Your Company’s Computer Guy

by Josiah922


Scott sat at his desk monitoring the Help Desk tickets. There had only been a few today. The SQL database server at the northern newspaper was acting up this morning. Scott had to tell everyone to shut down the editorial interface program before he could reboot the machine to clear up the evident memory leak. He was waiting five more minutes until the announced time when he could restart the server.

The phone rang and Scott answered it, “IT this is Scott.”

“Scotty, what up?” It was Forest Lewis a good friend of Scott’s from his college days. His Scotty reference came from the widely loved engineer from Star Trek.

“Greetings Run Run. How goes it in the big city?” The Run Run nickname came from the classic line Run Forest Run from the movie Forest Gump.

“Dude it is getting weird. There is something going on and it ain’t good. I keep getting internet chatter about a ship container out of New York that is AWOL. The agency is thinking it is packing A,” Forest said sounding the words with a more than serious tone.

“An atom bomb!?!? Are you serious?”

“Dude you did not hear this from me. They are trying to track it. They think that it is on a train somewhere. Take care. I gotta go.” The phone went silent. Forest had secured employment with the government data center in Washington. He was privy to a few things of lower classification. Stuff only mildly secret.

Scott blinked, “A train out of New York huh?” Scott immediately pulled up several satellite images of New York and the major rails come out of the Big City. The T3 connection at the corporate office fired to life and information flowed to Scott’s laptop. The were a LOT of rail lines coming out of New York. A couple flowed to Washington, DC. “That must be it. Boy, this is gonna be interesting,” he thought as he looked at the screen.

His brain shocked him back to the reality that he should be rebooting that server right now. He immediately turned to his second monitor where he had the remote desktop of the server. He started the restart procedure and turned back to the Internet Explorer windows showing the rail information while the computer rebooted.

The phone rang, “IT this is Scott.”

“Scott, hey, I can’t reach the Editorial SQL server,” came the voice of James, the chief editor for the publication using the server he just shutdown.

“James I sent out several emails saying that the server needed to be restarted. I even called the Managing Editor’s office to pass the word. It has been scheduled to go down at this time all morning.”

“Well, I didn’t get the word. Scott am I going to loose the story that I am working on?”

“Uhh, no sir. As soon as the server comes back up just hit save and it will reestablish the SQL interface. It will only be down for a few more minutes.”

The editor was loosing patience, “Don’t talk geek to me Scott. Just get it back up.”

“Yes sir.” The phone was silent.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


Scott had been watching the news sites. Nothing.

He stood up from his cubical desk and walked to the break room. He picked up a Snickers and a Coke. No one was in the break room and he wanted to call his Dad. Scott reached into the oversized camera case on his side and pulled out his Black Berry. He informed his Dad of the rumor from Forest. “Son you get out to the farm this weekend, just in case.”

“Yes, sir. As soon as five o’clock gets here I am heading that way. Tell Mom I love her. Bye.”

“You keep your wits about you. You hear? We love you too. Bye son.”

Scott punch the red button on his Black Berry and hung up the call. He popped the cap on the Coke and took a drink. “Ahhhh, Mother’s milk.”

“Talking to yourself again Scott?” came a gruff voice followed by giggles from the doorway. Zack May stood at the doorway with two other men from the bean counters department. Zack Daleford was the cockiest guy in the building and loved to beat Zack to work each morning often racing him to work since they both lived on the northside of town right across the street from each other. Zack tossed a candy into the air and caught it in his mouth.

“Yeah, I guess.” Scott shuffled his feet and faked a smile.

“You need to get out more,” said Zack and began to laugh as he flipped another M&M candy into the air. It fell smoothly through the air, into his mouth, down his throat and rested easy on top of his vocal cords. His friends continued to laugh as Zack’s face turned slightly red and his eyes widened.

His brain immediately clicked. Visions from the CPR class from 8 months ago rushed to the front of his mind. In seconds, he went through the 10 minute walk through and question and answer session as well as the 20 minute example and practice session on a conscious choking victim in seconds. He jumped up from the table running toward Zack. He pushed the bystanders out of the way as they continued to smirk and giggle. He grabbed Zack’s shoulder forcing Zack to look at him.

“First, ask them,” came the teacher’s words.

“Zack are you choking?” Scott said forcefully.

Zack did not reply. He didn’t even cough. However, he nodded profusely. The bystanders finally quit their comments.

Scott leaned Zack forward slightly and stood behind him. Scott made a fist with one hand and put his arms around Zack and grasped his fist with his other hand in the midline just below the ribs. Scott made a quick, hard movement inward and upward. Scott continued this maneuver until the candy popped out to the floor.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx



“I understand Mrs. MacGregor, but it sounds like your power supply has gone out on your computer,” Scott’s eyes rolled. “I don’t think that you lost your report. It should be on the server.”

“No ma’am. It is not on your computer. Just go to another computer, sign in and look on the server. It should be there. Try that and in the mean time I will see if I can get that computer going again. Yes, ma’am. Bye”

Scott tapped his keyboard and changed the status of the trouble ticket to “Work in progress” and printed out the inventory of Mrs. MacGregor’s computer. He stood up from his desk and walked to the IT supply room.

Scott read the computer inventory sheet. Mrs. MacGregor had a Dell GX280. Scott knew they stocked at least one power supply in house. It would probably be on the third shelf in the storage room. As he turned the corner, he walk straight into something and books began to fly.

“Scott! Watch where you are going!” came a female voice.

“Sorry Melissa. Here let me help,” Scott said as he began picking up the books and papers.

Melissa Roberts was a short young lady in her mid-twenties about 5’8” tall and the most beautiful woman Scott had ever seen. Scott smiled at her and quietly finished picking up the books setting them on a nearby table.

After he had them piled back up he handed them to Melissa and said as he looked her square in the eyes, “I am sorry for being careless. Have a nice day.”

She paused. Tilted her head to the side ever so slightly and said, “It’s ok. Just watch where you are going.” She slightly smiled then hurried away.

Scott continued to the store room and swiped his proximity card next to the pickup device. The security system recognized his card and he went in. He walked to the third book shelf and there on the fourth shelf was a stack of various power supplies. He read the different boxes aloud. “GX270, GX260 …”

“Scott? That you?” came a voice.

“Yeah.”

Zack walked around the book shelf. “Hey listen about earlier…. I wanted to thank you.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Scott grabbed another box and the lights went out. Darkness over took them.


Xxxxxxxxxxxxx


Zack’s voice came through the darkness, “What happened?”

Scott stood for a moment. “Just wait for the emergency lighting.” Just about every room in a normal office complex should have emergency lighting in the case of a power outage will turn on to give at least minimal light to a room. Several seconds went by and still no light.

Scott reached into his camera case on his belt and pulled out his Black Berry. While it was not a real flashlight, it would give off some light from its backlit display. He pushed a button on the Black Berry. He knew that any button will wake the device and case the back light to shine. ….. Nothing.

He then opened the larger pocket of the camera case and searched through the pocket using his fingers to find the object he was looking for. He found it and pulled out a small LED flashlight. He clicked the button and light streamed from the small pen light.

“Where did you get a flash light?” Zack asked.

Slightly nervously Scott answered, “I have one to see inside the printers when I am working on them.”

“Oh. Why did the lights go out?” Zack asked again.

“Don’t know. Let’s get out of this room.” They both made their way to the door and out into the main cubical room. Everyone was standing up, looking around and talking.

Scott picked up the phone and listened. Dead….. So were all of the lights on the floor. He walk to the windows overlooking the road just outside. There were no cars moving on the road. Scott watched for several seconds. …. Nothing.

He looked at his blackberry again. No power. He started walking to his cubicle swiftly. When he reached his cubicle he tossed the Black Berry on the desk and tried powering his laptop thinking it may work because it had batteries. It didn’t. He reached for his laptop case. It was not company owned. They provided him a laptop so he could help support the computers after hours during an emergency. Scott pulled out of the laptop bag the spare power supply for his laptop and tossed it on the desk. He sholdered the laptop bag and started walking to the stair case.

As he was walking to the stair case he passed Tim a fellow computer tech. “Scott they are having an emergency meeting in the publishers office. He wants you in there,” Tim said as they passed.

“OK,” was all that Scott said and kept walking to the staircase.

He reached the staircase and immediately descended the three stories to the street below. He walked down the block to the parking deck the company used. Once again there was no cars on the road. This was not good.

Scott reached his car and tried to crank it. It was one of the new hybrid Priuses that got about 55 MPG built by Toyota. …. Nothing. Scott got out and went to the trunk. He manually opened the trunk and then looked. One side of the trunk was full and covered with a large tarp to keep the contents from prying eyes. Scott through the tarp back and grabbed the Maxpedition Typhoon Gearslinger. It was a 900+ cu. in. single shoulder pack that included 50 oz. water reservoir. John picked up his laptop bag and opened it.

“Scott what are you doing?” Zack voice floated across the garage.

Scott looked up to see Zack again. “I am going home and I suggest you do the same.”

“Scott what is going on?”

“In a nutshell? I think that someone has detonated an Atom bomb somewhere at a high altitude over the Eastern states. There were rumors that one was snuck into the country earlier today. The explosion caused an EMP that has effected all electrical circuits in the area making most electronics unusable. Get to a shelter and get there fast.” Scott reached his laptop bag and pulled out his .45 Glock, two spare magazines in their holder and another bag containing a M-95 Military NBC gas mask and filter and placed it into the Gearslinger.

“Was that a gun? Scott you had a gun at work? That is against company policy,” Zack started.

“Wake up, Zack! This is real!” Scott shouted at him and put on the Gearslinger backpack. He then reached into the trunk and pulled out a Citizen folding bike then set it on the ground. He started assembling it while Zack began shaking his head.

“Why don’t you drive?” Zack asked.

Scott answered as he finished assembling the bike, “EMP. Electro Magnetic Pulse. It fries everything that has an electrical circuit. The cars won’t start. Aren’t you curious as to why there are no cars on the road?” Jon then took the action packer out of the trunk and strapped it to the luggage rack on the bike.

“OK. Well sounds like we need to call the police. I am going back in,” said Zack as he turned and walked away.

“You do that,” said Scott knowing the phones were out as well as the cell phones. Scott hoped on the Citizen folding bike and quickly made his way out of the garage and onto the street.
Scott rolled out into the street making his way north. To say that there were no cars on the road was not accurate. To say their were no “moving” cars would be more accurate. Scott looked up the street seeing several cars in the road and their owners with the hoods up or trying cell phones.

Scott geared up the bike and picked up speed as he passed the office building he just left when he caught movement out of the corner of his eye. There Melissa stood waving at him, “Scott! Where are you going?” she called out to him.

For some unknown reason he tapped the brakes. She ran over to him her heels clicking on the front sidewalk. “Scott, Zack said you were leaving. What is going on?” she asked as she looked at his equipment.

He had to at least warn her, “Melissa things are about to get out of hand. I think that someone has detonated an Atom bomb somewhere over the Eastern states. There were rumors that one was snuck into the country earlier today. The explosion caused an EMP.”

Melissa interrupted, “Electromagnetic Pulse. That would explain the loss of power and electrical equipment.”

Scott’s jaw dropped. “You know what an EMP is?”

“Yes,” her eyes scanned Scott’s equipment. “Which way are you heading?” her sweet demeanor was gone and a more precise attitude was detected, but her eyes still had their sparkle.

“North two blocks then to my Father’s place about 15 miles west from here.”

“Can I come? I am sorry that we never talked about this before, but you are bugging out of here right?”

The term ‘bugging out’ made Scott’s jaw drop again. The term had been adopted by preppers for years referring to getting out of a place as fast as possible and making a run for a more secured position. The thought smacked Scott in the head, “You are a prepper?”

She put her hand on his mouth to quite his response. “Yes, give me 3 minutes. Meet me in the garage.” She said as she pulled off her heels and she immediately got 3 inches shorter. “Space 53. OK?” She draped her purse’s strap across her chest.

“Sure,” Scott managed.

She turned and took off in a sprint up the road toward the parking deck entrance throwing her heels to the sidewalk.

While making his way to Space 53, he had reached into his pack and brought out his Nukalert. He clipped the carabineer to a belt loop. It was not beeping at all. That was good news but the 10 miles that he had to cross would take him at least an hour or two to get there. Things could change for the worst in that amount of time. He didn’t know how he was gonna help Melissa. Only one could ride on the bike.

As he reached where space 53 three was he saw Melissa getting out of a late model Nissan Rogue with a bike in the bike rack attached to the rear. She was breathing heavily, but had managed to change clothes into dark jeans, a Tshirt and tennis shoes. “Be with you in a sec.” She unlocked the Gary Fisher Kaitai mountain bike and set it behind the vehicle. “My car wouldn’t start either,” she said as she opened the trunk area.

Scott noticed the floor of the trunk was elevated. I was about 8 inches high and covered in the same gray carpeting as the rest of the trunk area. There were three holes on each side of the elevated platform near the sides of the car. Melissa put a finger in the first hole on the right and the third hole on the left. The center part of the 1/4“ diamond plate steel elevated area covered in carpet popped loose and she quickly opened it up to reveal a back pack, extra water, rope, a tarp and other things he couldn’t notice in the few seconds it took Melissa to get ready.

“The holes have releases in them. Choose the right ones and the center lid pops open. Choose the wrong ones and a few spring-loaded mouse traps tell your fingers to back off.” She paused while putting on a tactical vest. As she pulled a revolver from the holster of the vest and checked that it was loaded, she continued, “I had my car broken into one time. I didn’t like that. Are you armed?” She holstered the revolver and grabbed the water and backpack.

“Yea, 2 Glock 30’s and a couple of extra clips,” Scott suddenly realizing he had not been keeping watch and paying her too much attention. He scanned the garage quickly. No one was there. He turned back to her.

Melissa smiled as she put the two bottles into a large Trek Side Loader pack and fastened it to the bike. She looked around as she put on a camo LevelIII Kevlar helmet and jumped on her bike. “You lead. Let’s go.”

They both took to the streets and accelerated with extreme prejudice.


Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

People were starting to come into the streets now. They moved quickly around the still vehicles and the people beginning to look around asking each other what was happening. It had been about 12 minutes since the lights went out and downtown hardly ever lost power.

One more block and they could turn west out of town. One person yelled at them to stop, but the pair had resolved that would be a mistake. Scott yelled back to Melissa, “We can’t help them all.” Melissa just nodded back.

At the end of the block a police officer was talking with several people and another stood still trying his radio. The one talking noticed the movement of the bikes up the road and looked up. Scott yelled, “keep going.” They picked up speed.

The one officer tried to step out of the now crowd of people standing around him. He went toward them middle of the road. Scott curved the bike up onto the sidewalk and Melissa followed. People jumped out of the way as they continued down the sidewalk toward the next street and the police officers. The police officer yelled toward them, “Halt! We are commandeering those bikes!”

Scott knew there was no posse comitatus statue in the state’s codes. He picked up speed and turned the corner, but had to run out into the street to make it. Melissa followed and then passed Scott. His smaller wheeled bike not giving quite as much acceleration as the more suited mountain bike. They were now going down hill and their speed increased again.

“Halt!” came at them from behind.

“Keep going!” Scott yelled. Both lowered there heads and peddled as hard as they could. After a good minute of peddling Scott looked back and did not see the police following.

“There is no road to the west here. It dead ends at the river in one more block.” Melissa told Scott.

“We are going over the river.”

“What?” Melissa asked.

“Let me take the lead. There is a small repair path across the ATC railroad bridge,” Scott said as he pointed toward the bridge ahead of them. “The bikes can get across it.”

Melissa smiled then nodded as they continued there way westward.


Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


They had continued on for almost 30 minutes with the sun now starting to set. They had not made good progress. They had taken several different detours trying to avoid groups of people that they had come across. Melissa spoke up, “Scott follow me,” as she turned through a neighborhood. “We are making a pit stop.” Hardly anyone was in the neighborhood. The few people they saw where standing in there front yards talking to one another or out at their cars trying to get them going.

At the end of the road Melissa turned onto another road and then another small road. There at the end of the road was where she was heading. The sign read Jack’s Mini Storage. She pulled through the lines of storage house to container 80. She stopped her bike and looked around. “I am so glad you said west.”

She quickly pulled out a key and unlocked the small roll down door. When the door reached the top he noticed that there was room on the inside. Most people used the storage containers to store all manner of things and packing them full to the brim of unwanted items and things. However, this was not the case with Melissa. There were boxes of stuff inside, but there was a large area as well. It was big enough to drive both bikes into. They did just that and Melissa shut the door behind them.

As the door shut Scott reached into his pack and brought out his LED flashlight again. He turned it on to provide a little light. Melissa smiled at him, “Well, here we are.” She reached in her vest and pulled out two glow sticks. She broke them and set them on top of the boxes. The storage room was now dimly lit. Melissa quickly took out a large black covering and covered the door with it. “Now people won’t see the light around the cracks of the door.” Melissa then grabbed a steel bar and wedged the door down so no one could open it from the outside. She opened up a nearby box and replaced the two light sticks with a small supply.

“Well, you are certainly a prepper,” Scott said nodding in approval.

“I don’t know about that. This and another hidden stash is all I have. I have only been gathering supplies for the past year and a half.” She reached into another box and pulled out a milk jug full of water. She poured some into her hands and began to wash her face and arms. She passed the jug to Scott and continued, “Let me change clothes, eat something real quick and we can get outta here.”

She didn’t let Scott use any of his supplies. She insisted the use her stored goods. Bottled water, Gatorade mix, peanut butter crackers and trail mix had them recharged quickly. After that she had Scott turn around and she changed her clothes into something a little more defensive. When Scott turned around the young lady that favored wearing office suits and high heels now wore a full set of BDU’s and camo Marine Utility Combat boots. The rank on the collar was “Specialist”. The name on the uniform was “Roberts.”

“You were in the military?” Scott asked.

“Yes sir. Specialist Roberts reporting for duty. I was a Financial Management Technician for four years, then a little more college and now in the real world with a real job. Well, I used to have a job.” She walked back to the rear of the shed and started connecting a small bicycle trailer to her bike. “I know that we haven’t talked too much in the past, but you didn’t seem like the prepper type. Then I saw your computer bag one day when it sort of fell open. You have a M95 gas mask if I remember right.”

“I…didn’t seem like a prepper? You were always the proper lady taking care of business and being so ….”

She raised her eyebrows, “So what….?”

“So …… pretty, prim and proper.”

She smiled, “It wasn’t bad camouflage huh, and I will take that as a compliment.” She winked at him. “BUT right now we gotta go.” They unbolted the door pulled there bikes out and relocked the door. “Do you think that I can come back for it?”

“We can give it a try. Let’s go,” Scott took the lead.
Scott and Melissa had to make it about one more mile down the main highway before turning off to head toward his parents. They were topping the last and final hill when they saw a group of cars in the parking lot of a small department store a couple of yards ahead. A scream pierced the air.

Scott moved the bike off of the side of the road and stopped bringing out one of his Glock 30’s. He began to try to find the source. It was coming from the store ahead.

“There,” Melissa said pointing at the glass door busted out and the dark interior. “Do we help?”

For a split second Scott’s mind calculated the various things that could be happening. A scream could mean anything and any type of enemy. Just then a man stumbles towards the store from an older van parked near by. He yelled across the parking lot, “My turn man! Give her back to me!”

As the man went in the store another female scream escaped the dark and Scott looked at Melissa. “Would you want help if it was you?”

Melissa got off her bike, unhooked the trailer, opened the hood of the trailer and pulled out a pair of binoculars. She watched for a moment. “I can barely see two,” said Melissa. “What is the plan?”

“Stealth blitz with transport.”

They readied themselves by leaving their backpacks and the trailer on the side of the road in the bushes. “You head to clear the van. Then give me cover from there.”

“Good luck,” Melissa said as she smiled.

“Thank you. You too.” Scott looked up, “Please Lord make me fast and accurate.”

They both silently coasted down the hill straight toward the parking lot. Another scream, then a slap. Melissa turned toward the van then slammed on the breaks stopping next to the opened door while pulling her .357 4 inch revolver. Scott continued straight toward the front door keeping his speed.

In one smooth motion Melissa scanned the Van. No one there.

Scott was about 15 feet from the missing door facing when he hoped off of the bike and sent it into the store crashing and banging. Scott immediately got behind the nearest car as the two men ran out one with a knife and the other a pump shot gun of some sort. The man with the gun saw Melissa and fired the shotgun. A heartbeat passed. The other drew a handgun from his waistband. Another heartbeat. Obscenities came from both of their mouths as small metal objects ripped through their chests. Within seconds both lay on the pavement in front of the store dying. Moments later their souls were in a dark place and infinite pain filled their thoughts.

The woman was found inside. Melissa stayed with her and started seeing about some rather nasty cuts on her arms and chests. She confirmed there were only two. The woman said that she was the owner of the store and she was trying to secure it after sending all of the employees home. Scott retrieved the guns and knife of the two dead men. The van was found to have been an old enough model that it actually cranked. Scott offered it to the woman to get home which was another 18 miles west of them. Since her car would not crank she took the keys. She just sat in the van slightly crying.

They spent the next few minutes securing the door with some plywood from the back and a few sections of display shelves. They had to leave from the side door, but at least the place was somewhat secure.

The woman looked up at them and offered a ride. “No ma’am. We are right down the road from my home. You get going and I think you better take this,” said Scott offering the shotgun to her. She reached out and took the gun looking a little timid holding it. “Thank you both for what you did.” She then looked at the two bodies on the ground and something changed. She purposefully walked to the bodies, shot once, racked the pump and shot again. She then entered the van with her head a little higher. She placed the shotgun in the seat and left.


Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


They pulled up to a dirt driveway that wound its way into the woods with a cattle fence gate closing the way. There was only a small mailbox outside to announce any type of homestead was here. He motioned for her to stop. The wind rustled the leaves slightly. Melissa pulled her bike along side his and said, “Should we knock?”

Scott motioned for her to be quiet and he looked up to the trees. He hoped off his bike and stood there looking into the trees like he was bird hunting. A full minute passed and still he stood. The wind blew slightly. About every 30 seconds he would look back at Melissa and motion for her to be quiet and then point to his ear. She tried to listen, but heard nothing. Scott stood cocking his head one way then another still looking at the trees.

A small wind gust came and with it a small tinkling of metallic wind chimes. He looked at Melissa, “OK”. He produced a key and opened the padlocked gate. They moved their bikes through and started down the dark winding driveway. In to the first bend Scott turned into the woods and away from the driveway. He clicked his flashlight on and continued through. He followed a small path not bigger than a deer trail and wound his way through the woods.

About 100 yards into the woods an opening appeared. There in the middle of a large field was a two story house and barn surrounded by a couple of dozen trees. “OK Head for the house on foot. Walk straight at it. Don’t try to get onto the road to the house. Just walk straight through the field. Let them see you. Do not look like you are threatening me.”

“Got it…… Care to explain the wind chimes?” She asked.

“A signal. I really can’t talk about it until I speak to the family,” Scott said uncomfortably. He flashed the flashlight at the house a few times.

“Hmmm, almost forgot that I am a visitor here,” she said. “I take it that it tells you which way to go and maybe a general condition of the site here.”

Scott said nothing.

They continued on to the house. He continued to flash at the house. At about 100 yards out, the front door opened and a young man about 16 ran out towards them. He was clothed in Realtree camo and carried no weapons. “Uncle Scott! You made it!”

“Well, of course. Did you have any doubt?” he asked as he shook the youth’s hand. “Nolan, go back and tell GrandDad we have one extra friendly that is asking to join us.”

Nolan smiled at Melissa and “Sure Uncle Scott. Oh you two can ride them now. GrandDad wants you inside quick. He says to put your supplies in the barn and get inside.”

After a few more minutes that is just what occurred. Scott and Melissa set in front of “the Family” in an oil lantern lit living room. There was Grandpa and Grandma Randall, and Nolan all gathered around the room. Steve Randall was at lookout so was listening via a two way radio sitting on the coffee table.

“Well, this is Melissa Roberts. She worked with me at the publishing office. She stopped me on my Get Out of Dodge. She had identified the same signs I saw and asked to join me. She had her own gear and just followed me out. She is ex-army and she has a stash of her own only a few miles away.”

“Oh for goodness sake Scott, let her talk for herself,” said Grandma Randall. “First, Melissa is it?” Melissa nodded. “Would you like something to drink? Milk, water, cola, coffee, tea?”

Melissa smiled and looked at Scott then back to Grandma, “Some iced tea would be great.”

Grandpa Randall looked at her questioningly, “I know that Scott vouches for you, but this is a working farm Miss Roberts. It is Miss, isn’t it?”

“Yes sir,” she nodded and began to take off her helmet.

“What are your plans?”

She shifted just a bit. “Well, Mr. Randall to be honest, I really don’t have any immediate family members and have not gotten to the point of buying my own place. I was quite lucky to have figured out that Scott was a prepper and that he let me come here. Otherwise I would have had to hold up in the city or maybe at my stash points, but I really don’t have a place to go. If it is ok with the group, I would like to ask to stay here at least for the time being until we figure out what is happening out there.”

Mr. Randall looked around at the faces in the room as he spoke, “There is a lot of work to be done to figure out what is going on and prepare to survive whatever evil is throwing at us. Protecting my family is the utmost importance to me. We all would lay down our lives for the other. This thing that is happening may be a small thing or part of a larger problem; but I have to know that everyone here (while they are here) will do everything they can to protect and work for each other.”

“Miss Roberts, I am a man that is direct and to the point. I am too old to beat around the bush about such things. Will you do what is needed and protect my family to the best of your ability?”

“Yes sir,” she immediately became more serious.

“Well, then due to your experience, my son’s trust in you and your willingness to help my family; we will allow you to stay as long as you need to. Please get with Grandma as soon as you can for a tour of the place,” Grandpa said as he stood up and shook Melissa’s hand. He then looked at Scott, “I need to see you down stairs.”

The amateur radio operators were the first to broadcast from the effected areas after the atmosphere had allowed radio signals to once again penetrate the atmosphere. Mobil satellite trucks were the next on the scene. The farm’s residence had everything they needed to just sit and wait. It was easy to do, but it was simply not to be.

Five months had passed. The winter had come and gone. Scott and Melissa had huddled down with the rest of his family and listened from the security of the farm. Their friendship had grown and Scott started having feelings for Melissa. Unfortunately the feelings were not returned. When Melissa looked at Scott she could only see the geeky computer guy that she had known before.

It started the first day that they got some word of what had happened. There was an atom bomb detonated at a high altitude over the Eastern states. The EMP pulse reached further than was predicted. It was centered somewhere around Maryland. Thankfully the jet stream pushed the majority of the fall out East out to sea, but radiation and fallout did start effecting Maryland and a little of the surrounding area. Washington D.C., New York, Detroit , Richmond, Pittsburg and Cleveland were all hit by the EMP.

Only a few short days after the attack on the infrastructure of the US, the economy was attacked. Thanks to an already weak dollar, the OPEC countries immediately announced that they would not be taking payment for oil in US dollars. Likewise China exchanged all of its holding in US dollars over to the Euro. It was the perfect storm and the country was in trouble. However, the crash not only effected the US. Economic ripples went around the world.

People started waiting for FEMA to step in, but only a trickle of assistance came into the original EMP hit areas. After the economic collapse and the unanticipated unprecedented spike in inflation, there was basically mass desertion from the military. Even in some bases located outside of the US, desertion was ramped. Episodes of aircraft being scheduled for emergency missions where they left and did not returned was almost common place. In addition, other parts of the US were suffering a similar fate due to the overused electrical infrastructure that partially failed and other utility companies just turned off the switch.

Melissa felt a need to contact state government officials to see what we could do to assist. The family immediately voted down the action taking more of a wait and see approach. This was something that smarted Melissa’s ego. Slowly she distanced herself from the family and finally when spring came she announced that she was leaving to help assist where she could.

Scott tried to point out that anything in this stage may be futile. He tried to assure her that soon the fog would clear and the family would began trying to help where they could. Melissa could not be talked into staying. She knew that the government would be the answer. The state and national agencies only needed volunteers so they could spring into action.

It was a partly cloudy late February day when they dropped her off at her storage locker and wished her well. Scott looked into her eyes one last time and nodded goodbye.

As they were driving back to the farm they passed the small general store that Scott and Melissa had rescued the woman from. “Steve pulled over here,” Scott said to his brother.

“Sure Scott.” Steve said as he pulled into the parking lot of the small general store.

Scott hopped out and walked up to the door remembering that first night. Melissa had fell right in sync with Scott’s plan. She had followed and trusted him. The store was ransacked with bare shelves, trash and broken glass everywhere.

A distinct sound shuffled through the air of a 12 gauge shotgun shell being rammed home within a fully functional pump shotgun. A commanding female voice came from the side, “Do NOT move!” Scott became stone.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx



“I…..I don’t mean any harm Miss. I am not here to steal anything,” Scott said trying to straighten up from his half step over a broken cabinet.

“I will determine that! Why are you here?” she asked.

Scott straightened. He looked around the store for others and sensed movement in the rear of the store. Scott calculated a response against the woman and the possibility of finding and taking out the other yet unknown target in the rear of the store. Scott knew that his brother could detect that there was trouble and knew that even now he was making the same calculations. He reined his impulse back with common sense. “I was just looking to see if the store had opened back up.”

A snicker came from the woman. “Are you kidding? Haven’t you heard? There is no money to buy anything with and even if there was, there is nothing left to sell.”

Scott slowly turned to face the woman. Smiled and said, “Well, money isn’t everything.”

The woman’s face turned to a questioning look, “Wait….it is you.”

Scott immediately knew the woman and looked at the shotgun, “I see that you still have the shotgun.”

The woman smiled, “Never leaves my side. Now what are you talking about?” She lowered the barrel of the shotgun.

Over the next several minutes, the woman introduced herself as Ann Chamberlain and the other in the back of the store as her daughter June. The young woman of about 15 came out toting a single shot 12 gauge and was a little nervous of Scott until Ann explained. Steve was ushered in and introduced to everyone. She thanked Scott several times for his actions that night, but stayed on topic of possibly starting some form of commerce back up in the area.

She explained that she had just built and opened the store before the crash. She also explained that the store was completely paid for due to proper planning and dumping her entire savings into the project. They talked about bartering and Scott explained that it was just simply swapping product and services for other products and services. They also spoke about other forms of payment like silver coins (like pre1965 dimes) and even ammo could be used as a form of currency.

Then they talked about opening up the store again. She didn’t know what she would be able to sell. Scott then talked about selling food and other items on consignment. Farmers and others could bring products in and she would sell the products keeping a portion of the profit. Also she could adopt a silver standard and trade goods for silver and visa versa. She could rent space in the store or parking lot for people with services to offer.

Scott and Steve agreed to meet her in the morning and help her clean up the store and advertise that the store was opening, if she would allow them to open up a small booth rent free for 6 months in the front of the store.

Ann agreed and the next morning the Chamberlain Bazaar started to take shape.
 
The next day Scott dropped off several Xerox copied books concerning bartering and silver value. Ann asked Scott where he got the books but he just changed the subject. Steve and Scott started off the day sealing up the windows with plywood and plastic sheeting. They continued to put several of the undamaged shelves back in place and then started repairing others. Hours were spent sweeping the floors till the end of the day came.

Light was an issue. During the day the sunlight shown through the skylights giving enough light on brighter days to work and see by. However, at night the building turned truly dark. That was something that would have to be remedied.

Near noon on the second day Scott’s father arrived with the tractor toting a trailer full of steel plating and an arc welder. Ann began to ask about the steel plates but Scott told her it was “needed upgrades.”

After a full week of cleaning and “upgrades” the bazzar was now functional. The upgrades turned out to be three perches made of layered steel (providing 2 internal and one external crow’s nests where security sharpshooters could sit ready to handle any “tough customers”) and multiple windows were replaced with cross shaped slits reminiscent of windows where archers shot arrows from to defend a castle. Make shift Zip lines were installed on the crow’s nests to allow the security force to egress out of the elevated positions quickly if needed.

In addition, (with the help of the tractor with a back hoe attachment and another week) an honest to goodness moat (about 5 foot deep and 10 feet wide) was dug around the store and parking lot. The extra dirt was piled on the internal side of the moat making a make shift wall. There was only one way into and out of the parking area that now had a guard house and movable pole gate. The entrance itself was single lane instead of two lanes. Only one vehicle could come and go at a time. A few hours with the arc welder and a make shift tire shedder was made that could be activated at the guard house.

Ann had brought several of her own supplies to the shop starting with a few oil lamps that she used to light to store at night. She was spending so much time there nowadays that she might as well have lived there. In the second week, that is just what happened. In the storage area in the back of the store the woman and her daughter started to move her things into two smaller rooms in the back. The first room would wind up to be a kitchen area and the second was their bedroom.

Scott, Steve, Nolin, Grandpa and Grandma all took turns visiting the bazaar and helping. Finally the family worked on their little 10 foot by 20 foot booth that Ann said they could have inside. Shelves were built on one have to display items on and on the other a desk and work area was built.

Several other people showed up after passing by and seeing the activity at the store. One beggar showed up asking for work. He looked near death. Scott took a little food from his pack and let the man regain his strength. His name was Charles Weatherly. Before the crash he was a rich young man having an investment job. He had managed to earn enough money to buy up quite a bit of canned food when the hyperinflation kicked in even though the canned foods were $15 to $20 per can. This is how he had survived, but now the canned goods were out and Charles had no skills for surviving on his own.

The one thing that he did have was a brand new AR-15 with laser attachment and several clips. Charles admitted that he knew little of the weapon. He explained that according to the store owner it was “the best rifle of the shelf.” Ann hired Charles for the first of the security positions. Steve butted in and offered proper training concerning the use of the rifle and how to make best use of the crow’s nests.

After much discussion, Scott showed up one day with several hundred color fliers telling the name, directions and giving a map to the store. It invited everyone to the store to buy, sell and trade on their opening day. It also mentioned that there would be security provided and that each person would receive a free small envelope of seeds for the next week. Scott had several hybrid seed pack that he had set aside for the distribution. They only cost pennies when he purchased them and now they would stimulate the quality of life dramatically. The opening day was scheduled for the next full moon the following week. The Chamberlain Bazaar was opening for business.


Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx



It was a wondrous event. Dozens of people showed up from far and near. At first Ann just allowed people to set up in the store like an in door flea market. She charged an agreed upon price it was usually a small portion of what they were selling. One local farmer had several winter crops that were picked that morning to sell as well as a few chickens. Ann let the man setup in the store for just a good bundle of collards.

There were items galore and many purchases. It was amazing that the things that had value before the crash had little or none now. Ann had managed to stock some of the shelves with items for purchase. Here were treasures available to them all. Well, they were treasures now after the crash. Before the crash they were items that while not totally readily available they were only worth a few dollars each, now they were near priceless.

There was a box of bicycle tire patches purchased originally for $1.50 each, now since bicycles were unfueled transportation that everyone could use they were way more valuable. Also were several large bottles of vitamins, cigarette lighters, mason jar lids, vegetable oil, toilet paper, powered milk, diapers, feminine hygiene products, 3 different types of powered baby formula, toothpaste, baking soda and even garden seeds. All of these Ann had accumulated from somewhere. She was proving more resourceful than Scott knew.

Scott waited a while before opening his booth. When he did the people were amazed. There were several items but they were not for sale. You could only rent these items, but still the rental cost of the items were at a good cost and required a significant deposit to assure the safe return of the items. Some of these items included: gasoline containers, 3 garden tillers, hoes, shovels, rakes, 2 small 5000 watt diesel generators, leather working tools, a couple of bow saws, axes, wedges, LED flashlights with rechargeable AA batteries, 2 bicycles, several reading glasses in various strengths, and there were several posters sporting the details of various male animals available for stud services (horse, cow, goat.) You could even special order an animal before its birth for future ownership.

However, the absolute best rental, one of which immediately drew customers, was the computer. Thanks to several PV panels mounted on the roof and a bank of batteries, Scott had enough power to run his equipment. The computer setup was a simple name brand laptop and a professional grade laser and inkjet printers, but the real treasure was the custom external USB enclosure that was running with the laptop. The 4-Bay eSATA Port Multiplier RAID enclosure housed 4 750GB sata hard drives running in Raid 0. This meant that all 4 drives acted as one large 3 terabyte drive and could store countless how to articles, pictures, diagrams and even movies on how to accomplish a majority of tasks.

Scott had compiled the articles over the period of his life. In truth he gathered any public domain self help article or book that he could get his hands on, copied YouTube videos that showed useful information and downloaded free information off of the internet by the megabytes. From a video dictionary of sign language to a World War II how to book on how to make a nuclear fallout shelter, Scott made himself a collection of information that wikipedia.com itself would appreciate. In fact he had downloaded several pages of wikipedia itself.

The first man traded a jar of jelly for information on carburetor repair for a 1982 Ford F150 truck. Scott could not find that specifically, but did manage to find an article on a 1980 Ford F150 truck carburetor repair. It also had a couple of diagrams listing the parts and how they assembled. Scott was able to print out the 2 diagrams as well for the customer to take with him.

By the end of the week regular customers frequented the store and more new faces were seen. A small economy was starting again and with that the community strengthened itself. It was then that Scott’s second plan came in to turn.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx



The Daily Record hit the streets. Scott had worked for the publication industry at his old job. He watched the way the newspaper industry ran and took notes. It only took his laptop, a digital camera and the laser printer to roll out his first edition. The laser printer could print on an 11 x 17 inch piece of paper and Scott printed the paper on front and back of one sheet. It would grow from there.

The newspaper was a way to communicate the information that people were so desperately needing. Scott charged people for advertising their goods for sell. Ann immediately saw the strength of the paper and purchased ads in the paper advertising the Bazaar in turn for letting Scott have the booth for the rest of the year.

Scott shared as much information in the paper as he could glean from the radio and TV stations that he could pick up from both professional and amateur sources. He had advertisements from people trying to sell goods and took pictures of some of the more odd items found on the shelves of the Bazaar.

Scott also was the voice of organization. People were asked to stay off of the CB frequency 09 unless it was an emergency and that someone at the Bazaar would monitor the channel 24 hours a day. Several more men were hired to fill out the security force of the Bazaar and a volunteer emergency response team was formed from nearby neighborhoods. This suggestion was immediately voluntarily adopted as the norm. It was like there was a vacuum of authority and in that vacuum Scott’s suggestions were almost taken as law.

Finally he always included needed information for people like what foods grew best in the southern Virginia, when to plant them, how to make mulch, what different animal tracks looked like and various recipes to make needed things like biodiesel and sugar cane syrup.

Several young men were hired to deliver the paper once a week. Some travel by horseback, others by bicycle and one even by Mountainboard (which was basically a large skate board with large tires.) Scott sent out riders up and down all of the main roads delivering the papers to churches and other larger communities in the area. Sometimes the riders just road into a neighborhood and tacked the papers up on an electrical pole prominently displayed. Those that lived there would come out and gather around the paper to read it.

Soon after the boys wanted a higher wage for traveling so far as the paper grew, but Scott joined up with an elderly retired postal employing and formed them into the South Virginia State postal service. With that the boys were not limited to delivering the newspapers. They would be able to make other deliveries for others for a small fee which increased their pay considerably.

Scott reached out and connected the community disseminating real information that people could use. It was not long after that the Bazaar got bigger, so big that it got the attention of the wrong sort.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx



The sounds were almost deafening compared to the silence everyone was used to. The roar of the engines getting closer was frightening. The large APC led the way in front of 6 large 3/4 ton trucks straight up to the front gates where Charles was taking his turn at guard duty. While there were 6 trucks each had only one driver and rider each. The APC was more of an armored car with only enough room for 5 people at the maximum. Charles motioned for the truck to stop and a man in military garb pops up through the top hatch. Everyone inside the Bazaar could hear the conversation clearly across the small parking lot.

“Let us pass!” the brutish man yelled.

“Sure, but there is a slight fee for parking though,” Charles smiled.

“What? I am not here to buy anything. I want to see the owner immediately.”

Scott immediately turned to the half of the riders. “Go get as many of the emergency response team as you can and return ready to fight, but wait for my signal before doing anything ok?” The riders exited through the side entrance and rode their horses over the mote in the back and kick their horse into a gallop when they reached the woods.

Ann stepped out of the front door carrying her shotgun and was followed directly by Scott. They made there way across the parking lot about 50 feet from the APC right beside a parked full sized pickup truck.

Ann spoke up, “I am owner of this Bazaar. How can I help you?”

The burly man turned to Ann then made his way off of the APC as he introduced himself, “I am 2nd Lieutenant Lewis with the Virginia State National Guard.”

Immediately a second figure made their way out of the APC. It only took Scott a brief second to identify the figure as that of Melissa, “We are here to collect the Emergency Goods and Supplies Tax from this community which consists of 30% of all assets of food, water and livestock. In addition, we are to collect all firearms from all citizens to deter civil unrest. Warrant Officer Roberts will you please read the official proclamation?”

Melissa straightened a moment then started to read, “It is the decision of the state government of Virginia….”

Scott cut her off, “If you hand me a copy of that, I can read it myself.”

Melissa paused a second then handed the copy of the papers to Scott. He looked over the papers while Ann spoke, “So let me get this right. You are here to collect 30% of the goods in my store and then confiscating all of my guns? What am I supposed to hunt with and protect myself with? And isn’t the right to have guns guaranteed by the constitution of the United States, the same constitution that you are required to uphold?”

Melissa tightened a little.

The lieutenant straightened up, “If no one has guns, then you will not need protection from anyone.”

Ann got a little more angered, “Do you think that the criminals are gonna give you their guns? Are YOU gonna keep them from having there way with me next time?”

It was then that Melissa recognized Ann and her eyes widened.

The lieutenant answered, “Of course we will. The national guard has assumed all law enforcement duties for this area. Now will you stand down? Or I will take these items by force.”

Ann was almost boiling, “and who is gonna protect me from you?”

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx



Scott reached up and pulled back Ann’s sholder. She unclenched her teeth, looked at Scott for a moment, turned her back to the lieutenant and lowered her head.

“Lieutenant Lewis if you will allow. I am the publisher of a small newspaper in the area …”

Melissa eyebrows shot up.

“…and I think that I could get this organized for you if you will let me.” Scott started.

“A newspaper you say? Yes, those are outlawed as well. There is so much disinformation out there that the state government wants the proper information to be sent out to the public. They are creating a statewide publication that is being distributed throughout the state soon.”

“Well, consider this my last publication then. At least I can get this information out to everyone and tell them what is going on.”

The lieutenant thought a moment then said, “Well as far as that goes that would make things go smoother if they see that the local paper is working with us.”

Scott interjected, “Would you mind if I borrowed your Warrant Officer to read the column and make sure that the information is right?”

Melissa looked to the lieutenant.

“Sure. We will make camp right back up the road in that pasture with the small pond. I will expect some movement on this tomorrow,” the lieutenant answered as he crawled back into the APC.

“Great we will send down some food and your officer this afternoon.” Scott waved to the men as the trucks turned back down the road.

Scott then turned to Melissa, “Would you care to step into my office?”

Melissa smiled.

After he ordered a rider to take food to the soldiers and return quickly, he lead her through the main store area and showing her Scott’s own booth. Then they headed to the back of the Bazaar. Scott sat across the room from Melissa. Ann had let him use one of the back rooms for a little bit more private chat. “So this is what you have been up to?”

Melissa started, “Well, not really. This is only one of the first areas to be taxed in this manner. It was picked because I knew a lot about the area and knew that there were some supplies down here. I did not realize that the people here had actually started to flourish like this. Nor had I realized that you have done so well with what you have.”

“So is this how you ‘help’ people?” Scott said a little jealously.

Melissa lowered her head, then said, “To tell the truth, I didn’t think it would work out like this.” She paused then said, “Wait! YOU said you were going to write that article to get people to give up their food. Isn’t that the same thing?”

Scott’s brow furrowed, “I have no intention of writing any such thing.”

Melissa stood shocked, “You are going to fight? I thought you said you would write the article? You lied?”

Scott looked at Melissa, “I said I ‘could’ write the article. Not that I would. Be very careful in your words. Besides I am human and not above lying, if the cause is just. I have no intention of getting the people to cooperate with these unconstitutional acts.”

“You are going to fight?”

“If it comes to that, but what I am going to do is write an article explaining exactly what is going on here and inform the people. I will send riders in every direction spreading these papers as far as they can. The nation must know of this.”

“How can you do that? The lieutenant will come back and arrest or kill you.”

“Benjamin Franklin said they that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. Daniel Webster once said God grants liberty only to those who love it, and are always ready to guard and defend it. Edmund Burke said all that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.

“You took and oath to defend the constitution from enemies both foreign and domestic. Was those just words or did you mean them? There is someone attacking the constitution right now! Will you do something to defend it? I WILL DO SOMETHING! I will write it, I will tell others and I will make a stand.”

Scott paused, “Go back and tell your boss that he is wrong and if he shows up at one house tomorrow demanding food, we will happily remove him from his post one way or the other. I am sure that you will say something to him anyways. NOW LEAVE!”

Immediately the door burst open and Ann was there, shotgun in hand, ready to usher the visitor to the door.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx



The next morning was still waking up in the early predawn haze, but the sounds came through the community. The roar of the National Guard trucks was out of place here in the community without more than a hand full of motorized vehicles that were working. The vehicles made their way from the camp down the road and stopped in front of the empty parking lot of the Bazaar. A few minutes later it continued slowly passed the parking lot then down the road. The convoy was watched by several within the Bazaar as it continued on the road and turned at the next intersection.

After several more minutes the convoy arrived at the front of the Randall farm. The APC lined up directly in front of the cattle gate that secured the entrance to the Randall farm. The APC paused for a moment then accelerated to ram the cattle gate. The chain holding the two sides of the cattle gate snapped and the armored vehicle rolled through the gate. The heavy trucks followed right behind with each of the passengers armed with M16’s.

The convoy weaved its way through the wooded front acreage then slowed as it emerged from the woods. The main drive that lead from the woods to the main farm house was blocked at three separate points with heavy steel I-beams that had been welded together to form formidable anti tank obstacles. The APC started to just pull off of the road but stopped just short of being bogged down in the mud of a recently flooded field. On both sides of the road the soil was now the consistency of a swamp. No doubt it was disked by a tractor and then flooded from the irrigation wells located in the fields.

The APC continued straight and stopped short of the first set of antitank obstacles. From the side of the field about 30 feet past the first obstacle a man armed only with one automatic handgun worn on his side walk onto the road. “My name is Scott Randall and you are trespassing on my family’s farm. I order you to leave!” Two other men stepped out of the fields holding their AR-15’s at the ready position, it was Steve and Nolin.

The PA system came on and Lieutenant Lewis’ voice responded, “You are hereby ordered to stand down. We are here under direct authority from the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia to collect your weapons and the appointed amount of goods for use by the state.” Several of the men had exited the trucks behind the APC and made their way up beside the armored vehicle three on each side.

“I do not recognize the legitimacy of those orders because they are unconstitutional, which circumvents this new state law, and I WILL ….. NOT …… COMPLY!” The tension was mounting. The guards’ hands tightened around the grips of their rifles and the newly sworn in force was a bit nervous about this first encounter. Their eyes watched the three. Every movement was over emphasized as time began to slow down. Nolin shifted the weight of his rifle, Steve fingered the safety to make sure that it was off and Scott stood. It was then that it happened.

The first shot was fired. The transonic barrier was broken quickly by the bullet as the explosive forced propelled it out of the barrel. Two other bullets were immediately behind the first as they raced toward their target. The quiet air of the country side warped around the shape of the traveling projectiles as they forced themselves through the air. The first was low and passed between the upper arm and the chest of the target. The last was too high cense the rifle barrel was pushed upward as the first bullet’s recoil made the rifle stray from the mark. However, it was the second projectile fired from the rifle that found its mark. It ripped through the young man’s arm tearing the muscle and blood vessels never to be the same again.

Scott saw the action was directed at his nephew and immediately time froze. He did not hear the shots. He did not follow them to their result. The first time he was spoken to about hand guns by his father sparked through his mind. His muscles remembered the countless hours over the years at the homemade range his father built. His eyes saw only targets six inches in diameter directly over the profile of the six men standing in front of him reminiscent of the six inch steels that he shot for an uncounted number of times. His nervous system, trained by the many years of shooting in the International Practical Shooting Federation, obeyed the thoughts of the man making the stand.

The well used and moderately modified Springfield 1911 left the high riding side holster. The body did not care. It was at the range working as it was trained to do. The only difference was the slightly higher level of adrenaline in its blood which it used for better speed and function.

Double tap, steel one done, move. Double tap, steel two done, move. Double tap, steel three done, move. Left hand was already moving the next clip, the right thumb freed the partially used clip to gravity and the clip fell away, the new clip was rammed home as the gun was positioned to the next row of steels. Double tap, steel 4 done, move. Something was wrong the other to targets were already done. 2.83 seconds had passed. The mind was signaled that the cycle was done.

The barrel of the gun centered back on the driver window of the APC as well placed dynamite charges exploded behind the convoy felling several trees trapping them where they were. A shot was fired from within the APC. And then all was quite.



Xxxxxxxxxxxx

Two years later the words were finally spoken, “not guilty.” Newspapers and Shortwave radio stations across the nation reported the news and recapped the story.

It took several weeks before members of the Federal Marshalls, FBI and a special detachment of the US Army came to investigate certain occurrences at the Randall farms. Scott and Steve Randall were arrested and multiple charges were made against them. After meeting with federal prosecutors several further arrests were made of Melissa Roberts and Charles Lewis. Special attention was given to Melissa’s own actions taken in the event as she shot the driver of the APC to stop him from ramming Scott Randall and immediately relieving Lieutenant Lewis from command at gun point.

Multiple investigations have been launched against the proper ratification and constitutionality of several new Virginia laws banning news publications, private ownership of firearms and the acquisition of certain goods without justification without proper reimbursement.

The Virginia state congress had a “change of heart” and called for the impeachment of the governor and several state congressmen and senators. Soon after, these laws were overturned by the state congress with a high majority vote.

The days continued, people rebuilt, and the country was changed slightly for the better. Some said it was a natural adjustment to a country in crisis. Some said this adjustment was sparked because a good man stood.