Anthony DeCosmo - Disintegration

"Let’s hear it, soldier."

"Never saw anything like them, Sir. Some sort of machines. I don’t know if there’s anything inside of em’ or if they’re just…well, I think they’re robots, Sir."

The information nearly sounded funny, particularly coming from a man who had managed to keep his army crew cut perfectly sculpted even after a year on the run.

"Car-sized, Sir. Like robotic cockroaches or something. Six legs each. Got some sort of machine guns on them. Wouldn’t want to be standing toe to toe with them, Sir."

Brewer asked, "Any artillery? Heavy weapons? Air cover?"

"No, Sir. I think each of these things packs a good wallop on its own. And the

Grenadiers, well, they can’t take a bite out these things. Sorry, Sir."

Trevor pinched the bridge of his nose.

Stonewall asked, "Did you ascertain their number?"

"I think seventy-five to one hundred, Sir. They were in the open pretty good but scattered across a wide front. They’re heading right along Route 115. Coming this way, slow but sure."

Trevor traced his fingers over the map.

Brewer said, "These Viking things and the robots are on a path that’ll bring them together outside the Wyoming Valley Mall where 81 and 115 intersect by the expressway. The Red Hands are coming down along the river."

Dante hoped, "Maybe they’ll run into each other and start fighting."

Trevor sighed but it was Nina who said what was on his mind: "Look, they’re not going to fight each other. They’re going to meet up and march right out here; one big happy army."

Evan Godfrey interrupted, "You don’t know that! They might just pass us by."

Once again, Nina spoke for Trevor: "They’re coming for us. This isn’t a coincidence."

Evan moved from the crowd into the limelight of the conversation.

"Yeah, you’d just love that. Another reason to have another war. Can’t we go negotiate with them? We’re talking about intelligent races."

Trevor replied, "No."

Nina said, "These things meet up-what? — two days from now then they head out here."

Shep voiced what they all realized: "Reckon they would just overwhelm us."

"Dante," Trevor commanded, "get your scouts out. I need updates on movement and headings and everything. Get them going. Now."

"Yeah man, no problem."

Stonewall said, "May I make a suggestion? Some say the battle of Gettysburg was won on the first day."

Jon Brewer’s knowledge of history forced him to correct, "That was a three day fight."

Stonewall conceded, "Yes, but on the first day the confederate army's fate was sealed."

Brewer followed Stonewall's thinking: "The Union army occupied the high ground outside of town. The confederates spent the next two days attacking those positions."

"Indeed," Stonewall agreed. "History may have recorded a different outcome if General Lee had secured the high ground for the Army of Northern Virginia that day."

First Trevor, then Brewer, then Shep leaned closer to the map.

Trevor said, "We sure as hell can’t let those armies come together."

Brewer echoed, "Wow, yeah. That’d be bad."

"Get those scouts out and the Eagles flying. We need info. Prescott, get me an up to date listing of armaments and munitions. Garrett, put together your best skirmishers."

Stonewall bowed.

"People, I think things are going to get interesting over the next forty-eight hours; if we have that long. I don’t want those armies converging. I’m going airborne to check some things out and I’m mustering every K9 I can find."

As the meeting dispersed, Evan said to Trevor, "Let me try negotiating."

"They’re coming for us. I’d love to send you to negotiate but you’d never come back."

"Okay then, what is it you want me to do?"

"What do you want to do?"

Evan replied, "I guess I’m going to fight."

Trevor’s wide eyes and gape revealed his surprise.

Evan muttered, "You think because I don’t agree with you I’m a coward? You don’t know me. Just because I don’t like the idea of fighting for the rest of my life doesn’t mean I won’t stand up when I need to."

"Okay then. We’ll get you assigned somewhere. In the meantime, round up any transportation, fuel supplies and anything else we might need. Think creative. Who knows what this is going to take."

Evan Godfrey walked away.

Nina joined Trevor.

"You two making friends?"

"No. Sometimes you pigeonhole someone then you learn that was a mistake. Mark it down; Evan’s not afraid to put it on the line."

"Good. I’m just saying everyone is going to have to fight."

"Yeah," Trevor watched Evan leave the room. "Sooner or later everyone fights for what they believe in."

– Trevor told Nina to get an hour’s rest and something to eat while he planned to take an Eagle to analyze the topography to the east and south.

He walked out of the mansion’s front doors with Tyr by his side and stopped.

The white wolf paced frantically just beyond the northern fence.

Trevor, his eyes on the Old Man’s familiar, had one more order to give before he could answer the call from his benefactor. He told Tyr, "Complete assembly. As soon as possible."

As the dog bolted off in one direction, Trevor went around the fence on the perimeter road to follow the wolf as it hurried off into the woods.

The forest turned the day dark. New leaves waved in a brisk spring wind. The old, dried leaves from last fall covered the ground in dried rot.

The Old Man paced along the rim of a flickering fire and sneered, "’Bout damned time."

"I got here as fast as I could."

Trevor tried to sound annoyed at the interruption, but he lost any edge as he saw the expression in the Old Man's eyes: as he saw the fear- out right fear — there.

The Old Man’s next words changed Trevor Stone’s world forever.

"You can’t be with her." The man’s wrinkled, crooked hand trembled as he waved it toward Stone. "I didn’t see this thing comin’ but this here is the way it is. Had I known earlier this would of been easier."

Trevor cocked his head. "Huh? What are you talking about? Does this have something to do with the three armies?"

The Old Man repeated, "You can’t be with her."

Trevor came to understand the Old Man’s meaning.

"What? Are you talking about Nina? Who I’m with is none of your business."

The Old Man pumped a shaky fist that appeared more afraid than angry.

"I told you, you walk a path. You can either do what you’re supposed to be doin’ or you fail and things end."

"Take your riddles somewhere else; I don’t have time for this shit. I have three god damn armies of nasties coming at us."

"And that don’t mean diddly! You think I don’t know what’s comin’ down the pike? But that don’t mean nothin’ if you don’t listen to me now!"

Trevor shot, "I’m doing everything you told me to do. I’ve fought the fight. I’ve been through a living hell. I’ve been beaten and tortured and felt pain like no man should ever feel. I have nightmares that would give Freddy Krueger the creeps. Sometimes I can still feel those friggin’ bugs crawling in my skin. So I find one little ounce of happiness in this world and you tell me no? Well screw you and all your shit. If you don’t like me with Nina then go find someone else for the job."

Trevor started to walk off.

"Somethin’ bad gunna happen to her."

Trevor turned with the devil in his face.

"I don’t know what you are, but I will spend the rest of my life and all my time in Hell getting my vengeance if you hurt her."

The Old Man placed a hand on his forehead and spoke with a tone of frustration and, perhaps, a touch of pity.

"Oh Trevor, you just ain’t hearin’ me cause you in love. I told you. You walk a path. She ain’t on that path, Trevor. I can see where it goes. She ain’t with you. You don’t have the brainpower to understand what this be all about. You don’t have the mental ca-pacity."