Chapter 3

Welcome to Viator Air and Space

Have a great stay.

They passed the sign at about fifty miles per hour just as the rutted dirt road became a smooth pavement. Gerard followed the sign with his eyes through the hole in the back of the bus. TURN BACK was scrawled across the back of the sign in red spray paint. He felt a faint quiver of trepidation in the pit of his stomach which might have surfaced had he not still been riding on the high of his life. He'd never imagined what it was like to take another man's life and never dreamed he'd ever be faced with that decision. It was perhaps much easier than he expected since the lives of his closest friends hung in the balance. Perhaps, also because those he killed were faceless and nameless and obviously driven by ill intent that Gerard felt certain what he did was right. Although, in his bones he knew that after the adrenaline drained from his nerves, he would question what was done today. For now, it was worth it just to see his bother safely seated next to him in that bouncy bus. He put his arm around him and smiled. Mikey smiled back.

Ray edged closer to the man behind the steering wheel, being careful not to get too close, no doubt remembering what happened the first time Gerard approached the man. "Who were those guys?"

"Exterminators," he stated simply, glancing over his left shoulder.

Ray looked at Gerard and shrugged his shoulders. A question had been forming in the back of his mind. He moved to the seat behind the driver.

"Why did the news report say that it was backed up on route thirteen? I mean, we didn't even pass another car… well, besides the motorcycles."

"Well, the report is right, isn't it? We caused quite the back up," the man chuckled huskily.

"But…" Gerard stopped himself when he realized the driver began clutching his shoulder in pain.

Their destination loomed over them as they approached the front gates. A central spire shot up from the middle of the cluster of stalactite-like buildings that was the Station, seeming to scrape the Heavens. It was easily the tallest structure Gerard had ever seen in his life. The onyx exterior glinted with the morning sun and gave the place an overall mystical appearance.

The bus rolled through the gates slowly and pulled up beside a checking station. A harsh hissing rose from the beaten vehicle.

"If you guys don't have any identification, I highly suggest you make yourselves scarce until we're passed these pigs," the bus driver said nonchalantly, not turning his head. "There's a compartment under the third row seats."

The four men in the back ducked their heads below the seats, a look of panic in their faces. Gerard's eyes searched the floor. He saw a barely visible line outlining a door on the floor below the seats. A tiny silver latch caught his eye where it lay flush with the floor. Crawling over, he lifted the latch with his finger and the top opened up. He beckoned Mikey over first and helped him into the hole. His shoulders barely fit through. Next, Frank slid in, his compact frame posing little problem for the hole. Next was Ray. Gerard glanced nervously over at the driver who greeted someone beyond the window. Once Ray's curly, brown afro was through the hole, he gulped and forced himself in, bringing the top down as he went. Inside was pitch black. The sound of the other's heavy breathing seemed to close the walls in on Gerard and his claustrophobia reared up in full. He felt his throat begin to close and his chest to pinch as he envisioned them sitting in a grave. His nerves prickled with tension. A muffled voice spoke above them. He covered his mouth with his shirt to dampen his hyperventilation. A hand grabbed his.

"…ran into a little trouble with some raiders out on route thirteen. I'm headed in for some repairs and food…" came the voice of their driver.

"Are there any passengers on board?" a monotone voice asked.

"I picked up a few in Union…"

Gerard's heart stopped.

"…but they didn't make it."

Gerard let out a silent breath and loosened his grip on the hand in his.

"As you can see, I barely made it myself," Doc reasoned.

There was a silence that lasted what felt like forever. Then came another monotone voice.

"Let me see some identification."

"Sure thing," the driver obliged.

A moment later, the bus lurched forward and they were driving once more. Gerard felt the others relax slightly in the tiny space. They made it.

Once the bus screeched to a halt, Doc's boots could be heard clomping there way to the compartment. He pulled the latch and the oxygen starved hiding place was filled with a rush of fresh air.

"Welcome to Viator Station, boys."