Free Rise of the Prepper: A Story of the Coming Collapse by Frank Bates

his hair was dark but peppered with gray. His skin showed a bit of wrinkles but for the most part remained smooth for someone of his age. He would have looked charming and even handsome if he wasn’t so troubled. The other man of the party was standing near the wall, looking out the window. On the surface, he looked calm—relaxed even—but there was no mistaking the anxious tension radiating from him. He was about the same age as the other man except that he had strong features accentuated only by the fierce lines on his face produced by years of dealing with risky situations. He was a strong man and it was evident from his firm posture and hard body. This man was used to commanding armies and seeing to it that his commands were followed to a tee.
    “Are you sure?” Kennedy, the former Speaker of the House and newly appointed Vice President, fretted.
    “Yes. I have reports from reliable sources that she survived.” General McCrystal assured him for a second time.
    “It would have been better if she died.” Kennedy said. He saw the look on the General’s face and shrugged. “What good would be waiting for a young girl like her out there? How is she supposed to fend for herself? She would have been better off instead if she died. Look, I have a lot of ambition, General, but that doesn’t mean I like getting children involved. It’s too bad that it happened the way it did.”
    “Don’t worry, Mr. Vice President, sir. She was nothing but collateral damage.”
    Kennedy flinched. He rubbed his face. “What are we going to tell her?”
    “What else—that her daughter died, of course.” General McCrystal said easily.
    Kennedy closed his eyes. General McCrystal watched him from his place by the window. “Tell me, Mr. Vice President, why did you order me to poison the pilot? For what purpose did you want the girl to die?”
    Kennedy slumped in his seat and heaved a heavy sigh. “To make Hillary weak.” He looked up at the General. “To take the seat of power from her.”
    “And so you do.” General McCrystal moved away from the window and walked towards the double doors. “Focus on your goal. Do not let something as trivial as the life of a little girl lead you astray.”
    *****
    President Hillary White was gazing out the window of her huge office, hoping that the scenic view of the surrounding mountains could help calm her nerves. A knock came on the door. Without turning around, she called for her visitor to come in, fully expecting it to be the temporary secretary she got while her Chief of Staff, Sheila, had not yet arrived at the Mountain Weather Emergency Operations Center.
    “Excuse me, Mrs. President.” A familiar voice said.
    Hillary recognized the voice and turned around. It was her new Vice President. “Kennedy. Why are you here?”
    Kennedy smiled and sat down in the seat in front of Hillary’s desk. “I just wanted to see how you are doing.”
    Hillary shrugged. “Not exactly well. I have become nothing but a nervous bundle of nerves.” She said lightly.
    Kennedy chuckled good-naturedly. “I have always admired that about you, Hillary. You were always so strong—so brave. Even if the world were to crumble down around you, you will remain resilient and most likely face your problems with a smile.”
    Hillary laughed. “I must say that I’m not sure what I have done to deserve such high praise, Kennedy.”
    “Rest assured that I do not say this merely to flatter you. I mean it with all my heart for it is nothing but the truth.”
    “Thank you, Kennedy. I knew it was a good decision to appoint you as my new Vice President after Wilmer had died from the virus—God rest his soul.” Hillary finished solemnly.
    “And for placing your trust in me, I have nothing but utmost gratitude but I’m afraid that you might change your mind about giving me this position after you hear the news I bring.” Kennedy said.
    Hillary frowned. “What news?”
    Kennedy took a deep breath and sighed. “We