"What?!?" Arlene was startled. "What was it that was outside last night? Did they take Apoc? Well I think we should wait, don't you? We don't even know which way he went... oh you do know. Well I won't be able to help you if you take off into the woods. Maybe I should go call the deputy?"
Just then the 4x4 Bronco raced up the trail, bouncing crazily and slid to a stop. Natalie jumped out, her hair was a mess. "Oh Crudders! You have no idea the crap storm that is brewing in town. I tried calling you like a thousand times on the way here. Get in! We gotta get you all outta here."
Arlene stopped her with, "I think they've already been through here. In fact, she thinks Apoc has gone after whoever was here last night searching."
"Mother fluffer... I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Well the sheriff said he saw the wolf in the back of your RV and when that hit the airwaves things got crazy. The NSA showed up with an "advance advisory team" late last night. Apparently, the military was doing an secret urban training exercise the next state over, 'Ruby Circlet' and they are taking over the investigation from the local sheriff. The sheriff is now only a local advisor on the search." She waited for Arlene to say something, but Arlene looked confused.
Natalie continued, "So this military group showed up last night. Five big white semi trucks with no logos anywhere on them. According to the story the soldiers look like the death star stormtroopers right out of the movie star wars - they have black armor that covers them from head to toe. They have ninja swords or antenna on their backs, and whole bunch of other stuff that would make Boba Fett jealous. No one has seen any of their faces, heard them talk, or seen them eat or drink. It's like they aren't even human. They called them "Mazikin" but the only insignia on their armor says WEGR - which isn't any brach of the military I know of... And when they communicated no one could hear them. They have these electric ATV's which are amazing, so cool, and totally silent. But what sealed the deal for my boo — was that Stinger was with them, you know, the NSA advisors, and he seems to be in charge somehow. He was directing the Mazikin on where to search. He didn't believe you a 100% till he saw that guy in charge. But he really doesn't want to get into trouble for helping you. So I'm here to help you get outta dodge. They are still searching north of here. If we head west, there is a fire road that I know that connects to the interstate over the hill and you can take that all the way to Canada if you want. But you can't drive this minibus, they will be looking for it after what the Sheriff said, so it's gotta stay here."
Arlene looked upset, so Natalie explained. "They could have satellites looking for this vehicle anywhere in Pacific Northwest. If you drive out from under these trees they'll spot you in minutes."
I looked again at the fading trail that Apoc took. It pulled on the very sinews of my body to follow that trail, but I was afraid of what I may find at the trails end.
Arlene saw my look and Natalie followed intuitively. She knelt down next to me and put her hand on my ruff. "I know you want to go after him, but I don't know if there is anyway for you to help him here. It's gotten waaaay too hot around here. If he's smart he'll lay low. And maybe you're safer this way. I know you were hoping to find Dr. Shen and the compound, but I get the feeling that there's just too many of them here. They are not here to talk but they are here to destroy and probably wipe any trace of you off the face of the planet. I mean you are obviously on the right track they wouldn't go to all this trouble if you weren't... This just doesn't seem to be the right time because you've lost the element of surprise. If you pursue him now, I can't see a way that you get out of this." Natalie finished looking at the ground.
Arlene nodded, "It looks like you'll need to find another way to expose Dr. Shen."
I was so pissed. I wrote 'NOT FAIR' and then was going to write some some bad words. I only got out two letters.
