Steve, Janette, and Erwin felt better, and their wounds healed. Steve was playing with the radio that he still had from Southcrest hospital. He pressed one of the channels, said hello and sang an Elvis Presley song. However, he got stunned when someone responded and stated his name.
“Steve? Is that you?”
“Who’s there?” Steve wondered.
“Joseph!”
“Why the hell do you sing on a radio? God, that was annoying!” Joseph teased Steve.
“How are you? I’m so glad to hear you again!” Steve replied with tears in his eyes.
“I must ask that question. I thought you’re dead. Why didn’t you come here?”
“Long story, Joseph. I hope to tell you everything when I see you.” Steve replied. Joseph knew their current location, but they had to end soon because a patient moved to the hospital with excessive bleeding.
Steve felt felicitous talking to his best friend again. He walked around the Army base to look for Colonel Eaton, but he got surprised when he entered his office, but it was locked. He had a bad feeling, so he used the burglar skills he developed when his parents died and had to feed himself. Steve unlocked the door using his nail then Colonel Eaton was sleeping while tied on a chair with a bruised face.
“Colonel!” Steve rushed towards the chair and tried to wake him up. Colonel opened his eyes, and Steve felt relieved that he was still alive.
“What happened? Who did that to you?” Steve asked in a low voice.
“General beat me, so I can’t stop his plan. He ordered Sheriff Katcher to recall Joseph and the rest in service using my name. He wanted that farm, and kill its people if they refuse. We have to go there now, and help them.” Colonel hardly spoke. They stole one of the Army’s truck and filled it with weapons and supplies. Nobody noticed because the Army was busy with the recent Marauder attacks around the country. Steve drove the car while Nurse Janette aided Colonel Eaton at the rear of the vehicle.
After his shift, Joseph tried to connect with Steve again, but there was no response. They heard Finley instead saying that the farm got another attacked. They requested for immediate back to the other fams and Sheriff Katcher, but there was a massive marauder attack at Humvees.
Everyone was firing at the Carmichael’s farm. The Marauders were hiding behind the trees in the front yard luckily they build a better defense. Walter, Tony, Maxine, Rashida, Victoria, Booby, Denise, Ross, Vicky, Finley and his Militia all held a gun. Grandpa wanted to fight, but Grandpa stopped her. Both of them stayed inside a room with Joseph’s youngest son. However, Marauders outnumbered them again when Joseph, Captain Ellis, and his Army reached the farm and fired the intruders hiding behind the tree. They thought that they won the battle when another truck of Marauders fired at the Army’s truck. Joseph and the Army hid behind the wheels, but it wasn’t enough defense. More Marauder fighters descend, and the Army can’t do a counter-attack. All of a sudden, another vehicle came, but they can see passengers because of the darkness.
“Who’s that?” Joseph was afraid because it seemed like another truck, and it might be another group of Marauders.
“An Army’s truck!” Captain Ellis replied after staring at it for several minutes, then it parked beside them.
Joseph and the Army were indefinite about the passengers of the truck until they get off. Colonel Eaton, Denise, and Erwin hid behind their vehicle.
“Colonel! Captain Ellis yelled.”
“Hey! We got to blow them!” Colonel Eaton answered as he rolled grenades on the ground.
“Ready! Throw on three!” Colonel Eaton directed, and Captain Ellis nodded. Each of them threw one grenade at the Marauders’ truck then Steve came from nowhere and immediately fired a machine gun after the explosion.
“You sons of bitches!” Steve yelled as he shoots then the rest of the Army and people at the farm fired again at the Marauders. After the riot, Joseph and his group protected their land as they defeat the Marauders again.
Joseph and Steve quickly ran towards one another and hugged while Nurse Janette and Erwin followed.
“It was so good to see you, brother,” Joseph uttered.
“Janette!” Joseph hugged her as tears almost fell on him.
“Likewise. By the way, he’s Erwin. He’s a janitor at Southcrest. He also saved us. I hope we can stay here, Joseph.” Steve humbly said.
“Don’t be such an idiot. We’ve been waiting for all of you. Come let’s go inside.” Joseph replied.
On the other hand, Colonel Eaton ordered the Army to immediately check the Marauders’ bodies because he knows that some of them had minor wounds, especially after the blast. Colonel Eaton and the Army grouped the dead bodies and unconscious survivors and tied all of them. However, Finley and his group aimed their guns at the Colonel, and his troop followed then Captain Ellis, and his army protected the Colonel.
“I thought he’s a traitor,” Finley said.
“The General ordered Sheriff and used my name.” Colonel Eaton explained then Steve immediately ran towards the tension.
“Enough, drop your weapons. General beat and tied him for days.” Steve stated then both groups withdrew their guns. Colonel Eaton declared about the General’s disposal, and he’s sure that he’ll come to the farm soon.
Everyone hugged inside the farm especially when the Southcrest medical staff got a mini-reunion. Steve mentioned how did he survive as well as Denise and Erwin. Then Joseph and his family told the recent events at the farm. Amidst the tension, Grandma Carmichael cooked a delicious dinner for everyone. After a very bloody riot, she said that they still have a lot to celebrate.They were thankful that no one got hurt, Joseph’s friends were alive, and Grandpa Carmichael had finally woke up.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Captain Ellis along with three men from his troop conveyed Walter to the hospital because he had to do his duty at night even after the riot. It was getting late, but the people have a lot of things to finish. The Militia burned the lifeless remains of the Marauders. Colonel Eaton, on the other hand, asked Joseph and Steve if they can aid the wounded Marauder fighters. Tony and Grandpa Carmichael listened, but they got surprised with the intention. They gathered at the dining table while the ladies washed the dishes.
“It feels good that you’re finally here, Colonel. But may I ask why do we have to heal those killers?” Joseph asked.
“With the hope that we might get some vital information from them.” Colonel Eaton replied.
“It’s a risk. Are you sure that the truth will be exposed?” Steve questioned Colonel’s idea.
“What if they find a way to betray us?” Joseph added.
“That would also reduce our supplies,” Tony added.
“I guess the point of life is that you have to take risks. Marauders have billion of supporters out there, and they can attack everywhere. However, it’s odd that they kept on going back to this farm.” Colonel Eaton answered while Steve and Joseph looked at one another.
“What do you imply, Colonel?” Grandpa Carmichael got puzzled as well the others.
“It’s just strange for me. There are other active farms out there who have less security, yet Marauders have attacked this place several times. Then the General got interested in the farm as well. Is it only for the supplies?” Colonel Eaton replied trying to figure out if things were just accidental. Grandpa Carmichael decided to have a rest after their short meeting then Tony accompanied him to the room. They talked about Colonel Eaton’s thoughts about the endless assault on the farm.
“Dad, do you have any idea about Colonel’s theory?” Tony asked.
“I’m not sure, but he has a point, and his facts are correct.” Grandpa Carmichael replied.