Disclaimer: You know the drill. I only own the characters I created. Not Jericho. or teh jericho universe.
Warnings: Mild Language. Mild Violence.
Details: In the Chinook Universe. A slightly alter Jericho universe centering ona town 65 Miles North of Jericho.Mainly revolves around teh Stout family although other points of view will be added.
About post: I had this wrote a fair bit ago. Right behind chap 1+2 Evacuation. It was my very first part and newbishly written. Rather than re-edit it. I am posting it and will re-write all 3 at a later date.
Feedback: Please leave. Even if you hate it post! Tell me WHY.
The small convoy pulled up in front of the last house. It looked abandoned. But upon exiting the vehicles a guy came out of the house cradling a lever action rifle under one arm.
"Howdy.Was wondering when you would show up," He said quite jovially.",Been having a tough time keeping ahold on control around here."
"Royal don't you ever get pissed off?" Asked Dale.
"Well. I tried once... Didnt like it.. hehehehe," The man chuckled.
"Well. We're here let's get loading," Grant said.
"Hey Grant," Called John, "Me and Deb are heading over to the Lumberyard. See if there is anything needed and catch any news. After that we will be right back"
Nodding Grant went up to the house and greeted Royal Lunden's wife Betty.
After brief conversation stuff began moving out of their house into the grain truck.
John and Deb hopped into the dodge and they drove accross town to the lumberyard. On the way they had to avoid smoldering cars, downed telephone poles and abandoned barracades.
Soon Deb noticed that the lumberyard wasn't their only stop. John stopped the pickup just outside the charred rubble of the Carson's former home.
Against his better judgement he got out and walked over to the 5 graves on teh front lawn. Dale Caflan had done his best for a proper burial. He didn't gain any pity over the sight of 3 108 members in plain view along the hedge. Their bodies already beyond reognition.
He kneeled in front of the one grave and looked at the rough words carved in the plank.
Carl Carson. Born 1963 Deceased 2006.
He broke down and began crying a little. Deb came up and wrapped her arm around him.
"I killed them Deb... it's all my fault," he softly said.
"No you didn't," Deb replied softly, "You can't blame yourself for what the 108 did. If it had been us here that god damned gang would have done the same to us."
"Not that," John replied.
FLASHBACK
Carl looked up at John "We would be ready to go within 3 days. Would you be wanting to be back to pick us up by then?"
"If you don't mind I would like to wait a bit. I want to get some stuff finished up at our place before you arrive. Would 3 weeks be soon enough? There shouldn't be any real danger in that time" John replied.
Carl nodded slowly, "We should be good enough until then."
John stood up, "Nothing can be done now," He started, "Lets go Deb."
They went back to the pickup and climbed in.
Upon arriving they found the lumberyard much as they expected. Before the attacks it had been circled with a high wire fence with concertena wire on top. There had been enough inside worth stealing such as lumber ,oil,tools and in the winter months they doubled as fur buyers they needed the protection.
Now it had small holes cut in the wire and behind the holes, sandbags to form shooting bunkers. In front of the main gate there was a criss-cross of cement filled 55 gallon drums requiring careful driving to get through them.Thus preventing any vehicles from smashing into the compound. Upon going through the gate a pair of armed gaurds checked them in and finally allowed them to pass.
They pulled into the compound and found it bustling with activity. Trucks pulled out with armed gaurd's in them while pickups pulling trailors full of sacked grain entered.
They parked the outfit and got out. Deb met a couple of friends and stopped to talk while John went inside the main building. Inside he found equal activity to outside. He saw the owner motion to one man holding a sack of grain and noticed the man's shoulders slump as he picked it up and went outside.
John went up to the owner and said, "How's it going Charlie?"
He turned saw John and cringed, "Im sorry. I aint taking whole grain. I got to much as it is."
John looked at him solemnly, "That isn't why I am here...But it does explain why that guy left so sad looking."
Charlie Becket nodded sadly, "I hate doing it. But everybody has grain right now.So far i have turned down... too many people with it... It just isnt worth nothing HERE. It has value elsewhere. But to transport it? Thats another story. What DO you want?"
John replied, "Not much. Mainly an idea of what's going on outside. Plus see what's selling around here."
"It's all up on the blackboard. New's, what's selling and anything else of interest. Now if you excuse me," He cut short the conversation and went back to his office.
John left and went back to the main counter. He looked up at the wall at the massive blackboard. On it was the stuff selling. Gun's,ammunition,canned food's and preserved meat appeared to be highest on the list. On the bottom wheat was boldly emblazoned with NO SALE.
He looked at the news board and looked it over. A trading outpost called Blackjack had been started about 120 miles north. Iodine and Salt appeared to have high prices going in trading post's further south and east.New Bern was in need for food of any kind, but what they were offer wasnt known. A town called Jericho was in need of wheat as well. They offered salt apparently.
He stepped out of the building and into the main square. He met up with Deb and they walked back to the pickup. They met another group of local's and began talking until a long flurry of gunfire erupted to the north of them. After listening a moment they realize that it is coming from the direction of the Lunden's house and break for the pickup at a dead run.
Grant ducked behind the cement step and jammed in another magazine.
Bullets impacted on the opposite side of the step while others went overhead.
He risked a quick glance to see what the 108 was doing. He saw 4 men armed with assault rifles firing from behind a rusting car while another half dozen or so were trying to gain ground towards them by running from cover to cover.He looked to his right and saw Dale and Royal pinned down alongside the truck. Turning back to the street he saw 2 shotgun armed men run behind a building.
"DALE," he shouted, "COMING UP BEHIND"
The man nodded and then made a rush for his station wagon. Grant leaned over the top of the step's and rapid fired his rifle at the men behind the car.
He stopped as his rifle ran dry and jammed in another magazine. He slowed his breathing and reminded himself to not waste ammunition. He looked back at Dale and saw him dive away from the station wagon and take refuge behind the house.
Grant turned and made a dash from the steps around the house corner. A blaze of fire answered from the house. His uncle Dan and Betty saw what he did and tried to give him covering fire.
As he rounded the corner he looked with some amazement at Dale. He had opened up a box and from within drawn out a MAC-10. He inserted a magazine and chambered a round.
"Stay here," he told Grant, "I am gonna go head them off."
Before he could object the man had scurried off 2 houses down in the direction Grant had last seen the 2, 108 members.
He leaned around the corner of the house and peered through his scope. One man farther down the street had a scoped bolt action and appeared to be aiming carefully at the house.
Grant quickly centered the man in the crosshair's and pulled the trigger twice. Hit, the man staggered back before collapsing onto the street. As he ducked behind cover Grant drew in his breath... He had finally killed a man. He had wounded several before but never had taken a life. He was somewhat shaken for a moment.
He was rattled out of this by quick burst's of automatic fire. Within moments Dale had returned with the MAC-10. He replaced the magazine and leaned close to Grant's ear.
"I am gonna go get behind them. You watch Royal," He shouted
Grant nodded then leaned around the corner. Royal was carefully firing his lever action with some preciseness, he fired a shot and one of the 108 men dropped to the street. Some of the fight was beginning to go out of them.
What sealed it was the dodge pickup that roared in behind them. John drove the truck straight towards the men hunkered behind a old car. Deb leaned out the window and emptied the shotgun at the group. 1 Fell while a second jerked but kept running. The remainder of the group scattered like leave's in the wind.
For a few fleeting seconds he pressed down the gas petal in pursuit. The anger over his friends death enflamed him for a moment. But a few seconds later he calmed himself and slowed down teh truck. Pulling back to the house.
He stopped the pickup behind the grain truck and got out.
"Anyone hurt?" he asked.
Grant and Dale walked up, followed by Royal. The remainder, Dan, Betty, Lori, David and Kyra all came out of the house unharmed.
"Okay. Lets finish loading and get the hell out of here." He said.
A hour later the grain truck followed by 3 vehicles and the armored dodge pulling up the rear, pulled out of Chinook heading back to the ranch. Taking with it 6 new inhabitants and a new lease on life.