The compound was the eye of a storm. Brady and his men paused after two rigid security inspections and being granted permission to enter. The area beyond the gates and inspections was quiet, with men and women dressed in government uniforms touring the compound like it was any other day and not possibly the last day of the world. Guard dogs trotted forward to sniff him and his men while a doctor in a blue government jumpsuit approached them, eyes pinned to the injured man carried between two others. He was smiling.
In fact, many of the people on the compound cast curious or smiling glances towards them. Brady peeled his face mask off and lowered the muzzle of his weapon, unnerved by the unrealistic utopia after the three-day battle up the side of the mountain. The people were doing whatever it took to survive outside the walls, and they’d run across more men in Western uniforms.
“I’m all right. Check him,” Dan grunted as the waiting medic in blue approached. He put pressure on his injured leg with a grimace but gestured towards the unconscious soldier hanging between two others.
Brady took his friend’s arm.
“Looks bad,” Dan said. He pushed Brady’s cheek to see the black-purple bruise ringing his throat from where one of the animals outside the walls had tried to rope and hang him.
“Yeah,” Brady whispered hoarsely. It was the loudest word he’d uttered in two days.
“Major Brady, Dan,” a gruff voice boomed.
They turned to see the tall five-star general stride towards them, right arm still at his side while his other swung. The gray-haired man had an olive complexion and sharp blue eyes that swept over all of them. He raised a critical eyebrow at the end of his inspection.
“General Theodore Greene,” he said, offering his left hand.
Both shook the proffered hand, surprised to be greeted by a man once charged with overseeing the wars abroad.
“It’s an honor, sir,” Dan managed. “I hadn’t heard you returned from overseas.”
General Greene motioned them forward, slowing when he saw Dan limp. Brady tugged Dan’s mask off, gaze roving the compound. Gray buildings squatted amid neatly kept green lawns and paved walkways. A single road snaked through the compound downhill towards a forest.
At any moment he expected the people around him to whip out lasers and attack. The feds ignored the newcomers after a few looks, content to stroll and chat as if nothing were amiss anywhere.
“You have the box?” General Greene asked as they walked.
“Yes, sir,” Dan said, elbowing Brady from his observations. Brady reached into his cargo pocket.
“Wait,” the general said at his movement. His lips spread into a grim line. “Wait ’til we’re in the command hub.”
Brady exchanged a look with Dan. “What is it, sir?” he managed in a whisper.
“What happened to you?”
“Someone tried to string him up. Keeps him quiet, though,” Dan quipped.
“It’s a dangerous toy is what it is,” General Greene responded. “You both need to see the docs.”
“We’re fine, sir,” Dan assured him.
“After we’re done, you’ll see the doc, son.”
“Yes, sir.”
Brady hid a smile. He agreed; Dan needed a doctor. His leg was hurt, and only his stubbornness kept him from surrendering to shock. His face was pale and clammy, his wit sharp but his eyes glazed. Brady was as worried about Dan as any of his men.
“You all look like hell. How bad is it out there?” the general asked.
“A warzone,” Dan said. “No supplies, no water, no food, hundreds of thousands of refugees trying to survive on nothing.”
“And our enemies?”
“Mixed in with the rest of the survivors, like any good insurgency. Their numbers are far greater than anything we ever imagined.”
And far better well armed, Brady added silently. The fighters were armed as well as the army and the government’s special protective services and in many cases, with the same equipment.
The general nodded, looking grim but not surprised.
As they neared a pentagon-shaped building, Brady took in the clumsy metal door that didn’t quite fit the frame. The access pad appeared as though it had been shot with a laser gun; it was blackened and melted. He shared another look with Dan. All was not quite as it seemed in the peaceful compound. The laser markings matched similar damage seen on the eastern wall, which they found when they circled the compound.
One of the two guards pulled the heavy door open. The interior of the command hub was darkened, aside from the light of systems and screens on all the walls. It was cool and manned by several people in fed uniforms.
“Turn that off, Lana,” the general ordered in a softer tone as he glanced towards a woman manning the screen on the left. Imaging of the mountain flashed off and was replaced by a screen full of colors and letters Brady didn’t understand.
“Are these the troops?” a blond woman asked, dressed in tactical clothing and sporting advanced weaponry that reminded Brady just how elite the positions in the special protective service were considered. Their recruits came from the elite class, while the regular army came from the poor. Even the regular military’s special forces teams were not as well equipped as the pretty, frowning woman before them.
“Elise, you’re taking your men out to the west side for supplies tonight,” the general replied.
“Wonderful idea, sir,” the blond replied with enough irreverent sarcasm that Brady was taken aback.
“You’re in the dungeon next week,” the general muttered. “I’d trade you all for two men like these here.”
The woman named Elise grimaced but made no response.
“Do you have the keypad?”
Brady whipped around at the familiar voice, staring at the petite brunette before him in surprise. He sought to remember what the general had called her. He knew her as Angel. Her expression was grave, her brown eyes solemn. The woman before him was younger than he expected and cute in an elfin way, with large eyes, a tapered chin, delicate jaw line, and expressive brow. She was neatly dressed with dual ranks, that of Special Assistant to the VP and Special Assistant to Mr. Tim’s position. His gaze lingered on the dual ranks, and he almost smiled.
She was at least loyal to Mr. Tim. It was customary to wear the highest rank, and the VP trumped Mr. Tim twice over.
This was no normal government compound, he realized. With the former Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and the Special Assistant to the VP, not to mention the biofields, electromagnetic fields, and other beefed security measures, the compound at the top of the mountain was a fortress commanded by the President’s own right-hand man. A chill swept through him as he realized how significant—and isolated—the command center was.
“Give the woman the keypad,” Dan said in amusement, jabbing him in the ribs with an elbow.
Brady blinked, realizing he was staring at her and everyone was staring at him. He hastily reached into his cargo pocket and retrieved the keypad. She snatched it and swept past him, popping it open as she neared a wall covered in a titanium glass screen.
“Happy?” the general called after her.
“Yes, sir.”
Brady watched Angel carefully place the keypad into a wall with several others, then secure them behind a thick shield of titanium glass. She lowered the titanium glass and stepped away, tossing the case onto a desk.
“C’mon, boys,” the general said, ushering them towards the doors. “I’ll take you to the docs.”
Brady followed with reluctance, intrigued to meet the woman whose voice had kept him company for several long weeks.
“Lana, walk with us,” the general added.
The brunette obeyed, taking her place at his left. Brady’s attention instinctively shifted to their surroundings as he sought threats among the quiet surroundings of the secured compound.
“Lana is my right hand. Let her know what you and your men need,” the general instructed them. “I gave explicit ord
ers to Savannah that you’d remain with us.”
“Yes, sir,” Dan said, though Brady heard in his voice he was not happy with the decision.
“I won’t subject you to Elise and her insubordinate rabble, but you’ll remain with the other army seniors here as my advisors.”
Angel fiddled with her mini-computer as she walked. She tapped her earpiece, listened intently, and responded with a few words.
“Florida communications are up,” she reported.
Brady opened his mouth to address her before remembering the best he could manage was a croak. Dan glanced towards her.
“What is this, the command center for everything this side of the Mississippi?” Dan joked.
Both Lana and the general turned icy, less-than-impressed looks on him, and for once, Brady was glad he couldn’t speak. He’d been about to ask a similar question. Instead, he watched red creep up Dan’s face. He jabbed him in the arm, entertained by his unflappable friend’s discomfort.
“On second thought, you can join Elise’s men,” the general replied in a clipped tone.
Lana smiled faintly, meeting Brady’s gaze again. Her brow furrowed in guarded curiosity as he stared at her. Brady looked away, aware she didn’t know him from any other man.
But he knew her now, and she was beautiful.
“Do you talk, sir?” she asked him.
“Not much since being strung up by a savage at the bottom of the mountain, ma’am,” Dan replied for him.
Her gaze shifted to the purple ring around Brady’s neck before she returned to her microcomputer.
“Oh,” she breathed, stopping midstride.
“What’s wrong?” the general demanded.
“Arnie,” she replied, paling. “Excuse me, sir.”
“Take Elise.”
She broke into a quick trot. Brady watched her, doubtful the sort of mayhem that occurred on the compound was as dangerous as that they’d encountered on their trip up the mountain. A moment later, Elise darted by with a hand laser in her grip, disappearing between the same buildings.
The general was quiet as he escorted them to one of the squat buildings and inside. The sterile scent tickled Brady’s nostrils. He lowered Dan into a chair outside the doctor’s quarters and was about to sit for a breather when the general slapped him on the arm.
“You all right here, soldier?” he asked Dan gruffly.
Dan nodded.
“Come with me, Major.”
Brady straightened and winked at Dan, who rolled his eyes in response. The general’s stride quickened as he exited the medical facilities towards the direction both women had gone.
“Damn civilians,” the general muttered. “This one’s a piece of work. As loony as they come.”
The general motioned to a greenpod, and they squeezed into the small vehicle. It moved silently and quickly down the winding road through the forest. He heard the shouts before they reached the helipad atop a cliff overlooking a valley.
A man stood near the boulders hedging the cliff, crazed as he flung his arms around and screamed. His face was red, his voice hoarse from shouting. Brady recognized him—he was another high-ranking politician in the President’s cabinet. Brady stepped from the greencar, not expecting the amount of brass and rank on the secluded mountaintop.
Elise was there, one hand aiming the laser at the raging man with the other hand planted on Lana’s shoulder to prevent her from entering the potential line of fire. Two more black-clad protective service members with weapons drawn stood nearby, one a safe distance behind the lunatic and the other near the cliff.
Their weapons weren’t stunners, the laser weapons capable of incapacitating a horse with one glancing shot. They carried weapons meant to kill. Brady moved forward, reaching for his own weapon as he sought to decipher the scene before him.
“Lana, stay back!” Elise snapped, tossing a glance over her shoulder at the brunette trying to wriggle free of her. One of her arms was now wrapped around Angel’s waist.
The man at the center of attention ceased screaming and lowered his head, panting. He wore a sheathed laser at his hip, and his hand was clenched around something small enough to conceal it from view.
The general approached, catching Elise’s eye. He issued a hand command Brady recognized. Shoot to kill. Elise nodded in understanding.
“Arnie?” Lana called.
The man at the center of the circle shifted.
“Arnie, it’s me. Can I come stand by you?”
“Hell, no,” Elise snapped.
“Elise, stop!” Lana cried and shoved away.
Elise lowered her laser as Lana blocked her shot and approached the man named Arnie.
“What’s going on?” Brady asked hoarsely, stopping beside Elise.
“If he moves too quickly, take your shot,” Elise replied. “He shot one of my men last week. He’s psycho.”
“Wasn’t he the former Vice Pres—”
“Watch Lana.”
Brady slid away until he had a shot not blocked by the brunette. Lana reached Arnie and spoke to him too quietly to hear. Brady crept as close as he dared. Elise followed his lead. He heard Arnie’s mumble, Lana’s voice, more mumbling in response. Arnie held out his fist to her without opening it.
“Arnie,” General Greene said at last.
The man’s head rose. His eyes were glazed, his pupils large enough to swallow the color of his irises. Drool crusted one corner of his mouth. Lana shifted, and Arnie bolted towards the cliff.
“No!” Lana’s shout broke the tense formation around them. She darted after Arnie and snatched his belt. Elise rushed them, and Brady followed. Arnie tripped, the content of his fist flying free over the boulders to the cliff’s edge. Lana jumped over him and squeezed between two boulders, all but flinging herself towards the object.
Elise grabbed at Arnie, who twisted free and followed Lana. He wrapped his arms around the brunette as she rose with the object in hand. Brady sheathed his weapon and leapt over the boulders, confronting the struggling duo.
Lana squirmed in his bear hug, pushing them closer to the edge. Arnie struggled to grab her wrist. His footing slipped, and Brady’s heart dropped as he saw them careen closer to the edge. Arnie snatched the laser weapon at his hip and shoved it against her temple. Her movement stilled.
“Give it to me, Lana!” he shouted.
She squeezed her eyes closed without complying.
“Arnie, you sick bastard, let her go!” Elise shouted, leaping atop the nearest boulder with her laser aimed at him.
“I’ll finish what they started in the war!” Arnie shouted.
“Let her go!” the general bellowed.
Lana’s eyes opened, and she stared at Brady, emotions flying through the expressive gaze. Arnie waved the laser as Brady crept closer. Light flashed and Lana gave a strangled cry as the laser gun glanced off her wrist. Blood splattered her. Her hand opened reflexively, and Arnie released her to claw at her wrist. Lana twisted away. She fell, and Brady lunged, snatching her belt as the two went over the edge.
Tim’s Angel was crying. Arnie clutched at her bloodied hand, too maddened to heed his danger. The belt slipped, and Brady slung an arm around her, pulling her back hard. Arnie’s weight dropped, and Lana and Brady landed in a heap.
“Don’t drop me, don’t drop me, don’t drop me!”
His head dropped back against the ground in relief. The woman sprawled atop him shook, her blood smearing his hands. He nudged her off and rolled onto his side. Lana curled into a ball, holding her arm to her chest. He wrapped his arms around her and drew her into his body.
“Don’t drop me, don’t drop me, don’t drop me,” she repeated.
He pulled her arm away from her chest. She resisted, clenching her hand hard despite her pain. Her hair smelled like vanilla, her skin of sweat and woman.
“Lana, you fool,” Elise scolded, squatting beside them. “God, look at you!”
Elise grabbed her wrist, but Lana resisted again.
>
“Move, Elise,” the general snapped, pushing the guard commander away.
He held out his hand, and Lana held out her wrist. He pried her fingers away, glancing up at her when she gasped in pain. Her fingers opened to reveal a keypad similar to the one Brady delivered.
“Good girl,” the general said with a satisfied smile as he took it.
Brady reached into a cargo pocket and pulled free an emergency bandage wrap. He gripped her trembling arm and placed the seal on her wrist. She gasped at the sudden pinch as it snapped into place, and her body went limp.
“So ends that walking tragedy,” Elise said, standing at the cliff’s edge and peering over it.
“He’s at peace now,” General Greene responded. “Major, take Lana to the doc and get what rest you can. You’ll report to Elise tomorrow morning.”
Elise sheathed her weapon with a glance at him. She gave a sigh of disgust and retreated.
“You always give me the misfits, sir,” she tossed over her shoulder. “Welcome aboard, Major.”
The general’s jaw clenched, but he said nothing. Brady jostled Lana’s still body in his arms as he rose. He climbed over the boulders. One of Elise’s men was waiting with a gurney. Brady placed her on it and gripped the handle, walking towards the road. Elise fell into step beside him after checking on Lana.
“Stupid civilian,” she muttered, though he heard the concern in her voice.
“Who is she?” he asked.
“She’s the Supreme Operations Specialist here on site. She controls everything, the East Coast infrastructure, the emerops depots, the recovery effort,” Elise replied. “Good woman, disciplined and smart. Greenie pushes her around.”
“He’s the former supreme commander,” Brady said. “It’s his job.”
“You army-types are different.”
“What was so important she flung herself off a cliff to get it?”
Elise gave him a sidelong glance. “Here’s a friendly warning: there are a lot of secrets up here you normal army-types don’t need to know.”
“We’re part of your outfit now,” Brady reminded her.
“That’s what Greenie said.”
She said nothing more, and they strode up the winding road to the medical facilities. Brady lifted Lana gently off the gurney and entered, following Elise through the waiting area into the bay beyond. Dan lay on one bed, asleep.
“Doc!” Elise shouted. “C’mon, Doc!”
Brady set Lana down on a bed and stepped back. She was the opposite of Elise: delicate and sweet, quiet and soft-spoken. He brushed hair away from Lana’s pale face. Whatever the madman Arnie had in his hand had provoked her gentle spirit into action he would not otherwise think her capable of.
She wasn’t the kind of woman who would ever belong in his world. Where that thought—or his sudden disappointment—came from, he didn’t know.
“Doc!”
“I’m here, Elise,” the same man who greeted them at the gate said with some irritation as he entered through a side door.
“I want updates hourly,” Elise ordered.
“I’ll contact you when she wakes,” the doctor replied, unfazed.
Elise turned her attention on Brady. “The barracks are by the helipad by the cliff. Or do you prefer to stay with your friend?”
He nodded.
“All right. Hourly, doc.”
The doctor ignored her, and Elise left.
“Is this a laser wound?” the doctor asked, releasing the seal around Lana’s wrist.
“Yeah,” Brady rasped.
“It’s never something simple. Everything here is an emergency or nothing at all,” the doctor complained.
Brady watched him clean the wound.
“You’re filthy,” the doc said, glancing up at him. “Go back and shower in the nurses’ locker room. I can’t have you spreading any contaminants you might be carrying. You army-types are worse than Elise’s crew. You shouldn’t be here at all with all the filth you look like you’ve rolled in.”
Brady chewed back a retort about how this particular army-type had been battling insurgents to reach them on the Peak. No one here understood that they were surrounded by an enemy even Brady couldn’t figure out yet. Unaccustomed to the abrupt treatment, he clenched his jaw and obeyed.