Dead Mech (35 page)

“Well, we don’t really need scanners to
analyze that shit,” Masters said sarcastically.

“But, the scanners do give us an accurate
count of the forces,” Stomper replied.

“I was just kidding,” Masters joked. “You’re
gonna have to learn sarcasm or ‘we’ will never work.”

Stomper processed. “The need for ironic
humor when faced with overwhelming odds is puzzling.”

“Yeah, well, you’ll learn,” Masters
responded, quite serious now as he watched several dozen transports
and what looked like thousands upon thousands of zombies march
across the wasteland plain.

***

“My God,” Mathew exclaimed. “How many are
there?”

“It appears to be every single citizen
inoculated, including all UDC troops,” Shiner responded.

“All of them?” Mathew gasped.

“Yes. All of them.”

Shiner/Mathew processed the information
streaming through the relay net. “Where the fuck are they going?”
Mathew asked.

“The possibilities are too numerous,” Shiner
replied.

“Let’s narrow it down, shall we?” Mathew
chided. “They are coming from their respective city/states,
correct?”

“Yes.”

“Then what is between all of them and their
points of departure?”

Shiner processed. “Many things.”

Mathew sighed. “But, what is the most
significant choice?”

“The UDC stronghold.”

***

“We don’t know why the UDC has inoculated
the city/state populations nor why their troops are assisting the
Ranchers,” Capreze said as the Skinners finished watching the vid
briefing. “But, we do know it’s not because they want to make new
friends.”

Mastelo and the council looked at each other
warily. “We cannot commit all of our people,” Mastelo finally
said.

“No, of course not. And we cannot arm all of
your people,” Capreze responded. “We can only arm about 80 of your
people.”

“That doesn’t seem like an adequate number,”
the small woman stated.

“No, it’s not,” Capreze said.

***

“We can’t handle that many,” Masters
said.

“No, we cannot,” Stomper agreed as they
returned to the cavern mouth.

“We need to find Jay and the Rookie and
return to the base,” Masters stated as the massive mech knelt down
and reached into the cavern. “And we’ll need this.”

After a couple attempts, Masters/Stomper was
able to remove the salvage mech from the cavern without damage. The
new mech stood upright, the smaller mech held in its fist.

“Now, how do we find Jay?” Masters
mused.

“The sensors show an underground river,”
Stomper responded. “They may have escaped that way.”

***

“And what the fuck is up with her pretending
to be me?” Rachel asked.

“Pretty smart move, in my opinion,” Bisby
replied. “It made her valuable and kept her alive.”

“Whatever,” Rachel grumbled. “Okay, I’ve got
to stop trashing her.”

Bisby stayed silent, knowing Rachel wasn’t
finished.

“But, Jeezus fuck, she gets under my skin,”
Rachel continued. “And I don’t know why!” Rachel sighed and checked
her navigation readings. “Were not even close yet, are we?”

“Nope,” Bisby responded. “Might as well do
some system tests while we have the time. Wanna read the
checklist?”

“Yeah, sure, whatever,” Rachel
responded.

***

“You think we can track the river through
the ground and find where it comes out?” Masters asked.

“Yes, our scanners are easily strong
enough,” Stomper responded.

“Well, let’s get on it…Oh, shit,” Masters
paused. “Matty and Shiner won’t know where to find us.”

“We can try to contact them via the relay
net.”

“But, that will give our position away.”

“Our position will be compromised the moment
that army crests the hill.”

“Good point,” Masters conceded. “You aren’t
as basic as you think.”

“Complexity can sometimes get in the way of
answers,” Stomper replied.

“Hmmm… Well said,” Masters agreed.

***

“Why are they all headed to the UDC
stronghold?” Mathew asked.

“I believe that is where the Outsider
originates from,” Shiner answered. “Which may mean ‘Outsider’ is a
misnomer.”

“Maybe we should call it Big Fucking Ugly In
My Head,” Mathew joked.

“Hey guys!” Masters called over the net.
“Listen, we- Jeezus! Is it me or did the relay net get WAY
crowded?”

“It appears every inoculated human has
become connected and active,” Shiner explained.

“Yeah, we just saw the Foggy Bottom
contingent heading our way,” Masters said. “So we grabbed Jay’s
mech and are on search and rescue now.”

***

“Do you have our coordinates?” Masters
asked.

“Yep, we’re adjusting course and heading
that way. Keep us posted,” Mathew answered. “And go ahead and stay
connected. It doesn’t really matter anymore now that the entire
wasteland is about to be caught up in a net of deaders. No place to
hide really.”

“Have you tried contacting the base?”
Masters asked.

“No, not yet,” Mathew responded. “It’s easy
for us to talk, but I’m not sure if we can access the base com
system.”

“Open channel?”

“No, too risky. Everyone can hear that.
Ranchers, Boilers, everyone.”

“Yeah, that’s true,” Masters agreed.

***

“Yes, send it through,” Deacon Montoya said
over his com. He tapped at his console and brought up a new image
on the windshield. “Bishop? Your Grace?”

“What is it now, Deacon? Is it more
disappointing news from the Boiler?”

“No, Your Grace. We have received
information that two of the mech pilots have been located in the
wasteland. And, well, they…”

“You hesitate, Deacon, please do tell,”
Bishop Wyble sat up, interested.

“Well, Your Grace, they have somehow merged
with the Demons.”

The Bishop stared at Montoya for a moment.
“I’m sorry, Deacon. I must have misunderstood you. Merged?”

***

“You know we’re already long gone from where
you think we are,” June taunted over the handheld.

“The wasteland isn’t big enough for you to
hide from me, you fucking bitch!” the Boss roared.

“Oh, I’m not going to be hiding, but you may
want to. If I do see you again, I won’t be as quick as I was with
Chunks.”

The Boss punched the ATV’s dashboard then
turned and punched the young woman driving. The ATV swerved
dangerously, but the driver regained her composure.

“Watch where you’re going, you fucking
idiot!” the Boss screamed.

“Temper, temper,” June mocked.

***

Commander Capreze pointed at his tablet.
“The mech base is here and we’re…here.”

The council looked at their tablets then
back at Capreze.

“I don’t know how many vehicles you have,”
Capreze continued. “But if we could have three of your people armed
per vehicle, then I think we can stage a decent assault.”

Mastelo and the council looked from one to
the other confused.

“I am sorry, Commander, but I think you have
the wrong impression of our resources,” Mastelo said. “We do not
have vehicles.”

Jethro and Capreze stared for a moment.

“No vehicles?” Jethro asked. “Shit.”

***

“Return to the base, Montoya,” the Bishop
commanded. “I must be presentable when His Holiness, the Archbishop
arrives. And I need a secure com line so I can contact our UDC
brethren. This ‘merged’ mech development is quite troubling.”

“Yes, Your Grace,” Deacon Montoya responded
as his console beeped. “It appears the Boss is trying to
communicate.”

“That Boiler is barely capable of grunting,
let alone full communication.” The Bishop rolled his eyes and
sighed. “Put him through, Deacon. “

“Of course, Your Grace.”

“You better have good news, Boss,” the
Bishop hissed.

“I think I do,” the Boss responded.

***

“Think the Capreze whore is heading home,”
the Boss shouted above the wind as he steadied the transmitter
array in the back of the moving ATV.

“You think?” replied the Bishop.

“That’s what I fucking said, ain’t it?’ the
Boss snapped. “Pull the cocks out of your ears and listen up. The.
Mech. Bitch. Is. Coming. Right. To. You!”

“Oh, well then I guess we don’t need your
assistance anymore, Boiler,” the Bishop laughed.

“Oh, I think you do,” the Boss said. “Unless
you want my people’s sole goal in life to be attacking Rancher
transports every time they leave.”

***

“Hey Biz, did you catch that?” Rachel asked
over the com.

“Yeah, we must be close enough to pick up on
their transmissions,” Bisby responded. “And it sounds like we’re
heading the wrong way.”

“June has no idea the base has been
overrun.”

“I know, I know,” Bisby replied. “But, we
have no idea which way she’s coming from. We can’t intercept
her.”

“Should we head back and let the Commander
know?” Rachel asked.

“Probably should. This has all turned into
one big giant shit show,” Bisby growled.

“It always is with June,” Rachel
replied.

The two mechs reversed course.

***

Harlow sat in her mech, cockpit open to the
hot wasteland wind. Below her she could hear the zombies pounding
at their confinement in the transport storage compartment.

“Hey Doc?” Harlow called.

“Yes, Harlow?” Themopolous responded over
the com.

“What has the Commander said about those
fucking deaders?”

“I haven’t had a chance to ask him, Harlow.
He’s been a bit busy.”

“Well, we got to do something. I’m going to
go fucking nuts with all that noise!”

“Yes, you’ve made that perfectly clear,”
Themopolous laughed.

“Well, apparently I haven’t been clear
enough since the deaders are still banging away!”

***

“No vehicles is going to make an assault on
the base difficult,” Capreze sighed.

“What if we don’t attack them, but make them
come to us?” Jethro said. All eyes turned on the wheelchair bound
mechanic. “If we can get most of their forces to bring the fight
here, that would leave the base exposed. We win the fight and keep
some of their transports intact, then re-take the base.”

“A solid plan except that it exposes where
we live,” the young man said angrily.

“You can’t hide forever,” Capreze stated.
“At some point you have to face the world.”

***

“Hey guys? Jethro here,” Jethro’s voice
squawked over the com.

“What the fuck are you doing, Jethro? I
thought we needed to keep com silence,” Bisby barked.

“Change of plans,” Jethro responded. “The
threat isn’t pursuing and we’re pretty sure we aren’t their target
anymore.”

“What? None of that makes-” Rachel
started.

“We’ve gathered some new intel. Just head
back to camp. You’ll be briefed then. Understand?”

“No! I don’t fucking understand!” Bisby
yelled. “Let me talk to the Commander.”

“He’s occupied. You guys are just gonna have
to trust me on this.”

“We’re on our way, Jethro,” Rachel said.

***

“Your Grace?”

“What is it now, Deacon?” Bishop Wyble
snapped, removing his eye shade.

“My apologies for interrupting your rest,
Your Grace, but Reverend Dell just reported that they intercepted a
communication over the mech base’s secure com channel,” Deacon
Montoya reported. “They were able to triangulate the location of
Capreze’s camp. We know where they are, Your Grace.”

The Bishop rubbed his hands together.
“Wonderful, Deacon. Have all transports readied immediately. And
have word sent to the Archbishop that I may miss his arrival as I
plan on leading the assault on the mech heathens personally.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

***

“Damn, this freakin’ river goes on and on
and on,” Masters complained as he and Stomper followed the sensor
readings. “There better be headroom down there if they did take
this route, otherwise they’re going to be holding their breath for
a long time.”

“You talk a lot,” Stomper replied.

“Um, that was random,” Masters chuckled.

“Yeah, tell me about it,” Mathew
interrupted. “We’ve never been able to get him to shut up.”

“Hey!” Masters exclaimed. “Are you guys
listening? No fair! Get out of our heads.”

“That would not be wise,” Shiner responded.
“Communication is key to our survival.”

***

“By the way, as much as you think you are
the center of the universe, we weren’t listening,” Mathew said. “We
were about to let you know we picked up communications among the
UDC deaders about routing transports and troops deep in to the
wasteland.”

“Yeah, so? They’re all being routed,”
Masters responded.

“Yes, but it sounds like they are going
after our folks.”

“I have confirmed that the Ranchers are
readying their forces and the UDC troops available to them. They
are planning an assault on Commander Capreze and anyone with him,”
Shiner said.

“Well, that sucks,” Masters said.

***

“Looks like it’s working,” Jethro informed
Capreze. “The Ranchers and UDC at our base are mobilizing.”

“Alright, then we have maybe a day,” Capreze
replied. “Time to get to work.” He turned to Mastelo and the
council. “Bring me your best fighters, the ones with the best eye.
Today they learn to shoot.”

Mastelo stood and the council followed. “And
when this is over, we can count on your assistance and protection
in giving my people a home outside of the deep?”

“Yes, you have my word,” Capreze answered
extending his hand. Mastelo grasped it and the two men shook.

***

“So, if they have been found and we are
certainly being tracked then there’s no reason to keep silent, is
there?” Mathew asked.

“It would appear not,” Shiner responded.