“Finally, this white button here near the trigger is the one that sets it to free fire mode. When in free fire mode it acts more like a rocket than a missile, and the optics will give you a line approximating where it will fly. The other button, the red one behind it, is the safety. It wont fire regardless of mode with the safety on. Depressed is safety off, out is safety on. Notice how the two buttons have different textures on them. Safety has grit on it and the free fire mode is smooth. Try not to mix them up.” Seymore says, finally finishing up his five minute sermon on the basics of firing a missile launcher. I also learned the difference between missiles and rockets, missiles are guided after firing, while rockets are not.

“Final important lesson. Always check your back before firing. Most of the gasses go out the back so anyone caught behind you will catch those gasses.” He states, I nod in confirmation before he continues. “Those gasses are not only hot enough to cook a man, they are compressed and traveling fast enough to hit like a bullet. Ever been hit by a car or truck?” He asks.

“Uh, I got hit by the big ugly super zombie before.” I reply.

“Now imagine that but you’re also being actively microwaved.” Seymour says in a deadpan tone.

Oh, yea that doesn't sound pleasant. Wait, how does he know that? Never mind, I probably don’t want to know.

“So check my ass before I fire. Got it.” I reply.

“Good.” is all Seymore gets out before he is interrupted by Toby and Robert coming back out of the depths of the truck. Carrying a commandeered light brown duffel bag under each arm for four bags worth of looted stuff.

“Alright, we got some more ammo and even some medical supplies.” Robert says.

“No food?” I ask him. I understand we have some on us but more wouldn't hurt, and who knows how looted the Walmart will be.

“No, only food was those expired MREs. The rest of this stuff was assorted ammo, mags, building materials and other random crap.” Toby replies, hoping past us and down out of the truck.

“Any more of those ammo duffels? We should take as many spare missiles as Lucy can carry.” Seymore says.

“No, these were the only ones we found…… here one second.” Robert says, before setting down the duffels and his shotgun. He unzips one, before unceremoniously flipping it upside down and dumping all the contents onto the floor. Loose bullets, boxes of five five six ammo, and few magazines for the assault rifles the cultists were carrying all come tumbling out onto the floor.

Robert then throws the bag to Seymore. “Here, pack as many as you can carry. I’d rather have a loaded missile launcher than some extra rifle ammo. Me and Toby are going to scavenge what's left of the weapons off the cultists, then meet up with Karen, Greg, George, and Sarah. Meet us there when you are done.” He says, jumping down and jogging off into the dust.

Seymore wastes no time, going over to the wooden crate and shoveling the tampon boxes onto the floor to get better access to the ammo hidden within. I go over and help, striking up conversation about said boxes, because I don't really get why they are here.

“So, any idea why they used a bunch of tampon boxes for this?”

“I'd guess they just smuggled it in whatever they could. And didn't bother to, or couldn't unload the actual cargo once it got to its destination. Bunkers need a lot of supplies, including sanitary products.” He replies, and catch on to what he's saying.

“You think it they smuggled it in after the first breach event?”

“Most likely, a lot of things need to be replenished after people use a bunker for any meaningful length of time. I don't know the details but I heard this one was a shit show because corruption skimmed a lot off the top. A Lot of city officials were removed from their positions pending corruption charges. In all the chaos it was probably easy to add an extra box or two with other goods into the piles.”

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

“So they were planning this?”

“Doubtful, we can't predict breach events. No idea if the cultists can. But if they could, they would use it in a city much more important than Shimerview. I'd say they were just preparing for when they could strike. But this whole breach event has been off kilter from the moment it started, and not in a good way.” He says as he spreads the bag open on the floor. I take the queue and lift a missile tube out of the box, moving it over and trying to put it in the duffel.

“I mean, I was never in a breach event before the first one. But both that one and this one have been way different from how we were drilled on them in school.” I reply, carefully trying to shimmy the missile into the bag, which is only just barely large enough to hold it. Unfortunately the opening is just a little bit smaller than the length of the bag. So I have to sit there fiddling with it to get it in.

“Different is an understatement. For a level one breach it kicked off way too quickly. I've been in plenty of breaches before, comes with the territory. Even a few as they've started, and let me tell you, the sky isn't supposed to rain demons the moment five minutes is up.” Seymore says, reaching over and taking the missile tube from me and taking over trying to get it in while I hold the bag.

“What do you mean?”

“Those times they give aren't necessarily When demons will start spawning, it's when they could start. The one other time I was in a level one breach at its start, we didn't see any demons for close to twenty minutes after the shatter. They just give those lower times so people won't lollygag and possibly become demon chow.” He says, finally Getting the missile crammed into the bag. It fits, barely, and getting it back out is going to be a pain in the ass. Hopefully we don't need to do it during a fight.

“What the fuck! Why did it start raining demons here then?”

“My guess, something to do with the cultists.” He says, before pausing And carefully looking to see if anyone was outside the truck. When he was satisfied he leaned in close to me.

“This is technically supposed to be classified, but most defenders end up knowing about it sooner or later, just don't go blabbing about it to random people. Cultists can cause minor breach events, or exacerbate natural ones.” He says quietly, as if trying to keep a nonexistent person from overhearing.

“Wait, fuckin really? Why is that classified? Wouldn't it be better for people to know?”

“In short, because it's better not to tell people. You grew up during the war, so it's normal for you, but most people didn't used to be so on edge about demons and magic and portals and shit. Hell, when I was your age demons were just a fantasy creature from the games we played. Imagen our shock when the first breach event wiped a city in South Africa, and the fact that they were real was dropped on us full force. Now, people are paranoid as is. You go telling them that their neighbor, boss, coworker, lover, child, parent, some random person on the street could bring a damned city ending phenomena down on them with little to no warning. It won't be pretty. So the powers that be have decided to keep that knowledge withheld, and keep the image that cultists can only summon small groups of or lone demons.” Seymore says with a somber tone and a look of reminiscing on his face. I hand him another missile to start stuffing into the bag.

“Oooook. So wait, how do you know all this if it's supposed to be classified?”

“Friends in high places from damn near twenty years of service.” Is all he replies with, and its clear from the silence for a few seconds after that he isn't going to elaborate.

“So, as I was saying.” He continues. “They can't predict them but they can cause them. So I'm wondering if the first was a random one that just happened, and they capitalized on the chaos before launching their actual attempt on this one.”

“So why didn't they get caught with all the military and shit running around after the first time?” I ask, confused. It's not like you can miss an entire cult in a city just attacked by demons, right?

“Oh but they did. Remember that mess at town hall and how it exploded? I'd bet my meds that they were caught, and blew the whole damn block to cover their tracks. That's why they took hostages. It wasn't the demons making that call, it was the cultists working with them.” He says, gesturing for another missile

“Still, wouldn't something like that set them back? Like, at least enough to prevent this?” I ask, pulling out and handing him a third. Which will probably be the last one we manage to stuff into the bag.

“Not if they are well coordinated with a proper command structure. Which they are if they are moving military hardware, old or not. Their plan was rushed, but somewhat adapted as the situation changed. Honestly I think they were planning this for a long time. But the first breach got too much scrutiny put on our little city so they jumped the gun.” He says, finally managing to jam the last missile into the duffel bag.

“OK, so why tell me? I don't exactly have a permit for classified stuff. And I know well enough that people don't trust teenagers with shit.” I reply while grabbing the duffel bag by the strap and trying to hoist it under my shoulder. Only to balk at the weight, because this fucker is heavy, like almost fifty pounds heavy. Between this and the launcher I'll only be able to carry them for a little while.

“Two reasons. First, because I need someone to pass this along in the event I can't. I’m old, girly. The only reason I'm moving around right now is because of your magic. But even now I feel the arthritis pain slowly creeping back in, a few more hours I'll be out again. You're the closest thing I've got to a qualified individual on hand.” He says, pausing to think for a moment.

“They probably already know, but better safe than sorry. Two, I may need your assistance if an opportunity arises. I can't do anything like I used to, too old and slow. But you’re young and quicker than I ever was. With this launcher, we might be able to at least put a dent in their plans.” He says, slowly easing himself down off the truck.

“Seymore, I’d love to fuck over the cultists as much as the next gal, but I’m not running head first to my death into a cultist camp.” I reply, sitting down and sliding off the back of the truck, landing with a heavy thunk and a puff of dust.

“Who said anything about going into the camp? That launcher has a two mile effective range unguided. Get up on top of one of those buildings and you could probably hit the whole city. You fire from a far off one, use your magic to get yourself down, and disappear into the city before they can get over to you.” He says, confidence in his voice.

“That's….. Not a horrible plan. But did you forget the fact that demons are a fuck ton faster and more powerful than regular humans? If they have anything in there that flies I’ll be jumped on by the time I hit the ground.” I say voicing my main concerns about going up somewhere so visible and dangerous. What if they just say fuck it and blast the whole building to pieces in retaliation before I can jump?

“I’m not saying it's a risk free endeavor. But hell, it ain't Robert's original plan. You’ve got a good head on your shoulders, faster than anything they would expect, and have magic. Just, give it some thought, every little thing we can do in here will save them big steps out there, even if we don't make it out.”

“Fine, I’ll think about it.” I reply, mulling over his words.