Legion Resurrected Chapter 4

4.

Michael

“Don’t move.” Michael heard the request but he lowered the duffle bag on the floor.

“I said don’t move.” Michael looked towards the two uniformed officers who had cornered him packing the weapons. He could make out their names on the name tags. They have drawn their weapons and were aiming at Michael.

“Officer Stuart, I am in the need to move,” Michael spoke to the officer on the right. The other officer named Luka had moved closer to the five packed bags and one wooden crate. Luka crouched and open the duffle bag flaps.

“Wow! Stuart. These are military grades.” Luka was looking at the contents. He was previously from SWAT and upon the birth of his daughter, he relented to his wife's request. He joined the street patrol and handed domestic incidents. He could make out the Colt M4A1 automatics and some other guns. He could identify the Mac 10 which was popular with the street gangs. He flipped the other bags and identified the Winchester rifles, the Browning handgun with the laser scope, and the sets of two shoulder-held RPG launcher AirTronic with four spare rockets. There were some flash grenades too.

“I will be damned.” Stuart smiled. Twenty years in the force and due to retirement with a pension that will not keep the food on the table of four at his home. He was impressed with the arrest and saw himself promoted before the retirement. He was happy for Luka; the man got his years to do and Sergeant stripes will on that man.

“Officers, I am running out of time.” Michael knew the screw-up. He was late in the crossing. He was to be there nine months ago and prevented the conception but the unit or the calculation was faulty and he ended up here close to her delivery.

“Stay there,” Stuart warned Michael. “I am calling in.”

When Stuart reached for the comm unit, he was looking away. Michael had the handgun in his left hand and shot Stuart and then Luka. It was a fast lightning move that only the Seraph Warrior was able to do.

Later, Michael loaded the weapons onto the patrol car, and drove at the maximum speed to the Diner.

The Diner

“Be quick!” Michael stepped to the doorway and looked outside. There was his stolen patrol car; it served him well, with its condition reduced to dented in some places and the siren lamps hanging by the cables only. It was a showpiece of bad or reckless driving compared to the two-seater Buick GNX. It was dated to the ’80s but the turbocharged V6 was a muscle car with corvettes taking its exhaust smoke on the straight. Michael had reckoned it belongs to Kyle for the family will not have such a number in their garage. He could make out the pickup truck with Paradise Falls logo. He saw that in the Diner sign on the roof. The vehicles were to the left side of the gas pump. The road was about fifty feet from the gas pump, and they have a clear firing zone from the gas pump towards the right side. He could see down the road for another a mile, the flat terrain at the desert was barren of any real growths to line the horizon. He looked opposite the road towards the desert and was greeted by the huge spans of acrid land. He then turned to look at Bob who was still standing there for his reply.

“I drove like Hell. Now that is done, do you have access to the roof?” Michael asked.

“Yeah like Hell we do,” Bob replied. He motioned to the ladder at the rear of the Diner next to his office. “We have a platform there where we placed the beach chairs. It’s a good view of the sunset.”

Michael ignored the man and proceeded to remove the guns. He looked at Percy who was standing behind the counter.

“Can you shoot?” Michael asked. Before Percy could reply, Michael, turned to Kyle who had left his seat to join the others at the counter. “Can you? You have been away for some time.”

Kyle nodded.

“Then grab one bag with the rifles and ammo. Move upstairs with the cook.” Michael called out. He then proceeded to move the nearby table towards the doorway. He stopped momentarily and asked Bob if there were shutters or wooden plank, he could barricade the doors and windows.

“Yeah, I got some in the back,” Bob replied with a sarcastic tone. “For emergencies like these.”

“Man, you have not told me why are you here?” Bob stopped in his step to query the other. “And I’m not nobody’s….”

“No one asking you to do things you should not be. But right now, we are all in danger. So, help me or stay out of my way.” Michael replied in anger. “What you saw earlier was only one. There will be more. And they will eat you alive.”

“See here, Man. I …” Bob was stopped by Charlie.

“Bob, he may be right. We have to get ready.” Charlie pleaded with Bob. “I don’t if he is right or wrong, but I am scared.”

Kyle had then grabbed a bag and proceeded to the ladder where he was joined by Percy. They climbed up while the others arranged the tables and chairs against the wall. Bob brought back to his senses called on Jeep to assist him. He had those wooden planks after the previous year’s storm had nearly uprooted them from the desert.

“Bob, do you trust the man?” Jeep asked in this southern accent towards Bob. He was raised by the mother in the small town where the livelihood was the farms before they moved to the city.

“I’m not trusting nobody with my Diner. Not till its handed to you.” Bob replied while he was pulling off the planks from the storage.

“I am not staying on, Bob, I told you so.” Jeep replied. “The Diner…”

“It’s your home whether you liked it or not. I invested in all our savings here. So, help me God, if I have to die protecting it.” Bob was getting into his foul mood. He reached for his pocket and extracted the packet of cigarettes to fish out a stick. He lighted one stick and placed it to his lips. He inhaled in deep the smoke while it relaxes him.

“Heck, Bob. Watch where you toss the light.” Jeep stepped on the lighted match stick to snuff the fire out. “You almost blew us up.”

The match stick landed close to the two jerry cans of gas that was kept there for the generator in case of a power breakdown. It was over the basement entrance. No one goes there except Percy and Bob. It was a no-man’s land according to them. Not even Jeep was allowed there.

“Heck! It won’t blow us all. It can be put off by the extinguisher.” Bob hissed back. He then moved the items there and revealed the basement doorway. “Never had much use for it but I guess we may today,”

“I did not know we have a basement.” Jeep was surprised at that hidden level.

“Why would you? You were always at the auto repair or at Charlie’s ….”

“Hold on, Bob. I was not doing anything at Charlie’s except talk.” Jeep defended himself. “She is a good girl.”

“Yeah, tell me. Did she open her legs towards you too?” Bob was in the swing to add more emotions to his anger. “After all, she is pregnant, and in need to hitch one to survive on.”

“Hold your tongue, Bob.” Jeep had grabbed the older man by the lapel of the shirt and slammed him to the wall. “Charlie isn’t that kind of lady.”

“Okay, she isn’t. I was just looking out for you.” Bob replied to his son’s anger. He pulled Jeep’s hands-off and then stared at the younger man.

“You took her in, Bob. Why did you do it?” Jeep asked in return. “She was no family and you ….”

“No, Jeep. I was not eyeing her neither. It was the Good Christianity in me that extended the help.” Bob turned to grab some more planks. He had been a follower of the Faith but of late with his dying days near, he had become a recluse and avoided believing in anything.

“Good God, Bob. You are and I was not any religious follower. So, don’t lie to me.” Jeep insisted on an answer.

“It does not matter anymore, Jeep. God left us when your mother died. Here are the last pieces. And above all, if the need comes to get into the basement. It may save your life.” Bob grabbed the pieces of planks and the handy box with the tools. He pushed himself past Jeep and went back to the front side of the Diner. Michael had done a fair task by piling up the chairs and tables against the door and windows. He had also arranged injured Howard to the side of the counter with the two ladies in attendance to the man.

“Let me secure those windows.” Bob offered his help. He was doing it for it was his Diner. He then noticed the missing elderly lady.

“Where is she? The elderly lady?” Bob asked.

“I tossed her out. She was gone. Her soul banished to Purgatory.” Michael replied while he loaded the weapons.

“Purgatory huh? I guess we are all headed there.” Bob replied but Michael had moved on. He stepped to the back kitchen and saw the rear exit. He looked out and saw the caravan. There was not much he could do there. He then grabbed hold of the fridge next to the door and moved it over the doorway. He saw the rear window and barricaded that with the upturned oven table. He strolled back and saw the two ladies looking at him while cradling the wounded man.

“Take a gun each. The handguns and some ammo. Shoot if need be. Or shoot yourself.” Michael told them. He then turned to Charlie who was seated at the chair taking deep breaths.

“Stay calm. The baby is….”

“The baby is fine. It’s not due just yet.” Charlie looked at Michael. “Who are you?”

“I am the baby’s protector. I will do so for you until its birth.”