Kicking Against The Pricks

Jude wiped a few beads of sweat from his brow and slung them onto the cement floor near the generator. He hadn’t taken a break since his return from Patrick AFB, and the strain of working was starting to take its toll. His back met the wall behind him and slid down until his bottom was resting on the ground. Stella pushed at his hand with her nose and took a seat next to him. She had forgiven him for leaving her behind, and whimpered signaling she wanted to be petted. He scratched behind her ear, causing her back foot to twitch slightly.

“No rest for the wicked, right girl?” He sighed, then climbed to his knees and retuned to the tedious mending.

Outside in the yard, Mac was planting the last IED in position. The devices littering the area outside the fence that surrounded The Compound were created by a Guerilla named Neville. The simple yet effective design consisted of two key elements – A coffee can that housed various projectiles, like nails and handfuls of 9mm rounds, and a propane tank which was buried in the ground up to its handles. The canister was taped near a painted on X close to the nozzle of the tank, which would act as a target for guards positioned around the entrance during the assault. If The Crazies got anywhere near one of the tanks, a shot from a rifle would send them flying through the air in pieces. Even if they were lucky enough to survive the blast, they wouldn’t make it very far with spike-riddled legs.

Mac dusted his gloves off and stepped back to survey their defenses. Hopefully, all this preparation would be enough to keep the enemy at bay until the snipers could do their job. Crazies were tough, but they were by no means invincible. Mac had plugged a few between the eyes during a previous attack and they had gone down rather quickly. The Wastes were a dangerous place, but if could put shell into an enemy’s skull from 200 yards, you’d be alright.

“All finished, boss” Announced Jude trotting up from behind, his shirt dirty with grease and sweat.

Mac turned to the boy and smiled warmly. It was all coming together and he was beginning to think they actually stood a chance.

“Fantastic! I knew I could count on you, Switch!” He chuckled loudly. “Now that you’re finished, I got a surprise for you” He added, placing his arm around Jude’s shoulders.

The two of the made their way towards a old Heavy Oshkosh 8x8. Around the back, standing between two opened cargo doors, was a young woman with curly reddish-brown hair and grey eyes.

“This is Lucille Ford, our weapons expert” Mac explained, making her blush.

“I’m hardly an expert, Mac! I just hand out what they ask for” Lucy joked. “Nice to finally meet you, I’ve heard good things” She said shaking Jude’s hand.

“Figured you could use a new weapon. That rifle you’ve been toting around looks like its been through Hell and back” Mac said, jumping up into the back of the truck.

Jude loved his rifle almost as much as he did Stella, but Mac was right. It had been damaged so many times that it was almost entirely held together with duck tape. It was a little embarrassing to be seen with, and had jammed on more than one occasion. Jude climbed up after Lucy and Mac. The inside walls of the truck were blanketed with different firearms. Everything from pistols to shotguns to chain guns hung on hooks like prime cuts of beef. Jude wondered if there were any guns in existence that The Paragon Convoy didn’t carry.

“Holy shit” Jude muttered to himself.

His eyes scanned the area, stopping on each weapon for only a second. There were so many, and the whole experience was almost a bit too much for him.

“Need some help picking out a new gat?” Asked Lucy, who had moved closer to Jude. “What kind of rifle do you have now?” She questioned, stepping in front of him.

Jude thought for a moment, but couldn’t think of the make or model. He had just always called it a rifle because no one had ever asked about it before.

“I’m not sure…” He mumbled, still sweeping the wall with his eyes “It’s an older bolt-action rifle with a hunting scope… It’s brown…”

Lucy giggled and turned to the shelf behind her. She stood silently for a moment, humming a bit every now and then. She finally turned back to the two men, who were still ogling the cache.

“You know, I got this rifle that I’ve been holding onto for some time now” She said, brushing a strand of hair from her line of sight. “It’s a bit more advanced than what you’re used to, I think… But you might really click with this gun” She explained, walking passed them.

Lucy removed an RPG from atop a large steel trunk and lifted the lid. She returned to Jude with a small metal case. Jude took it slowly, looking it over in confusion.

“Umm… What is this?” He asked, holding the case in front of his face.

“Open it, dumbass” Lucy exclaimed and motioned to a nearby workbench.

Jude approached the surface and placed the cold metal container down flat. His thumbs slid across the edges and stopped on two switches. With a flick, it was open and Jude raised the lid slowly. There, in front of him, were several silver pieces, encased in a foam packing. Lucy smiled and pulled the case towards her.

“This is a M89SR-56” She explained as she began assembling the rifle. “Israel used these bad boys a lot during The Tel Avivian Conflict. Well, they used similar snipers against The Korean Empire… This one is special” She added snapping the stock into place. “This is a modified version of The Model 89. Still got all the basic functions…” Lucy said holding it up.

Jude marveled at the weapon, almost drooling with excitement.

“It’s a gas operated semi-auto, based on the old American M14 and can shell out .308s like nobody’s business, but that comes standard. The 2056 is equipped with a light carbon-fiber frame, an extended cartridge clip, shortened barrel with flash suppressor, pistol grip and a custom telescopic sight” She said handing him the 56.

Jude held it at a distance, gazing at the shiny chrome finish. When he snapped out of his stupor, he smiled.

“Where in the world did you get this, Lucy?” He asked in astonishment.

“Yeah… I’m actually curious too. This is far better than anything you’ve handed out before” Said Mac, looking at the rifle.

Lucy chuckled at little.

“I picked it up from a dealer a few years back. Only been fired twice, so I figured it was worth it. I’m not big on rifles myself, but it is an impressive piece of machinery. I’ve been saving it for the right person… And that’s you, Jude” She said and handed him a box of ammo. “If he’s gonna be watching us from above, he needs to be able to hit those fuckers and drop em with one shot. My ass is on the line too” She explained to Mac.

Jude raised the sight up to his face and peeked through the red tinted lens. In the distance, he could see a squirrel running through the yard. This was an amazing gun, and if it could take down The GKE back then, these raiders didn’t stand a chance.

“Thank you, Lucy” Jude said softly from behind the scope.

“Well, just make sure you put it to good use. Even if we didn’t have to worry with The Crazies, you’ve earned it… It’s been yours since that Titan started humming again” She said with a grin.

Mac stepped over to the opening and looked out over the camp.

“So now we wait” He muttered coldly “Gene is up and running, hooked up to the fence… So when the time comes, I’ll flip the switch and bake those animals”.

He was speaking more to himself and seemed to be off in his own universe. A lot had fallen onto Mac’s plate in the last month and Jude felt for him.

“Wait… I’m attacking from above, you said?” Jude asked, breaking Mac’s trance.

“Yeah. You’ll be up on the main gate’s scaffolding with the rest of our marksmen” He called over his shoulder.

“You haven’t even seen me shoot! I mean, I’m alright… But I wouldn’t call me a marksman! Are you sure it’s wise to place your life in my hands?” Jude exclaimed, worried that too much faith had been placed in him.

Mac smiled slightly, built on what seemed like seriousness with a dash of gloom and doom.

“Well… You got me through Patrick in one piece, so I guess I’m just gonna let it ride” He joked quietly.

Across town, in an area locals called The ICU, preparations of a different kind were taking place. Several Crazies sat around a campfire, chewing on bits of meat they’d raked off a passerby. One of them, a wiry woman with blonde hair, spat a bad chunk of flesh onto the ground nearby and scoffed.

“All eyes sayin is, we ain’t gotta be listenin to Cable no more if’n we don’t wanna! We’s way stronger than him! Hell, I could run the family!” She announced to the others, who seemed to be ignoring her. “Dats fine! I see how it gonna be! Fuck yall then! I’ma take care of it on mah own!” She yelled, standing and throwing her piece of traveler into the fire.

The others, who at first looked upset by the waste of food, soon looked passed her in fear. She froze, watching her companions gaze right through her.

“What are you going to take care of, Abby?” A quiet voice said from behind her right ear.

The words shook her to the core, and she couldn’t bring herself to answer. The words were muddled in her throat. From the shadows came a tall, lean man with a crooked frame. His face was hidden beneath a hood which had been sewed onto his long grimy duster.

“Cable… I uh” She said, pausing when the figure chuckled slightly.

“My dear, there is no need to explain. I heard it all, and you’ve clearly made up your mind” The man whispered in his thick Cajun accent, moving his coat aside with his black gloved left hand to reveal a tattered belt.

From a small pouch, he drew a rusty straight razor, which he flicked open with the yellow cracked thumbnail of his right hand. With tears in her eyes, she attempted to apologize, but her words became garbled with blood as the blade passed gently across her neck. As she collapsed, a few thoughts fluttered about in her mind. The first fleeting brain wave was of her mother, whom she hadn’t seen since age 19. The second pertained to the sharpness of Cable’s razor, since she had always assumed it was dull. The last piece of consciousness was comprised of flashing images of her tribe beginning to devour her body seconds after she hit the ground. The bastards hadn’t even waited for her heart to stop beating.

While The Family feasted behind him, Cable looked towards The Compound. Tomorrow morning they would launch their attack, taking Paragon down once and for all. Glancing back over his shoulder at the massacre, he sighed. When she first joined him, Abby had been a promising candidate for Queen, but the fool let her need for power blind her to the truth. Cable had started The Family, and when the time came, he would be the one to end it. He was the Alpha and Omega, and if any opposed him, they were missing the big picture – They were a waste of space and had to be made an example of. Licking his blade clean, Cable returned it to the pouch and made his way over to the campfire, where he’d also partake in supper. When their bellies were full, they extinguished the inferno and started the trek towards Jude and the others.

How High The Moon

“There! That should do it!” Exclaimed Jude, marveling at his own work.

He didn’t usually toot his own horn, but the radiation suits had come out quite well considering they only consisted of a few rolls of lead sheeting, two painters jumpsuits and a couple of motorcycle helmets.

“You actually did it” Mac said from behind in a surprised tone.

It wasn’t that he didn’t have faith in the boy, protection from a nuclear warhead just wasn’t something folks would usually associate with the term DIY. He wasn’t complaining though. They had to reach those Titans and Patrick AFB seemed like their only option. The two carried their suits, which weighed a ton, out to Jude’s jeep. They’d take the interstate north since all the local streets were swarming with hoodlums. Though they had waited until nightfall, when even the damned had to find time for beauty sleep, they still took the chance of running into trouble if they stayed in the city for longer than absolutely necessary. As Mac topped off the gas tank with what little fuel they could scrape together, Jude explained the situation to Stella, who was clearly upset by her master’s departure.

“Stay. Alright? Stay here and I’ll be back soon” He stated firmly, signaling for her to lay down.

She would comply at first, but as soon as his back was turned, Stella was following again. He couldn’t be upset with her, she rarely left his side. Finally, Jude placed Stella inside The Generator Shed and locked the large metal door. Her cries of concern for her boy’s wellbeing were ear shattering, but he had to help The Compound if he wanted to reach Avalon. She’d thank him in the long run in her own way, which to a canine probably entailed some kind of slobbery kiss.

The duo loaded up into their ride, and made one last equipment check. Since the suits weighed so much, their arsenal was severely limited. Jude would carry a Geiger counter and a large bag of tools he’d need for removing the components of The Titan, and Mac would provide protection, armed only with a Modified Baikal-442. It wasn’t his initial selection, but the Makarov’s clip housed 12 rounds and was simple to operate. It was exactly what he needed while dressed in the uncomfortable shielding. Jude had argued that a weapon wasn’t crucial since the levels in the area were far too high. Ignorant Raiders, who would probably mistake uranium for rock candy, would be too busy dying of rad poisoning to even notice the beings wrapped in foil stagger about nearby. Mac had dealt with the gangs in Palm Bay though, and assured him that a little radiation wouldn’t prevent them from trying to get their hands on Jude’s sack of goodies.

The majority of Interstate 95 had remained intact in this region, unlike further down south where sizeable fragments of rubble blanketed miles of roadway, making travel to The Keys virtually impossible. The expressway was relatively safe, much safer than city streets, and only offered one real threat - Poorly planned scavenger traps. Usually involving homemade spike strips, the stingers could be spotted miles away, and wouldn’t be a problem on this short journey. As they barreled towards their exit, Mac slid a tape into the old consol. Loud hair metal broke the silence of the chilly Haust night, letting Patrick AFB know it had visitors on the way. Jude, who had never been a fan of classical music, gave Mac an unimpressed grin.

“What’s the matter? You don’t like Quiet Riot, kid?” He chuckled, turning the volume up.

Not long after Mental Health’s second chorus had kicked in, the music abruptly stopped. They had reached the base and parked about 100 yards short of the giant hole breaching the outside wall, that had been left by the raiding group. When Jude looked down at the Geiger counter, the small needle already twitching. It was time to change into the suits, which only took them about five minutes. After the bulky outfits were on securely, they began their approach. As they neared the opening, Jude almost tripped over some remains.

“Must have been running when the bomb went off” Mac explained, motioning in the direction the outstretched skeletal arms were pointing.

They continued through the entrance, stepping carefully over piles of debris. Across the yard, they could see what was left of The Space Coast, a crumbling husk of cement and metal. Jude stopped at The Visitors Center and returned with a small pamphlet that contained a overhead layout. He scanned it for a moment, then looked up and pointed off in the distance.

“There it is” Judah called to Mac, who was waiting a few feet away.

He nodded at the boy and followed him towards the large clinic. The outside walls were grimy, but the building itself had no visible damage. Jude slammed himself against the main double doors a couple of times before Mac grew impatient and told him to step back. He fired off three rounds, shattering the glass and giving them an opening. The lobby was dark, so they stuck close to the walls.

“Watch the floor… Could be holes” Mac warned, holding onto Jude’s shoulder.

The Wastes were not a place to wander about. More travelers lost their lives to carelessness than Raider attacks. At the end of the long hall, Jude could see a large map of the clinic and quickly found The Generator Room. It wasn’t too far from their current location, and they reached the entrance quicker than expected. A leisurely march down collapsing stairs brought them to The Titans, that had stayed hidden and untouched, just as they had hoped. Jude got to work immediately, removing key components and stuffing them into his bag. The whole process took only twenty minutes, but this was still too close for comfort.

“I’m done! Let’s get the fuck outta here!” Jude called, rushing to Mac before climbing the stairs.

Once they had reached the yard again, the fear of a slow radioactive death seemed like a distant memory. They were in the clear now, and laughed as they raced back to the jeep. After a speedy sweep with the counter, they were sure all was clear and started the trip back to The Compound. The two stayed in high spirits the entire ride home, but as camp came into focus, reality slapped them in the face again. All this celebrating was premature, and they remembered the severity of their current situation. The generator had to be fixed by tomorrow evening, and preparations for The Crazies assault needed to happen as soon as possible. The last few miles were spent in silence, partly because the two were planning quietly, but a small portion of concern was definitely present, stalking menacingly in the shadows of their minds. The Compound had a long day ahead.

Forming Plans

That night, Jude got little to no rest. He was plagued with nightmares from his childhood. Sometimes, memories he had locked away, ones having to do with his parents death, crept back into his psyche and chased away any hope of resting - A reverse “out with the old, in with the new”. When he awoke in a cold sweat for the fourth time, the sun was high enough in the sky that he decided to get moving. Stella remained snoozing in the tent, cuddle up in an old blanket like a bug. Jude had been with her since he was 12, and she somewhat filled the void the absence of his parents produced.

Outside, the wind was blowing and he could definitely tell that Yule was on the way. This was jacket weather, but unfortunately for him, Jude’s coat had been destroyed in the fire back home. His wondering frozen thoughts soon were pushed aside by Mac, who called to him from across the yard. Jude jogged towards the large shed he was standing by.

“Good morning, Switch” Mac exclaimed happily.

“Switch?” Said Jude confused.

Mac slapped him on the back and chuckled deeply.

“Hell yeah! You’re my new mechanic, remember? I give everyone nicknames, so yours is Switch” He stated matter-of-factly.

“Well alright” Laughed Jude. “How can I be of service?” He said saluting sarcastically.

Mac motioned for him to follow and stepped inside the shed, which housed a large generator and a work bench. Mac took a seat at a makeshift table, built from a large wooden cable spool. He pointed to the other milk crate and waited until Jude was seated before taking a small piece of paper out of his pocket and clearing his throat.

“Alright, so here’s the deal… I think its obvious The Compound isn’t living up to its name. We’ve been hit four times in the last month by a local gang. Now, gangs aren’t something new to us. Hell, we’ve been keeping them at bay since before you were born… But the gang that’s been attacking recently… Well, they ain’t what you’d call normal” Mac explain grimly. “I told you I had lost some men, right?” He asked Jude, who nodded quietly. “These bastards didn’t just come in and kill them for supplies... Fuckers took the corpses with em. Found a few of my boys about a mile away, cut up like fucking cattle… They’re eating us, Switch” He whispered.

Jude sat forward, a look of great concern on his face.

“Wait… Cannibals? I ran across an attack a few days back. That’s how I got that jeep” He informed.

Mac brushed his mustache down and sighed.

“Then you can see what we’re dealing with. We started calling them The Crazies because of how they act. One of the men lucky enough to get away told us they’re a pack of feral dogs. Grunts instead of words, no evidence of remorse… Fucking killing machines. That’s why I need more guards, Jude. We’re about 14 strong now, and from what our recon team gathered, there’s at least 25 living in an abandoned hospital up the road. Worse part is… They looked like they were prepping for an assault. That was yesterday morning, so I’m guessing they’ll attack tomorrow or the day after… And we will not be ready” Mac continued, staring down at the floor.

Jude knew what The Crazies were capable of, and The Compound didn’t stand a chance at the moment. Mac unfolded his paper and placed it on the table.

“Now, I’ve been thinking about how I can fortify our defenses, but The Guerillas aren’t too good with wires. The guy we had in charge of maintenance was killed in the first attack” He said and pointed to the list. “Weapons ain’t the issue here, it’s barriers. Those freaks can climb almost anything. First line of defense will be some IEDs I had the boy make, but if the get around those, the next obstacle is the fence bordering the area. They won’t think twice about it and climb right over, and that’s what I’m hoping for. I wanna hook our gene up to the chain link so we can fry those hard-ons” Mac explained.

The large Titan was very rusted and wasn’t running. Jude wondered if it had ever worked.

“That leviathan would definitely cook em up good, but the grid is shot to shit. That’s where you come in, Switch. You think you can get her workin again? I can jury rig the electric fence but I couldn’t tell you a damn thing about how that beast works” He said sadly.

“I don’t think it should be too hard, provided I can find replacement parts for it” Jude said standing and checking out the wiring. “Might have to make a run into the city. Police stations and Fire departments usually run off the same kind, so maybe we could try those… That’s if someone else hasn’t beat us to it” He added.

Mac thought for a moment, stroking his chin then snapped his fingers.

“I got it!” He exclaimed, springing up. “About 30 miles up the road is Patrick Air Force Base. Now I know ain’t nobody been rummaging around there” Mac said, showing Jude on the map.

Jude looked down and watched Mac’s finger trace the route.

“Why hasn’t it been occupied?” Questioned Jude wearily.

Mac’s excited smile turned serious as he remembered why folks didn’t venture up that way anymore.

“Used to be a missile testing area before The Fall. Bout 17 years back, some no-goods finally managed to get past the walls, but they all wanted the find for themselves. Story goes one of them figured if she couldn’t have it, no one would. Detonated a warhead she found in storage. Killed them all and wiped out The Space Coast, which is the living quarters the raiding group was staying in” He said, sitting back down.

“Well, what’s the problem? We need parts for the generator, not shelter” Jude inquired.

Mac drew a smoke from his pack and lit it up. His exhale filled the room with smoke.

“You’re right. The generator is probably in the clinic. I wouldn’t be surprised if they had multiple Titans in case the power went out. They’ll be untouched too cause those Raiders that blasted the Space Coast wanted weapons, not power… But that’s not our problem, Switch. Word passed around in the caravan said the crazy bitch didn’t understand what she had gotten hold of. She assumed it was the run of the mill conventional weapon… Like a Fragmentation Warhead, and it’d just wipe everyone out in the blast” He explained, pausing for a moment. “It was a fucking RRW” He said finally.

Jude thought hard but couldn’t place the abbreviation. Explosives had never been his forte.

“And what exactly does that mean, Mac?” He asked quietly.

Mac grinned at him, the disappointment in his eyes shining brightly.

“Reliable Replacement Warhead. Nuke warhead… It was a small one though. Normally, the yield about 200 Kilotons and that would have destroy the entire base. Probably would have got The Compound too. The one she set off was an experimental Pocket RRW. It was meant to wipe out enemy dens during The Korean Empire Conflict. We would shoot it into the hole, and kill every last fucker inside. The long term effect was the icing on the cake though. With most bombs, it peters out a few weeks to a year later. With the Pocket RRW though, radiation would stay in the area for years, an idea spawned from one of those fucknut bigwigs. Keep those little Asian bastards out of those foxholes for a long time… That place is still teeming with rads, so the scavengers stay away” He finished, taking another drag.

Jude sat down and began to think, scribbling on Mac’s piece of paper. Mac sat in silence, watching the boy work. After a few minutes, Jude looked up at him and smiled. Mac knew whatever he was planning was going to be risky, but they didn’t have a choice. The Crazies would tear them apart if they made if over the fence, so he had to place his faith in the young man, whom he had only met the night before. Looking down at the paper, his doubts slowly melted away.

“This could work, kiddo. We have everything here at the camp” Mac said, scanning over the instructions.

“Then we should get to work. We’re gonna need lead, lots of it” Judah stated. “And the suits gotta be done by the evening if we’re gonna make the deadline” He added.

Mac finished his cigarette and crushed it with his boot.

“Alright… We leave tonight. As soon as you get them ready, Switch” He said with a smile.

The New Arrival

It was a little after three in the morning when Judah started noticing signs for The Compound. Residents had simply drawn arrows on old Palm Bay City signs with neon yellow paint, and these would point him in the right direction. As he turned down an unmarked street, a large group of tents in the distance came into view. Black smoke from a large campfire rose high into the air, causing Stella to sit up and take notice. Her small black nose took quick snorts and she barked once, letting Judah know she smelled humans approaching them.

“I see them…” Judah whispered to her, place his rifle across his lap.

Several ATVs were already in route, barreling towards the jeep with weapons at the ready. Judah brought the jeep to a halt and turned off the ignition just as the party of merchants reached him. A man in a gasmask, who was also the closet to the vehicle, raised his shotgun.

“Who the fuck are you? Ain’t expecting nobody out this way at this time of night” The man called, stepping closer to the Jude’s side of the jeep. “Get out here!” He added, motioning with the muzzle of the Spaz.

Jude placed his hands on the door and opened it smoothly. Stella began to growl, but was silenced with a whistle from her master. When he was a good five feet from the jeep, one of the other merchants retrieved his rifle.

“Whatcha planning on doing with this, boy?” He questioned, turning to Jude.

He smiled and ran his hand through his hair. The fact that these people saw a 23-year-old Scavenger and his mutt as a serious threat made him chuckle silently.

“My name is Judah… That there’s Stella. Don’t worry, she’s harmless” Jude said pointing at his companion. “We’re from down south. You heard of The Shore before, ain’t ya?” He asked the man in the gas mask that looked to be in charge.

“Course we heard of The Shore! You trying to get smart with me? Why you coming round here for?” Snapped the man, thrusting his gun at the boys chest.

Jude shoved it away quickly, causing Stella to leap out of the jeep and join him at his side. She began to snarl at the man, but again Jude silenced her. He didn’t come here to fight, he came to find Del.

“Stella! Hush!” He commanded, holding his hand in front of her face.

The dog gave one final warning growl and took a seat on the grass. Jude chuckled nervously.

“Look, I’m sorry. I’m looking for Del Osborn. Told me that if I ever needed help, just come here and I’d find it” He explained, extending his hand to the merchant. “I’m sorry… I meant no harm” He continued, looking down at his hand.

The merchant thought for a moment, then sighed and returned the handshake.

“Jesus Christ, son. You need to get that fucking dog under control. If I was having a bad day, I might have fired as soon as she jumped” The man advised.

Stella’s behavior was always like this around strangers. Besides Del, every person Judah came in contact with was a Raider or Scavenger, and just usually ended up shooting at them. The man removed his mask, revealing a hard face hidden behind a bushy orange mustache.

“Names Arlen McIntosh, but everybody calls me Mac. Judah, right?” He inquired.

“Jude is fine” He said with a smile.

Arlen laughed and patted him on the shoulder.

“Well, Del ain’t here right now. Headed back to Avalon a few days ago” Mac said. “You’re more than welcome to stay here at The Compound, though. If Del sent ya, you can’t be too dangerous” Mac joked, walking back to his ATV. “Climb back into that old jeep of yours and I’ll show you were you can park it” He called over the rumble of his motor.

Jude signaled for Stella to join him again in the jeep and soon he was following behind the group. The Compound had been around forever, almost 100 years. It had been built in the 1980’s by a developer, but when he went bankrupt, the 200 miles of paved roads that stretch in any directions for 12 miles was abandoned but never destroyed. From what he’d heard from Del, the merchant caravans started setting up shop there about 35 years ago, establishing a secure area for travelers. It was a place you could find work, food, ammo, shelter, gossip and just about anything else you could think of. The surrounding area was great hunting ground too. To the north was the Palm Bay Regional Park and if you drove out west, you hit The Saint Johns River. The merchants had done a great job, considering how many gangs were now living in Palm Bay.

Jude pulled into a small metal garage and put the old clunker in park. Stella, who had realized the merchants were friendly, trotted outside and towards a group of workers eating nearby, hoping to pick up some scraps. Jude couldn’t understand how she could be angry one minute and then ready to give wet kisses for some potted meat the next. Mac stood next to Jude watching Stella work her magic.

“So The Shore, huh? Rough place” He said, still watching the dog.

“Yeah, it’s pretty terrible but I had a safe haven” He mumbled, somewhat disappointed as he remembered his home. “Raiders torched it, so I knew they’d be back. Wasn’t safe anymore and I hoped Avalon would be just the place to start fresh” He explained.

Mac took a pack of stale cigarettes from his shirt pocket and placed one between his lips.

“What do ya do?” He grumbled through clutched lips as he lit a match.

Jude chuckled and scratched his chin.

“I do a bit of everything. Prospecting, mechanics, hunting, security… You name it, I’ve done it” The boy said, point to the smokes “Can I get one? I could use it”.

Mac smiled and handed him a crumpled one. Jude frowned but lit it anyway.

“Well listen… I’m heading to Avalon in a few days. If you want, you can tag along. I’ve lost a lot of men recently. God damn Raiders keep hitting the camp around noon. Found some weak spots in security” Mac stated, directing Jude’s attention to a guard tower in the distance. “Motherfuckers hit there yesterday. I’m gonna see if Paragon will send me some more help but I gotta go to Avalon to do it” He groaned.

“Paragon?” Asked Jude taking a drag.

“Douglas Paragon. He runs the caravan company we work for – Paragon Convoys. He’s kind of an asshole, but the pay is good” Mac laughed.

He walked towards the tents and turned back to Jude.

“You’re probably tired, so why don’t you go lay down. You can sleep in any of the bed, The Guerillas won’t mind. In the morning, we’ll figure out all this Avalon business. We wont be leaving for a few days anyway cause I got too much shit going on around here. Actually, you mind maybe help us fix up some equipment before our trip? You said you were handy with mechanics” Mac asked.

“You got it” Jude said with a wave.

The older man disappeared into a tent and Stella rushed to join Judah again. She jumped excitedly, her snout covered in what looked like creamed corn.

“Did you save me any?” Jude questioned.

Stella barked and rubbed her face on his leg, smearing the remnants of the food on his jeans. He took that as a no.