Roadies
3 Rebels Removed
“Seth. Wake up. Seth!” Seth rolled over on the couch, trying to ignore his name. He opened his eyes and looked around.
Andrew called to Seth. “Hey… Something’s happening.”
Seth sat up and looked over. “What’s up? What time is it?”
“I don’t know, mid-afternoon? I’ve been watching this thing all day. People are flooding to Jerusalem. They are talking about a rapture.”
Seth looked at the television. “Turn it up.” He got up and walked over to the TV.
A large craft surrounded by ten others hovered above Jerusalem. The sun bounced off the temple’s golden dome. The picture zoomed all the way in to the craft in the center of the formation. A bubble shot from a circular opening at the bottom. The picture followed the bubble and zoomed in to Morning Star standing on a purple disc.
Morning Star looked into the camera. “I am saddened today. We have tried to work with the United States, Canada, and Great Britain. America and Canada are dead set against our proposals, and the division in Great Britain between Christians and Muslims has them frozen in their tracks. I won’t fault the entirety of these nations because it is written that a sour grape won’t set the son’s teeth on edge, but I will take action. I shall destroy the leadership of these three, and give the people one last chance to align with me. There are plenty of souls within those borders I love, and am waiting for them to come home. It is the leadership I must deal with today. Tomorrow I will deal with you.”
The television switched into a quadrant of views, with Morning Star in the upper left. “We issued a private notice exactly twenty-three hours and fifty-eight minutes ago. I sent two of my angels to each capital to warn them of their lot. Everyone who stays has chosen to do so. In two minutes we will ash the city limits of all three capitals. Many of you saw this technology a few days ago when the anti-Christ used it to destroy an entire nation of my children, so I’m sure you will be familiar with the sequence. For the rest of you this will be quite a treat. I’m going to show you the use of intelligent nuclear collaboration. Now that I am here, you don’t have to worry about that evil one ever using it again, or playing God for that matter. Only I can define what gets reset back to, well, ground zero if you will. What you’re about to see is a spin-off of the Lake of Fire technology.”
Seth called out the door. “Randy. You better get in here. Cruz. Bruce. Get everyone.”
They ran in and huddled around the television.
Morning Star held his arms open. “In less than a minute you will see exactly what I mean. There will never be the need for fireworks again. Fireworks symbolized nation fighting against nation. Until I decide it’s time to rapture we will have these periodic displays. I will rid the earth of those men who interfere with my outreach to my flock. Heed my compassion and turn back to me… Now watch closely, and think how lucky you are to have this chance. Behold my correction!” He bowed his head and closed his eyes.
Little white lines crisscrossed the skies above each capital, and started to rain blue fireballs. The distant view ensured there wasn’t any carnage. The peaceful display looked like a kids sparkler across the street… far from the violence they saw on the Korean border.
Seth turned to Megumi. “I told you the UN didn’t have that technology. It wasn’t the UN who erased North Korea. They were just puppets.”
Everyone watched for fifteen minutes while fireballs pummeled the cities, leaving behind a smoldering blue fire.
Morning Star opened his eyes and lifted his head. “My children. Please listen to my plea as a father trying to reach his prodigal child. Every one of you has a reason why you left me in the first place, and I respect that. I respect you. Now it’s time to come back into the nest. I have ten high priests, and they have a staff of seven thousand. Next to me they will be the most senior chain of command on earth. They will enforce the land allotments, and hold court for the enforcement of respect for the law. A law the Father set aside just for you. What is the law? I am the law. My children know who they are and they need not be afraid. Don’t you think it’s time to stop communion? You don’t need remembrance or prayer, just ask me and anything on this earth shall be yours if it is the Father’s will. Keep doing my work, and together we will address every need you have.”
Bruce patted Seth on the back. “Dude, you called this one a long time ago. To the T.”
Seth shrugged his shoulders. “I had a clue, but we didn’t know which countries would be succumbed. I guess we do now.”
Morning Star held a document for all to see. “We have already drafted an international agreement. Digital copies are in the hands of every lawyer representing their perspective countries. The contract gives me authority, and implements my chain of command. Those that do not agree will be placed on the fireworks calendar. Govern yourselves wisely people. Your time is short and your options are few.” His bubble sucked back up into the vehicle and the door slammed shut.
Seth started to pace and breathe heavily.
Randy pulled him aside. “Seth, if you panic, everyone panics… understand? Do me a favor man… breathe. Take a walk if you need to, but you have to keep cool man.”
Seth took a deep breath. “You’re right. I’m sorry.” He looked across the room to everyone. “I think we should get going. Once those guys establish control it will be hard to move around. Plus if you thought the roads were crowded before, just wait and see what kind of panic today’s show is going to create.”
Randy turned off the television. “I think we should travel at night.”
Seth looked out the window. “You’re right. If we use the three vehicles to carry our supplies, we can all walk without loads. Maybe we can get up to twenty miles a night?”
Nico came running in. “Cruz! Cruz!”
Cruz jumped up from his seat. “What is it?”
“I got a bus. I got us a school bus.” Nico bent over and rested his hands on his knees.
“Slow down. What do you mean?”
Without looking up, Nico pointed toward the meadow. “I was checking out the far side over that way, and I found a kid’s camp. It had a poster for camps scheduled later this summer. The bus was there, so I took it.”
Cruz grabbed his arm. “You took it! That’s stealing man.”
Nico pulled his arm away. “Come on Cruz, how many summer camps do you think there will be this year?”
“Still. You know what I mean.”
Seth gave Nico a pat on the back. “Great job Nico. Okay. Here’s the plan. We’ll load supplies in our rides, and pack the bus with people. Let’s spend the next few hours getting our stomachs full, our bodies cleaned up, and maybe even rested. At sunset we shoot for Highway 80. With no problems we can make it in less than an hour.”
Cruz asked. “What about when we get to 80?”
Seth shrugged his shoulders. “We’ll have to see how bad it is. Worst case, we’ll hike in.”
Marcus poked his head in the shack. “Cammy told me to tell you that she’s grabbing some things to make us something to eat. It will be ready in about an hour, so pass the word around.”
After they ate Seth found Megumi rummaging along the tree line of the meadow. He tried to sneak up behind her, but the crumpling grass gave him away. “Are you collecting pine cones? There’s a lot more where we’re going.”
Megumi shook her head no. She reached in her pocket and pulled out a handful of what looked like weeds.
“Oh, I get it… seasoning.”
She smiled and nodded.
“We’re heading out shortly after dark, okay?”
Megumi nodded and turned back to her rummaging.
Sunset came fast. The small convoy made their way up highway 20 through the mountains with their lights off. Most of the passengers were probably nervous, but Seth knew to the drivers it was a familiar game, and the clear night made the double yellow line easy to see.
A sign at the top of a ridge said Scenic Byway. Seth pulled over to regroup. The drivers met in front of his truck, overlooking the valley. Seth pointed to a giant red line cutting through the mountains off in the distance. “That’s highway 80. Both sides are red, everyone’s trying to get out of California, and it looks like they are using both sides of the road.”
Bruce looked through the binoculars. “Those cars aren’t even moving. I don’t want to get back into that craziness.”
Cruz smirked. “I’d rather see a bear…”
Andrew slapped his hands together. “I got it. There’s a road around the back way. It goes by Bowman Lake, up by Webber Lake, and it hit’s the 89 on the other side of Truckee.”
Seth pointed to him. “Are you sure?”
Andrew smiled. “Where do you think our meats came from? We go through here at least twice a year to go hunting or fishing.”
“I like it.” Seth stepped up into the bus and clapped his hands a few times. “Listen up people. We’re going to make an adjustment. We’re going to stay away from those red lights over there. A couple of miles back we passed a turn off that will take us to Washington. From there Andrew knows the back roads. We can sneak in the back side of Truckee.” /p>
A few people murmured here and there.
Seth continued. “It’s going to be an all night journey. Hopefully we’ll get to Stampede by morning. We’ll stop every hour for five minutes to regroup and make sure everyone is fine. That means even if you don’t have to pee, you better try. That five minute window is your opportunity.”
From the back Seth heard a whisper. “He’s so bossy!”
*****
The bus steadily rocked back and forth. Nobody could get comfortable. Occasional street lights flashed on the faces of the passengers. Some slept. Some prayed. Several stared straight ahead. This was one of those nights when you can remember every tick of the second hand, and it moved slower going up from six to twelve.