Free Ex-Patriots by Peter Clines

You know
how we’ve got tents on rooftops and all that? There’s none of
that.”
    St. George looked at the distance between the
proving grounds and the city of Yuma. “Any civilians?”
    Barry shook his head. “If there were, I
didn’t see them.”
    Stealth shook her head. “It is unlikely a
military base would have large numbers of civilian refugees.”
    Danielle frowned. “It’s not like the movies,
you know,” she said. “In a real crisis protecting civilians would
be a top priority.”
    “It is unfortunate, then, that the ex-virus
was not recognized as a real crisis sooner,” said the hooded
woman.
    St. George let out a slow breath and a wisp
of dark smoke curled from his nostrils. “So this is real,” he said.
“The military’s still up and running and they’re looking for
us.”
    “There is the possibility the base and its
resources are being used by other survivors,” said Stealth, “but
the logical assumption is this is a functioning base staffed by the
U.S. Army.”
    They all stared at the map for a few
moments.
    “Look, I hate to be the serious one here,”
said Barry, “but are we sure this is a good thing?”
    They looked at him. Danielle frowned again.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
    “These guys have been on their own at least
as long as we have,” he said. “We don’t know what kind of shape
they’re in, physically or mentally.”
    St. George’s lips twisted into a thin smile.
“Still worried about a crazy military?”
    “A little, yeah.” He shrugged again. “I just
think we should be a bit cautious before we go running up to hug a
bunch of heavily-armed guys who’ve been standing out in the sun for
two years.”
    “There’s the other side of that coin,” said
Danielle. “We don’t know they’re alone. For all we know there are
military installations and population centers all over the country
that are connected.”
    “We have seen no evidence of such a thing,”
said Stealth.
    “And I’ve never heard it,” said Barry, waving
his half-sandwich in the air. “Even if they were all on the east
coast, I’d see something in the air now and then.”
    “I’m just saying it could be,” insisted the
redhead. “Let’s not convince ourselves this is a bad thing before
we have more evidence.”
    “Let’s not forget something else,” said St.
George. “They know we’re out here now. We sent them a message
through their Predator.”
    Barry nodded. “That we did.”
    “It seems safe to say they didn’t know what
they’d find when they sent the drones,” St. George said. “Now they
know we’re out here. I think we should wait and see what they do.
Let them make the next move.”
    Stealth tilted her head at him. “And if they
do not make a move?”
    “Then we can send Barry to check them out
again. But for now, let’s play it cool.”
    Barry grinned. “Don’t want to call too soon
after our first date?”
    “Don’t want them thinking we’re a threat,”
said St. George. “They’re probably as freaked out by us as we are
by them. And like you said, they’ve got a lot more guns. Let’s wait
a couple days and see if the Predator comes back.”
    Danielle nodded. “When they do, we can use my
call sign and codes. Even if they can’t verify it, they should be
able to recognize it as our military without too much trouble.”
    Stealth gave a slow nod. “A sound plan for
the present.”
    “There’s one other thing, though,” said St.
George. “What do we tell everyone?”
    “What do you mean?” asked Danielle.
    “Everyone here at the Mount. Inside the Big
Wall. Do we keep quiet? Do we tell them the military’s coming to
save the day?”
    “I am sure that decision has been made for
you, George,” said Stealth.
    He looked at her. “How so?”
    “Besides the four of us, fourteen scavengers
know of the Predator drone. I find it unlikely all of them have
remained silent on this matter. I would estimate at least two
hundred people have been told