Not sure how we could power this bad boy without the solar panels,” says Matt.
“Me too. We need to eventually get every house in here on solar power.”
“You just be careful with Jacob and Channelside. Those people aren’t worth dying for. Brad and Eric are cool guys but the people of Channelside don’t care about you and us. They only care about themselves,” says Matt.
“You are right Matt, but I have to try to help them with Jacob. At least find out what Jacob is up to with Channelside.”
Bobby G, Matt, Phil, and I unload the tons of awesome stuff we got from Davis Island.
“How much you think this pasta maker costs?” asks Phil.
“I don’t know. Those things can be a pretty penny,” says Bobby G.
Phil and Matt take some stuff into Matt’s house.
Bobby G and I walk over to Shaun’s house.
Jon and Shaun are finishing up unloading their vehicles.
Jon is charging his electric car in Shaun’s garage.
“I’m glad you are going to talk with Jacob about Channelside,” says Jon.
“I know you are Jon. I know you want me to work things out with Jacob and Channelside.”
“You are going to talk with Jacob, right?” asks Jon.
“Yeah. I wasn’t lying to Brad and Eric. I’m a man of my word. You should know that about me, Jon.”
Jon says, “I know. Just wanted to make sure. I know you are a man of integrity and trust.”
Shaun asks, “Did you see some of the things those rich people had in their homes? Some of those homes were tacky as hell.”
“Having money doesn’t mean having good taste,” says Bobby G.
“Those homes were pretty sweet though. DJ’s house was pretty awesome. Everything was marble. I can’t wait to see the homes on Bayshore Boulevard.”
“Why? What’s Bayshore Boulevard?” asks Shaun.
“Bayshore Boulevard is a road that is right on the bay. Each home is a couple million dollars easily. Bayshore is where they have Gasparilla. I took you guys there one year.”
“Oh yeah. Gasparilla was fun. Tons of beads, beer, and boobs,” says Shaun.
We finish unloading the vehicles and go into our homes.
Jon drives his new electric car to his home.
Phil drives his SUV into the driveway of his house.
Shaun connects his electric truck to the vehicle charger in his garage.
Matt and Kylie sit on the sofa.
Matt puts his hand on Kylie’s stomach.
Kylie and Matt both smile at each other.
I walk into my house.
Milo greets me and rubs against my left leg.
Callie is drinking water from her bowl in the kitchen.
Lauren is singing in our master bathroom.
I take off my shoes and place them on the mat next to my front door.
I lock my front door.
I bend down and pet Milo on his head.
I walk into the kitchen and see Callie drinking water from her bowl.
Callie meows at me.
“Hey Ya-Ya,” I say to Callie.
I open my refrigerator and grab a flavored electrolyte beverage.
I drink the entire 32-ounce bottle.
I’m dehydrated from working outside on Davis Island and unloading the vehicles.
I walk into my master bedroom.
Lauren hears me come in and stops singing.
“Hey honey,” says Lauren as she pokes her head out of the master bathroom.
“You almost done in there? I want to take a shower,” I say to Lauren as I take off my shirt.
“Take it off!” shouts Lauren.
I smile at Lauren’s comment.
Lauren says, “I’ll be right out.”
Lauren finishes up in the bathroom and walks over to me.
“How did it go? Did you miss me and my bow skills?” asks Lauren.
“It went well. I always miss the skills of my wife when we go out.”
Lauren asks, “Get anything good?”
“Yeah actually. We got four electric vehicles. Tons of supplies and stuff from the homes on Davis Island and we got fish from Brad.”
“Fish! Yuck! I need some chicken,” says Lauren.
“I’m still working on the chicken, but you’ll have to try some fish. We need more protein in our diet.”
“I’ll try some, but I think we get some good protein from the food we have around here,” says Lauren.
I kiss Lauren and go into the bathroom.
I turn on the shower and let it warm up.
I look in the mirror at my beard and long hair.
“I’ll need you to cut my hair later! I look pretty terrible right now!”
Lauren replies, “I can do it after your shower, if you want!”
“Sounds good!”
I grab my electric razor and trim my beard. I haven’t shaved in several weeks, and my beard has started to get overgrown and itchy.
I finish up shaving and jump in the shower.
As I’m showering, I think about the recent days and what we have been able to accomplish. I’m happy that everyone is safe, and our neighborhood is doing well.
I’m usually an optimistic person with a strong sense of reality.
Life isn’t always good and bad. Life is all about ups and downs, peaks and valleys, highs and lows.
I feel that we are in a high right now, and it probably won’t last. I just hope that the low point doesn’t cancel out the highs that we are currently having.
A satellite phone rings.
RING! RING!
“Sir, you have a call from General Godfrey,” says Rebecca to Rich through the phone intercom.
“Thank you, Rebecca,” says Rich.
Rich takes a deep breath and picks up the phone.
Rich hits the line one button on the phone and asks, “General Godfrey, what can I help you with?”
General Godfrey says, “Captain Bailey, I have some new orders for you. We will be sending you several new groups and teams of military personnel.”
“What are the new orders?” asks Rich.
“We are starting a new project. The first of its kind,” says General Godfrey.
“Great. What is the project? What are the details?” asks Rich.
General Godfrey replies, “It’s project Weaponize. I will have a large C130 come to MacDill with the staff needed to implement the new orders and start the project.”
“What is project Weaponize?” asks Rich.
“All the details will be explained when my people get there,” says General Godfrey.
“When will they be leaving for MacDill?” asks Rich.
“They already left. They should be coming your way shortly,” says General Godfrey.
“Yes sir. Thank you, sir. I won’t let you down,” says Rich.
General Godfrey says, “I hope not Captain. The world is counting on this new project. The world is falling apart. We have suffered heavy losses in the U.S., and overseas.”
Rich repli
es, “I’m sorry to hear that. We are losing the battle against the dead?”
“We are losing, but it’s not over yet. We have some plans in motion and it starts with the project coming your way. Project Weaponize is a new order. It was just developed by our scientists and doctors in D.C.,” says General Godfrey.
“Will we be seeing you soon General?” asks Rich.
“No, not anytime soon, but I will eventually make my way to Tampa Bay with my team,” says General Godfrey.
“I look forward to the new project and the new orders. Thank you for choosing MacDill for the project,” says Rich.
“Didn’t have any choice. We don’t have many military bases still standing on the East coast. We have some in Texas and on the West Coast, but MacDill is the best option we have on the East Coast of the U.S.,” says General Godfrey.
“Well, again General, I won’t let you down. Whatever your group needs for the project, they will have,” says Rich.
General Godfrey replies, “Thank you, Captain. I will be in touch with you over the next couple of days. Good luck with project Weaponize. You are going to need it.”
TO BE CONTINUED…
Fight 4 Us (Book 6): Keeper Page 18