Driving at night, in complete blackout downpour was a commitment of focus. Fraya had pay attention to the slightest deviations in road ahead. This was not actually new to her as she learned from advoiding gangs and soldiers and setting up sniper positions, sometimes Fraya could not move for hours while she had to pay complete attention to everything going on around her. This time she also had the help of Minerva who warned her of cars abounded in the road, downed trees or power pole and lines, or other obstacles.

Slowly they made their way to Arizona. A long nerve wreaking six hours later they approached the Arizona border, reminding Fraya of an important detail that she had been to busy to ask about.

“Minerva what about identification!” That was the only reason Fraya had not left the ruins of los angles.

“Check your front jack pocket.” Hitting the brakes Fraya slid eight feet before the truck stopped.

“What!” Fraya grabbed at her pocket, almost tearing it as she reached inside. Sure enough there were her identification card and ssn number car, and a birth certificate card, and also travel passports to San Antonia.

“Where the hell did these come from?” Fraya demanded.

“It was simple processes for the nanos to create the documents needed. They are able to create advanced micro circuitry so simple plastic identification was below their abilities.” Minerva actually sounded exasperated.

Starting driving again Fraya did not respond. Fraya knew she had to start adjusting to the reality of her life but it only been a fucking week! Fraya had been in survival mode for almost a year where on wrong decision or just bad luck could get her brutally tortured and wishing for death. It was a lot to come to terms with.

Clenching her teeth Fraya grabbed the wheel tighter and focused on driving, she would deal with that shit later, when she was in a safer location. Twenty miles later she saw a brightly light, heavily fortified guard post of the Texas Union military.

Slowing down Fraya mouth dried up and her hands became sweaty as no less the six machine guns were pointed at her and two dozen assault rifles were leveled, ready to fire. Inching up to the guard post, Fraya stopped twelve feet away.

A soldier with a blow horn demanded she get out of the truck with her hand up. Fraya seeing no alternative but a quick death in a hail of bullets opened the door and got out with her hand plainly in view. Standing there Fraya was glad it stopped raining. A six man team slowly advanced to surround her and the truck. Fraya knew if she even sneezed she would be died.

Finally the one who had been on the blow horn approached.

“What brings a little girl out here in the middle of the night, driving a truck with a 50 cal on the back?” Surprisingly he did not ask this snidely.

Fraya answered, extremely polite. “Just driving to phoenix to catch a flight to San Antonio and the 50 cal came with the truck.”

The soldiers around her sneakered.

“So what, buy a truck get a 50 cal?” This caused the soldiers to laugh outright.

“Well sense the gang the owned the tuck got violently murdered by a rival gang I helped myself to it.” This shut the soldiers up. They started eyeing each other like silently asking each other if this chick is for real.

The commanding officer gave a grime chuckle. “Well that explains the 50 cal and where you are going but not why you are driving in the middle of the night.”

Fraya shook her head. “I needed to get out of that hell hole. It was leave at night or leave in a body bag.”

The soldiers all looked at her sympathetically knowing just how violent it was out there.

“We will need to confiscate the 50 cal.” The officer stated threatened, it was tossup.

“You can have it. I’m ditching the truck when I get to phoenix anyway.”

The officer ordered two grunts to grab the 50 cal.

“Hay, careful with the cargo back there.” Fraya ordered the two who were climbing into the truck bed.

The officer looked at her sharply. “Did you help yourself to that cargo along with the truck?”

Fraya glared at him. “Those bastards were already dead! Too quickly I might add! And that cargo was the last thing my parents left me before they were murdered!” Mixing truth and fiction together made the best lies.

“I apologize. We have all lost someone and you are right some of the gangs need to be killed.” The officer and soldiers nodded grimly in agreement. The two grunts had unhooked the gun and were lowering to another couple of soldiers. Fraya hoped she could get through this checkpoint without further delays.

“Right can I see your identification and pass?” The officer said in a more business like manner.

Pulling out the forged documents and handling them over, the officer inspected them carefully. Finally satisfied with their authenticity he handed them back.

“Everything looks in order. The road to Phoenix should be clear but you still should be careful.”

“Thank you. I hope you have a wonderful day!” Fraya said brightly thankful to be done with the exchange.

Climbing into the cab Fraya put it into drive and started forward when the soldiers got out of the way. Maneuvering around the concrete blocks, Fraya was extra careful not to hit any of them and have another thing for the soldiers to stop her for.

Sighing in relief as she made it past the guard station, Fraya sped along hoping to put more distance between her and them.

This time without it raining and the sky lighting up as predawn started, Fraya made better time and she saw actual traffic the closer she got to the city. It was still over three hours till she got to Phoenix. The difference from Los Angles was amazing. There were people walking along without a care in the world. Fraya had not seen such a thing in a long time. The city was also heavily militarized with everyone carry at least a pistol and military squads seemed to be on every street.

Finally Finally Fraya arrived at the Phoenix International airport. Driving through traffic was completely deferent then driving in a ghost town. Fraya parked and with relief shut off the engine. She slumped back into her seat with relief as part of the journey was done.

“Okay just how am I transporting the pod on the flight?” Fraya asked Minerva a key question that she had failed to consider.

“There are cargo planes traveling regularly. I have booked you a flight. You and the pod will have no problems boarding and traveling.” Minerva answered.

Sighing Fraya sit up. “I guess I need to get a cart.”

Fraya was weary of the long night, the almost drowning in the underground garage, the driving, interacting with the soldiers at the guard station, she wanted to nap but pushed on. Opening the driver’s side door Fraya hoped out and looked around. Getting her bearings she walked toward a cart station and pulled one free. Pushing it to the back of the tuck, Fraya proceeded to unload the pod. It was considerable lighter than when she first loaded it, meaning that Minerva must have emptied it of water. Placing it on the cart Fraya quickly placed her sniper rifle, guns, and knifes inside the pod and rewrapped the camouflage netting around it.

Pushing the loaded cart Fraya followed the Minerva’s direction but halted as an enticing small that made her mouth water assaulted her senses.

“Minerva when it the plane leaving?”

“It is scheduled to leave in an hour. The next one after that leaves in ten hours.”

Fraya was happy with news. “So I have time to eat something?”

“Barely.” Minerva warned.

Undeterred Fraya followed her nose to the dinner and sit down. Fraya almost cried as the server brought her a real menu, she had been surviving on rats and whatever she could find. Looking through the menu she didn’t know what to order.

Coming to a decision she ordered a fresh salad, ribs, a large sample platter of appetizers, and chocolate cake. Fraya didn’t care that the food was nanite grown; it tasted the same and was the same in all but name.

Savoring her first real meal in a year that she did not have to hunt down it was only Minerva’s repeated warnings that got her moving.

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Navigating the large airport Minerva directed Fraya to the right location and Fraya exited onto the tarmac. A military craft had its ramp down loading supplies and Fraya pushed her cargo towards the plane.

A woman in a flight suit was checking off supplies as they loaded and Fraya waited patiently as she finished. The woman noticed Fraya standing there and asked. “What do we have here? Are you the one who bought a ticket for this flight?”

Fraya nodded in confirmation. “Yes I and my cargo are headed to San Antonio.”

“Well everything else is loaded. Let’s get your cargo strapped down and then we can depart.”

With the woman’s help loading and tying down the pod went very quickly and the plane was taking off before Fraya know it.

The planes vibrations lolled Fraya into sleep and only moments after takeoff she was out.

“Fraya!” Minerva shouted in Fraya’s head.

Coming abruptly awake Fraya leapt up and prepared for an attack. “What is it?” Fraya asked looking around the cabin for possible attackers.

“I just intercepted a communications form a flight of fighter’s ordering the plane to redirect their flight path to the Northern Border.” Minerva informed Fraya calmly. Fraya went pale.

“Goddamit! Are they flying behind use? And what are the fighter types?” Fraya asked as she rushed forward to were her pod was strapped down. Fraya hurriedly unhooked the three tie down straps as Minerva answered.

“Form encrypted communication broadcasts I estimate four fighter jets behind us. The type of fighters are unknown.”

“Great! Just fucking great!” Fraya shoved open the top of the pod. Grabbing the M24 military sniper rifle Fraya checked it over and made sure there was a round in the camber and a full ten rounds in magazine. Breathing in and out, calming herself, Fraya nerves settled and she became almost detached. Without any hesitation she marched towards the rear of the craft.

“Can you help me target the fighters?”

“Yes, but such actions are not advised.”

Ignoring the warning, Fraya flipped the protective cover, that prevented someone accidently hitting the interlock switch, up and then switched off the interlock circuit and slammed her hand into the red button that lowered the ramp, without turning off the interlock circuit nothing would have happened. Jugging back a few feet Fraya throw herself to the deck and set up the sniper rifle. She had done this hundreds of time so was ready the moment the ramp was down to fire.

Two old F16s were right behind the military cargo plane with two more F16s behind them. Focusing on the left fighter jet that was almost already in her sights, Fraya saw a small red circle appear on the fighter’s canopy. With a slight adjustment the circle turned green and without hesitating Fraya pulled the trigger. On reflex she was already jacking anther round into the chamber.

Before she completed the action Fraya saw the round smash through the fighter canopy and impact the pilot’s chest. Luck was with her as the death spam of the fighter pilot made him yank the control stick to the right and bank so hard he almost inverted as he slammed into his wingman.

Fraya lips curved into a small savage smile as both planes erupted into a fireball. Of the two planes behind the forward F16s one was slightly ahead of his wingman and didn’t have time to bank around the blast. Flying directly into and through the explosion Fraya had plenty of time to aim at the disoriented fighter pilot and line up the shot. Fraya almost didn’t need Minerva’s help but it was nice to have confirmation and a second pair of eyes, which was why snipers worked in teams with a spotter.

Breathing out Fraya sent anther round downrange. The round hit the mark and anther pilot was executed. The last fighter jet that had banked hard left around the ensuing inferno of his forward teammates came round in an almost straight T intersection of the cargo plane. Fraya had to rapidly shift her position so the barrel was almost point towards the opposite bulkhead. Fraya had a very small opening too shoot without shooting her own plane. Lining up carefully and this time extremely grateful for Minerva’s help, Fraya could almost feel that the enemy was about to fire, when she aligned with the red target circle and squeezed the trigger.

The round was dead on and the fighter jet started spiraling towards the ground. All told just seconds had elapsed form the first shot to the last. Sagging to the deck, Fraya breathed heavily as adrenaline crash hit her and she started to shake. Fraya had always managed to jam the reaction down; sometime for hours, but once the fight was completely over she collapsed.

“What the hell is going on here!” A female voice yelled.

Without thinking Fraya rolled over and lifted the heavy gun towards the voice, almost pulling the trigger and splattering the intruder before recognition hit her and Fraya again sagged, this time backward. The cargo handler froze, realizing she had been a split second away from dying violently.

“That fighter jets have been taken care of.” Fraya reported nonchalantly.

The woman just blinked at her uncomprehendingly and looked out the back of the craft and into open sky as if the answers could be there, ironically enough in way the answers were there, in the form of no fighter jets. The woman stared out into the clear skies for seconds before it clicked at what she was not seeing and she sucked a breath in.

“Did you take out the northern fighters!” The woman shouted dumbfounded.

Fraya popped up, her adrenaline crash fading. “Damn right I shot those bastards! Now turn the plane back to San Antonio, I’m going back to fucking sleep!”

With that Fraya slammed her hand into the green button that would start the ramp closing. Without waiting for ramp to fully close Fraya walked back to her seat, passing the still confuse woman. Fraya plopped down and still cradling her rifle leaned back until her head rested on the bulkhead and promptly went to sleep.

Fraya got another good hour of sleep before she felt the plane shift and start to descend. Coming awake, Fraya looked around and seeing nothing amiss waited to the craft touched down on the runway and proceed to the parking terminal.

The cargo woman was the first to appear and she gave Fraya a funny look, probably still shocked that her passenger had taken out four F16 fighters.

“The military commander would like to debrief you.” The woman finely stated.

Fraya sighed, another fucking delay. At least it beat trying to dodge sick fucks that wanted to rape her and piss on her corpse.

“Okay so long as my cargo comes with I can make the time.”

The woman gave Fraya another funning look, she was probably wondering just what Fraya could do now that she was surrounded by military soldiers that could drag her to the commander. Fraya could do fucking a lot! If she did not want to go she could take out so many of the fuckers before they killed her that they would need a new fucking airport! But the cargo handler didn’t know this so thought Fraya was blustering, how that was possible when Fraya already took out four fighter jets was a mystery, some people just could not accept reality and usually died screaming in pain and terror.

Without replying the woman walked to the back of the craft and flipping the cover off the interlock switch, turned off the circuit, and hit the red button. As the ramp lowered Fraya saw a squad of soldiers formed up with assault rifles at the ready.

Not caring Fraya walked to her pod and placed her rifle back inside, then closed it and tossed the camouflage netting back over it. Pushing it, Fraya made her way towards the ramp and the waiting soldiers.

One stepped forwarded. “Miss Colonel Sten would like a word.”

Nodding in acknowledgement Fraya pushed the pod down the ramp and stopped in front of the solder before replying.

“As long as my cargo comes with I will gladly make time soldier.” His nametag read Walker and Fraya wanted to ask if that was Texas Ranger but held off. She did not want to get into shooting match because she was smartass.

“Yes we can load up your cargo.” Pointing towards three tan military Humvee. Taking the hint Fraya started to push her pod again this time towards the back of the front Humvee. Three of the surrounding soldiers were nice enough to help Fraya left the pod into the back. Slamming the tail gate shut Fraya walked to the front passenger door and climbed in. Two soldiers climbed into the backseat and Walker took the driver’s seat. The other soldiers climbed into the two remaining Humvees and the convoy took off.

“Is it true you took out eight fighter jets with a pistol? Scuttlebutt has been buzzing.” Walker asked.

Fraya gave him flat look. “One, a goddam pistol would not have the power to punch through a fighters canopy, and two it was only four of those bastards.”

Walker swerved violently in astonishment.

“Wholly shit boss! Who the hell is this lady!” One of the backseat soldiers yelled as the other one let out a long whistle.

“I’m someone who doesn’t like to fucked with! Fucking North.”

Walker got control of the vehicle and agreed with Fraya. “Ya those bastards sent in a dozen fighters to harass and bomb us. We kicked their asses!” A hooah was yelled by the back seaters.

The drive was short and they pulled up to a nondescript building. Getting out Fraya followed walker into building and saw dozens of people hunched over computers, talking on phones, or writing reports. Following Walker through the maze they got to the back of the building where there was an open door with Colonel William Sten on the nameplate beside the door.

Knocking Walker waited for the colonel to yell enter and Walker walked sharply in and saluted.

“Colonel the person who took down the fighters is here.”

Walking in Fraya saw an older, balding, man behind a desk. The colonel looked at her and seemed shocked.

“Just how old are you?”

Fraya had made sure to have Minerva make her older just for this reason.

“Sixteen.” What was three years?

Standing the colonel offered his hand. “Well I and the Union of Texas want to congratulate you on damn fine work taking down those fighter jets. There is some confusion as to just what happened?” The colonel asked leadingly.

Fraya shrugged. “Nothing to tell those bastards interrupted my beauty sleep and I took the bastards out.”

Both the Colonel and Walker throw their heads back and laughed. Fraya let a small smile slip out.

When they calmed down the colonel asked again. “Yes but can you expand on that a little?”

Fraya described what happened in full detail leaving out Minerva’s help. “Then I want back to sleep.” Fraya ended.

Both the military men seemed shocked that Fraya had taken out four fighter jets with a sniper rifle.

“Yes well Texas owes you a great debt for helping. Anything we can do to help you?” The colonel offered.

“Well the only thing I need help with is getting to my new house.” Fraya had Minerva buy a house with the only stipulation was it needed a bunker underneath.

This was not hard to find as during the war demand for such bunkers sky rocked and every new house and development included a safety shelter.

The colonel was happy to help. “Walker here can drive you to the location.”

Fraya was thankful, one less worry. “Thank you Colonel. It was nice meeting you.”

With that the meeting broke up and Fraya followed Walker back through the maze of offer workers. Climbing back into the Humvee the same two soldiers as before climbed inside too. The other two Humvees and soldiers had disappeared off to their normal duties.

The humvee took off and they made their way through the airport and onto the road. Forty minutes later and a dozen twist and turns they pulled off the road they were on and onto a dirt road that want a thousand feet before ending in a gate with a keypad on it. Hopping out Fraya had Minerva give her the code as she punched it in. The code worked and the gate swung open. Getting back into the Humvee Walker started driving again and they found themselves in front of a small ranch style house, with a large metal shed off to the right and a tall water tower next to it.

“Thank you for the ride Walker.” Fraya said as she hopped out. The back seat soldiers got out to and helped unload the pod. Walker standing there overseeing.

When the camouflaged pod was on the front porch Walker bobbed his head. “You are welcomed. And thanks again for helping the Union.” With that the soldiers piled inside the Humvee and took off back to the airport.

As they left the gate automatically closed and Fraya sighed, happy the long journey was over.