Blue Plague: Decisions, page 8
Carl leaned down. “The next one that makes a sound I promise won’t make judge,” he said, and all the prisoners shut up. “Now I’m going to ask you questions, and if you lie, no judge status for you,” he told them. Then moving around the prisoners, he began. They answered his questions about raping and killing. As Carl was talking to them a woman came over to Bruce.
Before she got near him, Danny, Buffy, Jake, Matt, David, Mary, and Mindy cut her off, forming a wall around Bruce. “Please, are you Bruce from the radio?” she asked as Carl came over, holding the mic out.
“Yes ma’am, I am,” Bruce told her.
“We prayed for you to come. They,” she pointed to the gang, “said you weren’t real but we could tell from the screams of the other ones you caught, that it was real. Thank you Bruce.”
“Ma’am, thank Omega. They put their lives on the line to fight the evil that has spread across the land. They attack whatever I say no matter how insane it seems. No commander could ask for a better army,” Bruce told her.
The woman turned and thanked every member of Omega she found as other hostages started doing the same thing. Bruce watched, then looked at the kids. “Thanks for the wall,” he told them.
“Well yeah Dad, if Buffy pulls out Herman, half the team is going to hide,” Jake said.
“Daddy Bruce, if Danny pulls out Gene the other half will walk back to the base,” Matt added.
Bruce grinned. “Brand ‘em!” he yelled out. Bruce had no idea where all the branding irons came from, but he saw over two dozen in the hands of Omega Team. The prisoners began to thrash around and plead for mercy. “Okay, you seven,” Bruce pointed at his kids, “each pick one judge then decide on three more, no leaders, and have them brought in and let’s get this done.” He turned around and headed to the building. Walking inside, he saw the lights and winch set up. On one table all his tools were spread out in a neat line and a video camera was on a stand, recording. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “They’re only targets,” Bruce said out loud hearing screams outside. The branding had begun.
Ten minutes later the judges were brought in and strapped down and the unlucky thirty-six were brought in with Carl still narrating. Looking up at Bruce, Carl grinned. “This is Carl, your narrator and leader of Fourth Platoon,” he said into the radio. Then Ted walked over.
“This is Ted, leader of Second Platoon,” he said into the mic. Carl walked over and left the radio on and nodded at Bruce.
Bruce looked at the crying targets. “Hello, I’m Bruce, in case you hadn’t guessed. Remember to mind your manners like a good target. I was asked one question by Gopher yesterday that I didn’t answer. The last time I was out I told several groups of targets something in Latin that wasn’t the motto of Omega: Vestri Permaneo Visum pro Nex. That’s our motto, ‘Your last vision before death’. When you see us, if you do, you’re going to die. Unless you surrender, of course. What I told the targets was from me and only me, Ego Addo Vereor Poena Quod Nex Hic Vobis. Since we don’t have the Internet anymore I will tell you so everyone will quit bothering poor Gopher,” Bruce said. Then he looked at the radio and said, “Ego Addo Vereor Poena Quod Nex Hic Vobis means, ‘I bring fear, pain and death here for you.’”
Chapter 7
Bruce walked out a little before noon, hearing the convoy from the base leaving with the hostages. Looking around he smiled. Debbie had really done it. He never once had a flashback or took pleasure from it. If he followed the rules he could do this. Bruce looked up, “Thank you Debbie, you can skip the spanking. I think I can do what you asked me now. If you see the big guy, tell ‘im I’m good. He may have had his reasons, and when I get there he can tell them to me. They better be good though,” Bruce said out loud.
Smiling, Bruce headed to the RV to see the platoon leaders waiting. They all relaxed when they saw Bruce’s face. “You good, Boss?” Willie asked.
“Yep, I’m good. Let the troops know I’m proud of the targets they gathered for me,” Bruce told him.
“You didn’t stay long with ‘em,” Willie said.
“No need, Willie. When your target is down just move to the next one, the target has served its purpose,” Bruce told him. “Let me shower, then we need to talk. I have a plan.” Bruce went inside the RV.
“Well he seems okay now,” Carl said looking at Willie.
“Yeah like before. I mean before he lost Debbie,” Ted said.
“Tell the men to start getting ready to leave. After he briefs us, we will brief our teams over the platoon channels,” Willie said as the platoon leaders headed inside the RV.
Inside Mission Control the command group was listening to the radio as Gopher played bits and pieces of the sessions with Bruce. “Well I don’t think he’s like he was in Texas,” Mike stated.
“I don’t know, that is some medieval shit,” Jimmy said, wide-eyed and pale.
“You need to listen to the ones from before, then,” Mike told him.
“If y’all can’t tell he’s different we can tell a big difference,” Angela told them.
“How so?” Nancy asked.
“He rarely talked to them and only referred to them as targets. He rarely even referred to them as human. Then you have to have noticed that when each one apologized for hurting and raping, they died. Bruce didn’t keep each one alive for hours at a time. Most were gone in thirty minutes,” Stephanie said.
“She’s right. Bruce sees it as a job now. Before, it was personal. I’m just amazed he could do it without remembering what he’s done. That kind of guilt can kill ya or drive ya insane,” Marcus said.
“It don’t matter none,” Carroll said. “He’s doin’ what needs doin’.”
Bill looked at her, “I thought you were a religious woman. How can you say that after hearing that?” he asked.
“You ain’t read tha good book,” Carroll told him. “It’s filled with war. When tha walls of Jericho fell all were slaughtered at God’s command: man, woman, child, and beast. You don’t question it, Bill. You do what the Lord commands,” Carroll warned.
“Okay Carroll,” Bill said.
“Well what do y’all think of his plan for the next two gangs?” Mike asked.
“If it works this will be great,” Paul answered and the others nodded.
The next afternoon Bruce was overlooking the gang at Hot Springs with First and Second Platoon. The group had listened to Angela and Stephanie give a news report at noon. They came on the air introducing themselves as Angela and Stephanie Williams. Then for an hour they gave a weather report for the nation and the location of sixty hordes with the speed and direction they were heading. Listing to the two, Bruce smiled at his team.
Willie had Third and Fourth at Boles watching the other gang. Both gangs were almost a hundred strong but Bruce wanted to try something new. Bruce keyed his radio. “Big Daddy Two, is Gopher ready?” he asked.
“He’s ready and said to make sure you didn’t have any radios playing close by,” Mike answered.
“Copy that, it’s time to see if the shit that’s been done is worth it,” Bruce answered.
A radio was playing in a truck forty feet from Bruce. It was tuned to the clan broadcast and ‘Priest’ was on now. When the song completed, Gopher came on. “Hello out there in America and I have to say I do appreciate the request. After Omega started again I have gotten almost a thousand calls on the ham cheering them on but I have a special treat for our listeners. Live from the field I have Bruce with Omega. How’s it going Bruce?” Gopher asked.
“Pretty good Gopher, but the heat is crazy out here,” Bruce replied, watching the gang through his binoculars.
“Well Bruce, what’s on the menu for today?” Gopher asked.
“Gopher, I’m looking at a gang’s camp right now and I have the other half of Omega looking at another one. We can see they are listening to the radio and one is looking around right now. Now several are standing up looking around,” Bruce said as one gang member looked around nervously, then others jumped up from a table, looking around and grabbing their weapons. “It doesn’t do any good to grab weapons, boys, we can kill you at will. I’m going to give you the option to surrender. Hand over your leaders and half of your group will leave alive. If not, only judges will leave alive and as small as these groups are, it will only be three. Then you have to remember the judges have to obey and watch. Last night I had to kill one judge because he turned away. Just to clarify, Omega is watching the gangs outside of Hot Springs and Boles, Arkansas,” Bruce finished. When he said Hot Springs, one of the gang members just dropped his weapon in shock and another passed out, hitting the ground hard.
Gopher asked, “So Omega will let half go if they surrender and if not, everyone dies?”
“Except the judges of course, but if any try to leave the deal is off and we kill everyone. The roads around them are already mined,” Bruce lied.
“How long do you give them to make up their minds?” Gopher asked.
“Well Gopher, if they surrender now I will be kind to the half I keep. If I wait over two hours then the half I keep will take hours to die per man. In three hours we roll in, the deal’s off,” Bruce said and watched the gang members in the compound start beating several others down. More ran out of buildings to join the fight. Danny walked over and told him the same thing was happing in Boles.
“Ah Bruce, I’m watching live camera feed from your area and it looks like a fight is going on down there,” Gopher said.
“Yes it is Gopher, but I have to tell the gang if the terms are accepted then all weapons are to be piled in the middle of the compound and they are to kneel down with their hands on their head in front of the gate. But if one member shoots at Omega, deal’s off. In case this gang is wondering, Omega already has members inside and along the fence.” Bruce stretched the truth some.
“Well Bruce, I think this is a good deal for these pieces of shit. Anyone else would just wipe them off the face of the earth,” Gopher replied as the gang members in front of Bruce started piling weapons in a pile. Six men were tied up by the table and another tied-up member was dragged out by his feet and left by the table.
“Gopher, we are trying to rebuild America. There are no more slaps on the wrist or prisons. The half chosen to live will be given a second chance, to live right. If Omega ever finds those chosen to live with another gang, they’ll receive a lesson that will last weeks. They have a fifty/fifty chance to live except the leaders of course, but that is the burden of leadership. I see from the activity below me that the gang is lining up as requested,” Bruce told Gopher, and nodded at Jake who whispered into his radio. Members of Second Platoon were cutting holes in the back fence and moving into the compound.
“Just to show the gang below just how hopeless it is to fight us, look out the front gate,” Bruce said to Gopher over the radio. Thirty members of First Platoon stood up along the fence as Jake whispered into his radio. They all had ghillie suits on with extra grass tied to them. They had moved in during the night in case the gang wanted to play instead of surrender. Many of the gang just shook their heads in disbelief, others just started crying. “Ah gang members, don’t make sudden movements because other members of Omega inside the compound already have you at gunpoint,” Bruce said as members of Second Platoon came up behind the kneeling group.
“Bruce, I think you have shown compassion even though you shouldn’t have. I hope those that leave understand that,” Gopher said.
“Me too Gopher, now I’m going to turn it over to Willie in Boles,” Bruce told Gopher.
“Hey Willie,” Gopher said.
“Hi Gopher, I hope you can see this,” Willie told him as Bruce gathered up the two squads with him and headed down into the compound. Like Bruce, Willie laid out the demands and the gang complied for at least a chance to live.
“Jake, tell your other two squads to hang back in cover. I don’t want them to know numbers,” Bruce said, walking into the gate Second Platoon had opened. Second Platoon was zip-tying the gang as Bruce walked up to them.
“You’re going to let half of us go, right?” one asked, crying.
“Yes I am. You’ll be marked then chosen at random. You’ll draw straws,” Bruce answered.
“Why do we hafta be marked?” one yelled out.
“You have committed crimes against your fellow man. I want everyone you meet to know that. If you make something of yourself then others will see you have improved. If you don’t, when I catch you again you’ll have two weeks of pain that won’t end,” Bruce answered as Ted walked up.
“They tied up the leaders real good and we have fifty-eight for choosing. There were sixty-nine hostages that we’re taking care of,” Ted told him.
Bruce nodded and looked at the gang. “You have no idea how easy it would’ve been to kill you but I have several that want to give pieces of shit a chance to change. What you see inside this compound is nowhere near the size of my force. You can’t fight us, you may kill one or two of us but then you will be taken alive. When you are marked with the brand and cut, don’t fight because you will forfeit your chance to live. You have committed a crime, take your punishment and learn. Go out and help in the wilderness. If you rape, kill, or harm again you will not have this option,” Bruce told them, then turned to Ted.
“Interview them. Make it good, and stay during the marking,” Bruce told him before walking over to the leaders. The radio in his hand went off.
“Hey Bruce, Willie is moving into camp. How is it going there?” Gopher asked.
“We’re in camp and I was just fixin’ to talk to the leaders,” Bruce told him.
“Well, let us listen please,” Gopher said.
Bruce left the mic on as he stood over the leaders. “Just isn’t your day, is it,” Bruce told them.
One rolled on his side. “Let me go and I’ll kick your ass, bitch!” he screamed.
“You couldn’t even beat your men down, dumbass. But since you’re so rude you will be burnt from the waist down and hung fifteen feet in the air to live with the pain until you die. Targets don’t talk,” Bruce told him and the guy started crying.
The prisoners were marked, all of them holding still for the brand to the forehead and the cutting off of two fingers. When it was finished, fifty-eight straws were made: twenty-nine long and twenty-nine short. The prisoners were not untied but a member of Omega held the handful of straws. Standing in front of them, one at a time, they waited as the prisoners nodded yes or no to the choice of straw. With the choices made, the unlucky were pulled forward. Then Bruce went by and tapped four of the youngest members of those chosen to die and pointed for them to lie down as the others kneeled down.
“Since you have behaved properly you will be given a painless death,” Bruce said. Then those that were kneeling were shot in the back of the head in one volley from Omega. Looking at the four on the ground, Bruce said, “You were spared to show that even after the choice, Omega has compassion. You will leave with the others.”
Bruce ordered their bonds released and told them they could leave, but they could not go south or they would be shot. The thirty-three took off to trucks and motorcycles and left quickly, most heading north and a few heading west. “Jake, get our rides down here. Burn Mr. Rude and shoot the others, it’s time to leave. We have killing to do!” Bruce yelled out.
“Killing is our business!” Ted yelled out.
“And business is good!” the hundred members of Omega roared back.
Bruce grinned as the convoy pulled up. The hostages were led to one of the semis that was set up to hold them as a medic went among them, treating as he could. Both platoons were sitting around talking. Bruce looked to his left and saw Buffy just looking up at him. He turned and looked for the rest of the kids but didn’t see them.
“Where’s Danny, Jake, and them?” Bruce asked her.
“Danny’s mad because we didn’t get to bust some caps,” Buffy said, and the members of Omega who were nearby became quiet.
“What?” Bruce asked.
“She wanted to scalp someone today and now she can’t,” Buffy told him.
Bruce shook his head. “So where are the others?” he asked.
“Trying to cheer her up,” Buffy answered.
“Well, you go and see if you can help,” Bruce told her and she ran to the RG. One of the new members of Omega came over to Bruce.
“Sir, they wouldn’t hurt us, would they?” he asked.
“Nah, you’re a teammate. But if you piss ’em off they would rough you up a bit,” Bruce told him as Ted walked up.
“Willie is done and on the way here, Boss,” Ted told Bruce and noticed several members of Second Platoon looking at Bruce. “What?” Ted asked.
“Danny’s mad that she didn’t get to scalp someone and everyone’s trying to cheer her up,” Bruce told him.
“Well Bruce, you can’t always give your kids what they want to make them happy. They have to have limits,” Ted told him.
“Yeah, you’re right. I’m going to talk to her. When Willie gets here we leave,” Bruce told him. Bruce went over to the RG and found the kids sitting around talking.
Matt looked up, grinning, “This bantering is kinda fun,” he said.
Laughing, Bruce answered, “Get some rest. We hit Little Rock tonight, then we move across the state.” He jumped out and headed to the RV where he went straight to the back communication room.
“This is Big Daddy, Mission Control,” Bruce called out, grabbing the mic.
“Hey, it’s Big Daddy Two. I have to say I’m impressed. You going to clear the area now?” Mike asked.
“Nah, we are heading to Little Rock. I want you to prep Gamma to move out with a scavenging convoy,” Bruce replied.
“What’s the deal?” Mike asked, getting worried.
“When we are done in Little Rock we are heading to Fort Smith. I want the base in Little Rock stripped and home in three days. Gamma can hit Pine Bluff tonight and secure the base, then move up to us. Then I’m heading north for two stops there,” Bruce replied.
