Chapter V

  The forward ops base was a little busier than Scott expected. He took the time to get a better idea of exactly how things had changed while he was asleep. This was the first time since he arrived that he was able to get a better picture of his surroundings. Many of the tall buildings looked like they'd been violently gutted from the inside out. Scott couldn't help but wonder how many people died in those buildings when the Marauders first attacked. He had to put the thought out of his mind and he continued along the grounds. He found several vehicles at rest. They appeared to resemble trucks, but some of them had gun turrets mounted on the roof. Scott pretty much expected there to be some kind of armaments, which meant there was like going to be trouble on the journey ahead.

  "Scott," a voice called out.

  Scott spun around and saw Dr. Fitzgerald. "Hey doctor. I heard you're coming along for the ride."

  "That's the general idea. I have orders to ride along with you to keep a close eye on your vitals." Dr. Fitzgerald explained.

  "Just do me a favor and keep the needle out of it, Doctor. You know, so I don't stab you in retaliation." Scott joked for the first time since waking up from his deep freeze.

  "Heh, heh. I'll do that, but you have to drop the formalities in regards to my name."

  "What is your full name anyway?" Scott asked.

  "Dr. Christopher Fitzgerald, but you can just call my 'Fitz'. Everyone else does."

  "That I can do... Fitz." Scott replied with a smile.

  Then Johansson approached the pair and said, "Are we ready to go?"

  "We're as ready to go as we'll ever be, Lt. Johansson." Fitz replied.

  "Good. Can I have a word with Gavin, Dr. Fitzgerald? Alone?" Johansson asked.

  Fitz raised his eyebrows and gave Scott a look. Scott returned the gaze and then Fitz headed for the trucks. Then he looked at Johansson who had yet to look back at him. What the hell was she up to this time? For all Scott knew, she was planning on telling him off again just for the pleasure of it. That was fine for Scott. He had no issue returning the favor in kind. Then Johansson finally looked to him. Scott didn't flinch. He stood his ground. He wasn't going to intimidated by this potentially dangerous woman that barely a day ago saved his life. Johansson took a step closer, but Scott remained resolute. It turned out that Johansson was actually an inch shorter than Scott, yet she gave that aura that she wasn't to be messed with. At last, Scott's patience reached its limit.

  "Well...? What?"

  "About what happened yesterday at the debriefing..." Johansson said.

  Here it comes!

  Johansson took a breath and said, "I was out of line when I spoke of your brother. It was highly unprofessional and inappropriate."

  Scott subtly shook his head, squinted his eyes and put his finger up to his right ear, as those he was attempted to hear the words coming from Johansson's mouth. "I'm sorry, did I hear that right? Did you just apologize?"

  Johansson was already rolling her eyes in annoyance, knowing that this guy that she rescued a day ago was clearly mocking her. "Hardly. I'm saying I was out of line. That wasn't an apology."

  "Suit yourself, but I'm over it either way," Scott claimed, though he was secretly still fumed about the previous exchange before getting serious. "Look, I don't want there to be ongoing hostilities between us."

  "Neither do I, but it's important that you understand that things are different now. There's no guarantee that your brother is still alive and if he is…" Johansson said.

  Scott quickly interrupted, "He'd be an old man by now. But I can't help having some sort of hope that maybe, just maybe, Matt's still out there and waiting for me. Hell, he could be on Sky Haven right now for all I know."

  "And what if you're wrong?" Johansson wondered.

  Scott couldn't provide a legitimate answer, instead replying, "He wouldn't give up on me, so I'm not giving up on him."

  Johansson stayed silent and let Scott walked right passed her without incident. After a moment, she looked toward him as he walked toward the trucks. She inwardly had to give Scott credit for staying committed to his brother despite the circumstances of the current situation. But at the same time, Johansson found that commitment to be foolish and na?ve. She wasn't going to say that to Scott out loud. It would be better for him if he learned on his own… even if he didn't appreciate it.

  It was now around 06:50 when Scott made his way up to the trucks. There were at least 5 of them with several gun implements atop of them. Terry and his team were gathered near the lead truck and Scott overheard Terry's talk with them. It sounded like he was giving them their assigned rides. Scott moves just a little bit closer but the group dispersed as he did so. Terry caught sight of the time displaced young man and motioned him closer, and Scott approached him.

  "Scott, you'll be hiding shotgun with me, Pete and Fitz in the lead vehicle. Johansson will be driving the second vehicle with Sam and Michelle." Terry explained.

  "I'm guessing these other trucks are for defense, with all the guns and whatnot." Scott said.

  "That's right. Even though we're taking a grounded approach, the Marauders can still hit us when we least expect it. We've got to be ready for anything." Terry said.

  It was then that Major Donovan approached Terry and said, "You ready to get going, Conrad?"

  "We're as ready as we'll ever be, Major. Thanks for the additional troops." Terry said.

  "They're some of my best people. They'll make sure to get you to your destination… or die trying." Donovan replied in a grim tone.

  Terry tried to be optimistic and said, "Let's hope it doesn't come to that."

  "Good luck, Captain." Donovan said and gave a salute, which Terry returned.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  Then as Donovan left, Terry called out to his team, "Alright, mount up. Let's get this show on the road."

  Terry ushered Scott into the trucks front passenger seat while Pete and Fitz both entered the rear. Then Terry entered the driver's side and started the engine. Scott looked through the side view mirror and watched as Johansson entered the driver's side. He also saw Sam and Michelle enter the front and rear seats respectively. Letting out a deep breath, Scott leaned back onto his seat. He heard the vehicle's engine suddenly rumble to life, and he watched Terry fasten the seatbelt. At least some things didn't change even after 33 years. Scott did the same and, even though he didn't see it, he could hear Pete and Fitz doing the same thing. Pete inched in closer despite his seatbelt's resistance, slightly startling Scott.

  "Looks like we're carpool buddies, Scott." Pete cheerfully said.

  "Yeah, I guess so." Scott said in a reserved tone.

  "Hey, what's with the gloom and doom schtick? Would you rather ride along with Johansson?" Pete joked.

  Scott gave a worrying glance to Pete when he replied, "Please tell me you're shitting me. I don't want anything to do with that Doom Queen."

  "That's the second time you called her that. You'd better be careful that doesn't turn into a trend." Pete claimed.

  "Doom Queen?" Fitz asked.

  "Too late." Pete said.

  "Alright, knock it off, guys. Let's get rolling." Terry said with a light smirk.

  The vehicle was soon on the move and headed toward an opened gate. Several others followed the first out and they traveled through the gate. Once passed the gate, they continued along a slightly dusty road while leaving dirt clouds in their wake. The convoy numbered 5 vehicles, with the truck transporting Scott leading the way. Scott looked through the side view mirror at the ruined buildings that were once a city as they appeared to shrink in the distance. It was at that moment that Scott realized that he was in for a long journey, and he wasn't sure if he should've been there excited or terrified. It was probably going to be both.

  An hour and half had already passed since the convoy left the base. Scott spent the ride just staring out the open window. He was bored, not for first time in general. But it was first time he'd been bored after waking up 33 years in the future. Back then in his time, he busied himself with various activities; sports, work and the like. But that was a long time ago. Scott had no idea what he supposed to do now in the year 2055. All he could do was let his mind wander as the convoy traveled. None of his traveling companions offered much in the way of activities. Fitz was the only one to interact with Scott, periodically checking on Scott's well-being. Scott knew Fitz meant well, but that didn't mean it wasn't occasionally annoying.

  With the boredom growing so increasingly unbearable, Scott felt his eyes getting heavier. He fought to keep them open which was a chore on its own. A slight jolt of the truck woke him back up for all of a few seconds at the least. Then he started nodding off again. Then Scott finally drifted away into sleep. Maybe it would've been good for him to get in a few moments of sleep. He'd wake back up in time. All he needed was a few minutes.

  When Scott finally woke up some time later, he immediately realized that the truck wasn't moving. He looked toward the driver's seat and saw that Terry was nowhere to be found. Pete and Fitz were also missing, and Scott, for a split second, thought they'd abandoned him. He stepped out of the truck and saw the other vehicles parked in almost a sort of circle formation. The soldiers that accompanied the team walked along the parameter of the vehicles, and Scott dreaded the possibility of an attack.

  "Ah, he's finally awake." said Sam, sitting near the rear wheel of the truck while adjusting his rifle.

  Scott rubbed his eyes and then asked, "What's going on? Why'd we stop?"

  "The boss man decided we needed a breather and stopped the convoy for a quick rest period. It's a good idea considering we've been driving for 4 hours now." Sam said.

  "4 hours?" Scott said in surprise.

  Fitz approached the duo and said, "Well technically, it's actually been roughly 3? hours since you dozed off."

  "Well, I was asleep for 33 years. 3 ? hours seems like a 'blink and you'll miss it' kind of thing." Scott reasoned.

  "Good way to look at it, lad." Sam said.

  "Hey Scott, heads up!"

  Scott spun around and just barely caught something in his hands. "A football?" he realized as he looked up.

  Pete and Michelle were jogging toward him and the former said, "Sorry about that, man. Didn't mean to spook you."

  "You didn't spook me, but I almost though we were under attack. Anyway, where'd you manage to get a football?" Scott said as Pete approached.

  "Actually, I had that for a couple years; found it in an old sporting goods place. It helps to have something to keep me busy." Pete said as he was handed the ball.

  "I'd think it would help even more if Pete here had someone to play with. I could but I kind of suck at it." Michelle said almost embarrassingly.

  "Hey, you're not that bad, Michelle. You can just handle a rifle better than football," Pete stated, earning a stern glare from Michelle. "Okay, I'm going to pay for that comment later. C'mon, Scott. How 'bout a short game?"

  Scott thought about it and said, "What the hell? I've been napping for 33 years anyway."

  "Go long." Pete said.

  Scott needed an outlet, so he played along and started jogging back the same way from which Pete came. Then he went from a jog to a sprint. He looked over his shoulder and saw Pete back away a few steps. Then Pete tosses the football. Suddenly, Scott went for a full-on run. He looked back over his shoulder over and over again just to get an idea of where the football was flying. The ball was descending quickly and Scott was practically bolting now.

  Then something happened. Scott almost tripped from running so fast. He was starting to lose his balance just as the football was coming directly at him. On pure instinct and with quick reflexes, Scott jumped up and caught the football in both hands. But as one foot touched down, Scott lost his balance completely and fell to the ground with a thud. A small cloud of dust rose up from where Scott landed, and he himself was laid in a heap while still holding the ball. Scott grimaced from the impact but also laughed until he glanced to his side.

  Johansson was right there sitting cross-legged with a book in her hands. The lower half of her face was concealed behind the book, but her eyes were fixed on Scott. Scott's own eyes met Johansson's and he gave her a small wave. Johansson raised her book up to conceal her eyes. This confused Scott somewhat but he already at the point where it was to be expected of Johansson. Pete and Michelle rushed over to help get Scott upright.

  "Damn, that was a good catch, Scott." Pete.

  "Yeah, it's like you're a pro. Did you play for any teams back in your time?" Michelle asked.

  "I was kind of more interested in combat sports to be honest. Beyond that, I worked in a warehouse... packaging calculators." Scott admitted with some mark embarrassment.

  "Wow, you must've had an interesting life." Johansson said with sarcasm that seemed more like resentment.

  Scott looked at the Lieutenant with a cocked eyebrow and said to her, "Oh yeah, a very interesting one."

  Before Johansson could reply, assuming she planned on it, Terry walked up to the group and said, "Okay people, break time's over. Let's get back on the road."

  Like clockwork, everyone started getting back into their assigned vehicles. But Scott still kept his narrowed eyes on Johansson. Her comment sounded more like an insult than anything else even though he was able to brush it off. Scott was almost certain that he and Johansson reached some small fraction of common ground before they left FOB in Bakersfield. She even took the time apologize to Scott about his brother. Then out of the blue, Johansson made a somewhat off-hand comment that Scott wasn't entirely sure he could find even remotely insulting. Either that or Johansson was simply trying to deliberately antagonize Scott. This time though, Scott let cooler heads prevail and let the matter be, while Johansson stood up and walked away like happened.

  "Scott, let's go." Terry suddenly called out.

  Scott briefly glanced at Terry but turned back at Johansson just as quickly. Johansson had already entered her assigned truck with Sam, Pete and Michelle. Scott was about to follow but he eventually thought better of it. Whatever Johansson meant by her comment meant nothing in the grand scheme of things. Scott started on his way back to his assigned where Terry and Fitz were waiting. Terry was in the driver's seat and he gave Scott a look of concern.

  "You good, kid?" Terry asked.

  Scott glanced at Terry and reluctantly replied, "I'm fine. Let's just go."

  Terry looked at Scott for a moment longer, and it seemed clear that he was worried about the young man. He put that notion aside for the time being and started the truck. Scott audibly sighed in frustration as the vehicle started moving. He came to realize that this trek across the war-torn country to Cape Canaveral might not be as smooth he was expecting. He was starting to wish he'd never woken up from deep freeze.