Chapter 3: Social Tsunami

The cars were stolen, the fuel line was covered, a Firetruck was retrieved, the DealCo was secured and the group was tired. Cano and his companions, in a few short hours, had managed to not only take complete control of the DealCo and turn it into a bunker but also disguise it as ravaged and baron. Once there was report of the sound of gunshots, Cano distributed weaponry amongst the collective. Because of the high alert an agreement was made between the men, they would start on a 3 hour nap rotation until they had a greater bearing on the situation at hand.

It was a disturbing seen; all the cars fleeing the city. There was panic and madness everywhere, those on watchman duty watched the rushed exodus turn to mass bedlam through the scopes of their sniper rifles. The freeways began clogging, the streets became full. The city had finally realized what all had happened and what it meant for the future of Tucson, Arizona.

Multiple scouting missions were successfully carried out by those harboring themselves within the DealCo. The few signs of police movement showed all focus on the blast zone, there was absolutely no military presence. As dusk fell the commotion took on a new face. Looting began and lead to violence, the violence lead to fires, fires lead to riots, and eventually the riots lead to death.

With threat increasing, the group bunkered up as the last light of day reflected off the clouds above. Like a tsunami, the anarchical mindset struck without warning, pouring through the city. It was even directional, starting on the outskirts of the blast zone, expanding outward through the city. Mile after mile, street after street, it spread. It hit the freeways, downtown, and all the time it came closer and closer to the DealCo. Supermarkets fell to the hands of the masses, convenience stores, auto shops and even restaurants became targets of the mobs. When night fully fell it was only the lights of the uncontrolled fires that illuminated the ever closer activities of the masses. Everyone gathered on the roof for an emergency meeting.

“Ok guys,” Cano said. “I know we talked about this but I feel it is important to reiterate. We must only fire if fired upon or a greater threat is perceived. Some of these people will have weapons so we must be sure they are going to use them before taking a shot. Until then we need to be fucking ninjas and make sure no one knows we are here. If people get to far inside we will collectively asses the situation and solve it. Any signs of fire being used for malicious purposes are grounds for execution, silent if possible. Agreed? Anything I missed?”

“No,” Matt said while looking out over the burning city. “With the look of things I feel most of what we see tonight will be violent, it won’t be until this energy dissipates that those in real need will stumble upon our ground.”

“What then?” Brent asked. “Why have we never discussed that?”

“Yea,” Cole chimed in. “In the countless times we have gone over the Apocalypse Scenario we have never talked about that.”

“Discussed what? Talked about what? ” Cano asked.

“About those who need help,” Brad said. “Our fellow citizens of Tucson, the unarmed helpless and hungry ones. Are we just going to turn everyone away, or only some? How will we deal with them? We have completely bunkered ourselves in here, we are ready for anything and everything they throw at us. Are we just going to hoard all of this for ourselves? Who will we take in with us? Who will we help? Where do we go from here?”

“Well we can’t spread ourselves thin,” Eric remarked. “How can we know we can even trust any of them? Don’t you think there are other groups of friends out there, like us, doing what we are doing?”

“Possibly,” Cano said. “But none of that is the issue because none of that has been sh…”

“Look!” Ian loudly interrupted. “Right now it isn’t our move. It’s theirs and we need to be ready for it. Everything you guys are saying is valid but it isn’t a priority right now because it isn’t happening right now. We will take that case by case later and it can involve group discussions when that happens. Until then and for now we stay how we are to remain alert and ready. If push comes to shove, anyone threatening what we have needs to be eliminated.”

“He’s totally right,” Cole said. “We will deal with the peaceful when they come, for now it’s the violent we will have to deal with.”

“How close is it?” Cano asked Matt as he picked up binoculars looking out over the city.

“Less than 2 miles now,” Matt responded. “I just saw a man get shot over a cart full of goods coming out of that supermarket. Tell you what, if I see a mother fucker do that in range of the Barrett here, I’m takin’ him down.”

“I agree with that,” Brad said easily. “Have you seen any signs of takeovers, or just looting and arson?”

“It looks like the Indian brothers that own that gas station convenience store down the street are armed on the roof,” Matt said. “Other than that I haven’t seen anything, but I’m sure it’s happening. More cars are coming by these roads, people will be here soon.”

“Ok,” Cano said. “I feel we have a good understanding of what to do and expect. Let’s get to our stations, rest for now but be ready for our watchmen to alert us of movement.”

“Sounds good,” Eric said. “I can’t wait to get a nap in.”

“You can nap,” Cano sternly stated. “But if you don’t get up the second we need you I’ll shove my boot up your ass!”

“Point taken,” Eric responded, grabbing his butt while they walked toward the hatch.

As everyone proceeded to their points of interest, Ian met Cano in the security room.

“I got a question for you,” Ian said as he closed the door behind him.

“Sure. What’s up?” Cano asked.

“What happens when they come? The unarmed, what we were talking about on the roof?”

“Ha!” Cano snidely laughed. “When you interrupted me? Now you want to know?”

“Just answer me.”

“Fine. It’s not a problem because none of it has been shown in my dreams, it’s only been violence. Hence the sniper and assault rifles, the fucking 50 cal, the security systems and complete armament of this complex.”

“I knew it and I’m glad I interrupted you.”

“What? Why?”

“Because we can’t just base everything off dreams, they can’t just be the absolute. For the group to survive, we need to take these things in stride.”

“Shouldn’t we be open and honest with them? Shouldn’t we tell them how I knew this would happen, now how it’s happening to you too? What if it’s happening to them too?”

“We shouldn’t be open and honest yet and I don’t believe it’s happening to them because I don’t believe any of us have gotten enough sleep, I am impressed that we are still functioning though. Anyway, the truth of the matter is if we base everything on the dreams now they may want to fray, but if we just stick it out, hold firm as leaders and direct them. Then, and only then, once their total trust is earned, can we explain the strange events going on behind the scenes.”

“But to me it’s obvious that this is happening to more that just us. I mean what Matt told me earlier today about the air-conditioner. Come on man!”

“Agreed, but it still shouldn’t be complete and total group knowledge. We need to keep it on the down low. Sure ask Matt if he’s had any more, ‘crazy dreams’ or whatever but make sure it’s just Matt, for now, or anyone else who brings it up with you. If anyone brings it up with me I’ll tell you and you do the same.”

“I see where you’re going with this. I like it and I believe I agree with you.”

“Tell me again what the dreams were that lead to you to that conclusion.”

“Ok, well the only two that encompass this time period would be the one before hand where I was shown the DealCo. The other started here after what looked to be a battle. We were packing, leaving.”

“Who all is ‘we’? Who were you with?”

“You, Brent, Brad, Topher and Eric were all there, I didn’t see Matt nor Cole though."

“Me? What was I doing?”

“You were climbing up through the hatch.”

“In my dreams, the one about group connectivity, it spanned different events through stay here, one being a flash from when we were on the roof, when I stopped you from talking.”

“No way! What else?”

“Well check this out. In mine I was standing upon that ladder, half way through the hatch and I saw Matt and Cole but they were with someone else. A female, she was talking to someone else to but I couldn’t see who. It was very rapid.”

“That’s ridiculous! So do they like sync up or some thing? Maybe we should talk to everyone else, see if we can figure out more of the story.”

“No! Not yet! Just trust me on this one ok?”

“Ok, you’re right. I do trust you and will continue to; I also want to thank you for interrupting me.”

“Any time,” Ian said as he laughed.

“Asshole,” Cano remarked sarcastically.

A knock came at the door. “What the fuck are you two doin’ in there?” Brent asked jokingly. “I know it’s the end of the world but there’s still ladies out there guys, come on!”

“Hey!” Ian said loudly as he opened the door. “Fuck you, asshole! We were discussing important business.”

“Oh yea?” Brent asked. “Like what?”

“Like,” Cano jumped in the conversation. “What to do if a threatening party comes and they have children with them.”

“Dude, like you said,” Brent said as he looked and pointed at Ian. “We can worry about that we have to, right now we need to deal with the issues at hand and right now I’m fuckin’ hungry.”

“For sure,” Ian replied. “Me too! Cano, you stay here and watch those boring ass monitors, I’m going to make some dinner for us, let’s cook some stake and salmon!”

“Awesome.” Cano said as he swiveled his chair around to face the screens. “I’ll take a steak, mid rare please. Make a side too, like mash potatoes or something.”

“Good call,” Ian said walking out the door Ian radioed to everyone, “Hey guys, I’m gonna’ barbecue! How do you all like your steak or salmon cooked?”

Everyone radioed in their desired meals and Ian got cooking. It was midway through his barbecuing that Coles voice crackled over the radio, “Incoming! Incoming! Everyone up and at ‘em! Cano do you have a visual?”

“Not yet, what direction?” Cano responded through the headset.

“South entrance,” Cole quickly responded, “The one to the East!”

“Got ‘em!” Cano said. “There’re comin’ up fast! Be ready guys! Eric you better be awake!”

“I’m up, I’m up!” Eric radioed in, muting his mike as he yawned.

“Fuck man, this has to happen right before dinner?” Topher asked.

“Better than during,” Matt responded.

“Speak for yourself,” Ian said, trying to finish as fast as possible. “So should I like, try to keep these warm?”

“Just hold tight and be ready,” Cano said. “They are parking. I see weapons.”

The truck came to a stop out side the front entrance, its’ headlights pointing toward the hole the vehicle Brad crashed through the garage door earlier.

“Everyone!” Cano said sternly in a quieter voice. “This is show time. Remember, as silent as possible, I’ll be your eyes.”

Cano watched through the monitors as three men jumped out of the large pickup truck. Cole and Matt kept a close eye on them from up on the roof, both through the scopes of their guns.

“What the hell happened here?” One of the men said, he had a shot gun in his hand.

“The same shit that’s been happening all over town man, open your eyes!” Another responded, armed with pistols and a flashlight.

“Yes!” Cole said over the radio in a whisper. “It’s totally working, we are good so far.”

“It’s not over yet,” Cano said. “They are about to enter. I hope you’re all ready!”

The men walked through the hole and up to the crashed vehicle. One put his hand on the hood commenting to the other that it was cold. The third was a bit more nervous it seemed, he held back a little, firmly gripping his AK-47 and looking behind them over and over again. The man with the shotgun turned the flashlight that was mounted to the barrel on, they pointed their lights within the store, seeing clutter and disarray.

“Wow, this is bad man,” The nervous guy said. “What are we going to do? What are we going to eat?”

“Calm down man, we have some previsions stocked up, it’s no big deal.” The one with the shotgun tried to calm him down, it didn’t work very well. “Why the fuck are you so scared anyway?”

“No big deal!” The nervous guy yelled. “Did you see the fucking murdered people in the streets, the bodies just laying there man, getting trampled. This is fucking madness! We are all so fucked. Every place we’ve been too has just gotten worse and worse. It’s like we were the last, left mere scraps to survive. There’s nothing in here man. I don’t fuckin’ need a years worth of shaving cream, I need food!”

“They seem tired and distraught,” Cano said softly over the radio. “They may leave before they venture into…”

Cano was cut off mid sentence by the guy with the flashlight and pistols who yelled over the nervous guy, “Shut the fuck up man, I wanna’ see what we can grab.”

“Well fuck,” Cano said. “Never mind that. In they go.”

The men started walking through the overly cluttered floors, unknowingly following the path set up by the group just hours before. As they walked through the little maze they were only able to find broken cell phone displays, huge bags of diapers, vacuums and other unnecessary items. They walked around for a good ten minutes, looking through the piles of stuff that littered the floor.

“Well,” the man with the shotgun said. “Maybe he’s right. This place is so dark and cluttered. I mean it’s a huge place so I’m sure there is something in here we could use, we just need more light and time, I’m sure it’s not safe here. But then again, I don’t think it is safe anywhere.”

“Ya know,” the man with the pistols responded. “I think you are right. Let’s come back tomorrow with the van and see what we can find.”

“Great idea,” the nervous guy said as he walked back toward the entrance. “See ya at the truck.”

The other two started following him, while they were walking out one of them said, “Let’s see if we can’t pry open the fuel tank hatches and get some fuel.”

“Oh shit!” Brent whispered sitting on the far end of the cat walk with his sound amplifying dished microphone and earphones on. “You hear that?”

“Naw man,” Cano replied. “What? What did they say?”

“They want to get gas.” Bred said.

“Oh fuck,” Cano said. “If they go over there they could see the fuel line.”

“We really need a fuel truck,” Ian whispered. “Steaks are gonna’ be a little well done, sorry guys.”

“We could scare ‘em off,” Cole said.

“Man I wanted mine rare,” Eric said softly.

“Explain,” Cano responded to Cole, ignoring Ian and Eric’s comments.

“Well the nervous one got in the driver seat,” Cole said. “Let me lay off a few rounds with the AR at ‘em.”

“I like it,” Brad said. “It should do the trick.”

“Agreed,” Ian said. “Then we can eat too.”

“Yea do it,” Topher chimed in.

“Fine,” Cano finally agreed. “Don’t disable the vehicle or hit any of them though.”

“Done.” Cole said, already having the assault rifle in his arms and aimed at the pickup.

Cole took three shots at the truck hitting it in the side of the bed, the tail light and bumper. The loud bang of the first shot was enough to send tires screeching, the last two really increased the men’s urgency to evacuate without stopping for gas.

“Oh man!” Matt yelled as the men flew out of the parking lot, “That worked perfectly.”

“Sweet,” Ian radioed in. “Now get your asses down here and eat, fuck those dudes for ruining our dinner.”

“Agreed,” Cano said as he jumped out of his seat and ran over to Ian.

The rest of the group did the same, except for Cole who somehow managed to get stuck on the roof watching for incomings again. Matt did bring him his diner, but it wasn’t until Matt was completely done eating which involved the breaking out of cookies and milk.

Chapter 2: Building a Nest - Chapter 4: Dawning Threats