Adrian Smith - The Fourth Phase

“Well, let’s hope that case the scientist gave us helps,” said Jack.

Alice exchanged a look with Maggie. “Case?”

“We rescued a scientist. She had been working on a cure. Her research was in the case. It’s a story for another time, I think.”

Maggie cast her eyes down to her tea. “A cure would be good. This new world sucks worse than before. And I’ve seen the worst of it.”

Dee chuckled. “Hell yeah.” She glanced outside. “Let’s go and enjoy Matariki. Forget about all this stuff for a while.” She looked up at Jack as she spoke and he smiled, nodding in agreement.

Dee pushed herself up from the table and moved into the lounge. She squatted down and lifted George into a hug. Alice called the other children, and they made their way down into the village.

The night air chilled her as she made her way along the shell path. Dee was thankful that the soldiers and other survivors had pitched in and cleaned up the mess from the attack. The strings of lights twinkled, beckoning her to the festivities. Dee was surprised at how much she wanted to join in. She was exhausted, but she loved Matariki. Tonight was a time to remember those lost, a time for renewal, a time to pause and be thankful.

The smells of BBQ cooking wafted over the bay as Jack and Dee led the others to the tables. Ben had posted soldiers around the camp at intervals, wary of another attack. Dee reached down and patted her Glock at her hip, its presence reassuring. She sat down at one of the tables and leant back, taking in the view. All around her people stood, enjoying the company of others. Music played softly in the background. Dee recognised the song Thank You by Led Zeppelin. That was fitting. She swivelled her head to her right. A microphone had been set up on the steps of the FOB.

Ben walked up to the microphone and tapped it a couple of times. An amplified thump rang out. “Good evening, everyone.”

The gathered party grew silent, and there was a shuffling as people took their seats. Jack reached over and laced his fingers through hers.

“Good evening. Tonight, is Matariki, our new year. This year it is bathed in sadness. A few weeks ago, the Hemorrhage Virus changed the world forever. Yet it was amongst this chaos that you survived, found refuge and each other. Yesterday we were attacked, and we lost a lot of good people. But even then, we found hope. Let us take this time to honour those who sacrificed their lives, so we could go on.”

Then Ben pointed to Dee. “Dee killed the Alpha that killed so many of us.”

Thunderous applause broke out and a huge cheer erupted.

Ben held up his hands and the party grew silent. “Tonight is a time to remember those that we have lost. I know we have all lost loved ones, and so much else besides. Let’s rise up from the ashes of this world and make a new one! A better one.” Ben stood, smiling at everyone, and applauded back. “Thank you to all those that pitched in to make this night happen.”

Ben turned away from the microphone and made his way to Jack and Dee. Applause broke out again, and the music volume went up a notch. Dee stood up and hugged Ben, indicating the seat next to her. She turned and watched as plates of food appeared, carried by soldiers and people from their small village.

Dee smiled and looked at Jack. “I love you.”

Jack grinned. “I know.”

Dee chuckled, reached over, and speared some steaming pork, heaping it onto her plate. Ben was right. They had to make this new world a better one. They had to right the wrongs of so many. Dee had hope, but she also had doubt. They had escaped the horrors of the mainland. They had survived. But at what cost? How soon before a country with more firepower looked to New Zealand and decided to take it away from the remaining few?

She brushed aside her fears and dug in to the food on her plate. Time to enjoy their victory and remember all those they had lost.

Jack sat at the table with Dee, Alice, Ben, and Maggie. A week had passed since Matariki. The mid-June sun shone weakly, casting long shadows over the well-worn timber table top.

He and Dee were enjoying the relative silence of Mayor Island. Patrols continued, looking for any Variants. So far, no more had been found. They had pitched in and helped build fortifications, adding several machine gun nests, fencing, and a few trenches. Everyone was expected to take a shift on watch. Jack had questioned Ben as to what had become of the Indonesian ships. They had apparently only wanted refuge, and not raised any concerns. They were going to sign a treaty and help support the remaining NZ Army with additional military.

The Colonel had not been happy with the Renegades’ actions, especially at the loss of men and the chopper. He had visited the island and reprimanded Ben and the Renegades. Jack’s handing over of the case had placated the situation. No punishment had been dealt out, for which Jack was happy. Thankfully, he had given them permission to liberate the camp Maggie and Alice had escaped from.

The day before, the Renegades and a squadron of soldiers had flown to the camp to find it free of guards. They had ferried the women and children to Great Barrier Island, much to the delight of Maggie and Alice. The absence of the guards had confused Jack. Dee thought that maybe they had left after hearing the explosions at the destroyed dams. He hoped the flooding of the river valley had killed thousands of the Variants. The sight of the flooded plains had stunned him. Most of both Hamilton and Cambridge was under water. He hoped that their efforts would help them turn the tide in this war for humanity.

Jack looked up from his tea, pushing aside his worries. “You guys ready?”

Maggie and Alice both nodded. Maggie rubbed her hand through her hair. “Almost. A few supplies to go. Should be ready for high tide.”

Jack grasped his chin in his hand, feeling his stubble. He glanced over at Dee, George sitting in her lap. The Doc had cleaned out the wound and, with Maggie’s help, made sure it didn’t get infected. He would never see out of it again, but he’d taken to wearing an eye patch. Jack had explained the plot of The Goonies , his favourite childhood movie, to the boy, telling him about the pirate captain One-Eyed Willy and how he had built these elaborate traps to test your worthiness to claim his treasure. He promised George that he would do his best to find a copy. George asked if he could build some traps for the monsters. Both he and Dee had agreed to help him build them; he just had to invent them. George had loved the idea and, with the help of Boss and Beth, spent hours drawing.

“Shall we go on our patrol?” he asked Dee.

“Yeah.” Dee turned to Alice. “See you guys down there.”

Alice smiled at her. “Okay. Thanks guys, for everything.”

“No worries. See you soon.”

Jack watched as she lifted George off her lap and pushed back her chair. He reached up and grabbed their go-bags, handing one to Dee and wriggling into his. Dee opened the gun cage and handed him his rifle before taking hers.

Jack arched an eyebrow. “You ready?”

“Nearly. Just need Kingslayer.” Dee grinned at him before pulling her Katana off the hook next to the gun cage.

Jack couldn’t help but grin back. He felt nothing but love and pride for her. Dee and Kingslayer had saved them all. Jack waved at Ben and the others before holding the door open for Dee. He looked up the hill, searching for the gun placement that was their first stop. Jack heard the door slam, and turning, he smiled. This might not have been how he’d imagined his life turning out, but he was going to make the most of it. Jack moved his rifle off his shoulder and followed Dee up the hill.