Alicia stood under the open gate until she could no longer see the convoy. They picked up speed as they crossed the meadow and disappeared into the forest. Turning to go to the Command Center, she was surprised to see Thomas Boylan standing behind her.
"Me and a few of the blokes who used to be in Taylor's army had a meeting last night. We know Taylor left you with a skeleton crew and orders not to resist, but run and leave us to the mercy of the Phoenix again if they should return. There're only eight of us, but we'd be honored to act as your reserves."
His offered surprised and humbled her. She didn't like the truth that she couldn't resist if the enemy came back and to have her retired soldiers volunteer in a suicide effort made her feel not quite so alone at the top. She stared at him for a second before acknowledging, "We are shorthanded. Guzman was supposed to stay and help run the colony, but he whined so profusely, Taylor caved." She resorted to using her husband's last name for work.
"That's not all. Some of the men have been talking, civilians that is. They would like to be part of any resistance you might form."
Again, Alicia was amazed. "I can form a reserve unit and have what few regulars Taylor left me and you guys train them. I don't know what good they'll be if the shelling starts again and women and children start dying like last time," she couldn't keep the sadness out of her voice or off her features as memories crowded in of her resistance and the shelling and dying. Scenes like Cordell Bryant running towards the Infirmary with his eight year old daughter in his arms bloody and limp. As she watched, another shell hit close to him and he was thrown in the air, the blast killing him and his daughter instantly. Boylan's next words brought her back to the present.
"I'm sure word will get to Mira that Taylor has left the colony. I don't trust that she still has spies in the woods and we haven't vetted the few arrivals with the eleventh," Boylan wanted to make sure she knew trouble could still be lurking.
"Has Mira tried to contact you?"
"No. If she does, I'll come straight to you," he promised.
"You better."
They parted and Alicia slowly made her way across the concrete pad to the Command Center. Settling behind Nathaniel's desk, she couldn't bring herself to tackle the mountain of plexpads hastily tossed helter-skelter across the glass. She didn't have the enthusiasm to gather them into a neat pile, instead allowed her mind wander over the last hectic four days.
Plans were thrown together fast. Nathaniel marched hither and yon issuing orders to military and civilians alike. He wanted the repairs to continue on schedule and ordered Malcolm to go with him. Malcolm threw a fit and said he wasn't a soldier and felt better served in the colony. They had a row that started in Malcolm's lab and they shouted at each other as they marched across the market and up the Command steps, entertaining all who caught the exchange.
"I want a complete mobile science station," Nathaniel bellowed, then lowered his voice inside the walls. "I want you to pick a team of scientists who will do well in the wilds and are proficient at their jobs, no trainees."
"Why me?" Malcolm likewise lowered his tone.
"I don't know what we are blundering into. There are strange things in the badlands and I'd feel better with professional help."
That went a long way to mollify the lead scientist, who considered himself and his people superior to the military intellectually. "I'll get my team together. How long do you think we'll be gone?"
"Not long if we stumble into the Phoenix and Sixers right off. If not, we'll be gone for months or longer," he avoided looking in his wife's direction at that statement.
"Months or longer?" Alicia questioned as soon as Malcolm cleared the doorway.
Nathaniel took a minute in his frantic schedule to pull the closest chair out and sit, reaching for her hand, "Wash, we will never have a safe home unless we clear them out. Look at what the last three years have been like. I'm tired of never knowing when trouble will show up; never letting my guard down. Remember me telling you when Mira got the drop on me and took me hostage. It didn't last long thanks to those juvenile slashers, but still I may have been traded back to the colony for something we couldn't afford to lose and I know you would have done it."
"I don't know, I was pissed at you for ditching me when we were supposed to meet for supper the night before I left with the survey team," she teased, drawing a smile from him. "You never told me where you went. What was her name?" her tone took on an edge.
He smiled wider, "I don't know, we never got around to naming the eye or even determining if it should be a he or she. I was researching some of the symbols Lucas was using. They were advanced calculus, way beyond my level of education. I wouldn't have been good company with my mind on Lucas."
"You ditched me for a date with the eye. No wonder it took us so long to get together."
"We're together now and…are you ready again?" he kissed the back of her knuckles, his bright blue eyes hopeful.
"Of course. I said two hours and it's been like eight."
"Let's go home. I'm done for today," he leaned over for a kiss before they parted to their own vehicles and he followed her across the colony.
His two day departure schedule turned into four with last minute repairs to some of the vehicles and the gathering of supplies and food. She reveled in their nights. Knowing time was short, Nathaniel courted her like before they wed. On their last night together, he showed up late after asking her to cook his favorite meal. He entered with a bottle of Boylan's best wine. "Sorry I'm late. Last minute problems," he sat the bottle on the counter and leaned over for a kiss. He helped with the dishes and took her hand leading her to the bedroom where he started to pull her shirt up and off…
"I'm not going down that road," Alicia muttered aloud, grabbed the closest plexpad and forced herself to concentrate. She already missed him and thinking of their last night together would make her grumpier than she already was. Once again, she ditched and now needed him physically more than ever. She allowed her mind to wander again after reading just two lines. This time it was when she was on the last trip OTG with the army and Nathaniel, just days after they were married.
They were on their way to rescue Guzman. It took Reilly four grueling days to reach the colony and three equally difficult for them to return to the badlands, and another half of day to locate and reach Guzman. In the distance, they saw the enemy leaving in haste where they had him trapped. Mira didn't want to tangle with the Calvary. They had driven in shifts only halting long enough to eat, use the bushes and switch drivers. She remembered sleeping in the back of a moving transport in her husband's arms during the nighttime hours. He made a place for them to be together and alone with just the driver and spotter up front. He put them clear to the back with cases of supplies between them and the front for privacy. The convoy stopped on the third morning at dawn. She and Nathaniel were sleeping when a trooper banged on the back of the rig.
"We're awake," Nathaniel yelled and they heard the footsteps walk away. It was time to change drivers and eat again. He groaned and tried to stretch in the cramped space. She woke at the banging and enjoyed the change in OTG sleeping arrangements now that she was married. It didn't hurt being married to the boss either. He was afforded the best sleeping spot and he took advantage of it. He looked over at her, "You awake?"
"Waiting for you to make the first move," he had to get out first.
He smiled and rolled on top of her and groaned again, "Three nights of sleeping next to you and not once have we done anything inappropriate. You owe me," he kissed her soundly.
She finally broke off, "It wasn't long ago that a trip OTG with you meant I was sleeping elsewhere."
"Don't remind me that I'm a fool for waiting so long." He carefully got off her and opened the back up. They quickly brushed their teeth and got presentable before moving to the others.
The trip home took six days as they actually stopped at night and made camp, mainly to let the injured rest without the constant vibrating of the vehicles. Guzman made his report around a blazing fire on the second night after they put great distance from the Phoenix. They had reached the edge of the forest and Nathaniel ordered a stop. She'd been traveling with the injured in one Rhino, spelling the medic with her greater knowledge. She complemented him on his treatment so far and told him she wouldn't have been able to save the two who died either. The medic spelled her for the night with orders to get her if anyone took a turn for the worse. She looked around for the latrine tents and met Guzman as he stepped out of one.
"Hey, Wash, heard you got married a few days ago." He learned of her nuptials the day he was rescued, but this was the first time he encountered her alone.
"Ummhuh, you missed a good party in favor of playing in the badlands, but we did save food and cake for you."
"You kind of rushed the wedding didn't you?" Guz wasn't letting it drop.
"Nathaniel has to set a good example for the young people and we'd already spent one night together to the delight of the gossips." She didn't tell him they didn't have a liaison, as it wasn't his business.
"Well, congratulations, Wash, and I mean it," he smiled down at her drawing a smile in return. They parted and he made his rounds before grabbing a plate of food and look for a place to sit. On a fallen log was the Commander, already well into his plate with Wash beside him. He sat beside Nathaniel. "Sir, congratulations on your marriage. Sorry I missed the party. Everyone says it was the best wedding in the colony, with lots of good food and drink."
"Some has been saved for you and your people. Wash was adamant all her soldiers got to share in her feast. I for one would rather have eaten your portion myself and to hell with you."
"A man after my own heart. I have the same opinion when it comes to sharing good food," Guzman shoved a mouthful in. "And this isn't it," he spoke around his mouthful drawing, chuckles from the Commander and second.
Alicia gave up the pretense of working and left. It was Sunday after all and even she needed a day off. Besides, she was tired again and drove home at a leisurely pace. Soon she was sound asleep with her head on his pillow, breathing his scent as she drifted off.
Max knocked on the Tate door at noon. He was hoping not to be rebuffed again. Debora answered. "Mrs. Tate can I see the girls?" To his surprise, she stepped back so he could enter. He saw them at the table getting ready to eat.
"I'll set you a plate, Max," Debora motioned him to an empty spot. Not taking his eyes of Tasha, he lowered his lanky frame into a chair. He could see fading bruises and a flash of rare anger coursed through him. Normally a laid back young man, he would have liked to get his hands on the people who did this to her and Skye. He looked at Skye and she looked about the same.
"How come Hunter isn't with you?" Skye broke the silence.
"He got wangled into helping Erick McKormick on a project with the promise of supper in the market. Food's not what it used to be with you girls not around to cook."
"With Tasha not coming back, do you have Josh in mind to move in?" Skye kept the topic away from her ordeal.
"Hunter hit him up and he's thinking about it, but better hurry or we're putting the word out for roomies."
Skye smiled a little, "I think it'll be soon. His mother embarrassed him in front of me today and he wasn't happy."
"Tasha," Max zoomed in on her. "Want to go for a walk after lunch?"
"Sure," she was ready to get out of the house and especially spend some alone time with Max. "I still have my things at the house so you can help me cart them."
He smiled, "I'd say it'd be my pleasure, but don't want you leaving."
"Mrs. Tate was kind enough to offer me a room here and that would be better for me after…you know…" she trailed off.
He nodded, not wanting to push, but was hopeful he'd get the story out of her today.
Josh ate quietly, working up the nerve to tell his mother he was leaving that afternoon.
"Josh," he looked at his mother who spoke. The entire table was way too quiet, with Maddy moping at Mark being gone with the army and Zoe unhappy that Daddy was gone also. He didn't speak, just waited for her to state what was on her mind.
"There's a rumor going around that you are moving in with Hunter and Max soon."
That got Maddy's attention, "No way, you have to stay and help with Zoe."
"And how long to I have to stay in the name of Zoe?"
"That's enough, Josh," his mother warned. "I think with your father gone, you should stay and help out."
"I can help out and live elsewhere. I'm almost nineteen and it's time for me to leave the nest. Besides, Maddy will probably be married and pregnant when she's my age," he smirked at his sister.
"Not until I get my doctorate," Maddy shot back and then back peddled. "I might be married though."
"You have plenty of time for marriage," Elizabeth cut in.
"I'm leaving this afternoon," he finished and looked calmly at his mother.
"Just like that?" his mother wasn't prepared.
He nodded.
"I get your bedroom," Zoe spoke up excitedly.
Josh smiled at her, "It's all yours as soon as I pack." He wasn't hungry anymore and went to his room leaving his stunned mother and sister without something to say for once.
"You knew this day would come, Mom," Maddy reminded her after the silence grew taut.
"Not on the same day as his father leaving for who knows how long. The house will seem empty," she looked at Zoe. "At least you'll be home for several more years." Elizabeth sighed, consigned to her oldest leaving.
Josh reemerged with his backpack and guitar. He stopped by the door, "I'll still help with Zoe and if you need anything just ask."
Elizabeth dried her hands as she'd been washing dishes and gave him a hug, "If it doesn't work out, you can have your bedroom back."
"No he can't," Zoe sang out.
Ignoring his littlest sister, he replied, "Thanks, Mom," and left, closing the door softly, glad there was nobody to see the tears in his eyes.
She held her tears back until the door clicked and wiped her eyes on the towel. She wished Jim were here to comfort her, but then Josh's leaving probably wouldn't be so low keyed. She was certain the men would have words and Josh would have stormed out and she would have to make peace between them. Maybe this was for the best.
Josh marched into his new house and looked around. It was messy and he heard noises in Tasha's bedroom. He knocked and Max swung the door wide.
"I'm your new roomie," Josh announced.
"Great, Tasha is packed and you're just in time to help cart her plunder. How is it women collect so much more than we do?" Max joked as he noticed a backpack and guitar, Josh's only possessions.
"You can have your choice of bedrooms between mine and Skye's," Tasha addressed Josh as she handed Max a heavy bag.
Josh looked inside, then pushed Skye's door open. "I'll take Skye's as it's on the back of the house," he called out as he removed his backpack and set it on the bed.
"I heard your Dad took care of the men who did that to you," Josh made conversation as they trudged along the street to Debora's house.
Tasha shrugged, "He did and now they are looking for the rest of the Phoenix and Sixers to take care of them before they come back and harm us."
Max hadn't gotten any more than that out of her and wanted more details, "Where did they jump you and Skye?"
"It was the small side valley in the mountains where Skye was sent to check for copper deposits. We pushed through some brush right into them. We couldn't see them and they were going through the rover."
"I can't believe they only beat you up and didn't rape you," Josh spoke without thinking.
Tasha started shaking, "Why would they do that?" Her voice squeaked in fear causing both men to look startled at her, then each other.
"Uhh, because that's what usually happens to women caught out like you were."
Tasha couldn't stop the tears, "You're right, Josh," she looked up at him. "Skye and I were raped and now you'll spread it all over the colony and make what happened even worse."
Max and Josh were shaken at her admission. "Why didn't you tell me?" Max put his load down and hugged her.
"Because I thought you wouldn't want me after that," she confessed. "It was horrible."
"You always have me, Tash," Max felt his own tears form. "I'll protect you. Is that why you want to move out? Not be around me or any man?"
Tasha grappled for composure, "I don't know what I want right now. Mrs. Tate is letting me recover at my own pace and I feel safe in her home."
"Is it because we…" he trailed off.
"No, I couldn't face you daily after what the Phoenix did to me?" she picked her bag up again. "You guys won't say anything will you?"
"Phoenix?" Josh was confused. "My Dad said it was the Sixers."
Tasha shook her head, "The Sixers were no place near us. It was the Phoenix soldiers."
"I won't say anything," Josh promised.
"Never," breathed Max just as fast.
They escorted Tasha to the door, but didn't go inside. On the way back to their place, Josh spoke, "That makes a lot more sense, with the way her father acted and the army leaving so soon to go after them."
Max agreed, "I had my suspicions. It was good for her to open up. Now she'll be able to heal and move on."
"You and her an item?" Josh figured they were.
"Yeah, since the occupation. We're taking it slow."
"I wonder how Skye is doing?" Josh thought back to his brief meeting that morning. She didn't seem any different, no wait. She was way too hard on herself.
"Tasha told me she didn't think Skye is handling the incident, as she called it, as well as her. We'll just have to be supportive. And Hunter will have to be told or he'll be upset at being left out of something this major."
"I always figured Lucas got to her, but didn't want to ask," Josh added.
"That guy really scares me. Hard to believe he's lived out their all these years and survived. I heard he was eighteen when he went missing," Max filled Josh in.
"I heard Dad say Ta…Commander Taylor kicked him out of the colony, but he didn't say what for."
Max pushed inside first, "House rules, we all buy food for a week. With three of us, we're on a three week cycle unless we find another person to share costs. We all learn to cook and KP is on the person who provides the food that week. The other duties are cleaning the bathroom, which is a week duty and the rest is the living room cleaning. That's the easiest week. Your bedroom is your responsibility. We alternate and tomorrow it starts with a new person, which is you for KP and I move to the bathroom and Hunter gets the rest of the house. The Commander told us we could only have the place if we kept it clean or he'd make us move back in with our parents."
"Does he ever check?"
"He didn't have to. He had Tasha's father do that for him. I wonder who Lieutenant Washington will have monitoring us."
"We're all over eighteen here with the underage girls gone. Why do we have to have a babysitter?" Josh didn't like the sound of that.
"I doubt us bachelors will be under scrutiny. It was only when the underage girls were here that we were being monitored closely."
Two weeks later.
Alicia gave up and went to search Elizabeth out in the Infirmary. Elizabeth smiled at her, "Please tell me you've heard something, anything."
"No. I'm here on another matter," she looked around. Nobody was close by so she continued, "I have been sleeping a lot lately."
The doctor motioned her to a bed, "Is that all?"
"All that I'm going to confess to you," Alicia lay down and watched the outline of her body spring up.
Elizabeth perused the readings carefully and frowned. "You didn't do as I asked did you?"
Alicia tried to remember what the doctor's orders were. "I guess not," she hazarded a response.
"You're pregnant and I told you to take a shot," Elizabeth continued to look at readings after shooting a glance to Alicia's face to catch her reaction, which was one of tentativeness.
"Is the baby alright?" Alicia spoke mellifluously, hardly believing fate gave her another chance.
"It is, do you want to know the sex?"
Alicia thought, "Not right now. I wish I could get word to Nathaniel."
"You need iron and minerals. I'll give you a booster and send home supplements. You need more rest during the embryonic stage. You must have gotten pregnant right away as you're coming up on two months along. Have you had morning sickness?"
Alicia shook her head, "Not once."
"Lucky you. I had it with all three of mine," she turned the monitor off and helped Alicia sit up.
"Probably why I never picked up on the pregnancy fact," Alicia stood and ran a hand over her still flat stomach. "When will I start showing?"
"All women are different. I expect you'll start anytime," Elizabeth injected a shot. "You should start to feel peppier, but take these pills until the baby is born." She dug through a cabinet and pulled a white bottle marked iron and muli-minerals.
That night Alicia pulled her plexpad to her as she sat alone on her sofa, "I found out I'm pregnant today. I didn't want to know if we're going to have a son or daughter. I want you here when and if we decide to know. The colony has been quiet, too quiet if you ask me. Skye has been doing a good job for Dr. Shannon, but is still withdrawn. I wish you were here to talk to her. I had supper with the Shannon women last week in the market. The rains have stopped and it was warm and sunny so we met for a women's outing. Josh, as I told you moved in with Max and Hunter. I understand from Boylan, the boys have been behaving and it's not so fun for them with the girls gone. Max and Tasha have been seen holding hands in public, so I'm sure we may have a summer wedding unless Guz shoots him." With a smile, she turned the pad off. Every few days she recorded him a new message in case something happen to her.
Four months later.
Malcolm was once again absorbed in an artifact. In spite of his vehement protests about coming, he was glad he did for the scientific discoveries alone. They'd been slowly trailing Lucas deeper into the unknown, a barren wasteland broken up with shrubs and scrub trees. As long as the enemy was moving away from the colony, Taylor was content to let him indulge his passion and he kept his team busy with all tangible objects from rocks to flora and the out of place artifact that unequivocally wasn't part of the natural evolution on the planet, like the metal obelisk he was looking at. It was lying on the ground, but no evidence existed that it was erected or planted in the area.
"Figured it out yet, Malcolm?" Nathaniel wandered up, his hair and beard wet from his bath in the nearby stream.
"Another specimen I'll run through the eye when we get home. My early prognosis says it's part of a warship from the early twentieth century, like part of a mast for a radio signal." He looked at the Commander who was groomed with a fresh haircut and beard trimming and sporting clean clothes.
"Well, don't waste too much time and it's your turn to take a plunge," Nathaniel moved off to where Jim was shaving with his electric razor in the mirror of a vehicle.
"You done yet?" Nathaniel tried to push him out of the way.
"I have to look pretty, Commander. I might get a chance to go home and don't want to look like a caveman with long hair and a beard." He gave his clean face a once over and stepped out of the way. He watched as Nathaniel took his own electric shaver and trimmed his neck and upper cheeks.
Nathaniel finished and looked for any spots he missed, "It's my belief if we look civil, we'll act that way. You see how fast Mira's people took to looking shaggy after they left the colony. Well I guess you wouldn't remember, but they were presentable when they first arrived."
"They had to fool you."
"They did a good job of it too. I noticed Lucas managed to keep himself up even if Mira's men didn't," Nathaniel put his shaver back in its case and turned to give Jim his full attention. "We're getting closer to them, Jim. Our scouts have spotted them in the distance for two days now. I gave us a couple days off to rest since streams out here are few and far between so we need to take advantage of this oasis. I feel a battle in the near future and we need to be rested.
"Are we sending anyone back to the colony?"
Nathaniel looked around, "With us nearing a battle we should. Reynolds," he raised his voice and they watched as the Mark loped up and saluted.
"Sir?"
"How would you like to go back to the colony?"
Reynolds looked uncertain, "I'd rather stay here, Sir, especially if there's going to be a fight."
"We've been gone over four months and need to send someone home with the mail. It will be a boost to moral in the colony if word of our condition arrives. I trust you can take a bike and make the trip in a few weeks."
"Permission to send Dunham in my place, Sir." He glanced at Jim, "As much as I'd like to see Maddy, my place is with the army."
Jim was secretly pleased with him, but didn't let it show.
"Okay, send Dunham. Tell him to come see me," he motioned Mark away. He turned to Jim with a smile, "That kid is too good for your daughter."
"No he's not. He's just trying to make points with me, won't work. You'd have really sent him home without me there to protect Maddy?"
Nathaniel laughed, "I was counting on him acting like he did or I might have had to rescind the offer if he jumped at the chance to go. I don't want to put up with you here and him back with your daughter. I'd be tempted to fill you in on what they'd probably be doing every night."
"I'm not looking forward to what's going to happen when those two get back together. I see a fast wedding and she's only seventeen," Jim groused.
Dunham got ready to leave, to the ribbing of his comrades. "You're wife's the first one I'm visiting after dark," he retaliated with to a comment Private Lopez threw at him.
Taylor spun him around and he straightened at seeing the Commander and Shannon right behind him, "My wife's the first one you're visiting and not that way, do I make myself clear?" but it was evident the Commander was joking so he relaxed and grinned back.
"Yes Sir, perfectly, Sir. I report to the Lieutenant, then with any luck she'll give me time off to make the rounds and socialize to my heart's content." Dunham couldn't stop the last comment if he wanted to.
"I'll send her a note to do just that. No married women." He smiled as Dunham went to get the bike. The entire camp turned out to watch Dunham return home with their messages on one plexpad secure in a saddlebag. He looked at the map and figured with hard riding he'd be back in the colony in just over two weeks.