The hot sun scorched the landscape around us as we waited patiently again in the protective shelter of the recreational center.

Joseph had discovered a full length double sided mirror screen hidden in the back of the gift shop. Its interactive interface kept trying to refresh itself to the internet for updates frequently. Luckily it was untouched by anybody in its original state.
Well, except for its probably extremely outdated software.

Sometimes in certain areas we were passing through on the road had accessible data still flowing along mostly bigger metro areas and near cities.

The internet had survived for five full years as far I know without any body doing any real maintenance to it hardware or software wise with no problems. But slowly as time went on we noticed it disintegrated into lower and lower accessibility . I don't know what could have been done any ways to keep it going. Would there even be enough people left with internet technician training to keep fixing it?

The few people grasping at survival who were living there in the hotspots often jealously guarded the area. As we all have it know Knowledge is power and its power helps to make lives much easier.

I didn't stick around for too long to find out if they were friendly or not when we encountered them. Often there were stragglers who would rather hope for a small piece of the life we had before then face the grim reality that life will never be as easy like it was or ever will be.

Joseph eagerly filtered through its files soaking up all the information it had. Turning to face me often he would repeat the information he would find.

" Sage, did you know that an atoms nucleus is made up of neutrons and protons which denote their atomic weight in relation to their spot on the periodic table?"

I half heartedly payed attention to him nodding every couple sentences.

Did we miss them or are they just running late? Its been days that we' ve waited.

This place makes me nervous enough already, even though the location is remote and lonely. The landscape hardly has any type of cover or natural resources to survive off of. Rolling sands constantly polished the surface smooth hiding whatever creature scurried across it and the heat radiates from the landscape long after the sun sets.

" Ok, committee of streaks....I think that we missed Logan and Skylar" frowning at them.

Junior turned to look at me with wide eyes.

Fear.

I recognize the realization dawn across his young face. The darkening of his soft pale facial hair cast a grey shadow over his down turned mouth.

We need to return.

The RV will probably not be able to moved next year until we find new tires.

Joseph groans looking absolutely distraught. He really likes spending his time reading with the mirror. His new toy is going to be left behind.

I didn't see where Ruth had gone but knowing her she is somewhere exploring some corner of the center. I gruffly massage my closed eyelids, trying to make up a concise plan.

Right, the god awful creation that I planned to weld together as a backup is the only thing that could possibly replace the rv. The parts needed for the construction are strewn around the hangar. Its going to be a bitch moving around in it though. Making it work and be practical will be a challenge.

Joseph suddenly quieted completely with eyes narrowing.

"Listen" he said stilling our group.

A deep roar softly filtered past the walls of the building. It was barely even audible at first.

The roar of a diesel hybrid engine vibrated in the air as it got closer.

Joseph laughed, his eyes sparkling with delight. He twirled around flapping his hands excitedly making a happy dance.

I, on the other hand knew better than assume. It could be anyone.

Maybe even someone dangerous.

Pulling Joseph down toward the floor I gesture toward Junior.

" Lay low. If a fight breaks out save yourselves. Run away. Find me later." I say breathless with an even larger frown lining my forehead.

Junior took joseph by the hand pulling him away from me.

Slowly I scuttle to the nearest window, looking out at the road tense with impending dread.

Fuck, hopefully its them.

Fine sand scatters into the air, climbing higher into the sky as the wind strengthens over the road.

Finally I see the side of a large blue gleaming truck pass by in a blur. A long squealing sound pierced the air and a rumbling engine sounded, as its driver attempted to slowed down.

Plumes of dirt sprayed underneath its large tires, skidding the behemoth to a forced sudden stop.

The dusty air clears for a split second. Elegantly written over its side it read: Jersey & co. LLC.

Hot damn! Its them.

"Yes! Its Logan and Skylar, you guys"

I didn't even wait for them. I bolt out the double doors and ran to the road happy to see the truck.

The wind pushes sand into my face as it blows fiercely and tuggs at my clothes.

" Hey, you there?!" I shout at the cabin before daring to get any closer.

The door on the side pops open slowly and I see the familiar petite foot of Skylar as she kicks it wide open.

That illicits a protest from the driver " Hey, that my truck your kicking... She's my baby."

As the pale pixie slides carefully down the ground she shouts back " Sorry, babe...."

She smiles widely looking at me expectedly "well, what do we have here?!" Her eyes twinkle with gentle teasing and she flings her arms wide open pulling me into a squeezing hug.

" Hi, Skylar. Its good to see you too..... Joseph is dying to see you and so are we" gently returning her hug. It was nice to see they hadn't changed at all.

I looked her over when she released me to survey the area.

Her hair is in an intricate fish tail braid making her look even more ethereal and her clothes draped over her form loosely.

Behind me I could hear the skidding and running of my siblings finally making it to the truck. Joseph leaped into Skylar's open arms lifting her up in a massive bear hug. She giggled in surprise.

Joseph is practically the same height as skylar now. Following closely behind Junior strolled over, gently pulling joseph from skylar extending his right hand stiffly so that he could shake hands with her. She looked up at him as he greeted her, his hands barely grasping hers. " Auntie" is all Junior said stoicly before he turned around toward the back of the trailer.

Lately Junior has not really wanted to touch anybody anymore unless it was absolutely necessary. No familial affection whatsoever. Maaybe its his hormones maturing his body that are making him act this way?

Both Skylar and me look at each other with raised eyebrows shrugging our shoulders in unison. He is a growing adolescent and its a tough time for anyone going through it.

Logan materializes next to Skylar suddenly " kiddos!! Long time no see...." Observing each of us carefully.

" Times have been good to you no doubt, Joseph is taller and so is Junior. What brings you guys to these parts looking for us?" She asks inquisitivly.

Logan is the polar opposite of her fae like wife, Skylar. Shrewd, eagle eyed , and unfussy. I could tell from the sharp handsome features of logan when I first met her that she is a no nonsense person and an absolute amazon. She's still the tallest out of all us including the still growing Junior and is just as unexpectedly strong. She is no wilting willow tree. More like a proud redwood if you ask me.

Logan folded her arms infront of her body waiting for my response. I get nervous as the lines on Logan's face crease in concentration. It feels alot like the time when I accidently set off an oil fire in her shop when a power cell spontaneously combusted in my hand and I chucked it away from me into a bucket of what I thought was water.

Fun times.

Skylar walked over gently placing her hand in Logan's, softening her stance some.
" Babe, I am sure its nothing bad they have to tell us. We' ve taught them well.... Have faith."

I breathe out a sigh of relief, I have been saved.

Honestly I don't want to sit down with Logan for hours on end being quizzed about everything under the sun. I love and respect her.

I know she does it out of love and concern. But my ears will bleed from so much talking.

" Well, ok" Logan puffs gently swooping down to give skylar a peck on the lips.

I follow them as they turn to the back of the trailer, Skylar turns back to me winking. She knows.

Junior is already busying himself with the bullet reloading press which is bolted to the side with metal hinges.

With agile fingers he positions the empty cartridge under the socket and swivels the arm on the side tightening the grip before pressing a button for the socket to go down over the cartridge. We hear the slight grinding and crunching of metal joining, the socket comes back up with a new shiny silver bullet in its place. Junior flicks the bullet down to a waiting bucket with a sharp clink sound.

" So where is that girl, Ruth?.. Is she off having an adventure by herself?"Logan grinned.

" Yup! She is probably in some crawl space right now" answering half truthfully antsy already to ask for help.

" Auntie we desperately need new tires" I shyly add.

" Why didn't you say so! You had me worried. I know someone who can help you. It farther down travel wise though. Do you want to go with us to the south this year?"her voice gittery with excitement.

She kind of went on without a giving me a chance to respond for a long while. So I just stood there listening.

" You should see my latest addition. I bought them off some grateful citizens down south who needed some ammunition when they were fighting off some giga scouts. They wanted to gift them to us but it didn't feel right so we bought it off them. They were from mexican battle ships that crashed to the shore. They helped us take it off the ships, install it, and maintenance it."

She sat down on the floor shaking her silky straight hair. I guess there are still some good people out there.( @minipurse)

It was a incredible risk that they had helped the citizens out. It could have turned out badly.

Ruth came poking her head into the open trailer. Taking one look at Logan after finding her there, flashed her a ginormous smile while entering.

Ruth always gravitated more toward Logan. I think its because Logan reminded her of our dad somehow personality wise and she relished spending time sitting on Logans lap at the end of the day looking at manuals quietly together as a small child.

" Aunties!!" Ruth hugged Skylar first then Logan.

A rock bounces off my shoulder. It didn't hurt but I turned around annoyed.

Joseph had been roaming outside around the truck.

" There are machines coming.....4 or 5 I am not sure but the noise is coming from that way" as Joseph hurriedly signs and points to the east.

Something is wrong because Logan leaps to her feet cursing.

" I am sorry kids.. I thought I lost them. Tenacious bastards.."

" Who are they ?" Feeling panic icing my blood.

"Nothing but thieves and murders" Logan's eyes firing sharp glances outside.

" Get in, Joseph. Quickly, Joseph Ruth, and Junior follow me. You both need to strap in and hold the guns under the seat just in case. Junior you are in charge of the ammo. See those holes that have leather straps on the sides you will be going up and down this trailer hold to help skylar and your sister"

Skylar holds my hand pointing to a chair floating above the holding " strap in... we are firing" she says.

I hear in the distance Logan patting something metal. Junior must have been shown the ammo. (@minipurse)

I climb up a crude ladder, pulling myself up to the seat and gingerly sitting on the half moon enveloped chair hoovering high above the floor. As soon as my seat belt and my two feet hit the chair's floor an intercom beeps.

" alright, we don't have time Sage to explain too much. The gun swivels 360 degrees around in all directions. The right side is for bullets and left is a small laser bit but use it carefully it has a limited amount of power cells... And scream for a reload when you are all out for gods sake!"

The seat seals itself with me in it and I feel it swerve into position. It opens to a round dome of thick glass looking out above the trailer. The machine juts out in front of the glass with two handles inside my dome.

In the distance I can see what Joseph was talking about.

Plumes of sand dusted over the landscape obscuring the moving objects within. They were traveling aggressively fast in the distance.

The truck's engine roared to life, idling for a couple seconds, then suddenly jerking us with slowly increasing speed away from the incoming danger.

The deafening sound of the speed picking up as the engine pistoned faster, jiggled my seat. My hand sweated over the firing machine's handle and I hurriedly wiped my damp palms over my pants drying them.

Flexing my grip gently I readied for the fight coming.

The group was still far off in the distance but how long will we keep an advantage over them in distance?

Good ole joseph with his superb hearing always on the lookout is definitely an asset, no? Besides who are these random ass people harassing our lovely couple and the kids.
I like them and they seem sweet...... Logan and Skylar as a couple and people in general, yah know.