G Hopf - The End

“I know, Gunny. Thanks again and thank you for mentioning my brother. I do feel better now that we’ve talked,” Sebastian said.

“Not a problem, we’re a big family here too and we must take care of our Marines when they have a legitimate issue or concern,” Gunny said, placing his hand on Sebastian’s shoulder and patting it.

Sebastian turned around and walked away. He really did feel better knowing that the Gunny knew his brother and appreciated his affirming that Gordon was very capable. However, the conversation didn’t relieve his overall issue with the new mission. As he walked back to his tent, an unfamiliar, unexpected thought popped into his mind. Should he abandon his unit and find a way home?

Tinker Air Force Base, OK

“Sir, based upon mounting evidence and credible intelligence, we have concluded that Washington, D.C. has been destroyed and all remnants of our government there has gone with it. At this time, it is monumentally important that we maintain continuity,” Griswald explained, placing his pointer down on the table in front of him.

“What do you mean, general?” Conner asked.

“Sir, our intelligence indicates that both the president and vice president were killed in this morning’s attacks. We must get you sworn in as soon as possible and transport you immediately to a secure underground bunker.”

“General, before you go any further I need to be excused for a moment. Where’s the closest bathroom?” Conner stood up, overwhelmed by this staggering revelation.

“Just down the hall, sir, on the left,” an Air Force officer answered.

“Thank you, I’ll be back in a few,” Conner stepped away from the table and walked quickly to the door. He pushed it open and made his way as quickly as he could to the bathroom. He went inside the bathroom, and called out to make sure he was alone. He opened all the stall doors to double-check. Once comfortable that he was truly alone, he walked to the sink and turned on the cold tap. He cupped a handful of water and splashed it on his face. After a few more splashes, he stared into the mirror at his own reflection. As he watched the water drip down his face, he noticed dark circles under his blood-shot eyes.

“Oh, my God,” he said to himself, unable to break his gaze into the mirror. The weight of everything that had happened over the past eight hours was unbelievable, it felt surreal. He reached over and grabbed a paper towel from the dispenser and dried his face and hands. He then paced around the empty bathroom for a minute before he approached the mirror again. He bent over, grabbed the sides of the sink, and stared at his reflection again and said, “Brad, pull yourself together. Your country needs you. Be the leader you know you can be. You have a responsibility to lead this nation. Stop freaking out and pull it together.”

He stood up straight, taking a final glance at himself, then left the bathroom. When he walked back into the briefing room, all conversation halted and everyone looked over to him.

“General Griswald, I need you to coordinate a team to go retrieve my wife and my son’s body from St. Anthony’s hospital. Once they are secure, we shall leave.”

“Yes, sir, but can we swear you in now?”

“Not until your team gets my wife. Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir,” Griswald turned to his aide and shot him a commanding look. The aide jumped up and left the room followed by Agent Davis.

“Please keep me briefed on my wife’s situation at all times. I have another request, general, go find a judge and get me a Bible.”

San Diego, CA

As soon as Jimmy made the turn into the Ralph’s parking lot, he and Gordon could see the crowd gathered outside and commotion erupting. As they drove closer, they could see people hauling items, pushing full shopping carts out of the store.

“Looks like the word has gotten out,” Jimmy said aloud.

“Yes it does,” Gordon replied, nodding his head in agreement. “Listen, I don’t feel safe leaving the one and only operational vehicle out in the open. Pull up over there and I’ll go see what I can get inside by myself,” Gordon told Jimmy, pointing over to an area in the parking lot that had few cars and few people.

As he slowly weaved around parked cars toward the area Gordon indicated, Jimmy noticed many in the crowd looking and pointing at the truck. He felt uneasy and was now glad Gordon had given him the gun.

“Make sure you park in a spot that you don’t have to back out of,” Gordon recommended, pointing to a spot next to a line of shopping carts.

“Good idea,” Jimmy said as he took a left into the spot.

“I don’t know how long I’ll be. With all this going on it might be hard to get what we need,” Gordon said while checking his cash and gun and grabbing his pack. He opened the truck door and stepped down. Before closing the door behind him, he bent over, looked into the car, and said, “Stay frosty, my friend.”

“Stay frosty?” Jimmy asked.

“It means stay alert,’” Gordon said and shut the door. He grabbed a cart and started running toward the front of the store. People all around rushed in and out of the store. Some people were pushing full carts; others just were running out with arms full of groceries. He pushed his cart directly into the crowd and pushed his way through. After a minute of pushing and elbows he made it inside. He stopped, put on his headlamp, and headed for the canned food area.

Inside, people were running all around, groceries were all over the floors, and people were yelling and screaming. Gordon ignored the commotion and went directly for the aisle he needed. Once he reached the canned food section, he saw that many of the shelves had been stripped, but not completely bare. Not wanting to waste any time, Gordon started to toss in whatever he could get his hands on.

He made his way down the aisle and just cleared what he could. His makeshift plan was to fill up the cart, go back to Jimmy at the car, leave the cart for Jimmy to unload, grab a new cart, and do it all over again. What was becoming more problematic every passing moment was the setting sun on the horizon. Gordon was getting a bit concerned for Jimmy outside by himself. He followed his plan and with no altercation he left the store and dropped off the cart.

He grabbed a new cart and made his way back into the store, keeping aware of his surroundings as best he could in the semi-darkness. He heard people falling into shelves and displays as they stumbled through the store with no light, tripping over loose cans and other items dropped by previous looters. He remembered judging people he’d seen on TV, looting stores after natural disasters. He felt a bit hypocritical, but this was a life or death situation.

Four trips later, the truck was filling but the store had been all but stripped bare. The sun was very low on the horizon now and Gordon knew it was time to get home.

“Well, I better start to like canned corn,” Jimmy said, looking at all the Ralph’s brand canned corn piled in the bed of his truck.

“Not too much to choose from, buddy. Kind of slim pickings.”

“What a mess,” Jimmy said, nodding toward the groups of people darting in and out of the store.

Out of nowhere, someone rushed the truck on the driver’s side.

“Help, please help me!” a man shouted. His shirt was bloody and he was sweating badly.

“Whoa,” Jimmy said clearly shocked by the bloodied man knocking on his window.

“Get away from the truck!” Gordon yelled.

“Please help me, my wife; I need someone to take her to the hospital!” the man frantically banged on the hood and glass of the driver’s side of the truck.