Aftermath

-All right. I want the damage report. -I said to everyone inside the Intel building. -How bad did it all turn out?

-Well, we took a big blow on supplies. Surprisingly, we had absolutely no casualties. On the account of supplies, well, most of our fuel supplies were blown up. –Scope started reading out to everyone.

-That was my fault. I ordered everyone to do so. We had to lower their numbers somehow. They were starting to overwhelm us. I had no other choice. –Metal Storm said.

-I see. Don’t worry about it. We’ll get more fuel in no time. –I said.

-How’s that? –Asked Mike. –Are we going back to the refineries?

-Refineries? –Asked Rode. –I never heard about that.

-Well, we have two crude oil refineries in the nearby areas. But there’s one problem. We’re running out of fuel there as well. We’re going to have to go to one of the three crude oil extractors and refine some ourselves.

-And why hadn’t we brought all the fuel here? –Asked Justin.

-Two reasons. We were running out of space both here and at the helicopter and in case some other survivor found it and needed it. –I said. –Now, let’s go back to the mission’s details.

I grabbed a map of the coastal region near our base and pointed out the three crude oil extractors.

-But there’s another problem. –Said Scope.

-Mike, here are some satellite images of the terrain. You’ll see why there’s a problem. –I said to him.

-Hmm. I think I can see it. The helipads are too small for the transport helicopters to land in. Plus, the one we’re heading to has its helipad damaged. And there’s no nearby place to land in. –He said. –Is that it?

-Yeah, and that’s why we’ll land the chopper in the main land. –Scope said. –We’ll use the pick-ups to get there through the iron bridge that connects the extractor with the mainland.

-All right. I’ll get to work on the landing and to make sure the chopper is ready. –Said Mike.

-Good. We’ll be leaving tomorrow. –I said.

-Make sure the engine is okay. I don’t want it to malfunction. Especially when we carry the fuel. –Scope said. –Don’t want to die when the fuel blows up.

-Yes sir. –Said Mike as he went out of the room.

-Justin, Metal Storm, I have a job for you two. –I said.

-What will it be Captain? I bet it will be something cool. Am I right? Eh? –Justin asked impatiently.

-Yeah, well, since this mission involves flammable objects I’m going to need a close combat specialist like yourself. –I said.

-Yeah, speaking of missions I need you and Metal Storm to help everyone else help rebuild the walls surrounding the base. Metal Storm, I need you to take Rode and get the equipment ready and to load the Ram, F-150 and the Lobo with the empty oil drums that are left. But leave space up to five men on each truck. Justin, after you and Metal Storm finish with the walls, I want you to clean and prepare the squad’s melee weapons. I want them to shine. –I ordered.

-Right away sir! –Said Justin.

-Finally! I can get the hell out of here. –Said Metal Storm and they both went out of the Intel building.

-Edward, how’s the situation on the vaccine’s development? –I asked.

-Well, from what James has said, Michelle has gotten to work with what she can. The lab was completely turned upside down. It will take some time before she completes a vaccine. –Edward said.

-Hmm… all right. I want you and James to keep an eye on her for me. Protect her how you can. We need her to complete the vaccine. She’s probably the only one who can do it. After it’s complete we may not lose many more of our friends. –I said.

-Yes sir. –Edward said.

-All right everyone. Finish re-building the base. –I said. –I’ll be working on the tactics in case we need to fight. And also on the escape routes in case something goes wrong.

-Everyone, dismissed. –Scope said.

Everyone went out of the Intel room, everyone except Ray.

-Swagger, you got a minute? –Ray asked.

He had a troubled look on his face. I had only seen him like that twice; after we met and after we took control of the SSARS.

-Yeah. Sure thing. What is it that you need? –I asked as I looked straight at him.

-Well, I’ve been thinking about it and I want to go back to HOPE. I know we lost contact with them almost over a year ago, but I’ve just got this feeling they’re alive and that they need me. –He said.

-I see. It’s all right, Scope. You can go if you want to. After all, I spent almost a whole year away from base searching for Valerie. It would be greedy if I didn’t let you go back with Samantha, especially because; well, she’s your gal. –I said. –Don’t worry about it.

-Thank you, Jay. –He said.

-But, I’ll only let you leave after we complete this mission. –I said. –I need you for this one.

-Yeah. I will, Swagger. Thanks. –He said with a large smile on his face.

I hadn’t seen him this happy since the time me and Metal Storm found a large amount of Vodka bottles in a supermarket. He likes Vodka as much as I love Tequila.

-Jay? Are you here? –Valerie said as she came in all of a sudden into the room. Speaking of what I love. Although, at that time, she had an angry look on her face. She started walking towards me with her fists closed.

-Valerie! Hey there, sweetheart. Is something wrong? –I asked.

-Yeah. –She said and slapped me in the face. –Why Jay? Why didn’t you wake me up and bring me along like you said you would?

Valerie was the only woman who had ever slapped me. No other woman in the world had ever done so before; not even my ex-girlfriends when they saw me hitting on Valerie like I usually did. I think that may be a reason of why I liked her so much. She’s not like any other girl and even if she treats me like that I know she loves me as much as I love her. Or at least that’s what I think.

-I’m sorry. It’s just that you look so beautiful when you sleep I just didn’t want to wake you up. –I said as an excuse, even if it was true.

-Oh, Jay. I’m sorry too. –She said. –But, you’ll bring me on this mission like you promised, won’t you?

-Yeah. I will. –I said and grabbed her chin. I moved her slowly towards my lips and kissed her. –Just like I promised.

She returned the kiss and I had already lost myself and forgotten where we were. If Scope hadn’t interrupted us I would have kept on going until I couldn’t stop.

- *Clears throat* Excuse me, but I’m still here. –He said.

-Sorry you had to see that. –I said. –Valerie, could you wait for me at our room?

-Yeah. Don’t take too long. –Valerie said in a sweet voice.

She went out of the Intel room and closed the door behind her. Damn… I really love that woman.

-Well, anyways, thank you. –Scope said. –Now, go after Valerie. It’s not nice to keep a lady waiting.

-Unfortunately, I’ll have to keep her waiting. –I said. –I’ll stay a while and do my job. I have to make sure nothing goes wrong. Otherwise, I won’t be bringing bread to the table no more.

Scope laughed.

-All right. See you later. –Scope said and went out of the room. –Bread on the table… damn…

I sat there for almost half an hour, maybe a bit more, making the perfect attack and escape plans. It wasn’t hard considering the circumstances.

When I was finished I went over to the cafeteria for a quick meal. I hadn’t taken a single bite all day long and I was starving.

-Valerie can wait. I’m starving. I can’t live on an empty stomach. –I said to myself as I entered the cafeteria.

The smell of micro waved meals is incredible thanks to what this world is nowadays. I miss the taste of apples. We have our own garden about two miles away from base, but it’s not harvesting season. Plus, the damn horde destroyed most of the trees and plants we had.

Inside the cafeteria were only twelve men and three women. All of them were sitting in the same table. I grabbed some macaroni and cheese, sat down at another table and started eating. After I finished my meal I stood up and went out of the cafeteria.

It took me almost five minutes to reach the dormitories and another six minutes to reach our room; I was a bit tired from running.

-Damn. Well, here goes. –I thought after looking at my watch.

I took out my key and, a little shaky, opened the door.

-Hey, Valerie? Are you there? –I asked.

-Jay! Honey, you’re finally here! You sure kept me waiting! –She said.

-Sorry. I’ve been busy. –I said trying to avoid any contact with her beautiful eyes. I was too tired planning all of tomorrow.

I walked in deeper into the room and grabbed a chair. Before I could even sit down she embraced me from behind. She kissed my neck and said:

-Jay, I know you’re tired but, I’m feeling amorous. Can we?

-Valerie… I… please, I just got here. –I said trying to resist her seduction. –It’s been a… hard… day.

-Oh, come on. Pretty please? –She said and kissed my neck a few more times.

-Ah… all right! –I said as my resistance failed and surrendered to her charms.

I woke up early next morning. The mission was delayed due to a few technical problems. Since they had been resting for some time the engines needed to be cleaned thoroughly, so I ordered Scope to fix them and stayed in my room doing what I did every Wednesday and Thursday; playing Call of Duty. Every Wednesday and Thursday is Call of Duty day for some of us. Sometimes we play Left 4 Dead but that’s a different story.

-All right Andreski! Let’s give it all we’ve got! –I said over the XBOX 360’s microphone headset.

-Yeah, yeah cover me! –He replied.

-Jay! Can’t you be a bit more silent? –Valerie said angrily because of all the noise I was making.

-Right. I’m sorry. –I said.

-Hey, you want some more? –She said showing me the Tequila bottle I had brought along with our breakfast.

-No thanks. Once a day is good enough for me. –I said to her.

-All right. –She said and took a drink of the bottle.

She then kissed me by force and passed that Tequila to me. Even though I didn’t want it I still drank it because… well… who could resist it coming from her?

-There you go. –She said in a sweet and childish voice.

At that moment, someone knocked on the door. I told whoever it was to come in.

-Captain, we’re almost ready to go. –Terrance said. –Scope’s done with the pick-ups.

-All right. Andreski, I’ve got to go. –I said.

-What? Come on! I’ll have to take them on by myself? –He replied.

-You’re more than enough to take them on by yourself. Jay out. –I said and turned off the XBOX. –Go. Valerie and I will meet you down there.

-Yes sir. –Terrance said.

I grabbed my tactical vest and my weapons. I didn’t take much ammunition with me and my cargo pants felt lighter due to that. I also grabbed my broadswords and put them on my back. Valerie wore her short blouse and a pair of shorts. That’s all she wore and looked both beautiful and attractive with her belly exposed. Although, she’s as deadly as she is beautiful.

I gave her one last kiss before we set out to the helicopter and another mission.