G Hopf - The End

Stepping to the door of their quarters, he could hear music playing inside. He opened the door and what he saw took him back to his days in college. Julia was dancing around the room and singing loudly. When he first met Julia, he was drawn to her distinct feminine energy. That femininity had been lost over the years as their lives went in two different directions mostly because of his intense schedule.

Finally noticing him standing there, she ran and jumped into his arms. He held her and walked into their bedroom while they kissed passionately. They both dropped onto the bed and continued to kiss.

“I love you, Brad,” she said after taking a pause from kissing.

“I love you, too, Julia,” he responded with a softness in his voice.

“Sorry for the loud music,” she said, caressing his face.

“Not a problem. I actually loved walking into the room and seeing you so happy.”

“I feel like a little girl. I know we’ve been through a lot but the chance of becoming a mother again makes me feel alive,” she said, with a glimmer in her eye.

“I know this might seem horrible to say, but your happiness makes all the bad things happening seem distant. Coming home to you gives me a break from the harsh realities of what’s happened.”

Holding his face in her hands, she responded, “I’m glad that you fully support this.”

“Of course.”

“So, tell me about your day, any good news?”

“Why yes, there was,” he replied as he rolled onto his back. She laid her head on his chest and listened to his breathing. “We finally made a decision on the location of the new capital.”

“That’s definitely good news. So where will it be?”

“Without rehashing the issues of logistics, it came down to two choices, the first being Portland, Oregon and the second San Francisco. After much discussion and analysis, we decided to go with Portland. It has everything we need. The port and airport are adequate and the population is manageable. San Francisco had positives but the concentration of people was too much. We know we will have some issues but it’s the best choice. If we didn’t have the reactor meltdown problems we would have gone somewhere else.”

“So what happens next?”

“We go out there. We, meaning a team of us to go get things set up. That brings me to the bad news.”

“Oh no, I know that tone Mr. Conner,” Julia said raising her head and looking at him.

“I’m going to lead the team,” he said.

“What? That’s not your job. Send others to ensure it’s safe,” Julia said concerned.

“Not this time, I need to go. I’m their leader and I need to go see exactly what’s happening out there.”

“You’re too important, what if something happens to you?” Julia said as she sat up looking upset about the news. Her glow had gone and had been replaced by dread.

Conner understood her concerns, but the idea of him leading the team was his. He was tired of being pent up inside the mountain, plus he believed a true leader leads from the front. Brad also thought it would send a powerful statement that their government was real and they were doing something.

“Julia, I knew you were going to be upset but you have to understand that things are different now. We have limited resources and personnel. I need to lead like leaders of the past and be on my horse leading the charge, not cowering in a bunker somewhere.”

“I don’t agree with you, you’re too valuable to lose. Your country needs you safe, not running around like a cowboy on the frontier.”

“I appreciate your concerns, but I’m going. I need to be out there. I need to see exactly what is happening. I will be safer than most, I’m not going alone. I’m taking a large entourage of security. I might be daring but I’m not foolish.”

“Brad, you’re going to be a father again. I can’t afford to lose you.”

Conner paused before responding. He knew he needed to tread lightly.

“Sweetheart, I hear you, but this trip will not be long. I’m going out there to get things started then I’ll return. I’ll be gone no more than two weeks.”

“Brad, I think you’re being foolish, but when did that ever stop you?”

“There’s one more thing,” he said sheepishly.

“What could be worse?”

“We leave tomorrow morning.”

She just looked at him and then abruptly stood up and left the room. He followed her to attempt to console her, but she avoided him. He reached over and touched her arm.

“Don’t touch me!”

“Julia, please,” he pleaded.

Wanting refuge from him, she went into the bathroom and locked the door.

“Julia, come out, please,” he said after he knocked softly on the door.

“Leave me alone.”

“Please, open up.”

“Brad, leave me alone. I need time to think about this.”

He leaned on the door, hating that the past couple of weeks of bliss had been wiped away. Her crying brought doubt to his most recent decision. The sacrifice of being president was becoming something he didn’t want anymore. If he could change it, he would. But fate doesn’t work that way and he had a responsibility. Backing away from the door, he went to his closet, grabbed a bag and started packing for his trip

San Diego, CA

“Gordon, what the hell are you doing here?” Jimmy asked, surprised to see his friend up and about.

“We need to pack up and get out of here,” Gordon said walking into Jimmy’s house.

“What’s up, man?” Jimmy asked, surprised. He hadn’t seen Gordon awake for days, and here he was now telling him they had to leave.

“Samantha told me about what happened with Mindy and Dan. I know that any day now they’ll come for our food and resources. We have the issue with those Villistas and now I think we have another huge problem with some type of radiation exposure north of here.”

“Radiation? Where? Gordon, slow down,” Jimmy said, reaching out and patting Gordon on the arm.

Looking irritated and tired, Gordon snapped back, “I don’t have time to slow down. It will take us a couple of days to get squared away before we can leave. We don’t have the luxury of slowing down! I need you to trust me! We need to act fast!”

“Okay, okay,” Jimmy said, putting his hands up.

Gordon quickly explained to Jimmy his plan of driving to Idaho. After years of knowing Gordon, Jimmy had learned not to interrupt Gordon when he focused like this.

Gordon’s plan called for them to leave in two days with whoever wanted to come, albeit they had their own supplies and vehicles. The route involved traveling off the main freeways by taking older state highways and surface roads. Avoiding major cities and heavily populated areas was important.

“How are we doing for vehicles?” Gordon asked.

“You still have that truck you took from the man you shot at the hospital and Nelson still has his vehicle. Mine was blown up.”

“What about trailers?”

“I have the camper we can tow and besides that we have the horse trailer we can use especially since the horses are gone.”

“What happened to the horses?” Gordon asked, although he had his suspicions as to what might have happened to them.

“They were killed and eaten about a week ago.”

“Well, the trailer will come in handy. Who else do you think will want to come?”

Jimmy gave his opinion on who he thought might want to join their convoy to the north. They discussed the merits of each person or family to determine if they would be a good fit.

“Your idea of who can go and not is kinda harsh!” Jimmy exclaimed.

“What’s wrong with it?” Gordon asked.

“The way you put it, sounds like no one can go except for us, your criteria even excludes Melissa and her baby.”