Page 25 of Powerless
"I did think of that, Shadow," I nodded. "This is a good outpost, although we're isolated here and not familiar with the terrain. When everyone gets here, I'm going to propose we ride back home tomorrow."
"Yes!" Jandro shot his fists in the air. "Can we take some chickens?"
"You gonna raise 'em in your backyard?" I scoffed.
"I dunno, maybe."
"I'm not dealing with any crowing at the ass-crack of dawn," I growled, taking my seat at the head of the table.
"Come on, Reap. You never know, maybe it's my calling to be a chicken rancher."
"I don't think that's what it's called," Shadow frowned.
"Gunner has a falcon. Maybe I was destined to have a chicken!"
"Enough already," I rubbed my forehead as everyone else started filing in.
My men took their seats, I hit the gavel and got right down to business.
"If you fuckers can act like adults this time," I glowered, "we'll begin the meeting."
"Hey, you all saw it was Gunner that came after me," Big G announced. "Not saying that's an admission of guilt, but—“
"Don't. Fucking. Start." Jandro pointed a finger at him in warning. "You provoked him. Any one of us would have acted the same way. I suggest you keep your mouth shut during this session, G."
The big fucker glared at his vice president but smartly held his tongue.
"General Tash, now a sworn enemy of ours," I began, "has likely heard by now that we've escaped capture and taken the outpost for ourselves. We have a well-stocked armory, but there are only seven of us. Plus two animals and one medic. It's fair to assume he'll return with amuchbigger army to wipe us out for good. So I propose we ride back to Sheol in the morning, and figure out how to stick the two-timing shit bag from the safety of our own walls."
"Agreed," Jandro piped up right away. "All in favor?"
Every man at the table raised a hand.
"Good. It's settled." I struck the gavel on the table. "Start packing after dinner tonight and we'll ride at dawn. Next order of business." I set the gavel down and placed my palms on the table. "We have no need to kill Fischlin's snitch. So where do we drop him off?"
"Just leave him here," Big G scoffed. "Let Tash deal with him."
"Killing him will be the first thing they do," Brick pointed out.
"So? It ain't our problem."
"He's the reason weknowTash turned on us!"
Big G just shrugged and leaned back in his seat. A loyal guy and a good shot, he just didn't think very far ahead.
"President, if I may speak," Dallas piped up.
"Go ahead," I nodded.
He paused, tenting his fingers for a moment before speaking.
"I've probably spent more time with our prisoner than anyone else," he began. "He didn't turn on Fischlin because he's a little bitch. Hewantsto be a Steel Demon."
"Get the fuck outta here," Jandro cackled so hard, he nearly fell out of his chair.
"He has since we started building a reputation," Dallas went on. "Tash swept through his county like a wildfire just weeks after the Collapse. They massacred tons of innocents. His pregnant girlfriend died. He's wanted to take Tash down ever since."
"That's a nice sob story," I said. "Too bad everybody's got one. Losing everything to the Collapse sure as shit doesn't make you a Demon."
