Jacqueline Druga - Fallout

No empty channels, no blue screen. Those four shows took up all two hundred plus channels Joe had.

Joe dropped the remote on to his chair and walked to the phone. He lifted it. There was a tone. Immediately, he called Saul.

Two rings, Saul answered.

“Hey, Saul, did I wake you?” Joe asked.

“No, not at all. I was just about to call you.”

“So, I take it you noticed we have power again?” Joe asked.

“Yes, I did. It’s splendid.”

Splendid? Joe thought. That was an odd word choice for Saul to use . “Listen Saul, I put on the television—”

“When you should be putting on the eggs,” said Saul.

“Huh?”

“I can really go for an egg, I know you have them.”

“I do. But…”

“I’ll be there in a jiff. Thanks for the invite.”

Click.

Scratching his head, Joe stared at the phone for a few seconds. He really didn’t understand anything that was going on. Everything seemed off. He did know one thing, for some strange reason, Saul was on his way over at the crack of dawn for some eggs, and Joe had better get cooking.

Senator Gus Howard was a badass. Even though his name didn’t sound it, he was. Everyone who knew him respected and feared him. A former marine, Gus ran an impressive grassroots campaign during a special election and trumped the favorite by a long shot. He was rough and rugged, showing up to events on a motorcycle, and even making no bones about his drinking and smoking pot.

As a senator he had visited war zones so much he garnished the nickname Golden Gus Cash because he always brought the troops special gifts and was constantly playing Johnny Cash.

He had made friends with Steve Tanner, husband of Speaker of the House Madeline Tanner, despite that he and Madeline were on both sides of the political aisle.

Typically, he joined Steve the entire time on those five-day fishing trips to Holly River, and encouraged them to be longer, especially after his wife passed. But on the weekend of the attack, he had an appointment for a root canal and didn’t want to reschedule it. He trusted only his dentist in his hometown of Union, Pennsylvania and had returned there. It wasn’t that far from the fishing sight, shorter distance than Washington.

Steve left for Holly River on Thursday, the day of his dentist appointment. Gus told him he’d head down Friday some time. He couldn’t call him if there was trouble, that was why they picked Holly River.

There wasn’t a signal for miles.

It was set so deep in the mountains that once you went into the valley, there was no contact with the outside world.

Old man Bear Grayson was a radio operator eight miles away. If there was an emergency, he got word. Plus, his phone worked because Bear was out of the valley.

Feeling better after a rough night following his root canal, Gus packed up a bag and headed for the three-hour trek to join his buddy at Holly River. He got a late start and was half way there when all hell started to break loose, first in New York.

He thought about bypassing Holly River and heading straight to Washington like many in congress and senate were doing. After all, it was one terror attack he’d need to be there, but he changed his mind and headed back to Union, to his home state, where his constituents were. He reached out to Bear, leaving word for him to find Steve in the morning and let him know about the attacks.

By morning though, all had changed.

The United States had not only been thrust into war, it was thrust into chaos.

Communications were down and so was most of the power.

Pittsburgh, forty miles north of him, was hit with a nuclear weapon. His small town of fifteen hundred was a ghost town.

Gus had to figure out a plan. Where was he needed. Washington was hit, that meant the president. It came so quickly, out of nowhere, no indication of war.

His next thought was to head to Holly River, get Steve, and help him find his wife.

En route to Holly River he witnessed the invasion first hand. Watched them drop from the sky. Gus knew at that second, he was no good captured or killed. He wasn’t scared. He cursed them as they arrived. How dare they. It was his country.

The problem was the country was down, the military scattered, government in disarray.

They were sitting ducks.

He couldn’t just sit by, no one could. He knew eventually he’d be a part of the fight to take the country back, but he couldn’t do that alone. So many had invaded, a strategy was needed. He veered off the main roads to take the longer back roads to Holly River, out of sight and safe. He would use that driving time to think of a plan. Gus was good like that. As his tires spun on his journey south, so did his mind.

Radiation wasn’t as low as Troy wanted it to be, but it had diminished enough that he told Madeline she could take a walk around the grounds, at least for a half an hour.

She needed the air. The exterior posh resort was so beautiful and untouched by the horrors of war, Madeline found herself in bouts of denial.

Was it real?

She, as president, was in limbo and felt as if she had to do something, but there was nothing she could do. Troy had sent out scouting teams over the previous few days and after an initial radio check, they heard nothing.

The soldiers and civilians that went out to scavenge weapons and food had returned, but those who went out directly to the areas infected by the foreign invaders were nowhere to be found.

“How many now?” Madeline asked Troy as they walked.

“There were fifty-three soldiers, we’ve sent out twenty to scout. We cannot send out anymore.”

“We can’t reclaim our country with so little.”

“Chances are, the ones that invaded are taking prisoners, gathering those who can be a threat. We connected to the satellites and have some communication with the UK. Our best bet now is having them gather the troops stationed overseas. We do have a fighting chance.”

“Organization is key.”

Troy nodded. “Yes, it is. We need intel, we need to know where exactly they landed, where they are setting up the base of operations. All that is vital in setting up a counter attack. Unfortunately, we are now on the defensive.”

“I can’t do this.”

“You don’t really have a choice now, do you?”

As if chilled, Madeline clutched her own arms and rubbed them while shaking her head.

“We should go back in now,” Troy suggested. “It’s been long—”

“Captain!” a voice called from the distance.

Both Madeline and Troy turned to the sound of the voice. It came from a solider positioned on the roof.

“We have one returning,” he announced. “Main drive.”

Troy spun toward the tree-lined driveway.

One lone soldier made his way toward them. Troy rushed to him and Madeline followed behind.

“Captain,” the soldier said, his voice tired and breath filled.

“Where are the others?” Troy asked.

“They sent me back, my team did. I had to stay off the roads,” he replied. “They are firing on everyone who is armed, taking civilians. That’s in Charleston and outlining areas. Seems like they’re searching, too. We spoke to people traveling south, they came from Morgantown, they are saying it’s all high population areas.”

“This isn’t a high population area,” said Madeline.

Troy shook his head. “No, but we’re close to D.C. and any political evacuation would be in this area. That’s who they’re searching for.”

“Me,” Madeline said.

“Probably.” Troy turned back to the soldier. “How many did you see? Has to be a lot.”