Loonz Morrow Project Pages

Turn Five: Huh!?

The Gerbil creature took one last non-blinking stare at the team before
bolting with surprising agility into the woods to the south of the store.
Nearly as quick as it's normal size cousin this was a shock.

Alec patted Martin on the shoulder as he stepped by, "Thanks Martian man,
you all that." As Alec stepped forward Martin block his path with the
muzzle of his M4, "Hang on Alec we don't know it's gone."
Alec smiled as he moved forward regardless, "Yeah man it's gone I had one
when I was little"

Martin continued to cover as Alec stepped forward. Rays larger group saw
Alec also and attempted to get his attention. Alec stepped over and shined
his light into the woods where it had exited then appeared to concentrate on
a rotted and broken tree trunk near where the creature had stood. He turned
and motioned for Sylvie and then the others to approach.

Sylvie approached behind Chet and DJ as they watched the woods. Putting her
hand on Alecs shoulder, "What is it Hon'?" Alec turned with new tears in
his eyes but with the familiar voice she knew was the old casually
knowledgeable Alec that she had trained with, the panic sarcastic voice
absent. "There was a fire her darlin', probably burned everything to the
ground." Sylvie looked from the tree to Alec finally realizing he was
referring to the rings he had cut onto the trunk to reveal. Looking back at
Ray she saw that he too saw what Alec was indicating.

"See this is Oak, It would take a good size blaze to char an oak like that,
yet it survived." He sniffled as he continued. "That fire was 74 years ago
Syl', 74 years." Alec picked up the twisted remains of the twisted saw and
hurled it into the darkness, startling Sylvie and making her step back. "We
sitting here at a Franklin, Virginia 7-11, 74 years after this entire area
was leveled by fire." Turning too Ray and Martin who had stepped forward
after the suddenness of the action with the saw. "They did it. They killed
themselves. The whole world is gone. It's probably like Bob said 153
years. Shit! Who'd have thought."

Turning to Ray Alec stepped forward, "Ray I'm sorry I wasn't there for you
at wake up, but I've had a rough day and I wasn't myself. If you don't mind
I'd like to start tomorrow." Alec turned to Sylvie, "Good night Darlin'"
and patted Martin on the shoulder as he went by him into the front of the
7-11. "Thanks again Martian man."

Chet nudges Ray smiling, "I think he just got his elevator fixed." Bursting
into a big grin. "What now boss?"

Maura still under the Ambulance Martins comments over the radio replaying in
her mind and feels her body go cold.
"Damn more people that do not like me. When will I learn to keep my mouth
shut?." she thinks.
Maura rolls form underneath the vehicle her eyes glazed and starts to join
the rest of the group. Her hands empty.
Then changes her mind, shakes her head in despair and walks towards the
bunker with her shoulders slumped.
All she had wanted to do was to find out what that was and prevent any
unnecessary killing. Still, so what if they do not like her? She still has
her work.
Maura resigns herself to run checks on her patients.

Raymond looks at everybody and says. "Ok, maybe we are frozen a bit longer
than planned, but our mission still stands. We are going to rebuild America
from the ashes. Our job maybe tougher, but we have to at least attempt to do
it. We
will do it one day at a time. Alec, I accept your apology, but I do want
you to get a good night's rest. The rest of us will go on the watch
schedule as I mentioned before. Everyone else turn in the in the shelter.
Robert, I would recommend you leave at least one person in the V150 and make
sure its button up. "

"I'll be in there tonight, if I'm not on watch. Ron and Maura seem to want
to
bed down near Su Lin. Can't say that I blame them. She is looking better,
but still...." Robert says.
The conversation with Ray breaks up and Armstrong returns to the V-150
to stow his gear. Robert then hunts down Ron and asks his what his plans
were for the evening, where his gear was stored and where he plans to sleep.
He asks, " Ron, are there any problems or issues that you need me to attend
to? If there is speak now or hold 'em 'til morning. Anyway, don't forget
about
the watch schedule. I'm gonna go see if Maura's alright and then hit the
sack,
I'll be in the V".

"I got a bed roll laid out on top of their vehicle down stairs." Ron says,
"Can't get near the patient for having a nurse in the way." He says with a
smile. "Wonderful problem to have all things considered. We'll leave her
there till the blasting starts and then move her to the ambulance. You go
get some sleep Robert." Ron pats him on the shoulder as Doc finishes his
walk around the building.

"Rich see if the roof is safe, I recommend at least one person on it with
night
vision goggles as a look out. Everyone make sure your weapons and equipment
are within reach, and those issue with M16 and M4 make sure you clean it
everyday. Ok boys and girls lets get this night over with so we can do our
jobs tomorrow."

"Ok boss man, I looks like I have a few minutes before second
watch. I am going down below and make sure I have all of my stuff charged
and ready to go. Then get some shut eye." Martin says as he heads down.

Maura, slowing during the pep talk but not stopping, waves a hand in
acknowledgement of the orders. Walks towards the bolt hole
Once down she goes to the V300 and starts to check Su Lin over again.
Wondering what else she can do, to help the young lady start getting better.
She is warm and receiving nourishment.
Once Maura is satisfied that she has done every thing she can do, she sits
down in one of the seats and gets out her flute.
She checks it over and starts to play. Softly she runs though her favorite
composers, soft gentle songs of Scotland. Of a way of life she has lost
forever. As she plays tears roll down her cheeks. Finally she stops and
hugs herself.
Time for some thing more cheerful she says to the vehicle. And plays a
silly skipping tune that she picked up some where on her travels. It is a
slightly mocking tune. When she stops there is a smile on her face.
.
Martin finishes his equipment, thinking "while on watch working load, plus
all
the 40mm grenades. Might need the light producers, ah hell might as well
add the rest of my M4 mags. That is good all weapons no backpack."
Hearing the music, Martin wanders over the v-300 and looks in.
"She always liked music good choice. I am sure she appreciates it." He says
with a smile.
"Oh sorry for being hard on you earlier. It's just in the middle of a tense
situation having some one question our fire protocol is like saying you do
not trust us. I know you did not mean it that way. I just got pissy." Martin
says sheepishly. " But please remember with the radio only one person can
talk at a time. So if you use it you lock out
the leaders and any emergency traffic, till you are done. I know it is
easy to forget. Radio procedures are the hardest to work out. "
Martin looks at her and Su. "Well sorry again for being pissy, and I am glad
to
have you hear really takes the pressure off Sylvie and me. Hey do you
want to stay down here all night by yourself? I am sure we can do
something to get you ward into the 150 so you can have company." Martin
says with a grin. " You are too nice to live in a hole."

Maura blush's at this man being nice to her she just can't help it.
Sorry she says quietly. I hate killing and it was doing no harm.
Ever time some one shoots some thing I end up trying to pick up the pieces.
" As to staying here ", her voice gaining an edge " The commanders decided
not to transfer Su Lin to the Ambulance so I guess some one has to watch
over down here.
Too much can go wrong with a person hooked up like this. Ideally I would
like her in a full medical ward. But until we find a hospital or dig our
stuff out this is what I have to
work with."
Maura gets up checks Su Lin over again.
"Come on love fight it she says to her patient we need you up and running."
Maura turns back to Martin and blush's again as she forces herself to look
at
him.
Thanks for apologizing.
" I will try to remember what you said."
Maura turns back to her patient again.
Maura sits there in the V 300 looking around.
"This thing is impressive compared to our small ambulance she thinks."
She gets out a small pad and writes a short message on it.
~~~
"Su Lin
If you wake up before i get back do not worry.
Maura"
Not remembering that Su doesn't know her.
~~
Maura then wanders over to the cryo area and does a quick check on the cryo
unit making sure that it is still functioning with in parameters.
Then heads over to the exit and goes to find the Doctor.
Doc what we doing about food my stomach is beginning to think my throat got
cut.? "Ron tosses her one of his dehydrated packs.
Once she has the docs attention she says "If any one wants me I will be in
the
V300 with Su Lin. I will bed down in there."
Maura grabs her bed roll and takes it back down stairs to the vehicle .

DJ takes his watch on the roof of the 7-11, going over the days events in
his mind. Wondering what he can do to help out. He realized that Maura
didn't mean any harm, but
that hopefully somebody will explain that he and hopefully everybody else,
has no desire to go killing for sport or for fun, but that events may
dictate that course of action and he will pull the trigger without a second
thought upon giving the order, or direct need. Of course he could never go
up to
her and tell her that, maybe he could talk to Rich if he gets a chance and
see if he would.
DJ reflects on the new people in the group and smiles, knowing that while he
doesn't know much about them personally he's glad to have the extra hands
around and decides that he will do what he can for them, until they give him
reason to stop.

Armstrong passes by Martin on the way down the escape hatch
and continues to the V-300 looking for Maura. He pokes his head
inside and sees Maura. He climbs in and finds an empty space to sit.

As Robert climes in Maura looks up from where she had nearly dozed off.

"Maura, I heard what was said on the radio and I'm thinkin' that some
of it may have upset you. Ya know, that was a tense situation up there
for a couple minutes and people sometimes say things that they don't mean,
especially later on. I know, I've done it myself. Most people have. Anyway,
what I came down to say was that, If there are any problems with any of the
other MP people, and you can't get it worked out on your own, come talk to
me.
Anytime, anywhere, we'll sit down together and figure things out. Alright?"

Maura looks worried. "I reacted badly to a comment made in the heat of the
moment I must learn not to do that."

Ron continues "Where do you plan to sleep while we're here at this BH? And
where are
you keeping your gear? "

"My gear is here with me. Unless some thing goes wrong it looks like I get
the cold deck tonight."

" I've already talked to Ron. I just want to know where
you'll be in case something happens again. Don't forget tonight's watch
schedule."

Robert I'll try to explain why I do not think people like me very much.
"I am 1/4 Negro and the rest White. Do you know what that means Martin.?
I have had to fight all my life for my rights, Maura almost looks like she
is
going to cry. Robert I had to treat my parents when they were killed in a
car smash.
I was the duty Paramedic called to the scene. The Boss's could not cope
with it afterwards. No one came to comfort me, no one was at the home I
shared with my parents when I got home . Then the Navy wanted the house
back. I must have crossed most of America as I wandered over the next few
years. Never did find out how Morrow Industries found out about me. Robert
I am sorry, but I am fine when I am working .
But I have never learnt to relax around men. You scare me when you try to be
nice to me.
I just do not understand the rules of the game".

Tears roll down Maura's face.
Almost as if she is embarrassed by what she has let out.

Armstrong gives Maura a quick pat on the shoulder and says "Don't forget
what I
said, Maura, I mean every word of it. So, um, ah, Get some rest, I'll see ya
later.
I gotta get back up top to the '150. "
Armstrong climbs out of the V-300, nearly tripping on one of the many crates
of
equipment in the overstuffed vehicle. He stops and straightens his gear and
walks to the
ladder, humming a lonely Mexican cantina song about a young vaquero who
misses his sweetheart.

When things finally began to slow, and Rich is able to determine whatever
crisis had ended. He stands and lifts his SAW and ammo container. Placing
the
box back into its pouch on the back of his LBV he runs his hands over all of
his
gear, ensuring it is on, or attached to his body. He jogs over to the main
group and heads for the V-150. Coming up on Ray's group he comes to a halt.

"What the heck happened? Well anyway, I need to get the batteries for my
frigging Prick-68. Of all the things to forget! Can you watch my sector for
two minutes Chet, while I grab the batteries?
"Sure go ahead" Chet replies.
Thanks bud, be back in a sec."
Rich turns and jogs down into the bolthole. Moving to the stored gear and
digs
around his gear for a few seconds and pulls out what he needs. Shooting up
the
steps he heads back to the group.
"Thanks allot, I've got it from here" He says as he opens the bottom of the
PRC
case and inserts the battery. "Ray, I'm going to move back to my position,
set
the gun up and do a radio check when I get there. Is your set on? I'll radio
back when I get over there. Later y'all."
With that Rich hops back over to his old position. He scans his area one
more
time and decided to reposition the SAW slightly for a better field of fire
and
gets down behind it. When he is settled he takes the handset from the prick
and
holds the key down. "Romeo Alpha Yankee, this is Elvis-6, radio check over."

Ray looking suspiciously at the unit replies "It works."

Getting a reply, Rich reaches around and starts to tug open his
canteen holder to get a drink.

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