Future History

The pair of teens turned and walked away toward all the wondrous things they could see in the gloom ahead of them.

"Over here Kelly," whispered Bobby pointing at what looked like a big box of some sort.

"You don't have to whisper, Bobby," said Kelly turning to follow.

They both stopped as the top of the box lifted out of the body to show a screen of some sort. They gasped as it lit up with a picture that moved. Then they heard sounds coming from the box. They both froze.

"What did you two do?" Jacob said.

"Nothing dad, it came on all by itself, honest," replied Kelly.

Bobby just nodded as he watched the video in front of him.

"What language, please?" the box asked.

"English," Bobby said.

"Bobby!" Kelly shouted.

"English confirmed. It was fifty-two years ago that the United States of America came apart at the seams. Poor leadership and corruption throughout the government caused it to explode into a civil war when that same government attempted to confiscate the people's guns. Chaos ensued as military units loyal to the current government fought those who remained loyal to the citizens of America. Soon, though there was no government and the economy collapsed. It took two years for the people to come together and start to rebuild.

"At this point China sent its Peoples Liberation Army here, supposedly, to help the American people regain their government. Since that time the PLA has systematically, destroyed every form of government we have tried to establish. Hence, the war we now find ourselves in and I'm sorry to say, losing. I must assume that you are American Citizens as you requested English. So, what you will find here are arms and ammo to help you fight the PLA. I wish you good luck, as I will most likely be dead by the time you find this place. End of Message."

The screen went blank. Then lit up with words. It looked like a list of functions that the box could perform.

"Well, like we needed to hear that again," Kelly's dad said.

"I never heard that," replied Kelly.

"Sorry. Your mother didn't want to tell you until you were a little bit older," said Jacob.

"Okay, dad. That's fine. Let's see what this place has for us," said Kelly going closer to the box.

Chapter 19

Kelly stepped up close to the box and read the words on the screen. Bobby was right beside her. He started to reach out, but Kelly swatted his hand away.

"Dad?" Kelly shouted.

"What is it, dear?" Jacob replied.

"Do you want the lights on?"

"What... wait? I'll be right there."

"Okay," said Kelly.

Jacob was standing there beside Kelly looking over the text on the screen.

"Hmm... maybe we better wait until we have checked this place out. No. Don't touch anything," said Jacob still looking at the screen.

"Come on, Bobby," Kelly said pulling on his arm.

"Okay, okay," replied Bobby.

The two went off into the darkness, flashlights lighting their way. There were a lot of desks and most of them had computer terminals on them. That Kelly and Bobby knew what they were, was a testament to the education their parents gave them. The desks stopped just a short distance from the box. They came to a section that had partitions separating the open area into small, medium, and large bedrooms, with beds. Oh to be able to sleep in a bed instead of on the hard ground. Shortly, after the partitions started they ended.

The space before Kelly and Bobby was wide open, yet sectioned off into separate spaces. From the looked of it, those spaces were for exercising. The cavern ended soon after those spaces. Although, lockers lined the walls to the exit which was closed. When Kelly and Bobby got there, John Denim was looking up a flight of stairs. He and two of his men went up the stairs. Kelly looked up. There was a metal ceiling here. She wondered why. Her dad walked up beside her as she pointed her flashlight up.

"Yes, someone went to some trouble here, didn't they?"

"Sure did. Can I have a bedroom of my own?" asked Kelly.

"We'll see. Just now though, we need to find out where this comes out."

"We can get up top and have a look," said Bobby.

"We can," replied Jacob.

"Who will you send?" asked Kelly, eager to go out up top.

"Okay, you to go, but keep in touch and don't fall off the edge," Jacob said smiling at his daughter.

"Come on," Kelly said.

They both went running off to the stair out of the place. It only took them a short time to get to the hole in the roof room. It currently had its camo cover on. You could still get out, but the hole wouldn't show to those above. If the Chicoms had aircraft, they would never see the hole. Kelly thought they might have satellites up there, but no aircraft here in the states as the Americans shot them down whenever they flew. As they started up the ladder, Bobby's dad appeared.

"Where you guys going?" he asked.

His radio crackled.

"Jimmy, I've sent my daughter and your son to take a look topside to see where this new entrance comes out," Jacob said.

"10-4," Jimmy replied. "Okay, up you go. Be careful up there. I don't want to find you too at the bottom of some cliff." Jimmy waved at them as he turned to go back to his desk.

Bobby started to climb with Kelly right behind him. They both kept unde4 the camo-cover until they had a look around. The only time the cover was taken down is when a helicopter was expected. The sun was shining brightly and the two children could see right through the trees that surrounded the clear where the hole was. Once sure that there was no one else out there, they proceed to walk toward the second entrance. Kelly had an eidetic memory for directions. She could follow the passages that were underneath her, right to the edge of the top of the mountain they were living under.

"Well, it looks like it's right down there just past that narrow ravine," said Kelly.

Bobby was looking elsewhere. The valley was all laid out before them, like rolling hills. No cliff faces here. Everything was wide open. Bobby nudged Kelly as he pointed in the near distance. Kelly just shook her head. It looked like the Chicoms had set up a small base just about a mile from their backdoor.

"Shit," said Kelly. "Come on, we have to get back and tell my dad."

Bobby nodded as he turned back to the hole in the top of the mountain. Kelly and Bobby hurried down the ladder and started back to the tunnel.

"Hey, what did you find?" Bobby's dad asked.

"Chicoms," said Kelly.

"No shit?"

"No shit!" said Kelly as she turned and ran off to tell her dad.

Chapter 20

The two kids hurried back down the tunnel where they found Kelly's dad. They stopped just short of him and John as they were talking.

"What did you find, Kelly," Jacob asked turning to look at his daughter.

"Chicoms."

"What? Where? How far?" Jacob shot back at her.

"About a mile from the entrance. They have set up some kind of base there."

"How many?"

"I couldn't see that well. But they did have artillery pieces. Three of them. 120s I would guess."

"You can tell the size of artillery pieces but not the number of men?" asked Jacob.

"Sorry, I was focused on the guns."

"I would say about two companies, sir," Bobby volunteered.

"Oh. Shit."

"That's what I said," replied Kelly.

"No swearing," Jacob said chuckling. "Well, John, what do you think?"

"I don't know. We could take them out. We would have to call for help we have done that before. We have helped a lot of other cells around these parts before, too. We could take them out with two other cells. And what we found in those lockers would make the work a lot easier."

"Okay, but how do we get to them?"

"We repel down the cliff face opposite from where they are set up."

"And meet the other cells?"

"Same spot as we repel down. They should avoid the ravine out front and the camp to their... our... east?" he asked looking at Kelly.

"East. This entrance faces east," she replied.

"Then we have it. I guess we can turn the lights on in here."

"I wouldn't, no telling what else comes on with them. Let's wait until we have cleared our flanks."

"Ah, yes, the Chicoms out front?" asked Jacob.

"Yes. But I think they are probably part of that installation to our east. The patrol Kelly ran into was probably from there," said John.

"Makes sense," replied Jacob. "Well, go make the call."

John nodded and trotted off into the darkness. His flashlight came on as he did.

"You two, back in the main part of the cavern."

"But Dad," whined Kelly.

"You can pick a bed out later," said Jacob smiling at her.

Nodding, Kelly and Bobby went the same way John Denim had.

An hour and a half later, Jacob found his daughter helping her mother with dinner. He smiled at them both as he sat at the community table. Kelly brought him a glass of water and a plate of the stew they were cooking on the open fire.

"Get yourself a plate and a drink, I'm going to need you to come with me when we're done," Jacob said.

Nodding, Kelly went and got herself a plate and a drink. She sat beside her dad. Soon the table was crowded with all the soldiers of the cell. All eating quietly. Kelly looked around the table, she found herself in company that amazed her. Half an hour later, everyone got up.

"Let's go, Kelly, I have a job for you," Jacob said. "Go kiss your mom and catch up."

Wide-eyed, Kelly hurried to her mom and kissed her cheek while her mom hugged her tightly.

"You be careful out there," she said giving Kelly a push toward her father.

Eyes still wide, Kelly hurried to catch up with her dad. They were headed to the topside exit. Bobby was waiting for them alone with John Denim.

"Kelly, I hear you're a pretty good shot," John said.

"I don't know about that, but I can usually hit what I aim at," replied Kelly blushing.

"Good. But now you will be able to hit everything you aim at with this rifle and scope combination we found in the locker in the new wing of the cave," said John handing Kelly an awesome-looking rifle. "This is something they developed back before the invasion. This rifle will shoot a 338 bullet over two miles and it will never miss as long as the scope is working. It is working now. Aim at what you want to shoot. Press the button on the right side of the scope and within seconds, it will have the solution. Then all you have to do is put the crosshairs on the target and squeeze the trigger. Do you think you can do that?"

"Sure, if I can see what to shoot at?"

"Anyone on that base who isn't one of us. We will all be wearing a yellow armband. The scope will let you see if your target is wearing one. Everyone and thing on the base will be up close in the scope. Bobby will be using a spotter scope to help you out. It's almost as good as the sight."

"Okay," Kelly said shaking. She wasn't afraid of what she had to do, she was a little worried about shooting one of her own people.

"Take your time. Slow and easy. What you will be doing is causing chaos on that base. Shoot targets as far apart as you can find. Don't worry about clearing our path, we have someone closer that will do that. You just shoot any of the enemy you can see. I know this is a lot to ask of someone so young..."

"I don't have a problem killing our enemy. I just don't want to mistake one of you for them," Kelly said interrupting John.,

"Okay, okay. Keep your eye on the scope and spread the shots out all over the base. Clear?"

"Yes. Crystal clear, Mister Denim," replied Kelly.

"Kelly..." her dad started.

"I know what I have to do, dad. I can do it. You have taught me well. I am proud to be your daughter and I'm proud to be chosen for this part in getting our enemy out of our country." Kelly was almost crying.

Jacob pulled his daughter into his arms, hugging her tightly. Kelly hugged him back as best she could while holding the rifle. As gently as he could, John took the rifle from her. Kelly wrapped both arms around her father. Jacob, let go of Kelly, she let go of him. She then took the rifle back from John. Kelly wiped her eyes not wanting to let them see she was almost crying.

"Let's go, Bobby," she said heading for the ladder to the rooftop opening.

Chapter 21

"How do you think she will do?" asked John.

"She will do better than we are expecting. She is a proud young lady."

"She's still a child," said John.

"She is a woman and she will do just fine," growled Jacob.

John raised his hand in apology as the two started to climb the ladder. Up top, about forty men were waiting in the trees.

Kelly and Bobby were off toward the back entrance again, to get a clear view of the base. Kelly was still trying to keep herself from crying. Bobby was walking beside her muttering under his breath.

"Spit it out, Bobby," Kelly finally said.

"Nothing. Nothing at all."

They had arrived at the back entrance, well as far as they could go without climbing down the steep hillside. Kelly stood looking around, then headed off to her right to two boulders. Kneeling, she looked through the space between the boulders.

"Give me the scope for a minute, Bobby," said Kelly.

Bobby handed her the scope and Kelly put it to her eye. She jerked back a little as she saw the base up close and personal. She could almost see the rank insignia on the collars of the men there. Yep, this place will do. She handed the scope back to Bobby. She unfolded the bipod on the rifle and set it down on the ground. Looking around she found some scrub bushes. She pulled them up and put them around the rifle making sure not to block the scope. Any part of the scope. She lay down and looked through the scope.

"Hmmm...," she said softly looking at the side of the scope.

She saw the red button with the word "ON" pressed into it. Pressing the button, she looked through the scope again. She nodded as she could see the base even better, once she got the rifle pointed down at the base. She pulled a small rock over and set it under the butt stock of the rifle. Then while looking through the scope she adjusted the stock height adjustment until she didn't have to hold the stock up to see the base.

"Good," she said pressing the on button again.

The scope went dark, it was now just a plain 25-power scope. Looking at Bobby, he was sitting beside her with a spotter scope on a tripod. Where he got that she didn't know and didn't ask.

"What? John gave it to me while you were hugging your dad," said Bobby defensively.

"No problem, Bobby. Did he happen to tell you when we should start shooting?"

"Yeah. When they are almost at the base. I have a radio and he will sing out 'Go' when we should start shooting."

"Good."

Now they waited. Kelly took her canteen and took a healthy swallow. Bobby did the same. Then they both relaxed. Bobby sat just beside Kelly, just peeking over the small boulder in front of him. He watched as John and his men made their way to the base. They had to repel down the cliff face and now they were creeping toward the Chicom base. Kelly lay there watching the base as she thought about what she was about to do. Sure, she had killed Chicom before, yet they had been much closer and shooting at her. Now she would be killing them from far, far away. Over a mile away. It would kind of be like god was striking them dead. Not that Kelly thought she was god. She knew better.

It took John Denim and his men a half hour to get close enough to the base to be able to see what was in front of them. Both Jacob and John were looking through binoculars at the base.

"Well, what do you think?" Jacob asked.

"I haven't the faintest idea. Nobody is moving."

"Setup?"

"Sure looks like it," John said.

"How about we have Kelly hit one of the gate guards?"

"Sure, what's to lose," said John pulling his radio off his belt. "Bobby, have Kelly shoot the gate guards if you will."

"Roger." Bobby's voice came from the radio.

Chapter 22

Kelly placed the crosshairs on the closest guard by the gate to the Chicom base. She pressed the on-button and waited. The crosshairs moved so she had to move them to be on the target. When a green light lit at the top of the sight picture, she squeezed the trigger as gently as she could. The report from the rifle surprised her, as did the recoil. She moved the sight picture and saw the bullet strike the target. The guy just fell over backward.

"Bobby, have any of the men down there moved lately?" asked Kelly.

"No, not really. There are some in the motor pool that looks like they move but, no, they are just moving back and forth."

"Tell them it's a trap," Kelly said moving her sight picture toward her dad and John's position. She caught movement about three hundred yards to their west. "Chicoms to their west. I'll cover for them," Kelly shouted.

With her sight lined up on one of the Chicoms, she waited until the green light blinked. She squeezed the trigger and watched the man fall forward blood squirting from his head. She lined up the next man and squeezed the trigger when the light blinked. She did this over and over until the magazine was empty. Pulling the empty out she shoved a full one in and continued to shoot at Chicoms. Just as she pulled the trigger for about the twentieth time, she heard the order to ceasefire.

"Holy shit!" said Bobby looking at Kelly in awe.

"What?" she replied.

"You killed them all. You went through every magazine you have. Never even missed once. Holy shit!" said Bobby.

Kelly looked around her. She could see there were no more magazines on her right side. Looking behind her she saw them all lying on the ground empty. She shook her head, as she didn't even remember changing the magazines, except the first time. Kelly laid there, eyes closed listening to herself breathe. After a few minutes, she started to shake. Bobby was beside her, his hand resting gently on her shoulder. She relaxed a little from his companionship. He was a good friend. He was a good soldier even if he was really too young to be one.

Kelly lay there with Bobby just touching her shoulder for the next half hour that it took her dad and John to get back up on top of the mountain. Then her dad was sitting beside her.

"You okay, Kelly?" he asked.

"Yes, I'm fine."

"Then what's the matter, dear?"

"I don't remember shooting them all, the first six or so. The rest no."

"Oh. Okay, why don't we get back down and you and your mom can talk. Okay?"

"Sure. Has she killed 45 people before?" Kelly asked.

"No, but she has talked to others that have."

"Okay, okay," said Kelly grabbing the rifle.

"You can leave that, John will get it for you," Jacob said.

"This rifle is mine now. No one other than me will shoot it until I die or get too old to be out here, okay?" she replied softly but forcefully.

Her dad just nodded at her as he gathered the empty magazines putting them in her backpack. John looked at Kelly, then at Jacob, and nodded. Jacob knew Kelly's mom wouldn't like it, but it was time. Kelly was a soldier now.

Chapter 23

Kelly Sampson, now 15 years old, lay in the brush at the top of a hill overlooking the road to their cave system some five miles behind her. John Denim, as her spotter, accompanied her. Eye to scope she waited for the small green light in her scope to blink.

"John, I have a solution," said Kelly softly.

"I hear you. Wait. They are turning to the north. Hold fire."

"Holding fire."

The three men who had been walking down the road turned down a spur to the north. John and Kelly weren't here to draw attention to themselves. They were here to make sure the Chicom didn't find their cave system as almost happened last year.