Tales of the Wastelander Ch. 04

The techs had told her she would be hungry, but how a few days of food and rest would put her back to her old self. Samara felt like she was already back there, but was more ravenous than she could ever remember. Even when she was told to take it easy on the food, she loaded up her plate and demolished it all. Chelsea, who was a consummate eater, was impressed with the amount of food that Samara had put away.

Samara went back to thinking about Ben and where he was right now. She had hoped that Ben was alive and OK, as she was, and that he hadn't woken up too early. Samara was torn about what she'd do when she got to him. A part of her wanted to tell him she loved him and wanted to kiss him and screw his brains out. Another part wanted to beat the ever-living piss out of the boy for doing what he did.

Samara had received the letter he'd written, telling her she was far too good for him. He'd gone on about how this was the best thing he could have done, for both their sakes. How she could move on and find someone worthy of her time and attention, not some schlub like him.

She'd nearly torn up the letter right then and there, but Ben's words had a galvanizing effect on her. She figured that if he was going to go under, so would she. Samara came from a wealthy family, and the money helped get her into the program. That her genetics were nearly as perfect as Ben's made her a shoe in for the Gold Standard of the program.

Though she was stationed in a different facility, she would go under for the same amount of time. After the basics she needed to go through, she stepped into the cryo pod, eager to see Ben on the other side. When she woke, she was given a rude awakening about how much the world outside had changed.

Learning that she couldn't leave, because of the toxic radiation, among the myriad of horrors that lay outside, was staggering. According to Jeremy, the leader of the facility, it would take years before anyone would be capable of venturing out. The horrors in question were old recordings of what appeared to be mutated humans trying to claw their way into the house on the topside of the facility.

Samara shivered at the thought of it all, but she still had hope. Hope that she would be able to see Ben at least, as Jeremy had promised to look into contacting the Ontario facility. The one she was in was located in Manitoba, just south of Oxdrift, as no one would think to look there for such a place.

She had just finished her plate of food when Jeremy walked into the cafeteria. Sam perked up at his arrival and looked anxiously at what he was carrying. He was looking over a tablet, seeming crestfallen, as he approached the table where both she and Chelsea sat at. He stopped when he reached them and sighed heavily.

"Samara, I'm sorry, but I have some bad news," he said heavily, pushing a hand through his blond hair.

"What is it??" she breathed.

"The Ontario facility. It's... offline. All pods are offline. There's no one left there," he said.

"You mean to tell me...?" Samara asked, choking back tears.

"Yes. I'm sorry, but there no one there who's alive. All life signs in the pods have been terminated, due to failure," he said, placing the tablet on the table in front of them.

Samara snatched it up, looking it over, trying to comprehend what this meant. She already knew what it meant, but couldn't bring herself to believe it. Crying out in despair, sobbing heavily as she bolted to her feet and ran out of the room. Chelsea was a few seconds behind her, ready and willing to help her friend get through this.

Jeremy scanned the room, his blue eyes looking over everyone who was there. Most people went back to the business of eating their dinner, which he was glad for. Some gave him a mild stink eye, but he paid them no mind. They all knew who oversaw the facility and who held the reins of power. He scooped up the tablet and walked out of the cafeteria with a confident swagger and a smile on his face.

Jeremy walked along the corridors of the facility, heading back to the control room. Though the pods no longer required power, the rest of the facility did and there were few he trusted to run it. The one who currently oversaw the entirety of it was his best friend, Ron. His smile grew wider as he approached, entering a code that only he knew to gain entry to the control room.

"Jeremy! By that smile on your face, I'm guessing that the bitches bought it?" Ron asked, cackling.

"They ate it all up like a tub of ice cream! Seriously, man, you gotta teach me how you did that shit!" Jeremy grinned.

"Trade secrets, buddy! You have your gifts and I got mine! I saw that the girlie you want ran off, bawling her eyes out! I hope you hold up your end of the deal!" Ron told him with a cocked eyebrow.

"No sweat, bud! Chelsea is all yours to have! Do what you will with her, because now, I have that chocolate lady all to myself," Jeremy laughed.

"Good! Now that everyone is awake, is it about time to move on with the next phase of our plan?" Ron asked.

"All in good time, man! We still have a few people I'm not sure of, but we'll bring them around. And if they don't come to our way of thinking..."

"They get what happened to the other group! We have the numbers and control of the food. They'll know to fall in line," Ron chuckled darkly. Both men then started talking about what to do and when they would do it. All while fantasizing about what they'd do with the women they wanted, when they finally bent to them.

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Samara lay on the bed in the room that had been assigned to her, bawling her eyes out. She sniffled and hiccoughed, wanting this to be nothing but a bad dream. She kept crying when she felt someone there in the room with her and turned. Samara saw it was Chelsea, who looked at her with sympathy on her face. She opened her arms and Samara nodded, and Chelsea went to her, enveloping her in a hug.

"He's gone! He's... he's..." Samara couldn't go on.

"Shh girl. Shh. I know, I know," Chelsea soothed, hugging her friend comfortingly. Samara burrowed her face into Chelsea's shoulder, blubbering heavily and sniffling. Then Chelsea said something to Samara, something she'd never ever thought she'd hear, which she barely heard as her friend's voice was so low. But she ceased her crying the moment she heard it, knowing that shit just got real.

"Pineapple."

Pineapple was a secret code word that they had for a certain situation. In this case, the situation was where they were in some awful shit and had to stay cool. They would have to play along with what people expected of them over the next little while. Or however long it took them to get out of the situation. Samara stepped back and sat on her bed as Chelsea sat next to her, stroking her back.

"We need to be careful, Sambo. Things here aren't what they seem," Chelsea whispered, while putting on a sympathetic face. Samara nodded and kept up the facade of being in complete distress, as there were people outside passing by.

"What kind of shit are we in?" Samara asked, being careful with the volume of her voice.

"Deep. Really fucking deep. Jeremy, who was doing you a favor by looking into the Ontario facility? I'm pretty damned sure he lied about that shit. To get you to forget about Ben," Chelsea stated.

"Why would he do that?" Samara wondered.

"Because he controls the whole fucking facility, and he wants to keep it that way," Chelsea went on.

"How did he do it?" Samara wondered.

"I don't know the complete story, as I've only been awake for maybe seven months. But I have pieced together some of it," Chelsea offered.

"Well then, lay it on me," Samara stated.

"Things used to be very different until about five years ago. That's when Jeremy and few others in the gold pods woke up. There was a council of elders who ran things, making sure that there was enough to go around for everyone. There were all sorts of rules in place, which were there to ensure that we didn't live beyond our means," Chelsea told her.

"The rules were fair ones?" Samara asked.

"From what I can gather, yes. Jeremy, waking up, changed all of that. He's much more intelligent than he seems, but he's still a bully. He wormed his way onto the council, helping with deciding things and monitoring what was going on in the facility. With one this big, making sure everything is still running is imperative," Chelsea went on.

"He overthrew them, I would assume?" Samara guessed.

"You assume correctly. Once he had overthrown them, many things in this place changed. The kids aren't let out to play anymore, and anyone who opposes his rule winds up one of his many prisoners," Chelsea said.

"An underground bunker, safe and designed to keep everyone fed and happy enough. Who wouldn't want control of it, with civilization gone?" Samara mused, putting together the pieces.

"Anyone would," Chelsea agreed.

"Why would they follow such a cowardly asswipe?" Samara asked. "I mean, weren't people vetted before they came here to the facility?"

"Pussy. He provides them with plenty of it, and the women who are kept like that for those guys are little more than slaves. In answer to your second question, it's because most of the people who follow him are descended from the ones who woke up from the green and bronze pods," Chelsea replied.

"Descendants? As in, the kids of those from the green and bronze pods?" Samara asked.

"Yup. People who have known nothing but this place their entire lives. Who haven't had to deal with much in the way of manipulation or betrayal, because survival takes precedence. Of course, there were those who were discontent with their lives and the rules. That's where he found those most willing to do his bidding," Chelsea told her.

"Sounds like the bastard had planned this for a while! I thought the selection process to get here was supposed to weed guys like him out!" Samara griped.

"I guess the process isn't perfect," Chelsea agreed.

"I'll say! I mean, didn't people see what he was doing? Someone had to have," Samara huffed.

"A few did, but their warnings fell upon deaf ears. By the time people realized what was going on, it was too late. He has a lot of muscle and no one dares do anything against the guy. Not openly at least," Chelsea informed her friend.

"Resistance is akin to painting a target on your back. I get it. Don't the women he has enslaved try fighting back?" Samara wondered.

"Word is that he has people who are dear to these women, locked up in cages, as prisoners. Their parents, spouses, kids, even babies. If they don't do as they're told, he hurts their loved ones," Chelsea explained.

"That snively son of a bitch!" Samara fumed.

"Shh! Not so loud!" Chelsea admonished her.

"Sorry. We have to help them!" Samara murmured.

"We won't need to. There is already a resistance that is hidden in plain sight. They're already forming a plan to take down Jeremy and are nearly ready. They just need our help for a few things to happen," Chelsea told her friend.

"How do you know so much??" Samara asked curiously.

"Well, this is one of those instances where being an absolute cockslut is handy, you know?" Chelsea replied with a lascivious wink. Samara managed a snuffly laugh at that and hugged her friend.

"Also, I haven't been idle with my time. I found out a few things that will make your day better," Chelsea continued.

"Like what?"

"Well, first off, is that Jeremy lied to us. I gained access to a few files and downloaded them from the main server. The most important fact is that we can leave, if we want to. The techs who put us under, they knew what was coming and came up with inoculations that makes us able to walk around up topside. Though we're not immune, we have a much higher tolerance to radiation than we used to," Chelsea told her.

"How high a tolerance do we have?" she wondered.

"High enough were natural uranium and nuclear fallout won't affect us, in the short or long term. But we have to be careful of areas that have a high concentration of radiation. If we were to get near, say, something like the Elephant's Foot from Chernobyl, then we'd have to be careful. Other than that, we are good to be outside," Chelsea smiled.

"What's the other thing?" Samara asked.

"While I was in the control room and was... entertaining Ron, the guy who works there, I got a glimpse of the control panels of other facilities. I saw that the Ontario facility still had one pod online. It was Ben's, and it was opening, with his vitals displaying that he was healthy and strong!" Chelsea said with an edge of excitement.

"Ben's alive?!?" Samara hoped.

"Yes, he's alive, and he was OK from the last thing I saw! I couldn't get access to the latest feeds. But he's alive!" Chelsea told her friend. Samara cried again, but this time they were tears of happiness rather than sorrow.

"I know you want to go looking for Ben, but we have to stay put for the moment. We won't be staying long, Sambo. Since I woke up a few months ago and figured out what's going on, I've been making plans on getting out of here," Chelsea said to her friend.

"What have you been up to?" Samara wondered, drying her tears.

"Squirreling away extra food and whatever rations and survival items I could get my hands on. I have them spread around the facility, so no one would catch on to what I've been doing. But I have an exit strategy planned for the most part," Chelsea said to her.

"The most part?" Samara asked.

"Yeah. Still have a few items to and points to figure out, but we'll talk more about it tomorrow. I've stayed long enough so no one will get suspicious, but get some rest. We'll pick this up later," her friend stated.

"Promise?"

"Always, Sambo. I'll see you in the morning," Chelsea told her as she left. Samara then laid down and fell asleep, knowing that if Chelsea had a plan, then they would be OK.

Chelsea walked out and noted that a couple of people were loitering around the area as she left her friend to sleep. But they all had places to sleep in the area, so she let them be and carried on like nothing was wrong. She was sure that someone would be reporting what they saw to both Jeremy and Ron.

Though there were no listening devices or cameras in everyone's rooms, Chelsea knew she was at least being watched. She was taking no chances at being discovered and kept up the appearances that she was being an obedient drone in the facility. Both hers and Samara's life depended on it.

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First light broke over the horizon and caressed Ylva's face. She smiled as she opened her eyes and blinked, yawning as she sat up. She glanced over to where Ben was standing as he came inside with a torch. He set it into the dying embers of the fire, helping it flare to life again. He hadn't been idle during his time at the fifth watch and had gathered some firewood.

Ben stacked a few logs into the blaze and got the fire going in earnest. He took some cheese and bread and placed it in a pan that they'd taken from the slavers. He was frying up the bread until it had a nice toasty crispness to it. He then melted the cheese on top of it, while also frying up the meat, which gave off a pleasant aroma. It took Ben all of six to seven minutes to do this, and he looked to Ylva as he was finishing up.

"Good morning, beautiful," he said warmly. Ylva smiled and got up, stretching while humming happily.

"Good morning, Ben! That smells nice!" she commented.

"Well, here you go! Careful, it's a little hot," he said as he placed the makeshift breakfast onto a clay plate.

"These were filthy when we took them. Did you clean them?" Ylva asked.

"Yeah. No way I was going to make use of these when they were still smelling rank. It's something that we always did, from the Before," Ben answered.

"Good to know!" Ylva hummed approvingly.

Ben smiled and went to work frying up some more bread, meat, and cheese. Though it was early yet, they still had some time before they had to pack things up and get going. Ylva and Ben enjoyed the time they had cuddling together while they ate and drank from Ben's refilled canteens. Ylva was still smiling from the romp she had with Ben the day before, and he noted her smile.

"Someone's in a good mood today!" he commented.

"Well, when you give me some good sex, and I mean REALLY good sex, it's hard to not smile," Ylva replied to him.

"Well, I try my best," he chuckled while grinning like an idiot.

"You have enough in you for some more?" she asked playfully.

"Oh, definitely! But I will need a little more sleep if I'm to keep making you smile," Ben told her through a yawn.

"Help me break down camp and you can rest in the cart once we're on our way. After we stop and make camp, you'll help me smile some more?" she asked cutely.

"Definitely!"

"Good! Maybe I'll help you smile just as much," she said mischievously. Ben didn't know what she meant by that, but he assumed she had a surprise lined up for him. Whatever it was, it helped motivate him to help Ylva strike camp a little quicker. Ylva laughed at his spurt of energy, but smiled all the same.

It wasn't long before they'd broken down the tent and hitched up the Thunderers, with Ben helping Ylva this time around. He had paid close attention to what she did and was taking care to be completely at ease around the animals. Ylva also gave him some tips on how to handle them.

"Be sure to not go so aggressive with them. They like calm, gentle motions and touches. Also, go slow when getting near them. Thunderers spook easy at times, so you must always be cautious when getting near them," Ylva advised.

"All right. Was there anything else I should know?"

"Always approach so they can see you. If you don't, they will kick and a kick from a Thunderer is enough to break bones for my kind," she warned.

"Kicks strong enough to smash your bones to oatmeal. Got it," Ben nodded.

"What is... oatmeal?" Ylva wondered.

"It's pasty and made from grains. Like bread, but mushy and soft. Served when it's warm over a fire," Ben replied.

"Oh! Grain mash!" Ylva said, snapping her fingers.

"I guess so? Do we have any of that?" he asked.

"No. Slavers take and eat all of it from me. We will find some at a town we are going to," Ylva said as she climbed into the driver's seat.

Ben nodded and climbed into the back, where he and Ylva had stored their belongings. He smiled as he saw Ylva had made a rudimentary pallet in the back, large enough for Ben to lie on. It was bit filthy, but it was the best that he could hope for, until they got to this town that Ylva had talked about.

Ben crawled onto the pallet, which was more like a giant cushion of blankets, and settled in. Though the sun was high in the sky and it was full daylight, Ben felt drowsy and drifted away to sleep. His lids drooped and his breathing slowed, as he welcomed sleep's embrace, and the dreams that came with it.

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Ben looked around and saw the surrounding landscape had changed. The ground and the surrounding lands had become blacker than night. The sky was blood red, with a harsh and unforgiving sun beating down on him, making him sweat. He breathed, and the air felt like dried sandpaper, scratching his lungs painfully.

His eyes focused on the path ahead of him and he saw a brown dirt road stretching out as far as his eyes could see. Seeing no other recourse, Ben started walking, the ground passing beneath his feet. It was painful to move, almost agonizing, but Ben knew he had to. Behind him, he could hear the gibbering noises of dark things that threatened to swallow him up.

Ben dared not look back, as he feared that if he did, he would stop and stay rooted to the spot. The only way to leave these horrors behind was to keep going, even if the way forward was fraught with pain. The landscape remained unchanged as the miles passed beneath his feet, but he kept going. To stop was to die, and death was not something he was eager to meet just yet.