Fiction: Afterlife Volume 3 (Chapter 35)

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Afterlife is a sci fi/western action serial published every other week. Join us in a post-apocalyptic journey through a future where life has become little more than a struggle for survival. However, where there’s life, there’s always hope.

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Read the previous chapter here:

Afterlife, Volume 3, Chapter 34

Where:
Abby visits Ace and frees him from prison.
Ace and his raiders move through the tunnel and steel a leveler.
The battle for Rose City rages.

Find the Volume 3 Table of Contents page here.

View the Map here.

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Afterlife, Volume 3, Chapter 35

Paul Jacobs was sitting in front of a screen with a bullseye in the center, using two controller sticks to center it in on various targets.  He pulled the triggers on the sticks and watched red lasers fire at the figures on the screen.  He felt removed from the action as Ace sat in the command chair behind him, shouting out orders.  Jimmy Thumb was in the other gunner chair as Bud Johnson sat in the driver’s seat.  It was he and Ace doing most of the shouting as the squad tried to figure out how to operate the giant moving fortress.  The bodies of IOA soldiers littered the floor and Big Bob the Giant was nursing his wounded arm, applying bandages from their first aid kit.  “Let’s see if we can support Major Rodeo and his squad as they free our soldiers,” Ace said.  “Head in that direction.  And take out as many of their troops as you can on the way.”  Bud nodded as he steered the massive vehicle in that direction.  It rumbled over dunes as Paul continued pinpointing IAO soldiers and pulling the triggers, firing lasers at them by the bushel.  They scattered like insects, trying to scramble down the sides of dunes to find whatever cover they could.

“The other levelers seem to have taken notice,” Bud said.  “Three of them are headed this way.  One’s almost in firing range.”

“Gunners,” Ace said, “see if you can find him and start firing.  We want to try to get him before he gets us.  Then, we’ll worry about the other two.”

Paul nodded and scanned the dunes on his screen, firing at any IAO soldiers who had the misfortune of appearing in his bullseye.  He hoped some of the other resistance soldiers got at least one of the other levelers.  Otherwise, the odds were hugely against them.  They had one leveler.  The latest count for the IAO according to their reports was seven levelers, meaning there were six more out there.

There was a loud explosion and the leveler rocked back and forth.  “Our left side was hit,” Bud said.  “Damage to critical systems is minimal but there’s a breach in our armor.”

Paul continued firing at IAO troops as the massive vehicle headed towards the prisoner pen, which was now visible.  They were fenced in and the fences were covered with razor wire.  There were bodies as well as living prisoners within the pen.  Paul noticed Major Rodeo and his men approaching the pen, firing their assault laser rifles.  He started bullseyeing nearby IAO troops and taking them out as quickly as his hands and fingers could move.  There was another explosion.  “Two of the levelers are in view!” Ace shouted.  “Don’t fire at the troops.  Focus on the levelers.”

Paul frowned.  Major Rodeo and his troops would have to fend for themselves.  He quickly found a leveler on a distant dune and locked it in his bullseye.  He pushed both of his trigger buttons, firing a full barrage of lasers at the massive vehicle.  He could see on his screen that it was also firing at them.  Huge blue blasts were coming their way.  One hit the sandy dune beneath them and Paul felt the leveler rock and start to fall.  He fell out of his chair.  “We’re sliding down the side of the dune!” Bud shouted.  Paul tried to get back into his seat, though he felt the vehicle was tilted at a sharp angle.  All he could see on the screen was sky.  “We’re stuck!” Bud shouted.  Paul could hear the groans of machinery as Bud tried his best to get the leveler out of the valley it slid into.  There was smoke coming through the door to the control room.

<>

Wild Joe had been in worse predicaments in the past, but these people were family.  Belle was family, and he had to free her at all costs.  Lasers were coming at him from all directions and he was moving forward through the sand, firing ahead of him at any IAO troops he could see through the sand and smoke.  He could die any second.  If it was his time, it was his time.  But he had to keep fighting.  His men were relying on him.  He’d been given the signal that the full-on resistance attack had begun, so Joe and his troops took out their yellow markers and marked “X” on their IAO uniforms, front and back to differentiate themselves from the IAO.  The need for surprise was over.

“There’s another squad to the right!” Billy shouted as he moved next to Joe on his right, firing his laser assault rifle.

“Just keep firin’ at ‘em,” Joe said, “and keep movin’ forward.  Don’t lose your bearins.  Stay close to me.”  He had no idea how many men he had left.  Billy was to his right and Mary was to his left.  He’d noticed Ayman and Ava behind him, but hadn’t seen them recently.  Bob and Jimmy had gone with Ace and Raj had stayed behind in the tunnel to tend to injured soldiers.  The prisoner pen was on the dune ahead of them as they moved through a sandy valley.

He led the troops up the side of the dune as lasers came down at them.  Joe blasted upwards and watched as two bodies slid down the sand.  “Be careful firin’ now,” he said.  “We don’t want to kill our own men.  We need to free those prisoners up there.”

Billy nodded and climbed up the side of the dune, followed by Mary.  Joe moved up behind them as soldiers behind them provided covering fire.  They reached the top of the dune and Joe fired at two IAO soldiers near the gate to the pen.  He could see the leveler Ace and his men had stolen sideways in one of the valleys.  He bit his lip.  “They’re goners.”  IAO troops were crawling all over the dunes around them, but resistance soldiers were closing in from all sides.  Joe, Billy, and Mary rushed to the gate and opened it.  There were several bald soldiers inside wearing ragged gray jumpsuits.  “Grab weapons,” Joe said as the prisoners rushed out.  There were dozens still alive.  Most looked tired and hungry.  Joe wondered if they were in shape to fight.  They would have to do.

One bald soldier ran up to Joe and he immediately recognized her as Belle.  Her head was shaved and she was skinny and had bags under her eyes, but she hugged Joe and he smiled.  “I knew you’d come,” she said.

Joe nodded and smiled.  “Glad you’re all right.  We ain’t out of this, yet, though.  Grab a gun from a dead soldier and start takin’ these scumbags out.”

Belle nodded and grabbed an RLR from the nearest dead IAO soldier.  Joe had never seen her angrier as she fired fifty laser blasts per second at the surrounding dunes.

<>

Ayman tried his hardest to hold onto his laser assault rifle as he slid through the sand.  Explosions sprayed sand all around him and sand was getting in his eyes, his nose, and his mouth.  He coughed and looked around to see the bodies of several resistance soldiers in the valley with him.  The dunes around him were so steep, he felt like he was in a pit.  His first instinct was to start moving, so he moved in the direction he thought the prisoner pens were in.  Ava had been right next to him before the last explosion flung him off the dune.  He thought about calling her name, but that would make him a target, and if she answered, it would make her a target, so he kept moving.  He trudged through the sand as lasers hissed through the air above him.  He saw a confused IAO soldier ahead of him so he aimed and fired at the soldier’s chest, knocking him to the ground.  Several laser blasts came down towards him, so Ayman picked up his speed and started climbing one of the dunes.  He felt something hit his back and turned to realize it was Ava’s hand.  “Found you,” she said with a smile.

Ayman looked her up and down to see that she didn’t seem to be injured and he smiled back.  He noticed the yellow “X” on her chest so he took out his marker and marked his own uniform.  “We need to find the others.  We’ll get picked off if we stay by ourselves like this.”

She nodded and pointed to the top of the dune Ayman had started climbing.  “I think you had the right idea.”  Ava still had her assault laser rifle, which she held as the two of them scrambled up the side of the dune.  A laser fired and Ava slid down through the sand.

Ayman noticed an IAO soldier on a nearby dune aiming his laser rifle at him so he fired, knocking the soldier into the sand.  He looked around at the other dunes to see IAO soldiers everywhere.  No yellow marks in sight.  Some of the IAO men seemed to be aiming at Ayman and firing.  He was in a daze.  Ava appeared next to him once again.  “It’s okay,” she said.  “They just hit the sand beneath me.  I’m okay.  Keep moving.”  Ayman nodded and the two of them continued moving up the dune.

They reached the top and Ava immediately took cover behind a damaged sand bike.  Ayman joined her and looked around.  They were surrounded by IAO soldiers on the dunes all around them, but the dune they were on was covered with broken vehicles and metal pieces of vehicles.  Many were burning with orange flames and there was smoke all around.  Ayman noticed a huge leveler which had been blasted out.  Flames were flicking off the top of it.  “Do you think there’s any way we can use that?” he asked.

Ava looked at it and shook her head.  “Looks like it’s been immobilized to me.  And there’s too much fire inside.”  Immediately after she said that, there was an explosion which annihilated the entire top half of the machine.  Ava stood and fired several shots, then ducked back down behind the sand bike.

Ayman turned and looked behind them to see IAO soldiers on the next dune over.  One was aiming a laser rifle at them, so Ayman fired.  The soldiers started firing back, so Ayman blasted all of them with bursts from his assault laser rifle.  More soldiers were moving around them.  “They’ve seen us,” he said.  “They’re surrounding us.”

Ava fired at several more soldiers.  “We need a better spot.”

Ayman frowned as he looked for more targets.  “But if we move, we’re sitting ducks.”  He ducked down behind the sand bike as several laser blasts hit it from the front.  He smiled at Ava and considered kissing her, realizing this could be the end of them, but he fought the urge and continued firing at IAO soldiers on nearby dunes.

<>

Abby watched the damaged leveler through her binoculars.  It was the one Ace and his group had stolen.  It had sunken down to the bottom of one of the dunes and was leaning into the dune next to it.  It was wedged and stuck, and IAO soldiers were surrounding it and firing at it.  One of the IAO levelers had been taken out, but there were still five of them out there.  Reports said the prisoners had been freed and were joining the fighting, though from what Abby had heard, most of them were in pretty bad shape.  The resistance army was attacking head-on now.  They had hoped the confusion caused by the surprise raids through the tunnels would be enough to tip the scales in their favor, but things weren’t looking good.  Abby continued looking through the binoculars at the carnage, hoping to see some sign of Ace, or Della or Paul.  “This is all my fault,” she said.

“No,” General Rodriguez said.  “We had to attack.  Your plan gave us the best odds.”

“The general’s right,” General Howell said.  “You did the best you could.”

Abby nodded.  “We did the best we could.”  She paused and corrected herself.  “We’re doing the best we can.”

<>

Della was using the tunnel edge as cover, firing at as many of the IAO troops as he could.  He and his troops were going to follow Major Rodeo and his squad, but they’d been pinned down near the tunnel entrance and several were killed, so the ones who were left rushed back into the tunnel to use it as cover.  Della had seen the leveler go down and there was a lot of smoke up ahead, so things didn’t look good, but he knew if he and his remaining troops moved from their current position, they were goners.  Everywhere he looked, Della saw IAO troops in leather and metal outfits firing laser rifles at him and his men.  He fired several shots, hitting four more IAO men in the head.  Though he’d taken many out, there were just too many of them.  As dozens ran towards the tunnel, Della turned and ran back further.  He stopped near some rubble and turned around so he was facing the tunnel entrance.  He hid behind the rubble and watched up ahead as several of his troops were hit with laser blasts and fell.  IAO troops rushed down the tunnel and Della bit his lip.  There were dozens of them, more than he could possibly take out on his own, and if he stood from behind the rubble to run, they’d kill him easily.  There was no way out of this and Della knew it.  He prepared to make a last stand, taking out as many of them as he could as more IAO troops poured into the tunnel.

Della closed his eyes and readied himself as he heard the hisses of laser blasts.  He peeked past the rubble to see that the IAO soldiers had turned around and were firing at someone behind them.  They were dropping like flies.  Della stood and started firing at as many of the IAO soldiers as he could.  He quickly took out his yellow marker and marked his uniform, realizing he hadn’t had time to do it earlier.  When he was done, he strapped his laser rifle to his back and walked out from behind the rubble with his hands in the air.  “Don’t shoot,” he said.  “I’m with the resistance.”

Black men in black uniforms emerged from behind the IAO bodies.  They were all holding laser rifles and some were wearing berets.  “Hey, brotha,” one of them said.  “Looks like you could use some help.”

<>

Bud Johnson tried hopelessly to back the leveler up, but it was stuck.  Lasers were hitting the outer armor.  The IAO had surrounded them.  It was only a matter of time before they made their way through the hole in the shell.  “It may be time for us to make our exit,” Major McCoy said from the command chair.

“We won’t last long out there,” Big Bob said.  His arm was bandaged, but he was in obvious pain.

“We might last longer than we will in here,” Major McCoy said.  “In here, we’re sitting ducks waiting for the hunters to come.”

Paul looked frustrated as he searched the gunner scope.  “All I see is sky.  Our guns are useless right now.”  Jimmy Thumb nodded in agreement.  His screen had gone blank as his side of the leveler was in the sand.

“It’s only a matter of time before one of their levelers comes by and blasts us to pieces,” Bud said.  “I can’t budge us.  We can’t do nothin’ in here but wait for them to get us.”

Suddenly, Bud felt the huge vehicle moving.  It may have been too late, then.  The IAO probably had them.  But if it had been the IAO, they’d probably have just destroyed them.  Instead, they were somehow being pulled up out of the valley.  “Can we move yet?” Major McCoy asked.

“Hold up,” Bud said.  He looked at his screen and saw men in black uniforms on the dunes around them.  They had used towing cables attached to hover tanks to pull the leveler Bud was driving out of the valley.  “It’s the Warriors of Freedom,” Bud said, looking at the black-clad soldiers.  He wasn’t sure if that was good or bad for him.  He knew they’d probably see him as a deserter.  He noticed Major Della Luscious standing with them.  He must have directed them to the leveler.

“Well,” Major McCoy said with a grin.  “It looks like we have some new friends.”

When they reached the top of the dune, Bud used his scanner to look at the dunes around them.  He saw the Ruff Ridah on a dune not far from them firing its huge laser cannons.  Two IAO levelers were burning on nearby dunes, but two more were approaching.  “Our situation’s improved,” Bud said, “but we ain’t out of this yet.”

<>

Things were looking better.  Abby watched through the binoculars as the resistance soldiers and the Warriors of Freedom fought the IAO from entrenched positions.  With Evileye Alphacore’s leveler in the mix, the resistance had two.  Three IAO levelers were taken out and there were three left.  The odds were far better.  There were also soldiers appearing from the dunes, attacking the IAO from behind.  Their origins were unknown, but they were definitely fighting on the side of the resistance.  There were groups of IAO soldiers now running away from the fight and General Howell had heard that several IAO soldiers had been captured.  “We can win this thing yet,” Abby said.

“You’re a capable military commander, it turns out,” General Rodriguez said, patting her on the back.

“We couldn’t have done this without you,” Foxtrot added.

“We still haven’t won,” General Howell said.  “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.”

Abby noticed that Colonel Trent had joined them at the window.  She was also looking out at the field of battle with her binoculars.  “Regardless, things look better than they did.  We’re gaining the upper hand.”

“Who knows what tricks these punks have up their sleeves, though,” General Howell said.  The officers at the table seemed to be in good spirits, but the activity had increased.  Many were speaking into communicators and rifling through holographic images displayed by small computers.  Others were moving pieces on a large map in front of them.  General Rodriguez walked away from the window and took a deep breath.

Abby continued watching the mysterious newcomers through her binoculars.  Most seemed to be dressed in civilian clothes, and they were armed with all types of weapons.  Some had laser rifles.  Others had old school guns.  “Who are our new allies?” Abby asked.  “Do we have any intelligence on them?”

Foxtrot shrugged.  “They could be resistance pockets we don’t know about.  We don’t have intelligence on any organized militias in this area, though.”

“From the look of them,” General Howell said, “they aren’t very organized.”

“Well they are on our side,” Abby said.  “And as far as I’m concerned, they’re a godsend.”

<>

Belle fired her RLR, taking out as many IAO punks as she could.  There were two levelers fighting on their side now.  She could see them on nearby dunes, firing at IAO positions.  She was looking for the two leaders who’d gone by the names of Jolly Roger and Jay Dog.  They’d been responsible for the murder of several unarmed resistance soldiers, and they’d forced her to be a part of it.  Wild Joe, Billy, and Mary were nearby, also firing at the troops surrounding them.  The other freed prisoners were also with them, helping them fight.  Belle noticed a black man in an IAO outfit approaching them as the fighting around them stopped. There was a yellow mark on the man’s chest, showing him to be part of the resistance.  Several IAO soldiers surrendered to the freed resistance prisoners, and most of the other IAO soldiers nearby were dead.  The dunes were littered with bodies and stained with blood, and they were now crawling with resistance soldiers and Warriors of Freedom.  “Major Rodeo,” the black man said as he approached.  “Looks like we’ve won the day.”  His voice was effeminate.

Wild Joe nodded.  “It wasn’t easy, but I think you’re right.”  Ayman Ali and Ava Haddid were also approaching them.  “Let’s round up the prisoners,” Wild Joe said.  “And we can head back.  We’re due a much needed respite.”

Belle let out a sigh of relief.  She was happy the fighting was over, and she was happy to be free once again, but she felt like she’d lost something in the prisoner pen.  She felt like she’d left something there she’d never get back.  Either way, once she found and killed Jolly Roger and Jay Dog, she’d at least feel better about it.  Resistance soldiers on a nearby dune raised their weapons in the air and cheered.  “Prometheus!” they shouted victoriously at the retreating IAO troops.  “Prometheus!”

<>

Abby felt a little nervous as she walked to the restaurant.  The cobblestone street was a little hard to walk on in her high heels, but she was managing.  She felt awkward in her black dress, and her short black hair had been styled at a salon, something she wasn’t used to, but when she realized her meeting with Ace McCoy seemed to be morphing from a chance for friends to catch up to an actual date, she decided to do her best to pretty herself up.  She hoped Ace felt the same way about the evening.  She’d feel pretty silly if she walked into the restaurant looking so nice and Ace was in jeans and a tee shirt.  The place was called “the Desert Dragon” and they served Chinese food.  Abby loved egg foo young and hadn’t had it in years, so she’d picked the place and Ace didn’t protest.

She walked through the front door and found a quaint place with a handful of tables.  Two waitresses in cheongsams were making their way from table to table, speaking politely with the patrons.  It didn’t take Abby long to realize that Ace hadn’t arrived yet, so she got them a table.  She waited a few more minutes until Ace entered the establishment, wearing black pants and a black jacket.  Beneath the jacket was a purple button down shirt.  Abby smiled, wondering if Della had helped him pick out the outfit.  He looked great, regardless.  Ace noticed her and walked over to her table, sitting across from her.  “How’s Rose City’s newest hero?” she asked.

He grinned at her.  “Ironic it’s you asking me.  You’ve become a legend around here.”

Abby noticed the other patrons looking at her and whispering.  She shrugged.  “Well it’s good to see you regardless.”

“And it’s good to see you,” Ace said.  “It’s been a while since I’ve tasted freedom.  It feels strange.  I feel like I still need to be looking over my shoulder.  I’m not sure I deserve this sense of peace.”

“Why not?” Abby asked.

He grinned at her, knowing they both knew the answer.  The waitress approached their table and Abby ordered the egg foo young.  Ace ordered a beef and vegetable dish.  “So from what I hear,” he said, “our soldiers are doing a good job of removing the IAO presence from the Disputed Lands.”

Abby nodded.  “We’re going to need a new name for the area.  The Free Territory has been thrown around.  I prefer the United Federation of Western States, but we’re going to let the people vote on it.”

“As we should,” Ace said.  “How about Xanadu?”

Abby chuckled.  “The Pleasure Dome.”

“Whatever we call it,” Ace said, “the more things change the more they’ll stay the same.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Abby asked.

“It means,” Ace said, grinning at her, “the people will be the same regardless.  And the class systems which have been in place since the beginning of time will also be in place.  Sure, people will have a measure of freedom, especially compared to what they had with the IAO in charge, but it won’t be perfect.”

Abby nodded.  “I intend on continuing our fight until all of Numurka is freed from the grip of the IAO.  And the world after that.”

“Big dreams,” Ace said.

“I’ve come this far,” she countered.  “You should know me by now, Ace.  You should know I don’t mess around.  And once we’ve set up our government, I intend to completely take money out of the political system among other things.  No bribes, no nefarious contributions to political campaigns, no lobbyists.  Everyone is going to be on equal footing.  The person who’s best able to raise money isn’t necessarily the person who’s going to make the best leader.  I want the people to choose their own leaders.  It’s too important a decision to be left to the whims of big business.  I intend to at least even the playing field a little.  Things won’t be perfect, but they’ll be better.”

“The rich always prosper at the expense of the poor and they always will,” Ace said.  “Try as you might, you won’t be able to change that.”

“I’m going to turn the tables,” Abby said, “at least a little.”

Ace grinned.  “Good luck with that, darlin’.”

“Why are you always so cynical?”

“I’m honest.”

Abby frowned.  “You think I’m not familiar with the plight of the poor?  You don’t think I realize how callous and insulated the rich can be?  That’s the very reason I’m going to change things.  The poor will always have a voice in any society I’m a part of.  I’ll see to it.  And I’m not the only one.”

“Well maybe it’ll work for a while,” Ace said.  “But the rich always have a way of coming out on top in the end.”

“It’s time for society to stop thinking in an ‘us against them’ mindset,” Abby said.  “It’s not a zero sum game.  We can all thrive.”

Ace chuckled.  “But everyone looks out for number one first.  And that’s the way it should be.”

“Well in order for us to thrive ourselves,” Abby said, “we need to make sure others are thriving also.  Otherwise, what’s to stop them from one day rising up and taking what we have?”

“Nothing,” Ace said.  “Remember you’re talking to someone who was a bank robber for most of his life.”

Abby nodded.  “Well you can be cynical all you want.  It’s not going to stop me from trying.  My ancestors brought about change.  I’ll do the same.  And I won’t let anyone or anything stop me.”

“I believe if anyone can do it, you can,” Ace said with a smile.  “Hell, you may even make a believer out of me.  I mean you’ve turned me into a legitimate citizen.  The sky’s the limit I guess.”

The waitress came back and gave them their food.  Abby took a bite from the egg foo young and was pleasantly satisfied.  “We have to be careful, though, that we don’t make the mistake of taking the power away from big business only to give it to big government.  Either way, we all lose.  The power must be given to the people and it must remain in their hands.”

“If you can do that,” Ace said, “you really are a miracle worker.”

They talked and ate, and when they were done, they walked around the city, through the cobblestone streets in the moonlight.  A handful of people asked Abby for her autograph.  One little girl took a picture with her.  Abby was honored, but she missed her days of anonymity.  As she and Ace walked, one woman practically leapt out in front of them and pointed a finger.  She was an older woman and there was anger in her wrinkled face.  “Don’t think I don’t know what you are,” she said to Abby.  “You’re just another two bit criminal.  They can say what they want about you.  They can fill people’s brains with propaganda, but I know the truth.  Look who you’re with!  A bank robber and a murderer.  And you’re the same.  I know.  And I’m not the only one.  The sooner you get out of town, the better for all of us.”

Ace nodded and smiled.  “Thank you kindly for your opinion, ma’am.  I’d give you mine, but I’m a kind southern gentleman, so I’ll just leave you with your thoughts.”

“You’re right,” Abby said to the woman.  “You’re right, if you look at things from Herman Rennock’s perspective.  I stole from him.  And I killed his men.  We’re all criminals to someone, I suppose.  But to the resistance, to Rose City, I’m nothing but an ally.  I have nothing but love for this place and everyone here, including you.”  The old lady snorted, muttered something under her breath, and walked away.

Ace grinned.  “Your words were a little better chosen than mine, I suppose.”

“I’ve learned to speak from the heart,” Abby said.  “That way everyone can know where you stand.”

“Understandable,” Ace said, “but that’s not the best strategy for a poker player.”

They walked some more and Ace bought Abby roses from a street vendor.  Soon, they were walking hand in hand, and Abby felt strange about it.  It seemed like only yesterday, Ace was with Annabelle and they were inseparable.  Still, Ace was handsome, and beneath his guarded exterior, Abby new he was a good man.  He’d proven himself to her on many occasions now.  They stopped at a lookout station near the city’s metal wall, where the dark desert dunes were visible for miles.  Far outside the city, the ruins of the battle were still visible.  There were shells of burnt out levelers, pieces of hover tanks, crashed EMPC’s.  Abby turned to Ace as they stood holding hands, and he kissed her.  “Do you want to come back to my hotel?” Abby asked.

Ace shook his head.  “Not tonight.  Remember, I’m a gentleman.  I’ll walk you home, but we can leave it at that.”

As they walked home, Abby remembered Annabelle saying something about some sexual issues Ace had.  She shouldn’t have asked anyway, and she knew it.  She’d just gotten weak for a second.  When they reached her hotel, they kissed goodnight and Ace left.  “What are you doing?” Abby asked herself aloud as she watched him walk away.  “You’re still just a silly young girl.”  She shook her head and walked through the front entrance to the hotel.

<>

Joey Anvil watched the dunes alongside his friends.  They were IAO now.  That’s what they called themselves.  It didn’t matter which crew they belonged to.  It was the same as it had ever been.  Though they had more power now.  At least they had more power until recently.  And they didn’t have to worry about law enforcement until recently.  They owned the village of Westwalk and they weren’t about to give it up.  Not to a bunch of self-righteous resistance freedom fighters.  Joey aimed his laser rifle at the dunes ahead of him as he stood behind a sandstone wall.  He’d heard the rumors.  There was some crazy woman named Mary Cassidy who led a bunch of men on horseback.  Mary’s Raiders, they called themselves.  Not long ago, they’d been a part of the Wild Joe Rodeo Show.  They’d been causing trouble in the area, but Joey and his friends were ready for them.  Joey wasn’t about to let his town fall to a bunch of showmen.

He watched the dunes up ahead when he felt a strange sensation, like a wave running through his body.  He shook it off and continued aiming his laser rifle. A dozen or so horses appeared on a nearby dune.  The riders were carrying old school firearms that fired bullets.  The woman leading the charge on a white horse was wearing the same tan uniform as the rest of them, but she was wearing a white cowboy hat with a pink ribbon.  She had long blonde hair and there was a man riding next to her who was wearing a blue cowboy hat.  Did they think they stood a chance with those old school weapons?  Joey chuckled as he aimed his laser rifle and fired at the woman’s pretty face.  Nothing happened.  He frowned as he noticed metal rods some of the riders were holding.  Disruptors.  They were using disruptor and bullet tactics.  The riders came on them quickly, firing their weapons with loud cracks.  “Run!” Joey shouted as he felt a sharp pain through his head and fell into the sand.

 
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoBE69wdSkQ] 

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Continue on to the next chapter:

Afterlife, Volume 3, Chapter 36
Where:
Eileen Traymont has a visitor in her cell.
Resistance leadership begins planning their final offensive against New Atlantis.
Abby seeks help from a friend.

Find the Volume 3 Table of Contents page here.

View the Map here.

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