born. World War Last had nearly emptied planet Earth of human inhabitants. Those that were left were often contentious. “We'll be in The Vista by dinner,” she repeated what he said nearly every morning he picked her up from dispatch.
“I-90 in to Butte, I-90 out of Butte and we'll stay at Station One tonight unless plans change in the next two or three hours.”
“You're a brave man,” she said, resigning herself to the trek.
“That's what I keep hearing since I volunteered to teach you to drive.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
“It's cold enough now,” Mac called out, stomping his feet like he'd been walking in snow. Team Three came in from the underground garage, making their way to the main floor. The lodge had been a ski resort, before the war. Now it was Station One, Vista Security's home away from home and a favorite escape for younger officers seeking independence and a bit of privacy.
“If you ordered this weather, I'm kicking your ass,” Denny Lambert yelled from the radio room. The temperature was already below freezing, but there was no snow.
Everyone in earshot had a good chuckle. Unless they went three or four-on-one, there would be no kicking of Capt. MacKenzie's ass. Despite the lanky, laid-back cowboy appearance, Mac could be deadly. With nearly four years of Security experience, he was quick on his feet and quick into a fight. He'd be twenty-one at the end of the year, a couple months older than Capt. Wade.
Wade was the quiet one of the team. He merely smirked.
“Not me,” Mac said, shedding gear. “What's the plan for this evening?” Ten to twenty Security personal occupied the station at any given time, plus up to a dozen civilians in support positions. No alert would mean time to relax for a few hours. Sex, drugs and rock n' roll. Or at least beer and loud music.
“You can finish my shift,” Lambert offered.
Mac made an obscene gesture at the Scout stuck in Dispatch.
“Shan logged in a couple hours ago,” Wade told him. The two men had basically the opposite relationship with their Scout. Wade was like an older brother to her. Mac was not.
“Outstanding,” Mac answered.
“You got second shift tomorrow,” Lambert reminded them. “Dispatch has us on Alert Six.” All clear, no callouts.
“Outstanding,” Wade repeated. “Which commander is in tonight?”
“Niles is, he traded off so Duncan can do some attitude adjustments at Station Two this week.” Lambert shrugged, glad he was away from that drama. City Council was trying to nose in on Security matters. Station Two apparently had a couple ringers.
“That's what I figured,” Wade shook his head. He couldn't get away from this particular mess. His step-father was a founding member of The Vista and was on the council.
“Not your concern, forget about it,” Mac told him.
“Until there's a foot of snow sitting on the ground, everything is my concern.” Wade would be getting a promotion shortly. The next step would be commander, likely by the time he was twenty-two. He wanted to find a way to balance Security and council; he was beginning to wonder if it was even possible.
“So are you taking your Scout out tomorrow?” Ballentyne, Mick in his off-duty time, peered down from the second floor loft, in civilian clothes, jeans and a tee-shirt.
“Is she ready to drive around by herself?” Wade asked.
“She's been ready all summer.”
“We haven't been ready,” Mac said, not joking.
“Give her the keys, tell her she's on regular rotation with us,” Wade told Ballentyne.
“Are you sure?” Mac asked quietly, keeping the conversation private.
“I should've put her on the road the week she turned sixteen, but I'd have had her parents and you to deal with. How she didn't make Ballentyne crazy over the summer is beyond me,” Wade revealed. “You want to keep her at rookie status another season? She drives you around in the mountains next, starting
“I-90 in to Butte, I-90 out of Butte and we'll stay at Station One tonight unless plans change in the next two or three hours.”
“You're a brave man,” she said, resigning herself to the trek.
“That's what I keep hearing since I volunteered to teach you to drive.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
“It's cold enough now,” Mac called out, stomping his feet like he'd been walking in snow. Team Three came in from the underground garage, making their way to the main floor. The lodge had been a ski resort, before the war. Now it was Station One, Vista Security's home away from home and a favorite escape for younger officers seeking independence and a bit of privacy.
“If you ordered this weather, I'm kicking your ass,” Denny Lambert yelled from the radio room. The temperature was already below freezing, but there was no snow.
Everyone in earshot had a good chuckle. Unless they went three or four-on-one, there would be no kicking of Capt. MacKenzie's ass. Despite the lanky, laid-back cowboy appearance, Mac could be deadly. With nearly four years of Security experience, he was quick on his feet and quick into a fight. He'd be twenty-one at the end of the year, a couple months older than Capt. Wade.
Wade was the quiet one of the team. He merely smirked.
“Not me,” Mac said, shedding gear. “What's the plan for this evening?” Ten to twenty Security personal occupied the station at any given time, plus up to a dozen civilians in support positions. No alert would mean time to relax for a few hours. Sex, drugs and rock n' roll. Or at least beer and loud music.
“You can finish my shift,” Lambert offered.
Mac made an obscene gesture at the Scout stuck in Dispatch.
“Shan logged in a couple hours ago,” Wade told him. The two men had basically the opposite relationship with their Scout. Wade was like an older brother to her. Mac was not.
“Outstanding,” Mac answered.
“You got second shift tomorrow,” Lambert reminded them. “Dispatch has us on Alert Six.” All clear, no callouts.
“Outstanding,” Wade repeated. “Which commander is in tonight?”
“Niles is, he traded off so Duncan can do some attitude adjustments at Station Two this week.” Lambert shrugged, glad he was away from that drama. City Council was trying to nose in on Security matters. Station Two apparently had a couple ringers.
“That's what I figured,” Wade shook his head. He couldn't get away from this particular mess. His step-father was a founding member of The Vista and was on the council.
“Not your concern, forget about it,” Mac told him.
“Until there's a foot of snow sitting on the ground, everything is my concern.” Wade would be getting a promotion shortly. The next step would be commander, likely by the time he was twenty-two. He wanted to find a way to balance Security and council; he was beginning to wonder if it was even possible.
“So are you taking your Scout out tomorrow?” Ballentyne, Mick in his off-duty time, peered down from the second floor loft, in civilian clothes, jeans and a tee-shirt.
“Is she ready to drive around by herself?” Wade asked.
“She's been ready all summer.”
“We haven't been ready,” Mac said, not joking.
“Give her the keys, tell her she's on regular rotation with us,” Wade told Ballentyne.
“Are you sure?” Mac asked quietly, keeping the conversation private.
“I should've put her on the road the week she turned sixteen, but I'd have had her parents and you to deal with. How she didn't make Ballentyne crazy over the summer is beyond me,” Wade revealed. “You want to keep her at rookie status another season? She drives you around in the mountains next, starting
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