Sev walked AJ out of the front door of the hospital building. He had AJ’s arm wrapped over his shoulder to help him up. The air was moist but didn’t have hint of plague. Puddles were everywhere but as long as they avoided them, they’d be fine.

Day had broke and the sun’s brilliant light cut through the clouds above. A convoy of armored vehicles and transport vehicles, carrying US soldiers, entered town. Sev had managed to inform commander East about everything that happened and she took action. The town was taken over and all defective soldiers who surrendered were taken away.

“AJ!” Harlot shouted from the distance.

AJ looked up and saw Harlot standing on a hill across from them. He pulled his arm from over Sev’s shoulders and walked the rest of the way on his own. They ambled up the hill until they got to Harlot.

She gazed at AJ’s beat up face and bloodied side with her clear blue eyes. For AJ, her hair seemed to glimmer in the dull lighting as she smiled at him.

“Nice job saving the day,” she said.

“I also saved Sev,” he replied.

Sev chuckled and patted AJ on the back where his wound was. “Yeah you really did save me man.”

AJ gritted his teeth and tried not show pain. “Yeah, you’re welcome...buddy.”

“Now that Carter’s dead what now?”

AJ looked around. Convoys patrolled the streets in droves and US soldiers were busy escorting the Gaia soldiers to troop transport. On an empty stretch of road, medical personnel were dragging the dead people in body bags they had lined up. Most of them were spectres but one wasn’t. He got a short glance at Carter’s puss covered face as they zipped up the he was in.

“It’s not over yet,” AJ said. “Pale Rider is a two part operation. We only stopped part one. They can still move onto part two.”

“Part two?” Sev asked.

“They stole my sword, one of a few spectre weapons left in existence,” AJ explained. “They must have some way to recreate it. If they do that their spectres will be way more powerful than anything we can hope to beat.”

“Then I guess we better hurry up then.”

The loud stutter echoed from above as a black hawk hovered above their heads. The blades sliced through the air and blew wind against their faces. It landed down just a few feet from where they stood. It’s door slid open and commander East stood inside with her hands tucked into her coat’s pockets and with a cigar in her mouth. She stepped down out of the helicopter and walked over to AJ.

“You look like you’ve been through hell,” she said.

“I’ve feel like I’ve been through hell,” he replied. “So what’s with the helicopter. I thought no country had access to aviation technology.”

“No country did because our technology was primitive,” she said. “Lucky for us we found the specs for a black hawk helicopter in an old military installation. The egg heads got to work on building these helicopters. There are only five right now and our base got the first one.”

“Why would they give us one?”

She took the cigar out her mouth and held it between her fingers. Smoke billowed between her lips and out her nose as she spoke. “The US overlords knew about Gaia but didn’t know how to stop them or who was working with them. Not only did you guys uncover their base, you also uncovered their plans and put a dent in it.”

“So what are we going to do now?” AJ asked. “Victor is still out there and Gaia still have bases outside of the United States.”

“I don’t know who Victor is, you’ll have to explain that in your report,” she said. “Right now our base has been made top priority and all missions will be conducted against Gaia. The overlords want us to eliminate them from our country...and only our country.”

“So does that mean our facilities will be upgraded?” Harlot asked.

“Yes, the overlords will be giving us the best of the best.”

“Cigars included?” Sev asked.

She shook her head. “No, this is from my new pay raise.” She looked at AJ who stood with his right fist clenched. “Also, the overlords want that USB stick you have, so hand it over.”

AJ was reluctant to hand it over. It was going to be used to reprogram the AI aircrafts that were going to bomb and kill millions of people. Knowing the United States, they’d love to get their hand on this technology and use it to fight their never ending war against the other countries. But he didn’t have a choice, he placed it down in East’s hand who then tucked it into her pocket.

“Alright then, I guess I’ll be off.” She stepped back up on the helicopter, her coat flapped against the winds, and sat down in the seat. “If you three need a ride I’m sure there is room for you all.”

“No we’re fine, we’ll find our own way back to base,” AJ said.

East smiled and closed the door. The helicopter’s blade spun faster and it lifted off the ground and into the air casting it’s black shadow on the ground below. Just as quickly as it came, so too did it leave.

“Hey asshole, why did you speak for all of us?” Sev asked, glaring at AJ.

“What, you wanted to get on or something?”

“I also wanted to get on too,” Harlot added.

“Good job man, you ruined it for both me and Harlot.”

AJ stepped away from Sev and Harlot who glared at him. “I’m sorry guys, I didn’t mean to speak for you two.”

“Well we can’t do much about it now,” Harlot sighed.

“It’s just the way it is.”

THE END