Chapter 6: Slipping Away

Hours passed as they waited anxiously for the KTP to move back toward a central base. Helicopters flew overhead, shining their lights down on the tent structure on the roof, the parking lot and all around the city. Tanks drove by at first, troops were constantly heard moving around. There was gun and tank fire throughout the night. All the while some napped while others quietly talked over their exodus and what must be done prior.

“I’m telling you,” Eric said. “If we pack everything up now we can leave right as we get the fuel Truck.”

“But,” Cano interjected. “If it’s empty…”

“It doesn’t matter,” Ian interrupted. “We have no chance of reconnecting that fuel line here.”

“See,” Eric said. “We can fill it later, right? We just need the Truck itself now.”

“Good point,” Cano said. “If we are ready before we get the Truck we can leave as we get it.”

“Yes,” Brad said. “Grab some gas on the way, we don’t really need it full immediately anyway.”

“Aren’t we planning on coming back for the refrigeration units anyway?” Topher asked. “We can just get gas then, or hell, get it from somewhere less crowded with enemies.

“So,” Cano interjected. “Speaking about refrigeration units, what are we going to do with all the perishable food?”

“I think we leave it,” Ian said.

“What?” Cano asked. “Why? That’s crazy. That means that everything we’ve done here was for nothing.”

“No it doesn’t,” Eric responded. “We are coming back for the refrigeration units remember; we did detach them for easy retrieval. Everything is packed in the two main ones as tight as possible, it’s only going to take a generator or two to power it and keep it frozen. If we leave the big boy here it’s got a large enough tank to last like 60 hours or something.”

“Then we’ll have more room in the truck too for more supplies,” Ian said.

“We can make a trip back no problem I feel,” Topher said. “We need to leave now. If the food can stay then let it stay.”

“He’s right,” Cano said. “You’re all right. I just feel like those people died for nothing if we don’t keep the food.”

“Your logic is hazed with emotion,” Brent said. “These people brought it upon themselves, shooting at each other. They became a threat to us by making lots of noise, possibly alerting the enemy of our position and endangering our lives by having a firefight right next to me. What they got they had coming.”

“You know,” Ian said. “They are really going to protect the food for us. No one wants to go in there; no one wants to deal with that mess. The Koreans probably don’t give a fuck about it and everyone else is running for their lives which means not into a room filled with dead people. It really is great cover.”

“Alright,” Cano said. “Enough. I logically see your point but emotionally I don’t want to talk about it. We need a Tanker, let’s get one and get the fuck out of here. After we get out of town, over the mountain, we can fill up at one of the stations on the way to the Biosphere, then after we make camp we can see what we need and devise a plan to get it.”

“That sounds good,” Cole said. “I’m sure whatever gas Truck we find will have some gas in it, enough to get by for a while. They all come through here full for delivery in California you know.”

“What are you guys talking about?” Brad asked over the radio. “I can barely hear you.”

“Ok perfect,” Cano said to Brad. “What do you think about us going downstairs now and packing everything up while you keep watch? Then when it’s clear we go and nab a Fuel Truck from that depot a few miles off. The second it’s nabbed we start off toward the Biosphere.”

“Sounds good,” Brad said. “Shouldn’t be long now, it looks like just patrols. I could have their movement timing down by the time you’re ready to go. If they don’t clear out then we can just move at the right time and hope to not be noticed.”

“If all else fails,” Brent said. “There is always the 50 cal.”

“You do make a good point,” Matt said. “If it’s only patrols then we should just take the SUV for protection.”

“We should take the 50 no matter what,” Cole said.

“Alright,” Cano said. “It’s agreed then. Let’s swoop down and pack up. I don’t suggest anyone goes toward the front of the store.”

Ever so quietly, one by one, they filed down the hatch, onto the catwalk, over the bloody massacre below and down the ladder to the Trucks. Everyone, except Topher who stayed back on the roof, packed rapidly. There was no talking; there was no smiling; there was only hustle and internal mental drama. The looks on their faces and the way they all turned, over and over again, to look back toward the carnage told of the conflicts within. It took little time to disconnect everything and completely repack, Cano and Ian remained on top of inventory and organization, once the checklist was completed they locked the Trucks up and radioed to Brad.

“Brad,” Cano said through the radio. “What’s the status?”

“Not much different,” Brad said. “They seem to just be randomly walking around this entire block, I can’t see past that but it’s the same few guys randomly driving and walking by every so often.”

“Topher,” Cano said. “Check down the street a few, where is their next grouping?”

“Alright,” Topher said as he slowly stood. “To the east it looks like five blocks down…north is about seven…west is four, you know, they are just at every major intersection, the ones with stoplights, it continues to the next grouping out also.”

“Perfect!” Ian exclaimed. “We can take back streets and just turn our lights off when we have to cross major streets.”

“Will that really work?” Eric asked.

“We have no other choice,” Matt said.

“Yea,” Brent interjected. “What else are we going to do?”

“Fucking a,” Eric responded quickly while he thought it over after the question.

“So let’s go!” Cano said enthusiastically. “Brad, get back in here, you too Toph.”

It took Brad a little longer than Topher to return to the rest of the group, all huddled in the cold, dark warehouse, amidst their vehicles.

“You guys all packed up?” Brad asked, out of breath from the quick sprint he made back into the building.

“Yep,” Brent said.

“Well what the fuck are we waiting for?” Brad said as he jumped into the Truck.

“You,” Cano remarked. “You asshole, get back out here so we can go over the plan.”

“Sorry,” Brad said as he jumped back out of the Truck.

“Give me some light,” Cano directed as he pulled out a map.

Almost everyone pulled out flashlights and illuminated the floor where Cano placed the map. Ian pulled out a few markers, kneeled down and started drawing.

“Where are here,” Ian said as he drew a circle around the DealCo on the map. “The Fuel Tankers are located here. According to our intelligence there are enemy troops positioned here, here, here, here and so on. This means that if we take these back streets here, here and here we should only have to cross two major streets, lights and sound are our Achilles heals. Everyone on the bikes will be ahead about a block or two, fanning out and giving us second by second updates on enemy locations and movement. Then we will be sure of a clear path. On the way there I’m more worried about stealth, once we retrieve the Fuel Tanker and get onto the few major roads we have to take it’s going to be a race.”

“Where am I going with the Firetruck?” Eric asked.

“Here,” Ian said pointing to the map and drawing more in a different color. “Use this rout. We should have Cole with you on a bike for your recon.”

“Agreed,” Cole said. “Give me an MP5.”

“It’s already hanging from the handlebars,” Cano said as he pointed at the motorcycle then quickly returned to the map. “When we get the Tanker we need to move quick, I figure Topher will probably be jacking it so he will drive it and while he’s taking it we will load his bike into the Truck, there is already room for it.”

“On our way out,” Ian said and pointed at Eric and Cole. “You guys will start moving slowly up this street. We will be taking this path out of the city. The freeway is not going to be an option so we have to take a side route…”

“Oracle?” Cole asked.

“No,” Ian responded. “Mt Lemmon. Oracle’s probably packed too, it’s just like a freeway, and we know the mountain is clear; we can see that from here. What small things get in our way will be easier to move then that bumper to bumper traffic. If all else fails we could take Reddington Pass, but I don’t think the Fuel Tanker would make it. Mt Lemmon goes all the way over and will shoot us out straight south of the biosphere”

“Side to the back route,” Cano said with a confused look as he realized what he was saying while he said it. “Wait…back to the side route…yeah…”

“Right…” Ian said. “So we follow these streets and will meet the Firetruck here. We will be flying and you’ll know when we are coming so just go there and be ready to floor it when we say, you will arrive long before we do. The bikes should be up front then the Firetruck, then the Tanker then the SUV. Once we are sure there is no danger behind us we will move the SUV to the front with the bikes if we even want to use them anymore, it’s going to be fucking cold up there.”

“It’s fucking cold right now!” Cole said. “It was especially fucking cold when I was stuck on the roof for like seven hours straight and then again with you guys in fear.”

“Fine, Pussy,” Eric said. “You ride in the Firetruck with the assault rifle and I’ll take the bike with the MP5.”

“With pleasure, Dick,” Cole replied.

“I call the 50!” Matt yelled running to the SUV.

“Fine,” Brent said. “I call a bike then.”

“Me too!” Topher said laughing.

“Duh,” Ian said. “We already knew that.”

“Hahaha!” Topher laughed more. “No shit!”

“Ok,” Cano said. “We have to be precise about this first little bit till we split up. Hopefully this will be the closest we come to enemy troops. Now we haven’t been watching troop movement for a bit so we need to establish their positions first, Eric and Topher, will you go take a peak?”

“Yeah,” Topher said.

“For sure,” Eric agreed.

“Great,” Cano said. “Everyone else should get in positions; make sure you all have enough ammo.”

As Topher and Eric cautiously opened the garage door and exited the building everyone else secured their weapons and positions in the convoy. They checked their radios and started their vehicles.

“It looks like a large troop transport is pulling away toward the west,” Topher said over the radio. “Yes! It’s headed back toward the freeway.”

“Yeah,” Eric said. “Now is perfect.”

“Let’s do this!” Ian said with enthusiasm.

“Agreed,” Cano said. “Take the alley to the third street then a right, bikers first.”

As Topher and Eric ran back and got on their bikes, Brad and Brent started down the alley way. The cold dry wind pierced their faces like a thousand needles. Topher and Eric were close behind along with Cole in the Firetruck, Ian in the Box-Truck and Cano and Matt held up the rear in the SUV. Everyone was nervous and anxious but alert.

“After we turn right at the third street,” Ian said over the radio. “Cole and Eric take your first left and then crawl until you arrive where I showed you. Everyone else go straight.”

“Rodger that,” Cole radioed back.

“When do we fan out?” Topher asked.

“After we turn right it’s going to be a straight shot for a while so that would be the best time. Don’t go to far, one block at the most. Stick with the alleys. This isn’t a race so keep the bikes at a minimum. Remember, stealth is the name of this game. Good thing it’s getting light enough not to have to use our lights.”

“True,” Cano said. “But that means by the time we are on the mountain it’s going to be light enough to see us from the city.”

“I think we will be good,” Ian said with certainty in his voice. “Just follow the plan and everything will work out.”

Flawless is the only way to sum up Ian’s masterful Fuel Tanker retrieval and escape paths. He precisely navigated the group around many enemy forces. Upon reaching the fuel yard, Topher hotwired a tanker with three-quarters of a load and they all headed toward Mt Lemmon. In constant communication the groups only conversation was identifying enemies and directions.

As they traveled more and more east the enemy forces became smaller and smaller. Eventually they were outside enemy lines and able to take a clear and safe Mt Lemmon drive. There were no more enemies to identify and no more directions to give so the group sat in silence as they drove up the mountain’s curvy road.

“It’s weird,” Cano said over the radio as he looked out over the city. “For all those times I’ve said I hated Tucson and all those time’s I’ve wanted to leave that dump, this might be the last time we see it.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” Matt said. “Tucson is a dump!”

“Nevermind,” Cano said.

“No you’re right,” Ian said. “I’ll miss it too.”

“Yeah, it’s sad,” Eric agreed. “Can I get in a van now; it’s fucking cold out here.”

“I hear that,” Brent said as his teeth chattered away.

“I could go for a nice warm cigarette,” Brad said.

“Ok,” Ian said. “At the next flat spot we’ll open the truck up and put the Bikes away and everyone can come get a smoke.”

“Hurray!” Eric yelled.

They were only able to fit three of the motorcycles into the Box-Truck, but nobody cared if they had one less; it was to cold to have that emotion. With the bikes away, warm seats to sit in and cigarettes in hand. Though the mood lightened slightly as they drove farther away from enemy territory, toward safety, it didn’t last long. The high view of the city from the icy mountain road gave an enlightening glimpse of the damage done and incredible size of the invading force. Some felt sadness, others fear, but most felt anger. Emotion boiled within them and spread from one to the other like a virus. Though calm in speech to one another, within they were all raging.
They tried their best to make light of things, forcefully altering their speech patterns and conversational subjects, they were only sweeping their true feelings under a rug. The mass murder at DealCo really set into their psyches, their actions played like broken records in each of their heads. Eventually the rug they held their piles of regret under would be pulled away, revealing the huge mess that resided in each of their heads. They knew it too.
They knew they had to keep it hidden, for now. Something told them, held them, kept them from diving in to the torrent sea of emotion that once exposed would engulf them and hinder their journey. The constant internal battles never stopped, they were merely subdued by the quest for survival. Tactical planning kept their minds off it, they focused only on logic, shutting down all emotional circuits, and it worked. It kept them stable.

Chapter 5: Bigger Fish - Midlogue 2: Seven Months of Silence