MuTerra

until they get everyone up to speed?” Keith asked.

“Sounds good.”

“I doubt this will be the last of the new orders coming down, so why don’t we get a little proactive,” Keith said as he held his attention. “My father said something about getting some small tracked vehicles, and possibly some four wheeled ATV’s. It looks like we will slowly evolve more and more into a military element and less of a security detail.”

Wallace nodded his head as he listened.

“What I would like you to do, and you can get Cam to help, is to select a training cadre; four of five men who have weapons, mechanical, and other skills to cover any possible aspect that will serve us best. They will be at it full time.

“Then, I need you to draw up a new table of organization enabling fifty percent of our force to become a mobilized military arm, thirty percent to cover everything we have going on inside now, and a twenty percent reserve to serve as support for both. Select the best men to head up each. Put the round pegs in the round holes.”

“Got it Chief; I get a month to get it done right?” he said in jest.

“How about by the end of the week? Pick the training staff first, let me know who, and then we’ll go from there.”

“Aye aye, Sir,” Wallace said snapping off a parade ground salute.

“Just get out of here and let me know when you have something,” Keith said ignoring the salute, and pointing towards the door.

?

He decided to place Wallace in charge of the combat team, and Gibbs in charge of the enforcement staff. He would be gone from time to time, and things were going to change. It was necessary for some of his men to assume greater roles. He was not concerned about Wallace. He was capable of handling it. Gibbs was another story. There was no doubt that what he had been doing was far beneath his qualifications, but the man unnerved him. He was like an emotionless robot. Nobody really knew much about him, and any attempt at friendship was politely but firmly rejected. His work could not be faulted, and his men were loyal. Keith did not know if he was like this before he came here, or if it was an effect of subterranean living. Others had ‘lost it’ down here, why not him?

He had the next two weeks to prepare for what he thought would be requisite changes. After that, he was to go outside. He had mixed feelings about that prospect. It was both exciting, and a little intimidating. He saw what he was capable of from the testing with Dr. Maddow, but it was all an unknown. He did not know how he would react to visiting a world now alien to him. Would he find life? Would he find complete desolation? Would he be afraid? He was not fearful of what he might encounter outside, but what he might have to deal with in himself. It was a lot to ask to keep it from Terri. He shared everything with her and she was always supportive of him. Talking to his father was an entirely different affair. He assured Keith this would only be the case for the short term, and Keith would hold him to that.

* * *

Today was the day. He had not slept at all the night before. He was as much excited, as he was anxious. The story he gave Teri was the same as before, ‘he was exploring the far tunnels and wasn’t sure how long he would be gone.’ She understood, kissed him goodbye, and then went off to work. The part that bothered him most was the deception. Even though he, for the most part, believed it was necessary, he knew that at some future time she would realize he had lied to her, whether out of necessity or not. It just did not sit well with him. He picked up the metal clad suitcase, and went to meet his father’s longtime assistant. He walked into his office and set the case down.

“Hey Keith, I’ll be right with you,” Brian Lucas said as he was filing some papers.

Keith did not sense anyone else in the immediate area, which meant his father must be busy with other things. He thought for sure he would see him off. This was the biggest thing to happen to them since they had been locked inside the mountain. He shrugged it off.

“You ready to go,” Lucas asked.

“Ready as I’ll ever be, “Keith said with a smile.

Only five people knew what was taking place: his father, Dr. Maddow, Lucas, Jim Forrest, and Keith himself. Although, Keith was assured this was only a temporary arrangement as they planned to have more people involved once they had the information they needed, and Keith returned with samples for them to run tests on.

“I’ll take that for you,” Lucas said as he attempted to pick up the metal case. It weighed more than sixty pounds and the surprise registered on his face as he set it back down.

“I’ve got it. Thanks anyway,” Keith said as he effortlessly picked it up.

Ever since Dr. Maddow had practiced his ‘voodoo’ on him, as Keith would say to his father, he had been getting stronger by the day. It reached the point that he had to cut back on his exercise routine at the gym because others were starting to notice. You just do not get that strong, that fast, even if you were on steroids. He would only ‘push’ himself when nobody else was around to see him do so.

Lucas looked at him with both respect, and a little amazement. He pointed to the door and indicated they should be going. When they reached a series of other secured vault-like doors, Lucas passed them through each one while advising Keith that he could do the same with his access card and security clearance. Nobody else was authorized.

They came to a larger corridor and Lucas turned on the overhead lights. A glass walled and white paneled room was in front of them. Lucas explained the procedure. “When you go into the first room, remove every article of clothing, including any jewelry, from your body. There are undergarments, boots, and coveralls in your size, which you can put on in there. Then just pass through the next two rooms. I control entrance through this first door from the inside, all of the other doors between here and exiting the mountain are manually operated.”

Keith acknowledged his understanding with a nod of his head.

“When you return, there is a phone, with a directory, in the far room. Call me first at the office, and if I’m not there, call me at the apartment. I’ll come right away.”

“Okay,” said Keith.

“When you get into the first room, leave all of your clothes and equipment. Go into the second room and shower thoroughly, especially your hair.” He stopped for a moment and said, “I know you father said you were treated in some way to protect you from the radiation, but are you sure you don’t want a protective suit?”

“I think I’ll be okay,” Keith replied hoping he sounded more sure of himself than he really was.

“Alright, if you change your mind, we do have them.”

Keith nodded once again indicating he understood, appreciating the concern.

“Anyway,” Lucas continued, “wash thoroughly, then step into the small chamber next to the shower, close the door and follow the instructions. You will get a reading on the level of any radioactive particulates still on your person. There is a chart that will let you know when you are in a safe range. If you are above the safe level, shower again until the reading is within the safe zone. Then come into the last room and get dressed into your original clothes. If I am not here by that time, it won’t be long until I am. I can take an external reading from the room, and then let you in when it is safe.”

“What about the gear?”

“There will be others to deal with that. So don’t be surprised to see someone other than me, here, when you get back. They won’t, however, have the authority or ability to let you out of there so make sure you call me.”

“Got it.”

“Good luck,” Lucas said as he extended his hand.

“Thanks,” Keith said as he shook it and then turned to leave.

The passage leading to the outside was longer than he thought it would be. He reasoned that they must have constructed a series of control points after sealing the mountain complex, as he had to let himself through seven separate doors before he reached the final one. He somehow knew this was the one, and opened it with a little trepidation. The door gave way, but it took a significant amount of effort to break its decade old seal. The air was refreshing as it was the first noticeable sensation that greeted him when he passed the barrier established many years before. One look at the outside world was all it took to remind him that it was unnatural to live as they were living. Humans were meant to be above ground.