Emperor of a Dead World (32 page)

The man radioed the instructions to the other gate as Brad got out and ran up the stairs. With a sigh of relief, he could see people heading for the shelter and he felt secure knowing they had reinforced the ceiling.

Suddenly Lisa ran up to him. “Go inside, now,” he demanded.

“I will but I had to see you first.”

He kissed her. “Go now.”

She reluctantly consented knowing he would not accept refusal.

As soon as he saw her go down into the shelter, he ran to the control center. When he rushed in, the boy at the controls immediately relinquished his seat. Brad sat down and checked on his men. They were on Lexington Drive entering through the side gate. He now checked on his adversaries. They were almost to Katella Ave. When he looked up Tyrone and Rudy were watching him.

“Everything is ready,” Rudy said.

“I am sure these guys are prepared,” Brad replied. “They will not make the same mistake again.” He glanced up at the monitors to check the perimeter cameras.

“They are here,” Mickey said as he pointed at the monitor.

Eight vehicles had lined up end to end on Katella Ave but they did not approach.

“What do you think they are going to do?” Rudy asked.

Brad shrugged. “Just try to keep them in their trucks. I will come up behind with the drone and hit them from the back.”

Rudy got on his walkie-talkie and told his men to fire at anyone that got out of the trucks.

“Try not to get shot down,” Tyrone told Brad.

“Their strategy makes no sense,” Brad returned with a puzzled look. “They should spread out around the place and try to take down our fences. What good does it do to line up out front?”

“Who are you rooting for?” Tyrone chuckled.

“They are waiting for someone,” Mickey said.

Brad glanced at him then looked at the monitors. “I see what you mean.”

Tyrone looked up. “Shit, where the hell did all these guys come from?”

Twenty vehicles were coming down Moody Street, one with a trailer.

“They must have had another location somewhere,” Brad said.

“They knew we were watching,” Tyrone replied. “The drones flew on a regular schedule so hiding was easy. All they had to do was park under an overpass. Besides, we were not looking for enemies. We were looking for people that needed our help.”

“There are a lot more of them this time,” someone said.

“Do you think the creatures will get in again,” someone else asked.

“We will be safe in the shelter even if they do,” Tyrone said. “The problem is,” he stressed, “all these guys have to do is wait us out.”

“We should have gone to the lake and got these guys,” Rudy said.

Brad flashed him a look but said nothing. He knew Rudy was right. He would have gone after them but he was too busy rebuilding his defenses and looking for survivors. He looked back at the screen then took a pass over the top of his enemies and shot a couple of missiles just to keep them occupied.

Tyrone began pacing. “What is your plan?”

“Maybe the men at the estate can give us some backup.”

“How many walkie-talkies do they have?”

“Tom has a base station and they have three hand-held units.”

“Our enemies have stationed themselves around the place,” Mickey informed them.

“I wish I knew if these guys had walkie-talkies,” Brad said. “I hate to tip them off if they do.” He picked up the microphone at the base station. “Tom, do you have a copy? Tom this is Brad.” He waited a minute then repeated. “Tom do you have a copy?”

“Hi Brad, this is Tommy,” crackled back.

“Tommy, get your Dad.”

“What is going on Brad?”

“Tommy, get your Dad right now. Do not say anything else.”

While he waited, Brad watched the monitors. Finally, the base station crackled.

“Brad this is Tom. What can I do for you?”

“How are things on the other side of the track? Do you see the men preparing to attack us?”

“What?”

“I asked how things are on the other side of the track.”

“Brad, I…”

“Tom,” Brad interrupted. “Do you see the men on the back side of the track? I need an update. Can you get your men in position? I expect them to attack at any moment.”

“Yes, I understand. I believe it is the same ones that attacked us before.”

“That is correct. It looks like they have about thirty vehicles circled around us.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Get ready but sit tight. There are a lot of creatures around and many are advanced. When the noise starts, it will be very dangerous.”

“Copy that. Just give me the word.”

Brad bought the drone back and landed then turned to the other pilot. “Put it on the charger but stay close. When I tell you to unplug it do it fast and then get into the shelter.

“Yes sir.”

He looked up at the monitors. “I wonder what they are waiting for.”

“Hard to say,” Tyrone said.

“Well I don’t like all this waiting,” Brad replied. “Rudy, tell your best snipers to take out anyone that gives them a clean shot.”

Rudy relayed the order. A moment later a shot rang-out.

“Us or them,” Brad asked as he scanned the monitors.

“One down,” came over the walkie-talkie.

Brad smiled.

Another shot. “That is two.”

“Everyone, stay away from the windows,” Tyrone said.

Brad glanced at the laptop, five hours of charge. He looked at the weapons, almost out.

“I think they are getting ready to attack,” Tyrone said. “It is hard to tell but it looks like they are crouching down behind their vehicles.”

“Brad, I have fifty men armed and ready,” came over the radio.

“Sit tight,” replied Brad.

Another shot. “That’s three.”

Suddenly bullets tore through the building.

“Release the charger and go to the shelter,” Brad shouted into the microphone on his laptop. As soon as the charger light went off, he took the drone up and brought it around but he could not get close enough to attack. The only thing he accomplished was getting them to waste their ammo on the drone instead of firing on the racetrack.

When the creatures came, his adversaries were ready. They had not trapped themselves in this time and they made their escape without harm. Before they left, they fired three RPGs damaging the same wall they had hit before. On the backside of the track, they fired two more RPGs and blasted a hole in the wall. After this, they tossed in five crates of rabbits then backed the trailer to the opening and released fifty advanced creatures. When the crates landed, they broke open and the rabbits scattered. As the creatures came in after them, Brad and the others ran for the shelter and barely made it inside before the place was over run. The man that had opened the trailer was not so fortunate. The first creature out tore him apart and the next three shared the meal.

From inside the shelter, Brad kept the drone high and away as he watched his enemies. A few drove down to the church and waited for the others. Once they were all together they conversed for a moment then headed west on Katella Ave.

When they crossed the 605, Brad turned and shouted. “Who is missing?”

Everyone looked around but no one answered.

“I need everyone to get together in groups and tell me who is not here.” He turned back to the screen and watched.

“Five of my men are still on the roof,” Rudy informed him.

“Who else,” Brad pressed. He turned to Tyrone. “Do we have a count of the people here?”

“Not an accurate one. What is this all about?”

“I think we have a spy.”

One of the runners stepped forward and said, “Other than the six men we lost in Whittier, I don’t see the two men we found about a month ago.”

“Where did you find them?

“Near a store a couple of miles from here,” the man replied. “They were just walking down the street and now that I think about it, they did ask a lot of questions about the estate.”

“When is the last time you saw them?”

“I’m not really sure.” He considered this a moment. “Now that I think about it maybe a few days, they kept to themselves.”

Brad looked at his computer. The convoy had turned north on Bellflower Boulevard. “Get me a trench coat,” he said as he turned to a guard. He kept several in the shelter after the last encounter.

“What are you doing,” Lisa asked.

“First I am going to drop a present then I am going out to warn Tom.” Right after saying this, he passed over the convoy and dropped a bomb on the lead vehicle. After it hit, the other vehicles stopped and men got out and tried to shoot the drone but Brad flew off to safety before they could. He now turned to the other pilot and handed him the computer. “Try to keep them busy so they cannot go to the estate. There is only one bomb left so use it wisely.” After saying this, the guard gave him the coat and he put it on as he headed for the stairs.

“Brad,” Lisa cried. “Don’t be an idiot.”

“I will be back,” he said as he headed up the stairs and pushed open the door.

Chapter 27

Brad stepped out and moved slowly keeping a close eye on the creatures. They were still running around chasing rabbits. Glancing to his left, he saw a hideous beast with a blood-covered face sitting on the ground devouring its catch. As he passed, it looked up and snarled but before the thing took its eyes off him another creature ran past and stole its meal. It immediately went to fight for its treasure.

He sighed with relief but he quickly tensed up when he realized he had no weapons. He thought of heading back to the shelter to get something for protection but his sword and shield were in the control room and even if he had a gun, he knew he would have a hard time defending himself against all these advanced creatures. Considering this, he kept going. He was almost to the door when a slow creature noticed him. He ignored it and he kept moving. As it watched him, it tripped over a chair. As soon as it fell, an advanced creature ran over and attacked it. The thing tried to fight back but the faster one ripped out its throat then spit out the infected flesh and tossed the carcass aside. It moved on.

Very interesting
, Brad thought as he gazed at the victim. It looked newly infected and he wondered if it had been one of his attackers. He glanced back to make sure none were watching then pulled open the door and slipped into the building. After a quick look around to make sure none were inside he slowly made his way to the control room. Once there he rushed in, shut the door and headed for the Ham radio.

“Tom, do you copy?” he shouted into the microphone. He glanced at the door then repeated in a quieter voice. “Does anyone have a copy?”

“This is Tommy. I will get my Dad.”

“Tommy, wait. Tell your dad you are in grave danger. Men are coming to attack you. He must send someone out to ambush them.  Do you understand? He must try to stop them.”

“Brad, this is Tom. What is going on? I heard an explosion a few minutes ago. Was that you?”`

“Yes. I told your son people are coming to attack you. We will do what we can but there are about thirty vehicles and I do not know how many men coming toward you right now.”

“What do you suggest?”

“Send some men out to ambush them. Hit and run. Try to get the enemy between you and the men you send out. I will get there as soon as I can.”

“The head deputy heard everything,” Tom said. “He began preparing when you first called and he is heading out right now.”

“He needs to hurry. The enemy is close by.”

After he signed off with Tom, a noise outside the door startled him. He could not believe the creatures had followed him into the building. He turned down the radio then got his sword and shield. He now listened at the door. He had not heard any glass break so probably there would not be many inside the building. He slowly cracked the door and looked out. An advanced creature was looking the other way. He closed the door and tried to determine his next move. Somehow, he must to get back to the shelter. While he was thinking, his eyes were scanning the room and he saw a walkie-talkie. He picked it up and called for help.

“This is Brad,” he said quietly into the walkie-talkie. “Do you guys on the roof have a copy?”

“Yes, we copy.”

“How many of you are there?”

“Five.”

“Is anyone else outside,” he asked.

“I do not think so sir. We never had time to get down.”

“I need your help.”

“We will do whatever you ask.”