staff we need? Brian, we need lots of coffee and if you can take control of compiling data?”
“Boss, it’s so nice to see you get back to work.”
“Oh, and get me some different clothes. I can’t work dressed like this, I feel out of place without BDUs and my side arm.”
Brian stood from his chair and threw a salute. “Sir, yes sir!” Then walked from the room laughing.
“You’re a giant pain in the ass, you shaved Sasquatch!” I yelled at his retreating backside.
Julie turned her chair to me and reached out. She turned my head to her and gave me a quick kiss. “I don’t know if I can handle being bossed around by you.” She laughed, stood, and walked away to handle what I’d asked her to do.
I turned my attention back to my work station and started opening and skimming the reports to get a gist of what they said. I created new files on the desktop and got to work categorizing. Some of the things I read, did not make me feel too happy. It was a plethora of Ridder movements, Zombie attacks, supplies, rescue reports, and a hundred other topics. I hadn’t noticed when Brian and Julie had come back. I’d picked up and started drinking a hot cup of coffee and was halfway through it, when I finally stopped to wonder when it was given to me. My brain was starting to get foggy and the pain had made a roaring come back. I drained the coffee tilted my head back and closed my eyes, letting a moan escape my lips.
A giant hand rested on my right shoulder. “I think we should get you some food and some pain medicine. Then back to the house so you can get some rest.”
I opened one eye and looked at Brian. “Buddy, I have so much work to do. I agree with a break for food but then I want to come back here. No medicine, that will just make it harder to concentrate on the work, that needs to be done.”
“You will have to rest at some point.” came Julie’s voice from my left. “You won’t get better if you don’t. Oh, and there is the fact that I need some alone time with you.” I swiveled my head quickly over to her and opened both eyes. She looked deep into my eyes and then slowly bit her bottom lip.
“I think we are done for today. Let’s hit the chow line to get some food and head back home, post haste.” For the first time I realized three new analysts were sitting next to Julie. Two women and one man, and they looked as tired as I felt. Julie turned in her seat to look at what I was staring at.
She laughed and punched me lightly in the arm. “You don’t remember meeting them do you?” She rolled her eyes at me and turned to face the new staff. “Looks like our illustrious leader was so busy earlier that he doesn’t remember meeting you. Dan, sitting next to me is Staff Sargent Ashley Redhill, next to him is Corporal Jeanette Lau, and last but not least, is Lieutenant Amanda Hammermeister of the Royal Canadian Air Force. She was a liaison at NORAD as a satellite reconnaissance analyst. She happened to be on vacation out on the west coast, when all the shit went down. The General met her at one of the refugee camps and tasked her out here with us. She is the one who got us access to those two satellites.
I unlocked the wheels from my chair and rolled myself over to where they sat. I shook each person’s hand and thanked them for joining our little ragtag group. I told them to call it a day and invited them to dinner with us. Only Amanda accepted, the other two had additional duties to perform for Kuppers. Julie took over the pushing duties from Brian and we made our way over to the cafeteria. I hated the looks that people gave me as Julie pushed me in. I felt like they had pity for me, which pissed me off to no ends. Julie left me at a table alone while she, Brian and Amanda went off to fetch food. I took out my trusty notebook and started to flip through it, reading over the check list for the next day’s goals. A shadow appeared over my shoulder and onto my notebook. I raised my head and