Families First: A Post-Apocalyptic Next-World Series Volume 6 Battle Grounds by Lance Ewing (ereader for comics .txt) 📕

“It’s no coincidence at all; they both fought like hell and I saw it firsthand. That’s what I’m looking for,” he said, staring at the man so hard that he fumbled, looking for a place to sit down.

“To the west,” the Colonel continued, “we are looking at the towns of Breckenridge or Grand Junction but are still in negotiations; and lastly, to the east we are considering Burlington, just this side of the Kansas border. I won’t go into all the cities in each of my states but will leave a map with Samuel, showing each of them. They are all to be confirmed and functioning within 63 days from now. It takes a few days to get the word out and then two months to get up to full speed, before you ask. Some, such as yours, should be transitioned over the next two or three weeks, while others will take more time.

“I will quickly go over the objections we have heard so far. Most are the same and ring true, no matter the state or corner of it. Please listen close, as this is the only time you will hear it directly from me. If I haven’t answered your question by the end, raise your hand. I will leave it to Samuel and John to discuss the finer points with all of you in good time. Samuel will read the top five questions now. Please?” he asked, nodding to Samuel.

“One,” started Samuel, “and this one is from some of us here. Why, after all of the fighting we have already done, should we put ourselves in any more danger?”

“That’s a good question,” replied the Colonel. “For the record, you’re not the only community that had to fight. My men have been involved in two…no, make that three…just with Lance’s men participating in two and observing another from a distance.”

“That first one was with Ronna taking out the helicopters,” I whispered to Joy, as if she could forget such a sight.

“But we have been in others—quite a few all across my territory,” he continued. “Lance, I’ll bet you don’t know that only days after you left McKinney, we defended some farmer’s land not far from your home. It was the very first Chapter location—North Texas, to be specific—to be set up under my watch.”

I looked at Vlad and Lonnie, all of us wondering if it could possibly be our old friend, Jessup. I raised my hand, nearly jumping up and down.

“Please, Lance,” he said, and I agreed to withhold my question until the end.

“‘Jessup,’ as he likes to be called, let’s me pull him away from leading his Chapter a day here or there to talk with new recruits or Chapters and tell them in his own words what they can expect. He’s a no-BS hardworking family man who never did like the Government much. But you already know that—right, Lance?”

I was grinning from ear to ear and quickly looked around the room for Jake. I spotted Nancy holding herself like someone pretending to bear hug themselves and, in a jolt, remembered. How could I forget it had not even been a whole day?… My smile faded quickly.

“What?” asked Joy in a whisper.

“I forgot, is all,” I muttered. She only nodded, seeming to get me and understand.

This is good, I heard in Jake’s strong voice. He’s a good man and leader. Listen to what he has to say.

“I will,” I said out loud, getting looks from more than a few people around me.

* * * *

I blanked out for a minute…or three…with floods of scenes with Jake filling my head… Meeting for the first time in my Chiropractic office in Dallas. Finding precious Veronica and Suzie, surely left for dead, even if not on purpose. The cool way he handled the thugs in front of the RV, who took Lawrence’s life, and the first time he squared up with Mike. How he put himself in harm’s way but still couldn’t save a young girl stabbed in the chest. How he helped secure Vlad’s gun shop and made a new farmer friend, if only for a day. How he forgave Mike’s girlfriend, Sheila, after she permanently scarred his only son. How he shared six beers with Mike before breakfast and fought hard to save David’s property. How he was instrumental in saving Ringo and how he treated his friends and family.

I remember him laying on my back and taking my bullets I now knew of, without a word or ask. I remembered all of those things about my friend. I remembered him telling me to take his wife and son home…

I would ask a favor for just that before leaving today. Yes, I had blanked out, wondering if I should tell Nancy I was talking to Jake. I decided in a split second it wasn’t a good idea and dialed back into attention.

* * * *

Samuel was now on number four, and I made a mental note to get numbers two and three from Joy.

“Number four,” said Samuel. He had to read it twice, not believing it was an actual question: “Do I get paid for working here?”

“Yes,” was the Colonel’s answer, about to be jaggedly blunt. “You get paid with life, both literally and figuratively. You get to grow with your family and know the hard work is paying off, so you can one day see a country you recognize from before. Maybe not exactly the same but something you can live with and be proud of.”

“Number five,” said Samuel, seemingly relieved with being near the end. “What if I want to leave?”

“That’s the easy one,” said the Colonel, “at least as an answer. I believe you already have that worked out here, but officially you are welcome to leave at any time but will not