Richard Stephenson - Resistance

***

Lance McGee stood in line at the front gate of Fort McClellan, Alabama, waiting to be processed into the refugee camp. He was shivering, not because he was cold, but because he was terrified. Had the weather been a bit warmer, the people standing around Lance would have known immediately that something was wrong with him because he could not stop trembling. If not for the incessant rain, the tired, hungry citizens standing in line might have noticed the pungent urine stain covering the front of his jeans. Lance’s bloodshot gaze remained fixed at his dirty feet for fear that someone might look into his eyes and know something was horribly wrong.

For the next hour, Lance crept forward in line, getting closer to the front gate of the decommissioned army installation. Fort McClellan was once the largest military base in the country and one of the most famous. It housed the Women’s Army Corp that trained the very first women to be soldiers during World War II. Fort McClellan also housed the training camps for the Military Police Corps and the Chemical Corps. In 1999, it was decommissioned by the United States Army and became home to the Center For Domestic Preparedness run by the Department of Homeland Security. Residents from all over The Pulse Zone desperately scrambled to get to Fort McClellan. They all wanted one thing-security. In the eighteen months since the collapse, the Unified American Empire fought to restore law and order to keep the population safe. Refugee camps erected across The Pulse Zone simply couldn’t handle the strain of food riots, gang violence, and the countless waves of people terrified of the slave trade.

Fort McClellan became a beacon of hope. The installation sat roughly fifty miles to the south of the southern boundary of The Pulse Zone. The electromagnetic pulse that plunged the Eastern Seaboard into darkness had no effect on Fort McClellan. The power grid had been knocked out but was easily repaired. President Simon Sterling knew the significance of the installation, and given its close proximity to Atlanta, it was the obvious choice to be the headquarters of the Unified American Empire’s military forces on the East Coast. Because of its importance, Fort McClellan enjoyed a limitless supply of resources, thanks in large part to the ongoing pillaging of the unaffected oasis that was California.

As Lance got closer to the checkpoint, it took every bit of concentration he had to keep from passing out. The lives of his wife and children were at stake; he had to do this for them. He had no doubt about the consequences of failure. If he botched this, they would be raped and murdered. He had no other options.

As the smartphone in his pocket began to vibrate, Lance let out an involuntary shriek and his shaking escalated, alarming those waiting nearby.

“Sir, are you okay?”

“Do you need help?”

“What’s wrong?”

“Uh… n-n-nothing. I’m sorry. J-j-just have a splitting headache.” Lance tried his best to smile at the people around him, but it didn’t lessen their alarm.

“Should we get a doctor? Honey, walk up to the front of the line and tell…”

“No! I said I was fine! Don’t do that!” Lance knew he needed to get a grip. He was drawing unwanted attention to himself when he could least afford to do so. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to yell. Please forgive me. It’s just so cold and my feet hurt.”

Lance turned his back on the meddlesome couple, hoping they wouldn’t cause a scene. As his phone continued to vibrate, Lance reached up to tap the Bluetooth device in his ear. Unable to utter a single word, Lance coughed, hoping that would be enough.

“Good, good, good. Mr. McGee, I’m so glad you’re still with us. I don’t really expect you to answer me, given that someone talking on a phone these days would definitely attract attention. We wouldn’t want to do that, now would we?”

Just the sound of the man’s voice sent Lance over the edge, gasping for air. His eerie, composed politeness brought forth images that were anything but tranquil, images of torture-not just his own, but the torture of his children as well.

“Now, now, Mr. McGee. We can’t have you carrying on like this when we’re so close to being finished. Do calm down, sir. Please.”

Lance knew he had to get a grip — and fast!

“That’s much better, Mr. McGee. I really do wish we could have one of our pleasant talks, but I guess we’ll have to settle for a boring, one-sided conversation. Kind of funny, don’t you think? For decades every man, woman, and child walked around talking on a phone, fiddling their little fingers around on a mobile gadget doing all manner of silly things. It wasn’t long ago that you would be positively out of place if you didn’t have some sort of do-hickey in your hand. Oh, how the tables have turned! If you pulled that phone out of your pocket right this second, I bet people around you would start screaming and running from you like you were an alien with a ray gun. Anyway, I’ve gotten quite far from the topic at hand, haven’t I? You’re still with me aren’t you, Mr. McGee? Give me a little cough so we can get this party started.”

Lance cleared his throat angrily

“Excellent! That little phone in your pocket is telling me you’re about twenty yards from the front gate. I just wanted to chat with you in case you were having some crazy thoughts about backing out on me and doing something foolish like trying to get help. It occurred to me a few minutes ago that you might think I won’t keep my end of the bargain, that no matter what you do your family will die either way, so why cooperate? That sound about right? Go on now; give us another one of your angry coughs.”

Lance’s face was awash in tears as he obeyed.

“Fantastic! I have your lovely wife here ready to talk to you one last time. Don’t you worry now; she knows you won’t actually be doing any talking. You be extra careful not to get caught up in the moment and draw attention to yourself. Are we clear?”

This time Lance could only manage a sob, his signal of recognition tangled in his throat.

“Okay now, here she is. And Lance? Remember, your family’s lives are riding on your performance.”

Lance closed his eyes and concentrated as hard as he could to control himself.

A few seconds later, his wife’s sweet voice filled his ear. Lance was so proud that Sheila sounded completely calm.

“Lance, my darling, me and the kids are okay. They actually brought us back home! I’m sitting in the living room, and the kids are in their beds. You just have to do what they want and they’ll leave. I really, really think they’re gonna go. Please darling, be brave for me and think of the children. We’ll be safe, I promise. I love you so…”

“Mr. McGee, wasn’t that just lovely? Your wife is an exceptional woman indeed. Now then, I trust you have the proper motivation to proceed? No need to respond, Mr. McGee. I know you and I are on the same page. Oh my! Looking at my little screen here I see that you’re almost at the front gate! How positively exciting! I’m going to stay on the line all the way to the end to ensure that we won’t need to pursue certain … liberties with your dear wife. And one last thing, Mr. McGee. I really do hate to even bring this up, such nasty business, but my two associates are very fond of your lovely daughter. You must be so proud that she made varsity cheerleader before the country just went to pot. She has been entertaining us with some very enthusiastic cheer routines. She wasn’t really into it at first, I’m afraid to say, but after I asked her if she’d rather my associates, uh… occupy their time with her little brother, she just beamed a big smile with every cheer! A real treat indeed! Anyway, you just make sure you hold up your end of the deal, and you have my solemn word that my associates will focus their attention elsewhere. Mr. McGee, it has been a real pleasure working with you. I thank you kindly for your time. Good luck to you, sir. I know you’ll do what needs to be done.”