Into the Darkness (Book 1): Vigilante Read online

“Thanks, Ralph, look, I hope we’ll always be friends, and yeah if you are the good guy, I’ll be there for you.

  As far as distance, I’m thinkin’ right now out to about 150 yards. The Keltec sub2000 fold up carbine in 9mm is light weight, but the front sight sucks. I found that taking the front sight from an M-16 series really improves the Kel.”

  “Damn, Levi, the Kel 2000 is hard to find these days, but yeah, what the hell, I’ve got seven of ‘em, and you can have one, and Glock snob or not, that’s what you get, ‘cause that’s what I like. Another upside to the Glock 21 is that the mags will also fit the Kel 2000. I’ll have our gunsmith change out that front sight thing, too. It’s an easy fix; won’t take 10 minutes.

  Oh, wait, I almost forgot, there is one more condition to make this deal work.”

  Oh, crap, thought Levi, here it comes. “Yeah, what condition is that? I ain’t robbin’ no old ladies.”

  “Easy, Levi, let me finish, the last condition is that you never, ever tell anyone where you got these pieces. I mean it. I’ll take your word because you’ve convinced me you are a good guy, deal?”

  “Now that is a deal I am happy to make.

  If you don’t mind my asking, what’s your plan?”

  Ralph looked Levi up and down for several long seconds as if deciding exactly what to say. He finally said, “We got a place, been working it for years for just this kinda’ shit.

  Look, Levi; I just might be able to get the boss man to bring you in, just you. Interested?”

  “Ralph, I gotta’ say that is the best offer I’ve had all day, but no thanks. I know what I must do, and as soon as I can find some motor transportation, I’m off.”

  “So, ya’ need a truck, huh? Not many available these days, but I may have an idea where you might be able to get a nice one.”

  “Okay, Ralph, what’s the deal, how much is it gonna’ cost me?”

  “Hey, buddy, that’s up to you. I got no dog in that fight. Did you know that there is an antique car museum, not ten miles from here? Bet ya’ can find a nice ride there, if you hurry.

  But cost? I’m pretty sure he won’t sell. You’ll have to persuade the crazy old fool, hell, half the time he thinks he’s still in Nam.”

  “Okay, thanks for the heads up. All I can do is try. Now, how do I get there?”

  “Levi, I sure wish you’d change your mind; having a place to ride out the coming craziness is a very good thing. C’mon, we both know what’s going to happen.”

  “Yeah, I guess that’s so, and that’s why I have got to say again, thanks, but no thanks. You have your path, and I have mine. Good luck, Ralph, I sure wish you well.”

  “Okay, Levi, I think I understand, but I ain’t real sure, anyway, same to you. Take care, friend. Now let me get Ben to get your stuff.

  Ben, drop what you were doin’ and help my friend Levi…whatever he needs. New Glock 21 with a laser, and whatever else he wants. Clear?”

  Ben nodded his head and looked at Levi with respect saying, “Now sir, what can I get you…”

  It was nice of Ralph to give Levi carte blanche, so he scored a backpack, too.

  He thought, I don’t think I’ll ever see Ralph again, but I owe him more than I can ever repay.

  *

  Hands up

  March 30th

  East Coast Auto Museum

  Outside the antique car museum, Levi dismounted his trusty bike and not being willing to leave his carbine unattended he carried it as he approached the front door.

  “STOP RIGHT THERE! I ain’t sellin’, and you ain’t stealin’. So, drop yer piece and walk real quiet like back to your bike and ride away. NOW!”

  Levi immediately dropped behind the engine block of a stranded Lincoln and yelled back, “Hold on Mister, I only want to talk…”

  Bang, a round simultaneously made a spranging sound as it hit the engine block.

  “Okay, dude, you wanna’ play rough, let’s play, but for true, I just want to talk.” Now Levi wished now he had a bit more powerful long gun with a scope, but he knew that he had to evaluate, adapt, overcome and defeat this threat…shit…it didn’t look good.

  He yelled to the shooter, “Come on Mister, stop shooting and I’ll move on.”

  “Fine idea sonny boy, now leave your piece on the ground, and I might let you go all peaceable like.”

  Levi thought, Oh crap, so much for the diplomacy route. Damn, what makes this old guy want to shoot it out so badly?

  “Come on, man, you know I can’t leave my carbine behind. Why do you want it anyway?”

  “I want it, ya’ danged fool ‘cause I need to build up my arsenal afore the rest of you Viet Cong come tryin’ to take my cars.

  That damned Ralph at Patriot Firearms wouldn’t sell me no more. So I’ll just take yours. Now drop it and git!”

  Levi thought; That crazy old bastard is having a flash back to Viet Nam. Well, crazy or not, the old shit is trying to kill me…not gonna’ happen.

  As Levi lay behind the tire, he slowly peered around the edge and could see nothing when…”

  Bang! Blood spurted from Levi’s face as the shooter’s round was so close it kicked sand into his face. Okay asshole, now I’m pissed. Since I can’t run, I’ll play possum; maybe you’ll fuck up and come to me.

  “Ooh Rah, boy, did I git cha?”

  Levi didn’t respond, he just lay there and waited. It was nearly twenty minutes before he heard the door open, but Levi didn’t move or make a sound. The blood from his face quickly dried up, and Levi was really happy that he was wearing sunglasses.

  “Ha, ha, ha, I got that VC peckerwood,” and then the crazy old rat bastard actually stood straight up and walked toward Levi.

  Levi pulled out his little pocket rocket; the DB9 Ralph had given him and waited. The old man then came around the car and saw him lying there.

  The dumbass didn’t even look to see if there was a blood pool or even to check to make sure that Levi was dead, he just started dancing around like a loon. It had taken a few seconds before he reached down for the Kel, and that’s when Levi shot him right in the face. Considering that the old fool had tried to kill him, Levi did not feel the least bit sad for shooting that crazy old bastard.”

  *

  Levi’s Ride

  Inside the East Coast Auto Museum

  “Holy crap, I can’t believe this. There must be fifty perfectly restored cars and trucks in this place.”

  As Levi walked around the museum to choose his ride, he came upon a section containing 1960’s era military trucks. One, in particular, caught his eye. A perfectly restored Viet Nam era Jeep and trailer, complete with a gudgeon mounting for an M-60 squad machine gun.

  Levi knew his search for transportation was over. This jeep was just too perfect. It would go just about anywhere.

  Levi opened the hood, then checked the wiring and all of the fluids. Thinking out loud, he said, “Damn, this thing is cherry.”

  “Yes, it certainly is,” said a voice from the front door. “I suppose you’ll be wanting to take that one on your travels, eh, Levi?”

  …oh crap

  ***

  Chapter 3

  Defiance

  March 30th

  East Coast Auto Museum

  “Ralph, what are you doing here? Oh crap, right, now I get it. I’ve been set up, and now I guess I get arrested, and hung, while you take all the rides?

  Yeah, it looks like I’ve played right into your shitty little scheme. Okay, fuck it, go ahead, just shoot me, you’ll be doing me a favor.”

  Ralph’s face took on both a hurt and surprised look as he said, “What, no Levi, none of that is right. Oh, well, I did have an idea that it might come to this, but there’s nothing sinister here. Honestly Levi, I did just give you a heads up. Our plan was to come out here after we had our trucks loaded up and try to reason with the crazy old fart one more time.

  From the looks of things, it sure looks like self-defense to us. The old man’s rifle is still beside the bo
dy, and there’s no question that he fired it at you. No, you’re clear.”

  Levi’s face turned from anger at being successfully set up to sheepish embarrassment. “I’m sorry Ralph; I guess I owe you an apology…I apologize, but you have got to see where I might get that impression.”

  “Oh course I do, in fact, that’s why I came in here alone with no weapon. Now, having said all that, I must add that part of my group is waiting outside for me to call them in to start moving these vehicles out to our little town.”

  “Town? How many people do you have in your group?”

  Smiling, Ralph said, “Well, not too many right now, but we intend to grow beyond the fifty-two we have now.

  Levi, please rethink your mission, whatever it is. We need you. I hate to admit it, but what we do have is fifty-two individuals, that need to be united into a viable, self-sustaining group. Are you willing to even talk about helping me gel this group into a community?”

  Levi looked thoughtfully at Ralph before saying, “Yeah, we can talk. I was just thinking that with three hundred million Americans condemned to death over the next twelve months there will be no one to bury the dead. The bodies will just lie where they fall. Disease is going to run rampant, typhoid, dysentery, hell; even the common cold could kill millions of starving, freezing Americans.

  So, yeah, maybe my personal quest can wait for maybe up to a year, but then I leave.”

  “Wonderful, Levi, let’s get out to Defiance, and figure out where you’ll best fit.”

  “Defiance, huh. I like it.

  Ralph, have you secured the local Walmart Superstore, and Home Depot, yet?”

  “No, but you’re right, that is a great idea. We can get to it later this week.”

  Now Levi’s face turned cloudy as he responded, “Ralph, by noon tomorrow both will be fortified by some group with a bit more foresight than you apparently have, because if we wait some of these people will die. Not, may die…will die. We have to secure them today. The sooner we act, the fewer casualties we’ll take.

  I don’t know Ralph; I’m not sure you see the big picture here. The migration will begin as soon as the rioting and murders become the law of the land. You can’t afford to wait a day, not even an hour.

  If you don’t have a secure location, capable of 360°security, and that means sentries, wire, traps, mines, then forget it. You are destined to fail.”

  “Levi, I knew you were meant to join us from the first few moments of our conversation at my store.

  In answer to your question, the answer is that some of it is done. We have one hundred and twenty-five acres, with fifty acres dedicated to farm production, and another fifty acres for grazing. The eastern flank of the property borders the river…”

  “Ralph, that’s fine, but we need to act now, you can tell me all about the fine points later. Right now we gotta’ lay claim to both the local Walmart and Home Depot. So, the question for now is, do we have twenty veterans ready for the job? Taking these objectives is the easy part. Holding them is entirely something else.

  Each objective will require ten men with four squad machine guns (SAWs) and lots of ammo. Do you have that capability?”

  Looking more stressed by the moment, Ralph said, “Levi, you do realize that moving before things fall completely apart will make us criminals, right?”

  “Ralph, things have already fallen completely apart, it’s just that we are the only ones around who know it. Haven’t you seen the huge smoking ruins from plane crashes?

  Look, I’ve given you the tip of the iceberg that you need, to make Defiance work…and believe me there is so much more, but there just isn’t time to discuss those issues now. So, you do what you think is best and I’ll just mosey on down the road. Ralph, I truly do wish you well, but…”

  Ralph interrupted Levi saying, “Levi, I am in a jam, and I am the good guy. Just tell me what we need to do, and we’ll do it.”

  Levi stopped in his tracks, turned back to Ralph, and said, “Already with the help me I’m in a jam thing? Dirty pool Ralph, but I did promise, and a man’s word has got to be the one thing people in this new world can count on.

  Okay, but you must promise to take Walmart and Home Depot now, and I mean right now, because…”

  Ralph interrupted and shouted, Ben, get in here, and bring everyone.”

  While Ben left to get the troops, Levi said, “Ralph, now listen to me because this is important. You are the Mayor. I do not want anyone to think I have taken over…and I won’t, not ever. I do know what needs to be done, but the folks must know that you are in charge and the approving authority. We good?”

  “Yes, real good. You really don’t want to take over?”

  Levi slapped Ralph on the back and said, “Oh hell no. I told you I’m here for no more than a year and then I have my own path to take, so don’t worry you da man.

  I mean if I get too pissed, I can always leave, right?”

  Ralph didn’t answer.

  ***

  Chapter 4

  The Defiance Militia

  Auto Museum

  The doors flew open, and thirty men and women rushed into the building. They milled around Ralph, and Will Thurston said, “Okay, boss, we ready to move these velocipedes to Defiance?”

  “Ben, everybody, I want you to meet our new Head of Security, Captain Levi Levins. You will follow his orders exactly as if they came from my mouth. None of us have his qualifications, so when it comes to security, we follow his lead. Anyone having a problem with that should turn around right now and move on down the road. Any questions?”

  As though one the group said, “No questions, sir.”

  Levi smiled and asked, “All right, how many of you are vets?”

  All but two raised their hands, “Well, well,” said Levi, “Things are looking up. Okay, NCO’s and Officers move to my right.”

  Turning to face this group of six, Levi asked, “Officers?”

  Levi was not happy that this bunch didn’t have even one officer. “Okay, in ten seconds I want the senior NCO to report to me. The rest of you get this mob into a semblance of a formation.”

  The transformation was incredible. Within seconds Staff Sergeant (SSgt) Bradley Cobb reported to Levi in a fine military manner. “Sir, SSgt Bradley Cobb reporting a compliment of twenty-eight, with six NCO’s from the rank of Corporal to Sergeant E-5.”

  “Very good, Sergeant, let’s see what we have, here,” and without being told SSgt Cobb moved three steps to Levi’s left, and three steps in front. Levi was impressed.

  To the members of the just formed Defiance Militia, Troop A Levi said, “As of this moment you hold the military rank from your date of discharge. Over the next few weeks, most, if not all of you will be promoted to higher responsibility as our small force grows sufficiently to be able to secure and protect Defiance.

  Today, however, we have the crucial task of securing two objectives; Walmart and Home Depot. We must have these assets not only to secure Defiance but also for us to grow into a community encompassing the surrounding area.

  Please let this sink into your heads, civilization as we knew it is gone. The only thing we can do is to try to prevent Defiance from falling into the New Dark Age which is about to wash over us.

  To accomplish this task, SSgt Cobb will organize you into two assault groups. Group one will secure the Walmart, and Group two, the Home Depot.

  Each group will then be broken down into four two-man teams plus one runner. The weapons requirements are side arms, individual rifle, and four squad machine guns. Each SAW will cover an unsecured entry point.

  Mayor Bassett, is your gunsmith a veteran?”

  “No, Captain, sadly he is not, though I am sure he will do us proud.”

  “Thank you, Mayor.

  SSgt Cobb, gather your teams, then proceed to the Arms Room to retrieve weapons and ammunition. Any questions Sergeant?”

  “No questions, sir.”

  “Very well Sergeant Cobb, get to it,” and with
that SSgt Cobb did indeed get to it, as he immediately began organizing his working groups, selecting two large trucks from the museum. The museum had a 1,000-gallon gas tank and a 500-gallon diesel tank. Within 15 minutes the Defiance Militia Troop A was on the move.

  Ralph looked at Levi with an even greater level of respect as he said, “What the…Levi, how did you do that? That was amazing. If I hadn’t seen it, I would never have believed it.

  I was a Coastie for four years, but we could never have…well, I’m impressed. What next?”

  “Thank you Ralph, but it wasn’t me, I just drew on the training and the desire of these fine men to be a part of something worthy of protecting Defiance and their families. These men, and that term, men, will be used across genders for those in our militia. How does the name Troop A, Defiance Militia sound?”

  Ralph asked, “Well, it sounds good, but why Troop instead of Company?”

  Smiling Levi answered, “Actually I spent almost ten years in the Cavalry before transitioning to Military Intelligence. Cavalry uses the word Troop for Company, and besides, our new Troop will have to be highly mobile and reflexive. Are you okay with that?”

  Ralph laughed and said, “Oh hell yes, and the word Troop does sound a bit more dashing than Company, so Troop it is.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Mayor; it is, after all, your call. Come on, Ralph, let’s get to Defiance and see how this thing unfolds.

  ***

  Chapter 5

  The Walmart Campaign

  Defiance

  About ten minutes before our forces cross their Line of Departure (LOD) you and I will recon the objectives. We need to arrive before our assault teams. You go to Home Depot, and I’ll take the Walmart. We need to make sure they have not as yet been taken, and if they have, then we need a new plan to take them away.”