They spent hours hashing out the plan over the table. Virgil insisted on a guarantee of his people’s safety. He took the elder’s word, but the nod from Sara convinced him. Charlie laid out plans for increased defences.

“There’s something else we’re going to need.” John took a list of names from his pocket. “These people have to go back to the Vault.” He felt sick saying it. “They’re the only ones left who know how to keep the core systems running.” He gave the list to the sheriff. Rosie still wouldn’t look at him. He almost didn’t want her to.

The meeting started to wrap up. Everyone had their tasks. “One last thing.” The elder glanced to Sara then Lady Luck. “Once my men arrive, I’d like time on air.”

“That’s a good idea. I’ll interview you. John, you should speak too.” Lady Luck’s warm smile and enthusiasm didn’t make the idea more appealing.

The meeting finished and the five of them waited by the lift. “We’ll get the next one.” John pulled Rosie aside. The lift didn’t move till she gave Charlie a hand signal. “I don’t like the idea of sending people back there any more than you. I don’t know what else to do, Rosie.” John felt like a hypocrite.

“I know that.” She took his hand. “I can’t go back, John. Not for five minutes, never mind five years. I won’t. And you won’t be able to leave them.”

“Rosie, I’m not going back.” John had no intention of ever going back. “When this is over, they can look after themselves.” Even as he said it, the thought chafed.

“Ok, John.” She didn’t believe him.

Rosie and Charlie headed out the western gate with Virgil in tow. Sara and her father left by the north gate, heading back to the outpost. Leaving John in the company of Sheriff Bob, waiting for his deputies to round up the very people he’d helped free.

“You know it could be a while.” Bob didn’t look up from his terminal as John paced in his office. “Try and relax.” The veteran sheriff appeared the picture of calm.

“How are you so relaxed?” John forced himself to stop and sit.

“Practice.” Bob slid his chair away from the terminal. “One thing I’ve learnt wearing this shield, where you put your energy is what makes a difference. I could throw up my hands, scream and shout. Wouldn’t get these inventory reports done any quicker.” His point made, Bob slid back to his terminal.

“What can I do?” John asked, ready to focus on something useful.

“I don’t know, what can you do?” Bob asked, imparting more wisdom.

“I’ll check the armoury.” John left as Bob radioed down. He made it to the stairs before Bob rushed from his office.

“John, with me. We got four fifteen.”

“Four fifteen?” John knew by the pace they moved it couldn’t be good.

“Hostage situation.”

John made a hole through the crowds. He and Bob arrived at an apartment building on the east side. Worried and annoyed residents lined the hall. Deputies gathered around a door with bullet holes in.

“Top.” One of the deputies greeted Bob. “We had a pickup across the street and on the floor above. He must have put it together, because he put two rounds through the door when Jimmy knocked. Got his wife and two kids in there. Keeps yelling at them to pack up.”

“Jimmy, hospital.” Bob looked at the deputy sitting on the floor.

“Took one in the vest, Top. I’m fine. I know him a little, works in the Chop. He’s not a bad guy, just scared.” He seemed more worried for a man he barely knew.

“Anyone talking to him?” Bob asked, no one answered.

“I’ll talk to him.” John volunteered.

“No, let me. You stay close by.” Bob pulled on a vest someone handed him.

“I need a runner.” John had an idea. One of the deputies whistled and a younger one appeared. “The Brother’s Hood, southside. Tell them I need eyes in that room and I’m on comms.”

“What’s his name?” Bob asked. John felt ashamed he didn’t know.

“Gavin Denvers.” The injured deputy answered.

“What about tactical response Top?” Another deputy asked.

“You’re looking at it.” John wouldn’t let the too keen and heavily armed deputies anywhere near this.

“Gavin, it’s Bob from the Sheriff’s department. How we doing in there?” Bob spoke in an almost casual tone.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“I won’t go back! You can’t make me!” Gavin yelled, his voice uneven.

“Now I don’t know about all that. I’m here to make sure no one else gets hurt. Including you Gavin.” Bob kept his voice steady.

“Is Jimmy...did I…” He sounded desperate.

“Jimmy's fine.” Bob waved him over.

“I’m alright Gavin. Shit, better than alright because I'm getting free chops for life.” Jimmy’s tone brought a relieved chuckle that turned into a sob. “Sure could go for a plate of those chops right now. What is it you put on them again?” Jimmy kept talking as Bob encouraged him.

“Lemon and black pepper.” Gavin’s voice softened.

“That’s it. Fried tatos on the side. Nice cold beer. Come on out Gavin, let's eat.” Jimmy’s worried look didn’t match his tone. Things went quiet.

“Ronin, Acheron.” John heard his friend over the comm and let out a deep breath. “Eyes on target. Precious cargo is in the bedroom. I can end this now.”

“Negative. Target is mission critical.” John kept his voice low. “How copy?”

“Solid copy. Can’t guarantee a wounding shot through glass. Request r.o.e.” Acheron asked him for the rules of engagement. John never had to decide that before. He took a deep breath.

“Target is mission critical.” He made the hard choice, desperate for it not to come to that.

“Solid copy.” Acheron’s calm didn’t make him feel any better.

Yelling from inside the apartment made the deputies tense up. John put himself next to the door. “Wife is in the room.” Acheron kept him updated. “She’s got a bag, but looks panicked.”

“We’re leaving!” Gavin yelled. “Don’t get in my way and, and I won’t shoot.”

“Gavin, you know we can’t have people waving guns around. Set it down and let's talk.” Bob drew his pistol, his action copied by five others. John put up his hand.

“I’m not going back! Let someone else slave away over that reactor. I’m not going back!” Gavin sounded like a man coming apart.

“He sent the wife away.” Acheron came over the comm. “He's put the gun to his head. No shot.”

“Request breaching shot.” John had an idea. He shoved the deputies aside and pushed into the dreamlike state.

Fearful faces froze around him. John pressed himself against the wall, watching as the door handle ripped and splintered. The sniper round careened upwards towards the ceiling. John dove through the door, seeing Gavin's eyes closing and his finger moving.

John reached out, making contact the instant the hammer fell. He wrenched Gavin’s arm back, hearing the bones break. He saw the bullet for a split second before losing track in the spray of blood.

“Clear.” John yelled out of instinct as time snapped back. Five deputies made an entry that would have earned them laps at the outpost. Gavin lay on the floor, blood pooling from his head. Then he moved.

“Medic! Medic upfront!” John's training took over, as he assessed the wounded man. “Just a graze.” Gavin had a deep cut on the back of his head. Singed hair and a broken arm. John stepped back and let the medic work. Deputies took the woman and her children, reassuring them.

Bob ran a washcloth under the tap and gave it to John. He didn’t even feel the blood on his face. “Send a runner for pork chops and beer, on me.” Bob smiled, helping Gavin to the couch. John wiped his face and saw Acheron in the doorway.

“Styx is not going to be happy he missed this.” Acheron joked. “Outstanding work, Brother.”

“Yeah.” John felt as far from pride as he ever had before.

Half an hour later, food arrived. Gavin looked too pained to enjoy it, but appreciated the gesture. “Please don’t make me go back.” He recognised John. “I have a family here, a life. I’m not just another drone.”

“Gavin, we’re all going, your family too. We need you to keep the lights on for them, and everybody else. There’s a war coming Gavin. Coming here. We need to keep people like you to keep your family safe. Can you help us do that?” John spoke plainly. He knew Gavin had to go back, knew it served the greater good. It didn’t make him feel better. Gavin nodded and began to sob. “I promise you, things are going to be better. And the second it’s safe, you can go wherever you want.”

John stepped into the hallway. “An inquisitive mind might have questions about how you did that.” Bob had a wry grin.

“Ask.” John didn’t care about hiding any more.

“Not going to get the report filed any quicker, is it.” Bob shook his hand. “Head back to the station. Shift change is in a few hours, we’ll brief your people and mine together.

The hours dragged. Made easier by Acheron’s company and Styx arriving. The rest of the former vault dwellers arrived without incident. Things grew tense as deputies started to hang around. The din dropped as Bob stepped out of his office. “This is the Sheriff, switch to back up frequencies.” Bob switched channels on his walkie and held the button down.

“In a little over,” He looked to John, he held up seven fingers. “Seven hours, the Brotherhood will arrive to garrison the town.” Bob whistled sharply to stop the uproar. “At which time we will begin evacuating any and all who want to go. There is a genuine pre-war Vault a day east of here. John,” Bob handed him the walkie.

“That's why you’re here.” He saw the faces shatter. “We need you to keep the place running. You’ll be on the first birds out.” John saw that wasn’t going to help these people. “Look, you know this is the last thing I’d ever ask of any of you. I fucking hate that place. And I hate what it took from all of us. But now, that can count for something. All that time down there means we can save lives. I can’t force you, I won’t. Everybody out there has one chance. And that’s you.”

“How long?” Someone asked.

“Five years.” John answered directly. “Things will be different, I promise.”

“What’s coming?” Someone else broke the silence.

“War.” John didn’t want to leave any room for doubt.

“Make no mistake, we are not prepared for what’s out there. Not without help.” Bob walked through the desks, looking to his people. “What we are prepared for, is getting our people to safety. Keep them calm, keep them moving, keep them safe.”

“What if some of us feel like sticking around Top?” One of the deputies stepped forward, flanked by others.

“Report to the south gate.” John liked the look on more faces than he’d expected. “You’ll be under the command of Paladin Sara Maxwell.”

Six and half hours later, John hurried up to the roof of the north gate. He would not soon forget the sight, or the feeling in his chest.

Glinting in the dawn sun, three hundred armoured knights. Marching in unison around infantry. Truck chassis stripped bare and piled high with munitions. Eight Vertibirds flying in formation. One broke off, climbing to the top of the Tower. He headed for the lift.