Starting the Slowpocalypse: Slowpocalypse

By James Litherland

The end has come, and everything will change. But the moment has been prepared for.

When Director Jonathan Miles seals the compound containing the first Federal University and Research Complex to keep the facilities out of the hands of a secessionist governor, he upends the lives of everyone in the community—and sets off a chain of events hastening the collapse of an already crumbling civilization…

The first 3 novels plus the prequel short story in 1 huge volume!

(Contains the complete text of Slowpocalypse Book 1: Critical Contingencies, Book 2: Threat Multiplication, and Book 3: Compromised Inside, plus the prequel short story Durable Impressions.)

Critical Contingencies

Katherine Miles and David Belue, students at the first Federal University, part of the FURC in central Florida, face a new and dangerous reality when their community is suddenly cut off from the world outside for its own safety. Each will try in their own way to protect the community from threats without and within. That could cost them their lives…

Threat Multiplication

Mysterious power outages, disrupted communications, and a rash of illness among the guards are only the beginning. Soon FURC Security Chief Anthony Nelson and his small, mostly inexperienced staff are overwhelmed by the hacking of the local network, the contamination of the food supply, and a seemingly impossible murder. And Lt. Katherine Miles can't help. She's far from the FURC on a secret mission and unable to warn them—if she can make it back at all, she'll be bringing even more trouble with her…

Compromised Inside

Sealed off from the crumbling civilization outside, the residents of the FURC may be safe from external threats, but their isolation only speeds the spread of a dangerous new infection, even as an upcoming election exposes divisions among them. And the fourteen square mile compound may not be big enough to prevent the pressure from building into violent upheaval…

Durable Impressions

As civilization has slowly crumbled, Katherine Miles has led a life of privilege—but also one of preparation. Now, under the ominous shadow of a society coming apart at the seams, her mettle will be tested for the first time. (This prequel short story is a triptych portraying Kat's first few steps on the path to awesome.)

And the series continues with Book 4: Peripheral Encounters, Book 5: Political Homicide, and Book 6: Seismic Disruption.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Outpost Stories
• Release date: Jul 20, 2015
• ISBN: 9781513050560

James Litherland

James Litherland is a graduate of the University of South Florida who currently resides as a Virtual Hermit in the wilds of West Tennessee. He’s lived various places and done a number of jobs – he’s been an office worker and done hard manual labor, worked (briefly) in the retail and service sectors, and he’s been an instructor. But through all that, he’s always been a writer. And after over thirty years of studying and practicing his craft, he took the plunge and published independently. He is a Christian who tries to walk the walk (and not talk much.)

Book preview

Part 1

Senior

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On a rural road in Northern Florida

7: 50 p.m. Saturday, May 27th

KAT KEPT HER eyes peeled for potential problems as she sped down the two-lane highway. Far from any large towns, there was usually no traffic to speak of on the four and a half mile stretch between the gates of her private school and the gates of home, but any vehicle she did see might be a threat. The state police didn’t bother patrolling through here anymore, and the local sheriff’s men didn’t venture out unless they had to. These days, trouble might appear anywhere at any time.

Even here. And if she ran into some, there was no one around to help her. She’d be on her own. So far she’d never needed to use the tactical driving instruction she had received, but the way things were going, the day would come. It might be today.

It wasn’t. Kat soon reached the turn-off for her house and pulled up next to the digital lock box before the gates without having encountered a soul. It felt eerie, even as it was a relief. She leaned out the window of her beautiful blue pickup and punched in the current code to open the gates, still wary though the shrubs and trees that might’ve concealed somebody near the gates had long ago been cleared away. When the gates had swung open, she drove just beyond them and waited. Even when they had closed behind her without anyone getting through, she did not allow herself to relax, not completely. The fence and the gates were only so much protection.

For almost a year now she’d been living at home alone, ever since her father had moved to the FURC compound where he worked—her mother had been living everywhere but home for a long time—and so Kat had learned to be careful. Very careful.

As late as it was, diffuse light still spread across the sky, enough to see by, and the hairs on the back of her neck quivered when she saw the distant hulk of a vehicle already parked in the spacious driveway in front of her house. But by the time she pulled up next to the big black SUV, she’d relaxed again. She knew who her visitor had to be, and she could guess where he would be waiting for her.

Climbing out of the air-conditioned cab into the hot, heavy air of an early summer, Kat darted up the few steps to the deck as Red rounded the corner and came bounding up to her with his usual enthusiastic welcome.

Kat crouched down and let him slobber all over her while she rubbed the top of his head. Then she scratched behind his ears and grabbed him by both sides of his head and looked him in the eye. Okay, boy, it’s good to see you too.

If her visitor had been anyone other than who it was, Red wouldn’t have been waiting for her. Striding across the boards, Kat circled around the house and took the wooden walkway that connected to the little building behind it, but she refused to run. Red trotted along after her, up to the door of the dojo her dad had built for her several years ago. She slid the door aside and saw Tony.

Kneeling on the tatami mat floor, his eyes shut, he dared to grin at her appearance. Red whined and turned back. The dog knew better than to enter the dojo, and he had no interest in the man inside. Unlike Kat.

She called out after the black lab as he leaped off the walkway onto the grass, forgetting her and chasing after a yellow butterfly. Alright, go play.

Turning back, she saw Tony rise smoothly to his feet, still with that blasted grin on his face. You’re the only person I’ve ever known who would name a black lab Red.

He looked just the same as she remembered. I haven’t seen you in ages. She stepped into the big open space of the one-room building. What brings you to these parts, anyway? Surely you didn’t come just to see me. Though it would’ve been nice.

Work, what else? But as I was in the neighborhood, I thought you’d like a little training. Since it’s been ages. He tilted his head toward the open door. What are you going to do about him when you go to the FURC?

What do you mean?

Students aren’t allowed to bring pets—I’m sure you know that—or do you intend to break the rules? You certainly can’t leave him here all by himself.

She shook her head. I’m not going to start with dad pulling strings to get me special treatment. As the daughter of the FURC director, Kat would have a difficult enough time without that.

For the last ten months, Red had been her only companion here. She had always been the only one who’d taken care of him, and when she left, there’d be no one. She’d been avoiding thinking about that. Neither my dad nor Caroline would take him in, or take proper care of him if they did. So I suppose I’ll have to find him a good home. I’ll miss Red terribly though. Could you take him, Tony?

He snorted. I don’t have the time to take proper care of him either, Kat. But I’ll try to find a family inside the FURC who’d do right by Red—at least you could visit him from time to time, then.

Kat felt a warm sense of relief. If Tony said he’d do something, it was as good as done. Thanks, Tony, I’d really appreciate that. She tried to ignore all the other things she was feeling at the moment. If only you’d called to warn me, instead of showing up all of a sudden. She hadn’t prepared herself to see him again so soon, and now all the hard work she’d been doing to convince herself that it had only been a schoolgirl crush was going down the drain. Still, it had been an awfully long time. She had missed him and hadn’t realized how much until now.

He nodded. I would’ve called, except that I left my FURCS pad back at the compound.

Her ears pricked up. He would not have risked calling her on an open line, not knowing who might be listening in, but the FURCS pads were encrypted and secure—and the only reason for him not to have taken his with him would be to keep the FURCSnet from pinging his location, so there’d be no electronic record of just where he’d been and when. It made her wonder exactly what he’d been up to.

Now, did you want to train? Not that you need it, but since I’m here...

Kat nodded and started to stretch as she walked around the room. What happened to always needing to work at improving my skills?

Tony watched her as she circled him. You can already defend yourself far better than you’re likely to need, either here or at that fancy school of yours. And you’ll be safe in the FURC once you start classes in the fall.

She glared at him. What did he think it was like at school? Safe wasn’t the word she would use, and she wasn’t convinced that FedU would be any better than high school. And what did he think she wanted to do with her life, that she wouldn’t need the training she’d made a part of herself over the years? She wasn’t going to go into law like her father, and there was no way she’d act like her mother.

Since the glare wasn’t working, she just avoided looking at him as she continued limbering up. You said likely. There are still plenty of dangers I’m not ready to face, aren’t there? Even if I’m moving from one gated community to another. Those gates don’t protect us that much, Tony. And the way the world is going, soon no one will be safe anywhere.

You know the FURC is far more than some gated community, Kat. You’ll be safer there than your hypothetical anywhere.

True. She’d visited FedU a couple times, and it had strict security like a military base, even down to the armed guards patrolling the perimeter. And I’ll be just as vulnerable going to and from the place as I am commuting to high school.

Tony snorted. "But you’ll be living there inside. And it’s not only the size of a small city, it’s got restaurants and shops and everything else you’d want. So there’s no need to leave and go anywhere. And it is getting bad out there, worse all the time. Which is why your dad and I will be happy to have you safe in the FURC this fall."

Kat looked at him then and saw he was no longer grinning. While it might be relatively safe inside, it sounded almost like a prison—except that she’d be allowed to come and go, even if there were limits on when and how. And though she had visited FedU a couple times, she hadn’t had the opportunity to look around and see all these wonderful things Tony was talking about. Even so, she couldn’t imagine herself staying inside those walls all the time. Tony clearly came and went, so why shouldn’t she?

She saw his lips twitch as if he were reading her mind—thankfully, he couldn’t really. I’m sure you and my father are too busy to worry about me. Or to spend time with her even once she was attending FedU. But that was alright—she’d be busy living her own life and wouldn’t mind too much. So I need to be able to take care of myself, in any situation. Besides, training is fun.

Tony looked her up and down as she continued to walk and loosen up. At least you’re wearing sensible clothes you can actually move in, prepared for a fight. And I think you’ve warmed up enough now. Are you ready to start? What will it be?

Kat smiled. "Ren-dori, of course." Though the exercise was supposed to continue indefinitely, she found it usually ended far too soon.

Of course. He approached her slowly, preparing to attack.

Incredibly handsome he might be—he also happened to be twelve years older than her and a friend of her father’s. She even had vague memories of her mother flirting with Tony, back when Caroline actually deigned to spend some time with her daughter, playing the role of wife and mother.

Then his fist was flying toward her face, and she was shifting slightly to let his arm pass through the space where her head had been. She was turning in to try and put him off balance as she grabbed at his wrist, but his arm was already retracting and pushing down through her elbow. All of a sudden he was behind her, twisting her arm. Then she was flopped over, her face pressing into the mat as he pinned her to the ground.

What was that, Kat? Where’s your head at?

Sorry, I was distracted. She couldn’t say what her mind had been preoccupied with. All of the reasons why she shouldn’t even think about Tony—but none of those things mattered to her heart. She had to face the fact that this wasn’t just a crush.

Tony shook his head as he released her and took a step back. This isn’t going to do you much good if you can’t last longer than that.

I know. And usually she did. How would she manage when she was living at the FURC and actually seeing a lot of him? It would be a problem, and especially since she didn’t intend to avoid him—just the opposite. She sprang to her feet, sighing as she eased her shoulder. Her feelings for this man hadn’t caused her this kind of trouble when she was younger—why should it be so different now?

Well, get your head in the game—if you want to use this time to your advantage.

She certainly wanted to do that but couldn’t see how. Whatever other obstacles were in the way, one stood seemingly insurmountable before her, staring her in the face—Tony didn’t see her as a woman. He probably couldn’t see her as anyone but the girl she had been when he’d first started training her, as the daughter of his best friend. It was hopeless.

The only thing she’d get out of her time with Tony would be some much-needed training, so she had to concentrate on that. I’m focused now. Let’s begin again.

When he punched, Kat responded the same way she had before, let herself make the same mistake—this time, though, as Tony was twisting her arm, she was straightening her shoulder and dropping down to sit through the side of his knee. But he was turning already and that leg slipped away while his other leg was wrapping around her neck to send her back toward the mat. She dove toward the ground, cartwheeling out of his grip and away from him.

At least she had escaped, kept him from pinning her, but now they were back at square one. They began circling each other slowly, waiting for an opportunity to attack and start the drill all over again, and this time it would be different.

But first, Kat had a question. How can you be so confident I’d be able to defend myself if I needed to? I’ve never been attacked, for real, to find out for sure how I’d react. She felt fairly confident herself, but not completely, and she wanted to know.

Tony nodded. You can never know how you’re going to respond, not for sure, until it happens. Especially the first time. But part of the reason you’ve never had to defend yourself is the way you move. It sends a message to people’s subconscious, that they shouldn’t mess with you, even if they’re too thick to realize that’s what they’re seeing.

She scowled. I’d rather not rely on somebody’s subconscious reluctance to avoid an attack.

Don’t knock it. How many times have I tried to tell you the best way to win a fight is never to get in one? But if anybody is so stupid as to go after you, I trust the training that’s been drilled into you—it’s a part of you now, and you would react the right way without even thinking about it. It’s ingrained.

Kat felt that way too, but she still wasn’t sure of herself. If it were just one person, attacking her like Tony did in practice, but without his skills, then yes. Alright, but what if I were facing half a dozen opponents or more? Like one of these roving gangs.

Tony shook his head slightly, without letting his gaze leave her—she could always attack him first. I doubt they would, but if they should, run. It’s better to avoid a confrontation whenever you can, and that goes triple for gangs.

What about when running isn’t an option? If I had been in Miami when the riots broke out, would I have been able to escape the mobs? She thought about the images she’d seen on the net. I saw plenty of people trying to run and still getting caught up in the violence. She suppressed a shudder thinking what it must’ve been like.

He paled and nodded her point. Sometimes it doesn’t help to run—it might be the worst thing you can do. I pray to God you’ll never be in that kind of situation, Kat, but if you are, your best option might be to hide. Those kinds of mobs, and the gangs too, for that matter, are just looking for a target to loose their violence on, so if they don’t know you’re there, they’ll find someone else. I know that sounds like a difficult thing to do, but those videos don’t begin to show how bad it really was in Miami. And after the reporters were gone, it got even worse.

That sounded like he’d been there. Shaking her head, she kept a wary eye watching out for a potential attack. That doesn’t sound very heroic.

Tony scowled at her. The last thing I want you to do is try to be a hero, especially in a situation like that.

Alright, but what about one of the gangs looking for victims? He probably thought she was still talking about stuff she’d seen on the net. She didn’t know what it had been like when Tony went to high school, but that had been a long time ago. And he’d clearly seen much worse since. But even Kat’s high-priced private school was a pretty rough place. If a group like that picked me to prey on, what should I do?

Tony’s color had returned, and he actually managed to grin. It’s unlikely. Just like a single attacker, they’re searching for someone weaker than they. A gang is just a bunch of bullies, and like all bullies, they’re cowards at heart, and they need people to be afraid of them. Those are the people they’ll target. And that’s not you.

"Aren’t there times I should be afraid?"

Never. Fear is always there—sometimes softly tapping, sometimes banging on the door—but never let it in, Kat. If you do, it will take over, and you cannot allow your actions to be dictated by fear. Every move you make should flow from what you know in your heart is right. Guided by your intelligence and training.

Kat snorted. And suppose I look at the circumstances and my intelligence tells me to be afraid.

Tony nodded. I don’t mean ignore any threats you may be up against. You have to pay attention to the particulars of your situation at all times to assess your options. I’m talking about the emotion of fear, the pressure of which will try to push you into panic mode, which will short-circuit your intelligence and training.

The fight-or-flight response. Doesn’t that save people’s lives?

It can and has, but it’s an unreasoning reaction that can also get you into a lot of trouble. Force you to flee when you ought to fight or vice versa. Even if you respond the right way, without judgment your flight might be in the wrong direction, or you might lash out in a frenzy instead of relying on your training, which will serve you much better. The worst is when the simultaneous pressures to fight and to flee paralyze you, prevent you from doing either. That’s deadly.

"Alright, let’s say I manage not to give in to fear or look weak, and still some gang of bullies wants to attack me—how should I react?"

He nodded again. It’s true, though they may be cowards, their numbers give them a sense of power out of proportion to the reality. They have a kind of group mindset that keeps them from acting with the same sense of self-preservation they’d have as individuals. So the key is breaking through that kind of thinking to destroy the group dynamic.

It made sense, and it was similar to how Kat had been thinking herself. I have to force them to fight as individuals.

Tony frowned. "That’s not exactly what I meant to say. Singling them out and taking them out one-by-one isn’t enough. You have to really bring home to them the reality of the danger they’re in from you, and that means making them afraid. And I know it would be hard for you, but the only way to really do that in the kind of situation we’re talking about is to make them squeal. You have got to cause somebody pain, force them to cry out. That sound of suffering can get through to anyone."

Not what she’d thought. I could do that if I had to. At least she hoped she’d be able to if she had no other choice.

He peered at her as they continued to circle. I wonder. I’m not talking about tossing somebody to the ground. I’m talking about deliberately inflicting pain. Even with your own life or someone else’s life at stake, I doubt you could do that.

Kat noticed the angle of his foot shift and slid to the side, and the moment passed. Like you said, I’ll probably never be in that situation to find out what I would or wouldn’t do. She saw his right foot crossing behind his left as he stepped and let herself stop where she stood. Wouldn’t those same tactics also work against a mob?

Tony shook his head. Even cries of agonizing pain won’t pierce the mindless violence of the mob mentality. Unless you happen to be carrying a water cannon around with you, or a load of tear gas canisters, the only thing to do is get away. Run, hide, or run and hide. Just don’t get distracted.

As he made that last remark, he closed—feinted with a jab while kicking at her shin. Kat hooked his leg with her own and started to spin him around, intending to go for a chokehold, but he dropped as he turned and grabbed her shirt to pull her over him as he went. She twisted as she was falling, rolling off to the side and taking one of his arms with her, extending it and stretching him out flat. She came up to a crouch twisting his arm to lock his elbow and shoulder, pressing him into the mat.

She’d done it. She’d pinned Tony so completely that the never-ending drill had finally finished with her in control for once. A sense of deep satisfaction coursed through her body. This was what it felt like to win.

Then the bones of his arm seemed to melt in her hands, just for a moment, and then she felt his hand wrapping around her wrist and pulling her in. Tony had curled into a ball, and the next thing she knew, his feet were planted in her stomach and lifting her up and into the air. But his hand was still there, on her wrist. She focused on that single connection between them as she flew, feeling for the moment she could turn it to her advantage.

Part 2

Freshman

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Inside the Boom Town Shopping Mall

1:35 p.m. Saturday, March 2nd

KAT WALKED THROUGH the wide, bright spaces of the mall, following her friends but paying a lot more attention to the people shopping around them. Some were clearly other FedU students, some families out shopping together, but most were teenagers. Those not from the FURC likely all lived in this little boom town born of the inflow of money and jobs that had come when the FURC had been constructed. They’d even named the place Boom Town.

A cacophony of jabbering voices against a background of imitation music created a constant wall of noise. No doubt the teenagers liked the stimulation, but it was one of the reasons coming to the mall was not one of Kat’s favorite activities. Her friends had wanted to shop here, however, and Kat needed new clothes, so here she’d ended up. Even though there were plenty of nice shops outside the mall. And inside the FURC too, for that matter.

Sara and Ashley weren’t paying any attention to her or the other shoppers around them. They were chatting, about boys apparently, and contemplating the fashions displayed in various store windows, on which they occasionally commented—regarding the style, or lack thereof, of different outfits. Kat didn’t particularly care to talk about either.

Then Sara glanced back to cast a malicious grin at Kat striding along behind them. Kat completely lacks any sense of style. She turned back to Ashley with a wicked smile. Either that or she doesn’t use the flare she must have been born with, considering who her mother is. You would expect her to look at least a little glamorous, wouldn’t you? But here she is, wearing a loose-fit blouse and baggy jeans, completely hiding her figure.

Ashley shook her head. Her mother?

Didn’t you know? Kat is Caroline Sanderson’s daughter. Though you would never guess it to look at her, and most people don’t seem to know.

Ashley’s mouth fell open. You must be joking. If Caroline Sanderson were her mother, why haven’t we met her?

Why do you think her mother never visited her at the high school? Why would someone of her status have lowered herself to spend time with the likes of you and me?

Ashley blinked. So we could get her autograph of course.

Kat suppressed a smile. She really shouldn’t be amused—it was bad enough that Sara had somehow found out that Caroline was Kat’s mother, but now her supposed friend was sharing that information. Not with the whole world, but she might as well be. Kat would rather no one knew, but it looked as if it was out of the bag now, and soon it would spread to everyone at FedU. Unless she could stop her friends from telling anyone else.

Sara snorted. Her parents are separated, and I hear it wasn’t pretty. But I also hear that the great actress is taking a break from the stage to come and teach drama here fall semester. That should be deliciously awkward. She turned to give Kat another sly grin. Shouldn’t it?

My parents get on pretty well, considering that they happen to be separated. Kat continued scanning the crowds as she talked, not bothering to look Sara in the eye. Of course, Caroline was capable of making any situation awkward if she wanted to. I don’t think these jeans are baggy, either, just loose-fit. I like them that way, and I look just fine. There was no use trying to explain to her two friends why she would only ever wear clothes that allowed her to move freely, ready to defend herself. Just in case it were ever necessary.

Sara shook her head. Did you hear that, Ashley? ‘Just fine.’ She could surely find herself something more stylish if she really wanted.

I do like to look good. Although what Kat considered looking good differed greatly from what her friends or her mother thought. Clean and neat, that was what Kat aimed for. And it was only her disorderly mass of hair that thwarted her. I’m just picky about what I wear. It was a challenge to find outfits that fit her requirements for freedom of movement and looked fashionable as well. Perhaps she would find something here at the mall. Anything was possible.

Shaking her head again, Sara spoke to Ashley in a loud stage whisper. Kat’s picky about boys, too. Do you remember her going on a single date in high school? And she’s yet to get herself a boyfriend here—despite all the smart, good-looking men to choose from.

Kat knew she shouldn’t respond to that. She’d dated a couple of boys in high school, briefly, but it was difficult to find anybody interesting compared to Tony. So I’m discriminating—what’s wrong with that? Then she regretted that she’d risen to Sara’s baiting. She didn’t care what they thought, and she should have kept her trap shut.

Better to think about Tony, as hopeless as that was. Since she had wanted to see more of him, Kat had signed on with Security as a safety aide as soon as she’d arrived at the FURC, to fulfill her work requirement. But through a semester and a half now, Tony had hardly been around—just enough that she found it frustrating that he wasn’t there more. But at least she enjoyed the job.

She knew her feelings for him wouldn’t go away and that they’d likely never be more than friends—if Kat wore an outfit that showed off her figure, Tony would worry about her catching cold.

The only reason he didn’t worry about her driving around at night in one of their little electric carts was because there was so little trouble at the FURC. With everyone so well-behaved and her only job being to drive back and forth across the well-lit, well-traveled paths making people feel safe and carrying lone pedestrians to their destinations, Kat might as well have been sitting behind a desk doing nothing but paperwork. And yet she still had to have a partner along. If she had a bigger complaint about her job than the lack of time with Tony, it was the complete absence of any real excitement.

Kat.

She turned away from her inner grumbling and saw Sara had stopped to stare at her. And she met her friend’s eyes with a steady gaze. What?

You can get us front row seats, can’t you? Surely your mother will give some public performances while she’s at the FURC. And if you can get us backstage to meet her as well, then I’m sure Ashley and I could manage to keep mum about who your mom is—couldn’t we, Ashley?

Ashley nodded eagerly, which was likely meant to be reassuring, and Kat sighed. There was a whiff of blackmail to their request, more than a whiff, but she was certain to give in—it was difficult enough to have her dad as the director, the last thing she wanted was everyone knowing Caroline was her mother. And she felt confident her mother felt the same way about having Kat for a daughter.

Just then a high-pitched scream cut through the noise around them and saved her from having to respond right away. Sara started running in the direction of the commotion, followed by Ashley and most everyone else. Kat rushed to catch up, hoping she’d be able to keep her friends out of trouble. Reaching the back of the crowd, she pushed her way through the throng to see what they were all staring at. But when she saw, she wished she hadn’t looked.

Kat didn’t know who had screamed—one of the bystanders, presumably, because it certainly wasn’t the kid on the ground. In the big open space before the entrance to the store at the end of the mall, two teenagers were kicking a third, who was curled into a fetal position on the cold, hard floor and whimpering like a wounded animal. Three other delinquents stood there laughing, looking like they were waiting for their turn. The crowd stood well back with horror plain on their faces. But they kept watching.

Searching around for somebody to help the boy, she noticed a mall security cop, but he wasn’t much more than a boy himself. And he’d withdrawn past the gate to the big shop. His face was so green, Kat felt sure he was about to be sick—he certainly wasn’t about to intervene. Hopefully he had called the real cops, but there was no way to know how long before they might show up. Meanwhile, that poor kid was still taking a beating.

Someone had to do something.

Kat found herself taking a step forward, toward the scene before her, and paused. Tony had always taught her to avoid trouble whenever she could, and here she was about to walk straight into a dangerous situation. Reacting to being attacked was one thing, this was something else entirely. But she had to do something.

The first thing she needed to do was draw their attention away from their victim and give that boy a break from the beating. So she started walking forward again, away from the crowd and toward those bullies. And she felt fear with each step. She shook her head at herself and tried to ignore it. She knew she had the training to do what needed to be done, so why should she be afraid?

They hadn’t noticed her yet, so she shouted out at them, Hey! Stop that.

The three jokers just standing there were first to turn their heads to see her, and they stopped laughing. The other two delivered a couple more kicks to the kid on the ground before looking up. For a long moment all five simply stood and stared at her.

Kat continued striding toward them—while her brain kept bringing up the different ways she might mess this up. She could get herself hurt, or in trouble. She could get someone else injured, or damage somebody more than she meant to. She could fail to save that kid.

Brushing aside those anxieties, she focused her mind on options. The five bullies before her weren’t hesitating anymore—they abandoned their old prey and began to spread out as what must’ve looked like new prey approached. The three who’d been standing and laughing circled to the sides and behind her, surrounding her. They might be stupid, but they’d enough low cunning to form this trap. One she was blithely walking into—or so it must have seemed to them. She saw flickers of doubt on their faces. Prey didn’t usually walk into the jaws of predators.

Kat believed. She trusted that everything would turn out all right.

Having done all she could for the victim for the moment, she needed to focus on taking out his tormentors. Ignoring the three who were closing in on her from the back and sides, she decided on the two still standing in front of her. If she had to cause anybody pain—and that’s what Tony had told her she’d have to do—then she would show the couple who’d been beating the stuffing out of that poor kid what it felt like to be on the receiving end.

She darted toward the beefy blond on the right first. He swung at her, but she slipped past that fist with ease and drove her elbow into his breastbone, then slammed her shin up between his legs.

Collapsing to his knees, he gasped for air. That was no good though—they had to make some noise. Whirling to face the other one, he was already rushing at her, bent low to try and tackle her. She pivoted and brought her right knee crashing through the side of his face, and kept turning, grabbing his hand as he stumbled past her. And she bent back his little finger until he howled.

She turned swiftly, taking his finger with her as she spun to scan her surroundings. He trailed after his finger, crying. She saw the three stooges, paralyzed and disbelieving, and the beefy blond, back on his feet and glaring at her like an enraged bull.

Stomping her heel down and squashing the toes of the guy she had in hand, Kat wrenched his finger again and levered his arm to propel him sprawling toward his angry friend. The blond bully shoved his oncoming friend out of his way, feinted with his left, and swung his right fist up into her stomach.

Kat relaxed and folded around his arm while he drove her back and up into the air. Then she turned and used her arm to twist his, levering his elbow up as she regained her footing and spinning his back to her. With a quick bounce and jerk, she popped his shoulder out of joint. Then she applied some more torque to his arm. And he started screaming.

All of a sudden the three who had been standing and staring broke and ran, and the crowd parted to let them go. Disgusted, Kat threw the bleating bully into a pile on top of his friend. Then she strode over to the boy on the ground.

He appeared to be in so much pain, she hesitated to touch him. She brushed her fingers gently to his cheek. There now. Those guys won’t hurt you anymore. You’re safe, and help is on the way. She sincerely hoped so, anyway. This kid needed medical attention, and fast.

The boy’s eyes turned so he could look up at her sideways, and he managed to croak a couple words. Thank you.

Kat shook her head, uncomfortable and unsure how to respond. Now, you just relax. The pain will go away soon. One way or another.

The kid closed his eyes, and she stood up, backing away and giving him some room. Then she saw that her friends Sara and Ashley had come forward, as well as that mall cop. It was him she spoke to. I hope you called an ambulance already.

He nodded with his mouth hanging open. That was incredible—what you did. He glanced down at the two who remained splayed out in a heap. But I don’t think you want to stick around.

Kat snorted. You can’t possibly think I’m worried about what those two might do.

The mall cop shook his head. I called the sheriff’s office. It’ll take them a while to get here though, since they always come in full tactical these days, as if it were war. And they won’t be happy about what you did to those guys, or that you did their job. And that’s on top of their not liking you people from the FURC to begin with.

Kat bristled. Someone had to stop those guys. And I noticed you weren’t doing anything. You have a gun—you could’ve at least threatened them to get them to stop wailing on that kid.

But he was shaking his head again. I’d lose my job if I got involved. I’m not even supposed to call it in, not if it’s only a disturbance in the common areas. As long as it stays outside the store, the owners don’t want the sheriff’s deputies showing up. It disrupts business.

Who would’ve thought this kid showed courage just in calling the cops? Not Kat. She had failed to realize how bad things were getting out here. "Well, I’m glad they’re coming—they can take care of those two at least." And maybe track down the others, but that was their job, and she’d leave them to it. Why would they dislike people from the FURC though?

He sighed. But if you’re still here, they’ll probably take you into custody as well. Maybe just to ask you questions, and maybe they’ll let you go. But it’s not something I’d want to go through, and you never know.

Kat didn’t imagine she’d like how she’d be treated either. And although she was curious why they’d have such resentment toward the FURC, she wasn’t about to stick around and ask them.

Glancing over to where the victim was still lying on the ground, she noticed a nice-looking older couple had approached to talk to him and help him wait for the paramedics. The rest of the crowd was gone already—likely to avoid having to deal with the authorities. Kat ought to follow their example.

Then she noticed one of the ubiquitous surveillance cameras and realized everything that had happened would’ve been recorded. She couldn’t guess what they’d make of it, but she suspected that they’d be able to identify her from the footage. Perhaps if she was already gone when they arrived they might not go to the trouble. She really didn’t want her dad or Tony hearing about this. At least if she got back safe inside the FURC compound she wouldn’t have to worry about them turning her over to the sheriff, whatever the circumstances. And it was time to stop thinking about it and hustle.

Kat whirled and started for the nearest exit, and then her friends were running to catch up with her. Sara was grinning from ear to ear.

That was awesome. You’re going to have to let me know how you can do all that, and show me how I can do it too.

Shaking her head, Kat hoped Sara would forget about it—even thinking of trying to teach her friend anything was a nightmare. Sara should stick to boys and clothes.

Ashley whined on her other side as she reached the doors and pushed her way out. But we haven’t even done our shopping yet.

Out into the parking lot and heading straight to the spot where she’d left her pickup, Kat sighed. I may not be able to come back here—it doesn’t sound as if I’d be very welcome, anyway—but you and Sara can come shopping anytime you like. And Kat was glad of the excuse not to accompany them.

She would be perfectly happy to buy everything she needed in the FURC shops from now on. And if the clothes weren’t stylish—

Well, there were a lot more important things in life. Aside from classes and dealing with Tony, and however she would manage once her mother was at the FURC, there was the job that needed to be done. And she wouldn’t complain anymore about the lack of excitement. She’d just wait.

Part 3

Officer

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Patrolling the back sector of the FURC

9:35 p.m. Friday, December 13th

KAT SCANNED IN every direction for signs of trouble as she jogged alongside the cart. She was still trying to get used to her new haircut, but she liked the feel of the breeze on the back of her neck—and the short bob seemed more like herself, like who she was supposed to be, than the straggly mess she’d had to deal with before. It was also smarter.

Susan was driving down one of the side roads at a nice, steady clip, while beside her in the passenger seat Ben was looking up at Kat like a little lost puppy. Instead of paying attention to his environment as Kat was trying to teach him to do.

She had to ask. What’s the matter, Laskey?

Ben tried to push the glasses he no longer wore up his nose before he replied. I just can’t see myself doing what you do, Officer Miles. Just watching you run is tiring me out. And the way you fight—

Ben Laskey had only volunteered for Security a few days ago. He had a lot to learn before he’d be an officer, but it was Kat’s job to teach him, to teach all the new recruits. And it was work she enjoyed.

She shook her head. You don’t need to be able to do what you see me do, so don’t try. You’re a really smart kid, and that intelligence will serve you better in this job than running a marathon or doing one hundred pull-ups. And the techniques you’re being taught for taking down troublemakers don’t depend on big muscles. Just look at Susan—she doesn’t exercise, and yet she’s fully capable of dealing with the bad guys.

Susan nodded without comment. Recently promoted to full officer, the woman was still soaking up the training like a sponge. A silent sponge. But then they were, weren’t they. Ben, on the other hand, did ask a lot of questions, and that was good. It helped him, but it also helped Kat become a better instructor to be put through her paces.

She glanced down again at his thin, undernourished frame. Still, you could use some more stamina. Spending all his time sitting in front of a screen or in a cart wasn’t doing the boy any good.

Kat returned her gaze to the night around them. Knowing her spirit was sensitive to signs of danger, she turned her thoughts to her toughest challenge—figuring out what lessons the new recruits needed to learn the most. Kat’s own training was far more extensive than anything her fellow officers were likely to ever need. And she was still studying the specific requirements of this job herself, so it was easier to just answer the questions Ben had for her. And he had still more.

Craning his head to peer out into the night in all directions, Ben looked bewildered. Why are you so alert all the time? It seems like whenever we run into trouble, it’s hard to miss. So why do you work so hard searching for it? Especially when the real dangers are outside the gates.

Kat sighed. How many things were wrong with what Ben had just said, and where did she begin setting him straight? First of all, it’s not work. Being aware of my environment is like breathing—it’s just something I do without thinking about it—and that is one way you’d better become like me, Laskey. If he couldn’t learn that lesson, he might turn out like Hope—doomed to be kept safe inside headquarters. But then, paperwork had to get done somehow, and by somebody. As long as it wasn’t Kat.

And second?

She snorted. It’s the job of Chief Gray’s guards to protect the compound from any assault. But just because things are as bad as they are on the outside is no reason to downplay the dangers inside. Wasn’t it only Saturday night you almost got killed? That scene at the Community Hall wasn’t one she would likely forget anytime soon. Much like that one night at the mall.

Ben nodded solemnly. But that was an aberration, wasn’t it? People here aren’t really like that.

Kat shook her head. People are scared and angry. The threat everyone in the compound was under was very real, even if most people seemed to be having a hard time realizing the seriousness of their situation. But ignoring it wasn’t helping people deal with it. Those emotions cloud their judgment, and can lead to some terrifyingly stupid behavior. Such as what happened Saturday night.

She looked at Ben and saw he was staring at her with awe again. She shouldn’t have brought up Saturday night—he seemed to think she’d saved his life and he was now in her debt. And she didn’t like that feeling. But it did remind Kat of that other helpless boy she’d stepped in to save. She was glad she had, on both occasions, even if she was in danger of making it a habit.

Ben seemed to need some reassurance, though. That kind of thing won’t happen again, will it?

Hopefully not, but as long as people are afraid, we’re likely to see them acting out their anger, so we need to be ready. They might witness worse things than Saturday night, but Kat wanted them vigilant, not afraid.

Is there a third thing, Officer Miles?

Her eyes returning to search the shadows in the distance, Kat nodded without looking at him. Just because some dangers announce themselves loudly doesn’t mean some won’t try to sneak up on you. Of course you don’t want that to happen, and it won’t if you’re paying attention. Look closely, and then you may be able to see the seeds of trouble before something erupts into the kind of mess you can’t miss. If you can catch those early warning signs, it gives you at least the opportunity to solve the situation before it gets out of hand and save everybody a lot of headaches. Including yourself.

That kind of awareness was something she was still working on herself, and probably always would be. But ever since the compound had been sealed, Tony had been around all the time to help her train. He still didn’t look at her as if she was an attractive woman, much less with desire—but he now treated her as an adult, a colleague, almost a peer. And that was even better, more satisfying in its way.

She’d been spending a lot of time with him lately, and she felt they were growing closer, becoming friends. Real, adult friends. The question she kept asking herself now was—was that enough? And if it wasn’t, what could she do about it?

Glancing at Ben again, she noticed his attention had wandered. And the fourth thing...

His head swung back to stare at her. There’s a fourth thing?

If you want to notice what’s going on, you have to learn to focus. But there’s more to it. Your senses take in far more data than your conscious mind can process—even with a brain like yours—so that what you think you see and hear is only a small portion of that information. The rest has been filtered out.

Ben blinked a couple times, then nodded. But how?

Kat grinned. Now she was talking his language. It’s similar to how video compression works. Your brain makes a lot of assumptions, based on past experience, about what it expects. It ignores data that represents the routine stuff, and then you fill in the blanks with what you expect to see and hear, so your mind can process the new details, the changing circumstances.

That sounds pretty efficient to me.

The problem is all the fine details that get lost in the process. Whatever natural mechanism it is in your brain that does the filtering—supposedly one’s subconscious—doesn’t do a very good job of it. You need to retrain your brain to get out of the way.

Ben shook his head. But wouldn’t you be overwhelmed by all the sensory input?

Kat shook her head back at him. No, your conscious mind can still only perceive a small subset of the data your senses take in. But you want a different part of your mind, a deeper part, deciding what to bring to the attention of your conscious thought. Whether you want to call it your spirit or your inner consciousness or whatever, it will do a better job of showing you what you need to be aware of, because it knows better what’s important, what you need to see. So you need to learn to listen to it. But how to do that is something you’ll have to discern for yourself. Through experience. Also known as trial and error.

Then, in the stillness of the night, while Ben was probably thinking up another question to ask her, a muted shout sounded in the distance. Kat heard the whisper of raised voices coming from far away, and while it might be just an argument now, it could become a fight if it wasn’t already. Either way, it had to be checked out.

She swung up onto the back seat, then stared at the back of Susan’s head. Turn right and don’t lose any time getting to the worker dormitory by the Ag Center. We need to put a stop to this quarrel before it gets out of hand.

Susan accelerated without asking any questions—there was no need to ask, Kat supposed, when you already knew the answer. Ben glanced back to give her a strange look before turning his eyes forward to peer into the night. Soon they were passing the last block of regular residential homes this far north and approaching the squat edifice that housed all of the agricultural laborers, halfway between Security HQ and the first of the student dorms.

By the building’s exterior lights, there were two groups of troublemakers visible. Facing off against each other on the lawn in front of the main doors, it had already escalated past raised fists and shouting to pushing and shoving. As their cart raced toward the combatants, the fists started flying.

One bunch looked like students while the other was clearly comprised of Ag workers, neither being a surprise. And Kat could see the shadows of people watching the fight from inside the lobby of the dormitory. She also noticed Ben’s shoulders stiffening with fear. And no wonder, considering what the boy had been through. This was an opportunity to help him get past that experience and learn a little at the same time though. And he wasn’t the only one who needed to be taught a lesson.

She looked at her pair of charges. We’ve got to end this now.

Ben gaped at her. If we try to break it up, won’t they just turn on us?

Only if we give them the chance. They’re not as tough as they look, you know.

Kat leaned forward to speak into Susan’s ear, so the woman could hear her above the shouts and the whine of the cart. Turn on your brights, blast your horn, and head straight at them as fast as you dare. Then she realized who she was speaking to and added a caveat. I don’t want you actually plowing into them, though.

Susan simply nodded and followed instructions—and she increased her acceleration with an enthusiasm that made Kat glad to have made herself clear about what she wanted. The cart barreled down the gentle slope toward the melee, with both lights and horns blaring.

All of a sudden the combatants turned as one to stare. Then they broke apart and started running in all directions—all except for one who just stood and kept staring. And as they got closer, Kat recognized the man.

That big nose and curly black hair could only be Brandon Radley under the circumstances. She’d already had one run in with the guy, who was quickly becoming a notorious troublemaker. A nasty piece of work, but he wasn’t going anywhere.

Kat judged her moment and jumped off the rear seat of the speeding cart and hit the ground running and chasing after one of the students who was fleeing the scene. Tackling him from behind, she had a few seconds to catch her breath as she zip-tied his hands behind his back before she was up and chasing after another one. This time one of the Ag workers, to be fair.

A few minutes later she had four fish bound and on the ground, and the rest except for Brandon had escaped. She hoped they’d gotten a good enough of a fright to refrain from getting into another fight, at least for a while. The four fish she’d caught ought to spend a night in a cell to learn a lesson. Only, Security didn’t have any cells. All they’d have to endure was being locked away in the conference room until somebody from Admin came by to give them a stern talking to. And make a note in their files.

Meanwhile Brandon Radley continued to stand there as the cart headed straight for him. Until Susan slammed on the brakes and managed to bring it to a halt about a foot and a half shy of running over the man. Then he spun to face Kat with a fuzzy glare of confused hostility.

The man was obviously plastered. He had been intoxicated the last time too, when he’d tried attacking her, but nowhere near as drunk as now. Tonight he could barely stand.

He swung wildly at her as she walked up to him. She turned in as she strode forward, jabbed her fingers into his shoulder, and sent him flopping to the ground in a heap. If only it were that easy all the time.

Turning him over onto his stomach, she zip-tied his wrists and lifted him to his feet. He still seemed as nasty a specimen as before, but he looked pathetic as well. The boy was turning out to be just the opposite of his father. George was a pillar of the FURC society and on the Community Council that advised Kat’s own father. That had surely been why the son had only gotten slaps on the wrist so far, and clearly those hadn’t done any good.

She dragged Brandon around to the back of the cart and plopped him down on the rear bench. She sat beside him and took a good grip on his shoulder—it wouldn’t do for him to fall off and hurt himself. Then she glanced around at the four she’d left floundering on the ground.

Leaning back, she grinned at Ben. Call Salazar and tell him we’re leaving a fresh catch for him, and to make sure he brings the big cart. Salazar was the senior officer on duty at this hour. He and his partner Gabe could take care of these troublemakers for her, while she dealt with Brandon.

Ben finished sending Salazar the message, then Susan glanced back at Kat for instructions. Do we wait here or head back to headquarters?

Neither. You know where Councilman George Radley lives? When Susan nodded, Kat continued. Then we’re going to dump this problem at his door, and he can help clean it up.

Susan nodded again and the cart was in motion. Kat looked at the miserable creature beside her with pity and disgust. No night at Security getting a lecture and no mark on his record would have any impact on Brandon at this point. And while she could push her own father to come down hard on the kid, they only had one real punishment right now, which was expulsion from the compound. And that wasn’t something she’d wish on her worst enemy.

Then the cart was pulling up into the driveway of the Radley home, and Kat hauled her catch off of the back seat and started for the door. She paused next to Susan sitting in the driver’s seat. Giving the woman a level look, she spoke carefully. Tell Tony that I’ve taken Brandon to his father’s house to have a talk with the two of them.

Brandon was an adult, and he lived at the dorm with the other Ag workers. Hopefully being hauled into his father’s house by Security would be humiliating—for father and son. Maybe that would motivate George to find some way to get through to the boy before it was too late and Brandon got himself into trouble he couldn’t get out of. This might be a last chance for him, and Kat hoped it worked.

Susan nodded with a gleam in her eye, and Kat knew the woman had understood. Tony needed to know about this, but it was up to him who else was told.

Kat smiled at Ben and then back at Susan. I’ll take care of this. It’s about time for you two to head home, so why don’t you go back to headquarters to give your report and log out.

Susan simply nodded, and Ben waved while the cart backed down the drive and onto the street. He kept waving as the buggy trundled off into the dark. Later, Kat would have to try to impress upon them why she’d handled it this way. Their job was to protect the people of this community. Even those who caused trouble, like Brandon.

Kat felt the weight of responsibility rest heavily on her shoulders—until this moment these evening patrols had been helping her relax after days working the new ‘secret’ assignment Tony had given her. Now she sighed as she thought about all the people she needed to try to help. Including Brandon.

But you couldn’t save people from themselves. If George couldn’t convince his son that he needed to get straightened out, it would only get worse. Kat had to give them that chance though. The most important lesson Tony had taught her was to do what she was convinced was right in her heart. Without worrying about the consequences.

CRITICAL CONTINGENCIES

(Slowpocalypse Book 1)

Prologue | Pushing the Button

Chapter 1 | Everything Changes

Chapter 2 | Almost Everything

Chapter 3 | This is Hardly Working

Chapter 4 | A Hard Day’s Night

Chapter 5 | Not Being Paranoid

Chapter 6 | Bit of a Dust-Up

Chapter 7 | Scattering Dust

Chapter 8 | Conspiracy Theories

Chapter 9 | Clear as Mud

Chapter 10 | Not So Covert Action

Chapter 11 | Home is Where

Chapter 12 | When it Pours

Chapter 13 | Conspiracy Facts

Chapter 14 | A Light Night

Epilogue | Battening the Hatches

Bonus Material

Prologue

Pushing the Button

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Outside the Florida Federal University and Research Complex

8:45 p.m. Friday, November 22nd

ANTHONY STOOD BEHIND a cedar, in the shadows beyond the glare of the floodlights, knowing that he could stroll right up to the guards and pass through the gate without difficulty—yet he intended to risk his neck breaking in.