Apocalypse Redemption

Chapter 5: Questioning

Alex continued on the highway and follow the road signs that directed in the direction of San Francisco.  He looked back through the slot and went over everything.

Darwin was sitting in the dead center with the map in his lap, studying it carefully, Chad and Brittany were huddled together in the far corner, George sat alone in his own corner, and Angela and Samantha sat by themselves, covered in dust and with depressed expressions.

It was true that recently, they hadn't been involved in any action, and that they weren't needed much at all.  Alex turned his attention back to the road, but felt a strong urge to say something to the two of them.  Angela was more than likely heart-broken when she discovered that Alex was no longer interested in her.  He had never been interested.

He shook the thought out of his mind, for he knew that he would need their help in order to get to the boats in San Francisco Bay.  The battle plan was coming into mind already, and they hadn't even reached the city limits.

As he drove closer and closer to San Francisco, he began to notice more bandits walking along the sides of roads and the highway. They seemed to be present at every intercection, which raised the question of why.

They could be here in order to prevent people from getting onto the boats to Hawaii, or they could be here for something more sinister. It wasn't clear what was being planned, but it was unsettling seeing people with collars around their necks.

The latest sign stated that the group was only thrity miles from the city limits, meaning that their ticket out of the wasteland was almost at hand. But there were problems between them.

The sign that stood beside it had been graffitied over, and read: "Bandit inspection point: 3 Miles."

Kathy noticed it as well, and gave an expression of disbelief.  "Are you kidding me?"  They're checking for people?"

"Relax."  Alex responded.  "I'll get off at the next exit and find another highway."

He began to turn the truck over several lanes, but then he noticed something.  Bandit trucks were blocking the nearest exit, and the guns they were holding further repelled the idea of travelling through.  Alex stayed on the highway, and saw the outline of a toll station at the bottom of the hill.

"Crap.  We're trapped."  Kathy whispered. "Slow down the truck, we need a plan."

Alex slowed down the speed of the truck from 60 mph to a miniscule 40 mph.

Kathy slid open the window seperating the front of the truck from the back and told them the situation. "We don't have long to think of a plausible solution."

Darwin scratched his head as he searched for answers, while Chad and Brittany sat in their corner staring into each others eyes. Angela popped out of the shadows of the back and proclaimed, "Maybe we could act like Bandit's again. That seemed to work in Chicago!"

"Yes, but we aren't in an armoured truck, and I don't think a bus is in their specific vehicle line-up." Kathy argued.

Angela sighed, and took her seat.

"We have to try it. If they get suspicious," Alex grabbed the machine gun from Kathy's hand and threw it in the back. "Light them up."

Chad immediatly stopped gossiping and grabbed onto the gun, then hopped back to his position like the "hero" he was. "I got it."

Alex looked forward and saw the toll booth approaching rapidly. He shook his face to calm himself and looked over at Kathy, who was readying herself as well. He couldn't help but think back to him and Luke doing the same...

He shook the thought out of his head, trying to focus himself further.

They approached the toll station and halted the car in front of a pair of bandits. A third bandit climbed out of the toll booth, and walked to the driver's side of the vehicle. Alex rolled down his window.

"What is your purpose for passing?" The Bandit asked.

"We were told to head to San Francisco in order to aid the Bandit's struggle in controlling the citizens." Alex responded in his most mature tone possible.

"When was this information told?" He questioned with a low brow.

"We heard it over the radio from Mr. Bowman himself.  He wants to stop the ferry program and is requesting reinforcements to aid him."  Alex quickly replied.

The Bandit gave a sign of recognition, but then grew a stern expression.  "Give me a moment."  He said.  He looked over to the wall of the toll booth at a sign that nearly gave Alex a heart attack.

The sign had a photographed license plate on it with the caption: Terminate.  And the license plate was that of their truck.

Alex slowly wedged open the window and whispered, "Don't shoot."  He shut the window, and began to roll up his side window.  The man had walked to the back of the truck.

"WHAT THE FU..."  The bandit screamed as Alex slammed on the gas.  The truck flew forward, slamming into the unsuspecting pair of Bandits, sending them flying into the floor ahead.  Gunshots riddled the back of the truck and the side windows from the other Bandit.

Suddenly, the back door flung open as Chad began blazing at the downed Bandits. "BURN YOU BASTARDS!" He screamed.

Alex opened the panel and screamed at Chad to stop shooting, but he wouldn't listen. He continued to fire endless rounds at the Bandits.

But the bullets ran out. Chad ripped out the ammunition magazine, and threw it on the ground. He shut both doors and ran to the panel to show off his great work.

"I killed em!" He celebrated. "But we're out of ammo in this magazine."

"You IDIOT!" Alex screamed, stopping the truck. "We have no other magazines!! You were shooting dead Bandits!! You single handedly screwed us all!!"

Chad grew a terrified expression before falling down from the confusion. He was pelted with insults from the other members of the group in the back.

Suddenly, the radio buzzed to life. "To all operating Bandits, we have caught the traitors. They are driving a white truck with the issued license plate. They were last seen on Interstate 580 heading west towards San Francisco. Kill on sight. Repeat, kill on sight."