Dark Titan Journey: Finally Home (35 page)

“Yeah, the turnoff is just up there. It will take me two hours to get up and an hour back. If I’m not back in four hours, move to the rally point and wait one day. If I call and say, ‘beat it,’ head home. If I call and say, ‘come,’ that means come and get me,” Nathan said, tightening his vest.

“Nathan, come on let’s just take a buggy up,” Jasmine said.

“No. We don’t know if it’s safe, and the road is too narrow to turn around. Now remember, if you head home, use the code words on the computer at the final rally point,” Nathan said. Jasmine just stood with her mouth open, and Nathan kissed her open mouth. He let her go. “Ares, time to work.”

Ares ran over as Nathan jogged off. Jasmine turned to the group. “We covered a hundred and eighty miles in less than four hours.”

Casey had a smile ear to ear. “And Pepper is still happy because she didn’t have to carry me here.”

Not knowing how to respond, Jasmine looked at the forest. “Let’s pull the buggies into the trees in case someone comes down the road.”

Without his pack, Nathan was keeping a steady pace with Ares trotting along beside him. Nathan was halfway there when Ares moved in front of him and stopped. Nathan skidded to a halt and looked around. Not seeing anything but trusting Ares, he moved to the side of the road and slowly walked.

It wasn’t long before Nathan rounded a curve and saw a hot spot beside the road holding a rifle about fifty yards away. “I see you, and I’m sure you see me. You raise your rifle and I will be forced to kill you!” Nathan called out as he walked forward.

When he was ten yards away, Nathan stopped, and the man still hadn’t moved. “Dude, I can see you.”

The man slowly moved to the road. “What are you doing here?”

“Whatever I want,” Nathan informed him.

“How did you find this road?” the man asked.

“I was told where it was,” Nathan said.

“By who?”

“My fairy godmother,” Nathan popped off.

“Mister, you’re not giving me answers,” the man grumbled.

“Unless you suck me or pay my way, I don’t have to answer to you,” Nathan spat.

The man shook his head. “I have a friend who lives down this road, and we don’t like visitors.”

“Let me tell you something, Sparky, I didn’t want to come down this damn road, but I promised a dad I would. Now since you look like a man without a shred of honor, I don’t expect you to understand,” Nathan said, relaxing his stance.

Nathan could see the man’s jaw twitching as he ground his teeth. “Just tell me the name of the person the dad sent you after.”

“His son’s name is Frank,” Nathan said.

He saw the man jump back, relaxing. “Why did he send you?”

“Are you going to ask me on a date? If you do, I like it swallowed. I have things to fucking do. Now, is Frank around?” Nathan popped off.

“Mister, you can piss someone off,” the man complained.

“I’m not the one playing twenty questions. Now, you are either going to let me go and see if Frank is in his cabin tucked back in the woods, or I’m going to kill you and do the same damn thing? I want to give Frank this damn letter and be on my way,” Nathan said.

The man nodded. “Okay, but if you don’t have a letter, you won’t walk back down.”

“You gonna let me ride ya?” Nathan popped back. The man didn’t answer as he turned around, walking up the road. “You may think you’re a badass, but in my book you don’t even rate a cloudy day,” Nathan said, breaking into a jog as he passed the man. “I told you, I’m in a fucking hurry.”

The man jogged up beside Nathan and kept pace, with Ares just a step behind Nathan. They jogged for half an hour, and the man pulled out a radio and spoke into it, then put the radio up. “Don’t worry, the cabin is only three hundred yards,” Nathan said.

“You know a lot for someone who’s never been here,” the man said, trying not to gasp.

“I can read a map,” Nathan said as they came around a curve. Nathan saw the outline of the cabin. “Just because you have three friends out doesn’t scare me.”

“Then you are stupid,” the man said.

“Nope, better prepared and trained,” Nathan said, and the man chuckled.

“I doubt that.”

“I don’t know which elite unit you’re from, but I’m not impressed. If you’re a loyalist I’m going to leave your body for the animals to eat,” Nathan informed him.

“You do have balls, though,” the man said as he stopped jogging.

Nathan slowed to a walk and hid his breathing. He’d be damned if this douche was going see him gasping. The front door opened, flooding the area with light and shutting out Nathan’s NVGs. He flipped them up. He walked up to the door to see a man standing in it.

“How can I help you?” he asked.

“First you’re not Frank. Second, you can get him,” Nathan said, turning his side to the two men.

“How do you know I’m not Frank?” the man asked.

“All right, I’m getting fucking tired of the questions. Ask me another one and I’ll knock your teeth out and skull-fuck you to death,” Nathan snarled. Ares crouched down, giving a rumble in his chest.

The man in the door raised his hands. “If you know Frank like you say you do, then you should know why we are asking questions.”

“Yeah, like a dumbass Homeland agent can say they were bringing a letter to Frank from his dad. Shit, they don’t even know who Bart is,” Nathan said.

Nathan heard movement inside, and another man pushed the man in the doorway back. “When did you see my dad?”

“Hello, Frank,” Nathan said, pulling a note out of his left thigh pocket. His right hand never left his weapon. “Your dad was worried about you and Homeland tracking you down. It’s my fault really, because I’m the one that said you were becoming a symbol for the patriots. He’s doing well. They had a few run-ins with some gangs and Homeland. He didn’t tell me anyone was bad off, so I don’t know about the rest of the family.”

Frank took the letter like it was a holy relic. “Thank you, sir.”

“Frank, are these boys holding you against your will? Because if they are, tell me and I’ll kill them and you can take off home,” Nathan said, and the man Frank had pushed back started laughing.

“No sir, they are here to protect me,” Frank said, opening the letter.

“I hope you keep it up, because I’ve heard what Homeland thinks about you, and it’s not nice. This is a letter from me about what I’ve learned, and it’s some wild shit,” Nathan said handing Frank another letter.

“Sir, can you come inside for a second please?” Frank asked.

Nathan sighed. “Frank, dropping that letter off is costing me four hours of traveling time getting home. I promised I would give it to you if you were here at this cabin, but if not I was leaving it here and heading home.”

“Please, sir,” Frank begged.

“Fine. You have ten minutes.”

Nathan walked in and put his back to the wall. Ares stayed at his side. “You don’t have to worry about them, sir,” Frank said, looking up from his dad’s letter.

The man who first opened the door walked over, extending his hand. “Name’s Keith.”

“Nathan, and left hand if you don’t mind,” Nathan said, extending his left hand.

“Nathan, you are something else. You mind if I read your letter to Frank?” Keith asked.

“I don’t care, I’m gone in eight minutes,” Nathan said.

Keith took the letter and started reading as Frank looked up. “You need anything? I’ll never be able to repay you for this.”

“No, I’m good. I’m glad I found you, because I like your dad. He is a no-bullshit guy,” Nathan said.

“Yes sir, he is,” Frank said.

“Frank, it’s Nathan. I’m glad that drone didn’t get you,” Nathan said.

Shock hit Frank’s face. “How did you know that?”

“I talked to a deputy director of Homeland. They really don’t like you. Your programs are being rebroadcast over the entire country,” Nathan said.

Keith looked up from reading. “Is this accurate?”

“I wouldn’t have written it if it wasn’t,” Nathan replied.

“You’ve seen this M-U?” Keith asked.

“I have a Mew,” Nathan said.

“I need to see it,” Keith demanded.

“Sorry. I killed the assholes for it. You go get your own,” Nathan said.

The man who had escorted him to the cabin stepped forward. “That wasn’t a request.”

Nathan turned to him. “You and I are about to have a problem, and it’s going to prove lethal for you. What the fuck have you done since this started besides suck each other off? I’ve traveled from Georgia, killing gang bangers, murderers, rapists, loyalists, government contractors, Homeland officers, U.N. troops, and loyal units. So, little bitch, ready to join the list?”

Keith stepped forward. “Don’t mind Don. But I really need to see this Mew.”

“You won’t know how it works, and unless I give you the code it’s worthless. Try to open it and you’ll lose it,” Nathan said.

“Yes, I read that. I just want to see one with my own eyes,” Keith pleaded.

“Are there any booby traps for vehicles on the road?”

“No, why?” Keith asked.

“Because I’m going to have my wife to drive the kids up here. Just to warn you, they will kill you faster than I will. They’re still learning, but they don’t hesitate to pull the trigger,” Nathan said, keying his radio. “Come.”

Frank handed Keith his dad’s letter. Keith read it very fast and looked up at Nathan. “It took you almost two weeks to get here?”

“Hey motherfucker, two of my girls, my little girls, were shot by a Homeland Mac-J team. The team and their backup paid for that. So you can see why I didn’t want to stop and play mailman,” Nathan snapped.

“I’m sorry, sir. Is there anything we can do for them?” Keith asked, and Nathan shook his head. “How did you find out so much about Homeland?”

“We listened on their radio,” Nathan said, and Keith paled.

“They can track those!” Keith shouted.

“If you would read the letter you would know that if you keep two close to each other while they charge, they don’t track. Or replace the battery pack. That’s where the homing device is,” Nathan said, and Keith started reading.

Hearing Don’s radio go off, Nathan walked to the door. “I’m bringing my family in here, one of my daughters wants to meet Frank. The dogs will be near our rides, and they will kill if any of you get close. Frank, I like you, but if your friends hurt my dogs I’ll kill you as well.”

“Nobody will hurt the dogs,” Keith said without looking up.

Nathan walked out as the two buggies pulled up. Jasmine jumped out, looking at the men around the cabin. “They are here guarding Frank,” Nathan said as he untied one of the Mew units. “Tell the kids to come in and say hi to Frank.”

Nathan carried the Mew back to the cabin and the others followed. “Ares, Athena, guard,” Nathan said, pointing to the buggies. Walking inside, Nathan headed to the table. “Do not key a radio around this thing, because you can fry it. So can a microwave up close.”

Keith and Don moved over as Nathan assembled it. When he picked up the pad, they moved over to look. “Excuse me,” Nathan said, hiding the pad as he punched in the code. When the pad came into scan mode, Nathan turned the screen around. “Yep, you’re a special forces A team.”

Red and white dots were scattered around the cabin, and several white dots were at the range of the Mew. “Holy shit,” Keith said.

Amanda walked over to Frank. “ F-U, I’m Amanda.”

“Frank,” he said, shaking her hand.

“I know, but F-U sounds so cool,” Amanda said, smiling.

Keith looked up from the Mew. “Nathan, you have to let me get up the chain.”

“I don’t
have
to do anything,” Nathan said.

Don stepped forward. “I’m getting tired of your attitude.”

“Sergeant!” Keith shouted. “Keep on and I’ll let him take you outside, and I don’t care if you don’t walk back in. He has been down-range, and you will show respect.”

“Yes sir,” Don said standing at attention.

“Sorry, Nathan,” Keith said.

“What do you plan to do with it?” Nathan asked.

“Save American lives,” Keith said.

“That’s what I’ve been waiting to hear since I walked up this fucking mountain,” Nathan said, leaning over the table and writing the code down. “You can have this one.”

“Sir,” Don snapped. “One of the men says they drove up in Warthogs.”

“Yes we did, and you don’t get either one or dyin’ time has arrived. That’s how we get home,” Nathan said, gripping his rifle.

Keith looked at Nathan with a pleading look. “Can we just look at them?”

“No. If you have some memory cards I can download the spec for you,” Nathan offered.

“We can do that,” Keith said, and snapped his fingers at Don.

“Don’t key your radio near the Mew because you will break it,” Nathan warned, seeing Don reach for his radio.

“All radios off,” Keith said.

“Depending on the power, you should keep radio transmissions thirty yards away,” Nathan suggested. “John, go get Lonny’s laptop.”

“Where’s Lonny?” Keith asked.

“Dead,” Nathan said, pulling out Lonny’s ID and throwing it on the table.

Keith picked up the ID and sucked in a breath. “You killed Lonny Samson?”

“No,” Nathan said looking off. “I just did some medieval shit and let the coyotes eat him alive. Just FYI, don’t let too many know that. His boss thinks he died in a helicopter I blew up.”

“It won’t leave this room,” Keith said as John walked back in. “How much is on there?”

“You can’t have it, there is shit on there I’m going to use after I get home and start my own fucking war. You guys don’t like killing to get this shit over with,” Nathan said.

“Nathan,” Keith said.

“Keith, you already owe me, not the other way around,” Nathan said.

“Okay, I can give you the roads we control into Idaho,” Keith offered.

“I will copy it for you but I want to say a few words on Frank’s next broadcast. I presume you record them now and rebroadcast them,” Nathan said.

“Deal,” Keith said.

“You are going to need a shitload of memory sticks,” Nathan said.

“We have a terabyte notebook,” Keith said smiling.

“You need two,” Nathan said. “This is going to take a while. Have a plug in?” Keith plugged it in and Nathan started uploading. Nathan looked up at Keith and Don. “You better make sure your families are protected when you report what’s on here. Make no mistake, when they find out, they will send people after them.”