Chapter 19+20

CHAPTER 19: TOOK A WRONG TURN. AIN'T SO EASY TRYING TO LEAVE

Kevin was leading the pack. As the only person with sensor capable of seeing the whole compound, he was the de-facto leader of the group. Step by step, they went closer to their target: the airport. They have been able to avoid the monsters so far. However, things took a nasty turn when they encountered crumbled walls, blocking their way.

Kevin was looking at the sensor, and he didn't look too happy. He kept fiddling with it.

"Is something wrong?" asked Drew.

"This is recent." said Kevin. "It wasn't here before."

"Are you sure?" asked Adam.

"Of course, I'm sure!" retorted Kevin. "Have I ever been wrong before?" He looked offended.

"No offense, Kev, but yes you have. Many times, in fact." said Adam.

"Well, maybe Mr. Big Shot wants to tell us where to go next?" said Kevin.

"Guys, let's not start fighting." Drew said, "Kevin, you got the sensor. You tell us where to go." Drew was firm. Adam didn't disagree.

Puzzling over the sensor, Kevin said, "No matter which way we go, we'll run into some monsters."

"How about going back?" asked Drew. "We haven't run into any before."

"Some traveling monsters are coming to cross our previous path."

"Oh."

"Well," said Adam. "Which way to go now?"

"Let's go through the path of least resistance." said Drew.

"Then, it'll be that-a-way." pointed Kevin.

After a few more alleys, Kevin said, "There are some little monster groups around the bend. We'll have to take them out."

"Got it Kev," Adam said. "We'll take care of it."

A few seconds burst of automatic weapons fire later, the chihuahua type of monsters and their nesting were obliterated. "No problem whatsoever." said Adam.

"Uh Oh. Guys?" said Kevin. "I think we have trouble."

"Did we miss any?" asked Drew.

"There's a group on monsters coming this way." said Kevin. "It seems they're rather enthusiastic about it."

"That doesn't make sense." said Drew. "Gun fire means death to them. They shouldn't be too enthusiastic about coming here."

"Better get to high ground, in any case." said Adam.

"Makes sense." said Bob.

"That building is solid." Kevin pointed to a big building nearby. "Hopefully, no more surprises. Good places to hold up, too."

"Let's not make a stand in a dead-end area this time around." said Drew.

"Let's just get there first and figure things out later." said Adam.

Everybody moved at the same time. Nobody wants to be caught in the open while a bunch of monsters are coming their way. Pretty soon, they arrived at the building. The group of monsters arrived at the same time. Bob simply waxed them all with a long burst of his Gatling gun.

They entered the building and took stock of the situation. "How about that balcony up there?" asked Adam.

"They may get us from below." said Drew. How about that hallway?"

"Are you kidding me?" said Adam. "It's wide open!"

"Enough room for us to set up a line, don't you think?"

"Yeah, but do you want to stay there forever?"

"Just for the night." said Drew. "We can go again tomorrow."

"Guys, I hate to rush you," urged Kevin, "Buy my sensor just picked up several groups coming this way."

"What's up with these groups?" asked Adam. "Are they suicidal or something?"

"Apparently, so." said Drew, "so, everybody agreed to stay here for the night?" Everybody agreed to that. They set up a fortification along the hallway.

"Here they come!" said Kevin.

Wave after wave of monsters kept coming. By now, the group functioned as a smooth functioning unit. The building starts to be filled with dead monsters. During a break of the attack, Drew said, "I hope the monsters didn't think that these dead ones are food. I'd hate to set up for the night next to a food supply dump."

Adam looked at Drew in disbelief. "Most creatures would hunt at night. It makes better hunting that way. Didn't you know?"

Drew looked at Adam. "You mean to tell me that as the sun go down, we'll be the target for their nocturnal feedings?"

"Seems that way to me."

"Let's get a move on then. Hit the airport before dark!"

"What about the monsters?"

"We'll have to fight our way through! There's no option."

"Are you sure?"

"Do you think these monsters come here for fun?"

"I think they come here for feeding."

"Why do you think that is?"

"I dunno. Maybe they hear can of cat food being opened?" joked Adam.

Drew went pale. "You mean to tell me that they associated gun-fire with food?!"

"Uh, yeah, I guess so. The colonists aren't well armed that I can see. I can see how the monsters would associate gun fire with food."

"LET'S GET OUT OF HERE NOW!!!!" Drew went into panic mode.

"Here kitty, kitty..." said Adam under his breath. Drew didn't hear that.

<hr>

They ran along from building to building. Kevin managed to lead them to outrun most of the encounter. Between the surge of adrenaline and fear, Drew managed to keep up with the guys. However, even her best effort to keep up with them failed to match the well-conditioned soldiers. Drew finally faltered, gasping for breath. Adam pulled Kevin back to rest.

"We'll stop here for now," said Adam. "360!"

The guys quickly formed a circle, weapons facing outward in every direction. "A group is coming from the North." said Kevin.

"I'll handle it." said Bob.

"Another is coming from the East."

"We can handle it." said Adam.

"Something is coming from the West, and uh, it looks major."

"One of the big and nasty monster?" asked Drew.

"Probably." said Kevin. "The reading is muddy for some reason."

"Then, we aim our rocket launcher that way." said Drew. She grabbed the rocket launcher, but is still too winded to do so.

"I'll do it." offered Leslie.

"No, Leslie." said Drew. "We need you as back up with your flame-thrower."

"I'll do it." said Danny. He grabbed the rocket launcher from Drew easily. The guys who were behind him swore and parted, having learned their lesson that Danny doesn't know how to handle the back blast.

Drew looked at Adam. He shrugged. "There's nobody else available." Drew sighed.

"Okay, Danny, but listen, you absolutely must do it according to my instruction EXACTLY. Got it?" said Drew.

"Yeah, I got it." said Danny.

"You aim the rocket launcher this way down the hallway, and YOU DON'T MOVE IT AROUND. Keep the rocket launcher pointed to that direction, okay?"

"I got it."

"And the next creature coming from that direction, you shoot it. Okay?"

"I got it."

"And if you don't, I'm sure Bob here will want to talk to you about it. Got it?" Bob smiled at the mentioned of his name. Danny shrank.

"I got it." said Danny in a small voice.

"East incoming!" warned Kevin.

"Everybody get ready!" yelled Adam, and he focused his attention there. The monsters came in fast and furious, but the guys are ready, and up to the task. They held firm.

"North and West incoming!" warned Kevin. Bob turned around to watch the North. Leslie, Drew, and Danny watched the West. A little chihuahua monsters turned the corner, yapping angrily at them. Drew pulled out her pistol, aimed it at the monster and pulled the trigger. The little monster exploded messily as a rocket round hit it squarely on the head. Drew's jaw dropped to the floor.

"Ha! Did everybody see that?" boasted Danny. "Right on the kisser!"

Drew was exasperated. "Danny! I was going to shoot it with my pistol!" Danny ignored her. "It's just a little monster! I could have killed it easy!" Using a rocket round on the little monster is a great waste of ammo.

Leslie loaded the rocket launcher. Drew faced Danny directly. "Okay, listen to me." Danny kept ignoring Drew, and it's not until Bob flicked his finger at Danny's head that Danny listened to Drew.

"Okay, here's the deal." Drew said making sure putting emphasis on each word. "The next one come around the corner, _I_ shoot it, okay?" Danny nodded. "You _do not_ get to shoot the first creature coming around the bend, got it?" Danny nodded. "Any deviation with this plan, Bob will have his way with you, got it?" Danny looked at Bob. Bob winked mischievously. Danny gulped. He nodded.

"Okay, then, get ready." Everybody resumed their positions. Again Adam and the guys shot first. Then Bob and Kevin got busy. Then it's Drew's turn. She, Leslie, and Danny got tensed. Especially Danny.

A big and scary monster went around the bend. Drew's heart leaped to her throat. She can only hope Danny didn't screw up shooting this time. As the monster happily bounding to the group, Drew wondered why Danny didn't shoot.

"Ummm, Danny?" asked Drew. "How close does it have to get before you shoot?"

"Oh, no you don't." replied Danny. "I'm not shooting the first monster coming out of that direction. No siree. _You_ shoot it."

"Danny!" Drew was terrified. "Shoot! Shoot! SHOOOOOTTTT!!!" Danny did nothing, just standing there, whistling a happy song. Bob was busy on the North.

"Adaaaaammm!!!"

Adam turned around and grabbed the rocket launcher from Danny. "Like _you_ said," said Danny, "You get to sh-- hey! It's MY rocket launcher!" Danny and Adam wrestled each other. Meanwhile the big and scary monster was getting very close. Leslie joined in on the effort, so do several guys on the East, those who have killed their target monsters. Danny was struggling mightily, and kept holding to the rocket launcher. Not enough time to do it.

The big and scary monster was on top of them. "Now, Drew! Now!" Adam managed to lined up the rocket launcher to the monster's head. Drew dove into the pile. Her hand managed to reach the trigger. She squeezed.

The monster's head exploded, showering everybody with blood and gore. Drew, Adam, and everybody else who was struggling were blown away by the backblast of the rocket launcher. Bob alone was steady. Having taken care of the North group, he turned around and took care of the incoming West group also. The rest of the guys were just sprawled on the floor, knowing how close they were to dying.

Finally, Drew got up. "Danny, no more rocket launcher for you." she said quietly.

Danny somehow kept holding to the rocket launcher. "No way!" he said. "This rocket launcher is mine!"

At that, Bob clamped his hand on Danny's head. "Beware the power of Bob." He intoned. "You're going to listen to the lady from now on." He twisted round Danny's head effortlessly. "Right?"

Danny shook, gulped, and said, "Right." He dropped the rocket launcher.

Time 1hr 23 min
Words: 1871.

CHAPTER 20: HANG GLIDER TIME

They finally arrived at the airport. As Adam had said, there was no airplane visible. That doesn't mean there was nothing there. Drew pointed to a set of vehicles on Kevin's sensor. Kevin led them to the off site hangar. There were some workshop building and in one of them were some vehicles. No wings. Definitely not an airplane. Drew was disappointed.

"There should be some wings around here that we can attach to these planes." said Drew. "Does anybody see any?"

"Nope. No wings." said Adam.

"How about if we make some?" asked Drew.

"Do you know how to make airplane wings?" asked Kevin.

"No. Do you?"

Kevin just shook his head. Adam smiled. "There's no need to make wings. These can fly as is."

"Huh?" Drew was puzzled. "Do you mean these vehicles go by some anti-gravity device?"

"Of course not." said Adam. "These aren't floaters, copters, or planes. These are parafoils!"

"Parafoils?" Drew was unfamiliar with the concept.

"You know parachutes, right?" asked Adam.

"Yes. You use them to go down gently." said Drew.

"Well, parafoils are wings made of cloth, just like parachutes." explained Adam.

"How do they hold their shape?"

"Wind. By moving forward, the air will cause them to expand and hold their shape."

"Are you sure?"

"See those bags?" Adam pointed to some rather large bags. "I bet the parafoils are in those bag. Let's put them on."

Sure enough, the bags did hold parafoils. Adam showed the guys how to install those to the vehicles. How to steer, and fly, and land them. Having prepped the vehicles, Adam said, "Hop on, Drew."

"I can't do that, Adam." said Drew.

"Sure you can. It's easy!" Adam was insistent.

"It's not that. It's just that there are only five vehicles. Not enough for all of us."

"So? Me, you, Kevin, and two other guys can go." said Adam.

"One of us must stay with the group. Since you can fly better than me, you should go, and I should stay."

"Drew, you don't have to stay."

"Yes, I do. It's better that way."

"Why?"

"Who knows how long you'll be gone? I should stay here for moral support."

Bob interjected, "We'll be fine. You go on."

Adam looked at Bob. Then he looked at the rest of the guys. "These guys are scared." Adam realized it for the first time. "And I didn't notice. Drew did." Adam sighed. "Very well," he said. "Me, Kev, and you, you you." He pointed to some guys, "will go. The rest of you stay here and bunkered down. We'll be back soon enough with the shuttle."

"Thank you." said Drew.

"Don't thank me." said Adam. "Just stay alive until I'm back."

"She'll be fine." assured Bob. He gently patted his Gatling gun.

With that, the five brave flyers went up to the get shuttle. Drew watched them until they disappear over the hill. A feeling of dread came over her. "We'd better get a move on." she said. "Hunkered down in the next building until they get back."

"Yes, ma'am." said Bob.

Total words: 2388.