American Apocalypse IV - Chapter 11 - by Nova

We walked back to our room, slowly.  The hallway felt different. People knew. How? I have no idea but they did and always would. What the actual story was that was being whispered I had no idea.  I am sure the body count was higher and my role was insignificant. It sure felt that way to me. 

We passed Sledge's room. It was silent and I got an empty feel from it. Woof sniffed it then hoisted a leg. I tried not to laugh while Zane thought it was insanely funny. Neither one of us mentioned cleaning it up.  Sherri's room had the same feel too when we passed it. Woof knew which one was our room. He stopped in front of the door and waited for us. 

We went inside, I shut our pathetic bolt, and slowly stretched out on my bunk.  Zane was sitting on his and scratching Woof behind the ear. Woof seemed to like getting it scratched as much as Zane liked doing it.  I closed my eyes and had begun to doze off when Zane asked me "Will Sherri be okay?"

"Probably not."

He let me get back to where I was almost asleep before saying "Are we going to find Sledge and the rest and kill them?"

"That's the plan." 

"I don't mind if it takes a few days."

"Zane" I told him "Measure it in hours."  

I had made it past doze and was actually asleep when I heard the knock on the door. I was up and my feet were on the ground a half a beat ahead of the pain from doing it. Zane had fallen asleep and Woof who had been stretched out on the floor next to him was up as fast as I was. 

"Yeah. What do you want."  Then I moved a few paces from where I was and waited for the reply.

"Mr. Gardener. Can we speak to you please."

"Who is we?"

"This is Lt. Grayson and Mr. Lee from installation administration. Please open the door."

I slid the bolt back, stepped back, and told them "Come on in." 

Woof hadn't moved nor stopped growling. He was in warn mode and not attack, pretty much how I read the situation so far myself. They began to step into the room, saw Woof, and froze. Zane was up and standing next to Woof. I noticed he had his toothbrush clutched in his hand. 

"Sir. We have been asked to escort you to the installation commanders office. He would like to speak to you."

I didn't bother to ask about what. Why bother. "Okay."  I told Zane and Woof "Stay here. I'll be back." Then I walked out the door and stood in the hallway. Mr Lee was not wearing camo. I had made him for a fed as soon as I saw him. Lt. Grayson was a generic camo officer type who seemed a little stiff for the occasion. Mr Lee was in charge which made it even more interesting. Both were wearing sidearms. Mr Lee had a black leather FBI style holster while the Lt. wore the standard issue drop leg one. I wondered if there was anyone left in the military who wore a belt holster anymore. Probably not.

Mr. Lee gestured in the direction he wanted me to go and once I started moving fell in beside me while Grayson followed behind me. Things were looking up. I may hurt like a son of a bitch but I knew I had two handguns when ever I wanted.