Briggs swallowed. “I will. We all owe you a debt of gratitude for this.”
“Don’t give me credit yet.” Mick said, his voice coarse with sorrow. “When it’s done, then you can say thanks.” He winked and extended his hand to Briggs. “You’re a good man, Jonah Briggs. Get my boys back to Lodi and then if you can, keep an eye on them for me.”
“It would be my honor, Mick Owens.”
Sniffing hard through his nostrils, Mick gave one last look to Briggs, locking eye contact and conveying gratitude and respect. Then Mick joined his eight man squad. Their route to battle would be on foot, and Mick led the way.
Lodi, OH
“It’s pretty cool here, Pap. I started school again. I’m not having school today,” Chris rambled fast in a conversation with Tom. ‘It’s like a big praying day. I think I’ll join them. Tigger made a friend. Speaking of which, we’re bringing two kids home with us. I know you’re like the community dad now. You’ll like them.”
“Wow, Chris, you sound excited. Now, when do I get to see you? When you guys coming home? Any idea?”
“Oh, sure, Pap, soon. They’re having, like, a war not far from Lodi. You know that, right? Bunch of bad guys taking everyone hostage. Of course you know that they have Rose. Anyhow, as soon as that’s done we’ll be home. When Mick comes back we leave.”
“When Mick what?” Tom asked.
“Comes back. He went and fought with them, you know.”
“No, I didn’t,” Tom said and then changed the subject, silently seething over Mick’s leaving and going off to fight. Tom finished talking and said his goodbye, then he had Joey keep an eye on Doe and headed down to the war room. Not for a meeting but to vent.
Henry was there and so was Kurt. As expected, they were monitoring everything. Tom didn’t say hello, he stormed in complaining.
“Did you two know?”
“Know what?” Henry asked.
“That Mick went into battle with them.”
Henry looked at Kurt then back to Tom. “No, we didn’t.”
“Son of a bitch bastard!” Tom barked. “I don’t like to swear, but this just gets my goat. He leaves them and they are on the run, he leaves again, taking a chance to go to the labs in Maryland. But darn it, leave the fighting to the others. He doesn’t need to go in there. What the hell are those boys gonna do if something happens to him?” He literally growled. “Oh, wait. I am gonna kick his big ass for leaving them boys alone again. He didn’t need to take them from home. When he gets back, I’m killing him.”
“Tom,” Henry’s voice cracked. “Mick won’t be coming back to Lodi.”
“What do you mean?”
“We didn’t know he went,” Kurt explained, “but it makes sense. This is all more than likely a suicide mission for Mick.”
“What? Why is he going if it’s a suicide mission?” Tom asked.
“Mick’s dying, Tom,” Henry answered. “There was a breach in Maryland, his suit ripped and he was exposed. No one knows. The boys don’t know. Mick’s infected with the superbug. I think he’s probably doing this so the boys won’t see him get sick.”
“Oh my God.” Tom dropped to a chair and his whole being sank. “Can’t you fix this? Can’t you help him?”
Kurt shook his head. “Not with this, no. I’m sorry.”
Tom’s hands shot immediately to his face. As angry as he was, that was how quickly he became sad. Tom was devastated. He didn’t know what to say or if he even could speak.
It was Mick. Mick. It couldn’t be. It wasn’t fair. He had known Mick his entire life. To Tom, he was losing yet another child.
Erie, PA
According to the scout report, four men were posted at the northwest blockade. When Mick arrived there were six men and four trucks were horizontally parked, blocking the road. Ten yards from that blockade, Mick and his eight men took positions. They all, including Mick, had crossbows.
No guns. No gunfire. A silent hit.
“Again, repeating,” Mick whispered, “on my call fire. Then we charge. We don’t want to give them time to radio for help or pull their guns. Disarm them, detain them, kill them if they are a threat. Then you and you…” he pointed to two men, “will go in with me. You two will head north toward the city. I’m heading to the southern tip where we think the hostages are located. I need two more of you to stay at this blockade, and the rest will meet up with Briggs. Got that?” He got their agreement. “Be accurate, gentlemen and be careful. Engage weapons.”
They knelt in a line and all of them set their crossbows.
“Take your target.” Mick called quietly. “On my call. One… two… fire.”
There was a synchronized line of clicks followed by a single whistle sound as the arrows sailed through the air fast and furious.
Quietly, the nine arrows hit five of the men in deadly areas, the sixth took a shot to his leg and dropped forward.
“Charge!” Mick ordered and they all raced forward. Except Mick. He reloaded, aimed, and shot at the sixth man, taking him out.
He motioned to the two men to go in with him and as Mick crossed the barricade, he noticed one man reaching for his rifle. Mick kicked the weapon, bent down, covered the man’s mouth, and ripped the arrow from his chest. The arrow pulled ligaments and blood flowed upward in a rush. Quickly, Mick shifted and stabbed the man in the throat.
At that point, he didn’t have time to think ‘humanity’ and Mick charged through the barricade.
It was quiet. No one was around. The sneak attack had sounded no alarms and Mick waved his hand for the two men to go on.
“I’m in,” Mick whispered into the radio as he ran. “All good. Six down. No one the wiser.”
“We’ll wait. Let us know when you get a position.”
“Actually,” Mick spotted the golden arches, “quarter mile. I think I see our fast food restaurant. Be back.” Holding tight against the buildings, Mick followed the bright yellow ‘M’ as if it were the North Star. But staying out of sight was increasingly difficult as the buildings and businesses were further and further apart.
He came around a back street through a car wash and halted, his back against a wall, and peeked. Men carrying guns walked down the street. They weren’t patrolling, they were walking. In fact, every man carried a weapon.
Mick pulled his radio to his mouth. “Don’t respond, just listen. We have hostiles up and down the main street. They are armed but not in any ready position.” Mick’s eyes shifted to the blue sign above his head on the building. It read: ‘Patient Parking only,’. “I think I found it. Hang tight.”
He inched his way forward. Would the men even notice him? No one seemed to pay any attention to what was going on. As he hit the main sidewalk, he looked to his right and up.
It was the Breast Care Center.
Waiting until he had a clear shot, Mick darted from the side of the building and raced as fast as he could to the door. Revolver raised, he blasted through the door holding out his weapon.
The door closed on its own at the same time Mick saw Lars.
Lars spun around. “Mick!” He grinned.
“Michael?” Rose swung her legs from the cot.
“Mom!" Mick rushed to her. “Oh God.”
Rose weakly got to her feet. Her legs wobbled but Mick grabbed on to her.
“Mick.” She placed her hands to his face. “Thank you. I knew you’d be the one to get us.” She kissed him over and over.
Mick smiled. “I’ve seen you look better though. Lars, how is she?”
“She’s been better, but she’ll heal.” Lars stepped to him. “Mick, what is happening?”