The smoke billowed from the tip of East’s cigarette as she twirled between her fingers. She sat leaned back in his office chair. The sun’s light bled their way through the cracks between the blinds. The ceiling fan above them rotated very slowly. It felt like an eternity had past. Across from her was AJ. He sat with his hands tucked in his pockets and a foot stuck out. He had a smug look on his face from having completed his third mission...successfully.

“So what did you call me in for this time commander?” AJ asked.

East leaned forward and smashed the cigarette into the ashtray beside her. Bent and twisted, it joined the array of other dead cigarettes she had smoked today. She stared at AJ with sharp eyes and a snake like gaze.

“You and Sev both went on the same mission together right?” East asked.

AJ nodded his head.

East grabbed a folder from one of the stacks on her desk and placed it down on the table between them. She opened up the folder which revealed Sev’s typed report about the events that happened on yesterday’s mission.

“...Let me guess, there are some inconsistencies,” AJ said.

“Yes but then again you both fought different a different enemy in different areas,” she said. “What my concern is about this bit right here. He talks about the story the girl told him right before you...killed her.”

“I was only doing my job,” AJ justified.

“That’s not my problem. He said she described a black object soaring in the sky and dropping bombs. The girl probably didn’t know what she saw but my guess is that it was a B-29 Stealth Bomber.”

“A stealth bomber?”

East closed the folder. “Yes, it’s a type of aircraft used during the war. One of the smaller ones, it was used to bomb cities without being detected.”

During the war bombs were mostly used over conventional ground forces. Air superiority won battles and those with the most airpower claimed victory. When the countries started running out of bombs to drop they switched to the bombs they weren’t allowed to use.

Atomic Bombs; nuclear warfare.

“So what do you want us to do about it?” AJ asked.

“Sev won’t be going,” East said. “His girlfriend...doesn’t have much to live. I thought it was best to leave him off this mission.”

“So I’ll be going alone?”

East smirked. “No, you’ll be going with sergeant Harlot.”

Harlot was the woman who AJ had saved earlier. The last time he saw her was in the medical facility. East had her hand permanently ruined so she couldn’t be a soldier. This way East’s superiors wouldn’t have her killed.

“I thought Harlot was badly injured,” AJ said.

“I’ll explain that it a bit. Let me first explain your mission.”

Years ago, US forces had air bases located around the country. As the war grew closer to home these air bases were destroyed. Without their airbases, the US lost its air superiority and relied on conventional infantry and ground combat. There hasn’t been a flying vehicle in years, no military aircraft nor commercial airliner. If what the girl said was true then there maybe an air base still operational somewhere. AJ’s mission was to head westward towards the badlands where reports of mysterious explosions came from.

“I understand my mission but why hasn’t anyone else found out about this?” AJ asked.

“The area is in a highly radioactive area,” East said. “The US is the only country with access two highly resistant radioactive suits. Other countries probably heard about this but just can’t get close. So suggest you be careful.”

“...And what about Harlot?” AJ asked.

East took a deep breath. “Turns out Harlot knows the area fairly well and has witnessed these stealth bombers first hand. She’s seen them flying around. That’s why the superiors wanted her fixed up so she could help us find the airbase.”

AJ smirked. “So the airbase is more important than their secret russian vaccine?”

“That’s corrected. But she’ll also be under constant supervision.”

“By who?”

East openly avoided the question. “You should head to the main gate right about now.”

AJ rolled his eyes and got up. Before he walked out the room he stopped in the middle of the doorway and looked back over his shoulder at East. He stared at her for a moment before he spoke.

“Do you think your superiors are all dead and that we’re all taking orders from ghost?”

“Everyone died and this is hell. We just haven’t realized it yet,” East responded.

AJ shut the door on his way out.

Outside the office, Harlot was standing outside the door in the hallway, her head held down and arms were crossed. She looked up right when AJ came walking out. She wore standard US combat gear. Grey desert camo and a kevlar vest to allow her to hold extra ammunition. She held her helmet under her arms. It covered her head and came with an standard issued gas mask to survive chemical attacks.

“Hey Harlot, you seem lively.”

Harlot smiled and stepped into the middle of the hallway. “Yeah, just found out I won’t be shipped back to backwater village. I’ll be able to keep fight’nfor the US.”

“I don’t think we’ll be doing much fighting on our mission,” AJ said.

She tapped the head of helmet. “It’s only a simple scout’n mission but ya never know right?”

“Maybe, but don’t you think’ this mission is kind of weird?” he asked. “If stealth bombers are really flying around then who's flying them?”

Harlot didn’t have a definite answer. The best answer would have been ghost which in this day in age, seems it could be a possibility. If it was ghost she wouldn’t be surprised. She’s seen some things that would make anyone believe anything. Unless they said they’ve found a place where plants thrive then she’d call bullshit.

“So how is your hand?” AJ asked.

Harlot looked down at her left hand. It felt numb but she could still move it. Sometimes it would twitch occasionally on it’s own. For her it seemed stranged. The doctors at first told her she’d never be able to move it again, it was dead. But when she pointed out to commander East she knew about the location of the explosions, the doctors magically were able to fix her hand.

“It aight and I don’t think it’ll be a problem so don’t worry,” she said.

“Well let’s get going then.” AJ started walking down the hall when he felt Harlot grab his shoulder. He turned back around and looked down at her.

“M’ask ya something,” she said. “When ya fought against that spectre what did ya say to her?”

“Nothing important,” AJ replied.

“If it’s noth’n important than why did she look like she saw the end of the world when ya whispered into her ear?”

AJ didn’t answer the question even when met with Harlot’s prying glare. He turned around and walked away. Whether or not he told her wouldn’t matter. It’s not like she’d be able to do anything with the information anyways.

***

The town was a shanty place built off the side of the black road. The homes were held together by rusted nails and were made of rusted thin sheets of metals. There doors were of bedsheets or nothing at all. The more luxurious homes were made of old builds that had collapsed over time. These two story builds with collapsed walls were used as makeshift medical hospitals and military post. US armed soldiers who looked more like bandits than soldiers, stood guard in one of the two story buildings. Armed with snipers they sentried the northern desert for signs of bandits or worst; russian soldiers.

AJ rode up into town on his spear with Harlot on his back. He came to a slow stop in the middle of town where they were greeted by the commanding officer in town. A middle aged man with a strong jaw and beard that hadn’t been shaved in months. He came over to them, rubbing his rugged hand through his brown straight hair full of grey strands. A result of coming to an old age.

“Hey there spectre,” he said, holding a salute.

AJ and Harlot saluted as well. “Hello sir, I’m N3 spectre AJ, and this is sergeant Harlot. We came because of your call about bombings in the distance?”

“Yeah my men and I have been hearing explosions coming from over the mountains behind the town,” he said. “We’re worried that the Russians are testing new tank vehicles or have access to some new kind of cannon. If they get bored of testing it on the desert they might try and test it on some live targets.”

He didn’t know that the bombings were suspected to be stealth bombers being flown around. He figured they were just Russians with big guns in some radioactive area. Harlot tried to correct him about it but AJ stopped her. AJ figured if this man was suppose to know then he’d know.

The commander rubbed his head and laughed. “Sorry but I forgot to introduce myself. Got so wrapped up in telling you the problem that I forgot to give my name.”

“That’s alright sir,” Harlot said.

“My name is Carter,” he said, shaking AJ’s hand and then Harlot’s. “Follow me, I’ll take you to the command post just north of here.”

Harlot and AJ followed behind Carter as he lead them through the town’s cramp streets. AJ looked forward, ignoring what Harlot couldn’t. People lied broken against houses, wearing rags and torn cloth. The children were filthy, with dirt and grime covering their faces and hands. They’d look up at Harlot and AJ without saying anything.

The people peaked out of their homes to see the two new faces dawning down the street. Women cradled their children and men held loads over their shoulders. They felt relieved to see a spectre in town, felt safer.

AJ looked back and saw a banged up white pickup driving down the street. It carried six rugged looking soldiers; tattered armor stained with blood, beards grown for months and tattoos covered their arms. One soldier mounted the machine gun whilst the other three sat in the back. The vehicle slowed to a halt right behind AJ and Harlot and the driver leaned out of the window.

“Hey Cart!” he shouted.

Carter turned around and waved back. “Hey Mike, you’re already back?”

Mike wore a cap backward and held a fat cigar in his mouth. He stepped out of the vehicle and geastured the others to stay put. Walking over to Carter, he noticed AJ and Harlot, to faces he wasn’t familiar with.

“Hey, what’s with the new folks?” he asked.

“This is N3 spectre AJ and sergeant Harlot,” Carter said.

Mike leaned closer to Carter. “What are they doing here?” he whispered, glancing at AJ out the corner of his eye.

“Overlords sent them here,” Carter said. “They’re going to investigate the strange explosions we’ve been hearing.”

Overlords were the official name used by military personnel to referred the command center. Where all missions are issued from and where wars plans are conducted.

“I know but I don’t really want these people here because you know.”

“I do know. Don’t worry Mike. I’m gonna get Vick to take them up to the mountains. They don’t be here for too long.”

Mike leaned away and nodded his head. “Gotcha.”

“Come on you two, we still need to get to the command post,” Carter said, waving AJ and Harlot on.

“Actually Carter, I’m going to be scouting around for awhile,” AJ said. “Harlot will go with you if that’s alright.”

Carter cocked an eyebrow. “Well this place is heavily patrolled so there is no need to scout.”

“Enemy spectres could be hiding in flash step. I want to go check to see if they’re there.”

“Aren’t you able to sense them?” Carter asked.

“Yes but you never know.”

Carter was reluctant to allow AJ to scout around the place but gave in. “Alright, but don’t be too long alright.”

AJ nodded his head and disappeared, followed by a loud boom.

Mike’s jaw dropped and threatened to drop the cigar from his mouth. “Where’d the fella go?”